Not Your Villain (Sidekick Squad #2)(13)
Bells goes back to Andover with instructions to report to the Vegas Heroes’ League of Heroes Center in two weeks for his supersuit fitting and his first assignment. He already met with the supersuit designer and chose his look. His colors are rainbow-hued and ever-changing, which fits his superhero name perfectly: Chameleon.
He’s going to be a hero.
Ch. 3...
[Group chat “WHY SO FAR BELLS” has been renamed to “SOON SOON SOON” by Emma Robledo.]
Emma: i can’t believe this i am so sorry i thought we would be back last week!!!
Jess: bells is so tall!!!
Emma: its only been one summer, how
Bells: SHUT UP GUYS ITS NOT A BIG DEAL
Bells: ALSO HOW DO YOU KNOW JESS DIDNT GET SHORTER
Jess: i feel betrayed
Bells: how is the South
Emma: i am so tired of my cousins already. my abuela is awesome though. she’s teaching me how to cook but i’m hopeless at it. she’s so disappointed already. “just like your mom” ahahaha
Bells: aww are you tired of your family already
Emma: well, they’re never boring that’s for sure. oh! funny thing, there’s a kid from school visiting his family too. carlos? you guys know him
Bells: we had Matteson together?
Jess: no idea. not in AP, remember
Emma: sorry jess; yeah he’s pretty cool, we’ve been hanging out
Jess: did both your moms make it?
Emma: nah, mama is traveling again. council work, blah blah blah. i think she wants to run for supreme mugwump, which could be cool.
Jess: PRESIDENT ROBLEDO
Emma: ahaha maybe
but i don’t really wanna move to new bright city
Bells: did you guys talk about it?
Emma: yeah kinda? i mean mom talked to her and is like, super supportive? i guess it’s not a big deal since she can work as a doctor anywhere, and they’re all saying like, they waited until i would be done with school and in college, but it’s all so soon, like running for office during my senior year? it’s crazy
Jess: yeah its stressful. you would have to be in the holovids for the campaign and stuff?
Emma: not so much, i mean they’re mostly using old vids, but i look like such a kid lol. anyways!! i can’t wait to see you. i would say don’t even see jess and wait until we’re all together but i know you guys already hung out
Jess: [IMG4020.ppg]
Emma: what. i cannot. believe. you are TOGETHER RIGHT NOW and YOU GOT THAI TEA WITHOUT ME??? aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Jess: ahaha. we’d call you but the network isn’t v good here, it keeps going in and out.
Emma: FINE. have all the fun without me
Bells takes another sip of his Thai tea as Jess posts more pictures of their week’s adventures into the chat. His heart sinks. If Samantha Robledo does run for President, Emma’s whole family will have to travel a lot, maybe move to New Bright City. Of the twenty-four Councilmembers who represent the populated regions of the Collective, three leaders are elected to represent the former countries of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. They have about as much power as the rest of the Council, but they make the most speeches.
Emma’s mama has been on the Council for three years. Emma doesn’t talk about it much, but with her mom working long hours at Andover Memorial Hospital, Bells knows she misses spending time with both of them.
From: Emma 12:41pm
are you ok
what happened to your caps in the main chat
To: Emma 12:41pm
I’M FINE. JUST DON’T LIKE THE IDEA OF YOU MOVING SO FAR AWAY
From: Emma 12:45pm
its a longshot, i mean kingston is probably gonna win again
To: Emma 12:45pm
IT WOULD BE SO COOL FOR YOUR MAMA THO
From: Emma 12:45pm
haha yeah
also manny wants to know what color your hair is today
To: Emma 12:46pm
GREEN AND PURPLE.
To: Emma 12:47 pm
[IMG-2049.ppg]
From: Emma 12:51pm
lol i just showed him. he’s jealous. he wants to dye his hair but my aunt won’t let him
To: Emma 12:51pm
TELL YOUR ABUELA HI FOR ME
From: Emma 12:51 pm
of course. she says she misses you too
To: Emma 12:52 pm
i miss you
From: Emma 12:52pm
miss you too, you huge dork. <3<3<3<3<3
Bells traces the hearts with wistful fingers. They’re friends, and they love each other. And yet, every summer, Bells comes back from Meta-Human Training hoping that his crush on Emma has faded, only to discover he’s still crushing. He’s been in love with her for some time, and most of the time that’s enough. But then the thought, what if, needles him. If I never tell her, I’ll never know; what if, what if, what if?
*
Emma comes back to Andover on an otherwise uneventful Tuesday. Jess and her family are visiting her sister Claudia in Crystal Springs, and she has complained often in the group chat about not being able to have a reunion with all three of them.
Emma: its only fair. you got to see him first
Jess: [IMG-9211.ppg]
Emma: don’t you make SAD FACES at me
Emma: so unfair
Bells stares at his reflection; the light catches on the few streaks of blue in his twisted hair. He tugs on a lavender V-neck T-shirt. He focuses on the streaks and turns them purple, a better match for his shirt.