"Gwen, you're gonna be late!" Dad's voice calls out, stirring me from sleep.
I rub my eyes and yawn, wincing from tender spots all over my body. Wait… what am I doing wearing my suit under my pajamas?
Tiptoeing over to the restroom, I spot the bruises all over my body. I sigh and get changed into my uniform before heading to the door. But I stop, feeling like I'm missing something.
The halls are filled with the pattering and squeaks of shoes against linoleum at Chelsea Visions Academy.
MJ runs up and slaps me on the back. "Don't forget, Gwen, we're practicing tonight. Don't be late."
"I'll be there," I say, rolling my eyes before stopping into class. Lectures aren't very entertaining so I spend most of it trying to stay awake.
When the bell rings, I grab my bag and get up. My classmates all gather their things and leave through the door. My eyes are drawn to an empty desk in the corner. I'm pretty sure no one sits there… right?
Heading to the community center, I stop a couple bags from being stolen and a mugging or two. After landing, I hide in an alley then change back into my regular clothes so I can jam with the girls.
"Hey, Gwen," MJ says, "You alone this time?"
"This time?"
MJ's expression furrows with confusion at her own question before she shakes her head. "Nevermind, hurry up!"
I head up on stage, placing my bag next to my drum set. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a bass guitar on a stand nearby. I look over at Glory, our bass player. "Hey, this one of yours?"
"Ain't mine," Glory says, shrugging.
"We thought it was yours," MJ says to me, "It was by your drum set when we brought the instruments over."
There's something about it that makes me reach for the ownerless bass. Taking it in hand, I throw its strap over my shoulder, pulling my hair away from my neck. Adjusting it more comfortably, there's a sudden tug at my chest and flush in my cheeks. The worn but familiar feel of its strings has me play chords I don't remember learning.
Practice goes well but throughout I find myself looking over at that bass just off to the side. I end up taking it home, asking Dad to keep it in storage for now.
That weird… feeling… persists through my day, making it hard to focus so I stop somewhere to clear my head.
High above the New York rooftops, my powers keep me adhered to the underside of a skyscraper overhang. Looking out into the upside down city, I slip in an earbud and scroll through my phone, wondering what music I should listen to during tonight's patrol.
I go through a few playlists but I'm not feeling any of them, until one catches my eye.
"Cornball?" I mutter, the word causing another tug at my chest.
There's a few songs on here that I know but one sticks out to me. Love, my favorite song to play during jam sessions.
Warmth slides down across my forehead. I'm crying but don't know why. Slipping on my mask, I press play and drop down into the city along opening beats.
In freefall, there it is again. A longing… a faint voice… telling me to go and make happy memories.
