Anna managed to keep from snarling in reply. “I am not doing drugs.”
“Then it’s superpowers.”
Anna didn’t say anything, and Bethy narrowed her gaze, as if all she had to do was stare at Anna long enough and the truth would emerge.
“What am I thinking?” Bethy asked.
“What? I don’t know. Probably that I’m a jerk and a terrible human being.”
She frowned as if disappointed. “No, that’s not it. I was thinking of the Pythagorean theorem. Just checking to see if you’ve got Dad’s telepathy.”
“I didn’t get Dad’s telepathy.”
“Well, yeah, I can see that now. But what did you get?”
Again, Anna couldn’t think of what to say. She was slightly in awe and slightly scared of her little sister. Bethy’s lips turned up in a victorious smile.
“There’s nothing,” Anna said preemptively. “Absolutely nothing.”
/> “Yeah, right.” Bethy turned away, disgusted.
Tom was driving, and Anna caught him glancing at them in the rearview mirror. She wanted to yell at him, too, to mind his own business and stop looking like he felt sorry for her. But staying angry was taking too much energy as it was.
Teddy texted a dozen more times and tried calling; she ignored him. She didn’t want to see Teddy, or even Teia, though Teia would be interested to hear about her conversation with Paulson. The cops really were babysitting them.
Her power meant that even though she could tell Teddy was ranging the halls looking for her, she could stay out of his way. Teia and the others were parked at their usual spot on the front stairs, and Anna decided to share her discovery.
“You were right,” Anna said. “The cops are keeping an eye on us.”
Teia didn’t look at all surprised. “How? How did they know where to find us?”
“My mother knows everything. My dad probably told her. I don’t know exactly how, but she’s a crazy control freak and she couldn’t let this alone.”
“Then why? I mean, why not just arrest us? And how did they know where to find us? You don’t think your mom told my mom, did she?”
Anna’s frustration got the better of her. “I’m sure she did. It’s obvious, it’s like training wheels, they think we’re too young and stupid to do this on our own, and they’re probably right. We’re not real superheroes, we never were, this is all just some kids’ game in the park.”
Teia was a wall, no reaction except a twist of her lips. Anna wasn’t even sure the other girl heard her.
“Does that mean you’re quitting?” Teia asked finally. Like this was a game, like there could even be a winner.
“There’s nothing to quit!” Anna said. “I never did anything!”
She wanted Teia to admit she was right, but Teia would never do that. She just glared, another person feeling sorry for Anna.
Then Teddy was coming out the front door, and Anna stomped around the corner and to a side entrance so she wouldn’t have to look at him. So much for prom. So much for everything.
FIFTEEN
CELIA read the screaming headline on the Rooftop Watch website: “Five-Hero Smashup in Hell’s Alley!” with a subheader: “Trinity and Espionage Team Up?” The only picture the site had been able to get showed the aftermath, a soaking-wet street and a smashed SUV, reminiscent of the old days when Typhoon patrolled regularly. An “unnamed police source” revealed details, naming who’d been involved in stopping the high-speed car chase. Whether by chance or design, all of Commerce City’s newest heroes had come together, then scattered before police could stop them for questioning, or before any reporters could get pictures or interviews. All in all, a classic superhuman outing.
Mark called as she finished reading all the articles she could find on the incident. “Have you checked the news yet or do I get to be the one to tell you?” he said.
“Just reading it now. Pretty spectacular. What really happened?”
“Pretty much exactly as you read it.” He paused, and his tone changed, the overworked cop giving way to chagrined friend. “I sort of pretended to arrest Anna.”
Celia raised a brow and was grateful Mark couldn’t see her expression. “Oh?”