PANEL 1
FLYBOY
SPOOKY…! THAT’S NOT…!
(cont)
WHY ARE YOU GETTING SO ANGRY?
PANEL 2
TEEN SPOOKY
THAT BOY WHO’S LIVING WITH YOU — YOU TOLD ME YOU BROKE UP WITH HIM FOR “HIS OWN GOOD.”
(cont)
NOW I’M WILLING TO BET YOU DID PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING WITH YOUR FIRSTTIME GUY, TOO. THE ONE YOU SAVED.
PANEL 3
TEEN SPOOKY
I’M RIGHT, AREN’T I? IN FACT, THAT’S PRETTY MUCH WHAT ALWAYS HAPPENS, ISN’T IT?
FLYBOY (SMALL)
I’M A SUPERHERO. I HAVE TO PUT OTHER PEOPLE FIRST. LOOK OUT FOR THEM.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
NO, MITCH. WE’RE HUMAN BEINGS. WE’RE NOT BETTER THAN OTHER PEOPLE. WE DON’T GET A PASS TO AVOID REAL LIFE AND OUR OWN FEELINGS.
(cont)
OR OTHER PEOPLE’S FEELINGS.
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I’M ANGRY?
(cont)
BECAUSE THE WHOLE WORLD MIGHT END TOMORROW!
PANEL 6
TEEN SPOOKY
BECAUSE I’M SCARED, MITCH.
(cont)
BECAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD FOUND SOMEONE WHO WAS STRONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL CLOSE FOR JUST, LIKE, FIVE MINUTES, SO I WOULDN’T HAVE TO FEEL SO TOTALLY ALONE RIGHT NOW!
(cont)
LIKE I ALWAYS DO.
PANEL 1
TEEN SPOOKY
I’M GOOD?!
(cont)
A LITTLE WHILE AGO YOU SAID I WAS READY TO MURDER SOMEONE! WHEN I DIDN’T HAVE TO!
PANEL 2
FLYBOY
I TOLD YOU THE PLATINUM PRIESTESS — SIRCEA — IS A MONSTER–
PANEL 3
TEEN SPOOKY
NO, MITCH. SHE MIGHT BE MESSED UP. AND CRAZY DANGEROUS. BUT SHE’S STILL A HUMAN BEING. WITH FREE WILL. AND HER LIFE MATTERS JUST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE’S.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES SOMETHING A MONSTER? LOTS OF POWER WITHOUT ANY LOVE BEHIND IT.
(cont)
YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW I KNOW THAT? BECAUSE THAT WAS ME WHEN I WAS IN HELL! BEFORE I MET SOMEONE WHO SHOWED ME I COULD BE DIFFERENT. THAT THERE WERE THINGS WORTH PROTECTING AND CARING ABOUT. AND LIVING FOR.
PANEL 5
FLYBOY
YOU MEAN ANAADO…
PANEL 6
TEEN SPOOKY
RIGHT. MY GREATEST SECRET, AND OF COURSE YOU WOULD ALREADY KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM!
PANEL 7
TEEN SPOOKY
YEAH, THAT’S WHO I MEAN.
(cont)
AND NO, I’M NOT SAYING YOU SHOULD GET WITH ME TO SAVE ME FROM MYSELF. THAT WOULD BE THE SUCKIEST REASON EVER.
(cont)
BUT DON’T PRETEND LIKE YOU’RE DOING ME OR THE UNIVERSE ANY FAVORS WITH THIS SELF-DENIAL CRAP!
PANEL 1
FLYBOY
WELL, YEAH! THAT, TOO!
(cont)
AND IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE UNIVERSE. THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED!
PANEL 2
FLYBOY
SPOOKY, IN MY FUTURE, YOU’RE WITH SOMEONE. A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.
(cont)
YOU AND ME GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT THE OTHER NIGHT, BUT STARTING SOMETHING REAL WITH YOU JUST WOULDN’T BE RIGHT!
PANEL 3
TEEN SPOOKY
UH, HUH. SO, IT’S NOT THE TIMELINE, OR BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE FIVE SECONDS FOR YOU TO JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU REALLY FEEL, IT’S SO YOU DON’T BETRAY YOUR FRIEND.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
AND HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN WITH THEM?
FLYBOY
A FEW MONTHS. YOU DON’T MEET UNTIL A LOT LATER.
(cont)
IT’S THE FIRST REAL RELATIONSHIP FOR BOTH OF YOU. THAT’S ANOTHER REASON I CAN’T RISK MESSING WITH IT.
(cont)
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT MY FRIEND. YOU GUYS ARE A REALLY GOOD FIT. I’M DOING THIS FOR YOU, TOO, SPOOKY!
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
BECAUSE YOU’VE DECIDED, FOR PURELY NOBLE REASONS, THAT IT’S BETTER THAT I’M ALONE, WITHOUT LOVE, FOR YEARS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT MIGHT DO TO ME.
PANEL 6
FLYBOY
SPOOKY, C’MON! IN THE FUTURE, YOU’RE NOT, LIKE, UNHAPPY OR ANYTHING!
(cont)
YOU’RE GOOD!
PANEL 3
FLYBOY
IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR WHERE YOU’RE COMING FROM, SPOOKY. BUT WE’VE BEEN AWAY FROM AMANDA WAY TOO LONG ALREADY.
(cont)
WE’LL TALK MORE AFTER THIS IS ALL DONE.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
YOU’RE REALLY NOT GOING TO SAY IT, ARE YOU?
PANEL 5
FLYBOY
I TOLD YOU. I CAN’T.
(cont)
WE CAN’T ACT LIKE HORMONAL TEENAGERS IN SOME B-MOVIE. WE DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THAT. THE STAKES ARE JUST TOO HIGH.
TEEN SPOOKY
NO TIME, HUH?
(cont)
I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T WANT TO CHANGE THINGS, SO THE UNIVERSE DOESN’T BREAK.
PANEL 1
TEEN SPOOKY
AT LEAST, NOT THE AWFUL PART. YOU KNOW I CAN’T PROMISE NOT TO BRING THE STUPID.
PANEL 2
FLYBOY
Ha Ha Ha!
PANEL 3
FLYBOY
GOD, YOU MAKE IT SOUND SO EASY, SPOOKY.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HARD. YOU JUST SAY WHAT’S INSIDE YOU AND TRUST THINGS WILL WORK OUT.
(cont)
LIKE THIS:
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
I REALLY LIKE YOU, MITCH. MORE THAN A FRIEND. AND IF WE’RE TOGETHER, I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANYTHING WE CAN’T DO.
(cont)
SO, LET’S BE TOGETHER.
PANEL 6
TEEN SPOOKY
SEE? NOT SO HARD.
(cont)
NOW, YOU.
PANEL 1
TEEN SPOOKY
BUT HAVE YOU THOUGHT THAT MAYBE CHANGING THE FUTURE WOULDN’T BE SO BAD?
(cont)
YOU WERE PRETTY FREAKED OUT WHEN YOU GOT HERE. MAYBE THAT BAD STUFF DOESN’T HAVE TO HAPPEN.
PANEL 2
TEEN SPOOKY
MAYBE A LOT OF BAD STUFF DOESN’T HAVE TO HAPPEN.
PANEL 3
FLYBOY
WE COULD MAKE THINGS WORSE.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
WE CAN ALWAYS MAKE THINGS WORSE.
(cont)
BUT FROM WHAT I’VE SEEN, IT HAPPENS A BUNCH LESS OFTEN IF YOU MAKE CHOICES BASED ON LOVE. ESPECIALLY OVER FEAR.
FLYBOY
PEOPLE HAVE DONE A LOT OF AWFUL AND STUPID THINGS IN THE NAME OF LOVE.
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
WE WON’T.
PANEL 1
TEEN SPOOKY
I KNEW IT!
(cont)
SO, YOU’RE SAYING YOU DO HAVE FEELINGS FOR ME?
PANEL 2
FLYBOY
YOU’RE NOT BEING FAIR, SPOOKY!
PANEL 3
TEEN SPOOKY
HOW AM I NOT BEING FAIR?
PANEL 4
FLYBOY
BECAUSE IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT I FEEL. I CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I SHOULDN’T EVEN BE THINKING ABOUT IT!
(cont)
I CAN’T CHANGE THE TIMELINE!
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
AFTER EVERYTHING YOU’VE DONE, ARE YOU REALLY STILL WORRIED ABOUT THAT?
FLYBOY
THAT’S JUST IT. BEING ABLE TO CHANGE THE FUTURE DOESN’T MAKE ANY LOGICAL SENSE. BUT I DON’T KNOW!
(cont)
AND I CAN’T KNOW! NOT WHEN MAGIC IS INVOLVED!
PANEL 6
TEEN SPOOKY
RIGHT.
(cont)
BECAUSE MAGIC PLAYS BY THE RULES OF EMOTIONS, NOT LOGIC. WHICH I’M BEGINNING TO GET MIGHT PUT IT OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
PANEL 1
FLYBOY
I’M SORRY, SPOOKY.
(cont)
THEN YOU WANT SOMETHING FROM ME I CAN’T GIVE YOU.
PANEL 2
TEEN SPOOKY
Right.
PANEL 3
TEEN SPOOKY
WELL. OK. DIDN’T EXPECT THAT ANSWER.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
ALL RIGHT. FINE. THEN TELL ME THAT YOU’RE NOT THAT INTO ME. THAT WHAT WE DID THAT NIGHT DIDN’T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU. THAT YOU AREN’T FEELING ANYTHING LIKE WHAT I’M FEELING.
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
I KNOW YOU WON’T LIE TO ME. I THINK I KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT YOU, AT LEAST.
(cont)
SO, TELL ME YOU DON’T FEEL THE SAME WAY, AND I’LL NEVER BRING THIS UP AGAIN.
PANEL 6
FLYBOY
I… CAN’T TELL YOU THAT, EITHER.
PANEL 1
FLYBOY
WELL, I, UH, FEEL LIKE AMANDA’S RIGHT, AND WE REALLY SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON HOW TO FIND AND DEFEAT THIS-
PANEL 2
TEEN SPOOKY
ABOUT ME. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU REALLY FEEL ABOUT ME, MITCH.
PANEL 3
FLYBOY
WHY? WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW?
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
BECAUSE LIFE IS SHORT.
(cont)
BECAUSE MAYBE I WANT TO FEEL HAPPY ABOUT SOMETHING, IF ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES.
(cont)
BECAUSE IF I’M RIGHT ABOUT WHO SHADES IS, WE MIGHT NOT GET ANOTHER CHANCE.
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
BECAUSE IT COULD BE NOW OR NEVER. AND I’M CHOOSING NOW.
PANEL 6
FLYBOY
WAIT A MINUTE. WHO DO YOU THINK SHADES IS?
TEEN SPOOKY
I’LL TELL YOU WHEN WE’RE BACK WITH AMANDA. DON’T CHANGE THE SUBJECT.
PANEL 7
TEEN SPOOKY
I’M NOT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER MAKE OUT SESSION OR ANYTHING. I JUST NEED TO HEAR THAT I’M RIGHT ABOUT US. ABOUT WHAT WE COULD BE.
(cont)
MAYBE IT’S SELFISH OR WHATEVER, BUT I NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU AND ME IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE’RE FIGHTING TO SAVE.
PANEL 1
TEEN SPOOKY
THIS THING DEVELOPING — BETWEEN US — WHATEVER IT IS — IT’S NOT SO CASUAL FOR ME. AND I GUESS I’VE REALIZED I DON’T WANT IT TO BE.
FLYBOY
OH.
PANEL 2
FLYBOY
HEY. WELL. SPOOKY… LOOK, WE’VE WENT THROUGH SOMETHING REALLY INTENSE IN THAT AMUSEMENT PARK. I GET IT. AND I CAN SEE HOW HARD IT’S BEEN FOR YOU.
(cont)
BUT REMEMBER, WE ONLY MET A FEW DAYS AGO. WE BARELY KNOW EACH OTHER. AT LEAST, YOU BARELY KNOW ME.
PANEL 3
TEEN SPOOKY
I DON’T? IN JUST THOSE FEW DAYS, I’VE SEEN YOU’RE SOMEONE TOTALLY BRAVE AND SMART AND HEROIC AND HANDSOME AND KIND–
(cont)
— AND WHEN WE’VE BEEN TOGETHER, I’VE
FELT LIKE I’M THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF. AND IT’S ACTUALLY A REALLY HAPPY VERSION OF MYSELF.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
I DON’T NEED TO SEE MORE TO KNOW WHAT YOU COULD MEAN TO ME.
FLYBOY
SO… WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
PANEL 6
TEEN SPOOKY
THAT NOW I NEED TO HEAR WHAT YOU FEEL.