My Impractical Hurricane – 10

Wow, holy reviewers, Batman! Thank you so much for reading, guys. You make me thirsty with joy.

Johnny and Reed were both seated on the couch like a couple of pre-teens caught making out in the back of Dad's car, shoulders low and head in hands as if waiting for punishment. This, however, was far more grave than a couple of kids letting hormones get the best of them. If only it had been that simple.

"What were—I mean what were you two—i-is there something I'm missing here!" Ben shouted as he paced back and forth, rubbing his head. "This is…Jesus Reed, I knew you kissed him, but to go further than that is—"

"You knew about this?" Sue suddenly barked, and those were the first words she'd uttered since this sordid little affair had been revealed. Her transparent state had not subsided, however, as she either would not or could not control her powers with whatever emotion was coursing through her. Her outfit hung idly in the air behind Ben.

Sensing himself in the line of fire, Ben froze. "Uh, Sue, listen—"

"Was anyone planning on telling me about this? Or was this just some big…disgusting secret you were all keeping from me?" she tossed up her arms.

Reed and Johnny said nothing, far too ashamed and afraid to even try and defend themselves. Reed looked at Sue and Ben timidly while Johnny kept his eyes to the floor, running nervous little flames from his fingertips over his scalp.

"It ain't like that." Ben shook his head. "Look, all he told me was that he and lover boy here sort of kinda accidentally kissed." He paused. "But they were drunk. Really, really drunk, right guys?"

Thanks for trying, Ben. Reed thought dismally.

"I don't care if they were drunk, stoned, and eating wild mushrooms—this is insane!" she continued. "I mean where do I start? Where do I even start?"

"Take it easy, Sue, don't pop a vein or nothin'…" Ben tried to calm her down.

"Oh take it easy? Take it easy when my fiancé is making out with my brother?"

"…Sue—" Reed attempted weakly, only to be denied.

"Don't you even say a word." She snapped back at him.

"Right…" Reed instantly shrank back.

"And what the Hell, Johnny?" she quickly turned to the second offender, who winced. "You've pulled a lot of stunts, but what is this, why this? I can't even answer the phone anymore because you have to give our number out to every one of your stupid little girlfriends, you're—…You…I mean you're…Agh!"

"So are you two, what, like, gay or something?" Ben asked. "Is that how it is now?"

"No!" Reed and Johnny both leapt to answer.

Ben sighed. "Okay, then what is it?"

Neither man could bring themselves to look at one another. "It's just…well it's…hard to explain…" Reed said gently.

"If your best explanation is that you don't have an explanation, you'd better think again." Sue ordered. "This is sick. This is crazy! I can't even look at you two right now." Sue's form quickly turned with intent of departure.

"Sue, wait—!" Reed pleaded, standing up.

Sue turned back around, her visibility seeping in a little. She fixed him with a death glare and he was immediately silent. After a few awkward moments, she crossed her arms and shook her head. "Okay, Reed. You wanna talk, let's talk. You just tell me one thing. Do you have feelings for my brother Johnny?"

Reed blinked.

"Do you? Is this just some…weird fling, or is there a reason behind it? Do you have feelings for him?" Sue shuddered and stared back at him hopefully.

Reed felt like he was going to pass out. He didn't dare look at Johnny, who wasn't looking at him anyway, but he felt that all the eyes in the world were on him. Someone save me…he begged inwardly. He drew in a lengthy breath. "…Yes…" There, that was it, he'd said it—wait, what? YES? Did he just say YES? Oh sick sweet mother of a dark unholy God!

Johnny didn't take his eyes from the floor, but his cheeks lit up an intense shade of red.

Sue stared in horror, holding a hand to her head. "You're both psychotic!" with that, she marched out of the room. Seconds later, her door slammed.

"Sue!" Johnny cried after her in a high-pitched tone, only in vain. He hurriedly hid his face back down in his hands.

Reed closed his eyes where he stood, waiting for someone to say something.

"That…didn't go so well…" Ben offered, eying the other two with obvious discomfort.

"No Ben. No it didn't." Reed rubbed his forehead and sighed.

Johnny stumbled clumsily up from his place and made a quick escape out of the room as well.

"Johnny—" Reed called after him.

The front door slammed.

Reed stood in the middle of the floor, twitching and drowning in his own madness. How had he let things get to this? What was he going to do now? He looked up towards Ben in anguish.

Ben took in a breath and looked between the two exits that brother and sister had made. His eyes settled lastly on Reed, and he shrugged. "So I guess…that just leaves one question…"

Reed's expression teetered between confusion and distress.

"…Who are you gonna go after?" Ben asked simply.

Reed's foot lifted, but he didn't know what he was supposed to do. "I…I…" He needed to talk to Sue. But he had to make sure Johnny didn't run off. But Sue was his girlfriend! But Johnny was his…uh…well, he was something, wasn't he? Johnny was…Johnny was just…his.

…

Tripping all over himself, Reed made chase, heading out the front door.

"I-I'll uh…see if I can't talk to Sue!" Ben yelled out behind him.