Chapter 13: Double Life

Using my powers after J.R.'s surprise visit really did reinvigorate the thrill of having them, but how I would use them from here on was the question. I had to be careful when, where and how I use them, yes, but that wasn't to say I shouldn't use them for leisure or as a last resort. I then decided from here on I would not allow my powers to become a dependency or debauchery. They will only be implemented behind closed doors or out in the open should the situation be desperate and the use of them would not rouse suspicion.
Another issue that has become an obstacle in my well constructed study life is that our rent has increased. Both Clarissa and I are looking to get part time jobs so we can pay our rent. It was always an inevitably I was going to be dealing with hard times, but I didn't expect to be dealing with financial problems as well as keep a low profile as the new mystery girl.

- Alyssa

I remember when J.R. told me about Spiderman and how he used his powers to make money before he decided to use them to save people. This idea occurred to me, but I knew there would be a price to pay should I decide to use them to get into show business and make all the money I want. Not only would this expose me and bring the authorities or other pursuers down on me, but the idea of becoming famous was not a lifelong goal of mine. My idea of the perfect part time job was something meager, modest and where I could brush up my Spanish.

In less than a week I landed a job working at a cafe next to the beach, which I found very relaxing and a not so strenuous job to do. The manager was easy on me and quickly warmed up to me. Maybe it's because I'm English and she was rather fond of England. Mainly because she referenced English literature and could speak really good English.

J.R. and Ray were still in the neighborhood as they were tasked with watching me and mentoring me, at least I like to think it was what they were doing. Not only would J.R. and Ray offer me their support, but they also introduced me to two experts who could also offer me support and coaching. These two experts were instructors called Yasmin and Chen, Yasmin taught me yoga and Chen taught me tai chi. Yoga was something my friends talked a lot about as I was convinced it was a real hot topic, but it's never been something I ever considered practicing. Ray told me it's ideal for my mental well being and it will help me relax and feel at ease with myself. He also told me how it helped him cope with PTSD during his time in boot camp where he suffered grueling training and phycological torture.
Tai Chi I only knew by name, but didn't understand its concept and how it would benefit me. It was only during my first Tai Chi lesson where I would meet my instructor who would tell me the purpose of Tai Chi. It was a form of shadowboxing (don't know what that word was), flexibility and meditation. This mainly consists of slow fluid movements that connect to mind and body. Thinking about this three dimensionally instantly made me think of my TK and how Tai Chi was going to enable me to explore my full potential and capability with my TK and how I could wield it like I've near wielded it before.
My first yoga lesson was a lesson I would never forget, because I learnt a little about myself physically. I was instructed to do basic stretches and I would quickly learn how stiff as a board I was and that I was far from being a professional at yoga. Yasmin quickly noticed this as she examined my muscles and pressed her thumbs firmly in them. She then did something that I wouldn't have ever approved of for my first yoga lesson or any first lesson at any sport, she stretched my leg muscles. This was so painful I thought they were going to snap like elastic bands. She told me to breathe and use my mind to wander somewhere else in my body, which I had no clue of until she told me a story of a tropical happy place in India. This really put my mind at ease and block out the pain in my muscles and joints.

When my first yoga lesson was over, Yasmin gave me a massage and herbal tea to take home with me. This was to help recover from my overstretch and aching joints. My muscles did ache the next day and the herbal tea quickly remedied the pain and prepared me for my next yoga lesson.

Tai chi was something remarkably different and something to be acknowledged. Basically and technically it's a martial art from China. You might be thinking that I would be using swords and nunchucks, but you're wrong, it's nothing like that. Anyone (well most people that is) who takes up martial arts thinks that they will become another Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan or some other famous martial arts actor whose name I have no clue of. The whole concept of tai chi is slow fluid movement that connects to both mind and body, which was what I gathered from Chen, my tai chi instructor.

One thing I had to do for my first tai chi lesson was wear white pajamas, not a nighty (night gown), but a long over-sized shirt with black horizontal laces in the middle and trousers. I was even fitted with white trainers, which I didn't expect and thought I would be training with bare feet. The first thing I was instructed to do was bend front leg and keep my back leg straight. I was also told not to bend my leg too far and have my legs slightly apart to maintain balance and allow movement. Then I was taught how to take what I translated as 'bow step' which was made slow steps while keeping my back straight and level as I moved. I was told many times to feel relaxed as I performed the basic moves and never feel intense during the process. Imagination was also key to helping me relax and pull off the moves successfully where I had imagined being a force of nature like the wind or the sea. Trying to imagine myself as the sea was a funny story because at one time I accidentally morphed and this little antic brought Chen to smile amusingly. All in good time I was able to maintain my actual body while practicing tai chi.

Doing yoga and tai chi for a month, I noticed some big changes. I was able to walk and move my body feeling light as a feather. Walking down the street I felt very sprightly and chirpy, my friends noticed my unusual good mood. It was almost the same enrapturing and exhilarating feeling when I first got my powers. Yoga and tai chi were not only beneficially for my physical and mental health but also my superpowers. Not only will I be able to stabalise them, but also augment them. Who knows how powerful I could potentially become. Could I become a god? "No, Alyssa," I thought to myself, "You cannot go mad with power. You have a life and a future. Not as a god, but a young girl wanting to have fun and a normal life like everyone else."

First week working at the cafe and I was still green. I could barely work the coffee machine and make a cappuccino just right. This one customer who ordered a cappuccino would be a customer who wanted more than that perfect cappuccino in the morning.
The cafe was quiet and I was the one who opened up the shop. I stood behind the counter really bored just like I was on most mornings and only a customer could lighten up the day. A young man in his late thirties in a smart suit and well trimmed, he looked like a young business man of some kind, which was who I assumed it was at first glance.

"Good morning, sir. How may I serve you today?" I greeted.

"Good morning, señorita, just a cappuccino to go please," responded the man in an American accent.

"Right away, sir," I obliged as I nervously walked to the coffee machine and prepared to make a cappuccino.

Trying the best I could to remember step by step how to fix a cappuccino I knew it was going to be harder to achieve without TK, because when I made cappuccinos I would sometimes put in too much milk and cause the frothy mixture to overflow. I made the first crucial mistake by not grounding the coffee and compressing the mixture into the filter. The coffee came out of the machine and dripped into the cup like coffee syrup. Making the frothy cream was the tricky part, I had to put in the right amount otherwise it would overflow and create a mess.
Not only did trying to make the perfect cappuccino make me nervous, but more the fact my face started blinking and was reflecting off the metal sheen. It was lucky that sunlight shone out of the window and radiated behind the counter, otherwise the customer would be in for a bizarre start of the day. The last thing I I'm sure my boss would ever want was for me to scare off a customer.

"Chocolate or cinnamon," I asked the customer, without turning to look at him.

"Cinnamon please," responded the customer.

I sprinkled cinnamon and was careful not to sprinkle on too much, unless I wanted to be responsible for getting this cafe a low star review on Yelp should he complain. With the customer's cappuccino finished and with the lid on, I thought of positive optimistic things and turned to hand him his cappuccino.

"Here we are, one cappuccino on the go," I smiled.

"You're not from here are you?" the customer questioned with his eyebrows drawing together.

"No, I'm English. I just work here."

"Just work here?"

"Well I'm a student. I'm just doing this job to pay the bills."

I didn't know whether it was a bad idea to give so much away. This guy did come off to me as a reporter or maybe an undercover agent. Doubt he was CIA.

"The bills... right," the reporter took a slow sip of his cappuccino while looking at me suspiciously.

"You're American... right?" I asked, just to make myself appear friendly and welcoming.

"Yeah, I'm from Portland, Oregon."

"Don't know much about American geography I'm afraid."

"I thought you wouldn't. Anyway it's a beautiful state in America. Salt Creek Falls and Crater Lake are some of the most breathtaking places to visit. I think an English lady like you would love it."

"Thank you for the info. I will definitely consider a trip there," I said sheepishly, seeing the look on the customer's face he was suspicious.

The customer placed down his coffee, looked down into his coat pocket and pulled something out that was something that should turn my face into a blinking lightbulb. It was my Hello Kitty watch. The pink leather strap, stainless steel rim and the once pristine glass face had a scratch on it, caused by my tumble down the hill.

"Have you ever seen this watch before? Recognize anyone who wore this watch and might have lost it?" inquired the customer.

"No, I don't think I've seen anyone in this area of Spain wear this type of watch. Even kids I've seen, probably natives who I don't think ever could afford something so trendy and pricey," I answered as politely and relaxed as I could.

"I think you're right," the customer bent forward to fix his eyes at my chest, which I know had my first name, "Alyssa. Only when I checked the watch carefully and at the back I discovered a name," the customer turned the watch around and showed me the engraved lettering "A special gift to my niece, Alyssa". "Would this watch happen to belong to you?"

"No, I don't wear anything so childish. I'm a grown girl, trying to act like one too."

I smiled and laughed with the intention of concealing my guilt and making my pretense plausible.

"Okay then, just asking. Don't want a poor little girl to be crying over her missing watch."

"Neither do I. Hate to see a little girl crying."

"Well thank you, Alyssa, and have a nice day."

"You too," I smiled fervently as I watched the customer calmly walk out of the cafe with his cappuccino.

The whole encounter dealing with this customer was a real nerve-racker. He should have seen my face turn yellow, but luckily all that meditation training helped me put my nerves at ease and from turning on. Maybe I could have caused a disturbance with my TK, but a good thing I didn't, otherwise it would arouse suspicion. He was secretly interrogating and trying to make me spill the beans or break down and confess, so I hopefully kept trail cold and the net is not closing in on me. However I couldn't let this anxiety distract me for the rest of my shift. Just had to think happy thoughts and time will fly.

My biggest concern wasn't just about being cornered and caught out or my powers becoming unstable to the extent I could hurt someone and cause damage, I had a social life and friends I wanted to keep. No other friend knows of my powers other than both J.R. and Ray, but I'm talking about friends I've known longer and am close with. Nothing much has changed with my social life. My friends still accept me and invite me to hang out with them. Only on sporadic occasions have they questioned me about my private unusual activities that didn't involve them. More than once did they comment about J.R. and displayed their not so fondness of him and warned me that he could be a pervert. I defended him and told them he has at no point flirted with me, but they think he is grooming me and biding his time. This is something I should take into account, but after all what he's done for me, I find it hard to give him the cold shoulder or should I say it less coldly, keep him at arm's length.

After a yoga session, which my trainer allowed my friends to join, we decided to visit the bodega (open-late shop) and buy ourselves a refreshing drink. Including my friends at yoga was a good idea of keeping them close and not trying to be so secretive. They seemed to have fun trying yoga, although I doubt any of them would become committed, but at least I got to do something with them. It amazed them to see how flexible I had become and how my body become more lean and athletic.
When we got to the bodega, I would see someone I did not expect to see. It was J.R. alone and standing by the counter. He was buying more vape cartridges for his E-cigarette and when he paid for his cartridges he turned and saw me.

"Hi Alyssa," greeted J.R. avidly.

"Hi J.R.," I politely greeted.

"Alyssa, is this the J.R. you've been talking about?" asked one of my friends.

"Yes, this is him. Girls, this is J.R."

My friends greeted him unenthusiastically and J.R. shyly but politely greeted them back.

"So what does the 'J' stand for, John, Joseph, James, Josh?" asked one of my friends.

"Just J.R. please," insisted J.R. looking nervous.

"Okay, just asking... god," tutted one of my friends.

"Now, girls. Please. If he wants to be called J.R. then we should call him that," I defended.

"Okay, Alyssa. He's your friend after all," grumbled one of my friends.

"So what are you doing here, J.R., if I may ask?"

"Nothing much, just needed my vape fluid replenishing. What about you?"

"Also nothing much, just got back from yoga practice."

"Really? How's it working out for you?"

"Going great, I really am feeling the benefits."

"You'll be a professional in no time. Maybe I shall start calling you Elastic Girl or Stretch Girl."

J.R. and I both laughed whereas my friends didn't laugh.

"I think Alyssa will be fine," I looked back to see my friends looking impatient and bored behind me, "Listen, J.R.. I would love to chat, but I got things to do so maybe we could do this another time."

"Oh that's fine, I have things to do too," J.R. grabbed his E-cigarette cartridges, thanked the man in Spanish and smiled at me before exiting the shop, "We'll be in touch."

After J.R. walked out of the shop and into the shadows, I looked at my friends who originally looked dead and lifeless now sprang into life into their old cheery happy selves. It goes without saying that they would never have accepted J.R. into the group had I have invited him.

We grabbed what we wanted, paid the demanding price and walked back out into the beautiful nightlife and gentle breeze we all agreed was our kind of environment. Gleefully chatting away socially like we always were, we would notice a figure sitting on a bench that was untouched by a street light. It scared us to think this could be a mugger, but someone whose eyes were staring out into the sea and is sitting down we knew was no mugger. Maybe he was a drunk or just a loner.
As we got closer I saw a blinking blue light and puffs of white thick vape, that's when I came to realize it was J.R. who had found a quiet serene spot where he could indulge in privacy. I got closer to see the look on J.R.'s face as he didn't turn his head to look at me, he probably didn't sense me approaching. Mind reading isn't a power I possess, but I can read facial expressions and body language and by inspecting the look on J.R.'s face I could tell he was upset about something. His eyes were blinking sporadically and his lips were tightly sealed. He was breathing through his nose and after every three seconds he took a drag of his E-cigarette.

"Bunas noches señoritas, need some company?" toned a voice behind me.

"We're good, thank you. It's a girls' night," responded one of my friends assertively.

"Oh come on now, can't two boys join in the fun?"

"Look, Pedro or whatever your name is. It's just us girls tonight. Now leave us alone," yelled one of my friends.

"Pedro? My name is Javier and this is my amigo Lucas," identified the man.

This was a sign that this could get ugly and these boys were trying to make a pass at my friends could be dangerous. I had to intervene and defuse the situation, but how? If only Ray was there he would put them on their asses and make him beg for mummy. J.R. didn't as so much as flinch as the confrontation got more heated when the boys got more persistent and belligerent. What could J.R. do? What could I do? I am more than capable of taking these boys on, but that would have to involve my powers or amateur tai chi. Why couldn't life be simple where girls like me can enjoy a night out without a bunch of lads bothering us and trying to get us in bed?

Javier grabbed the friend who tried to give him the brush off and that's where I knew this was it, I had to do something, anything that's going to get him to back off. Before I could even step in, J.R. walked passed me with his chest held up high and displaying not one ounce of fear.

"Okay okay what's going on here?" asked J.R. boldly.

"Who the hell are you?" asked Javier.

"Just an acquaintance. I'm a friend of one of these girls and I'm going to kindly ask you to leave them alone."

"How old are you, gringo? Aren't you too old to be friends with girls this age?"

"I'm 36 years old believe it or not."

"Hm you sure don't look like it. However it doesn't matter. Go find girls your age, maybe you'll find some at the viejos home."

"I'm not looking for a date, I'm asking you to back away and leave these girls in peace."

"Or you'll do what, gringo?"

Javier got closer to J.R. as he took steps backwards acting passive.

"Look how about I give you boys €10. You go to a bar and buy a couple of chicks some drinks there?"

J.R. dug into his old leathery wallet and tried to pull out a bill, but something smaller and rectangular dropped out of the wallet and onto the floor.

"Well well well, what do we have here?"

Javier who was smoking a cigarette picked up the flat rectangular object and held it to his face.

"Who's she, your daughter?"

"No, she's my girlfriend," J.R. answered, but realizing his mistake his face turned to shock, "I mean yes, she's my daughter. Please give it back."

Javier walked up to J.R. with the cigarette still dangling in his mouth. He removed it and blew a smoke in J.R.'s face and held up the photo.

"You're disgusting you know that, dating teenage girls. Let me do you a favor," glared Javier taking the cigarette and burning a hole through it.

"NO," screamed J.R.

Like a cat he pounced at Javier who burnt a hole in the photograph with his cigarette and unleashed a savage blow it looked like he knocked his jaw of its hinges. While he was down on the floor, J.R. grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and punched him multiple times in the face.

"Hey get off him you psychopath," yelled his friend Lucas trying to intervene.

J.R. turned his attention to Lucas friend who tried to grab him and pull him away. In quick nimble reaction J.R. palmed him in the nose and threw him over the shoulder and to the ground. His body made such a violent impact I could hear his bones break and the wind knocked out of his lungs. Then happened the worst thing I saw J.R. or anyone do, well the most violent thing I ever saw anyone do with my own eyes. He got ahold of his arm and broke it. Lucas screamed and writhed in pain. J.R. then turned his attention back to Javier whose face was swollen and blood was pouring out of his nose.

"No please... stop," whimpered Javier, with one eye swollen shut and the other just barely open.

My friends started to scream and cry in horror, this was where I had to do something because I'm sure J.R. was about to kill Javier in a fit of blind rage. How was I going to stop J.R., get involved in the fray and risk getting crippled? No, that was not the answer. In this desperate situation I would use my powers. My TK would be strong to pull J.R. off Javier or I could zap him out cold, but then my friends will know of my powers. Maybe I could use them covertly. I looked around and viewed my surroundings. What disturbance with my TK could I make that would stop J.R.? It was dark everywhere, except for the street lamps that were 10 feet apart from each other. This was it, my only hope in putting an end to this fight and stopping someone from getting killed. I riveted at the street lamp that illuminated bright orange. Imagining the bulb overheating I saw it get brighter and brighter until it exploded and the light went out. The explosion was so loud it almost sounded like a gunshot.

J.R. halted and gazed at the streetlamp that was lights out. He turned his attention back to Javier who was choking on his blood. Looking down at his hands that were covered with blood, J.R. was horrified what he did.

"J.R., that's enough. You can stop now," I placated as I placed one hand onto J.R.'s shoulder.

My friends were still crying and shedding tears for the two men who had tried it on with them now in need of medical attention. One of the emergency services did come, but it wasn't an ambulance, it was the police. They saw the blood on J.R.'s hands and immediately placed handcuffs on him and took him away. J.R. didn't protest or even struggle while being arrested, he just allowed the police to carry him away to the police car. He did turn to look at me for a brief moment and all I could see on his face was guilt. Before he could smile at me to ensure he'll be okay, the policeman pushed his head down and helped him in the car.
This was when I would see J.R. in a different light after seeing him get violent for the first time ever. Maybe there was more to J.R. I don't know about and something he hasn't told me about his backstory. Unfortunately the only person I could ask who would probably know is Ray. Only he could possible defend J.R.'s action and shed light what could drive him to such a savage violent act.
If I don't get all the answers I need about J.R. and I mean the truth from him then I'm going to have to question and reconsider our friendship.

To be continued...