THE MOMENT
"You can wait for your friend all you like," The patrolman shook his head at the seated, pale teen. "You just can't fish here while you do. Pack it up," he added. The teen remained seated with his line in the water and shook his head.
"Are you really sure I can't fish here?" the teen asked. He looked up at the guard. It was night time and the streetlamps could only do so much against the darkness. It was the first time the guard got a proper look at the teen. His face was ghostly pale and he had a sharp widow's peak in the center of his forehead.
Vampire attacks had been a common occurrence around the town and as soon as the guard saw how pale the teen was, he took a subconscious step backward. It was also worth noting that the teen did not seem to be afraid of anyone, vampire or otherwise.
"Yeah, move along. No fishing," the guard tried his best to maintain an even tone; his best wasn't good enough. His voice wavered even as he took another step backward.
"I don't think you're sure," the teen said. As he spoke, a red outline in the shape of a crown began to glow on his forehead, beneath the widow's peak. "You should probably go in and check to make sure," the teen said.
"Yeah, you're right," the guard nodded. He turned to face the dark water. "I'd hate to bother you if I'm wrong, I'll just take a quick look," the guard took a step over the edge; but, the teen spoke up.
"Don't forget to take a big breath once you're in the water."
"Thanks!" the guard waved and jumped into the black ocean. The teen heard a large splash followed by coughing and spluttering; but, it didn't last long. The guard did his best to swim below the surface to check if there were any fish around; he never found any.
"I guess there's no point now...," he sighed and began reeling his line in. "..next time don't tell them to jump in the water...," he tried to keep his mistake in mind for the next time he was interrupted.
"Oren!" a familiar voice called his name. He scrambled to his feet while still reeling the line in; and, he looked in the direction it came from. A young teen girl with short pink hair walked toward him.
"Hey, Justice," Oren smiled once she was close enough.
"Are we fishing? That could be fun," she said.
"Sure," Oren nodded. "But, uh.. not here. We'll find a better spot."
"Awesome!" Justice clapped her hands. "There's so much I have to tell you!" she added. Oren finished reeling in the line. He held the rod out while he tilted his head at Justice.
"So much? I saw you a few days ago, how much could have happened?" he asked.
"My birthday, for one thing," she said. "I'm 16 now! But, that's not the best part."
"Oh? What is, then?" Oren asked.
"I got the best birthday gift ever!" she put her hands on his shoulders and jumped in glee while she screamed in his face.
"Awesome, what'd you get?" he asked. But, Justice shook her head.
"I can't tell you where I got it from, just assume everything I don't tell you is because I can't, okay?" she said.
"You're keeping secrets from me now?" he asked.
"Just one!" Justice was quick to defend herself. "And it's only temporary! I can tell you after your birthday in a couple of months," she said. Oren chuckled and nodded.
"That's fine, I trust you," he said. "So, let's hear it, what's your secret?" he asked. But, they were interrupted before she continued.
"Hey, no fishing in the waterways!" a new guard appeared next to them with his focus glued on the rod in Oren's hand. Oren sighed, he wanted to spend time with Justice, not be bothered. The red crown began to glow on his forehead again as he looked at the guard.
"Wait!" Justice said. The red crown disappeared as Oren tilted his head at her. But, he was surprised. A red crown of light began to glow above Justice's head and she focused on the guard.
"It's late, you should get home," she said. The guard nodded with a yawn.
"Yeah, it's late," he said as he walked off. Oren stared at her with his eyes wide and mouth agape.
"Since when...," he interrupted his own question as he realized the answer. "....that's a hell of a birthday gift...," he said. Justice nodded eagerly with a broad grin.
"I KNOW, RIGHT!!?"