“Amelia, do you know why I’ve asked you here?” the principal said, glaring down her nose at me.

  “No,” I said flatly. I hadn’t been in any fights, my grades were slipping but passable, and—

  “Your attendance lately has been unacceptable,” she said. Oh, right.

  “Sorry,” I said. “I...haven’t been feeling well.” True enough, I still wasn’t sleeping great.

  “Your guardians haven’t contacted the school to inform us,” she replied sharply.

  “Cell phones don’t work well underwater,” I said, meeting her gaze. She flinched.

  “I’m sorry,” the principal said, shutting her eyes.

  “It’s fine,” I sighed, shaking my head. “I’ll make sure to call next time, is that okay?” Her look of anger shifted to one of concern.

  “Are you doing alright?” she asked.

  “Yup,” I said, popping the ‘p’. “Haven’t been sleeping well so...yeah, sometimes I cut class to nap or whatever. I’ll try to stick it out, okay?” A lie, but the holidays started soon so she couldn’t get on my ass for that long.

  “May I ask, if it’s not too sensitive, what is your living situation?”

  “Independent,” I said with a shrug. “I work, go here uh, pay rent. It’s normal.”

  “It’s…” She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “I suppose in this city it passes for it.”

  “I mean, is it really different than if I was going to university?” I asked. “Not that much of an age difference. I’m really fine, just need to...push through.”

  “I...will say that you have improved some,” she said. “But I must stress that is an unusual situation for a girl your age.”

  “I’ve been called worse things than unusual,” I said simply. “So I’ll try to call if I’m not going to class, or stop by the office before leaving or whatever. Was that it?” She pursed her lips, staring at me quietly for a moment.

  “Please reach out to any of us if you need help, Amelia,” the principal said gently. “You may go.”

  I thanked her and left the office, wiping a bit of sweat from my brow. Could get shot at on the weekend all I wanted, but somehow the principal’s office still made me nervous. I walked out the front door and shivered in the chill, smiling as I saw Amy waiting for me on the sidewalk.

  “Hey,” I said, trotting up.

  “What’d you do this time?” Amy asked, voice cold as the wind.

  “Um, it was just an attendance thing,” I replied. “Nothing bad.”

  “Mm,” she grunted. “Ready to go home?”

  “Uh, yeah,” I said, nodding.

  She grabbed my hand and tugged me along, and I could feel myself starting to sweat all over again. What had I done this time? Was it just me being called to the office, having to wait? She could have waited inside if it bothered her. I licked my lips as we waited at the bus stop, gripping her hand tightly.

  Amy didn’t say a word when we got on the bus, nor after we sat down and got on our way home. Okay she couldn’t be that mad...I mean, she was still holding my hand so, there was that. But she sure looked pissed off and was only giving me sidelong glances. I tried to focus on my breathing, clearly nothing would happen until we got home at least.

  My heart started pounding as we got off the bus, beating faster and faster as we approached our apartment. I didn’t want to do this. I could practically hear her already. I’d gone too far, I was bad for her, I was a monster just like my mom. We both knew it, I’d just managed to fool her into thinking someone like me could get better. Fair play, I’d fooled myself too.

  I flinched as the elevator jolted to a stop. Amy pulled me along and unlocked the door, leading us inside. We kicked off our shoes and dropped our bags, and I grabbed both, bringing them into our room. I turned around and jumped, heart skipping; Amy was right there, arms crossed.

  “Talk to me,” she said flatly. I stared at her silently for a moment, then stepped back as she took a step towards me. “Lia please. I...you’re scaring me.”

  “Sorry,” I said, barely a whisper.

  “What’s going on with you?” Amy asked, taking another step as I retreated. “Why won’t you just talk to me?”

  “What...what do you want me to say?” I said, looking up at her desperately. She looked scared, scared of me? I looked at the ground, hunching my shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

  “Tell me what you’re planning,” she demanded. “This...this thing about you telling me after isn’t working. You’re out there and you’re just getting worse. I don’t know how to help, Mom said she would offer you a place with New Wave but—”

  “You asked for that?” I said, eyes wide.

  “Please, Lia, just take them up on it,” Amy pleaded, reaching out and snatching my hands before I could pull back. “They want to help you too.”

  “I don’t…” I sighed. “I don’t know Amy.”

  “Why?” she demanded. “Why can’t you just be a hero?” I felt an intense tightness close around my chest, crushing, choking.

  “Because I’m a monster,” I said, barely able to hear myself. “I always have been, always will be. I just...I have to try and do whatever good I can, but it doesn’t change who I am. Better I don’t drag anyone down with me.” I wanted to cry, but held my tears back; I didn’t want to make this a pity party.

  “Lia you—”

  “Please don’t make excuses for me,” I blurted, interrupting her. “I...I do too much of it already. Just, just…” I sniffled and shut my eyes. A moment later her arms wrapped around my back and she held me tight.

  “You can be better,” Amy murmured in my ear as tears stung my eyes. “I know you can Lia I...I want you to be.”

  “I’m sorry I fooled you too,” I whined. “I’m sorry you...you deserve better.”

  Her arms tightened around my back as I sobbed, tears staining her shirt. I knew it was ridiculous, that I shouldn’t be reacting like I was six, but it was all too much. Amy muttered sweet, soft lies in my ears about how I could get better, and I clung to her like a life raft pretending it was true.

  Stolen story; please report.

  We both knew it wasn’t, but we tried to forget, at least for a moment.

  “And then I was like ‘boom-boom-boom’, right-left cross and knocked his ass out,” Zeke said, flexing his arms. “Gotta thank Laffy, I feel like I’m motherfuckin’ Rocky right now.”

  “Keep it down, would you?” I said, voice low as I looked around the café we were in.

  “Sorry,” he apologized with a bashful grin. “Just hyped, you know? Not every day I beat up someone what calls me a ni—”

  “Hey guys,” Joy said, sitting in the seat beside me and giving me a quick sidehug. She reached across the table and bumped her fist against Zeke’s. “Sorry I’m late.”

  “Yo J-R,” Zeke said with a grin.

  “Hey Joy,” I said, leaning against her and gesturing to the steaming mug at her place. “Dirty chai, how you like it.”

  “Oh hell yeah, thanks Lia,” she said, grabbing the mug and sipping, a contented sigh escaping her lips. “God, needed that more than I thought. Cold out there today.”

  “Sure is,” I agreed.

  “Not in the zwip,” Zeke said, his smile growing.

  “Zwip?” I repeated the nonsense word, giving him a look and getting a laugh in return.

  “The Z-whip girl, c’mon,”

  “That’s dumb.”

  “It’s kind of funny,” Joy said, elbowing me gently. Despite myself, I felt a smile touch my lips.

  “Okay, it is a little bit funny,” I agreed begrudgingly. “You been okay, Joy?”

  “Oh, yeah, I’m good,” she said. “Um, Laffy was wondering when you’re coming back to the gym.”

  “Don’t have time,” I said, shaking my head. Only a little true. “School’s getting on my ass about attendance and stuff. Got to pretend it’s important, you know?”

  “Can’t you just get an equivalency?” Joy said.

  “You mean like a GED? Yeah that’s the plan maybe,” I said, shrugging. “I don’t know, got to figure it out I guess.” I really didn’t want to bring it up with Amy but...well, I didn’t have much choice there.

  “If you want a hand, let me know okay?” she said, ruffling my hair. “Tutored my little brother the last year he was in school, least I could do to pay you back.”

  “You don’t owe me anything,” I countered, shaking my head. “Both of you, we’re a team; I help you, you help me.”

  “We’re a happy family, like the big purple guy said,” Zeke added lightly. All three of us shared a laugh.

  “Something like that,” I said, shaking my head. “Anyway, how’s the car doing? Any problems so far?”

  “That thing runs like butter,” he replied. “Sounds mean as fuck too, and it can peel out like nothing else. Ain’t driven one like this before.”

  “Sounds awesome,” Joy said.

  “Never been into cars, but as long as it works,” I added, shrugging. “Things are still quiet, so keep working out, training, that stuff. I’ll keep doing what I can to pick up something in the mean time though.”

  “You thought about Papa coming along?” Zeke asked.

  “I...haven’t.” I grimaced. “I know we’re back down to three but...I don’t know Zeke.”

  “Look, I know he’s not like...a conventional hero,” he said, lowering his gaze and his voice. “But Papa’s a good man. He always made sure me and my cousins had food, school supplies, all that shit. Like yeah, he was a G, but he’s a good guy. On my life, I’d have him.” I rubbed the back of my neck.

  “I don’t know Zeke,” I hedged. “Maybe we can talk, but I won’t promise anything. Last thing we need is a gang label and police attention, you know?”

  “I dig,” he nodded. “Appreciate you even considering it, Lia.”

  “What about your friend, Esther right?” Joy asked.

  “Not bringing her in,” I said, shaking my head sharply. “She’s not like us, it wouldn’t be right.”

  “Fair, I guess,” she said. “She’s okay?”

  “Shaken up, but fine,” I confirmed. “Okay, you two ready to run?”

  “Shit, that why you called us out today?” Zeke groaned.

  “Bet your ass,” I said with a grin. “Come on, it’ll keep us warm.”

  The South End could be dangerous, everyone knew that. There were blocks that if you were even a shade darker than alabaster, you’d be robbed and beaten half to death, and that was if you got lucky. Now, with the resurgent Werwolf and their fight with the Undersiders, it was only getting worse.

  Of course, that didn’t mean much to me. For one, I was white as the driven snow, and my haircut made me look like a boy. Even if I was shorter than average, I didn’t get more than a sidelong glance from the people I passed. Besides that, I was a couple steps short of invincible, and had a gun. If anyone wanted to mess with me, it was their funeral.

  But so far, no one had. It was a decent day out, but cold enough that I was wearing a plain scarf around my face. There were plenty of people on the street, but things seemed fairly calm. No roving patrols of Nazi thugs or armed lookouts on the corner. Plenty of graffiti and gang logos, but that was all expected.

  Where was the trouble Lisa had been complaining about? Like, maybe it was because her lookouts were minorities or something, but no way was she that stupid. Just conspicuous then, loitering where they weren’t welcome? I wasn’t sure, but as I turned onto a rough looking avenue I kept my head on a swivel, just in case.

  I kept a firm grip on my pistol, concealed in my pockets. It was still cold enough that I wouldn’t get weird looks, walking around like that. A couple of guys in heavy jackets walked out of the alley, eyes locking on me instantly. I felt the hair on my neck stand up and flicked the safety on my pistol off, but kept it hidden; I wasn’t trying to start shit.

  “Sup bro?” one of them said as they halted a few feet from me, blocking the sidewalk. I paused, sizing them up.

  “What?” I asked shortly, making my voice a little rougher than usual.

  “You been walking around for a while, you lost?” he asked. Ah, so they were watching.

  “Saying I can’t walk where I want?” I challenged. “It’s a free country dude.”

  “We’re private people around here,” his companion said in a reedy, whiny voice. “Don’t like little snitches snooping around.”

  “Well, you’re in the way of me leaving,” I said flatly, eyeing them.

  “Who you with?” the first demanded, taking a step forward.

  “You two, right now,” I replied, gripping my weapon tighter. “You going to let me leave or is this going to be a problem?”

  “‘s’already a problem,” Whiny whined.

  “Okay.” I drew my pistol and held it at my side, making both of them take a step back. “I’ll ask again, is this going to be a problem?”

  “No problem, no problem,” he said, putting up his hands.

  They both backed off, so I strode quickly past them, keeping my gun out til they were behind me. I let out a sigh and pocketed it, shaking my head. Honestly, this city. So much bullshit over small potatoes, it was—

  I whirled around as I heard a scrape on the pavement behind me. The two guys were charging, knives in hand. Stupid. I didn’t pull out my gun, that would be a bit of an overreaction, instead raising my fists and readying myself. One lunged towards me, knife stretching out in front of him. It was so telegraphed I didn’t even need to think, just grabbed his wrist and broke it in one smooth motion.

  He fell when I tugged on his newly broken limb, crying out as his weapon clattered to the ground. The other one rushed in, calling out a name I didn’t bother trying to process. He managed to slash his blade across my arm as I reached out and caught him by the jaw. He whimpered into my hand, then screamed as his bones gave way. He fell when I let him go, dropping his knife and holding his shattered jaw.

  “Guess there was a problem,” I huffed, staring down at them. I gave them both a solid kick in their sides, then booted their knives into the street. “Stupid motherfuckers, let’s see who you are.” I knelt next to Whiny with his broken jaw and started rifling through his pockets. A moment later I found a wallet and tutted, pulling out a driver’s license.

  “Matthew Holloway. You’re pretty loaded for a thug.” I took a wad of cash out, then dropped the wallet on him and stepped over to the other one. I repeated the process, taking the money he had on him and leaving the rest. Was this right, wrong? Irrelevant, these guys signed up for it by trying to kill me. “Pleasure doing business with you, rats.”

  I left them on the sidewalk and headed out quickly, not wanting to stick around for any backup they might have waiting in the wings. That probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, especially when Lisa was already complaining about me stirring shit up. Was I just supposed to sit there and take it though? No, this might not have been the best choice, but it was the right one for the circumstances.

  At least I knew Lisa wasn’t bullshitting me now. Well, I guess I’d just wait for her then, instead of going out on my own trying to gather intel. Even though I hadn’t seen much of anything, I wasn’t coming away empty-handed...besides the cash I’d taken.

  I was willing to bet that block I’d been stopped on had at least one operation going, and those two were probably keeping an eye out for it specifically. I made a mental note of the street name as I retreated, Eisner Avenue. Meant nothing to me, but to the great know-it-all…

  We’d just have to see.