Read Fire Hazard: Cape High Book Eight (Cape High Series 8) for Free Online Page A

Guilt?  Yeah, probably.  Well, maybe.  She got herself into this, right?  She's a cape, she has a say in who she's dating, who she's hanging out with.  The only reason I'm here is because the adults in her life don't agree with all that.  That sort of makes me the bad guy to her, right?  Nobody likes being dragged out of a situation that they chose.
    Do they?
    "Sup?"  I jerk, looking blankly at the black clad super floating over my head.  For a second I just stare at him, until he lands on the roof and sits down next to me. 
    "You flew halfway across the country just to say 'sup'?" I ask Max.
    "No, I flew halfway across the country to yell at you for promising Jack your debut over a stupid motorcycle," he says, making himself comfortable right next to me.  "Nice night."
    "It's too quiet," I say.  "My host is out saving the world, so it's just me in this big house."
    "Aww, poor Vinny, want me to sleep over?" Max taunts.  "I'll change into my jammies and we can watch Bond movies until morning."
    "That would be funny if I didn't actually have to watch them," I drawl.  "What do you want, Max?"
    "You're vulnerable," he says simply.  "Without the rest of the zoo kids surrounding you, we can actually talk.  If Trent could fly and didn't have a curfew, he'd probably be here right now, doing exactly what I'm doing."
    "Why?" I ask blankly, feeling even more stunned by that idea than I was by Max just showing up.
    "Because you're going to have to talk to us when you're alone," he says, propping his head on his hands and looking at the moon.  "I don't get you, Vinny," he says.  "You've got the ability to become one of the perfect photo-op heroes, but you don't seem to give a crap.  You could do anything you wanted as a leader of the zoo kids, but all you do is make sure they're fed and watered."
    "They aren't puppies, Max," I point out.
    "My question is... what do we have to do to get you living again, man?" he asks, turning and looking me straight in the eyes.  "For some of you it's obvious, they're hurt and they're only starting to recover, but you... I don't even know," he says, sounding frustrated.  "It's like there's a part of you that is, put bluntly, dead.  And don't tell me I'm wrong, I've been watching you for months now.  You're probably going to become one of the ones I fight regularly."
    "I think you're dreaming," I tell him, turning away.  "You want to see something in me that's never been there, Max.  Just because all the other capes have quirks--"
    "It's not that," he says.  "I don't know what it is, honestly," he admits.  "You don't seem to have any dreams--any desires.  All you focus on is cooking!  Cooking is fine--it's great, okay?  But there's more to life than just cooking, Vin.  There are a lot of things. Are you honestly friends with any of the zoo kids, or are you just their second in command?"
    "We're more than friends," I say, gritting my teeth, “we're family."
    "Fine, but sometimes you need a friend more than you need your family," he says, "which is why we're going to send someone out to you whenever we can--"
    "We?  Is Nico behind this?" I demand.
    "No, I am.  And we'll only be sending apartment kids at first."
    "Why?"
    "Because I think you need to know that you can rely on us, not just be the guy that's relied on."
    "You're a super villain," I point out, "have you forgotten that?"
    "Titles don't matter for the Cape High kids," Max says.  Then he lets out a groan, falling back on the roof again and making himself comfortable.  "I'm already here, I'm not going back home in the same night," he declares.  "I'll go raid your clothes," he declares, dropping down from the roof and heading into the house.
    "Max--you jerk," I mutter, giving up far too easily.  Looks like he hadn't been joking about the sleepover.  Man, here I thought the zoo kids were weird--turns out the apartment kids are just as strange.
     

CHAPTER THREE
    "That's him," Tank says, scowling at the teenager