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“I’m going to start some research on your powers,” Emil says.
“Let’s kick off training this afternoon,” I say.
We fist-bump and whistle and our connection isn’t quite there but it’s better than before. I’ll take that progress.
“You two must’ve had a great chat,” Prudencia says. “I don’t know if I’m more surprised by the hug or Emil helping you train.”
“We’re working through our trust and I want to do the same with you, Pru. I got to cut right to it. Do you actually care about me romantically? Or did last night only happen because I was dying?”
The wind blows back her hair as she looks down at the sand. “I wanted to be with you because I wanted to be with you. I let down my guard because you showed me a side of you that finally made me feel safe but I don’t know if I’m going to matter as much anymore now that you’re a specter.”
“Pru, I’m not choosing my powers over you. We can fight to have it all like Iris and Eva, Maribelle and Atlas, Wesley and Ruth.”
“I don’t want to be some power couple, Brighton,” Prudencia says with an edge in her voice. “I want to be a person in the world who isn’t hated for who I am.”
“I want to help create that world for you!” I go back to what Emil said and I can see the same concerns building on her face. “Don’t fear me. Trust me.”
I hold her hand and I’m so relieved when she squeezes mine. I get my lips ready when she leans in, but she kisses me on the cheek.
“You’re on probation, Brighton Miguel Rey. I will telekinetically throw you across the world if you break your promises.”
“No need, Prudencia Yolanda Mendez.” I stare into her brown eyes and she starts walking back to the cottage with a big enough grin. “Hey, Pru! Want to help me become the most powerful specter in the entire universe and the most followed person on Instagram?”
Prudencia’s hand drops to her side and her fingers wiggle and a bucket’s worth of sand sweeps into me. She’s already running away and laughing and I chase after her, eager to learn how to run at swift-speed so we can have more ordinary moments made extraordinary because of who we are.
I’m finally on the path to having everything I’ve ever wanted.
Twenty-Five
Training: Brighton Edition
BRIGHTON
If our lives were a fictional TV show, season one would’ve focused on Emil and season two is all about me. Viewers would remember how I cheered for Emil during his training and had his back during the other fights, but they would be more hyped for me knowing I’ve wanted powers more than he ever has. Our show—The Infinity Kings or The Infinity Cycle—would have a slow start because Emil isn’t necessarily the most exciting hero if we’re being honest. But then, right as viewers fear they might have to say goodbye to me as I’m swallowed in silver and sapphire flames, I emerge stronger than ever. I’m the absolute fan favorite who will carry the series forward.
I’m embracing this spotlight.
I hold up my phone until I find the right angle for a selfie. I don’t want to reveal anything in the house that could identify where we are but the sunlight spilling through the window is too harsh on my face. Just when I think I’ve got it, my phone is being wrestled out of my grip, and I’m nervous my regenerated hand is somehow acting on its own, but the phone flies behind me and straight to Prudencia.
Her eyes stop glowing and she places the phone on the floor where she’s sitting with a notebook open. “Next time it goes straight into the fireplace.”
“It’s not too late,” Emil adds while typing something into Ruth’s laptop.
I drop down onto the couch. “I’m excited! This is huge for me; I want to capture these moments.”
I’ve taken pictures on big days over the years: Emil and me on our sixteenth birthday, which we spent playing new video games while our parents catered to us all day; before my first date with Nina and then another with her kissing my cheek when we left the pizzeria; when I hit ten thousand subscribers on YouTube; right before I stepped onto the stage at graduation to deliver my salutatorian speech. The one that haunts me the most is from the morning of Dad’s funeral when I didn’t want to get out of bed. But it’s also the most important. Before becoming a specter, the biggest change in my life was coming home after the burial and becoming the man of the house.
“Bright, we got to get the research done so we can understand your complex powers.”
“Trial and error is all the more reason to document our sessions.”
“So this isn’t for your series?”
The way he asks that is as if I’ve been trying to hide my intention. I’m not sneaky. “Some of it will be, yeah. Just like we featured you on my accounts we’re going to do the same for me. The world needs to know they’ve got another hero on their side.” I can see it in his eyes that he thinks I’m only doing this for me. “We should do a live chat. Let everyone know what the Reys of Light can do.” He looks like he might counter, so I add, “Trust is a two-way street, bro.”
Emil nods. “You’re right. But we should know what we’re actually working with here before you plan some big reveal.”
“I second that,” Prudencia says.
