Breakfast sucked because I woke up too late for it. The bus ride sucked because I can run faster than it and could have got breakfast at school. My first class sucked because I didn't pay attention at all because I was starving and couldn't finish scarfing down a chocolate bar before class started.

And my second class sucked because I had to pay attention to Sophia being the - the Queen Shit of Fuck Mountain at Winslow High. We had a substitute and they basically put her and her friend Adams in charge of monitoring the class as we did ditto sheets to fill the time.

I started opening my backpack to fish out my soft, half eaten candy bar and was rudely interrupted.

"Hey", the Second President of the United States tried getting my attention. "Are you making sure to wash your balls after Hebert is done with them?"

I looked at her like she farted at Mass, "Hay is for horses, Adams. Why don't you go out back to the portable building with the black mold and see how long you can hold your breath in there before you pass out?"

She gave me a very unpresidential salute and stormed off with the attendance roster. Two guesses who got counted absent today.

Sophia walked up to my desk, after Kennedy tattled on me, and almost sat on my arm as I circled the answers on the sheet. I jerked my hand away and now I'll never know what Riley was going to do with ten bananas and thirteen oranges after Jacob picked three of each for a fruit salad.

"Listen, Ray you should really pick better people to hang out with", she said with a sneer that would make Charles Dickens wake up and scratch notes on his coffin lid. "I don't know if you know but Taylor is persona non grata around here. She's lower than the lowest. A small fry, a loser, and she will probably give you a bad time if you pay her enough."

I need me some Lung repellent.

"I'm sorry I just don't think I can lower my standards to fit in with Emma, Julia, and Ford. It'll be emotionally stabler to stick with the CPR dummy in the nurse's office cuz it's guaranteed not to tell me about the time they experimented with their cousin or when they find out they have an std the day after Junior prom."

The sneer on her face switched to a weird smirk as an odd sound came out of her mouth. The kind of noise I've heard some girls and guys make when they pretend someone is funnier than they are. An insult to me, cuz I know I am damn funny.

To me at least.

But to the classmates of ours who turned back to see her laughing as she sat on top of my desk, legs swinging playfully, it was straight up flirting. This is Sophia Hess, aka Shadow Stalker, the reigning Queen of Unfair at Winslow High.

She has weaponized her womanly charms and her PRT rating should be upgraded to a Master 2, Stranger 1 cuz now people are whispering. Whispers lead to questions that transform into shaky rumors which digivolves into reputation. Before this exact moment I could fly under the radar and just quiet kid myself through school life unnoticed like a good private who's drill instructor only learns who the hell they are on the last day of basic.

Instead my lack of reputation at Winslow is in danger of shaky rumors at this point, and my actual reputation with Piggot can nosedive me out of a spot at Arcadia if she catches wind I might be making moves on my charge and fellow teammate.

I needed to be decisive. Take the initiative away from her. I needed to play dirty.

I reached into my still open backpack then made my move.

"Gross!" I exclaimed as I shoved Sophia's butt off my desk. I stood there gawking at my hands, marred with melted chocolate. "Did you fart on my desk?!"

She looked around in horror as a streak of chocolate was smeared across my paper and desk. The bulk of the candy globbed onto the back of her shorts and shirt where I shoved her.

I stumbled back and out of my seat. I pretended to be nauseous, this got a couple others to start gagging, the substitute looked up from their phone and pulled a roll of paper towels from the desk and handed it to the Founding Father.

I raised my ruined hand, "Restroom!"

I hooked my backpack straps with the clean crook of my arm and ducked out of class.

I must say my Lunch period would be just a tiny bit better.

~~x

Armsmaster let me loose on the city after giving me a briefing on talking points with Bug Girl. All I knew if I was going to try to do anything with Taylor I needed the big guns. I needed professional help. I needed something to quell the hungering teenage beast inside of my friend. I needed my Abuelita.

"What are you doing home already, Mijo?" the patron Saint of stick to your ribs Molé asked as her telenovelas went on.

"Works got me trying to convince my friend that - she's done enough for the city and we want her to be safe. We want her to come to where I work and tell us what she knows so we can stop something bad from happening."

"¿Lugar?" (Bad?)

"Real bad, Abuela".

"Qué tristé. What do you want me to do?"

I chewed my bottom lip, "Uhhh, what goes good with your favorite tea?"

Her light brown eyes filled with mischief "¿Así, es una flor hermosa, eh?" (So, a beautiful flower, right?)

"¡Solo mi amiga buena, abuelita!" (Just my good friend, Grandma!)

"Ehhh, mentiroso." (You liar.)

"Ella no es mi novia, es - amiga nueva." (She's not my girlfriend, she's a new friend.)

"¿Fuerte como tu?" (Strong like you?)

"Si con insectos y plagas, Mamá." (Yes, with bugs and pests, Mom.)

Abuela shut off her tv and stood up, "Plug in my radio, I'm going to make something que rica. Bring her here."

I felt bad about dumping this on my Grandmother but she would have wanted me to help. Just like Grandpa, cuz he never hesitated, "Abuela her dad is uhh Señor Hebert de Los Dockworkers."

"Ah, pobrecita, su Madre falleció." (Poor girl, her Mother passed.)

"Yeah, just-", I hesitated to say any more and put my domino mask back on.

"I know, I know. Go, rapido."

I needed her to know the important things so Taylor wasn't caught off guard or Abuela didn't accidentally make things awkward instead of purely on loving purpose.

I changed as soon as I stepped off the porch and raced towards the heart of ABB territory. I arrived in a couple minutes,much slower than I intended because I went entirely by memory of the route the bus took Taylor that day. My sudden mini-tornado arrival on The Boardwalk was an unwelcome sight to the Empire's loading guys and the ABB muggers that took up space on the tourist spot. While some of the Boardwalk's enforcers looked a mix of pleased and bored at my arrival.

I strutted around catching the interest of the occasional tourist but none approached, thankfully. I was still unremarkable and unknown enough in costume to be just a neat detail they may not remember later.

Perfect.

Between a set of shops I swapped back to my breaker state and flowed around the growing crowd's ankles and shoes as I navigated back to the warehouse area. I launched myself to the rooftops until I found the skylight.

I peered down into the loft and the newly applied tint basically blacked out the view. Plus a newly installed security latch was in place along the edge. If I broke the contact of the device it would sound an alarm most likely or trigger some trap less likely but not unthinkable.

Arrr, they shan't keep me from saving muh Cap'n.

I stood up on the roof and something hit me in the face. I looked around and a bee dove at me again causing me to back up and start to tip back. I took a nasty looking spill backwards to the alley floor and I heard a gasp right as I turned to dust scattering across the pavement.

I reform in front of Taylor, who is dressed in black trainer pants, a long sleeve grey workout tee, and a frown, "That's not funny, Ray".

"I was assaulted by bees, I'm allergic to bees. I could have died if I ate its vomit."

Her eyes widened and then narrowed, "What? You're allergic to honey?"

"Nah, just you attacked me with a bee."

"I was trying to get your attention, quietly, Ray. What're you doing here? I said I wasn't coming to school", she carried a mostly deflated gym bag with her and held it against herself.

"I'm not trying to take you back to school. I'm trying to take you to lunch."

Taylor's eyes lowered and moved back and forth quickly like she was reading something only she could see, "I'm flattered Ray but-"

"Really, I can get us a ride right now to take us to my house. My grandmother is making fresh food. I got the rest of the day off and I told her", time to use what Armsmaster called emotional blackmail.

"-that I made a new friend and that she wasn't feeling great recently and she could do with a home cooked meal."

A light frown crossed her face and she looked to the warehouse then back to me.

"Unless you had plans? It's okay if you did. I just got excited", I'm a bad man.

"Can - do you have a shower I can use? I did a morning run then some training with Brian-"

So the bogeyman has a name.

"-and I'm still all sweaty."

Calm down, Ray.

"You can use my shower and change in my room while I politely wait on the couch and Abuela finishes up lunch, sound good?"

She paused and looked at me, sweat glued some of her hair to her forehead.

"Okay, let's go back near the Boardwalk before you call".

~~x

By the time we were dropped off by the taxi there was a small wooden table on the porch with a couple chairs. On top of the table sat glasses of melting Ice and a glass pitcher of lemonade with a hand towel covering the top.

"Uhh, a quick drink before you go wash up?" I offered.

Taylor nodded rapidly and I served us both. She cleared most of the glass in a single drink and looked a little sheepish as I automatically refilled her glass when she sat it down.

"It's a nice day, we really should enjoy it", I insisted.

I really wanted to laugh as my nerves gnawed at me. I was happy to be spending time with her again but I still had Armsmaster's halberd hanging over my neck with the pressure to get her to give up on this thing.

This time she took a few small sips and I got up to lead her inside, "my room is down the hall. It's the door with a poster of Armsmaster on it."

She gave me a curious look

I tried to recover, "okay, he's douchey but I got that poster - ahhh a few months ago."

Taylor laughed, "It's fine. Uhh, I'll - meet you back outside."

"Count on it. Oh and clean towels are in the cabinet above the toilet, used ones go on the towel rack. Feel free to use the Assault and Battery 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash."

"You really like all that stuff?"

I nodded, "I have no shame appreciating the things and people I like."

Taylor hesitated a moment and it dawned on me what I basically admitted.

"Taylor, ahh... Yeah whenever you're ready. It's clean in there."

"Right", she answered and hurried down the hall.

I made for the kitchen, the very source of the delicious smells that perma- permanate- flooded the house.

"That smells awesome, Abuelita," she used her body to block me from peeking in. I definitely smelled chicken and beans for sure.

"Only the Lord is awesome and great, but yes this food smells incredible", she admitted. This is the woman who taught me humility.

"Now, Raymundo don't rush her. You will sit outside, and you will let her talk. It is her mind you must calm. If her mind is not calm, she will not trust you, if she can't trust, she will not talk. Trust is important."

I smile and nod.

"Good, mijito. Now have you been true with her? Lying gains you nothing with a young woman. Old woman - you tell her she is beautiful when she is not, you tell her she looks young when she is old, this makes her remember her life and it is good. But a young woman, no. Her whole life is ahead of her to experience truth. You must say your mind but choose your words careful, si?"

"I will Mamá, gracias", I grin big for her and she shooed me away.

As I pass through the living room I grab a windbreaker off the coat rack, put it on, zip it part way up, and lastly I slipped off my domino mask. Outside, I head back to my seat and top off my lemonade.

The noon Sun cut through the sky and baked the front yard. The neighbors were all at work or school and strangely not a bird was chirping. A fly landed on the back of my hand and it just rubbed its grubby little mitts together a little too conspiracy like.

I stared at it as it sat there despite me moving my hand about. I decided to try something, "Hey, I hope you had a good shower. Abuela is making something with chicken so I hope you like chicken and sorry if this table business is too date-like. I promise if I ever try to date anyone I won't get my grandma involved, I swear."

The screen door slammed shut and I found Taylor standing there dressed in dark jeans and a big shirt of mine. It was a light blue denim button up with the sleeves pushed up, most of her neck and one of her shoulders were exposed and I saw the thin white strap of a tank top peeking out.

"Your grandmother insisted I wear this, apparently you know who sabotaged it a while back and my shirt and hoodie took the worst of it. She's washing them for me. Sorry."

I shook my head, "It's fine. I'm messy when I do stuff around the house and so she's quick to demand my messed up clothes and for me to change. I'm glad it mostly fits."

"It looks new though", Taylor said as she looked at the shirt.

"It is, it was uhh for when I was supposed to work in the summer. Some of my Grandpa's friends were going to hire me to work on that annex for Arcadia so I could get some money to help my Grandma but then I got powers before Christmas and now I work and go to school so it's - it's cool. It's nice on you, all bright makes the red of your cheeks oh - sorry I. Sorry."

Taylor just kept staring at her glass until her face stopped flushing, "So your Abuela? She - said you wanted to listen to me about my troubles?"

My chin hit my chest and it was my turn to flush as my ears turned red, "Yeah, uhh, just if there was anything you needed to express about what's going down tomorrow. I'm here while we eat, whenever that is!" I raised my voice at the end.

The screen door opened suddenly, "Tu travieso..." (You mischievous...)

Abuela brought out a pot covered with a lid and a couple plates with two sets of forks and spoons balanced on top. She put the pot down and under the wet glass lid was a pile of fried, rolled chicken tacos surrounded by a few small bowls filled with refried beans, sour cream, a chunky salsa, and guacamole.

"I hope you're hungry, it's kinda a finger food thing so", I told Taylor.

Abuela removed the lid and gave us the plates leaving us to fend for ourselves, "Cuidado para las moscas". (Watch out for flies.)

Taylor looked at her, "No problema."

My grandmother smiled and quickly hustled back into the house to eat her own pile of tacos and sides in front of her shows.

"No problema?" I asked.

"It means no problem, right? And there are no flies around?"

It's true, usually I'd be swarmed for my overly sweet lemonade but it was just the one fly on my hand from earlier.

Taylor seemed pleased with herself as grabbed some tacos for her plate, "Who were you talking to when I came out?"

"The - you put a fly on me. I thought you could hear me?" I was truly baffled.

"No, it's too much input if I tried listening or seeing with all the insects. I might try to work on that for later. Right now I need to master the basics other than come, attack, and then the weaving."

"That's kinda cool. Wait weaving?" I was genuinely interested. "Like through the air or- what?"

Taylor's eyes looked up from her plate.

"Weaving silk, spider silk. It has a very high tensile strength and when", she continued and I listened as she explained how she accomplished so much on her own before even getting to her first night out against Lung.

We'd plowed through all the food by the time she finished, "My hair was singed by his attacks. I had - it was crisping off and I was scared it was all going to come out eventually."

I shut my eyes and cringed, "And I've been ...?"

She nodded, "Yes, you keep bringing up my hair and it's still not right so it's -"

"Weird, yeah, I get it. I'm sorry. But I really do like your hair it's all - have you seen the Alien movies? With Sigourney Weaver? You remind me of her with the hair and your - dios mio - your shape and, she's tough and smart and cool and so I - transference. I transferred these ideas of her on you and so I'm all... ya know?"

"Why are you telling me this? I'd be dying inside right now to admit something like that? Aren't you embarrassed, at all?" Now she was baffled.

I just shrugged, "I - not really. It's strange but you're here when so many other people would say no. Or think being asked to lunch by the new kid, at his grandma's house, would be creepy or not fun or whatever. But you're here so I - open up cuz what do I have to lose, really?"

She grew quiet and took the time to sip at her drink.

'True.'

"Taylor, you have to know. I was given the time off specifically to talk you out of the whole thing. Armsmaster came after me when you left, tracked me down back to the Wards, and took me to his lab. He wanted me to offer you pretty much anything within reason to get you to give up The Undersiders. He offered me not just what The Director offered me but also a bright future. I know you're a good person and you're a hero-"

Taylor held up her hand, "The Director of the PRT offered you what?"

I paused and stared at her for a moment, "She offered me a spot at Arcadia if-"

"To watch me?!"

"No, no, no, another Ward is attending Winslow. It's my current assignment to keep them in check. I can't reveal who but I got -"

Taylor's eyes widened, "It's one of the trio isn't it? Isn't it? Who?!"

"I can't say. It's the same reason I refused to tell Armsmaster who you were. Identities are what keep people s-"

"SAFE!? HAVE I BEEN- have I been safe all these months? Do you think my life is worth less than the identity of a supposed hero who can rescue someone one night from muggers and criminals and then the next morning torture and assault a teenage girl? Huh?"

I deflated in my seat, "I'm sorry it's not right and I know it's not fair. I was there to make it - to make it stop by keeping tabs on them. I didn't expect to..."

"To what, Ray? Get caught up in someone else's problems? Well here we are, in the middle of each other's lives and what could you possibly offer me to get out of the big event? A spot on Wards? Money? What?"

"I don't know, Taylor. I just want you to be safe and - and happy."

"And I'm not. I'm - what I want can't happen. It's too late. Right now, I want... I want..."

Taylor stared at the table and the look on her face was a mix of anger and sadness.

"I wanna go", she said quietly.

"Do you want me to-"

"No, I'll take a bus. Uhh, thank your grandmother for the meal for me, it was - it was really good actually. I'll get you - your shirt back to you at school sometime."

"Okay", was all I could say.

Taylor went back into the house and a minute later left with her gym bag. I watched her stalk off into the empty street.

I sat on the porch in silence, heat grew just beneath the skin under my eyes. I felt pretty shitty despite doing almost everything I was told to do. I didn't try to convince her to cooperate and I also didn't tell her everything.

But why the hell is this on me? Why can't adults deal with this? Why can't they just jam Sophia in the alternative school or give her tutors? Why does she get to run free making people miserable? It's unfair.

It's unfair.

I bolted from my seat and ran as hard as I could after Taylor. I caught up to her waiting at the bus stop but she had started walking off to the next one a couple blocks over.

"Taylor, wait. Please!"

"Several bees flew into my way and closed in on me as I walked forward, "I'm not really allergic, remember, it was a joke."

One stung me. Then another as I advanced. It hurt but I didn't care. Several stings later I was beside her, "I don't want to talk to you".

Arrr.

"Fine I'll talk and you can choose to ignore me" I said. "I chose not to try to convince you because you are trying to do a good thing. It's messed up that Armsmaster encouraged it only to turn around and say it's a bad idea only once you were in too deep. If he was on the level he would have followed protocol. Now he's involved me, a Ward, someone he's supposed to mentor and watch out for. Instead he's trying to use me and even threaten me."

She kept walking to the bus stop but slowed down a bit.

"If life is unfair then why don't we let it be unfair in our favor?"

She turned to look at me from behind her scratched up glasses, "What?"

"I'll give you my number, you text me before the time when you're going to hit the bank and I'll make sure to be on patrol or out of class then so I can respond when the call goes out. I'll be what Armsmaster won't, I'll be your get out of jail free card."

"You can't, you'll lose your job. Your- your Abuela needs you", Taylor stopped at the bus bench.

"You need help. You said you can't do this alone. And grandma would understand that I was helping because you asked. You asked the right person for help and they spat in your face, but I heard it too. I'll answer."

C'mon just accept it, Taylor.

She deeply sighed and put her bag on the bench, "Just answer me one thing and I'll consider your offer."

"Shoot."

"Why did you ask to go to Arcadia as your reward for watching the Ward?"

"It's closer to home. I don't like leaving my Grandmother alone for too long. She doesn't deserve to be alone for everything she gave up to raise me. She had already raised my Mom but she left me with them when I was little. So Abuela and Abuelo have been my Mom and Dad since before I could walk."

"So you'd do that but you'd risk losing your job or even going to the birdcage to help me?"

"Yeah. It's what she raised me and he raised me to do. You're my neighbor in this life. We both got powers and we both want to help. So I'll help you make things better around here."

I grinned and winced a little as the skin on my face pulled at a couple welts from the stings.

"You're ridiculous you know that?" She wiped the sweat from her forehead. "You got stung quite a few times."

"Because I am a massive idiot and I like you. That's why I followed. That's why I got stung. But I'm helping because it's right. So…", I pulled out my personal phone and handed it to Taylor. "Text your phone from here and you'll have my number for tomorrow."

The familiar sound of a bus engine just down the block caused Taylor to stop dawdling and she texted her number quickly. A half minute later and I watched her watch me through the window as the bus drove off.

Now she knew everything and all I could do now was wait for her message and pray things didn't get messy.