The Long Game━ (l. sinclair)

i plunge to my death

El stuck her arm out like always, lowering her head in focus. The sound of low-frequency vibrations buzzed in Sam's ears as she watched El. However, the brunette wheezed, blood rolling down her nostril as the wavering sounds increased until they disappeared completely.

Nothing happened.

That was... weird. El's powers never failed her before, not in the three years Sam has known her. She flipped the car over about longer than an hour ago. Why couldn't she do it now?

El staggered back, nearly tripped over herself as she wiped her nose. Her mouth was ajar, and her eyes were wide in shock, just as surprised as everyone else.

"Um..." Corey murmured. "Are you gonna... flip it over yet, or...?"

Mike hit Corey in the side, hissing something that included "fucking asshole" in the reprimand.

El stepped behind Sam, feeling embarrassed and scared. Having El so close made Sam want to scream out in pain, but she was still trying to hide the whole fact that she hadn't severed the empathetic connection. It just made Sam feel weak and ashamed.

"It's okay," Sam took the attention off of El. She didn't know what just happened, but she could tell El didn't want to be asked about it. "We don't need El's powers to move the car."

"You think you can move the car?"

"We don't need any powers to move the car," Sam changed her usage of words. "We can just use science."

A few people blinked back at her.

Corey glared, crossing his arms. "You're joking right."

"No, Sam's got a point," Mike hopped off the counter to walk up to the blonde. "We can use our own strength to push the car, but we need more surface area to do so."

Max held up a mocking finger in the air. In a overexerted, nerdy mannerism, she mouthed what Mike was saying to make fun of him.

Sam sighed, ignoring the judging stares she and Mike were receiving. "According to the laws of physics, all we need is to push on the car with objects that cover a larger surface than just two hands. We can use the metal ballots around the food court that separate the tables. If we hold the poles and push the weighted bottoms on the car, it should work."

"Two people here have powers and we're going with nerd logic," Corey rubbed his face with his hands. "Great."

"Don't doubt the science, Gray," teased Mike. "You're just mad your cousin's smart than you."

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "I'm doubting the science."

Max raised her hand, said, "Me, too."

"Just trust me," Sam sighed, holding back her annoyance. "Everyone grab a golden pole and meet back over here."

Lucas, Max, Corey, El, Will, Nancy, and Jonathan stared for a few moments longer.

Nancy exhaled in defeat. "Fine," she acquiesced. "We'll test your theory."

"Sam, you can stay here. I'll get you one," Max told the blonde with a pointed look, daring Sam to protest. She was offering because Max was the only one who knew how much pain Sam was in. In return, Sam sent her a small, grateful smile, trying not to seem too suspicious.

So they all searched around the mall quickly, picking up golden poles that had a round, flat bottom. Max walked back over to Sam, holding two, and handing Sam one gently. Then, everyone got behind the car once more — with the addition of Sam and Will — to test Sam's scientific theory.