HEROES

The First Kiss Before the Storm

Chapter 17 — The First Kiss Before the Storm

The day of the academy-wide party had finally arrived.

The entire HEROES campus buzzed with excitement.

Gold banners with the glowing H emblem hung from towers and bridges. Music equipment was being set up in the grand central hall. Students from every division — norms, hybrids, tribrids, quadrips, and hexadriples — were already talking about what they would wear, who they would go with, and who might embarrass themselves on the dance floor.

In the hybrid dormitory…

James was pacing back and forth in his room like he was preparing for war.

Kennedy sat on his bed eating chips, watching him with amusement.

Jersey leaned against the wall, arms folded, trying not to laugh.

James stopped pacing and took a deep breath.

“I can’t do this.”

Kennedy frowned. “Can’t do what?”

James looked at him like the answer was obvious.

“Ask Lena.”

Jersey burst out laughing.

“That’s what this is about? I thought you were about to announce an alien invasion.”

James glared.

“This is serious.”

Kennedy sat upright.

“Bro… you fought armed thieves in the White House and survived. You’re telling me one girl is scarier than twenty-two criminals?”

James nodded instantly.

“Yes.”

Kennedy laughed so hard he nearly dropped his chips.

James ran a hand through his hair.

“You don’t understand. I’ve never done this before.”

Jersey raised an eyebrow.

“Done what?”

James looked at both of them.

“This is my first… like… first girlfriend situation. First date. First party date. First everything.”

He started breathing fast.

“Whoa. That’s a lot of firsts.”

Kennedy stood up and grabbed both his shoulders.

“Relax.”

James shook his head.

“What if I ask her and she says no?”

Kennedy shrugged.

“Then she says no.”

James stared at him.

“That’s not helping.”

Kennedy smirked.

“What I mean is… if she says no, then maybe she wasn’t the right girl for you. But honestly? I seriously doubt she’ll say no.”

James hesitated.

“You really think so?”

Kennedy grinned.

“She literally smiles every time you walk into a room.”

Jersey nodded.

“And she almost threw Troy through a window just for interrupting your conversation.”

James blinked.

“…That happened?”

Both boys nodded.

Kennedy shoved him toward the door.

“Now go before someone else asks her.”

James stumbled out.

“Wait— what do I even say?!”

Kennedy shouted after him.

“Use words! Preferably romantic ones!”

---

The Courtyard

James walked through the campus paths slowly.

Students passed by laughing and carrying decorations.

His heart pounded louder with every step.

Then he saw her.

Lena.

She was seated under one of the golden garden lights, talking with her two friends, Reliance and Stacey.

Her blonde hair shimmered softly in the evening sun.

James stopped walking.

His legs suddenly felt like jelly.

He muttered under his breath.

“Courage… okay, James… you got this. You got this. You’re not that same scared orphanage kid. You’re a HERO. A hero who needs a…”

He paused.

“…heroine?”

He closed his eyes.

“Oh God. What am I saying?”

Taking one deep breath, he walked forward.

Lena turned and saw him approaching.

Her face lit up.

“James.”

Reliance and Stacey exchanged mischievous looks.

Stacey whispered loudly enough for James to hear.

“Ohhh, he came looking for you.”

Lena rolled her eyes.

“Stop.”

James cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Hi.”

Reliance smiled.

“Hi, James.”

Stacey grinned.

“Nice timing.”

James looked at Lena’s friends and then nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

“Could we… maybe… be excused for a second?”

The girls looked at Lena.

Lena raised an eyebrow, curious.

Reliance stood up first.

“Sure.”

Stacey smirked.

“Take your time.”

The two girls walked away giggling.

Now it was just James and Lena.

Lena turned fully toward him.

“James… what’s wrong?”

She noticed how tense he looked.

Her voice softened.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

She gently patted the bench beside her.

“Sit.”

James sat beside her.

Too stiffly.

Like someone had turned him into a statue.

Lena looked at him, confused but patient.

“What is it?”

James looked at her.

Then looked away.

Then looked back again.

He exhaled shakily.

“Lena… ever since I met you…”

His voice cracked.

He cleared his throat.

“I… I felt like when I’m around you, everything gets strangely quiet. Like even when people are talking, all I hear is your voice. And when you smile at me, I forget whatever I was trying to say.”

Lena froze.

Her eyes softened.

James kept going, words stumbling out.

“I know it sounds stupid, but I’ve never felt this way before. I think about seeing you in training. I think about talking to you. And when you’re not around, I catch myself looking for you anyway.”

Lena was silent.

Listening.

Completely.

James swallowed hard.

Then finally said it.

“Lena… will you be my date for the party tonight?”

The words hung in the air.

Time seemed to stop.

James couldn’t read her face.

Was she shocked?

Upset?

Thinking?

He opened his mouth to speak again—

But before he could—

Lena leaned forward suddenly.

And kissed him.

A long kiss.

Soft.

Unexpected.

James’ eyes widened.

He froze completely.

His brain stopped working.

When she finally pulled away, she smiled warmly.

“Yes.”

She touched his cheek gently.

“I’d love to.”

James stared at her in disbelief.

Then the realization hit.

She said yes.

She actually said yes.

His face lit up so brightly it looked like he might explode.

Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her right off the bench.

Lena gasped and laughed.

“Ah! James!”

He spun her once.

“I can’t believe you said yes!”

Lena laughed harder.

“Put me down before you drop me!”

James quickly set her down.

“Sorry!”

She smiled, still laughing.

Then she looked at him with teasing eyes.

“You know… for someone nervous, you recover fast.”

James rubbed the back of his neck.

“I may have blacked out during the kiss.”

Lena laughed so hard she leaned into him.

From a distance—

Reliance and Stacey were spying from behind a tree.

Stacey gasped dramatically.

“He kissed her!”

Reliance corrected her.

“She kissed him.”

Stacey’s jaw dropped.

“Oh, that’s even better.”

And behind another nearby pillar—

Kennedy and Jersey were watching too.

Kennedy punched the air.

“He did it!”

Jersey grinned.

“Our boy is officially gone.”

Kennedy nodded proudly.

“Gone gone.”

Meanwhile, James and Lena had no idea anyone was watching.

They simply sat back down together.

Closer than before.

And as the golden sun faded behind the HEROES towers—

The party night had only just begun.

But somewhere far beyond the academy walls…

In the shadows…

Someone was already watching the campus.

And smiling.