Chapter Twenty-Five
You Are the Most Beautiful Girl I've Ever Laid My Eyes On

The city was at peace, citizens had finally calmed down, and students had regained full control over their bodies.

The identity of Slick was revealed to the whole city, and It came as a shock to most. The whole story was a little confusing, because most people still thought Static was responsible. The air was cleared, though, and the truth came out. Also, it turns out that Missy was Katrina all along. Go figure.

The city was in major cleanup mode. The events with slick were quite disastrous, and had caused quite a few problems for the hospital and the city itself. Lots of taxes were going towards cleaning up the streets, which had stirred a lot of complaints.

But us Supers now focused on more than just preventing crimes, we have decided it may also be best to simply help out the city. In fact, for simple surprises, Supers take their time to show up at city events for the heck of it.

Speaking of city events, I was finally able to show my face around the city again. I was now known as a hero, and so was Graeme!

Graeme was quite ecstatic to find out he had developed super powers. He was still slightly rusty, and had some troubles triggering them, but every night he'd come out with me and we'd fight crime together. He's come quite a long way. We're all proud of him.

As for Static... I hadn't seen him for quite a while. The last time I spoke to him must have been the day we took down Slick. After that, he just shut us all out.

I pushed that thought out of my mind. I focused on my friends and school. Graeme and I also had lots of fun while training. Over the course of the past few weeks of mystery-solving and villain-fighting, we had grown a sort of sibling friendship.

Speaking of siblings, Drew and Audrey had both returned to their proper mindset and felt awful after all that had happened. We're all still learning and recovering from this.

These past few days had been life changing, and I've never gotten so much recognition in my entire career. I was at my highest, and despite the empty feeling that i've tried to ignore, I still think these have been some of my happiest times.

I laid in my bed. It was late at night, and I was in the middle of reading a book when I got a tap on the window.

I froze. This was a familiar moment, a scene I had gotten used to over the past few weeks. I got up and walked over to my window, expecting no one else but him.

The blue colour of his spandex reflected the lights, as he hovered outside my bedroom window. My fingertips gently slid across the frame, before pushing the window open.

I stepped aside to let him in. He took a gentle step inside, entering with ease before shutting the window behind him.

He stood there, facing away from me. My room was dark, with a dim light coming from my bedside lamp. A weird silence hung in the air as he continued to face away from me. I could have been mad, maybe I should have been. But I wasn't. I felt relived that he came to see me. I was comforted by his presence.

I made my way to my bed to with gentle footsteps. I took a seat at the edge of my bed, and rested my eyes on Static. He still had yet to move. I watched his chest rise and fall with every breath. I looked him from head to toe, observing every precious detail. He was truly a masterpiece. Beautiful.

I wanted him to look at me. I found myself admitting that I longed for his voice. I missed staring into his hazel eyes, the eyes of whom I did not know the name of, but yet I learned to remember.

He took in a big breath, before slowly turning to face me. I already knew what to expect from this encounter, and I was ready to give him as much love and support that he needed. His eyes met mine, and I wanted to reach out and touch him, hug him. He felt lonely, and I could read that In his eyes. Hopeless.

"You," I started with a small voice. "Are an amazing Superhero."

He shook his head, but I continued.

"You've done so much good," I told him, but he continued to shake his head. "And there is nothing you have to be afraid of. You have such a kind heart, and good intentions." He shut his eyes tightly and bit his lip, shaking his head no.

He opened his glossy eyes. "You don't know me. You don't know me."

I nodded, my eyes starting to water. "I know you enough. I've seen what you can do for people."

His breath caught and I quickly stood up from my spot and engulfed him in a hug. He buried his head in my shoulder and let his tears spill.

"I'm not," He spoke with a shaky voice against my shoulder. "I'm not who everyone wants me to be. I can't help them. I can't help you."

I gripped him tightly, rubbing his back. "You're allowed to cry. It doesn't make you any less heroic. You're still the strongest person I know."

"I'm no hero," He whispered, shaking in my arms. "I can't do this. I'm not strong enough. I'm weak. I'm a villain."

I pulled away and cupped his cheeks. "You are amazing, and I would never expect anything less from you." My eyes poured into his, and he stared back with a painful expression that made my heart ache. "Never doubt yourself. I will always be here to pull you to your feet."

He shook his head against my grip, shutting his eyes. "I'm not. I can't. I'm the bad guy. I hurt people. I hurt you."

"You are not flawless," I cried, shaking his head gently in my hands. "You are not just a Super. You are a human being. Feelings do not make you vulnerable. It is okay to not be okay."

He pulled me into a hug once more and buried his face into my hair. I let him cry, and I let spill his emotions.

We're told that bullies are formed from insecurities and traumatic childhoods, but no one ever stops to recognize these things. Of course nothing can justify your negative actions towards another human, so I will never try to justify that. Static is no bully to begin with. But we never recognize the fact that they may need help, or they may need support. Some people need some tender loving care in order to do better, and I'm here to give that to him.

It took me his distance to piece together his insecurities and doubts and figure out why Static viewed himself so poorly. Static was not a bad person, I knew that much myself. But he had so many negative thoughts piling up, that it was soon all he believed, and he never had anyone to talk to.

So I held him as he cried, and I rubbed his back and told him he was going to be okay because I knew he would be, because I was here to help him, and I wasn't planning on leaving.

We laid on my bed and I simply held him in his vulnerable state. I held him as he cried and sobbed, and I sympathized with his pain. I would never wish this on anyone, especially not him.

Once his tears had dried, we laid there in the comfort of each other's arms. Once he found his voice, he spoke;

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry for leaving, and I'm sorry you had to watch me cry."

"Don't apologize for any of that," I told him. "You're allowed to have feelings, and being a superhero doesn't make those feelings any less valid. No one expects anything less of you."

"How are you not mad?" He asked. "I've been ignoring you, and I come and go. You never know what to expect of me."

"You don't owe me anything," I said. "You're a free being, I don't have to tell you what to do."

"I care about you," he turned his head to face me. "I care a lot. But I also hurt you, and for that I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "The only reason you have the potential to hurt me is because I care too."

He looked away, and faced the celling again. "You can't care, because you don't even know who I am."

I sat up from where I laid to look at him. "I don't need a name or a face or an age. I don't need to know your number, family, school. I know your heart and I know your intentions. I know the face you make when you're thinking, or how you hate to show emotions. I know you, and I care."

He looked at me. He started into my eyes as he slowly sat up, his face close to mine.

He brought his hand to his face and swiftly removed the small mask that he hid behind.

Unlike I had thought, I truly did not know him. His face was not one I could put a name to, nor was it one I'd seen before, but goodness was he beautiful.

His black hair stuck up, as if it had been dragged through thousands of times. And he had freckles that danced on the tip of his nose. His eyes felt familiar, as they stared deep into mine, and I had this incredible sensation in my chest, it felt like I was on fire.

It felt all too familiar, as he leaned forward and his soft lips crushed mine. He kissed me with a burning passion which I returned, as I cupped his cheek with my hand.

His kiss slowed, and he pressed his forehead against mine. He held his eyes shut, but I silently begged for them to open. I wanted him to look me in the eyes. I wanted him to look at me and say something, anything.

"You," he said breathlessly, as he slowly opened his eyes. "Are the most beautiful girl I've ever laid my eyes on."

I let out some sort of painful laugh. I wanted to cry, and I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted him to hold me, make me laugh and cry.

"You are golden both inside and out," he continued and my eyes began to water. "You care about people you don't even know, and you risk your life for those who may not even deserve it."

His eyes were watering too, as he cupped both of my cheeks in his hands.

"You could make anyone fall in love with you with a blink of an eye," he laughed. "and I sure am guilty of that."

I wanted to slap him for telling me all this now. I wanted him to just hold me, and kiss me, and make me feel as loved as I do right now.

"I will never deserve such an amazing person," he whispered. "and that is why I can't be with you."

I shook my head furiously, tears streaming down my face.

"You are so pure," I cried. "So kind hearted. You have a special place in this world, don't ever forget that."

He shook his head. "I don't know who I am, I don't know what I've become. I'm dangerous."

"You're the good guy," I cried. "You have a place in this city and a role to play. You're a hero."

He shook his head sadly. He pulled me into another hug and this time he's the one who held me as I cried.

I weeped in his arms. His hold was so gentle, he held me as if I were something precious, and he was afraid of breaking me.

"I've shown myself to you when I was weakest," he whispered, "these are one of those times."

I gripped him tighter, as if I were afraid he was going to let go and leave me again.

"I want to be strong for you," he whispered. "You don't seem to realize how much I care about you."

I pulled away to look at him, my eyes red and swollen.

He smiled sadly at me. "You could be bawling your eyes out and you'd still be the most beautiful girl in this world."

"Stop it," I laughed at him as I sobbed. "Stop doing this to me."

He frowned, his eyes showing pain. "I told you, all I do is hurt you."

"No!" I yelled at him. I wanted to scream, yet he most likely still wouldn't understand me. "You make me happy."

He shook his head at me and smiled. "I love you Skylar. I love you more than you can imagine."

My breath caught in my throat, and I sobbed even harder because I knew where he was going with this, and I didn't want this to end.

"Stay with me," I begged him, "please."

"I can't," he shook his head. "You don't know me. You can't have feelings for me. This isn't how it goes."

"What's your name, then?" I asked him. "Tell me your name."

"Ethan," he smiled sadly. "My name is Ethan Preston."

"Ethan Preston," I warned him. "Tonight you will not leave me."

His smile faded into a frown. "Im sorry Skylar," he whispered. "I can't be with you. I have to go."

"Stay with me," I begged. "I need you."

He simply nodded, before pressing his lips to mine again. He pressed harder than the first time, and my heart felt like exploding as he did so.

Ethan Preston. I didn't know his name, I didn't know his face, but I knew him. I knew his heart, and I knew his soul, and that was enough for me. His feelings and his actions are worth more to me than any name or title.

"I love you so damn much," he whispered, pulling me into his arms.

So in this unexpected encounter, the hero and the ex-villain laid with their legs tangled and fingers intertwined. Their hearts beating furiously for each other, as they can finally admit to themselves and each other of the feelings they never spoke.

I clung to him tightly, not wanting to let go of this boy. He was truly a miracle, sent down from the sky to help me make this world a better place. My world better place.

His words, and his confession for me made my heart tingle. I felt like I had the power to hold the weight of the sky. He would whisper how he loved me, yet I never said it back. Maybe I should have, but I didn't.

The next morning, my bed felt cold without him there. He had left, but that was already expected.

It hurt, but I did not cry. Instead, I smiled. I smiled because he loved me, and I loved him back, and I knew that whenever he was, he was going to be okay.

I kept the note he left on my desk. I read it over many times, and I still continue to read it. It read;

Forgive me for leaving, but I need some time to figure myself out. Remember, you'll always be occupying my thoughts. How could I ever forget about Skylar Johnson?

All my love
Your hero

***

Well, I think it's safe to call the ending emotional, right?

Trust me, I'm well aware that was not what you were expecting. Going from a final fight to a big romance scene is a little hard to adapt to.

And who is Ethan, you may ask? Well, I don't expect you to know him. This is not some "you'll find out later," sort of thing. I guess what I was trying to show that you, including Skylar, all thought he would be someone you knew, but he wasn't, and that's okay. He was always saying how he wouldn't be able to be with her because they barely knew each other, but I wanted to show that love is more than a name or a face. Love is how they make you feel, and how much you can idolize someone you love.

Btw, I re-read this because I wrote most of it when I was so close to falling asleep and I don't remember writing a lot of this but damn I should write half-dead more often because I'm gooooood.

I know the ending was still a shocker and came out of nowhere haha, but I'll also be making an epilogue. Hope you stick around to read it :)

with love
via <3