Super Girls (Cape High Book 13) by R.J. Ross

healers and keeping an eye on our new students. The more Herold brainwashes the average citizen against heroes, the more the supers living in hiding will send their kids to us. It's too dangerous with the hero-hating going on."
    "Hey, why can Jennifer hear better than I can?" Justin asks. "Is she higher than B-class?"
    There's a sudden tenseness in the room as they wait for Nico's reply. He looks honestly hesitant to say it. "No," he says slowly, "she's not above B…"
    "Then what is she?"
    "She's doing the best with what she has," Ken says, speaking up for the first time. "I'd like to meet her. From what I've heard, she's quite an admirable girl," he adds with a pointed look at Nico.
    "I think, honestly, that I'm going to have to invite her to move into the dorms," Nico says. "You might get that chance soon."
    "Into the dorms?" the zoo kids in the room ask. "Why?"
    "Because that way there's less of a chance of her getting brainwashed between school days."
    They go silent, looking at each other and then straight at Superior. He raises an eyebrow. "I only do that on Wednesdays," he says blandly, leaning back in his chair, "and holidays."
    "Clifford!" Tatiana says, smacking his shoulder. "You should not lie to the children!" There's an audible sigh of relief from the room—until she goes on, "You have done it on other days as well!"
     
    ***
     
    I didn't sleep last night. I tried to, I really did, but my mind was spinning like a top and I couldn't seem to stop it. There's just so much I need to take in. I tried making a list of pros and cons around midnight. Pro: no one found out I'm D-class, but that can change at any moment. Con: Freddy. Pro: I have two definite friends and a few prospects. Con: Freddy—no, that was mean. I mean, he probably doesn't even realize that he freaks me out. It's not like he looks scary or anything. Well, okay, sort of scary, if you don't like the punk thing, but—
    "You're hyperventilating," Aunt Barbara says as I stare blankly at the plate of food in front of me.
    "I'm not," I say, not quite lying.
    "You're close enough. Do you want me to call in sick for you?"
    "No. It's just—there's a kid in the school that I can't hear unless he talks," I burst out. Her eyes widen slightly with surprise.
    "Really?" she asks. "Even if he gets close? No clothes shuffling, or anything?"
    "Nothing. He moves completely silently."
    "How is that?"
    "I don't know!" I wail. "It's freaking me out, too. I even TRY to hear him and nothing happens!"
    I jerk as someone knocks on the door. I glance at Aunt Barbara, who heads for the door with a slight frown on her face. I hear the door open. "Hi," I hear Nico say. "I wanted to have a talk with you and Prisma."
    "I… is something wrong?" Aunt Barbara asks.
    I get up, grabbing my bagel off of my plate and heading to the front room. Nico, Prisma, and Elidee are standing in front of Aunt Barbara. She looks a bit worried. I can't really blame her, even if Nico IS wearing a t-shirt with a picture of Mastermental and a lot of floating puppets dressed like some of the heroes. There's America's Son, Star Spangled and Mega all with foam bats in their puppet hands.
    "You can't tell me he lets you wear that in public," I say before I can stop myself. Nico gives me a wicked grin.
    "He hasn't seen this one yet," he admits.
    "You should be on it, too," I tell him, since I haven't gotten in trouble.
    "Oh, I am," he says, turning and showing me his back. A puppet in his uniform is tied up on the back with his own strings and a strip of duct tape over the mouth.
    "That's a terrible statement, you know," Prisma points out. "If people knew who you were, especially."
    "Only the kids and teachers see it," he says, dismissing it. "Besides, everyone expects me to be the rebellious son. Now, let's get to business," he says. "Your daughters are vulnerable. A lot is going on right now, with the Mother problem. I would like to offer a more secure setting until this problem has been taken care