I slumped in my chair, staring at the clock on the wall. One minute never felt so long. I swung my pencil back and forth between my fingers while my knee bounced up and down agitatedly.

My eyes bored holes into the second hand, and finally, finally! The bell rang just as my pre-calc teacher announced the homework. I jumped up, snatched the worksheet, grabbed my backpack, and was out of the classroom before the teacher could blink and eye.

I was meeting my best friend whom I hadn’t seen in at least two years, and I was not going to be late.

As the halls started filling with students, I ran to the nearest exit and heard the satisfying clunk of the double doors as they opened, then closed behind me.

The frozen yogurt place we were meeting at was close to my school, so I could walk.

I sped up as I got closer and closer, checking the time. I would be late. Great. I thought I had planned enough time to walk there after school, but evidently not.

When I got close enough to see the fro-yo shop name, I was practically running. I burst through the door, wincing as the person manning the register looked up with raised eyebrows.

“Sorry!” I attempted a placating hand, even as I glanced around the shop. “Sorry.”

My friend wasn’t here yet, so I sat down to wait. She had an even bigger reputation for being late than I did, so I was glad I made it before her.

I looked around in the meantime, noticing how it had changed since I’d last been. It was a quaint little shop, all pastel colors and light wood. Benches lined the walls against the front windows, and there were cute metal chairs in all different colors spaced around the small tables.

The little bell above the door rang, and I looked over. She walked through the door, saw me, and made an actual emoji face. I grinned and motioned her over.

Her smile dropped and she pointed at the fro-yo. “Uh, no way. I need my frozen yogurt. You can wait.”

My jaw dropped. “Excuse me? Do they not have frozen yogurt in Minnesota?”

“Nowhere near where I live!” She turned to the man at the cash register who was looking very amused. “Hi. Can I have the vanilla with rainbow sprinkles and yogurt chips?” He nodded and started making it.

I raised my brows. “First time getting frozen yogurt in two years, and that’s what you get?”

She turned to look at me. “Don’t judge me.”

“Oh, I am.” But I was shaken out of my disappointment by my phone buzzing. I flipped it over, and seeing the message, I groaned.

She threw me a questioning glance as she took her frozen yogurt and thanked the man.

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

“Oh. Have fun!” She smiled sweetly and I rolled my eyes as I got up.

“Thanks, you too.”

I picked up my backpack and walked towards the bathroom door. I hoped she wouldn’t ask. This was the only thing I had to keep from her, and I didn’t enjoy it, but she couldn’t know.

When I got to the bathroom, I chose a stall and set my backpack down on the floor. As fast as I could, I changed into my suit. It was a loose but stretchy jumpsuit to disguise my body shape.

As soon as I finished, I took my backpack and went up to the sink and mirror. I was in the process of putting my hair up when the bathroom door swung open. I swore and tried to use my backpack to cover myself up. Unfortunately, it was Claire.

I tried to sneak behind the door, but her eyes landed on me.

Her eyes widened. “HOLY CRAP. ERIKA?!”

I grimaced and looked up. “Boss is going to be so mad.”

“What did you just say? Erika?” She was still holding the door open. I pulled her inside and let the door squeak shut.

I held her shoulders and looked up into her eyes. “Okay, listen. I can’t explain right now. I need to go. But yeah. Call me later, okay? I’m sorry.”

I “tsk-ed” twice and disappeared, leaving my backpack and a shocked Claire behind.

~

When I got back to my house in my normal clothes, my dad was making dinner in the kitchen. “Claire’s upstairs waiting for you! She told me that you had to leave early for an errand so she came here to get some more hangout time.”

I was lucky to have such a chill (oblivious) parent. “Okay, thanks Dad!” I sounded cheerful, but inside I was dreading going upstairs. I knew Claire would be mad about my secret superhero life, and I didn’t want to explain.

I nervously made my way to the back of the house, and saw that my door was wide open. I could see Claire sitting at my desk.

I squared my shoulders and strode inside.

She spun the chair slowly, ominously, around, and fixed her stare on me.

“Care to explain, Erika?”