Not Your Villain (Sidekick Squad #2)(27)

Genevieve gives him a thoughtful look. “Okay, but… you registered? With an address?”

“Abandoned strip mall in Devonport.”

“Your home is relatively safe, then. You want to go there?”

Bells thinks about his empty house. His parents are at the farm, and Simon is at college. He doesn’t want to go there, not now. Bells knows exactly where he wants to go and whom he wants to be with.

The ride to Emma’s house seems to take no time at all. Bells isn’t quite ready to tell Emma how he feels about her. But he does need to tell her the truth about the superhero thing.

In the soft twilight of the desert, Genevieve radiated power and confidence. But as they pull into town, the brightness of the streetlights reveals the toll of months of capture: exhausted shadows under her eyes, trembling fingers on the steering wheel, eyes that dart to and fro as if she’s chasing shadows only she can see. Bells catches her eyes glazing over, as if she’s struggling to stay awake.

“You need to rest,” he says.

“I need to go back and find my husband,” Genevieve says.

“Do you think he’s still at the base?”

She sighs, rubs at her eyes, and stifles a yawn as they pull into Emma’s street. “I don’t know—I need—I need—”

The low-battery light on the car’s dash is blinking red, and the engine stalls just as they come to a stop outside the Robledo home.

“You’re no good to anyone right now. Just…” He sighs. “Take a break. I’ll be right back after I talk to Emma, okay? Close your eyes and rest. You can’t recharge your powers if you’re actively trying to use them.”

Genevieve gives him a small smile and hugs him.

Bells shakes his head, shuts the door to the red convertible, and waits until Genevieve closes her eyes. Okay, get the adult to calm down, check. Now to tell my best friend the truth about my powers.

Bells goes round to the back, walks through the patio to Emma’s bedroom window, and knocks twice—their signal.

Emma leaves the window screen up so they can see each other easily, just as Bells keeps a spare keychip in a flowerpot in his backyard for Emma. Every crack in the trellis, every scuff on the wall, is a reminder of secrets shared and obstacles overcome. It hurt so much, keeping everything from her.

Bells knocks on the window. His heart rate speeds up.

Emma’s face peers out; her brown eyes and dark skin are warm contrast to the baby blue of her bedroom. Her bed is neatly made. Every decoration is lined up according to Emma’s penchant for ninety degree angles. It’s comforting, among the current chaos, to know Emma’s perfectionism is still alive and kicking.

“Bells?” she asks, pushing open the window. “What are you doing here? There’s a red alert—a meta-human has gone rogue! Get inside!”

Bells is touched by her concern. He is relieved that she hasn’t given up on their friendship even though they had a fight.

Bells crawls in. “Yeah, about that. I have something I need to tell you.”

Emma narrows her eyes. “Are you okay? Look, I know you’ve been pushing me and Jess away lately and, if you started seeing someone, you know that it’s okay, right? I’m not gonna judge you if you’re dating someone. I’d be happy for you, actually.”

Bells shuts the window, wishing he had a super-sense that could tell him if someone was listening in on their conversation. But the League would have no reason to bug the Robledo house, he hoped.

“I’m not dating anyone. I’m… I have meta abilities. That’s why I kept disappearing after school. I had to go to training and sometimes I had missions for the League.”

Emma’s eyes go wide. “You’re… you’re in the Heroes’ League of Heroes? Bells, oh, my gosh, that’s amazing!” She wraps her arms around him and squeezes him. “I was so worried!”

“Ems, you’re squeezing me really tight.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry! I was just excited.” Emma lets him go, and Bells exhales. “So! What kind of powers do you have? What’s your codename? Oh, oh, oh, you’re trusting me with your secret identity. Oh, my gosh, this is huge!” Emma’s eyes shine.

“I can’t show you my powers because I have to recharge, and I won’t be ready until tomorrow.” Bells steps back and holds her by the shoulders. She’s practically vibrating out of her skin, and he can see how the thoughts are turning over and over in her head. “Emma,” he says with his heart in his throat. “I’m in trouble.”

“What can I do to help? You know I’d do anything for you.”

“Okay, I’m going to explain everything.” Bells starts to relax for the first time since Jess and Abby showed up on his doorstep. He peers out the window and, sure enough, Genevieve is still in the car, looking very much asleep. “But first, can you help me get an unconscious Mistress Mischief into your guest room?”

It takes some effort for Bells and Emma to help Genevieve into the house. She mumbles about needing to go, to fight, to find her husband, but she can barely walk. Once in the Robledo guest room and tucked into bed, she’s out like a light.

Emma is bouncing up and down. “She is the coolest villain. I mean, always with the pranks and the chaos, but so much style.”