One.
“I don’t want to get in the middle of this.”

― TONIGHT WAS ANOTHER LONG NIGHT OF PATROL WITH THE TEAM. As Courtney insisted that I would have to come once again tonight. Ugh! This is the 9th time this week itself that I had to still come after complaining. I get the whole idea of what Courtney wants to do with Patrol. But after three hours everyone including myself has had enough. 

I know Cindy Burman isn’t gone yet because she lived, The Gambler disappeared, Tigress and Sportsmaster have been put in jail, and Grundy I don’t know exactly what happened to him. Sometimes Skylar tells me that her brother spared him, but other than that she isn’t telling me much more about how the two of them are possibly looking for him. 

Flying in the sky, I still couldn’t see anything around me as I finally heard Courtney call for everyone. As my hair still hadn’t gone down. Flapping down on my wings, I finally touched down on the ground as my wings picked up the dust around. Making Skylar cough around me. Next to her was the ginger Maya King, who still had the same look on her face that she had months ago. Since Stephaine left at the beginning of the semester. 

She doesn’t seem to talk about it, so everyone including myself had to drop it. No matter if she can hear my thoughts about it. But not everyone dropped it, sometimes Courtney asks her forgetting that Maya has had no contact with her “friend”. 

Courtney continued to fight the team about patrol. As Rick was tired of constant patrol with no result, as he used sarcasm to tell Courtney he was done. Beth still hasn’t been able to get the goggles working, as they didn’t detect anyone. 

Yolanda had guilt when Rick talked about Brainwave being killed when it caved in. But knowing the truth was hard, she was a part of killing Brainwave. But nobody knew it was Maya except me from Courtney and I had to get her to tell me about it. 

Once everyone walked away I looked at Courtney, “You know Courtney, I love you're my sister, but this is getting to be too much. Take care of yourself more like Courtney than Stargirl. I will see you in the morning. Don’t stay up too late.” I told her as she looked at me sadly before I lifted off and flew in the sky back home, as I was ready to get changed, and shower before going to sleep before my one final tomorrow. 

After pulling over a large t-shirt and shorts, I knew that I was ready to in my father’s words, “Hit the hay.” As I turned off my phone looking over to the picture beside my bed of my parents. Seeing them both smile, and myself smiling. It was a month before they were killed. A month before they left me again...to be alone until I resurrect back into this body for the rest of my life. Death is what will haunt me forever, because I can’t die. Because dying doesn’t last. 

Setting it down I closed my eyes drawing a breath. Not long after did I return over to my bed, pulling my pillow closer into my head. Once slumber came into my body something felt off hours later...my eyes couldn’t be closed as something was haunting me. 

My eyes were flashing as the scene of my parent’s with me appeared as I looked at them. Holding something close I saw another figure...a figure that I tried to touch and to ask the figure who they were. But the closer I got...the closer I got the pain in my head hurt more and more...like it did with Brainwave, but way worse. 

But the figure, that kid ran faster than me as I tripped on something hearing a small voice yell out my name, my birth name. But not long after I wake up, head still hurting, touching it, I could feel the wet pooling effect of blood coming down from a small cut from what I can assume. 

Not long after did my father come into my room looking at me, “Kyra?” He asked as my breaths were starting to become normal as I could see him worry as he saw the cut on my head. 

“That dream, it felt so real. It felt so real dad. I felt so real.” I muttered about not being able to think too well. Not being able to close my eyes in fear that something happened. 

“Kyra you wanna talk about it?” He asked me as I shook my nodded sitting up looking at him. 

“It felt so real, I was back to my first life, Egypt. But this time it was different, I have had these dreams and you know that. But this one I saw a figure of this kid, it was running yelling my name. Not Kyra, but my name...but once I tried I couldn’t stay any longer. And this pain when I feel it appears to have affected me. I don’t….” My voice cut out as I still can’t understand what had happened, and how the pain from my dream appeared on my face in reality. Unless my dreams are becoming real, which is maybe Ra’s doings to warn me of something. But the question is if he’s warning me; what is he warning me about? 

After talking to him for a little bit more I was able to fall asleep for the rest of the morning. No more dreams about my past, it was just peace, which I was glad at. But then what was the point of that dream? 

In the morning after getting dressed in my last outfit for Sophomore year, I go downstairs to see my dad, and Mike looking at a map. Oh please don’t be a family trip, because this isn’t going to end well in both arguments. That I do not want to get in the middle of it. Courtney, and Barbara came in the kitchen as I knew this wasn’t going to end well.

Jellystone park for two weeks. This argument isn’t going to end well once again. But it’s going to start soon. But relaxing does sound fun after last night, and I never really did family trips unless it was with Pat when he became my father figure, and Mike back years ago. 

“Kyra?” Courtney asked as I knew it was about being on the side of going and not going to Jellystone. 

“Heck No.” I started as Courtney and Mike were smiling. “I’m not choosing because either side is going to be mad whatever I decide. And I really don’t want to get in the middle of it. Just if we go on vacation some please come tell me.” I told them to walk out of the room, grabbing my bag and heading out. 

― SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT RICK WAS LISTENING TO THE RADIO IN THE MUSTANG WHILE DRIVING. Solomon Grundy was back at it again, with eating more food, due to him being released. And now another restaurant was broken into for him to eat at. And it’s not like the two of us...or Rick really wants to tell the team about how he spared Grundy and let him go 100%. And then put in that he’s feeding Grundy and making sure he’s alright. 

Once Rick parked I got out with him. In my plum dress and belt, with black heels from Maya. I walked down the path of the forest of Blue Valley following behind Rick looking for anything that can lead us to where Grundy went. 

But on a side note, Rick’s outfit’s have really changed for the better luckily. But I won’t tell him that as Maya has helped him a bit since she stole a few of his jackets here or there. But I have to thank her for making my brother finally change into more of an adult look. 

Anyways looking around still nothing big was found until we approached the small river seeing syrup bottles littered around. Grundy was here. As a big footprint was in the mud and Rick touched it to know it was still fairly new. 

Getting dropped off in town before school I walked with Kyra, Yolanda, and Courtney. As Yolanda most likely came from Church as we looked across to the Blue Valley Tires mural to see Cameron Mahkent and Maya King standing there planning something with the mural. 

The two of them seemed to be getting along, but I have no idea how Maya feels deep down as she lost Stephaine. But knowing that Cameron’s dad died because of the JSA, who knows how far her guilt goes when speaking to him. But she seems to be at peace. 

But deep down I know Cameron deserves to know about what truly happened to his father. Even if he shatters inside, it would give him closure. Like it gave me closure when I truly knew what happened to my parents. And then made me decide to join the JSA even more, it just gave me something to give Justice for it gave me more of a drive than before. But for Cameron I get it could go either way. 

After finishing the history test, the bell that rang was the bell that released everyone for the summer. No more school, and time to study more languages for me. Everyone had left as the teacher called both Rick and I back into the class, as Mr. and Ms. Harris. The Harris siblings, the town’s juvenile, and the juvenile’s sister. Who noted saved the world last semester, saved everyone including her but she didn’t fully understand...but nobody did. 

Even with the better grades that Rick has been getting, my grades still are perfect grades that I can get for the classes. Everyone still looks at us the same way they did when we started High School. As bad people. As people who cannot change, that lie. Which is far from the truth. 

“I go by Rick Tyler now.” Rick spoke up as I looked at the teacher too. 

“And I go by Skylar Tyler now.” I spoke up along with him knowing the teacher didn’t like us very much. 

“You got every single question on the final correct.” She spoke up as I smiled knowing Rick could do it, since he almost schooled me once in History when we were studying together. As I really was happy for him, seeing him grin. That was until the teacher spoke up again, “Tell me how you did it. Did you assist him?” The teacher accused me of helping my brother cheat. 

“What?” Both Rick and I asked. 

“That test is from last year. It has different questions, so we’ll see exactly how much studying you did. And if he doesn’t pass I will fail your test Ms.Harris.” The teacher spoke up as I looked at her. I saw Rick nod at this knowing that after all his work with his grades they still don’t think of him as successful, and as a juvenile more than a boy who made mistakes due to being abused by our so-called-father, who is our uncle. 

“I saved you. We both saved you and everyone in this stupid town.” Rick spoke up as the teacher asked about this as he yelled. “You know what? Fail me.” Rick told her as he walked out and I stayed there as she yelled at my brother as Mr.Harris. 

“Enough.” I spoke as she looked at me as she knew I usually didn’t do this. “You blame Rick for cheating, and me for assisting him. When he truly studied, I helped him study too. My friends helped him, and he is incredibly intelligent, and so am I. But assuming that I helped him “cheat” is against everything a teacher is not meant to stand for. Get your facts right, and go right ahead...fail me. I didn’t need this grade anyways I still will be successful in your class.” I muttered as she yelled for me as Ms.Harris.

“Have a good summer, and if you expect me to not tell my guidance counselor, you're dead wrong.” I told her before walking out to the hallway as I joined Rick as he looked at me until a girl bumped into him, as he glared at this blonde girl. A new girl who smiled up at him. 

“You're Rick Tyler Right? And this is your sister?” The girl asked him as I looked at her studying her. This wasn’t one of Maya’s friends, but I haven’t seen her around. Maybe she is an exchange student, but then I haven’t heard if anyone was an exchange student in Blue Valley. Maybe a new transfer at the end of the school year. 

“Yes, I don’t know who you are.” Rick answered as she smiled. 

“I’m Rebecca, most people call me Becca.” She spoke up as I looked at her, she looked off, like she was hiding something. “Anyways I wanted to apologize for what happened in the history classroom, the teacher she can be a…” 

“Bitch.” Rick spoke up as she nodded. 

“Yeah.” Becca spoke as she looked at me and I wondered where Maya could be at this moment. Because I wonder if she could figure out who she is. 

Not long after I thought of that did the redhead herself approach us and this Rebecca figure. 

“Hi I’m Maya King.” Maya’s voice rang through as she put her arm into Rick’s as he looked at her. As the girl smiled. 

“Rebecca.” Rebecca spoke as Maya looked at her. 

“You have a last name Rebecca?” Maya asked the girl wondering the question that I should have asked. 

“Yes, it’s Smith.” Rebecca answered, which sounded like she was telling the truth. But it doesn’t stop this feeling about this girl. 

“Anyways I must go, I have algebra.” The girl answered walking away from us. 

“Did anyone else think she was a little...off?” I asked as Maya nodded. 

“I didn’t read her mind if that’s what you're hinting at. My powers are going wacky sometimes, but even if I wanted to...I need to respect other people’s minds.” Maya said, smiling at me as I shook my head. “But yes, she did seem off. Like she’s hiding something. Because I don’t think Smith is her last name.” 

“I will see you two later.” I told them as Rick shook his head as I hugged him before leaving the two of them alone. 

After school I was going to head home before spending the night with Kyra and the Whitmore-Dugan Household. Walking down I could see Cameron Mahkent with a ladder from across the street, as he most likely was painting over the old worn off paint of the Blue Valley Tires sign. His outfit was a Nebraska long sleeved shirt, dark navy blue, with black jeans, and blue and white shoes. 

Approaching him I could notice him filling his metal tray that sat by the metal ladder. The closer I got to him the closer I had the feeling of pain, and sorrow for everything that happened to Jordan Mahkent, even if I didn’t know him as much as Maya and Stephaine did. That still didn’t change the guilt. 

“Hi Cameron.” I spoke up as he turned around and smiled back. “Welcome back.” I spoke up feeling somewhat nervous talking to him. Which has never happened, I remember the last time we spoke. Before he left it was when I was visiting my parent’s grave while he was there to visit his father before leaving town. 

“Thanks.” He spoke up as I looked at the mural.

“Maya told me you were going to give this mural a makeover for you dad. I think that's really thoughtful.” I continued as he nodded, smiling. 

“Thank you. I always wondered when Maya and you became friends.” He started out as I laughed.

“I always wondered that too. I think it was more of Courtney and Kyra than me. But then everything happened with Maya and I think it’s because I understand the loss of family like everyone can.” I told him as he looked at me. “Have any summer plans?” I asked him as he looked at me. 

“Other than getting used to Blue Valley again nothing. You?” He asked me back as I smiled brightly again. 

“Nothing at the moment, I’m just going to take it day by day more than anything.” I told him as the sun shined brightly behind him, but not as bright as his smile. 

“Would you like to go out sometime?” Cameron asked me as I nodded.

“I would like that.” I responded as we both smiled and I was holding back a blush never being asked out by a guy before. 

After walking away I looked back to see Cameron’s grandparents and his Aunt Morgan were smiling at me. And I smiled back as I remembered the first time I ever met them. During that awkward dinner in which I could understand everything they were saying. But did that change me from wanting to talk to Cameron...well no. Does it make me question how Jordan became Icicle?...Yes. 

I always wondered what happened to Morgan. I think she took Cameron away from his grandparents so he could have time to mourn and figure out his next steps. From what Kyra told me is that nobody but Maya has really talked to Morgan. 

― SITTING IN THE MANOR, THE SILENCE RANG THROUGH AS NOTHING WAS HAPPENING. All the staff have gone out today for their break, since I released them. No noise was around but my breathing, no noise to reassure me that everything was alright. Seven Months since my brother’s death, seven months since I have been able to go in his room to even look at anything. Seven months since I could feel his death, his pain in his last moments. Praying that he was somehow alright. Somehow that he survived...but didn’t. 

These last few months haven’t been the best if I could put it in short terms. I’m an orphan now, but people see it differently as I still have my own wealth and own business that earns me enough money. I have an inheritance of both sides of my family. They think I just whine too much if I talk about the pain, if I even look in pain...so I smile. I smile to make myself look alright and attempt to feel alright. 

Including when everyone asked me about Stephaine for the first few days after I came out to face the real world. Except for Rick, and Skylar after they heard what happened fully. Kyra continued to dwell and think on it, Yolanda didn’t really want to think about it, Beth was sad, and Courtney, well Courtney continued to push at it. She continued to ask me questions about if I had contact with Stephaine...but in all truths I haven’t even wanted to speak to her since she left, because she didn’t want to speak to me either. 

Looking at my phone, I could see a text from the one person who I have talked to a little bit more than some people. A small smile started on my face as I glanced over the text seeing it was Cameron as he was talking about returning back to town today, and wanting to see me before anyone else. It’s been almost six and a half-months since he and Morgan had gone out to wherever they were visiting. Due to there morning...maybe I should just be like Stephaine and Cameron going out to mourn somewhere else than being trapped here in…

Hell. 

Getting up I had to head to school for my official last day of “Sophomore” year. I quickly grabbed my bag as I headed and started walking to the end of my driveway in which Morgan’s car was sitting. Getting in I smiled seeing her and Cameron. 

“It’s good to see you both.” I spoke up looking at Cameron as he smiled at me and I smiled back in one of the truest smiles I have had in awhile. Other than when I’m on a date with Rick...which is a whole other story. 

“It’s good to be back.” Morgan answered as she looked better than the last time I saw her. When everything in her life was falling apart. As she was questioning...who is Morgan Mahkent? Now I have some idea of who she wants to be from what I can see. Her cheeks are back to normal, not too much makeup covering the pain, and a very light outfit. Being different from what she had been wearing before...black. 

But I know she still has a long way to go with her recovery, due to her still missing a chunk of her life. Still having her own Amnesia, but she doesn’t have to worry as much as being Manipulated. I noticed Cameron had also changed his hair in the part, his voice was a bit deeper, and he was wearing a long sleeved Nebraska sweatshirt, as he also had black jeans on. 

“I heard what happened with Steph.” Morgan spoke up as I could see Cameron's face change, as even the look on his face could tell me. He hasn’t heard much more than what I have heard after that note. That note that rings through my mind. “I’m…” 

“I’m fine. She doesn’t even want to talk...or tell me where she is, it's fine Morgan.” I spoke up looking at Cameron. “It’s fine.” The words rang through my head as I tried to shove every feeling I felt towards Stephaine down. The anger, the pain, the betrayal that I feel for her. She left me...and everyday when I see Helena return home. She just reminds me of the friend I lost, but even it wasn’t her fault. 

It was Stephaine’s. It was her stupid fault, as she thinks I would be better without her. That she couldn’t help me. The closest person to me other than Cameron, thought I didn’t need her, due to her mourning. But what hurts the most is she couldn’t tell me face to face, words without mind reading. But a stupid note. 

As we finally were both dropped off by Morgan, I joined Cameron as he had to ask the landowner about repainting the Blue Valley Tires sign for the American Dream building. As it has been worn out throughout the years. And Cameron wanted to make that a special project...for his father. I looked up at the wall as I could hear the two talking and I smiled knowing that Jordan would have loved to see his son’s passion in helping the community. 

After school, I received another text from Cameron, as Rick was driving me around in the passenger seat in his 1966 yellow mustang. Reading through the text I smiled seeing that he was ranting about him asking out Skylar just not with asking her on a date. But hinting at it, and I know Skylar well enough. She understood it as she even texted me and I smiled trying not to do anything too extreme to make Rick wonder what was happening. 

Setting my phone back on my lap, I knew deep down Rick was feeling good. Even after what happened with the History teacher, who should have looked deeper into the case than just assume that Rick cheated. I rubbed his arm trying to help him calm down a bit about the whole thought. 

Including after that girl was trying to flirt with Rick, ugh! And then she lied about her identity due to her voice, and how she was acting. It’s like I have met her before...but from where? 

Continuing our way on the Blue Valley road I knew that Rick was searching for Grundy. As he felt this way every time he mentioned Grundy his emotions would feel the same way. But he didn’t admit that to the others, but Skylar. 

When we finally made it out to the forest. I knew that we were in the spot where he last spotted any signs of Grundy. But instead of getting out of the car, we both just sat there hearing each other breathing. Like it was our first time alone in this same car. 

It wasn’t until his voice rang through that the silence was broken, “You didn’t have to be jealous earlier.” He put out as I looked at him. 

“I wasn’t jealous of that blonde girl.” I started knowing that deep down I didn’t like the way she was looking at him. And trying to be flirty and make conversation with him. And how she acted suspicious while not being suspicious. 

“You were jealous, King.” He started going back to my last name as I could feel his caringness towards me as I gasped. 

“I was not. You just are jealous that I can stand people around you. Including that Blonde Girl.” I told him again knowing that the jealousy wasn’t good on me. But I just couldn’t stand that girl...whatever her name was again. Oh yeah, Rebecca. But you can call me “Becca”. Ugh!

But before I could process more I felt the rough lips of Rick’s on mine as I looked back at him for a moment getting into the kiss. But it didn’t last much longer as we both needed to take a breath. As I smiled at him, seeing that grin of his as I shook my head. 

“You are something Rick. Really something.” I told him as he attempted to punch my arm as I looked back at him hurt. “I take that back, you are still such a juvenile Rick Tyler. Such a juvenile.” I spoke up as we both were close again as I smiled until I pushed him away before getting out of the mustang running into the forest knowing that he wouldn’t be that far behind. 

Returning home later after being dropped off. Instead of listening to Helena talk to me I headed straight from my room as I passed the room’s that haunted me. Ending up in my room closing the door, before changing into my red lace night dress. 

Looking back through my room onto my black wooden shelf that hung above my dresser at the top of my wall. I could see the picture of my mother in her younger years still so happy. Not knowing anything that would have happened to her. So pure, so graceful, but now dead. Dead because of my father, dead because of her thoughts. 

Glancing over at the picture next to it, it was one of Stephaine and I. When she was still here we were both happy. It was taken at the beginning of Freshman year, as we had Cameron take the photo of us two. So when we started each year we would have a photo of ourselves to remember those days if anything happened. 

But why do I want to remember those days? When she had left me because of her pain, because of her belief that it would help solve my problem. 

Not even that long after did I grab my dagger off my nightstand and threw it at the photo as it shattered the glass that covered the front of it. As the dagger went through Stephaine’s face. Walking over I grabbed the photo and looked through the remaining glass not even noticing the reflection that was through the glass. 

Pulling out my dagger I threw away the photo in my trashcan of my room, as I used my powers to lift up the remaining glass into the trash. Until my hand shook at the last one. And it pierced my hand making it bleed. Great.

Still have no control. My powers are very wacky now.  

Going to my bathroom door in my room. I grabbed my first aid kit in my cupboard behind the mirror. Grabbing the tweezers and the rubbing alcohol, I dipped the top of the tweezers into it. Putting it into the blood that pooled my hand, pulling the glass out. Hissss. 

Getting it out I watched as more blood gushed out of the wound until I dabbed the painful hand with a cotton ball filled with the rubbing alcohol on it. Which like most people in the world knows...it hurts. 

Quickly grabbing a bandage I wrapped it around my hand and around the cut, as it would heal overnight if I just got enough sleep. I would be fine. As I headed back out into my room as I got in bed quickly turned off my light sitting in my red sheeted bed. 

When my eyes finally closed the hell that I have been trapped in only got worse.