Chapter Sixty Four
...
Magenta walked into the cafeteria, feeling as though everyone was staring at her. It felt as though they all knew what she'd done, that it was written above her head in neon lights, advertised to the world. She didn't feel like a woman, she didn't feel loved, she simply felt sick. It was only years of control that stopped her from shifting and running to hide in a dark space.
Taking a tray from the cafeteria line, Magenta grabbed the first things she saw, only skipping the pizza because even in her dazed state, she knew better.
Conversations about Blue McQueen abounded around the cafeteria, no longer whispers and hushed comparisons, but loud and full-on words and arguments. The counsellor was booked from morning to afternoon, not that Magenta checked. It was just something that she noticed as she passed by the door that she didn't usually pass; the time slots all filled with 'booked' in giant red letters. The next appointment wasn't available until Thursday morning.
"It's absolutely true; Lady Peregrine said the same thing about him - "
"He plied her with alcohol and threatened her - "
Super Jesus, even the freshmen were talking about it. Magenta thought they might have been spared it, kept some of their innocence, but they looked as incensed as the seniors.
"He coerced her into doing it. She didn't want to - "
Layla's voice was clear over the din of noise, and Magenta slowed her steps so she could listen. She vaguely noticed that Donny wasn't in the cafeteria and wondered if the students' thoughts would be too much for him.
"It's just like Lustful; her first boyfriend said she'd prove her love for him if she had sex with him. He manipulated her, he pressured her into having sex with him. Sure, it just started off with some making out, and since she agreed to that, it sounds innocent enough. But he kept going and didn't stop when she said no."
Magenta felt numb and the tray dropped from her hands. Her control finally slipped and she shifted, running from the cafeteria as fast as her tiny legs could carry her.
"I'll clean it up," Ethan said, standing and collecting the fallen tray, using napkins to clean the spilled food. He set the pudding and juice on the table since they hadn't broken, and set Magenta's phone beside them. "Don't eat Magenta's lunch," he said before taking the tray to put away and rubbish to the bin.
"I wasn't gonna eat her lunch. I was thirsty," Zach muttered, setting the juice back down.
"Where's Will?" Craig asked, not seeing him in the cafeteria.
"Emergency in Westville," Adam said without looking up from his phone.
"Six car pile up on the highway. They went too fast on a windy road," Wendy added.
"Nice control," Craig said with a grin.
"Thanks."
"They've all been saved; ambulance is on the way for a fractured leg and a broken collarbone," Adam said, looking at the highway camera feed.
"Good to know. I'm getting lunch for Donny; he's in with the counsellor at the moment. Anyone else want anything?" Wendy asked as she stood up.
"Can you get me another juice, please?" Zach asked.
"Sure. Any flavour?"
"Not grape or raspberry; Zach'll be climbing the walls in Mad Science," Ethan said.
"Fine, apple," Zach said with a sigh.
"Stop reading the social feeds, hippie. You've already destroyed your headphones, I'd prefer to leave the cafeteria unscathed," Warren said, resting a hand on her forearm gently.
She was hot to touch, even for him.
"The Commander and Jetstream have released a statement," Layla replied tersely. "They're standing by the director and studio."
"What?" Craig asked incredulously. "Dude, where's the statement?" he asked Adam, tugging at his sleeve.
"I'm typing, stop it," Adam said, finishing his search before bringing up Jetstream and the Commander's statement, sending a link through their group chat for the others to see as well.
Craig read the screen next to him, and across the table, Ethan and Zach were reading the statement on Ethan's phone as well.
Wendy returned, frowning when she saw everyone reading in silence on their phones. "What'd I miss?"
"Jetstream and the Commander released a statement," Zach said, taking the juice from her with thanks.
"They're siding with the studio and director, not Blue McQueen," Craig added.
"Super Jesus, that's bad," Wendy murmured, sitting and taking up her phone to see the link Adam had sent.
"What's made you all go so quiet?" Ritchie asked curiously on the table behind Zach and Ethan. "You were talking non-stop for twenty minutes, then it fell to dead silence," he explained.
"Did you hear what we were talking about?" Wendy asked curiously.
"Nah, too much noise for that. It's just the lack of noise, y'know?" Ritchie said. "So, what's going on?"
"Jetstream and the Commander released a statement siding with the studio," Adam replied.
"Fuck. Seriously?"
"I'll send you the link. What's your number?" Wendy asked.
Ritchie rattled off his number and soon received a text with the link. He shared it with his friends at his table, the news continuing to spread around the cafeteria. The students' noise reduced to whispers of confusion and disbelief.
Would the Commander and Jetstream really do this? Would they side with studio making them money, rather than Blue McQueen?
"They've gotta have a good reason for siding with the studio, right?" Ben asked Lisa.
"Yeah. They're good people, they're superheroes," Larry added.
Lisa didn't look as convinced. "They're good superheroes, great even, but... people sometimes make mistakes," she said, glancing across the cafeteria to where Wendy was sitting. "I'm going to look into it," she said, standing and taking Ben's hand so he'd leave with her.
Larry looked to his girlfriend. "What do you think?"
"About what?"
Larry winced; he'd forgotten he wasn't dating her for her brain. "Uh, never mind."
Magenta's phone vibrated on the table with an incoming message.
Adam looked over briefly, then flipped to an app on his own phone. "It's from Will. Asking about a date on Friday to make up for the one he missed. Glass Mirror, fancy."
"Great. Reply that she'll meet him there," Warren said.
"Will he believe that after what happened last time?" Ethan asked.
"Fine, ask him to pick her up, but delete both messages from Magenta's phone," he said, Adam nodding and replying to Will's message.
Over in Westville, Will grinned at his girlfriend's easy response to his offer of a date. Magenta hadn't seemed that happy when she'd left yesterday morning, so he hoped the expensive date - one he'd actually attend this time - would smooth over any problems.
Returning his attention to the reporter on scene, Will smiled charmingly at the blonde woman, who was asking him his thoughts on his parents' recent statement.
"Wendy, would you help me look for Magenta so we can return her phone to her?" Layla asked.
"Sure. Bathrooms?" Wendy suggested as she stood up.
"Good idea; they're darkest if she can get into a corner."
"Think we can convince Magenta to go to Heidi's birthday party on Friday?" Zach asked.
"Do you really want to spoil your sister's birthday?"
"Are you kidding? She'll have the chance to tell Magenta off for dumping me. Hmm, on second thought, maybe not; Heids might fry her."
Craig snickered. "At least it'd be entertaining."
Finding Magenta huddled behind a toilet, Layla and Wendy coaxed her out and encouraged her to return to her human form. Sitting on the toilet seat, Magenta put her head in her hands. "I feel like shit."
"You look like shit," Wendy agreed.
Layla glared at her friend, then turned her attention to Magenta. "You dropped your phone in the cafeteria, and you haven't eaten anything yet. Are you hungry?" she said, offering her phone.
"Kinda? Not really? I don't know," Magenta said, shoving her phone in her pocket, unable to meet their eyes.
"Do you want pudding or juice? They're the only things that survived," Wendy added, offering both to her.
Taking the juice, Magenta sipped slowly and hoped her churning stomach would settle. "Thanks. I didn't think anyone would care if I ran out of there," she admitted quietly.
"Of course I care. You're my friend, Magenta," Layla said.
"I could be your friend. If you want, of course, I'm not going to force you," Wendy added.
Magenta promptly turned and threw up into the toilet. Layla made soothing noises and patted her back gently, holding her hair back.
"Wendy, could you get Nurse Spex, please?" Layla asked over her shoulder.
"Sure, be right back," Wendy said.
Her stomach empty, Magenta flushed the toilet and sat on the floor, her knees curled up to her chest, her back pressed to the cubicle wall, and her face pale.
"Are you feeling better now? Want to talk about it?" Layla asked when Magenta shook her head.
"No. I... I just ate some bad food," she lied.
"That might work with Nurse Spex, Magenta, but I know you didn't eat anything at lunch. You dropped your food next to my table, remember?"
Magenta bit her tongue and lowered her head onto her knees, wishing that Nurse Spex would hurry up already.
"Did you enjoy Will's party?" Layla asked, obviously trying to take Magenta's mind off feeling sick and not knowing that it made her feel worse.
"I don't want to talk about it. Please, can we just sit here quietly until Nurse Spex comes?"
"All right," Layla said, moving to sit next to Magenta on the floor, putting an arm around her shoulders.
Magenta realised then that she was crying, and she accepted the toilet paper Layla offered, wiping her tears and blowing her nose noisily, throwing the wad into the toilet. She wanted to apologise, to explain, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, Magenta just cried against Layla's shoulder and tried not to feel like shit.
Wendy finally returned with Nurse Spex. The school nurse took one look at Magenta, shook her head with a tut, then led her to the nurse's office where she could look over her properly and in all likelihood, send her home for the rest of the day.
...
"William Theodore Stronghold!" Josie snapped as the door opened.
Will winced at his mother's tone and wondered if he could fly away before she... Nope, she was already in the foyer. "Uh, hi, Mum. What's wrong? I'm on my lunch break, not skipping school. I was running late this morning, so I didn't get a chance to get anything to eat," he said quickly.
"I thought we taught you better? It's all over the news!"
"What... what is? The pile-up on the highway?" Will asked in confusion.
"No! You disagreeing with our statement!" Josie said, indicating to the lounge room where the news was playing.
Will saw himself on TV - Airborne, not Airhorn, thank you, Mrs. Gawler - and watched as the reporter asked him about his views on his parents' most recent statement.
"Uhh. They have their opinions, and y'know, are probably right. They could be wrong, though. You'd probably have to ask them about it," Will rambled off nervously, not wanting to admit that he had no idea what 'statement' he was being asked about.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Steve asked sternly, hands on his hips.
"I don't know? I don't even know what statement Tasha was talking about?!"
Steve frowned. "Who's Tasha?"
Will blushed. "Oh, uh, the reporter. Y'know, she said to call her Tasha, and I thought it was a good idea to be friendly with the media."
Josie pinched the bridge of her nose. "Not that friendly, Will. Super Jesus, you're trying to ruin our reputation, aren't you?"
"What? Of course not! I'm... I thought I did a good thing?" Will asked, his voice falling.
"You did, son. You saved those citizens," Steve said with a firm nod.
"Yes. That was a good thing," Josie said after a long moment of silence. "But you need to work on your media and communication skills. I have an appointment with Principal Powers to discuss your sidekick. I'll also talk with her about getting you enrolled in a higher grade's communication skills class, since you obviously need it. Did you look at the sidekick options I left for you yesterday?"
"Uh, yes. I totally read them over. I want Magenta."
"She... she wasn't one of the options, Will," Josie said.
While Magenta had complimented Josie on Will's birthday party, she didn't think that her image would be suitable for the public.
"I know that. I still want her. We work well together, and I... I love her," Will said defiantly.
Josie wondered if shaking Will by the shoulders would knock some common sense into him; of course he thought it was love, he was sixteen, and Magenta was - underneath it all - a pretty girl.
It was as though the realisation had just hit her and she'd never noticed it before. A makeover, under the pretence of a day out together to get to know each other better, she mused. With enough guidance - subtle, of course - Magenta could be moulded into exactly what Josie, what Will, needed her to be.
"Of course. That's brilliant, Will. If you already work well together, that's half the battle won. Why don't I text Magenta and ask her on a girl's day out for the weekend? I can get to know her better, and it must be serious if you love her," Josie said, trying her hardest not to scoff.
She refused to let herself think how Will had said the same thing of Layla only half a year ago.
"Really? Uh, yeah, sure. Okay, I'm sure she'd love that," Will said, pulling his phone out to get Magenta's number for his mother.
"Blue McQueen's interview revealed she was pressured into sex by the director of the new The Commander and Jetstream vs. King Kamehamayhem movie," the reporter said on the TV. "It has resulted in support and scorn by both supers and citizens across the world. The Commander and Jetstream released a statement this morning stating that they were supporting the movie studio and director, and that they were sorry this had to happen during filming."
"Mum, Dad, you didn't," Will said, his jaw hanging open.
"They're taking it out of context," Josie said, turning the TV off as the image of herself and the Commander appeared at a podium. "She's just doing it for attention, anyway."
"Besides, she didn't stop him, how could he have pressured her into it?" Steve added, looking to his wife for confirmation that he'd said the right thing.
Will thought about his own words to Magenta, how he'd turned making out into something more, and his stomach churned. No, it was different with her. He hadn't pressured her. They loved each other, it was different. Totally.
"Will, Magenta's number?" Josie prompted.
Swallowing hard and forcing himself to ignore his stomach - he was just hungry, that's all - Will nodded and read out Magenta's number.
"Thank you. Now, you said you came home for lunch?" his mother asked with a bright smile, leading him through to the kitchen.
...
Honey tried to smile at Tate, but the action fell short. Tate didn't seem to notice, still talking about himself, his ideas for the business once the current CEO was booted out, completely ignoring anything other than himself and his own words.
Honey had already tried to discuss the takeover three times, about the ideas she had for the business - there was a reason she was taking it over as CEO, rather than buying out the shareholders like she usually did - but Tate had ignored her, talked over her, and steamrolled over her until his voice was the only sound. She wondered if he'd even notice if she left halfway through dinner and didn't return.
Maybe setting a mirror in her seat would have him preening at his reflection like a bird? Honey mused, her mouth twitching at the thought.
Thinking ahead to the future, Honey almost sighed audibly in relief when she saw that the date would end sooner than she'd expected.
Their food arrived, the waiter giving Honey a pitying look as they set the plates down.
"Tate, that's mine," Honey said.
Still ignoring her, Tate started to eat, talking between bites and waving his fork around like he was conducting. After a few minutes, Tate coughed and frowned at the plate in front of him. "Are there... peanuts in this?" he asked with another cough, his throat starting to swell.
"As I tried to say earlier, that's my meal; satay chicken," Honey said. "Left pocket," she added, nodding to his jacket pocket.
Tate coughed and wheezed, patting all of his pockets before finding his EpiPen in the top left pocket and stabbing himself, breathing deeply in relief a moment later.
Honey dropped a few notes on the table to cover her dinner. Not even the dessert would be worth sitting there with Tate for another minute longer. "Thank you for making this easy for me, Tate," she said, standing up as she scrolled through her phone. "Sarah, buy out Tate's shares directly," Honey said as she left the restaurant.
"Can I do it in the morning?" Sarah asked with a grin.
"Oh, fine."
"Bad date, then?" Sarah asked.
"I think he went on a date with himself, rather than me. Besides, he had the worst ideas for the business. I don't want him anywhere near it if that's what he thinks will be useful."
"That sucks. Want me to tell your mother?"
"You're with her? Oh, the wedding plans. In that case, yes."
"Yeah. I lost a fiver; Edith had the puffy dresses, not Hyacinth."
"Oh, please don't do that to me."
"Depends on whether you'll accept my holiday application," Sarah said, grinning.
"Blackmail? I knew I liked you for a reason," Honey teased. "Of course I'm accepting it, even though I'll miss you terribly. I mean that, by the way; Zona will be coming in for an interview."
"Then I'm definitely leaving. All right, I'll tell your mother you had a horrible date, and I'll steer them away from the puffy dresses."
"You're amazing, Sarah."
She laughed brightly. "I know. Drive safe."
"Thanks, I will."
Honey ended the call, threw her phone on the passenger seat, and turned on her car's ignition to drive home. Even without her power, Honey knew that she'd enjoy the rest of the night by herself far more than she would have if she'd left with Tate. At least she could get herself off, which was more than could be said for Tate in the other thread of reality. Honey was glad when that thread disappeared and resulted in a happy ending for herself instead.
...
"Will? What are you doing here?" Magenta asked in surprise.
"Our date? I'm taking you to the Glass Mirror," Will prompted.
"Oh. That's... nice. A bit last minute," Magenta added to herself under her breath.
"Did you forget the time?" he asked, following her inside.
Seeing the Yolanda family set up in the dining room around a large Monopoly board, Will realised that Magenta must have forgotten about their date.
He wasn't the only one spacing out on their dates, now, was he?
"Uh, Mama, Papa, Will's going to take me to the Glass Mirror on a date. Now," Magenta added, wincing.
Mrs. Yolanda muttered something to her husband, who put a hand over hers and squeezed gently. He smiled at his daughter. "That is very nice. You should change out of your pyjamas though, querido," Mr. Yolanda said. (Dearest)
Magenta blushed on realising she was wearing her worst clothes, complete with gnawed holes and food stains. "I'll be right back," she said, rushing out of the lounge room.
"Saw you on the news, Will. Getting real friendly with the reporters, aren't you?" Cyan said, glaring at him.
Will wondered if could take Cyan on; he was in college and a citizen, as well as Magenta's brother, and he doubted she'd like him beating her brother up. "Uh, I... I was just being nice."
Cyan said something under his breath, not quiet enough for his mother's hearing, who snapped at him not to swear. All of this was said in Spanish, so Will found himself standing there awkwardly and not understanding a thing.
"All right, ready. Do you think this is okay?" Magenta asked, wearing a purple shirt with a long grey skirt, probably to hide her purple boots.
"You look great, Magenta," Will said, relieved that she'd returned so soon.
"Enjoy your date, querido. Mami, sit, she will be fine. Airborne will look after her, won't he?" Mr. Yolanda said firmly.
"Yes, sir. I will," he agreed with a nod.
"Bye, Mama, Papa. Enjoy the game. Love you," Magenta said, kissing her parents cheeks, then kissing Cy and Cer's cheeks just to rile them up.
Magenta blushed when she saw Will watching and hurried to lead him outside. Will held her close as he flew them up into the sky and over to Westville for their date.
...
Magenta hated how nervous she felt on their date. Will had either been saving Westville citizens during their lunch breaks, or going home because he forgot food or money, or spending time in the library because he hadn't finished any of his homework for the week. She'd hardly seen him since last Sunday, and she didn't think he even knew that she'd gone home sick on Monday.
"Uh. Did you get my mum's message?" Will asked once they'd placed their orders, the conversation grounding to a halt soon after.
Magenta nodded. "Yeah. It's really nice of her to plan a girl's day out with me. I haven't done one before," she admitted with a brief smile.
"Oh, that'll be fun then. Mum does them heaps, helps her de-stress after saving the world," Will said with a grin. "That reminds me: do you want to be my sidekick? Uh, Hero Support, sorry."
"What?" Magenta asked, her eyes wide.
"We, uh, work together. Well, I mean. We work together well, and I just... I thought you'd like to be my Hero Support. Mum's going to discuss getting permission for you to leave with me for like, emergencies in Westville and stuff. Do you want to?"
Magenta couldn't believe it. Will was asking her to be his sidekick (Hero Support, whatever). She wanted to agree immediately, but instead, what came out of her mouth was, "Are you sure?"
Will seemed surprised she wasn't agreeing instantly as well, but he nodded firmly. "Yeah, I'm sure. I mean, you'd be great at getting into small spaces, and... you're good with people. You were telling me about how you helped Gail when she was upset, remember?"
Magenta bit her tongue; she'd been complaining about helping Gail. Still, Magenta knew that she'd never get a chance like this again. She had a watered down version of her father's power to turn into a lion, and no one else would want a guinea pig for a sidekick.
Will must truly love her, after all.
"I'd love to be your Hero Support, Will."
Will grinned brightly. "Awesome. I'll tell Mum tonight; she'll probably want to talk your ear off about super suit colours tomorrow."
"Oh. Great," Magenta said, already dreading the conversation.
"Don't worry, she'll help you pick something that matches Airborne's outfit. Maybe there's a material that shrinks; do you think your guinea pig could wear one?"
Magenta doubted she'd be able to move if she was wearing an outfit as a guinea pig, and besides, her clothes kind of disappeared when she shifted anyway. She didn't exactly want to admit that in public, so she shrugged instead, and Will continued to talk about cute little guinea pig outfits until their food came out.
...
"Warren? Kids? Do you want any ice cream?" Nina called out, making her way to Warren's room when there was no answer.
Knocking on the door, she opened it slowly when there was still no response. Nina frowned at the scene that met her: Warren was lying on a blanket on the floor, Craig and Wendy were curled up on either side of him, Layla was curled up on top of him, Donny was under Warren's legs somewhere, and Ethan and Zach were entwined together with Warren using them as a pillow. All of them were asleep, except for Adam who was sitting on Warren's bed. He had headphones on, so Nina waved to get his attention.
Adam quickly tugged his headphones off and smiled at her. "Hi, Ms. Peace."
"What's going on?"
"Everyone's discovered Warren's like a radiator, and I beat them in rock, paper, scissors for the bed," Adam replied.
Nina blinked at the explanation that didn't really explain much, and shook her head. "I'll have to buy more condoms," she muttered to herself as she left.
...
End of the sixty-fourth chapter.
