Lauren wasn’t sure exactly how long she had fallen asleep for in her new bed. Maybe a few hours. It didn’t matter. She barely needed to sleep anymore. Last night she walked home with Lucy, then took a shower in her private bathroom and crawled into bed. Now she stared up at the ceiling as pre-dawn light incrementally crept into the room.

  Last night was strange. Lauren had never been to a party before. She mostly spent it hanging with Lucy, who also wasn’t much of a partier. They ordered drinks and talked. A few people came up to talk to them. One of them was a short, chipper fella in a baseball cap named Reuben. He seemed to just want to get to know his new classmates. Lauren thought he looked like a Christmas elf.

  After Reuben, a few young agents came to talk with them. She guessed they wanted to network. Through them, Lauren learned a bit more of the byzantine world of BASTION, agents, and superheroes, though the pair didn’t stop to explain much. Apparently the superhero community really was decimated, nearly wiped out. They mentioned Seraph was still active, though Lauren thought it had been said she died during Invasion Day. It was all still hard to wrap her head around. In the end, the two each handed Lauren and Lucy business cards.

  “What are we, sports players?” Lauren asked after they walked away.

  Lucy shrugged. “I mean, kinda? Superhero teams are basically sports teams, and BASTION handlers are basically managers. They can probably go far in the organization managing an up-and-coming superhero. It’s all about finding the right talent.”

  Lauren stuffed the cards in one of her roomy jacket pockets. The last thing she needed was to answer to someone else from BASTION.

  They were discussing class schedules when another guy swaggered up to them. It was Kenny, from the tour group. He had a cocky look on his boyband face, like he was gracing them with his presence.

  “‘Sup, ladies?” he said as he presumptively rested his arms on their table. He looked between them. “I’m Kenny, but you can get on the ground floor of calling me Dream Guy. I know what you’re thinking, but my looks aren’t my superpower. I can actually hypnotize people, just by them looking at my eyes or hearing my voice. I make people get sleepy, then once they’re asleep I can make them do whatever I want.”

  He leaned back, waiting for some sort of mind-blown reaction.

  Lucy moved her glass away.

  Kenny drummed on the table. “Anyways, just wanted make the rounds letting everyone know that I’m here to have fun, I don’t get tied down easily, and I have some pretty awesome powers that shouldn’t be slept on… Get it?”

  “Thanks, Kenny,” Lauren said without even feigning interest. “We’ll keep you in mind.”

  He shot them finger guns as he backed away. “Do. Do do that.”

  He backed into someone walking by behind him.

  “Oh! Hi. Whoops.”

  That was just about enough socializing for them for the night. Lucy wanted to get plenty of rest for the first day anyways.

  Lauren rolled over, seeing her clock read 6:05. The cafeteria didn’t open till 6:30. Still, she might as well get up.

  She got dressed in the gym outfit provided in her wardrobe, which was mentioned on her class schedule. Gym was her first class of the day, but today it was a special class for all the students together. She pulled the stretchy white material of the shirt over her face and adjusted it on her shoulders. Whatever it was made of, it clung pretty snug to her. The shirt was arctic white, with a pattern of grey hexagons down the front and on the short sleeves. A small RA was stitched in black lettering on the breast. The matching shorts were made of the same material, with the pattern down the sides. There were also white laceless sneakers, but Lauren didn’t put them on yet. She still had a while.

  Lauren left her room and went out to the living room. She was surprised to see Harper already sitting on the couch, watching TV at a quiet volume.

  Lauren paused. She felt like she was intruding, even though this was a common area and all her roommate was doing was sitting there. She just hadn’t seen Harper since her brief introduction yesterday.

  Harper turned to stare at her, saying nothing. She was also dressed in her gym outfit. Her crimson locks spilled over the white material. It was at least nice to see Lauren had gotten that right.

  “Hi,” Lauren ventured to say as she crept around and sat in one of the recliners.

  “...Hello,” Harper replied evenly. She went back to watching TV.

  It looked like a cooking show. A middle-aged guy had ingredients spread out across a few tables set up on a lawn in front of a marina. It was sunny there. Palm trees swayed in the breeze. A grill fumed smoke nearby. The host poured some ingredients into a bowl of shrimp and then started mixing it up with his hands. The volume was too low to hear exactly what he was saying.

  “Do you like to cook?” Lauren asked.

  Harper’s gaze remained fixed on the show.

  “I’ve never cooked before.”

  “Yeah. Me neither really. Except with a microwave. Or boiling water for noodles.”

  The show became oddly transfixing. Lauren didn’t realize how long she had been watching it in silence until Lucy walked in.

  “Hey,” Lucy said, “how long have you been up for?”

  Lauren started and blinked. The sun had mostly risen outside. It was just past 7.

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  “Uh… awhile.”

  Lucy glanced between Lauren and Harper. Lauren shrugged.

  “Alright. I’ll get dressed and we’ll grab some breakfast, yeah?”

  “Sounds good,” Lauren agreed. She looked over at Harper, who had been silent for 45 minutes. “You can join us if you want. We’re all going to the same place.”

  Harper grunted. Lauren didn’t know how to take that.

  While Lucy was in her room, Grace came out stretching and yawning in pink silk pajamas.

  “Ugh, have you seen what they’re making us wear for gym? It’s-”

  She saw Lauren and Harper.

  “Oh. You two are already dressed. Good for you.”

  She looked Harper up and down. “Good to see you out. Hope you’re feeling a bit more social today.”

  “Mhm,” Harper replied.

  “Are you going to breakfast?” Lauren asked.

  Grace walked around to the kitchen. “I’ll see you in gym.”

  “Okay.”

  Lucy came back out in her gym outfit. Lauren stood.

  “I think it’s just you and me,” Lauren told her.

  Lucy smiled. “Works for me.”

  They slipped on their shoes together and headed out. There was enough time between gym and the classes after that they didn’t have to worry about bringing a change of clothes or any class materials (all provided in the drawers of Lauren’s desk).

  The predawn air outside had a bite to it. Lauren could see her breath.

  Lucy rubbed her shoulders. “Brr. I hope they warm us up in gym today.”

  “I’m sure they will,” Lauren said. “And it should warm up a bit today.”

  They walked towards the cafeteria. About halfway there, Lauren spoke up.

  “Hey, Lucy? Can I trust you with something?”

  Lucy looked at her with her shining green eyes.

  “Of course. We’re friends now. You can tell me anything.”

  Lauren did feel that way, even though she had only known Lucy for a day. But she had a good feeling about her.

  “My life… has been really fucking weird,” Lauren said.

  “Okay. Well you are at a superhero school.”

  “I mean, beyond that. I am from Callis, but my twin sister and I got kidnapped from it when we were fourteen. We got kept in a lab out in the desert. They experimented on us. That’s where my powers come from, whatever they are.”

  “Oh, dang,” Lucy said, sounding genuinely concerned. “So where’s your sister? Why isn’t she here with you?”

  “That’s the thing. The ones who took her escaped with her. But I agreed to come here because I can feel she’s nearby. I have some sort of bond with her. I can tell she’s in Pacific City.”

  “Dang. Well, we gotta find her.”

  “Yeah,” Lauren said. She felt relief at being able to tell someone else, and being taken seriously. “Thanks for hearing me out. I’m worried they’re going to move her before I get a chance to find her.”

  “That would be a problem,” Lucy agreed. “We should have plenty of time this weekend to get out there and start looking.”

  “Yeah…”

  Lauren was moreso hoping Lucy was going to suggest they get out tonight. But it was Thursday. She guessed she could wait one more day.

  They made it to the cafeteria doors.

  “Do you want to tell Thalia and Adam?” Lucy asked.

  Lauren hesitated. “I like them, they seem nice and I’m sure they’re well-meaning, but…”

  “They’re probably a bit sheltered for this,” Lucy guessed.

  “Yeah.” Lauren could honestly probably say the same thing about Lucy, but she needed somebody on her side at this point.

  “I gotchu. I’ll keep it on the down-low. Secret roommate mission.”

  “Perfect. Thanks.”

  Inside, there was a decent crowd, but not as busy as last night. A few people looked over at them as they entered. Reuben was sitting by himself, and he waved as they passed. Lauren waved back. In just a few hours, Lauren was going to get to know everyone here, and everyone not here, and see what they were capable of. This place might be new to her, but just like anywhere else there would be a pecking order. Rachel and Lauren were near the bottom of the last one, the criminal side of Callis. They were the scroungers, the fall girls. Even Tommy Lucenko was only a small fish in a tiny pond. Now, Lauren was being drafted into the major leagues. The new generation of world-savers, apparently. Best of luck to the people who had to deal with the next round of whatever the hell happened in Beacon City. The best she could hope for was to stay out of everyone else’s way as she dealt with her own business.

  Lauren collected some scrambled eggs, bacon, and pancakes from the breakfast buffet. She found Adam and Thalia at the same table as last night. They were mid-conversation as she came over.

  “I’m just saying, why not make the school in Beacon City?” Thalia was asking. “I mean, that’s the American hub for superheroes.” She dipped some bacon in a cup of syrup.

  Adam shrugged, looking over at Lauren as she sat down.

  “They’re still rebuilding. The city needs time to heal. I should know, pretty much all of our foundation’s work has been tied up in it. The people there don’t need a new generation of heroes bumbling around making mistakes while they’re all trying to deal with the loss. Besides, Pacific City has been a boomtown for supers for the past decade. They say it’s the new hotbed of activity.”

  Lucy sat down with her own plate.

  “Hmm. Well, I like that it’s greener over here than BC,” Thalia said. She turned to them. “How’s your morning been? You guys ready to show off your stuff?”

  “I’ll do my best,” Lucy said. “I control plants, so I brought some seeds in my pocket to be able to use my powers. I hope that’s allowed. I don’t know what they’re gonna have us do, but I wanted to be ready.”

  “We’re allowed items that aid us in using our powers. They want us to be able to operate at full capacity,” Adam said while scooping some cereal. He looked up and met their stares while milk dripped from his spoon. “What? It was in the pre-orientation packet. You guys have had weeks to read it.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re not the only one bringing something to use your powers,” Thalia said. She sounded proud.

  “You have it with you?” Adam asked, seeming surprised.

  “Yep!” Thalia beamed. “I am now the bearer of the one and only Wildstone.”

  “What’s that?” Lauren asked.

  Adam was the one to answer. “It’s a shiny rock that’s been in the Wild family’s possession for generations.”

  “It’s more than just a shiny rock,” Thalia retorted. “It’s a gem that’s connected with the entire animal kingdom. It gives each member of my family different powers. It was found by my great-great grandmother in Zutuana, deep in the African jungle. She became one of the first costumed heroes, Lady Savage.”

  “It’s about as problematic as it sounds,” Adam confided to the girls.

  “They haven’t asked for it back!” Thalia snapped. “Unfortunate name choice aside, the Wild family has a great relationship with the Zutuanan people. I’m going to be known as Ranger Wild.”

  “Y’know,” Adam gestured in between Lucy and Thalia with his spoon, “You two should team up once you’re both established. You could have like a, flora and fauna thing going on. Ranger Wild and…”

  “Evergreen,” Lucy prompted.

  “Ranger Wild and Evergreen. Defenders of Nature!”

  “That’s a great idea!” Thalia said. “Total synergy. I swear Adam, you should totally work at like, a hero agency when you graduate.”

  Lauren noticed the energy between Adam and Thalia immediately change. They both seemed a bit embarrassed.

  “I mean, if you don’t want to be a hero.” Thalia stumbled over the words. “I’m just saying, like… you’d have options.”

  Adam swirled his spoon around his bowl, not looking at her.

  “Yeah. Something like that would probably be a good idea.”

  “I…” Thalia clearly wanted to say more, but was hesitant to around the others. Lauren kept her head down and shoveled her breakfast into her mouth. Whatever was going on between them, it wasn’t any of her business. She checked the time on her new phone. Not too long now until the start of the first class.

  “You want to head over in a minute?” Lauren asked Lucy. She had only gotten a yogurt cup, which she was already mostly done with. Lauren directed the question to Lucy to give the two others space, but Adam was the one to speak up.

  “Yeah. I’m ready.” He put his leg around the bench to stand. “Just let me throw this away.”

  Okay. Apparently he didn’t want to be left alone at the moment.

  While Adam was away, no one looked at each other as they finished their meals.

  First day, here we go.