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The comedown is hard but expected. I’m always tired after my strength fades but I feel hungover and completely drained. I want to sleep for days but we’re not done. We still have to find the damn guitar. I need to talk to Jason, but not as X-Kid.
We change one final time and I quickly blow dry my hair. I can’t look like I’ve been in a swimming pool after all, can I? Then it’s back to Gilman to join the crowd celebrating Jason’s safe return.
When we get there, he’s surrounded by admirers, and excitedly telling everyone the story of his captivity and near death experience until he was saved by X-Kid.
“It was so rad,” he continues, “I mean yeah I was scared at first but you should have seen ‘em man, they kicked ass! The bad guys ran for the hills! Then X-Kid lifts me out of the pool with his super strength.” He holds his arms up, demonstrating as the crowd oohs and aahs.
“That’s awesome!” one kid says, “You are so lucky!”
Yeah, real lucky, I think to myself. Their jealousy is a little weird. The heroics sound so exciting, but people overlook the real danger he was in. But for the sake of our secret identities we play along.
“That’s really cool,” says Mike.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m just glad you’re okay man,” I say.
Well, somebody has to say it.
“Thanks,” he replies.
“But Jase,” asks Tre, now that storytime seems to be over, “What happened to the guitar?”
“Well, I took off as soon as you called,” he explains, “Busting into the van was easy. I got the guitar out the back and ran with it. This dude sees me and starts chasing me, right? The closest place I could run to was back to the record store. So I hid in the storeroom. I figured I’d wait until the coast was clear and head home, but they nabbed me a block from Gilman.
Don’t worry though,” he says proudly, “They tried to get it out of me about the guitar but I wouldn’t give it up. They still don’t know where it is.”
“I know the feeling,” says Mike. “So where is it?”
“Oh,” he says, “Tyler has it.”
“Who the fuck’s Tyler?” I ask.
“My boss at the record store,” he says, like it’s obvious. “I told him to guard it with his life. I’m sure it’s safe. You can trust Tyler.”
So we trust Tyler. And the next day, the day of the fundraiser, Tyler turns up with the Les Paul and turns it over to Kelly at the Gilman office, to his immense relief and gratitude.
Gary and his goons haven’t shown their faces around since.
The members at Gilman hold a group meeting that afternoon. They want to discuss whether it’s egalitarian to even have “House Heroes” and they decide it isn’t, so the mural has to go. No special treatment, not even for superheroes, they argue. Being dependent on others to save us goes against the DIY ethic, someone points out. Anyone can be a hero, they conclude and I agree.
Mike and Tre tell me after that they think the decision sucks but I’m glad. Fuck all that hero worship.
Oh, and also, we all voted to 86 Gary and his friends. They’re permanently banned from the club for stealing the guitar. That was unanimous.
That night, Green Day plays the fundraiser and the auction goes off without a hitch, raising money for rent and new sound equipment. Tre tells me after that he appreciates being brought into the team.
“This hero stuff feels pretty good,” he admits.
“Yeah it does,” I tell him.
After the show, I’m wearing my X-Kid gear again, crouched down in my usual spot on the roof of Gilman watching everyone leave, making sure they get home safe. I sent Mike and Tre home because I wanted some solitude. It’s a crisp, clear night, and it feels calm and meditative being up here alone. When I hear the rooftop door creak open and jump up and spin around.
Gary walks toward me.
“That trick you pulled with the tire took my powers away.” He raises a hand and I tense, but he just holds out his fingers and tiny sparks dance on the ends and fizzle out. “I can barely make a spark now because of you.”
“Sorry, man,” I say, clenching my fists and squaring off, “You gonna push me off a roof too?”
He shrugs. “Nah, I know I can’t take you on now, but I’m gonna get my powers back and then you better be ready. We’ll meet again, I promise.”
He leaves. I hold my breath until the door clicks shut.
Bring it, I mutter, I’ll be here when you do.