Guitar Hero (Cape High Series Book 12) Read Free Page A

D class,” Andre says, “but if you’d prefer a norm, I can send one.”
    “Either’s fine,” I say, looking at Malina. “As long as they don’t care we’re supers, we won’t care if they’re norms, right?”
    She nods, but I can see that the whole Tom thing threw her off guard. I look at Freddy, who’s frowning in thought. I don’t like this. I don’t like how all of a sudden there’s this big, ugly feeling of “Us vs. Them.” I can’t change what happened to the zoo kids--they were captured by a norm, right? But he used a super to do it, so really, shouldn’t they be paranoid about EVERYONE? Not just norms? Not that I want them to be paranoid about anyone. I just...
    I feel guilty because I should have known about Tom and his super hating. But DID he use to hate heroes? I don’t remember him ever freaking out or even saying something when I watched the news. There are a lot of heroes on the news. “Something seems wrong,” I admit.
    Falconess looks at me. “How so?”
    “He never came off as a super hater before,” I explain. “He would watch them on the news and everything, and never said a word about it. Every once in a while we’d even have one come to one of the shows, and he never complained. I don’t get it.”
    “That does make you wonder,” she agrees. “Well, regardless, it looks as if we’re to our destination.” I look out the window as the bus pulls to a stop. There’s a group of three guys standing on the corner. They’re all around my age, and have all gone the hipster route, I notice blankly as they load their instruments and climb on board.
    “What’s with the beards?” I demand as Lonny gets to me. He grins, pulling me into that bro hug where you slap each other on the backs. I repeat the move with Brian and Cole before introducing everyone.
    “Hipster is in,” Lonny says, dropping down next to Emily and giving her a wicked grin. “Hi.”
    “I’m dating Kid Liberty,” she tells him flat out. He falls off the bench, grasping his heart.
    “That’s got to be the most impressive example of ‘shot down’ that I’ve ever seen,” Cole comments. “Is this bus big enough for all of us?” he asks me as he looks around.
    “It gets wider if you push the big red button,” the bus driver calls back to us.
    “Hey, you’re a black suit, right?” Brian says, heading to the front. “What’s your name?”
    “Alphonse,” the driver says. “A pleasure to meet you, my daughters love you guys.”
    “Cool! How old are they?” Brian asks.
    “Thirteen and twelve.”
    “Still cool,” Brian says with an easy grin.
    “Hey, we got a call from Tom,” Cole says, dropping down on another chair, “he seemed to think we didn’t know you were a super.”
    “Yeah, we’re getting a new agent,” I tell him. The three of them shoot me shocked looks.
    “Wait--are you guys heroes, too?” Lonny asks Emily.
    “Yeah,” she says with a grin, “we’re all capes.”
    “Even the little cute one?” Brian asks, motioning to Malina.
    “She’s a cape,” I say.
    “She has a name,” Malina mutters under her breath.
    He gets down on his knees in front of her, digs through his pockets almost wildly, and pulls out a candybar. “Will you marry me?” he asks. “I would have used a ringpop, but I ate my last one.”
    “No hitting on either of the girls, moron!” I say, trying not to laugh.
    “Would you prefer a ho-ho?” he asks Malina. I hear a tiny snort escape her before she’s laughing her head off. “I’m not a headliner, so I don’t make enough to buy an actual ring. But I’ve always wanted to be married to a super!”
    “You’re a dork,” she tells him, grinning widely, her legs swinging absently. He grins back at her, shamelessly, and I can’t help but feel relieved.
    “Guys, I have to tell you something,” I say, making them look over, “I’m going to be outed as a hero for this tour. It’ll be covered by HTV and everything, and our new agent will be a