Naomi

We all look at the world through our own lens.

But looking isn't the same thing as seeing.

What if everything you believed about the world turned out to be wrong?

If we truly opened up our eyes,

what would we see?

Every superhero has an origin story.

And this is mine.

- Yeah! - Come on.

- Yeah! Yeah! -

No way!

Hi.

- Hey, Naomi! - Hey, Naomi.

Thanks for the AP Lit notes. Girl, you saved my life.

Anytime, lady. Dostoyevsky is no joke.

- Right? - Oh. Damn, Naomi.

Nice reflexes. Wanna join the team?

Will we finally win a game?

- - Hey, yo, cameo time.

Hey, guys, check this out.

Naomi runs the number three Superman fan site in the world.

Not for long. Brazil's site is number one, and the Philippines' is number two.

But I'm coming for them.

For someone so fly, you're sure into some nerdy stuff.

I'm just saying. Superman?

The guy wears a cape and spandex.

One or the other, acceptable.

Both together? I mean, come on, not the coolest.

- Incorrect. The very coolest. - Mm.

Dude can shoot laser beams from his frigging eyes.

His eyes, man.

But the best part?

He's adopted.

Which means he's extra special, because adopted kids are chosen.

Just like me.

But also...

he's not real.

- Hmm. - Hmm.

So?

Einstein said, "Reality is merely an illusion,

albeit a persistent one."

It was in our AP reading. You actually take the class, Nathan?

Or you just sit there and look pretty?

You think I'm pretty?

Annabelle.

OMG, babe, you're like four hours late. Where have you been?

You know my parents and their firm stance on family dinner.

- I thought this was ginger ale. - Ooh.

I'm on it, hon.

Nathan sure knows how to throw a party,

and look damn, damn good while doing it.

Damn good.

I hadn't noticed.

Right. Because you broke up with that fine specimen of a man after five dates?

I don't know what you're talking about.

This is my jam.

Yeah, Naomi!

Come on, Naomi.

We're ready for the delegation, but we're only one stop on their tour,

and he's making us crazy.

Hey. Morning, pumpkin.

Morning.

Honestly, it's only two lines.

"Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you." How hard is that?

I am a linguist, not a miracle worker.

Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you.

That... That's my girl. Up top.

Dad.

What?

No? High fives are out?

Yes, like ten years ago.

- I like that better, anyway. -

Didn't hear you come in. What time did you get home?

I don't know. Midnight?

Huh. Midnight?

Yeah, I haven't stayed out that late since 2009.

We drove to Portland and saw Coldplay.

Remember, Jen?

Gosh, I sure do.

We got our groove on.

Yeah, yeah, we did.

- You still got your groove on. - You know it, huh?

It's a little early for all that, folks.

Better hurry. Bell rings in 15.

If you'd let me get a car, you wouldn't have to worry about me being late.

Nice try. No driving until graduation.

Then these are the only wheels I've got.

- - All right.

Naomi!

Anthony, hey.

Missed you last night. I thought you were coming to the party.

Your boy gave me the wrong address.

That's not how you treat people.

I'm sure it was a mistake.

Come on, why would Nathan give you the wrong address?

Military brats like him, they...

hate townies like me. It's...

They always have.

It's a two-way street.

Most townies aren't so welcoming to new kids.

Also, I'm a military brat and I don't hate you.

Yeah, but you're...

you.

- So... - I'll see you in Debate Club after school.

Okay. Here's how this is gonna work.

- Commander's giving us 15 minutes to... - That's not enough time for a real debate.

Well, it's not a real debate.

Our club has been chosen to represent the school by presenting to the visiting military delegation.

- - Now, are we ready to begin?

What's going on?

Annabelle says there's a stunt happening in the square.

Something to do with... Superman.

I need this for my site. Bathroom break, ten minutes.

I'll be right back.

- -

What happened? Where did he go?

It was like a scene out of a movie.

Sixty-five years on this Earth, I've never seen anything like it.

I dropped my phone.

Superman dude was right there, and I dropped my phone.

Annabelle!

Naomi. Can you believe it? Did you know about this?

If you knew about this and didn't tell me, I'll be so mad.

- I missed it. - What do you mean you missed it?

All I heard was the buzzing.

I didn't hear anything like that.

Can you just tell me what you saw?

Okay. I was walking down the street on my way home from school,

and all of a sudden I look up and there's this light in the sky.

I run out of my store to see where this light was coming from.

I look up and I see...

Superman.

This guy was legit. He had a cape and everything.

He was fighting someone from, like, the movies.

The bad guy, he was blue. Like, literally blue.

Blue guy throws Superman onto a car, wham.

Then they keep fighting until, pow, pow, Superman knocks him out cold.

So Superman grabs him and then flies off.

And then it's over.

People are doing the most for likes and clicks.

True.

True. But best stunt ever.

Best stunt ever.

Best stunt ever.

Was it a projection? Was it wires?

Lourdes, I have nothing to post about what happened in my own town.

I'm sorry, I wish I could help, but I have no idea who did this.

You're the only other person in town who hard-core knows the comics world.

No way something like this happens without you knowing about it.

I'm flattered, but I was going to say the same thing to you.

- What do you mean? - You always know what's going on,

especially if it's about Superman.

I figured you had something to do with it or knew who did.

Kind of a sore subject.

I gotta go. Text me if you hear anything?

Yeah.

Or even if you don't.

Oh.

You're sure it wasn't the military,

like an exercise or a flight experiment or something?

No, I'm positive.

With the dignitaries arriving tomorrow and the presentation the day after,