Extraordinary by Amanda McGee

should do it.”
    “Easy Mac and cereal? That’s your choices?”
    “I got other things too! You just have to cook them. Sometimes I don’t feel like cooking. Stop judging.”
    Sadie threw worried looks my way as we stood in line at the checkout, leading me to ditch my turtle-paced movements. We had enough on our plates without dealing with my silly anxiety. Though, I was grateful my weirdness diverted her attention away from the cute guy. I was in no mood to flirt. In fact, that mood had never struck me.
    On the trip home, I gave the best distraction and performance I could think of. I sang one of my favorite songs at the top of my lungs. For three minutes and three seconds we either were or, at least, pretended to be normal.
    “I love this song!” Sadie said. “Even if I don’t have a clue what Santeria is.”
    “I don’t have a clue about any of it. It’s just fun to sing.”
    I explained to Sadie that this wasn't just any song to me. At a No Doubt concert, (Go figure.) Kate and I waited between acts in the sweltering July heat. Though we were under the outdoor amphitheater’s large roof, the temperature was unbearable. I knew once No Doubt came on stage inspired us all to bounce around with them, I would surely die of a heat stroke.
    The minutes crept by. The crowd became restless. Sweat trickled from everyone’s foreheads and no one had managed to keep the hairstyle they arrived with. We were all drippy messes. Music played through the speakers, no genre in particular, and none that provided any source of entertainment because most were not well known. Then, it began. Through the speakers, the Sublime tune rang out and the once agitated amphitheater belted out every word.
    I sat amazed that everyone knew the words and that I didn’t. Though I could not join in the moment personally, it inspired me to ignore the heat and vow to learn the song as soon as I got home. Three minutes and three seconds later, the crowd was refreshed. No Doubt emerged from behind the curtain and we bounced with no heat strokes in sight.
    “I’ll bet that was so fun!” Sadie yelped as she exited the Jeep. “We should go to a show sometime; I’d like to see that side of you.”
    “That doesn’t happen very often.”
    “Well, it should. Have some fun sometimes!”
    “What do you mean by that?” I asked, insulted. “That’s like the third time you’ve said that.”
    “I just mean you should relax more. Be that girl more often.”
    Sadie had known me a few days and had already discovered my uptight tendencies. Her words were something that had paraded around my brain for years, but personalities were a tough thing to adjust. Most of my life was spent dwelling within the confines of my mind. It was safer there.
    “Is that why you’ve never had a boyfriend?” Sadie asked, placing the groceries on the kitchen countertop. “Taking the safe route and only having one in your dreams?”
    “Ah!” I snorted.
    Did she read my mind?
    I knew she was right. But that was a can of worms I was not ready to open.
    Put the can opener away.
    “Can you cook?” I asked, changing the subject.
    “I can burn or I can microwave. Which would you prefer?”
    “Neither! Here’s your chance to learn. Mom taught me, now I’ll teach you.”
    Aside from life, love, and super-powered abilities, my Mom also gave me the gift of culinary knowledge. I wanted to know how to prepare meals so if one day I had a family of my own, they would not be forced to rely on take-out. Mom wanted to teach me should something happen to her, I would not starve or have to live on Mike’s nachos.
    Every Saturday we would choose a recipe that I would prepare and cook by myself. Mom would “supervise,” as she called it. Thankfully, following directions was like breathing to me so I never found it difficult to do solo. Though my culinary knowledge became extensive, I still lived on Mike's nachos.
    “I don’t know, Alex. I’m hungry and I would very much