Cat had left the library hours ago. She sat on a park bench watching the carnival. She sipped a coke and tucked her knees to her chest. Whenever Tally and Xandra walked by she covered her face with her book. Groups of men and women stood in pods talking about the "random blizzard" that had struck Pickleberry while their children romped in the patches of white snow that remained.

"Hey." The plastic of the bench tilted of weight when Marvel sat next to her. She looked at him. Long, fawn-colored curls paraded down his shoulders. Splotches of acne dotted his face and his circular "Harry Potter glasses" topped it all off. 

Cat leaned back and smiled. Despite his outer appearance, his heart was caring and gentle. They were best friends.

"What's happening?!" Marvel grinned. He crossed his arms nonchalantly over his chest.

"Nothing," Cat sighed. Marvel's eyes flickered around the park.

"It's Xandra and Tally again, isn't it?" Marvel's gaze softened and Cat pulled her knees tighter up against her chest. Her eyes dropped to the concrete.

"She just doesn't understand..." Cat whimpered.