His presence there wasn’t an imposition – all members of the League’s teen affiliate had quarters at HQ – but it was uncommon. That alone should have made me more attuned to the fact that my best friend had some things he was dealing with. I knew some of what was on his mind, but we hadn’t really talked in a while, and it had taken Mouse suggesting that Smokey accompany me to the West Coast to make me realize that I hadn’t “been there” (in terms of being a friend) as much as I could have.
“So,” Mouse continued, “does your presence here mean you guys are back?”
I shook my head. “No. We were planning to come back today, but got invited to a couple of social events, so we’re prolonging the trip.” Then I hastily added, “Unless you need me here for something.”
“No,” Mouse confirmed. “I mean, I’ve got some stuff going on, as always, but nothing you’re needed for.”
“Okay, great,” I said. “But there’s one more thing before I head back: have you heard fr–”
“No, I haven’t heard from Rune,” Mouse declared, cutting me off. It was the question I always asked these days, so he was ready for it. “As usual, the minute he makes contact, I’ll let you know.”
I merely nodded, not saying anything. Rune was another member of the Alpha League and was generally considered to be some type of magician. In truth, he was one of an incredibly powerful, nigh-omnipotent group of beings known as Incarnates. I had recently helped them with a particularly difficult dilemma (which had required me traveling to a place beyond space and time), following which Rune had shocked me by stating that I was also an Incarnate. However, after we returned to Earth, Rune had performed some analyses and examinations that had caused him to reassess his original opinion.
“I don’t know what you are,” he’d ultimately admitted.
In brief, I apparently displayed some of the attributes of an Incarnate, but not others. In the end, Rune had left, saying that he needed to research a few more things and that he’d be in touch. That had been weeks earlier – before my family had left the planet – and I hadn’t heard from him since.
“Anyway,” Mouse continued, bringing me back to myself, “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. If Rune needs to speak to you when he gets back, he’ll find you.”
“Of that, I have no doubt,” I replied.
Chapter 8
I stayed and chatted with Mouse for another fifteen minutes or so, then teleported back to my cousin’s penthouse. I popped up in the kitchen; no one was there but Henrietta, who was busy cleaning up. Upon seeing me, she seemed startled for a moment. By this time, she knew that I was a teleporter, but – unsurprisingly – hadn’t fully adjusted to my comings and goings in that regard. On my part, I had initially been nervous about displaying my powers around her, but Avis had vouched for her, saying that Henrietta would keep anything she saw or heard confidential.
Quickly recovering from her initial surprise, Henrietta stated that there was an omelet for me in the microwave. She also told me, without being asked, that Smokey had gone with Avis to work out.
Thanking her, I set the microwave for thirty seconds and then grabbed a fork from a nearby drawer. When the microwave finished, I told Henrietta that I was going to the roof to eat. Waiting until she acknowledged my statement with a nod, I then teleported.
Reappearing on the roof, I took a seat at the table where Avis and I had eaten donuts earlier. It was a beautiful morning, and I took a moment to simply bask in it. It seemed that I rarely got a moment to myself anymore, so simply having a little alone time was refreshing, in a sense. Glancing up, I thought it might even be a great day to go flying later.
Turning my attention to my omelet, I took a bite. Like everything Henrietta made, it was delicious – even reheated. I quickly wolfed it down. Then, trying to avoid surprising Henrietta again, I turned myself, the plate, and the fork invisible before teleporting back to the kitchen.
Henrietta was peering into the refrigerator when I popped up, probably trying to decide what to prepare for lunch or dinner. I quietly placed my plate and fork in the sink, then made them visible again. It felt a little like playing ding dong ditch – Henrietta had just cleaned the kitchen, after all, and here I was placing dirty dishes in the sink – but I got the feeling she’d prefer that to me simply appearing out of nowhere and giving her a mild heart attack.
Satisfied that I wasn’t doing anything wrong, I phased and then flew up through the ceiling, past the rooftop deck, and out into the open sky.
***
I spent perhaps an hour just soaring through the air, albeit invisible and phased. There was something about flying that always lifted my spirits (not that I was depressed or anything before). Simply put, it just gave me the feeling of being completely unfettered, like I’d left all my problems, worries, and concerns on the ground.
Eventually, however, I had to head back. It was getting close to the time when Smokey and I would have to go to brunch, and I think we both preferred not to be late. With that in mind, I began flying back to the penthouse.
I was probably a few blocks away when my cell phone rang. Deciding against answering it in mid-flight, I teleported the remaining distance to my cousin’s place, popping up on the roof. I immediately became visible and substantial, then pulled out my phone. Much to my surprise, it was Electra.
Remembering
