Chiara Marino, Excerpt #2: Real Life Superheroes

      

 Excerpt #2: Real Life Superheroes

    “Get this!” Zeke exploded as Chiara took her place at the cafeteria table minutes later.

“Buckle your utility belts,” Mac warned everyone.

“Did you know,” Zeke said, punctuating all his syllables, “that there are real life superheroes out there?”

Chiara perked up. She watched Peter as he took his seat next to Zeke. She was flabbergasted that she didn’t see a reaction of any kind.

“There are all these normal, everyday people who dress up and do vigilante work in their cities,” Zeke explained.

Chiara had come across this information in her extensive research over the years, but she had never found any information on people like Peter – with actual superpowers.

“Isn’t that so exciting?” Mac exclaimed.

“Cool,” Peter said with an impressed nod.

Chiara studied his reaction – or lack thereof. She would be blushing and stammering if she were in his shoes. She wondered if he had forgotten the previous night’s events just like the other man had.

“I’m sure some have actual superpowers,” Zeke speculated. “Mainly because I want to be sure of that.” He ignored Cosmo’s eye roll. “But most are average people.”

“Dude, we should do that,” Mac said as she bounced in her chair.

“Totally!” Zeke agreed. “Peter and I already do martial arts. And Chiara could be a paranormal researcher. Cosmo could, I don’t know, use science to make weapons and stuff.”

Cosmo sighed. “I don’t specialize in mechanics,” he said. “I know mostly about the brain and physics.”

“Maybe you could hypnotize people,” Zeke said with wide eyes. “Mac too, since your mom’s a psychiatrist.”

Chiara caught Peter yawning. He noticed her watching and smiled pleasantly.

While the conversation continued, she leaned over and whispered, “You look like you stayed up late fighting monsters or something.”

He gave her a half smile and said, “That’s not too far off.”

“So you admit it then?” she prodded eagerly.

He shook his head, laughing it off and Chiara conceded. If he ever did reveal his secret, it wouldn’t be in the middle of a packed cafeteria. She needed to find a way to get him alone.

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