PANEL 1

TEEN SPOOKY

I WANTED HIM TO LIKE ME AS MUCH AS I LIKED HIM. THAT WAS THE REASON I WANTED TO TALK TO HIM. I WANTED US TO BE FREAKING BOYFRIENDS!

(cont)

AND THEN WHEN HE WAS ALL ABOUT RESTORING THE TIMELINE AGAIN, I SHOULD HAVE JUST TOLD HIM WHAT WAS REALLY BOTHERING ME!

PANEL 2

TEEN SPOOKY

BUT INSTEAD, I ACTED LIKE A BIG BABY AND RUINED EVERYTHING. EVEN US JUST BEING FRIENDS! AND NOW I DON’T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT RIGHT, OR HOW I’M SUPPOSED TO BE AROUND HIM!

PANEL 3

AMANDA

YEAH. THAT’S…

(cont)

THAT’S HARD.

PANEL 4

AMANDA

BUT, Y’KNOW, IT’S NOT ALL ON YOU, RIGHT?

(cont)

WHETHER MITCH REALIZES IT OR NOT, BEING FROM THE FUTURE MEANS HE HAS A LOT OF POWER. HE KNOWS THINGS WE DON’T, THINGS WE DON’T EVEN KNOW ABOUT OURSELVES.

(cont)

AND EVEN WITHOUT THAT, HE’S OLDER THAN YOU. IF HE DIDN’T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONAL FALLOUT, HE SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE ANYTHING. HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.

PANEL 5

TEEN SPOOKY

I KISSED HIM FIRST, AMANDA! AND THEN I TOLD HIM NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES. THAT WAS ALL ME.

(cont)

ALL OF THIS IS MY FAULT. AND IF WE FIGHT DOMANOTH AND WE LOSE BECAUSE I CREATED DRAMA, BECAUSE I MADE HIM DOUBT HIMSELF OR SOMETHING, THEN THAT’S ON ME, TOO.

PANEL 1

AMANDA

YEAH. IT SHOULD.

PANEL 2

AMANDA

I TAKE IT YOU DIDN’T JUST TELL HIM HOW HE WAS MAKING YOU FEEL.

TEEN SPOOKY

HA! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

PANEL 3

TEEN SPOOKY

NO. I WAS ALREADY BUTT-HURT ABOUT HIM NOT GIVING ME THE ANSWER I WANTED TO HEAR. OR ANY ANSWER.

(cont)

AND THEN HE KINDA LET SLIP THAT HE KNEW SOMETHING REALLY PRIVATE ABOUT ME FROM WHEN I WAS IN HELL. SOMETHING THAT STILL RIPS ME UP INSIDE, SOMETHING I HAVEN’T EVEN TOLD ANYONE, EVEN YOU.

(cont)

AND I JUST GOT SO MAD, AMANDA. STUPID MAD.

PANEL 4

TEEN SPOOKY

I CALLED HIM A COWARD. AND SELFISH. AND A LIAR.

(cont)

SOMEONE WHO ACTS LIKE HE CARES ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE’S FEELINGS BUT REALLY DOESN’T.

AMANDA

OOF. WELL, YOU DEFINITELY KNEW WHERE TO HIT BACK…

PANEL 5

TEEN SPOOKY

I REALLY WASN’T TRYING TO HURT HIM.

(cont)

I MEAN, I DON’T THINK I WAS.

(cont)

BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT I WAS THOUGHT I WAS DOING!

PANEL 1

TEEN SPOOKY

NO. BUT HE ACTED LIKE I HAVEN’T MET THEM YET.

(cont)

WHICH, WHATEVER, EXCEPT HE ALSO TOLD ME IT’S MY FIRST “REAL RELATIONSHIP” AND IT’S ONLY BEEN GOING ON A COUPLE MONTHS WHICH MEANS IF WE DON’T CHANGE THE TIMELINE, I’M GOING TO BE ALONE.

(cont)

FOR YEARS. LIKE A LOT OF YEARS.

PANEL 2

AMANDA

RIGHT…

(cont)

SO YOU DON’T DATE ANYONE AT ALL?

TEEN SPOOKY

NOT THE WAY HE MADE IT SOUND. NO.

PANEL 3

AMANDA

WELL, THAT… PROBABLY DIDN’T FEEL SO GOOD.

TEEN SPOOKY

NOPE. AND THAT’S NOT EVEN THE WORST PART.

(cont)

BEFORE WE DID STUFF, HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT IN HIS FUTURE, MY MEMORY GETS ERASED AGAIN.

(cont)

THIS WHOLE THING WE’RE DOING — IT’S ANOTHER COMPLETE BLACKOUT. DAYS, WEEKS — I LOSE ALL OF IT.

PANEL 4

AMANDA

OH, SPOOKY… OH, NO.

(cont)

WAS HE SURE?

TEEN SPOOKY

yeah.

PANEL 5

TEEN SPOOKY

AND WHEN HE SAW HOW I REACTED, HE WAS, LIKE, I DON’T KNOW HOW, BUT I’LL TRY TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR MEMORIES. SO, HE KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO ME. AND IN THAT MOMENT, THAT MADE ME FEEL SUPER CLOSE TO HIM.

(cont)

IT’S PART OF WHY I KISSED HIM.

PANEL 6

TEEN SPOOKY

BUT THEN ON THE RIG, HE WAS 100% ABOUT KEEPING THE TIMELINE THE SAME AGAIN! AND TELLING ME IT’S FOR MY OWN GOOD!

(cont)

BUT C’MON, HOW DOES THE TIMELINE STAY THE SAME IF I KEEP MY MEMORIES?!

PANEL 7

TEEN SPOOKY

I DON’T WANT TO BE ALONE, AMANDA! AND I SURE AS HELL DON’T WANT TO BE COOL WITH KILLING PEOPLE WHO ARE “AT MY MERCY,” LIKE HE SAYS I’M GOING TO BE!

(cont)

HE DOESN’T WANT TO BETRAY ONE OF HIS FRIENDS, AWESOME. HE DOESN’T WANT TO DATE ME, FINE.

(cont)

BUT I DON’T WANT TO TURN INTO HIS SPOOKY! AND THAT SHOULD BE MY DECISION, NOT HIS, RIGHT?!

PANEL 1

AMANDA

DID HE… PUSH YOU INTO SOMETHING YOU WEREN’T READY FOR?

TEEN SPOOKY

NO. IF ANYTHING, I WAS THE ONE WHO PUSHED FOR IT.

(cont)

AND AFTER, WE SAID WE’D KEEP THINGS CASUAL, BUT… TURNS OUT IT WASN’T SO CASUAL FOR ME.

(cont)

AND SO WHEN WE WERE ON THE RIG, I ASKED HIM IF WE COULD BE BOYFRIENDS AND STUFF.

PANEL 2

AMANDA

Ah.

(cont)

AND HE SAID NO.

TEEN SPOOKY

HE DIDN’T SAY NO.

PANEL 3

TEEN SPOOKY

HE DIDN’T SAY YES, EITHER.

(cont)

HE ACTUALLY WOULDN’T ANSWER THE QUESTION AT ALL AND TOLD ME I WAS BEING UNFAIR FOR EVEN ASKING.

PANEL 4

AMANDA

WELL… THAT’S NOT GREAT.

(cont)

BUT WE WERE BUSY RUNNING FROM SIRCEA. IT WASN’T EXACTLY THE BEST TIMING, SPOOKY.

TEEN SPOOKY

I KNOW! I SHOULDN’T HAVE SAID ANYTHING. I WAS JUST BEING CHILDISH. AND NEEDY.

PANEL 5

TEEN SPOOKY

AND I SHOULD HAVE JUST DROPPED IT, BUT THEN HE STARTED LISTING A BUNCH OF REASONS FOR NOT GIVING ME A DIRECT ANSWER, AND THEY ALL BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE EXCUSES.

(cont)

BUT REALLY THEY CAME DOWN TO ONE THING: WANTING TO KEEP THE TIMELINE THE SAME.

(cont)

APPARENTLY, I’M DATING A FRIEND OF HIS IN THE FUTURE AND HE DOESN’T WANT TO MESS WITH THAT.

PANEL 6

AMANDA

Oh.

(cont)

DID, uh, HE SAY WHO?

PANEL 1

TEEN SPOOKY

AMANDA, I’M FINE. REALLY.

PANEL 2

AMANDA

COOL.

(cont)

SO DOES “FINE” MEAN YOU’RE FINALLY READY TO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN YOU TWO?

PANEL 4

TEEN SPOOKY

>SIGH!<

(cont)

YEAH! OK! BUT I DON’T COME OFF SO AWESOME IN THIS STORY, EITHER.

PANEL 5

TEEN SPOOKY

THAT NIGHT HE SLEPT OVER, SOME STUFF HAPPENED.

(cont)

SEXY STUFF HAPPENED.

PANEL 6

AMANDA

I DIDN’T NEED TO BE A MIND READER TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

PANEL 1

AMANDA

MY TAKE IS THAT HE’S JUST TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF SOLUTION AGAINST VERY TOUGH ODDS.

(cont)

LIKE WE ALL ARE.
(cont)

YOU THINK HE REALLY DOESN’T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE KIDS?

TEEN SPOOKY

I…

PANEL 2

TEEN SPOOKY

NO. I DON’T THINK THAT.

AMANDA

BECAUSE YOU WERE KIND OF ACTING LIKE YOU DID.

PANEL 3

TEEN SPOOKY

YEAH. I GUESS I WAS, WASN’T I?

(cont)

CRAP. YOU’RE RIGHT. MITCH IS JUST TRYING TO SAVE EVERYBODY — EVEN BRINGING IN EXTRA HELP LIKE I ASKED FOR — AND I’M YELLING AT HIM FOR IT.

(cont)

NOT COOL.

PANEL 4

AMANDA

IT’S NOT LIKE YOU TO YELL AT ALL.

TEEN SPOOKY

Heh. WELL, I’M DISCOVERING I’M FULL OF ALL KINDS OF JERKY BEHAVIOR I DIDN’T THINK WAS INSIDE ME.

PANEL 5

TEEN SPOOKY

FORGET ABOUT IT. YOU SAW OUTSIDE MACGREGOR’S — MITCH AND I ARE A-OK.

(cont)

I’LL BE BETTER AROUND HIM. I JUST NEED TO GET MY HEAD IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

PANEL 6

AMANDA

LOOKS LIKE HE’S HAS GOT THINGS HANDLED WITH THE KIDS FOR NOW.

(cont)

LET’S TAKE A WALK.

PANEL 1

FLYBOY

JUST A COUPLE HOURS, SPOOKY. THAT’S ALL I’M ASKING.

(cont)

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT HELPING US.

PANEL 2

CASSIDY

HE HAS A POINT, BOSS. AND THEY ARE ALREADY HERE.

PANEL 3

TEEN SPOOKY

AND WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THIS?

PANEL 4

AMANDA

I SAY, LET’S GO SOMEWHERE MORE PRIVATE AND SEE WHAT THESE KIDS CAN ACTUALLY DO.

PANEL 5

TEEN SPOOKY

THAT BOY IS STRONG. I’LL GIVE MITCH THAT.

(cont)

BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE USING THEM RIGHT.

PANEL 1

FLYBOY

HAS ANYONE ELSE EXCEPT YOU EVER GOTTEN HURT?

YOUNG PAUL

NO.

FLYBOY

HAVE YOUR POWERS EVER HELPED ANYONE?

PANEL 2

YOUNG PAUL

I… SAVED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ON A BRIDGE ONCE. AND SOME OTHER KIDS AT MY SCHOOL IN AN EARTHQUAKE.

(cont)

I MEAN, I THINK THAT WAS ME. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS.

FLYBOY

IT WAS.

PANEL 3

FLYBOY

I HAVE BEEN ON OVER A DOZEN SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSIONS WITH YOU. OLDER YOU. AND YOUR POWERS HAVE NEVER CAUSED HARM TO ANYONE ELSE. AND THEY’VE SAVED HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

(cont)

YOUR ABILITIES ARE CLASSIFIED AS “INTUITIVE,” WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THEY DON’T NEED TO BE TRAINED. YOU JUST NEED TO TRUST THEM TO WORK AND THEY WILL. AND I CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.

PANEL 4

FLYBOY

I CAN HELP BOTH OF YOU.

PANEL 5

YOUNG PAUL

IT WOULD BE COOL, JUST ONCE, NOT TO THINK OF MY POWERS LIKE SOME KIND OF CURSE. MY GRAMS SAYS THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE A GIFT…

YOUNG KYLE

MAYBE SHE’S RIGHT.

PANEL 6

YOUNG PAUL

OKAY. I’M IN. AT LEAST FOR THE TRAINING PART.

PANEL 1

YOUNG KYLE

MY FAMILY IS GONE. I LIVE IN A GROUP HOME FOR TEENS WITH POWERS. TEENS WITH DANGEROUS POWERS.

(cont)

I DON’T GET KID STUFF. OR HUGS AND KISSES. I GET WATCHED. 24-7.

PANEL 2

YOUNG KYLE

AND ALL I’VE EVER WANTED IS TO BE A HERO. TO KNOW MY POWERS COULD DO MORE THAN JUST HURT PEOPLE. THAT I… COULD BE MORE.

PANEL 3

YOUNG KYLE

YOU THINK I CAN BE THAT? RIGHT NOW?

FLYBOY

I KNOW YOU CAN BE THAT, KYLE.

PANEL 4

YOUNG KYLE

PLEASE DON’T JUST SEND ME BACK THERE, MR. JONES. JUST GIVE ME A CHANCE TO SHOW YOU WHAT I CAN DO.

(cont)

I WON’T LET YOU DOWN. I PROMISE.

TEEN SPOOKY

DON’T CALL ME, MR. JONES. CALL ME SPOOKY.

(cont)

AND IT’S NOT ABOUT LETTING ME DOWN. I DON’T WANT YOU TO GET HURT.

PANEL 5

FLYBOY

LOOK. LET’S NOT GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES. WE’RE NOT CHARGING AT DOMANOTH TODAY. GIVE ME A FEW HOURS TO TRAIN HIM. SHOW YOU HIS ABILITIES.

(cont)

THEN WE CAN DECIDE, OK?

PANEL 6

YOUNG PAUL

UM, I GET LOTS OF HUGS, ACTUALLY.

(cont)

BUT I DON’T HAVE ANY TRAINING. AND SOMETIMES THINGS GO BAD AROUND ME. REALLY BAD. THAT’S WHY EXSEC DOESN’T WANT ME.

PANEL 1

YOUNG KYLE

EVER SINCE THE… ACCIDENT, I’VE WORKED ON PRACTICING WITH MY POWERS SIX HOURS EVERY DAY.

PANEL 2

YOUNG KYLE

I’VE WORKED ON AIM, DISTANCE, HOW STRONG MY FIRE IS. I CAN EVEN PUT OUT FIRES, JUST BY THINKING ABOUT IT.

TEEN SPOOKY

ALL RIGHT. SURE. AND THAT’S…

PANEL 3

TEEN SPOOKY

WELL, THAT’S PRETTY COOL, ACTUALLY.

PANEL 4

TEEN SPOOKY

BUT A REAL FIGHT IS DIFFERENT. IT’S NOT LIKE SHOOTING A TARGET. WE’RE UP AGAINST ACTUAL CRAZIES AND DEMONS, AND THEY’LL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO KILL YOU.

FLYBOY

I’M NOT SAYING WE PUT THEM ON THE FRONT LINE, SPOOKY. WE CAN PROTECT THEM, AND JUST HAVING THEM THERE COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

PANEL 5

TEEN SPOOKY

MITCH, OPEN YOUR EYES! I’M SURE THEY’RE BIG HEROES IN YOUR TIME, BUT THESE TWO, RIGHT NOW, ARE KIDS. THEY SHOULDN’T BE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS!

(cont)

THEY SHOULD BE HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, DOING KID STUFF. WITH PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM, AND WHO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM.

PANEL 6

YOUNG KYLE

I DON’T HAVE THAT.