Elly Watterson, A-class Superhero

Chapter 4

Amaya and Elly go on a date where nothing happens whatsoever.

The date kicked off without a hitch.

Amaya had asked Elly out so Amaya had to plan the date. They went through her itemized list with strict diligence.

(Elly didn't find it cute that Amaya made a list. Elly did NOT.)

“I forgot to ask if you like amusement parks.” Amaya asked as Elly ate a cotton candy. “Do you like amusement parks?” “Isn't it too late to ask that?” Elly joked but Amaya just looked worried, so Elly squeezed her hand. “I liked the rides.”

She especially liked the death drop rollercoaster because it felt like flying. She pretended to be scared so she could clutch Amaya's hand. She was pathetic, it's old news.

Amaya, of course, had been stoic about the whole thing but she had gripped Elly's hand too.

“I haven't been to one of these in a while.” Elly admitted. Her parents didn't take her and after they disappeared, Laurie had to work a lot of jobs to take care of them both.

It was a heavy burden and Elly hadn't wanted to add to it by making unnecessary expenses. Now, she was grown up and working, which didn't leave her with a lot of free time or money.

The drugstore paid her minimum wage and it wasn't like she got a salary being a superhero. Not that she wanted it, of course.

“Thank you for bringing me here, Amaya. It's been wonderful.” “Same. I haven't been here a lot either.” Amaya replied.

Elly could imagine. Amaya had parents but she was rich, which meant she had to trade one for the other. It would be hard having a family outing when paparazzi hounded your every step.

“I'm surprised you chose to come here but then again, you do come off adventurous.” Elly said and Amaya scoffed. “I'm really not. I'm not brave, Elly.”

It didn't sound like she was talking about rollercoasters. Elly didn't know what to do, comforting people was more Faith’s forte. Elly could save Amaya from a burning building or robbery, not from her thoughts.

Elly gave it a try anyway. “Right, you're more mischievous.” “You!” Amaya swatted her, chuckling. Elly nudged her shoulder. “And I think you're brave. You're definitely braver than me.”

Amaya looked skeptical but huffed. “That's not hard to do. You strangled my hand on the rides!” “Hey!”

Elly wasn't going to tell her she had been pretending, obviously. She let go of Amaya’s hand but Amaya took hers back. “Kidding! Kidding.”

Elly didn't mind being made fun of. It had gotten the moody look off Amaya's face so she let it go. “Where to next?”

They went off to eat and Amaya wouldn't let her pay. “I have enough money. Let me.”

Elly felt weird. Everyone knew she wasn't exactly flowing with cash—it wasn't possible to hide—but she didn't want pity. She knew Amaya didn't mean it like that but she still felt her hackles rise.

“I want to, though.” “Yes, well, you can't.” Amaya said firmly, staring her down. “It's my date. You can pay for the next one.”

All of Elly’s anger instantly disappeared. “We're going on another one.” Amaya raised an eyebrow. “You don't want to?” “Shut up, of course I do.” Amaya turned her head away, but Elly still saw her smile.

It made her feel better about not paying. She still had to make it up to Amaya, though. “I'm going to win you a prize.” Elly announced as they approached a gamestall and turned to the person manning it.

The man looked at them, bored. He had heard that many times.

“$5 for three tries. Knock off a stack of bottles and you get a stuffed animal of your choice.” He recited unenthusiastically, and Elly slammed money on the table.

He handed her three balls, smirking. “Good luck.” Psh, Elly didn't need luck, she had powers. She smirked back and threw one ball. It bounced off the bottles and hit the floor.

Her smirk dropped while his grew wider. “Two tries left.” She threw harder the next time, but the stack didn't budge.

The man looked triumphant. “It's $5 for another turn.” Elly gritted her teeth and Amaya held her arm. “Let it go, Elly. The game is rigged, the stack is held together by glue or something.”

“Why would you say that? I run an honest ship!” The man replied smiling, not even bothering to lie properly. Elly shrugged off Amaya’s hand, gently. “Step back.”

Amaya rolled her eyes but stepped back. The man smiled widely but Elly didn't care about him. She was enraged.

She threw the last ball with all the anger in her. It was enough, it took down the stack of bottles along with the entire back of his stall.

The man's mouth dropped open, horrified, and Elly cringed. She didn't mean to use that much force in that throw, she had to be more careful.

“Uh, I work out a lot.” Elly said, looking around for Amaya. She'd know that was a lie (Elly was completely useless in gym by choice). Thankfully, Amaya had wandered off to a popcorn stall so Elly grabbed the nearest stuffed toy and fled to her side.

“Look what I got.” Elly looked at the toy properly and cringed. It was super ugly. It had asymmetrical eyes and a wide grin. It was unsettling. Elly hid her failure behind her back. “Uh, nevermind.”

Amaya put her arms around her and Elly froze. What was going on?

Amaya held up the toy up victoriously. Right, Amaya only did it to get the toy. Of course. Elly’s heart was still pounding something fierce.

Amaya blinked down at the toy, before smiling softly. “I love it. It's unique.” She held it up, studying it, before looking at Elly. “It kinda looks like you.”

Elly was hugely offended. “Is this revenge for getting you an ugly toy?” Amaya laughed and the sound made Elly feel 100 times lighter.

The date went well, Elly's wound had healed well, and there hadn't been any problems today. The day had gone so well, of course it had to end horribly.

A car came to take Amaya home and Elly refused a ride home so she could gush about the date to Jao as she walked home.

She avoided Laurie and Faith's questions so she could go to her room and squeal like an i***t. Except that didn't go as planned.

Rashmi called Elly as she entered her room and she sounded frantic. “Elly, are you okay?” “I'm fine? What's going on? Did something happen?”

Was there an attack? Did someone die? Elly might have preferred it over what Rashmi said next.

“Amaya’s been kidn*pped!”

The butterflies in Elly’s stomach incinerated and turned to ash.