{Thursday, September 21st.}

   "Last night pedestrians were baffled when they witnessed MidKnight purposely vandalizing city property."

  My jaw drops, eyes glued to the tv across the room. Michael's spoon drops to his bowl with a clink, his own face slack-jawed as we both listen to the morning news.

"He apparently went from shop to shop, ruthlessly breaking glass windows along the way from more then ten buildings. It's reported that nothing was stolen - only thousands of dollars worth of repairs, though there's been over five injuries reported from MidKnight's so-called 'shopping spree' he unexpectedly started last night."

  "That can't be right." Michael points over towards the tv, I distasteful expression on his face. "It has to be a imposter. MidKnight wouldn't do that, he's the good guy." He crosses his arms, leaning back in his chair as he glares over at the screen.

Mom and dad share a glance across the table, faces drawn in worry.

"Well, sport, I'd love to be as positive about this as you. MidKnight's done more for this city then they'll ever give him credit for. But this has happened before. Super gone rogue as they like to call it. Happens to even the best of them." Dad points out, sadly looking down at his food.

  I look back over at the tv, conflicted thoughts bustling around in my head.

  'Rogue' is a term people came up with when a super suddenly misbehaves - aka, decides to start destroying stuff without a reason.

  It's ether the stress - the responsibility, of being a super that finally sets them off their rocker, or they've simply been planning it from the get-go.

  "I think he's waiting for something."

  Aaron's words from nearly two weeks ago flash through my head, it becoming too real to my mind.

  Has he really gone rogue? After everything he's done. After both those times he's saved me?

"Some think it may be a possible Celestial masquerading as MidKnight, some believe MidKnight's gone rogue. Though there's no evidence that supports either of these possibilities, NYPD is advising everyone to stay clear of MidKnight if seen until further notice."

  Mom shakes her head, her face the picture of 'I told you so.' Yeah, have I mentioned before that mom doesn't exactly get along with the Celestial population? Pretty easy to tell huh?

  The reporter in the tv delivers her dramatic ending line before it flips to another story.

"Has New York's very own knight gone rogue?"

  Well, that was depressing.

  I wipe my mouth off, standing up while reaching over to grab my backpack from the seat next to me. 

  "Gotta go, Aaron's picking me up today." I inform them, patting the pouty Michael on the head as I pass him.

  So yeah, you heard me, Aaron's picking me up. A couple days ago he turned up at our table for lunch, acting like his old self again. He's now been joining us each day for lunch since then, and I've got to say me and him are getting pretty close if I do say so myself.

  Cue the girly giggle.

Sure he hasn't exactly asked me to be his girlfriend or anything yet, but we went out yesterday and he kept fidgeting like he had something he wanted to say.

  So that may be making me a bit hopeful. But not too hopeful.

  Do I want a boyfriend?

  I could live without one for awhile. You know, wait for the right guy and stuff like that. But he's literally the first guy I've known that's actually seemed interested in me.

  And for just like any girl, that notion gives me butterflies like no ones business.

Butterflies I hate. But what can you do?

  He's got all the right characteristics; Good manners, likes to laugh, has decent socializing skills, makes me feel more special than I actually am, he's cute.

  Insert sigh.

The perfect boy you only dream of meeting.

Dad frowns slightly, pointing his spoon at me as I walk towards the door. "Hey, if you two are getting serious I want to meet this kid." Mom nods in agreement, Michael's face scrunching in disgust as he's momentarily distracted from his anguish.

  I feel my face heat up, but I wave it off. "Yeah, yeah. I know." I hike my backpack up, placing my left hand on the doorknob.

  "And remember! I've got a field trip after school so I'll be back late!" I yell back over my shoulder as I step out the door.

  Mr. Niki - the art teacher, announced yesterday that we're heading to a art museum today after school. Much to everyone's joy.

  Hint the sarcasm.

Eh, I think it might be interesting though.

Once the elevator makes it down to the bottom floor, I then walk out the last door, a breath of cool morning air immediately hitting me in the face along with the usual blaring noises of NY.

  Gotta love it.

A automatic smile stretches across my face as my eyes land on the forest green Ford truck that's parked along the street, the engine still on.

Opening the door, I climb in.

"Morning there, sunshine."

  I feel my cheeks heat again at the sound of Aaron's new nickname he's given me, and I'm just barely able to keep them from turning red.

  "Morning, Aaron."

*Time Skip*
[3:45 P.M.]

"So tell me what you did yesterday with your soon-to-be-boyfriend again even though you already told me over the phone."

  I hold my finger up to my mouth, fake glaring at Zoey as I glance around the semi-full school bus.

  So we're now headed to Metropolitan Museum of Art, the bus only occupied by Mr. Niki and his art students.

  30 when you add them all up from the three different periods he teaches. Because he just had to bring us all along.

  Zoey and I share a seat somewhere in the middle, and lets just say she's had a little too much sugar today.

  "Hm, hm, well. Spit it out already!" She basically shouts, earning us a few stares from around the bus.

  I make a face at her, running my hand down it. "Sheesh I will, just be quiet would you?"

  She nods, eyes wide with expectation.

  "It wasn't all that exciting," I shrug. "we just went to the mall and got a pretzel." Her shoulders sag, a small smile growing on my lips as I lean closer to her.

  "That we shared." I deliver the punchline.

   Her face lights with renewed hope, her hands coming up to grasp mine in my lap.

  "I can just see it now, Heavyn. There's no way he can't like you!" She gushes, droning on and on about all these little things he does when I'm not looking.

  Because that doesn't sound stalker-ish at all.

  She cuts herself off as the bus stops, everyone's attention turning to Mr. Niki as he stands up at the front of the bus.

  "Alright everyone, listen up because I'm only saying this once. We're all staying together, but then you're to team up with your partner- and only your partner, and stay with them throughout the whole time." He picks up a clipboard.

  "Each team is to pick a picture they both like and discuss it amongst themselves. No playing or mingling, this is for educational purposes only." He eyes everyone.

  "And don't think I won't know if you switch partners." He finishes with, a few people slouching in their seats as their plain gets foiled.

  Which means...

  I glance back to the back of the bus, finding Dravin exactly where I last saw him.

  He's sitting in the very last row of seats along the right, the seat next to him empty as he leans his head against the window, staring outside with a pair of earbuds in his ears as he outright ignores everyone.

  Can't say I've really spoken to him much since Monday - when I beat him at bowling. Though I have a suspicion that he may have let me win on purpose.

  Probably didn't want to deal with my wrath.

  You could say I've been too busy with Aaron to bother much with him. As mean as that sounds.

  Zoey pouts, sticking her bottom lip out as she glares over at Mr. Niki like it's going to make him change his mind.

  "See ya around." She pats my shoulder, standing up to join the crowd of students 'attempting' to unload from the bus.

"Right back at you." I return, sitting back in my seat as I wait for the crowd to thin out.

  The last person passes me, and I stand up, falling in line next to Dravin as he ambles down from the back.

  He seems to roll his eyes - that aren't black anymore, at my strategy, ignoring me as he continues on his way.

  "You heard the boss. Stick together." I repeat like that explains why I'm stalking him, following along behind him.

  He steps down off the bus, standing on the outside of the circle of loud students like he usually does in these situations.

  I hold both my backpack straps, hanging my elbows lazily down as I wait for further instructions.

"Alright, alright. Quiet down!" Mr. Niki yells, gaining everyone's attention once again. "Calm down, act like civilized people and stick together." He wipes his forehead off, ushering us forward as he leads the pack.

  I look up at the magnificent building, three seperate cement staircases leading up to the towering stone columns that go down the front like a large deck.

  Dravin and I end up at the back of the pack - surprise, surprise - following everyone else as they walk up the steps.

  We finally make it up the tremendous - who's bright idea was it to put this many steps in anyway? - amount of steps, a few people including Mr. Niki looking slightly winded.

  I've got a small cramp. But I'll be fine.

  Dravin stands next to me, completely unaffected from the activity, earbuds still in his ears as he observes the area with little to no interest.

I cross my arms, blowing a breath out.

This guy gets on my nerves more than I'll ever admit.

We're then introduced to a over-bubbly guide tour, who goes on and on about each painting she stops next to.

  Which is about every. Single. One.

And this place isn't exactly small.

Dravin and I walk about ten steps back from the rest of the group, his earbuds now out  after getting yelled at by Mr. Niki.

  Don't get on his bad side.

I walk a little closer to Dravin, my eyes scanning over the many paintings as we pass them.

  "So, which painting do you wanna discuss?" I question, glancing up at him.

  His own eyes flicker over each picture, taking them each in individually, hands stuffed in the pockets of his leather jacket. That cool, uncaring expression plastered across his face.

  "Japanese bamboo art?" I try, thinking back to the odd furniture made from bamboo.

  Since when was furniture 'art?'

  I spot a small smirk quirk up at the side of his mouth, obviously finding it just as amusing as I do.

"But seriously," we pause our steps as the group ahead stops in front of a couple elevators. "we need to think of something." I stress, crossing my arms.

   He stares ahead, shrugging his shoulders. "Beats me."

  I groan, feeling another headache growing in the back of my skull.

  He must be too stressful for me or something. Because he seems to always leave me with a small headache.

  He's too hard to handle, that's it. It's like trying to move a big rock that won't move no matter how many times you try.

  I feel bad for his parents and relatives.

  "Alright, we're moving to the fourth floor!" Mr. Niki announces, waving his arms around like a gorilla as he attempts to gain everyone's attention.

  Fourth floor huh? That's three floors up from here. He must really wanna see something up there.

  "Grab your partner and load yourselves into a elevator." He dabs a hanky - people still have those? - on his forehead, stepping inside one of the four elevators as it opens.

We stand back, watching as two of the elevators are loaded with more than what's probably allowed. The guide frantically trying to speak over the chatter of weary teens.

  Nah.

I walk over to one of the other elevators, pressing the button to send it down. Dravin walks up beside me, probably thinking the same thing I am.

  That's a little too crowded for comfort.

There's a soft ding as the elevator stops on this floor, the doors sliding open to reveal emptiness.

  That's better.

  I step inside, tugging my backpack back up on my shoulder as I wait for Dravin. My brows furrow as I look back up at him.

  He's still standing there, his face looking a little paler then usual as he stares inside the elevator, shoulders scrunched together.

  I open my mouth, only to snap it shut as he suddenly directs his glare at me. Efficiently shutting me up.

  He seems to blow a long breath out, eyes closing for a second before he steps forward across the threshold.

  What the...?

  The doors slide shut, a tense atmospheres filling the small space. Dravin stands two feet to my right, eyes glued to the door as he stands with that stoop in his posture I've noticed he does sometimes.

  Oh come on, what could possibly happen while you're in a -

  There's a sudden, bone jarring jerk. My feet shuffling as I try to right myself before I fall on my butt.

  And that's when I notice: it's not moving.

  Um, this was not supposed to happen. X out what I was about to say two seconds ago about elevators being safe.

  Dravin straightens up from fixing his own footing, realization hitting his face as he comes to the same conclusion.

  We're stuck.

"Wow. That was totally unexpected." I mumble, pulling my phone out from my back pocket.

  Only to see 'no service' highlighted up on the left corner.

"And no service." My eyes land on the red button that's located on the small keypad built in the side of the elevator.

  "No need to fret, there's a emergency button." I tell myself, not realizing I'd said it out loud until after I said it.

  I lean forward, pushing the red button.

  Doesn't a big red button usually spell 'trouble?'

  There's a beep, then a slight staticky noise fills up the elevator.

  Dravin winces at the sound, flexing his neck out as his eyes scan the surroundings, hands digging further down in his pockets.

  "Please remain calm and orderly." A mechanical voice says over the speaker. "We're experiencing some unexpected technical difficulties. The mechanics are on their way to assist you."

  "Please wait twenty minutes."

  Well. That was blunt. And oh-so helpful.....Not.

  "Great, twenty minutes." I throw my hands up in disbelief, leaning back against the wall. "Now Mr. Niki is going to think we bailed and we're gonna be in so much trouble." I ramble, glancing back at Dravin.

  There's a sudden stab of uncertainty in my chest as I take him in, something not feeling 100% right.

  He's currently sliding down the back wall so he lands in a sitting position, firmly seated on the rug ground. His knees rest in front of his chest, arms still tucked in his jacket.

  Wide - almost panicked, eyes repeatedly glance around the room, never stopping on one place for longer than three seconds.

  What's wrong with him?

  I find myself walking the three feet over to him, my own back sliding down the wall as I come to rest on the ground also. Knees drawn up to my chest, arms wrapping around them as I peer over at him.

  Only inches between us.

  I catch the movement of his chest rising and falling with each breath from the corner of my eye, going much faster than necessary.

  Is something...wrong?

I look him over - really looking him over.

His face looks flushed, eyes wide - much wider than I've ever seen on him, a look like he's completely lost across his face.

  What's happened to his bad-boy attitude?

  Because it's not there now.

I slowly reach my arm out, lightly touching his left shoulder that's next to mine.

My breath catches in surprise as he jerks away like I've burnt him, his shoulders scrunching together like a sandwich.

  But it seems to have broken him from his spell.

  "Don't touch...me." He breathes, his voice sounding raw and scratchy to my ears.

  I hold my hands up. "Okay, okay. Sheesh. Touchy much?" I roll my eyes, leaning back against the wall.

  He glares at me a second longer before tucking his head down between his knees and chest, his breathing growing noticeably louder.

  Wait....is he...?

  I glance around, my mind transporting me back to that day at the ice cream shop. How he was acting weird - tense, that alertness and caution.

  "Claustrophobia." I mutter, peering back over at him.

  His head immediately lifts slightly at my voice, eyes looking up at me from underneath his hair that's falling down over his head.

  "You're claustrophobic." I word it more as a statement, immediately noticing how his arms tense.

  Silence.

"Yeah, so what?" His words drift off, and he suddenly looks much too insecure all of a sudden to be considered 'bad.'

  He's insecure about being claustrophobic?....Ashamed?

  I shrug, playing it off like this revelation doesn't affect me one bit.

  Only it does.

"Eh, nothing. I was just pointing it out I suppose." I drop my chin on top of my knees, blowing a breath out as I mentally count how much longer is left.

  "Well quit pointing things out that I'm already highly aware of, Miss smarty pants." He shoves his head further down, arms tightening.

  I frown at my new nickname - yet another one, pursing my lips in annoyance.

  It's not my fault I can put two and two together.

  "And it's not really claustrophobia. I just don't like tight places." He abruptly corrects, finding it necessary to defend himself.

  Which just makes me feel like a horrible person now that I brought it up.

  Did I ever mention that I don't know when to be quiet?

  I blow another breath out, leaning my head back against the elevator wall, foot tapping the floor.

  This is going to take forever.

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A/N

  Hello! VOTE!! (Please) Comment!!

  So yes, this chapter is a couple days over due. But I've been busy babysitting and to be honest, I had a bit of a writers block.

  Eh, so yeah. Now you've heard my lame excuses. ^_^

  Alright! Who's ready for some secrets to be revealed?! (I know I've said that before, but hang in there.) Because yes, in another two or three chapters it will be revealed!

  Questions:

  1.) What are your thoughts on the news about MidKnight going rogue.

  2.) How do you feel about the whole dating Aaron thing that's going on?

  3.) Are you for team Aaron, or team Dravin? 😏

  4.) Tell me you weren't expecting Dravin to be claustrophobic of all things?

Next Update: It's supposed to be next week, but I'm honestly not sure if I'll be able to make it. Though some Votes may help me get some motivation. 😉

Maggy