BOOCH

The rumble of debris shifting above us makes me hold Chloe tighter as we huddle in what remains of the supermarket basement. I trace the outline of her face in the dim emergency lights, memorizing every feature while I still can. It seems surreal that our story might end here, trapped beneath the aftermath of Phoebe and Max's battle against that terrible fiend—the one Master Mind created with all the combined powers of the Thundermans.

My name is Kombucha—Booch for short. Yes, like the drink. My mom's choice, not mine, though I've grown to embrace it. It makes me unique, which is something my dad taught me to value along with yoga and a deep connection to nature. Those interests made me an outcast at school, but I never really cared until Jinx came along.

Jinx was my first real friend. He saw something in me that others didn't, and for the first time, I didn't feel completely alone. Then Chloe appeared, and everything changed. I knew she was special from the moment I first saw her. At twelve years old, those feelings were confusing, but they were undeniably real.

Our friendship grew steadily over the years, until that night that nearly ended everything—and almost ended me. Chloe had baked me a cake, knowing how much I loved them. What neither of us knew was that she'd used cashews in the recipe, and my deathly allergy triggered a reaction that nearly killed me. I still remember the terror, the closing of my throat, the panic in her eyes as I was rushed to the hospital.

After that, I couldn't even look at Chloe without reliving the trauma. I avoided her completely until Jinx confronted me.

"Are you going to tell me why you don't talk to Chloe?" he demanded one day.

I shook my head, unwilling to explain.

"She's our friend, can't you see she's suffering?"

That word—suffering—hit me like a thunderbolt. The thought of Chloe in pain because of me was worse than my own fear. That day, I found the courage to talk to her again, and gradually, we rebuilt our friendship. We resumed our sleepovers, and I found comfort in the way we cuddled together, her arms around me making me feel safe in a way I couldn't explain.

As we grew older, I began to understand my feelings, and they terrified me. What if she didn't feel the same way? The uncertainty was agonizing until Phoebe helped me find clarity.

It took me twenty minutes just to ring the Thundermans' doorbell that day, and I nearly bolted when Phoebe answered.

"Hey Booch! Come in. Chloe's not here now though."

"I... want to talk to you..." I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper despite being sixteen—a year younger than Chloe, in case you didn't know.

"O...K..." Phoebe said, sitting on the couch.

I sat beside her, staring at my hands until I felt her gentle touch.

"You can talk to me about anything, Booch... it's OK."

The kindness in her voice gave me the courage I needed.

"I... I... I'm... love... with... with..."

"Jinx?" she guessed.

My eyes widened in shock. "NO! I mean... no..."

Understanding dawned on her face. "Oh... OH..."

I started to stand, certain she was going to ask me to leave and never come back, but instead, she smiled.

"So... you're not mad?" I asked hesitantly.

"Why? I had the feeling this was bound to happen at some point."

"But Chloe..."

"Bake her some cookies, go slow... you'll be surprised."

I hugged her, crying with relief. I wasn't entirely confident it would work, but when I gave Chloe the cookies, something in her eyes told me I was on the right track. When we finally kissed, it felt like paradise. But then she pulled away, saying she couldn't continue, and I immediately understood why.

I remembered the day I discovered she was a superhero. I had overheard a conversation at the spa before Phoebe froze me. That revelation sent me straight back to Phoebe for another heart-to-heart.

"Phoebe... the other day... at the spa... I... discovered something..."

The seriousness on her face confirmed she knew exactly what I meant.

"I... I'm sorry... I heard everything before you froze me... but that doesn't change anything... please don't forbid me to see Chloe or take her away. I promise I won't tell her or anyone that I know."

I waited anxiously for her response, but then noticed her holding her head, wincing in pain.

"Phoebe, are you OK?"

She nodded, but I could see her struggling with the headache—a lingering effect from the brain injury she'd suffered in a previous battle.

"Can I get you anything?" I asked, kneeling before her.

She looked at me with pained eyes. "Just... keep taking care of Chloe... I'll be fine."

I watched as she walked away and disappeared down one of the transport tubes.

Later, while watching a cheesy romantic movie with Chloe, I finally found the courage to open up about my feelings. The moment felt incredible—pure and real, like it was meant to be. But when she said she couldn't reciprocate, I was devastated until I realized why. I told her I knew her secret, and the relief in her eyes when she hugged me made it the best day of my life.

Dating a superhero isn't easy. It's terrifying at times, like the night I was awakened at 2 a.m. by Chloe crashing onto my bed and then to the floor. When I turned on the light, I was horrified to see her uniform in tatters and cuts covering her body. She'd tried to fight someone with energy blades.

"Chloe..." I whispered.

"I tried... I swear I tried..." she murmured.

"Shh... don't say anything... can you... turn back into yourself so I can take care of you?"

She nodded, and I carefully applied my dad's herbal creams to her wounds. She tried not to scream, but tears streamed down her face.

"I'm being as careful as I can... I swear..." I promised.

"I know..." she whispered.

It was around 4 a.m. when we finally cuddled and fell asleep, only to wake a couple of hours later so she could teleport home while I prepared for school.

Now, as rubble continues to shift above us in this destroyed supermarket basement, I hold her close. I don't know how much time we have left, but I'm grateful for every moment we've shared. I reach for her hand in the darkness, and despite everything, I feel a sense of peace. Whatever happens next, the love we found was worth it all.