Excerpt: Romantic Interest

"Roxie, darling, you're supposed to tell me everything," Bernadine said, throwing an arm over Roxie as they walked into the cafeteria.

"I do, Bernie," Roxie said. "What haven't I told you?"

"Your new lover," Bernadine said, rolling the L. "Golden Sun, hmm? Seems like quite a catch!"

"What are you talking about?" Roxie asked. "I mean, he saved me yesterday, but we're not dating or anything!"

"Atroch City Herald says otherwise," Bernadine said.

"What?" Roxie said. "I need to see this."

She looked around the cafeteria. It seemed everyone had a copy of the paper. She'd never seen so many high school students actually looking at a newspaper at once.

She snagged the nearest one out of the hands of a student she vaguely recognized. "Thanks Matt," she said.

"My name's Mark," the kid said.

"Sorry," Roxie said. "Thanks."

There was a picture of Golden Sun flying with Roxie in his arms. "Does the Golden Sun Have A New Flame?"

"Oh, you have to be kidding me," Roxie said. She glanced at the byline. Leslie Lempkins. Somehow she wasn't surprised.

"Aww, it's not true?" Bernadine said. "Then can I have him? He's so…shiny."

"Cute." Roxie scanned the rest of the article. It seemed to only barely mention the important facts of the battle with the Mad Machinator and focus far more than it needed to on how Golden Sun was so utterly gentlemanly to Roxie.

"Piece of crap," Roxie muttered. She shoved the paper back at Mark. "Thanks," she said again. "Sorry about that."

"Uh, no problem," Mark said.

"Great," Roxie said. "Everyone's going to think I'm dating him, aren't they?"

"Yep," Bernadine said. They started walking to the food line. "Maybe you should jump off a building and ask him out."

"Right," Roxie said. "That’s not exactly how I normally choose my dates, you know."

"No," Bernadine said. "Normally you wait for them to notice your super secret crush and ask you out. How's that worked for you?"

"There was Freddy!" Roxie said. "We dated for three months!"

"You didn't even have a super secret crush on him," Bernadine said. "The only thing you saw in him was that he liked you!"

Roxie grabbed a tray. "So your solution is that I date a superhero? That's just…hell, I don't even know. Stupid. Really stupid."

"He's cute."

"You don't know that."

"He can fly."

Roxie rolled her eyes as the cafeteria lady gave her a glop of something that was supposed to pass for food. "Not all of us have your interesting kinks," she said.

"Oh, don't tell me you're not curious!" Bernadine said.

"Sexual curiosity isn't a good reason for choosing a potential date, Bern," Roxie said.

"I can't think of a better one," Bernadine said. "He's sexy, he's super, why the hell not?"

"I don't know him! He could be a total jerk!" Roxie said.

"Did he act like a jerk when he saved you?"

"Well, no, but – "

"But you're a coward and don't want to risk your sweet little heart?" Bernadine asked.

"Bitch."

"Wimp."

"Slut."

"Prude."

"Will you two just have sex all ready?" Grant asked as they sat down.

"Mmm, no," Bernadine said. "Not while you're watching, darling." She draped herself across Roxie. "It'd make you far too happy. We'll just wait until you leave, then I'll rub my hands across Roxie's supple body…"

"Geeze, make up your mind," Roxie said. "Do you want me to date you or Golden Sun?"

"Oh, I read that," Grant said. "Didn't believe it. You and Golden Sun? Right. The very idea is laughable!"

"Oh, what's so laughable about it?" Roxie asked. "Think I'm not good enough for him?"

"Geeze, Rox, I didn't mean it like that!" Grant said quickly. "I just meant – "

"It's fine," Roxie said. "I don't want him anyway. I'd prefer someone who isn't hideously overpowered."

"I'd like someone who's hideously overpowered," Bernadine said.

"That's what she said," Grant said.

"It's not funny when she's trying for it," Roxie said. "Come on, guys. It's just a dumb rumor. Everyone'll forget about it soon, right?"

"Right, cause people forget things left and right in high school," Grant said.

"Humor me," Roxie said. "Come on, class starts in ten minutes. We gotta eat fast."