"Ricki!" A person jumped Ricki from behind, their arms wrapping around his neck. Their weight pushed Ricki forward and both he and his attacker stumbled. 

"No," Ricki said. He knew who the person was without taking a look. Of course he did. "Get off me, Ezra. It's seven in the morning." 

"Aw, you're sleepy? Lucky you, 'cause I got you coffee." 

"Decaf?" Ricki yawned as he blindly held his hand out for the cup. The murmured sounds of students in the background barely reached his ears. 

"Yeah, yeah. You're crazy, you know? How does caffeine make you tired? Getting decaf defeats the whole purpose of drinking coffee in the first place."

"Whatever." Ricki sipped the hot drink and savored the way it burned his throat as he swallowed it. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the cool air of the early morning. It was supposed to get to the 90s later in the day. Might as well enjoy the weather now. The school had yet to put AC in the classrooms. Ricki wondered where all of their funds went to. 

"So, how're you feeling?" Ezra pointed to his head. The comment jolted Ricki out of his morning comatose state. He was wide awake now. All of the questions he had from last night erupted like a volcano and were seconds away from spewing out. 

"Fine, I guess." Ricki cleared his throat. He had to be tactful in bringing this up. "So, uh, Ezra." He rubbed the back of his neck. "HowdidyouknowthatIhitmyheadonthewall?" The word vomit made Ricki cringe. So much for being tactful. 

Ezra paused like he didn't expect that question. He looked down at the ground for a quick moment before flashing him a convincing smile. "I mean, it makes sense that you hit it on a wall and not on the ground, right? And you must have hit it pretty hard. You were practically crying when I touched it." 

Ricki huffed. "I was not close to crying!" He eyed Ezra from the side of his vision. His too quick laugh and jerky movements only raised Ricki's suspicions. "Okay. I did hit my head. And I have something to tell you." 

Ricki breathed out the entire story in one breath. Ezra took everything in stoic silence. When Ricki was done, he sipped the coffee so he had an excuse to not answer when Ezra asked questions. But Ezra didn't say anything. The longer Ezra went without speaking, the more uncomfortable and anxious Ricki got. 

Finally, after what seemed like one awkward century later, Ezra spoke. "So, you're telling me that you were mugged walking to work." 

"Yes," Ricki answered. 

"And that he slammed your head into a wall."

"Correct," Ricki said, wincing in remembrance. 

"Then a person jumped off a roof to save you." 

"Affirmative." 

"He was wearing a mask? So you think he's a superhero?"

"First off, not sure if it's actually a guy. But yes, they were wearing a mask, and I'm no it sure about the last part. Maybe he was a villain? Actually, I think he may have been wearing a costume."

"Things aren't so black and white, Ricki. It's not exclusively villains or superheroes." Ezra calmly cracked his knuckles. As if nothing was wrong. As if he hadn't just heard the story of the freaking century. 

"That's not the point, Ezran! The point is that there is a SUPERHERO. Hello?! Is that even real?" Ricki waved his arms around. Some freshman girls giggled at Ricki. He immediately put his arms down and shyly turned away. 

"I don't what to think. Your hallucination question makes a lot more sense now." Ezra said slowly. His face was the patient mask of serenity. It was very unusual. Ricki was expecting more of a dramatic reaction. He stared at Ezra in disbelief. With a sinking feeling, he realized that his friend didn't quite believe the story he was telling. It hurt a lot more than his head injury did. He pursed his lips and looked down at his Converse. Ezra flung an arm on Ricki's shoulders.

"Hey, no need to worry. I'm sure your head is fine. We can go get it checked out by the nurse today if you want. Or your parents can take you to the doctor's office." Ezra grinned brightly at Ricki. He only managed a weak smile back.