A bright light disturbed my eyes until, at last, they fluttered open. I mumbled at the sunlight streaming in through my window, wishing I'd shut the curtains before I slept yesterday.

Wait. Wasn't today important?

I patted my comfy covers with my hands until I felt my phone. Bringing it up to my face, I squinted at the time. 9:40 stared back at me. My eyes widened.

"Holy Shit! Blitz, I thought I said seven?!"

"You did. But by seven, you also said 'snooze'."

"What? Noo!" I mourned. "I'm gonna be late. It'll be just like high school again."

Springing up from my king-size bed, I dropped to begin push-ups. "Never listen to 'snooze me' ever again. How could you trust him?"

"You're being illogical."

"Says the Rotore who listened to an-" I puffed as I pushed up the eighth time. "-illogical request."

"So you're pinning this on me?"

I heaved a sigh as I pushed up for the final time. "No. And it looks like there's no time for the rest of the exercise routine."

"Then get a move on."

I headed into the bathroom and swiped the toothpaste, slipping some onto the brush.

"So what do you think my excuse should be?"

Blitz's voice became more jovial. "They're your friends. They don't need elaborate excuses. And if this really was your high school norm, then I'm sure they'll be expecting you to show up late anyway."

"Thanks, buddy," I let the sarcasm drip. "That was really motivational."

"All I'm saying is that honesty builds lasting bonds. Or in this case, rebuilds them."

I pouted in consideration. "Fair enough."

I finished brushing and took a quick shower, then entered my walk-in closet with a towel to select an outfit; one that would allow me to blend in and go below the radar.

"A pair of slightly faded blue jeans, a white t-shirt, a grey beanie, and a pair of sunshades," Blitz suggested. "I know I said you should make your own fashion choices, but my calculations showed that your poor fashion sense would increase the delay by at least an extra ten minutes."

I puffed in retaliation but still dragged the suggested clothes off their hangers. "I picked the white tux last night, you know," I recalled.

"Yeah, it was already a complete set, and you still spent eight minutes on that."

"You're rude." I grumbled.

"I prefer blunt. But I sense some chemical signals relating to emotional hurt. Did I offend you?"

I looked at my Rolex watch in a nearby drawer but decided against it. Ignoring Blitz, I headed out of the closet--fully dressed-- to the balcony outside my room.

To make it in time, there was only one way to travel.

Solidifying my armor, I entered cloaking mode and popped out my jet pack; charging it and blasting off into the sky.

"The silent treatment," Blitz said. "Very well. I think I deserve that."

"You do." I mentally stated.

I switched my attention to the aerial view of the city beneath me. A sight to behold. The different perspectives were always amazing. People were like dots. The high-rises and skyscrapers were defined by their rooftops, and cars looked funny. It was all just amusing. But at this moment, I couldn't feel the amazement. I couldn't feel anything but a sort of angst. After all these years, I was about to meet Gina again. Our last text played across my mind. I wondered if we would pick up from there. It would definitely be awkward for me.

How much had she changed? How much had her feelings towards me changed?

There were so many possibilities this reunion held--enough to blow my mind, but said mind was suddenly preoccupied with solving the puzzle that is Alain Archer. In my entire year as a superhero, I'd never come across a crook as elusive as that man. It's like he was always one step ahead, and that irked me. I'd have to come up with a plan to find him. Because it seemed the only way to take him down was by surprise.

Knowing the city map like the back of my hand, I steered through the air over certain landmarks till I spotted the town square up ahead. It stood out from the landscape with the neon signs and e-billboards decorating the glassy buildings that formed an imperfect square pattern. Just beyond the pattern, at the side of the road, was a neat off-white building with a signboard that read 'Cross-Bakes' in bold cursive writing.

I flew till I reached the building and slowly touched down behind it. My eyes scanned the surroundings. In front of me; was a greasy dumpster beside a metal backdoor. And behind me; a barbed wire fence. To my left and right were nothing but clear rocky paths.

I looked up at the top corner of the building's wall in front of me. As I expected, there was a surveillance camera taking in the whole scene.

"Blitz, could you be a pal and deactivate that camera for a moment?"

"I take it my offense is forgiven?"

I sighed. "Who can stay mad at their superpower source for long?"

Immediately, I saw the red dots on the camera surface disappear.

"Deactivated." Blitz proclaimed.

"Thanks." I uncloaked before phasing out my armor.

I dragged my beanie down to cover as many of my features as possible without looking weird.

"Someone's about to come out, take cover," Blitz warned.

"What? Now?" I panicked. Darting my head in search of a possible cover, I found only an open stinking dumpster. "No way I'm hiding in there."

I solidified my armor and was about to enter cloaking mode when the door burst open.

A slim teenage dude in a dark green shirt and black jeans came out and immediately paused his whistling. His jaw dropped as he froze with a trash bag in hand.

Too late. I thought.

His eyes then went wild; the first sign of a full-blown scream. Luckily, I was skilled in these kinds of prevention. I pressed a cream gold metal finger against my lipless mask. "Shhhh!"

His one free hand covered his mouth, though his eyes still bulged in awe.

Man, was I glad that worked. "I'm not really here... This is a figment of your imagination. Ignore me, and proceed -"

"Holy crap, it's Tekeon!" He screamed through his palm. Then he turned back to face the open door. "Everyone, come see! It's Te-"

A glowing blue taser stretched out from my wrist and latched onto his chest, shocking him unconscious. The trash bag dropped with a splat as he stiffly fell backward.

"Jason McLean!" Blitz chided. "That was for bad guys only!"

"Sorry, I panicked!"

"Tell it to the boy, "Blitz said.

I stared blankly at the unconscious lad as the taser retracted. A feeling of guilt began to stir. "I'm sure he'll be alright." I peered into the open door and saw a sort of short passageway that was desolate with another closed door at the end.

No one else was around. I disappeared my armor.

Tugging the edge of my white t-shirt, I gulped the guilt down and proceeded towards the front of the off-white two-story building.

I dug out my phone to check the time. "Ten twenty... I've been later." I shrugged.

I rounded up at the double glass doors and decided to call Nic. As I unlocked my phone, I found out I already had ten missed calls from him.

"Damn silent mode." I clenched my jaw.

He called again, and I picked up immediately. "Sup, Nic. Man, sorry I'm late I-"

"Overslept?" He laughed. "You're about to say overslept, aren't you?"

I furrowed my eyebrows in annoyance, tempted to cut the call. But I had more reasons not to. "Where are you guys seated? The place looks crowded."

"We're at a table by the window."

A glance through the glass doors of Cross-Bakes revealed broad windows on both sides, almost stretching from one end of the wall to the other.

Tables packed with feasting customers were lined beside them.

Sarcasm sipped into my remark. "Very specific,"

He sighed over the phone. "You know what? Just do a wave or something when you step in. We'll keep an eye out for you."

"Do I have to?"

The bell jingled upon my entry. A few heads turned my way. I waved as if I had just seen a friend. When no one waved back, anxiety crept inside me.

Everyone was seated except the waiters. The few customers who faced me directed their attention back to their food or conversation.

From the corner of my eye, a woman approached me.

It was the same blonde woman whom I helped retrieve her purse on my first night as Tekeon. The one with the familiar deep blue eyes. My mind was instantly blown. I only realized late that I was gawking when she gave me a puzzled look. "Jason?"

Speech finally came back to me. "Um, no, I'm not Jason." I feigned a gruff voice. It was unclear how she recognized me underneath the shades and beanie. Perhaps I might need to cover up more next time. But for now, I had to find a way to maintain a low profile--and electric tasers were sadly out of the options.

"Oh, my apologies," She said. "My friend and I thought you were a Jason we know, so I came over to confirm."

As she turned to leave, it clicked. My eyes widened at how mature she'd become. Examining her black tank top and black jeans, I ripped off my oversized shades, revealing most of my face. "Gina?"

She spun around, eyes lit as she grinned. "Well, what do you know? If it isn't blogger boy."