The Gathering Storm by H. K. Varian Page A

his muscles, twitching, stretching, everything. But with each move he got the same result.
    Nothing.
    Mack was actually glad when the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Since Mack didn’t need to transform back into his human form, he was the first one out the door. Comics Club was meeting today, and that was always fun. Suddenly, Mack felt like he’d barely seen or talked to Joel since riding the bus on the first day of school. Hanging out with non-Changers is just what I need, Mack decided—until he arrived at Comics Club and saw everyone poring over the latest issue of Super Warriors . Superpowers, superpowers, superpowers wherever Mack turned. For the first time in his life, Mack was sick of comic books and superheroes.
    â€œMack! Get in here!” Joel hollered when he spotted Mack hovering in the doorway. “You won’t believe what happens in issue seventeen!”
    â€œActually, I can’t stay,” Mack replied. “I have some stuff to do at home.”
    Joel’s face fell. “Oh. Okay,” he said. “Talk to you later?”
    â€œSure,” Mack replied.
    Mack sent a quick text to Jiichan to ask for a ride home and then set off for the parking lot to wait for him. The clouds had never cleared up, and now, a lightdrizzle was falling. It didn’t seem like much, but soon Mack’s shirt was soaked.
    â€œMack!” a voice called.
    He turned around to see Gabriella approaching. He could see her friend Daisy trying to get her attention, but Gabriella didn’t seem to notice her.
    â€œHey,” Mack replied. “What’s up?”
    â€œPractice got canceled,” Gabriella said, gesturing to her cleats. “The weather.”
    â€œDo you need a ride? My grandfather should be here soon,” said Mack.
    Gabriella shook her head. “I live close enough to walk,” she said. “But I can hang out with you while you wait.”
    â€œThanks,” Mack said. He glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was nearby, but they were alone. Just do it, Mack told himself. Swallow your pride and ask.
    â€œCan I ask you something?” Mack said.
    â€œSure,” replied Gabriella.
    â€œWhat’s it like?” Mack asked, his words tumbling out in a rush. “Changing, I mean.”
    Gabriella stared off into the distance, deep in thought. “It’s . . . hard to describe,” she began. “I’veonly done it twice now. I guess . . . Have you ever been bodysurfing?”
    â€œLike in the ocean?” said Mack. “Sure.”
    â€œIt kind of feels like that,” she explained. “You feel this wave approaching, and then you have a choice: if you take a deep breath and, like, prepare yourself . . . and just sort of let go . . . the wave will lift you up and carry you. It’s so easy and natural. It feels right, you know?”
    Mack nodded.
    â€œBut if you force it, you’ll face-plant,” Gabriella continued. “The wave will drag you down, and you’ll be sputtering through a mouth full of sand and salt water.”
    Gabriella pulled her hair out of its high ponytail. “I’m not sure that makes any sense,” she said with a self-conscious laugh.
    â€œNo,” Mack said earnestly. “You made perfect sense. I think . . . I’ve been doing everything wrong, you know? I’ve definitely been trying to force it . . . and getting nowhere.”
    Gabriella looked sympathetic. “I think that first transformation is kind of out of our control,” she confided. “My eyes—They’d started changing on their own.If we hadn’t started Changers class right around the same time, I don’t know what I would’ve done. Can you imagine how terrifying it would have been to change without warning?”
    â€œYeah,” Mack said. “I hadn’t thought about it like that before. At this point