caught in these mental tangles where I feel like nothing I do will ever be enough. It doesn’t matter if I have a perfect GPA or off-the-charts test scores; I always feel like I need to be better, to work harder, because I’ll never compare. Whether I’m adding one more extracurricular to my already-exhausting schedule or battling Demi for that valedictorian spot, there’s no victory that ever makes me feel like I’ve arrived. That I’m done, that I’ve achieved what I set out to do. We all fight our own battles, even if we’re not wearing capes.
“Listen, I know you probably won’t believe this, but you are strong,” I tell her, giving her hand a squeeze. “Anyone who willingly puts their life on the line for someone else is a straight-up badass. You think the other Warriors weren’t scared last night? Bull. Vaporizer’s girlfriend was tied to that chair too; you don’t think he peed himself a little? But he fought anyway, and so did you. You are part of this now. And you saved my life, so you’re part of…me.” My face bursts into flames the second the words leave my lips, nervous that maybe I’ve said too much, delirious over being trapped in a tight space with a beautiful girl. But she smiles for the first time, her storm finally breaking, reaching for my other hand as all the air leaves my lungs.
“Wow. Claire, thank you,” she breathes, stepping so close, there’s barely an inch between us. The slick spandex of her suit brushes against me, covering me in goose bumps from head to toe. Her mouth opens ever so slightly as she carefully chooses her next words, and now I’m the one who’s trembling. “I still don’t know if I belong here, but I do know I like being…here.”
She kisses me, soft and gentle, and this time, I get to slowly melt into her lips, her curves against mine. At the warehouse, everything was so heightened, I could barely catch my breath. But now, in the quiet, we can just be, enjoying each other without interruption. She feels so good, so right, I never want to go home…HOME. I pull back, grasping onto Joy’s shoulders.
“Oh my god! I have to go!” I yelp, much to Joy’s confusion. Her cheeks turn red as she tucks her hair behind her ears.
“Oh, I…Was it something I did?” She frowns.
“No! Oh god, no.” I take her face in my hands, placing one more kiss on her lips. “It’s just, my mom is probably losing her mind. And Demi! I called her right before I got kidnapped. I need to let them know I’m okay.”
*
Joy insists on seeing me home, and a block away from my apartment, it’s clear that the best night of my life was my mom’s worst. The sun starts to rise as blue and red police lights flash, neighbors waking up and peeking out their windows to investigate the commotion. Mom is huddled on our front steps, head collapsed into her knees. Demi sits next to her, staring at nothing. I jump out of the Warrior Nation ride-service SUV and race toward Mom, pushing past a burly cop to be at her side.
“Mom!” I call, my voice instantly whipping her into high alert. Upon seeing me, her face contorts in relief, cheeks already wet with tears as I wrap my arms around her shaking shoulders. “It’s okay. I’m here.”
“Where have you been?” she sobs, clinging on to me for dear life. “Where have you been? What happened?” Bloodshot eyes search my face for answers, but the best I can give her is the hero behind me.
I look over my shoulder where Girl Power stands tall, giving my mom a warm, comforting smile as her blond hair billows behind her in the morning breeze like a hero’s cape.
“Ms. Rice, officers—my name is Girl Power. I’m the newest recruit of Warrior Nation.” Mouths fall open in tandem as I grin; I can tell they already love her. Demi shoots me an “Are you freaking kidding me?” look, unable to say a word. “Claire was kidnapped late yesterday afternoon. Warrior Nation has become aware of a new criminal element, but we have already successfully thwarted one attack.” She sounds exactly like the spiel Millie gave, not missing a beat. “Luckily, we were able to retrieve Claire and another victim, safe and sound.”
The nearest police officer turns toward her, pulling a notepad from his pocket. “Can you describe the villains for me,