My alarm clock went off, signaling that the day had begun, and I was to wake up and get ready for school. Today was the beginning of a new school year. My senior year, to be exact. I was going to make this year count. I was going to dress to impress, especially now that I'd finally shed my baby fat and had gone through a growth spurt this past summer. I felt really good about myself, a definite first for me.
I ended up dressing in a bright red high-waist skirt, and an off-the-shoulder white shirt. I slipped on some white Vans and went downstairs to eat some breakfast. Mom was getting my brothers ready for school. Sam was in kindergarten, and Ben was in second grade. My two brothers were growing up so fast. I ate some oatmeal and brushed my teeth, then proceeding to put makeup on.
"Charlie, are you almost ready?" Scott, my stepfather, was going to drop me off at the bus stop on his way to work.
"Almost!" I called back. I quickly brushed my dark brown hair and finished putting mascara on my already long eyelashes. I grabbed my bag, and followed Scott into the garage. We got into his yellow Porsche and drove off.
Scott was a Super who controlled light, but on the sidelines sold cars. Mom was also a Super, although her abilities were often compared to that of a Siren. She had unearthly beauty, and could persuade people to do things with her voice. It was cool until she started using her abilities to get me to do my chores or homework. Then it was cheating her way through motherhood.
My own ability had nothing to do with my mother's. I didn't have her famous beauty, or her gorgeous voice. My power was all my own, and I treasured it above everything. I could control water, and all aspects of it. It was a difficult element to master, but I was near to perfecting the art. "Are you on duty today?" I asked Scott.
"I'm always on duty."
"You know what I mean." Scott grinned.
"Yeah, I do. There hasn't been much going on, unless you count the giant robot this morning, but the Commander and Jetstream took care of it." I nodded.
"I just want to graduate so I can do stuff like that."
"I know, Charlie. But give it time, and soon you'll be off saving the world." He pretended to tear up. "My little girl is getting so big." I laughed as I got out of the car. "Bye! Have a good day!"
"Bye Scott, see you later." I stood on the sidewalk awaiting the bus as two people approached me. One looked like a hippie, though less rebellious against society, and the other looked like the all-American boy. They looked anxious as they waited for the bus. Freshmen. I could tell already. "Hey, you guys new to Sky High?" They nodded. "I'm Charlotte Kade. But people call me Charlie." They both shook my hand.
"Will Stronghold." All American boy.
"Layla Williams." Hippie-girl. The bus arrived and we all scrambled to get on.
"Hi, Ron." I greeted. He nodded at me. I was probably the only one who made legit conversation with him.
"Is this the bus to Sky High?" I rolled my eyes, knowing what speech was about to come next. I knew Ron too well.
"Sh! Are you crazy? I guess you want every super villain in the neighborhood to know we're here." He squinted as Will and Layla tried to make their way to find a seat. "What's your name, freshman?"
"Uh, Will. Will Stronghold." Ron gulped.
"Son of the Commander and Jetstream?" Ah, that's why his name sounded familiar. Will nodded nervously as Ron grinned and stood up. "Everyone, this is Will Stronghold. My name is Ron Wilson, bus driver. If there's anything I can do to make your journey more comfortable, don't hesitate to ask. You two," he gestured to two students sitting in the front seat, "change seats for Will Stronghold."
"It would be an honor." A geeky kid in orange stated. His voice sounded a little too feminine. Apparently his balls haven't dropped yet.
"No, it's fine. You don't have to." Aw, Will was one of those guys.
"Oh, I want to." Orange kid protested. "You're third generation, man." Will sighed. "Magenta, get up." Purple girl scoffed.
"Why? He only needs one seat."
So he can sit with his girlfriend." Layla grinned.
"Layla? No, she's just my friend." Their banter made me smirk.
"Yeah, totally. He's like my brother." I had put in my ear buds, but could still hear the conversation through the music. Damn Manchester Orchestra for not being loud enough.
"Oh, well, in that case, I'm Larry." An even dorkier kid stood up to introduce himself to hippie girl. I gave a look to Ron that mentally told him to start the bus. I was ready to get to school. I just wanted to get there to hang out with my friends. Ron nodded in understanding and the two freshmen took seats next to a couple comrades and began their own conversation. I got lost in my own little world of music as it went from Indie to old-school rap. The bus lurched to a stop as we picked up the last kid.
"Sorry! All right. That's everyone." He dramatically switched his cap and changed the bus title on the side and began driving again. "Next stop: Sky High." We took the usual bridge route and the freshmen were looking anxious. There was one junior, another senior on my bus, and no sophomores. We were used to this, and found it amusing that in only a few moments, the newbies would be freaking out. It started when the seatbelts strapped around our chest. "Hang on, back there. We're going off-road." We flew off the bridge and all the freshmen started screaming. My stomach lurched to my throat as adrenaline rushed through me. It never got old. But then the engines kicked in, and we began flying toward the school.
"Freshmen." I muttered. Ron began slowing down as we approached the school.
"There she is, Sky High." He then began going through protocol, explaining what was holding the school up, and why it was in the sky in the first place. "Smooth and easy." He came to a bumpy landing, making the passengers groan. "Sorry!" The students practically rushed to get off the bus.
"Bye, Ron. See you later."
"See you, Charlie."
