I didn’t like making the calls, but I said, “Outside, but hurry it up. If there’s any remaining crowd outside, get them further back or get them to go.”

“Alright,” he said. “Makes sense.”

He whistled for the attention of his people and the crowd that had gathered closer to the front door.

While he handled that, I looked at the others, “Where’s Jasper?”

“Still out there. He has Mar and Landon with him. The crowd is in their way.”

I hurried to approach the window. I could hear a commotion behind me, as others entered the room, but my focus was on the commotion outside. My view was briefly blocked by the cops and the people they were leading outside and across the street to our left, away from both the building and the lingering protesters.

“Victoria,” Crystalclear said, behind me. He was with a small few members of the community center staff, including the district rep, and he had Longscratch and Tempera with him.

He would be here because trouble was imminent.

“How soon?” I asked.

“Two impacts in a couple of minutes. Six or seven.”

Two. Six or seven minutes gave us a window to act.

I watched the scene in progress through the window. Jasper wouldn’t make it to the front door in two or three minutes. Some of the protest had dispersed, but a lot of it had spread out from the square of grass, sidewalks, fountain and trees just in front of the community center, dotting the streets. A share of them occupied the street Jasper needed to come down to reach us, and a lot of them had their back to him. He honked, not for the first time, and one of them gave him the finger.

“I’m going to help Jasper out, get us our bus so we can drive out of here without being mobbed,” I said. “Is there a side door?”

Crystalclear pointed at what would have been the south side of the building, to my left.

“Go there, stay clear of windows. Protect my people, keep them clear of danger. The moment there’s real trouble, they’re just high schoolers and should be treated as such. High schoolers—you guys protect Fume Hood. Protect the capes. Be good.”

“Do you need help?” Tempera asked.

She couldn’t help. She would cause more problems than she fixed, being in costume.

No. I shook my head, heading to the front door.

Was this an emergency? Yes.

Did I like using my power? No.

I marched toward the bus, glaring at the first person in my way. I activated my aura.

“Move,” I said, and I pushed out with my power. Heads turned, noticing. Maybe they would put their finger on why they’d noticed. Maybe not. I was nudging, here.

I could see the man’s reaction. He took a partial step back.