Nighthawk: A Superhero Story (closed for Siobhancan99)

[Halcyon638]

Ian shielded his eyes against the bright November sun. “I…I don’t know. I was a little…surprised, maybe but…you guys are my friends and…I want you to be happy.” He handed her the food as Monica opened the car door. “I don’t know. I don’t think Tom would have wanted you to, like, make yourself miserable for a year or something before you started dating. Believe me…I’m still trying to…to like, figure out, how long I should…punish myself. And you weren’t the one who got him…” Ian trailed off. “So, are you all going to Pryce’s thing tonight?”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica sighed. "Ian. You are a rural kid. You were wasted. Calling an Uber wasn't going to be your first thought." She leaned against the car, looking away from the house "yeah we're going to the thing. I can pick you up if you want." she looked back at the house, something about the way his stepdad snapped at his mom about the tree stand. Maybe it was that she was out of her mind since Tom died... maybe things weren't great there. "How's your mom and your stepdad? things seemed a little weird."

 

[Halcyon638]

Ian blinked a few times as Monica talked about the events of that March evening. He looked down at his shoes, then looked her in the eye afterwards. His mouth opened momentarily, but then shut. He put his hand up to shield himself from the sun again.

“Cool,” Ian said when Monica said she and Gabi were going to the party. “That’s—that’s okay. I was going to get a ride over with Caleb and I might end up being his designated driver.” He looked down the sidewalk where a neighbor was walking a hulking dog. “Things aren’t great,” he said. “Mom hasn’t been able to work much and he’s picked up a second job stocking shelves which he’s not exactly thrilled about. You know how it is.” He glanced back at the house. “It was awesome that you came over, though. She was all psyched just seeing you in the parking lot the other day.”

Monica received a text from an unknown number. It read: “It’s Dad. Should be coming home some time tomorrow late afternoon or evening. I’m safe and I’m sorry about all of this. Love you.”

Ian shut the door on the leftover food. “I’m glad you guys are coming. Thought maybe you city college girls were too fancy now to go to a dumb old Cottersville party,” he said with a grin.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica nodded "I can relate. I could barely get out of bed. Gabi made me. My dad wasn't about to." She sighed and looked down at her phone, relieved when her dad finally communicated "better have a good story for the cops" she texted back "Also, fuck you. you live in the same city, you play in a band with a super hot lead singer... and your band is actually you know. good now. So you know, maybe its YOU that's too big for cottersville." She laughed and brushed her hair out of her face "I'm glad your mom perked up a little seeing me. I'll make sure to reach out a little bit now and then, keep an eye on her." She straightened "Besides, college parties are basically like Cottersville parties except you know, they happen inside. Nobody is hiding from their parents." She laughed again "Designated driving huh? good for you." She meant it. If this all got Ian sober well... silver linings.

 

[Halcyon638]

It was the first time Monica could recall Ian actually smiling since before he’d broken the news to her at the start of the semester. “Whoa, whoa. Super hot? Do I need to tell Gabi that you’re perving on Eve? And is this going to lead to a catfight of some kind? Just asking so I can…prevent it.” he added. “Also, I’m glad to hear that Gabi is talking us up, but you still gotta come see us. She could just be being nice.”

Ian nodded. “Yep. If you need me to drive your drunk asses home, I’m your man,” he said. “Say hi to your dad for me, okay?”

When Monica arrived at her house, it was a little after 2. Gabi had texted that she’d gone out jogging and had asked about having some leftovers from Zoe’s house before her mom swung by at 5:30 for their talk.

The box of mementos felt oddly heavy in Monica's hands. Before long, Gabi had returned, her dark hair up in a ponytail. "Hey, querida," she said, kissing Monica's cheek. "How was Amy doing?"

 

[siobhancan99]

"not great" Monica looked at the box and then carried it up to her room with Gabi in tow. "remember like.. the end of my period of now showering or going to school? like a little better than that but like,... not awesome. Though I mean who am I to judge? I decided to become fucking batman. Maybe none of us are adjusting all that well you know?" She sat on the bed and tugged Gabi in to sit in her lap. "I mean when I started, my only reason for living was vengeance, and through some sort of weird ... i dunno like,... vengeance by proxy I got a little catharsis. Now I'm ... I dunno. Like.. I like doing it because I like doing something important nobody else can do. When I first was going out though like, shit was pretty dark. Amy can't lift a Toyota over her head so... you know. Maybe she gets to process her grief a little longer. I dunno. I felt. Seeing the stuff he saved of ours... I felt like being happy right now is a betrayal. And you know, just for the record, I am happy with us."

She was also nervous as hell that Sarah was going to pull some shit and she'd be single again, and she was trying real hard to not give into her PTSD and freak out about it.

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi nodded thoughtfully, holding Monica’s hand and giving it an occasional, gentle squeeze. “Poor Amy. I hope she’s able to get some help. I know they’re kinda hard up for money right now. That’s what Ian said at least."

She leaned back against Monica. “I’m glad you’re happy, carino. I am, too.” She sighed. “I know this all happened really fast. And I know that even when you were seeing Austin, you didn’t want to get too attached. I didn’t want to rush you or anything and if I did…I’m sorry. I just…I love you so much.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"No, I didn't really." She kept her arms around Gabi "But. Look, a window of opportunity is only open so long. You weren't going to wait for me forever. You'd have fallen in with that hot guy from the party, or Christina or something. If I wanted a chance at this I had to move on it, and I did want a chance at it. Who doesn't want to find love with their best friend?" She rested her chin on Gabi's shoulder "I had to grab you before someone else did. Before I had to regret not doing it. Because you're a catch, Corazon. Because I'm not the only one who knows how smart and sweet and beautiful you are."

 

[Halcyon638]

“Keep talking,” Gabi purred, draping her arms over Monica’s, having the older girl hold her tighter. “Then maybe it was the right time. And maybe…Tom would be happy that you’re with someone who loves you and cares about you.” She nestled her cheek against Monica’s face, then angled her face to kiss the blonde girl’s jawline.

As planned, Sara pulled into the driveway around 5:30. “Wish me luck,” Gabi said, a mix of anxiety and hopefulness on her face.

Around 5:50, Monica got a text from her girlfriend. “Going well. Mom apologized. More soon.”

Around 6:10, Monica received a phone call. “Hey,” Gabi said, still sounding nervous. She was stuffed up a bit as if she’d just been crying. “We’re good now. Mom and I had a good talk. I’m going to spend a couple of hours visiting everybody but then did you want to meet me over here at 9:00 so we can go to Pryce’s party? Mom apologized for everything and…she did say she was happy for me. For both of us. She had nothing but good things to say about you. Apparently, Kayla did talk to her today when my mom was acting all weird and…well, she basically threatened to quit on the spot. Kayla was, like, telling her about how I had feelings for you but thought there was, like, a 0.001 percent chance anything would ever happen, so she called bullshit on the whole idea that we were plotting this before we moved in.”

There was a pause. “If you’re feeling up for it…and I don’t know what’s happening with your dad…but Mom would like to have you or you and your dad over for dinner with everybody tomorrow.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"Yeah dinner sounds great. And good for Kayla. I feel kinda bad. She has it bad for you. Maybe she will find a nice girl." Monica was standing at the fridge eating pizza out of the box at the moment "I'll make sure my dad clears it with his lady friend and we will all come by. He's coming home. I'll need to talk to him about stuff and then you and I need to like, get more than the cliff's notes out about it. But I'm glad things are ok. You should still be prepared for her to make you change room mates or something but... you know. we can compromise."

 

[Halcyon638]

“I’m sure she will,” Gabi remarked. “She just needs to get out of this town. Like, today. And I sorta wonder…I wonder if she was trying to, like, set things right with you. She could have just said nothing. And if Mom tried to break you and me up…”

As the conversation shifted to James, Gabi said, “That’s good! I’m so happy. Relieved, I guess. Mom says she’s okay with us being roommates as long as we don’t drink and keep our grades up. And don’t go out to bars. Or out at night. Which, hey—I can think of a few upsides to having to spend my nights indoors with you. Also, there may have been some talk of grand-babies.” There was a pause and Gabi let out a nervous laugh. “Don’t worry. I shut down that convo. But you know how she is and with Matt being Matt…” Gabi’s older brother, despite being in his early twenties, was extremely socially awkward and arguably had had only one friend in high school, let alone anything resembling a romantic partner. “Anyway, we’ll save marriage and adoption talk for next semester,” she said in a lightly teasing tone.

When Monica picked Gabi up, her girlfriend requested that she swing her by their house so she could change into a different outfit for the party, choosing a pair of jeans and a warm red sweater, both of which accentuated her natural curves.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica wore a black boot under blue jeans, with a long black sweater. She spent some time making herself presentable, hair down and done, full makeup for a change. She headed over "Ian said if we wanted to drink he'd drive home. Since he's sober now." She shifted a little "I think I probably will just have one though." She looked over at Gabi "you look great. The red really works with your coloration babe" she leaned over, tugging Gabi in for a little kiss, sucking on the Latina's pouty lower lip "So shall we head on in?"

 

[Halcyon638]

“He’s sober? That’s great!” Gabi said. “He said he’d been cutting back, but—good for him. Same here. I told my mom that I was mainly going to catch up with our friends.” She smiled as Monica pulled her in close. “Thank you, baby. You look like a movie star.” She looped her arm around Monica’s. “Can’t believe I’m going to a party in Cottersville with Monica Bergenson on my arm.”

Pryce’s father owned a fuel oil business and they owned a good-sized converted farmhouse with plenty of room on the property for his wife to ride horses. Pryce was home for the holiday from the University of Michigan. As Gabi and Monica made their way into the party they saw countless familiar faces, about half being their classmates who had graduated but stayed in Cottersville thus far, and then the smaller group who had gone off to college this year or the year before.

“Oh my god—you two look amazing,” Zoe said, beaming and putting her arms out to give both girls a hug.

“She looks amazing,” Gabi replied. "You look so cute," she complimented their friend.

“Your dad feeling better?” Zoe asked Monica.

Surveying the place, Monica spotted their other good friend April dancing with Ian’s friend and bandmate Caleb, while Ian sat nearby shooting the shit with a circle of people.

Aaron Hyde, one of Tom’s best friends, stood in the kitchen with Pryce chatting up a tall redheaded girl.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica rolled her eyes "we look good babe. we." she ran her hand along Gabi's hip, then gave her ass a little squeeze before a playful slap "are there gonna be a lot of people here?" to be honest, with a graduating class south of 40 kids this WAS a lot of people for a cottersville party. Still, she figured there might be stragglers. "Lets go say hi to Aaron. I haven't seen him since the funeral." She ran her fingers along Gabi's side, then tugged her and Zoe along behind her into the kitchen.

 

[Halcyon638]

Aaron was a tall, broad-shouldered guy with a curly beard and a low voice, beer bottle pressed against his slight gut. “Say, who let the two nerds in here?” he said, exaggeratingly gesturing to Monica and Gabi and play-acting looking around the kitchen. He had started attending culinary school in Virginia.

“Be nice,” Zoe said, smiling.

Aaron reached over and lifted Monica with a friendly hug. “Shit, it’s good to see you. Gabi,” he said, raising his hand up, which she eventually high-fived. “So, how’s that whole science thing working out for you?”

On the far side of the room, Kayla was slipping out of her coat revealing a tight, dark blue dress. On her arm was Liam Parrish, the scruffily handsome but much older brother of one the guys in Tom’s graduating class. He was easily in his mid if not late twenties and had spent one year at a state school on a baseball scholarship.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica looked over and waved to Kayla. Guessing she was bi. She squared that info away, then slipped her hand under Gabi's sweater a moment along her back before slipping it back out "so how's culinary school? You having a good time? is it all sex drugs and rock and roll?" She kept her arm around Gabi "probably sexier than science, I'll tell you that much"

 

[Halcyon638]

Kayla’s date draped his long arm over her shoulder and she waved to Monica, Zoe, and Gabi. “Oh yeah, it’s constant bone-town,” Aaron responded. “Actually, I’ve got a huge crush on this one girl and she’s been mostly been shutting me down, but there are sparks. I might have to borrow your friend here to brush up on my 9th-grade Spanish so I can impress this chick.”

“Girlfriend,” Gabi gently corrected. Face lighting up, she put her arm around Monica.

“Ohhh. Cool, cool,” Aaron said, taking a sip of his drink. “Good for you.” Looking at Monica, he added, “Way to punch above your weight,” smirking and giving her a playful backhanded slap on the arm.

“You keep this up and I’m not going to teach you a single word,” Gabi cautioned, smiling.

Zoe, curly blonde hair bouncing as she returned from a nearby table, offered beers to Monica and Gabi. “Partaking?”

“Ugghh…I promised my—” Looking at Aaron a bit self-consciously, Gabi said to Zoe, “Good for now. Thanks.”

When Aaron was distracted for a minute by someone asking him about some game, Gabi said, “Oh my god—I can post pics of us now! As girlfriend and girlfriend!”

“Oh, I got this,” Zoe said, a radiant smile on her face. “Squeeze in, you two!” She lifted her phone.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica laughed "I know, right?" she was relieved Aaron didn't seem upset, as he'd been friends with Tom. She kept her arm around Gabi, then leaned in and kissed her cheek when Zoe took the picture. She looked over at Gabi "we don't have to have anything to drink if you aren't supposed to be" she slipped her hand along Gabi's hip "Solidarity for my girlfriend." She looked around, at once thinking it was good to be home but maybe Ian was right. Maybe she was a Prospect City girl now...

 

[Halcyon638]

“Aww, too adorable,” Zoe said, then with a few taps, sent the photo to Monica and Gabi.

“I’m posting this right now,” Gabi said, placing a quick kiss on Monica’s lips. More than a few partygoers were stealing occasional looks at the couple.

“Whoa, so who invited somebody’s dad?” Aaron said, catching a glimpse of Liam as he and Kayla chatted with April in the living room. “Didn’t that dude have a kid with someone?” he added before being drawn away by the friend who was asking him about the game earlier.

“Look who’s here,” Gabi said, gesturing toward the door where Noah Weathers, the guy with whom Zoe had been chatting lately, was standing. “All alone.”

Zoe smiled, taking a swig of beer and grabbing a fresh bottle. “Alright. If I leave you two alone for a minute, don’t get into trouble, okay?”

Gabi took Monica’s hand. “We should probably go say hi to Kayla.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica made her way over to Kayla and "the old guy" at the party. "Hey." She smiled and leaned in and gave the girl a little hug "so Gabi and I have a lot to thank you for. I know that... It probably wasn't easy." She didn't go into why "but I really appreciate that you did it, and if there's anything at all that we can do for you, like... ever. All you have to do is ask."

 

[Halcyon638]

Kayla initially stiffened at the hug, but then Monica saw a glimmer of emotion in the girl’s icy, blue eyes and her posture relaxed. “Hey, it’s no…no biggie. You know this bitch can’t stay quiet if something’s bothering me,” she said, pointing a thumb at herself. “Especially if there’s a chance for some drama,” she added, singing the last word.

Gabi smiled and touched Kayla’s hand lightly. “For real, though. Thank you.”

“Liam, this is Monica and Gabi. My girls.”

“Ladies,” the tall guy said. “Nice to meet you. This place is pretty sweet.”

“Yo, Bergenson!” a deep voice called. Aaron and April were standing near the sliding glass door to the back deck. “We need another girl for touch football. You’re on my team!”

Gabi looked doubtfully at Monica’s footwear. “Yeah, no,” she said, wrapping her arm around Monica’s. A number of the partygoers were streaming toward the back.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica backed off when Kayla tensed, nodding. When the call went out for football she laughed "I'll be fine babe. You can watch and cheer me on. Pretend i'm all big and strong or something."

She tugged Gabi out to the back, breath frosting in the cool night air. She looked over the teams, then back at Gabi "it'll probably be a short game. Then we can head off and curl up and have a little time to ourselves before my dad gets back."

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi grinned. “Okay, cutie. I can kiss your bumps and bruises,” she said, nuzzling Monica’s nose.

As Monica headed for the door, Kayla cheered, “Wooo! Reppin the swim team.” The light-brown-haired girl pulled her date toward rear as he took a sip from a can.

Monica lined up in wide receiver position, as Aaron’s team won the coin toss and he was playing quarterback. “Oh, shit,” Ian said as he lined up across from Monica. “See, this is the kind of thing you do to keep yourself from getting bored when you’re sober. Don’t embarrass me too much, okay?”

“Red 42! Red 42! Hut! Hut! Hike!” Aaron called. Ian ran alongside Monica, their feet thudding against the dirt of Pryce’s family’s fields, their hands occasionally pushing and jostling one another for position. After a short pass and a failed run attempt, the third pass came Monica’s way.

It was under-thrown, and Ian managed to easily bat it down.

“Shit, maybe I really am good at football,” he mused. “I’m a regular Tim Brody,” he said, tongue in cheek. When the possession switched, Monica was tasked with covering Ian, and returned the favor a couple of times.

At one point, Monica broke free from him and caught a slant pass. The only one remotely near her now was April, who was sprinting to stop her.

“Alright!” Gabi cheered.

“Bergenson!” Kayla shouted.

 

[siobhancan99]

"Brady. His name is Brady." Monica rolled her eyes playfully at Ian, then focused on the game.

She looked over her shoulder as she broke free of the crowd. April coming in from the side, nobody near behind. She broke into a serious sprint, moving straight for the goal. With April to her side, she'd have to run faster along the hypotenuse of the triangle to intercept. Monica poured on the speed, not going all out but definitely going faster than she would have in high school. Nobody was around to record her time or wonder how she was so fast. She could write it off as a fluke. Getting lucky or something. For once she just wanted to shine a little in front of her friends and not be second best.

 

[Halcyon638]

Monica heard Gabi, Kayla, members of her team, and other onlookers cheering as she closed the distance to the fencepost they’d haphazardly designated as the endzone marker. April eventually raced up behind her and patted her on the back, slightly out of breath. Aaron and the other members of her team slapped her hand as she regrouped with them.

“I thought we talked about the whole ‘not embarrassing me’ thing,” Ian said as they lined up for another play, a wry smile on his face.

At one point during the game, Monica saw Kayla and Liam slinking off. Monica managed to snag two more touchdown passes and an interception as her team ended up winning handily. “That’s my girl!” Gabi said, now joined by Caleb on the ersatz sidelines. Monica’s girlfriend came up and enveloped her in a hug, kissing her greedily while the crowd (half of which sounded drunk) reacted.

“Let’s go inside and warm up, querida,” Gabi said before giving Monica another kiss and sucking on her lower lip. Once inside, the Latina grabbed a little food and then started to dance, her curvy body swaying to the beat. Elsewhere, Ian went through the host’s collection of Batman graphic novels while April sat cross-legged on the floor eating a Pop-Tart.

Nearby, Monica overheard Zoe speaking to a pair of sisters who Monica vaguely recalled lived near her. “Are either of you leaving any time soon by any chance?” she asked the girls. “I have to hit it early and my designated driver bailed on me.”

“Sorry,” one of the sisters said before the other shrugged.

Kayla and Liam emerged and approached her friends. “They have a motherfucking hot tub. Who’s in?” She and the older guy raced down the stairs ostensibly toward it.