Sorry for the delay once again. I've been under the weather and writing hasn't come easy.

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Lunchtime was long ago finished and the rest of the school had now resumed their classes. Zachary and Carl had spent an unreasonable amount of time waiting for the nurse to finish attending to another student and then even more time as she slowly examined the swollen, aching fingers. In the end, she agreed they were broken and called his parents after handing him an icepack. Now the pair walked the empty halls, taking their time and chatting.

"Zachary, you are one lucky guy. Why didn't you just fight like that the first time? You didn't even need the vest I made. He didn't even get a punch in."

Zachary chuckled. "Guess it took a few weeks to understand the way he fights. And if it wasn't for that vest, we wouldn't be in this scenario."

"What do you mean? It didn't do a thing."

"Well...remember when he threw that knife at me?"

"The knife you caught? Yeah."

"I didn't catch it."

Carl stopped walking "What?"

Zachary stopped and glanced around before looking back at his friend. He slowly raised his arm, revealing a small hole in his shirt. The area around it was dark and wet.

"You-"

"It's not serious. It's just had time to bleed. Your vest kept the knife from going all the way in. I just pulled it out while I was spinning."

"So...the vest does work?"

"Why do you sound so surprised..?"

Carl smirked and looked down at the ground. "Well, I had no way to test it. It was a 50/50."

"Oh you idiot! You sent me out with a vest you didn't even test? I could have gotten pummeled!" Zachary laughed and shoved Carl with his good arm.

"Hey, hey, fair point, but I did just keep you from going to the hospital with a knife in your side."

"As if you knew that would happen." They had reached his locker and Carl helped Zachary gather his stuff. A few moments were spent in silence before Zachary spoke.

"I still don't get it, Carl."

"Get what?"

"How you think superheroes are impractical. I mean, you can make stuff like this and you still think it's impractical?"

"See anyone flying through the air towards a burning building? Or anyone running by with superspeed to save someone? No. It's just not realistic."

"Bet you could make it so."

"What?"

Zachary closed the locker door. "I bet you could make everything someone would need to be a superhero."

"Right. Of couse I could." Carl rolled his eyes. "What powers?"

"The basics, of course. Flight, superstrength, X-ray vision."

Carl marvelled at his friend's imagination. "That's what you call the basics?"

"Well, yeah. You could do it."

"Totally impossible, Zach."

"Bet you a hundred bucks you could."

Carl didn't even hesitate. "Done deal. I could use that money."

"But you have to try your absolute hardest and admit if you've done it."

"Of course. I get it. Shake on it? I want that hundred dollars."

Zachary rolled his eyes and offered his uninjured hand. "Only if you haven't cracked flight in a month."

Carl shook his hand. "You overestimate me. Deal."

"You underestimate yourself. Better earn a hundred bucks somehow. Anyways, my papa's probably parked outside by now, waiting to drive his son to the hospital. That'll be a pleasant ride."

"I bet. Good luck, Zachary."

Zachary started walking towards the door. "Good luck to you too, Carl. Don't get discouraged if you've missed anything in Math. I know how much you love it."

"Ha ha. Very funny!" Carl shook his head as he called after him. It had been a great day already and he wasn't worried about his math class. He was ahead of the class anyways. What he was worried about was how to get a human to fly. No, first, to even get them airborne. What a silly idea. He laughed as he pictured Zachary being shot from a cannon.

"I have a feeling I'm going to be distracted today." He chuckled and turned down the hall towards his math class.