Myshtal, who was just unwrapping a power bar, paused for a moment before responding. “I thought it was great! Everything just seemed wonderful. I really think I’m going to like it here.”
“Well, it’s not just the facilities that are great,” Smokey noted. “The people here are generally nice, too.”
“Oh, I know,” Myshtal agreed. “Like at the party – you were all so congenial, and I appreciate how your friends made me feel included.”
“No problem,” Smokey said.
“Speaking of the party,” I began, a little red-faced, “I don’t think I apologized for the way Electra and I kind of ghosted on you guys.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Smokey said. “Everyone understood and no one took offense. You did miss saying goodbye to Kane and Gossamer, though, since they went back home right after the party ended.”
I nodded, but didn’t say anything, as the swift departure of Kane and Gossamer was something I’d known of in advance and had expected. They had only come to show their support for me (although meeting Indigo had been a nice bonus).
“Vestibule also left,” Myshtal added. “Shortly after you and Electra took off.”
I winced. “Oh, man. I forgot all about Vestibule.”
I excused myself and got up from the table, stepping away for privacy as I pulled my phone out. Aside from the text I’d sent, Vestibule hadn’t even been a blip on my radar screen. With everything going on, I had essentially pushed her to the backburner. I did still owe her an outing, though, and – with a little time on my hands – felt the need to inform her that I intended to make good on it. However, it would probably have to wait until the situation with my evil twin was resolved, and as I dialed her number I was hoping she’d understand that.
She answered after the first ring. “Bonjour, mon chéri.” Even though she’d spoken in French, her voice had a suggestive edge to it that suddenly made me feel like the temperature had gone up a few degrees.
“Uh, hey,” I said. “Look, I wanted to talk to you about our outing.”
“Okay. Where are you?”
“I’m at League HQ – in the teen lounge.”
“Alright, I’ll be there in a sec.”
A moment later, I heard a click that told me she’d hung up. A second after that, she popped up a few feet away from me.
She had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and was dressed in a pair of dark, form-fitting leggings, and a red sports bra. The ensemble left her midriff bare, showing off a great set of abs and a well-toned figure in general. I hated myself for thinking it, but in all honesty, she looked hot. (And apparently others thought so as well, because quite a few eyes turned in her direction.)
Eyes twinkling, she almost ran towards me. Next, much to my surprise, she flung her arms around my neck and kissed me.
Chapter 49
I was so stunned that I didn’t do anything for a moment (although I’m pretty sure I didn’t kiss her back). After realizing what was happening, I reached up and took her arms from around my neck and stepped back.
“What are you doing?” I whispered harshly, looking around to see who – if anyone – had seen what had just happened. (Judging from the emotional vibes I was picking up, almost everyone present had.)
“What – too soon?” Vestibule asked, seemingly not put off by my tone. “Come on,” she said, reaching out and taking my hand. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?” I asked woodenly, still trying to make sense of what was happening.
“My place, of course,” she replied.
“Your place?” I repeated, not sure what she was talking about.
“Not my place,” she clarified, giggling. “My park – where I go to relax. Remember?”
“Huh?” I muttered, giving her a perplexed look.
“Come on,” she said again. “Let me take you.”
I felt something akin to a light tugging, like someone had pinched a bit of material from my shirt and was gently pulling on it, but on a metaphysical level. After a moment, I recognized what it was: Vestibule trying to teleport me.
One of the great things about being a teleporter is that you can go anywhere you want. However, a corollary of that rule is that you don’t have to go any place where you don’t want to be. For instance, if a teleporter is on a mountaintop and you manage to immediately transport him to a valley, his own power would take him right back to the mountain as if he never left. In short, no one – not even another person with the same power – can teleport a teleporter against their will.
At the moment, Vestibule was trying to take me some place, and I had to decide whether to allow it. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t do it. Not that I had reason to suspect Vestibule of something nefarious, but I had once recklessly teleported myself into a trap. If I could do something like that to myself out of sheer carelessness (and I generally thought of myself as a cautious individual), then others could do it to me as well. It also didn’t help that Vestibule was acting in a manner that could be described as overfamiliar, to say the least. It was if we had spent a bunch of time together and miraculously become best…
Oh, no, I thought as my mind abruptly latched onto a new idea, one that I prayed I was completely wrong about.
Suddenly eager to speak with Vestibule, I gave Smokey and Myshtal a telepathic heads-up that I had to leave for a minute. After getting their acknowledgment, I released the hold I usually kept on my teleportation ability and allowed Vestibule to spirit me away.
Chapter 50
We popped up in a public park – a scenic venue with acres of lush green grass, majestic trees, and pathways lined with beautiful flowers that were just starting to bloom. There weren’t many people around, but I noted that those present were mostly dressed in shorts and
