Phone Numbers

"Ethan, I need a list of superhero pairs," Ivy requested as they both flopped on the living room couches, messing around on their phones after school.

"Why?"

"I'm going to a costume dance and that's the theme."

He sat up, eyes flashing in excitement. "There are so many good ones! Brown Recluse and Eagle-Eye, Megaman and Ultra Woman, the spider people, Lightning and Badger! Want to see my comics? I can show you some more!"

Ethan continued a running list of comic book power couples in his head as he sprinted up the stairs. '…Catman and Sparrow, Poison Oak and Ace, Zatara and Star Man, Galactaca and…who matches up with Galactaca again? Eh, it'll come to me.'

He slapped a fat stack of comic books on the side table next to the couch. "Check these out and see if any strike your fancy. Who are you going with, anyway?"

"Some guy from school," Ivy said as she absently flicked through a comic book. "I've vaguely known him since 6th grade but we only recently started talking."

"You liiiiiiike him," Ethan said in a sing-song voice.

"I do not so shut up!" she hissed, rolling up the comic book to smack him with it.

"Be nice to my comics or I won't let you use them anymore!"

"Sorry," Ivy muttered. He was being annoying but she couldn't deny that he was helping her out.

'Ivy and some guy from school, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G,' Ethan sang in his head.

Her eye twitched but she couldn't do anything about it since he didn't say it aloud. If he had she would be able to chase him down without fear of retribution since their mom had run to the grocery store.

Her phone lit up with a bunch of texts from Lydia, who was also trying to decide costumes. How was Ivy supposed to help her choose when she couldn't even figure out what to do herself?

'They all look good, any of them would work' she sent back noncommittally.

'Be more specific!' she complained with a frowning emoji.

'Use the first one' Ivy shot back, not caring one way or the other.

The first idea on the list was Catman and Sparrow, one of the duos Ethan suggested. That one was officially off her list. She couldn't use it if they were all going together. It would be weird.

***

Carson cornered her right before first period started. "My number is 209-456-7839."

Ivy blinked at him, startled. "Could you repeat that? After I get out my phone."

'Ahhh don't be over-excited, stupid!' He pinked slightly. "Yeah, sure. Sorry."

He continued cursing himself out inside his head until the transaction was complete and Ivy sent him a test text so he could save her number.

"My brother the comic book addict helped me come up with a few ideas already but the bell's about to ring so I'll text them to you later," she informed him.

"Sounds good! Talk to you later then."

He robotically walked back to his seat and placed his head on the desk in defeat. Ivy had never seen him like this. Flustered. Anything less than the school's golden boy.

There was still a year and a half to go before graduation but he was in the running for valedictorian already. It struck her as strange that someone so academically intelligent was such a nervous wreck talking to a relatively nonthreatening girl. She would have to pay attention to see if he did this around other people or if she scared him somehow.

In AP Bio they were writing up their lab reports about the frogs they dissected. Ivy half paid attention to what her lab partner was saying and half eavesdropped on Carson. No dice. The conversation—and inner monologue—were perfectly normal and related to the work at hand.

Maybe he was only weird when schoolwork wasn't involved. But when would she be able to test that theory? He didn't talk much about things not related to class.

At lunch she headed back to the library in hopes of catching her mystery boy once again. She had better luck here. He was checking out a book so even though she couldn't hear his thoughts she could hear the librarian's as she went through the system.

'Adrian Marquez, there you are! Hey, wait a minute, he's the one who owes me two dollars in late fees!'

"Mr. Marquez, I need your late fees to be paid before I can give you this book," the librarian said primly.

"Do you accept cards?"

'This is a school, why would we accept cards?!' the librarian thought irately before giving a simple "no" as an answer.

"I don't have any cash on me," he said glumly.

"I do!" Ivy piped up before covering her hands over her mouth in horror.

She was sitting halfway across the room! It was completely obvious she was eavesdropping.

Surprise mingled with relief and recognition flashed across his face. "I know you. You were in here last week and we bumped into each other."

"Yeah, that was me," she said hiding a cringe. What a thing to be remembered for. She walked over and handed him two dollars. "Here."

His eyes widened. "How did you know that my late fees were exactly two dollars?"

Oh no! She should have asked. Years of practice and she still slipped up from time to time. "Lucky guess?"

Adrian accepted her answer at face value. "I owe you one. Let me buy you hot chocolate or something?"

Yes! The perfect opportunity to get to know him better and possibly start to figure out why he was different. "I'd like that. Do you hang out here often or should I get your number?"

She was surprised at her own boldness but she wasn't about to let him get away from her again. At least she knew his name this time.

He held out his phone so she could enter her number in and sent her a text so she could add him back.

"I'm usually working on homework during lunch but it looks like you are too. Guess we'll have to actually enter the cafeteria to get that hot chocolate. The horror," he joked.

"However will we survive," she returned dryly, earning her a grin.

"You're alright, Clumsy Girl."

Right. She never gave her name, just put it in his phone. Did he not notice?

"I'm Ivy. Ivy Chamberlain."

"Nice to officially meet you, Ivy Chamberlain. I'm Adrian Marquez."

He held his hand out and she shook it, still feeling wrong because where there should be a stream of thoughts was silence instead. What would it be like if they were alone within her 100 yard radius? Complete silence…for the first time in her entire life.

She couldn't even imagine. When she was at home someone was always there even if it was only the pets with their simple way of thinking. Ivy had never experienced true silence before.

"I'll text you," she promised. "I want my hot chocolate."

He gave her a lopsided grin. "Don't worry, I always keep my promises."

He picked up his book and gave her a wave before disappearing out the door.

Ivy was satisfied. She had her mystery boy's contact details. She was going to meet with him soon and be able to conduct observational experiments to see what made him tick and why he was immune to her power. She would be able to figure this out! Definitely.