“Esther, your friend is here!” Mom called from downstairs.

  “Coming!” Esther yelled back, cursing under her breath as she dropped the earring she’d been trying to get in; a gavel to go with the scales in her other ear.

  Muttering at herself, she finagled it into the hole and dashed downstairs. She’d been looking forward to this all week. Despite their icy beginnings, Esther had taken a shine to Amy. She was an interesting sort, a hospital volunteer despite going to school full time, while making time for sewing her own wardrobe; and she like legal dramas on top of it! God, she wished Amy was a guy, even if she was trans Esther would take it…

  But being friends was pretty great too.

  “Hey Amy,” Esther said as she came to the door. “Damn, you look good.”

  Amy smiled and looked down at her outfit. She was wearing a cute, orange blouse over top of a chestnut shirt, with a high-collar. The skirt matched, with a nice frill that ended just below her knees. As much as Esther talked up her bust, she would kill for hips like Amy’s. Her own slacks and belted sweater just didn’t compare.

  “Thanks,” Amy mumbled. “You uh, you too. That outfit was a good choice, and I like your earrings.” Oh she'd noticed.

  “Thank you,” Esther said, smiling.

  “You kids have a good time,” Mom said, wrapping an arm around Esther’s shoulders and giving her a quick squeeze. “Make good choices sweetheart.”

  “Thanks Mom,” Esther muttered, blushing.

  They headed out into the cool evening, an easy smile on Esther’s lips. Spring was quickly approaching, a boon after the nasty winter that had just passed. It made for a relatively pleasant walk to the bus stop, if a little quiet. That was okay by Esther’s estimate. She’d been looking forward to tonight, no question, but there was a weird tightness in her chest.

  Nerves, that was all, like she was sitting for a surprise exam; or really, like she’d felt the few times a guy had ever paid attention to her. That was stupid, Esther was aware. She wasn’t gay. Not that it would be bad if she was of course, theoretically it would just open up her options. But women just weren’t hot to her. Amy was beautiful, objectively speaking, but she just wasn’t hot.

  They boarded the bus, still not having said a word since the house. Esther was still enjoying though, happy enough to just be hanging out with her friend. Hopefully Hannah would be back soon. Not that Esther didn’t enjoy her time with Amy, but she wanted to hang out with her other friends too.

  Hannah had said her parents were considering coming back for the summer, but that felt like so, so far away. Esther vowed to call her soon. Hannah was her best friend, even if she was staying with her extended family in Baltimore. Besides, Esther was sure Hannah missed her too.

  “Our stop,” Amy said, elbowing Esther out of her thoughts.

  “Oh, thanks,” Esther replied, rising from her seat and going to the door.

  They hopped off the bus and started walking towards the cinema. It had been a while since Esther had been, but she was excited. Amy had said her mom was some kind of lawyer, like her own uncle, so she should have some opinions on this movie. Sadly Hannah had never been one for the ins and outs of lawyering, but that was fine, they had other stuff to do together. And now Esther had someone to go to the movies with!

  “Looks pretty quiet,” Amy commented as they walked in.

  “I’m not complaining,” Esther replied with a smile.

  “Neither am I,” she said quickly. “Just...wasn’t expecting it.”

  It was pretty dead today. There were maybe ten other people in the lobby, most of them other teenagers. That just made Esther a little more excited. It would be fun to chat during the movie, as long as they weren’t disturbing everyone else. Then again, Amy would probably be more interested in the movie itself. That was fine, they could chat after no problem.

  “You want anything?” Esther asked as they went up to the counter. “My treat.”

  “Are you sure?” Amy said, frowning. “I can pay for myself, it’s no problem.”

  “Nah, it’s fine.” She brandished a gift card, grinning. “Been waiting for an excuse to use this.”

  “Uh, alright, just get whatever,” Amy replied with a shrug.

  She bought the tickets then spent a second browsing the snacks. She wound up getting a couple bottles of Faygo, along with a large popcorn and come candy to share between them. She made sure Amy knew it was for both of them. Conscientious as she was, Esther was sure Amy would end up leaving it all for her to eat.

  The theater their movie was playing in was nearly deserted, with only an elderly couple eyeing them as they made their way up into the seats. That meant they got the best in the house though, halfway up and right in the center. Esther leaned back in her seat, a smile settling on her face as she took a piece of popcorn and bit into it.

  Soon enough, the theater lights dimmed, and the girls shared a smile before the movie began to play.

  “Oh my god that sucked,” Amy groaned as they left the theater, heading to the bus stop.

  “Ugh, I know,” Esther groused, kicking at a discarded can on the sidewalk. “Sorry, I thought the concept sounded cool.”

  “The concept wasn’t the problem,” she replied. “Guy gets possessed by the murder victim of the criminal he’s on the jury for. Fine, okay, kind of weird but like...there’s something there. But god, that was just awful.”

  “And the whole weird fucking…” Esther waved her hand aimlessly. “What do you even call it? Cuckolding plot?” Amy let out a sharp bark of laughter, then covered her mouth sheepishly.

  “Yeah, yeah, that,” she said, chuckling. “Like sure it’s weird being with some other guy’s wife but…” She shook her head. “And then the court scenes weren’t even remotely accurate. They were all talking out of turn, and the judge was just sitting there staring like…” Amy made a face that got Esther giggling.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Also the twist was just…” Esther sighed. “Bad,” they spoke at the same time, then shared a laugh before Esther continued. “That, exactly. I mean seriously, how were we supposed to know he had powers when he thought he was possessed?”

  “Parahuman powers don’t work like that,” Amy said. “Like he would know it was a power, not a ghost taking over him, unless he was actually insane. Plus they screen for parahuman abilities before you stand for jury, they don’t want to chance the pool being tainted.”

  “Huh really?” Her eyes widened. “Damn I didn’t know that. Are they worried about psychics?”

  “Psychics aren’t actually possible, according to modern parahuman theory,” Amy replied, sounding a little stilted. She blushed and shook her head. “Sorry, just...parroting someone I know. She’s kind of a nerd about this stuff.”

  “Huh, no kidding.” Esther thought parahumans could do just about anything. “So, what then?”

  “Just infiltration of sensitive environments by villains, I guess,” Amy said, sounding far too sure to be guessing. “But yeah, they’d have figured it out.”

  “So how do you tell if someone’s a parahuman?” Esther asked as they waited for the bus. “There’s the gland in the head, I know, but what does it do?”

  “There are subtle signs you can see on a brain scan,” she said. “At least with the right machine.”

  “Wow, that’s pretty crazy.” Esther whistled, shaking her head. “I guess you’d know, working at the hospital.”

  “Yeah, that’s it,” Amy said, nodding. “Never actually seen it, I’m not a doctor or anything, but—” A shrill ringing cut her off, and she whipped out her phone, eyes widening. “Shit. I’ve got to get a different bus. It’s an emergency.”

  “Is everything okay?” Esther asked, brow creasing with worry.

  “Yeah just a...it’s all hands on deck,” she said, frowning. “Sorry. I...I enjoyed this though. If you want to hang out again, I’d find some time.”

  “Cool.” They stood there awkwardly for a moment, Esther finding herself at a total lack for words, for once. Fortunately the bus rolled up and saved her. “Okay, uh, see you Ames!”

  “See you,” Amy said, voice sounding slightly strangled. Probably just worried about whatever was happening at the hospital.

  Esther sat on the bus, resting her forehead against the window, a sigh fogging the glass. Hopefully she hadn’t made too much of a putz of herself…

  “Sounds like you’ve been cheating on me,” Hannah said, a teasing lilt in her voice. “I need to come back just to reclaim my best friend status.”

  “Shut up,” Esther replied, giggling. “You know that slot’s reserved. But...it was a good time, made me miss you a little, even though you’d never agree to see a legal drama with me.”

  “I did once,” she complained.

  “And you fell asleep halfway through.”

  “Get your uncle to sue me,” Hannah said, and Esther could practically hear her eyes rolling. “Anyway, it sounds like you had a good time.”

  “Yeah, I did,” Esther said, sprawling back in her bean-bag chair. “Just...I don’t know, she kind of ran off at the end.”

  “Did you say there was some kind of emergency?” Hannah said.

  “Yeah but what if it was just an excuse…”

  “Then she doesn’t deserve to be your friend,” she replied firmly. “But, it sounds like she had a good time hanging out with you too. What’s got you so in your head about this anyway? You’ve never been one to care too much about what people think of you before.”

  “I don’t know,” Esther groaned. “And it’s stupid, because we get along the same way you and I do. But sometimes my mouth gets dry and I forget whatever funny thing I was gonna say, then make an idiot of myself.”

  “Oh, like with Tyler.”

  “With…” Esther blinked. “That was different, Tyler’s a guy.” And the rugby team’s winger. Not even out of her league, but he’d never given her the time of day...not that she’d ever worked up the courage to ask for it.

  “So what?” Hannah said.

  “So I’m not gay,” Esther said. “Like obviously, you’ve known me since we were kids. When have I ever been into other girls?”

  “Well you spent a hell of a long time complaining about how big and soft Debbie Ryan’s tits looked in eighth grade, and how they were so hot she was taking all the boys’ attention,” her friend said. “Oh, and you were always looking around in the change room. I remember some girls calling you a perv.”

  “Oh my god, I can’t believe you remember that,” Esther groaned. “It was like twice.”

  “More than I ever ogled my classmates,” Hannah replied with a grin in her voice. “You know I don’t judge you, right? If you’re into girls, that’s fine. Hell, maybe you’ll finally get some success and stop complaining about being terminally single.”

  “Yeah but I’m not a lesbian, Hannah!”

  “You can be bi,” she said, nonchalant.

  “Okay, executive change of topic.” Esther took a deep breath to try and recenter herself, even as her cheeks burned. “How’s Baltimore treating you, your family okay?”

  “We’re okay,” Hannah sighed. “Looking forward to coming home. I heard it’s getting dangerous again though, that’s why my parents are keeping us here. You’re on the ground though, what’s it like?”

  “Mostly fine,” she said. “The South End is going through it though. Someone finally got tired of a Nazi gang in town and is going crazy to wipe them out, straight up executing them sometimes.”

  “Oh shit,” Hannah said. “That’s...I mean that’s awful but, well…”

  “They’re Nazis,” Esther finished. “Yeah, I know. Remember I told you a few months back I got saved by a hero?”

  “Amaranth right?”

  “That’s the one,” she said with a nod. “She’s running a gang now, the one going after them.”

  “Isn’t she our age?” Hannah asked. “That’s messed up. Man, capes lives must suck.”

  “I can’t imagine,” Esther sighed.

  And really, she didn’t want to.

  “Another long night?” Esther asked kindly as Amy plopped down at her seat and bonked her forehead against the table. “You’re going to burn yourself out if you don’t take it easy.”

  “Have to,” Amy groaned. “They need me.”

  “Yeah but if they lose you because you’re exhausted, isn’t that worse?” she replied. “My bubbe was a nurse and gave herself a heart attack at thirty from overwork. She survived, but spent a couple months stuck in bed recovering. After that, she always made sure to pace herself, so she could stick it out til she retired. Made it to eighty-two, then passed away quietly in her sleep.”

  “You sound like Lia,” Amy muttered, making Esther wince.

  “Sorry,” Esther replied. “But...I don’t know, maybe she wasn’t always an idiot then.” Her friend sighed, then pushed herself up, resting her chin on her palm.

  “Yeah, I know,” she said quietly. “It’s just...look I can’t tell you everything okay? But I need to do this. Cutting back...it’s just not an option.” Esther frowned.

  “Is someone blackmailing you?” she asked. “Or like, I don’t know, do you owe somebody for this?”

  “The latter, or something like it,” Amy answered glumly. “I’m...not a good person Esther. I won’t get into details, but that’s how it is.”

  “Bullshit,” Esther said flatly, making Amy flinch. “I told you before, I don’t believe in people being good or bad. You do good things though, helping people out where you can. You don’t go hurting people or anything either, and you’re a pretty good friend. Maybe you’ve done bad things in the past that you’re broken up about, but you’re making right.” There was a long, heavy silence.

  “It’s not enough,” Amy said quietly, after a minute. “It never will be.”

  “Well…” Esther sighed and put her hand on Amy’s, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I think it’s more than enough, I think...I like you, Amy.”

  She realized, in a flash, exactly what she meant by that and her cheeks began to burn. Amy did too, judging by the wide-eyed look she gave Esther. She stared into Amy’s deep, brown eyes, flecked with streaks of amber that lit up under the fluorescent bulbs overhead. She really was beautiful...and Esther understood exactly why she thought that.

  God, she was a real idiot. At least...she realized finally. Of course there was no reason Amy would reciprocate. Esther definitely wasn’t bad looking, but she didn’t have the cute factor on her side; to say nothing about how her legs simply didn’t compare. Amy took Esther’s hand, squeezing it tight.

  “I’m sorry,” Amy mumbled. “I didn’t mean to…” She trailed off, staring at the table.

  “Didn’t mean to what?” Esther asked, confused. “You didn’t do anything, besides being my friend. This is all...all me.” For better or worse. Amy looked up and stared into her eyes for a quiet, tense moment.

  “You...I...So...what then?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, a small, timid smile appearing on her face. “Want to...go on a real date?” Amy took a deep breath, smiling.

  “I thought you’d never ask.”