Aces Wild: Cape High Book Six Read Online Free

gets to his feet.  "When was the last time you talked with someone?" he asks as he moves to my side.  "Really talked to someone, not just been lectured by or answered a question in class?"
    I grit my teeth, fighting the urge to yell at him since the question hit home.  "When was the last time you had a friend?  Someone you have something in common with?" he goes on.  "Look, Ace, we're not like norms.  We never will be.  So give up and come to the dark side, man.  You'll fit right in."
    "The dark side?  What are you, a Sith or something?" I ask, snorting.
    "Super villain," he says, grinning evilly.  "I'm a super villain.  And I think you should be one, too."
    I will admit--to you, not to him--that I am shocked right now.  It must show on my face, though, because I swear his grin gets more evil.  "They don't care which side you pick at Cape High, you know.  In fact, the principal's an ex super villain."
    I stare at him, then snort.  "What did he do, join a gang or something?"
    "Death Canyon."
    "A gang called Death Canyon?"
    "No, he made Death Canyon."
    "It's official, supers are certifiably insane," I say after a long moment of silence.  I start walking again, trying to ignore how comfortable he seems to be at the moment.  I'm not used to walking with other people.  I'm not used to... well... other people. 
    "Morgan's not bad looking, by the way," he says abruptly.
    "Are you trying to lure me to the dark side with cute girls?" I ask.
    "Is it working?" he asks.
    Well, it's not hurting, but I'm not about to admit that.  "What happened with this Morgan girl?  What's it got to do with me?" I ask.
    "I'm not sure I can tell," he says after a long moment of thought.  "See, even her own group isn't sure what happened, and I only know a bit of it because of... my circumstances."
    "Wait," I say, looking at his profile as he looks away from me.  "Maximum?"
    "Yeah?" he asks, as if I'm just leading up to a question.  "What?"
    Holy--"You're MAXIMUM?" I demand.
    "Not so loud!  I have a secret identity to protect," he says.  "Look, Banshee picked me to come talk to you--I think she sees what I see, man.  You and me could make the biggest show on EARTH!  I tried to get my girlfriend to do it, but she still blows up the larger machinery.  But you!  Picture it!  We'd be on every news station in the world!"
    "You're lying," I say.  "You must have heard something by eavesdropping, or hacking, or whatever, and moved in on me before the good guys could, right?"
    He grins at me.  "I could have.  Does it matter?  You're going to wind up on my side, regardless of who gets to you first."
    "Arrogant, much?" I ask with a snort.
    "Can you really see yourself saving cats from trees?  Running around kissing babies?  Being in parades?" he asks.  "Sure, that sort of stuff fits Trent to a T, but for you?  Can't see it, can you."
    "Trent?"
    "Kid Liberty."
    He's throwing around some huge names right now.  I'm not sure he can do that.  Isn't it against the code?  "Hey, aren't you worried about their secret identities?" I ask.  "Like Kid--he's still in high school, right?  What if--"
    "His entire school knows," Max says.  "The school you'll be going to."  Then he stops, holding up a hand and looking around.  "Come out," he says.  "Because I don't want to bother to hunt you down--but I will."
    I hear a rustling sound and look behind us, watching blankly as Jenna steps into view.  What is she doing?  "I don't agree with this," she says, putting her hands on her hips.  "I've heard about your school--it's a scam.  They're just dragging in people that already know how to be supers and saying that they trained them."
    "Who is she?" Max asks me.
    "Think it's Jenna... something.  She's a cheerleader."
    "She's a cape," Max says.
    "What, seriously?" I ask.
    "Actually I've got no idea," Max admits.  "I just thought it sounded dramatic.  It did, didn't it?" he asks, grinning at me.  I choke, looking away before I start