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“Don’t piss them off,” Gibby warned in his ear. “Stick to the plan, Nick. Get them—”
Fake Nick moved swiftly—near silent—feet barely touching the stage as he shot toward Nick. Nick dropped his helmet and sidestepped, grabbing Fake Nick by the wrist, using momentum against him. He jerked his arm as hard as he could, flinging Fake Nick toward Anthony who was rising to his feet. Fake Nick crashed into him, knocking them both down, Anthony’s legs dangling off the side of the stage as he blinked up toward the darkened sky, face awash with light from the screens above him.
“Don’t,” Nick warned when Fake Nick immediately started pushing himself up once more. “Stay down before I put you down again.”
Fake Nick grinned. “Let’s see how it plays out, yeah? It’s time to take out the garbage.”
Nick had barely had time to steel himself when Fake Nick tackled him, sending them crashing to the stage, wood and metal groaning under the impact. They rolled over once, twice,three times, and then Fake Nick was on top of him, knees pinning his arms to the side, hands wrapped around his throat andsqueezing.Fake Nick raised his hips as he glared down at Nick, leaning forward, faces inches apart.
“You should’ve stayed away,” Fake Nick whispered.
“Fake-ass bitch,” Nick managed to choke out. “Didn’t think this through, did you? Because if you look like me, then you probably got the junk, too. Sucks to be you.”
Fake Nick blinked. “What are you—”
Nick kneed him in the balls as hard as he could. Fake Nick opened his mouth in a soundless shriek, cords on his neck jutting out. Nick didn’t wait for him to recover, pressing his hands against Fake Nick’s chest. Instead of pushing with his hands, he pushed with his mind, the spark growing larger, the edges rippling as if alive. The air between him and Fake Nick stuttered as it expanded, a balloon being filled with helium. Fake Nick flew back, sliding along the stage, coming to a stop at Simon Burke’s feet.
Nick jumped to his feet, chest heaving, throat sore. He spat onto the stage as he rubbed his jaw. “That all you got? No other powers to use? What about the smoke? The ice? Thewater? Man, this is disappointing.”
Fake Nick pushed himself up. Nick prepared for another attack and was stunned when Fake Nick turned toward the crowd, looking panicked. “Help me!” he cried. “That thing isn’t me! I’m the real Nick!”
Nick snorted. “Oh, bullshit. Like people are going to fall for that. They’re not that stupid.”
Apparently they were, because every single cop turned toward Nick.
“Uh,” Nick said, taking a step back. “Hold up a second.I’mthe real Nick.”
“Don’t listen to him!” Fake Nick snapped. “He’s trying to get inside your heads.” He looked out into the crowd. “Dad! Where are you? I need you!”
“What! That’smydad, you asshole. You don’t get to—”
Movement, in the crowd, as Dad and Cap, followed by Trey and Bob and Miles, reached the metal barriers, a cop turning around and pointing his gun toward them. Cap reached out and disarmed the cop neatly, ejecting the magazine and unchambering the last bullet before handing the gun back. “If you’re going to point that thing at someone, you better know how to use it,” Cap said sternly. “Otherwise, you’re an idiot with a gun.”
Dad gripped the barrier, knuckles white as he looked up at the stage. Before Nick could say anything to him, Fake Nick appeared at his side, face streaked with tears. “Dad,” he said, voice breaking. “It’s me. You have to believe me.”
Nick shoved him hard. “Are you out of your damn mind? Like I’devercry in front of thousands of people. I’d save that for the safety of my bedroom like a normal teenager who still struggles with showing emotion in front of strangers!”
Fake Nick reached a trembling hand toward Dad. “Please. Help me. Don’t let him hurt me anymore.”
“Shit,” Trey breathed. “I can’t tell which is which.”
“Are youkiddingme?” Nick demanded. “I’m literally standing right in front of you!”
“Me, too!” Fake Nick said. “I’m standing right here!”
“What’s happening?” Nick heard one of the cops ask.
“I have no idea,” another cop replied. “You think we’re still going to get overtime for this?”
“We better,” the first cop muttered. “If not, I’m going to report this to my union rep.”
“Aaron?” Miles asked. “Who’s the right one?”
Dad looked between the two Nicks before him. “I…”
“Dad,” Nick and Fake Nick said at the same time, one pleading, the other irritated beyond belief.
“I love you,” Fake Nick said. “You and me, remember? We stand together so we don’t struggle—”
