The Legend of Bubble Boy

Troy walked through the front gates of his high school the next morning, covered in bruises, limping slightly, and regretting every decision he had made in life.

As he passed a group of students, he immediately heard whispers.

"Dude, did you hear? Bubble Boy took down two muggers last night!"

"I saw the video! He tried to make this dramatic entrance but face-planted into a trash can."

"Hahaha! What kind of name is Bubble Boy? That's gotta be the worst superhero name ever."

Troy's eye twitched. He knew this would happen. He just knew.

Keeping his head down, he made his way inside. He could feel the eyes of his classmates all over him.

"Hey, Troy, what happened to your face?" someone called out as he reached for his locker.

"Huh? Oh, uh…" He scrambled for an excuse. "Fell down the stairs."

"At night?"

"Yeah. Real clumsy, haha."

Just as he was about to make a break for class, a strong hand slammed against the locker beside him.

Troy flinched.

He turned his head to see Jackson standing there, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

Troy swallowed. "Uh… morning?"

Jackson stared him down. "You look like you got into a fight."

"Me? Pfft. Nooo. I, uh… I just, uh… walked into a door. Multiple times."

Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Right. And it totally has nothing to do with Bubble Boy."

Troy felt a drop of sweat roll down his temple.

"What? No! Of course not! I mean, pfft, who even is Bubble Boy? That guy sounds ridiculous."

Jackson smirked. "Yeah. He does."

For a second, Troy thought he was off the hook.

Then Jackson leaned in.

"But you're the only guy in this whole school with bubble powers."

Troy's brain shut down.

Jackson was right. Of course they'd suspect him! He was literally the only person in town with this weird, sudsy ability.

But Troy refused to crack.

"Look, Jackson, let's be real. Do I look like I could be Bubble Boy?" He gestured at his lanky frame. "I'm, like, the last guy you'd think would go out at night fighting crime."

Jackson studied him, as if considering it.

"…Yeah, that's true," he finally said, shrugging. "You're kinda weak."

Troy clenched his fists. I will fight you right now, Jackson.

Jackson let him go, but before walking off, he added, "If I find out it's you, you better hope you don't end up in a real fight."

Troy gulped.

The moment Jackson was gone, another voice called his name.

"TROY!"

He turned and immediately winced. Annie.

She marched up to him, her arms crossed, a deep frown on her face.

"Okay, you're acting weird," she said, eyes scanning him up and down. "You're limping, covered in bruises, and looking super suspicious."

Troy forced a smile. "I tripped."

Annie deadpanned. "Tripped? Tripped on what, an angry gorilla?"

He laughed nervously. "Y-Yeah, it was crazy—"

Annie suddenly grabbed his arm.

"OW!" Troy yelped.

She narrowed her eyes. "That was a Bubble Boy injury, wasn't it?"

Troy yanked his arm away. "Wh-what?! No! I… I fell down a flight of stairs. Twice."

Annie crossed her arms again. "Uh-huh. And it totally has nothing to do with the fact that Bubble Boy just so happens to use bubbles, and you just so happen to have the exact same power?"

Troy sighed dramatically. "Annie, please. You really think I'd be dumb enough to run around at night fighting criminals?"

"Yes."

"…Wow. That was fast."

She jabbed a finger at his chest. "You better not be lying to me, Troy. If you are, I swear—"

"Okay, okay! I swear on my life! I am not Bubble Boy!"

Annie studied him for a long moment.

Finally, she sighed. "Fine. But if I find out you're lying, I'll kill you myself."

Troy nodded rapidly. "Got it! Totally not lying! Haha!"

He quickly walked away before she could keep questioning him.

Just as he thought he was safe, a group of students suddenly surrounded him.

Troy froze.

"Uh… can I help you?"

The students pushed up their glasses in unison. It was the Nerd Club.

"We have questions," the club president said.

Troy groaned internally. Oh, for the love of—

"Tell us, Troy," one of the members said. "Where were you last night?"

Troy forced a chuckle. "Oh, you know. Home. Sleeping. Like a normal person."

"We have a theory," another member said. "Bubble Boy's true identity is someone with bubble-based powers."

"Fascinating," Troy said flatly. "And?"

"There's only one person in this school with bubble powers."

Troy faked the most dramatic gasp he could manage. "Oh my GOSH! Who could it possibly be?!"

The Nerd Club members squinted at him.

"…It's you, isn't it?"

"Nope."

"…Are you sure?"

"Yep."

"…We don't believe you."

Troy sighed. "Look, guys. I love your dedication to truth and justice. But I promise you, I am just a normal high school student who is definitely not Bubble Boy."

They all stared at him.

After a long pause, the president adjusted his glasses.

"Alright. But we're watching you."

Then, like ninjas, they disappeared into the crowd.

Troy exhaled. Why is this my life?

Of course, just when he thought he was in the clear—

"Troy Miller, report to the principal's office."

Troy groaned. Oh, COME ON.

Sitting in the principal's office, he tried to look innocent as Principal Gardner folded his hands on the desk.

"So, Troy."

"Yes, sir?"

"You've been in this school for a while now."

"Yes, sir."

"And you have a rather… unique power, don't you?"

"…Yes, sir."

The principal leaned forward. "So, tell me. Are you Bubble Boy?"

Troy almost face-planted into the desk.

"Sir," he said, as politely as possible, "do I look like a crime-fighting vigilante?"

Principal Gardner sighed. "Troy, I've seen the footage. Whoever Bubble Boy is, he is reckless, untrained, and clearly has no idea what he's doing."

Troy forced a nervous laugh. "Haha, yeah, what a loser, right?"

The principal gave him a long look.

"…You're not very good at lying, Troy."

Troy gulped.

The principal sighed. "If I find out it's you, you're in big trouble. Vigilantism is dangerous. Stay out of it."

Troy nodded rapidly. "Got it! Absolutely! Would never do such a thing!"

As soon as he was dismissed, he bolted out of the office.

As Troy made his way back to class, something incredible happened.

The most popular girl in school—Kasey Summers—walked up to him.

"Troy, right?" she said, twirling her golden hair.

Troy's soul left his body.

Kasey Summers knew his name.

"H-H-Hi," he stammered. "Yeah! Me! Troy! That's me! Yep!"

Kasey giggled. "You're kinda cute."

Troy's brain short-circuited.

Meanwhile, Annie—who had been watching from a few feet away—fumed.

Why was he so happy?!

Why did it annoy her so much?!

She clenched her fists.

She hated this feeling.

And she really wanted to punch Troy in the face.