The BlueKane

Chapter Twelve

Despite going to bed at a reasonable hour for once. I was exhausted when I woke up Monday. Almost freezing to death will do that to you. Unfortunately I wasn't suspended anymore, so I had to go to school and couldn't sleep in. The shower was currently occupied, so I closed my eyes for another 5 minutes. Memories of last night came flooding back. Candy Jack punching me with inhuman strength before being shot by a police officer and then I had passed out. I remembered waking up to Beatrix face.

"Beatrix!" I suddenly yelled in surprise. She knows I'm a vigilante now.

"What?" Lacey shouted from the bathroom, "Wait your turn!"

"Nothing!" I quickly yelled back. I sat up and got out of bed.

I stared at the pile of wet clothes I dumped in the corner last night. I walked over to them and stuffed them into my closet before my Mom or sister had a chance to see what were obviously either the uniform of a certain blue vigilante or cosplayer. I didn't like the idea of my family thinking I was either of those things. Though since I lost my bo staff last night, the set was incomplete.

I heard the shower shut off and then foot steps disappear in the direction of Lacey's room. I grabbed a towel from the hall closet and hopped in the shower. It washed away the lake smell and warmed me up some more. While washing up my stomach, I noticed the bruises from Candy Jack's punches. They were a deep purple and still hurt at the touch. I finished showering and then went back into my room. I could still feel a chill in my bones, so I put on a black hoodie and jeans. I picked up my backpack and grabbed my winter coat off the coat rack before heading out the front door.

Beatrix and Lacey were already waiting when I got to the bus stop. Beatrix smiled when she saw me walk up. I smiled back and wondered if I should almost die more often. Lacey noticed and raised an eyebrow at me with a smile. I just played it off with a shrug, but inside I was lamely happy at being smiled at by Beatrix,

After an uneventful bus ride, I walked into school after a short suspension that felt like it lasted a lifetime. I walked into the cafeteria and saw Logan on his phone. I sat down next to him after grabbing a muffin.

"Sup man" I said as I sat down across from him.

"Dude you're finally back" Logan said.

"So, you got a girlfriend" I said to him.

"Bro I was gonna tell you at the wrestling championship Saturday, but then the place got shot up" Logan told me.

"Actually, I'm kinda surprised the school's even open today, but anyway, what's she like?." I said, ashamed that I genuinely had no idea what Cara was like.

"She's really smart and beautiful, She wants to come to our games when they start up" Logan said with a look I had never seen on his face before.

"She sounds great man" I told him.

"How's things with Beatrix?" He asked.

"Better... I think?" I said, its kinda hard to tell after being revealed as the BlueKane.

"I'm telling you dude, there are plenty of fish in the sea." Logan said to reassure me.

"I know but I got a chance" I told him.

"Maybe if you actually asked her out" Logan said bluntly. He was right, I could face the possibility of death but not rejection?

"You're right, rejections just kind of scary" I said. Actually it's a bit scarier now that she knows I'm BlueKane. Like what if she rejected me because I might die?

"I get that, it was easier with Cara, I guess, cause I wasn't friends with her" He empathized. The bell rang which was our cue to give the conversation a rest. We parted ways in the hallway and I headed to my history class.