Edited April 2020

In spite of how I was feeling, I couldn't help but smile at Mikey's enthusiastic response to hearing about my "story idea." I paused for a moment, chewing on my lip as I tried to think of a way to both explain my thoughts and remain vague enough to keep any connection to me from coming up. Maybe I was over thinking this, but I was still trying to collect my thoughts.

"I guess it's about a girl...who discovers she has superpowers? I've...figured out the whole backstory and everything," I continued, glossing over a couple quick facts abut said "backstory". "I'm just not sure what direction to take it in next. I mean, what she should do with these powers now that she knows she has them."

Mikey nodded knowingly. "It sounds like you're off to a good start. It's hard to go wrong with the classics. She could learn about her powers and use them to fight for justice!"

"I just don't know if that's the right path for...this character. Becoming a crime fighting vigilante might be a little bit of jump. I mean, sure she wants to know more, but does that mean she has to start saving the world right off the bat?" I may have been growing more passionate about the subject than I meant to. I wasn't even too sure what I wanted to be doing with my life. Being some sort of superhero was certainly not part of any sort of plan I had ever considered.

Mikey held up a hand. "It's just an idea." He shrugged. "You can really do anything you'd like. But I've come to learn that adventure finds you either way. You can either wait for it to get to you or you can go after it first." He leaned forward. "And besides, sometimes being a superhero can be fun."

He seemed so cheerful about the topic that I couldn't help but smile. Simple as that thought might be it definitely gave me something to consider. At least I had a little bit of direction to go in. That made everything seem a little better. Looking at Mikey my smile grew wider as I pictured how we might look to anyone passing by. Me in my shorts and t-shirt and him in hid Cowabunga Carl costume. Funny how I hadn't really thought about that until just now.

I did feel a little more relaxed now. I hesitated, but decide to confide in what was really bothering me. "Another part of it is... her family hid this from her for so long. They knew something could happen, but they didn't tell her anything. I feel like it's going to take a while to get past that."

Mikey paused for a long minute. I wondered if I had said something wrong.

"There's usually a good reason," he said finally. It took a moment for him to bounce back from this strangely somber moment. "Superhero secret identity and all that. There's rules, you know."

We didn't stay on the subject of superheroes for too much longer, but the conversation flowed naturally. He was incredibly easy to talk to. It felt like we had only been talking for a couple of minutes when the cashier called to Mikey that his pizzas were ready. "Ah, I should be getting those home," he said, getting up from the booth.

I glanced at my phone. It was already 6:15. "I should be getting out of here too," I said, standing up as well. I walked towards the door with him, stopping at the register as he picked up his pizzas. I wondered if I would ever run into him again. This was a big city. It was surprising enough that I had already run into him this many times, who knew if our luck would hold out. I grabbed a pen and a napkin and quickly scribbled my email on it.

"Thanks for listening," I said as we walked outside.

"Hey, it's no problem," he responded. "Anytime."

"You do seem like an expert," I said with a grin. "Um, maybe we could talk sometime. If I have any more questions. About my story." I thrust the napkin towards him. He took it gently. I didn't really give him a chance to respond. "Thanks again. Have a good night. Bye," I said quickly. I waved as I walked away, and I did catch him waving as well out of the corner of my eye as I turned away.

Now that I was back outside I was again aware of the chilly air. I rubbed my arms in an attempt to warm them and walked a little faster.

I was a block away before I remembered that it was morning. It was still dark outside, but that was absolutely no excuse. "Ugh," I muttered to myself. "Good night? Really?" However, even with my harebrained parting moment I was still feeling better. It had been easier to talk to someone who I hadn't known all that well. Now that I had collected my thoughts a little there was one more person I needed to talk to.

Michelangelo watched Mikayla leave, for once slightly dumbstruck. Underneath his Cowabunga Carl head his face broke out into a goofy grin. Balancing the four pizza boxes on one hand he delicately folded the napkin with the other, and then headed home.

-Mikayla

It was great talking to you too. Hit me up anytime you need to talk about your story.

-Mikey