She took the new com and put it on her wrist. Thank you, sir. I do appreciate your interest in my safety. I might be wrong about Tag, but he seems to have so many things that point towards him that I feel like I need to eliminate him as a suspect before I can move forward.
Then by all means, do what you need to do, Inspector Connor said, but dont forget were right there if you need us.
Danielle and Tag were walking through the entertainment section of Central City that evening. The bright lights and crowds out enjoying themselves gave a light and happy atmosphere to the young couple. She had picked him up in her floater even though he had protested. She won the argument when she asked how many floaters his family had. When he told her they only had one, she said, Its unfair to your parents to have to stay home when you go out. My family has two so Ill drive.
Boy, shes hard to argue with, Tag thought. They had had several discussions during the evening, and though he thought he was pretty smart, he was no match for her skill at putting things together. He was amazed at her insights. But there was still a part of him that wondered why she had wanted to go out with him. Every boy in the school had asked her out or wanted to ask her, and she had politely declined them all. Then she asked him out. Whats wrong with this picture? he wondered. He knew he was not the best looking. Shoot, even Eric was better looking. He could still hear Eric on the com before he left home: All right, Tag. Make sure you take a shower, wash under your arms, and shave that peach fuzz you call a beard. Then go out and buy a mask because none of that will help. Then Eric laughed out loud and suggested that the mask should be a copy of his face. He finally told Tag to have a good time and that he was lucky to be going out with such a special girl.
And she is special, Tag thought. She knows shes beautiful but she doesnt wear it like a crown. She has a ready smile, a quick wit, and seems to enjoy other people. He normally could not relax around females, but she had him laughing and feeling quite comfortable within fifteen minutes of leaving his house. But that still didnt answer why she chose him.
Whats that look on your face about? Danielle asked. They were walking out of Checkmate Cinema where they had seen an action movie that really wasnt very good, but the popcorn was.
I was wondering why you chose me to go out with. You know as well as I that youve been asked by a lot of others. You dont have to ask to be taken out. I guess I was trying to figure out, why me?
You have a pretty low opinion of yourself, dont you? she quipped.
He looked her straight in the eye and said, Danielle, I know that I am average in appearance and Im okay with that. People like me, but I am not among those that are the most popular. Theres nothing about me that jumps out and screams, Date me because theres no one better. Of course, thats excluding Eric.
She laughed out loud and said, That sounds like Eric. Then she looked at him still looking into her eyes and said, Youre serious?
Yes, I am. You could have your choice of anyone; why me?
Because of me, she answered.
Now Im confused, Tag said.
Let me try to help you. When I was in school She stopped, paused, and said, The school I was in before I transferred here, I had a huge crush on a boy named James. It started in my middle levels and quite frankly I felt like he was way out of my league. He looked great, he was one of the most popular, he was athletic, he moved gracefully, and I felt he was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen.
What happened?
In my middle level, I was not much to look at. I wore glasses and had a very small body. Ive been described at that age as looking like a twig with a head on it. I really felt like I had no chance with James, so I never told him how I felt.
I find that hard to believe, Danielle. Youre beautiful, easy to talk to, nothing like what youre describing.
Well thats how it was, Tag. That is until I entered my higher levels. I developed fast and no longer needed glasses. Then one day James asked me out.
Boy, Ill bet that made your day.
You have no idea. The day seemed like it would never get to the time he was going to pick me up. All my dreams were coming true. And then he was there and we left to go out into a world that now seemed like paradise.
You had to be on top of the world, Tag said, feeling somewhat jealous.
I was. We met a group of his friends at a fast food place and just sat around and talked. I was having a great time. Then one of his buddies came over and talked about how he had gone through the worst experience in math class. James asked him what the problem was, and he said he just couldnt figure out the answer to one of the questions.
Then what happened?
Well, James asked if he remembered the question and his friend had written it down on a piece of paper. He showed it to James and his friends and they shook their heads and said, No way, man. No one can do this. I thought Id impress them, so I took the paper and answered the question. It really wasnt that hard.
Big mistake, Danielle, Tag said.
I know that now, but James dropped me faster than a bad habit. I was heartbroken. But I learned from that experience.
What did you learn?
I learned that although James was great to look at, his conversation was boring and he was shallow. I learned that boys dont like their women smarter than they are. I learned that when they find out you are smarter, they leave skid marks trying to get away. And lastly, I learned that beauty, true beauty, comes from the light that emanates from a persons inner fire. Its that glow that makes a person beautiful to be around. To answer your question why you; I wanted to confirm to myself that you really are as smart as Leila said you were, and I wanted to see if the fire behind your eyes was real. Suddenly, Danielle realized that looking for Superman was not the real reason she had asked Tag out. It was a good reason, but not the real one. At some level, she was drawn to him.
So shut up and have a good time, she said to Tag, or you want I should tag ya one?
Tag laughed and said, No, that wont be necessary, Ill behave. And Tag suddenly realized that for the first time since second level, Leila had not been in his thoughts. Danielle is special, he thought. As they continued to walk toward her floater, she placed her hand in his and felt that little shock again.
Neither said anything all the way home. When she dropped him off she said, Tag, youre it. You have to ask next time. The she left.
Danielle thought, Girl, youre a chocolate mess. How did he get you to open up like that? Hell probably just mark this up to a bad experience. Then her com beeped. Hello, she said.
How about tomorrow at seven? she heard Tag ask.
I look forward to it, she said.
Like you did with James, he said with a twinkle in his voice.
Dont press your luck, Tag master, I can catch you and pop you a good one.
He laughed and said, See you tomorrow, and good night.
She thought about what she was going to tell Inspector Connor, and decided that she really didnt know anything more now than before she went out. She determined that she would tell him that it would take more time than she thought and that he just doesnt open up easily. She smiled at that.
Chapter 16
T ag and Danielle had been going out for four weeks and each of them had come to better know each other, and out of their time together their respect for each other had grown. So had their feelings of affection. Even an outsider could see that they were falling for each other. Even though Danielle was older, she was surprised by the maturity of Tags views. On their last date Tag had kissed her goodnight, and that little shock she had been feeling each time they touched could be felt throughout her entire body. It started her heart beating faster, and she lost herself in his arms. Tag saw the psychic field go multicolored when he kissed her, and he felt the small current that passed between them. He wanted to be with this girl every waking moment. Danielle had even convinced herself that Tag was not Superman. The problem was that no progress was being made in finding just who was Superman. She knew it was a waste of time to continue in her undercover role. She had talked to Inspector Connor and he agreed that there was nothing else they could do and that this would be her last week at Tags school. Tonight she was going to have to tell him who she really was. She wouldnt blame him if he ended their relationship, but in her heart she hoped he wouldnt.