Disclaimer: I do not own Static Shock all rights go to DCU

It was early first period, Study Hall, I was sitting right across from Richie when Virgil, slick as he is, "snuck" into class. How do live in the same house, leave at the same time, and he's still late? Some short-cut… more like a long-cut. I'm halfway through my AP Algebra 2 homework when Nick signs in and takes a seat right next to me… and in front of Jimmy Osgood. Apparently "Mr. Great Personality" has fun tormenting Jimmy any way he can.

I have to do something, "Leave him alone, Nick." I say in a menacing tone.

"Lay off half-pint." he retorts.

"Just drop it Will." Virgil warns me.

Skipping two grades does have its draw-backs, like being the youngest junior in the history of Dakota Union High. But ever since I moved in with Mr. Hawkins Virgil won't let me out of his sight, everywhere I go—bam!—there he is. He walks me to my locker, he walks me home, I have to hang out with Richie and him—damn-it—I'm fifteen not five! There's no reason for him to be this overprotective. End of the day all of us are walking home—again—when we see Nick and his gang messing with Jimmy. I'm tired of putting up with people like him. I drop my books ready to rush to Jimmy's defense, but Virgil grabbed my shoulder, stopping me.

"And just what could you do? Bite his leg? One, he's almost twice your size. And two, he's a guy, and you're a girl!" Virgil says.

I swat his hand away, "Pep-talk of the century." I glare at him, "Well unlike you, Mr. Hero, I can't just sit here and do nothing."

Richie stands between us and tries to mediate, "Ladies, ladies, you can both be the prettiest. By the way Nick's gone, anyone want to help Jimmy now's your chance." he points over his shoulder at Jimmy as he collects his books. Virgil—in an attempt to shut me up—goes over to Jimmy and tries to help him with his books only to have him snatch it away.

"Jimmy, you've got to report this. Take it to the principle or something." I suggest.

"Just mind your own business!" he shouts, getting up and running away.

"Happy now?" asks Richie, "He doesn't want our help so let's move on with our lives."

"No." I say. "We've got to do something…"

The next day Virgil, Richie, and I make our way to Jimmy's house after school. "So let me get this straight; you broke into my sister's room, dug through her stuff, to find a dusty old computer mouse?" Virgil questions me.

"Pretty much," I answer. "That and I left a note saying "Virgil was here" on her door." I lie.

He's fuming, "Will…" he growls. I ring Jimmy's doorbell before he can finish his sentence. Jimmy answers the door and I hand him the mouse. He stares at it quizzically.

"It's a mouse, "Mr. Computer Genus." I say jokingly.

"I can't take this." he says giving it back.

"Sure you can", I say, "I'm pretty sure his sister doesn't want it" I say pointing over my shoulder at Virgil.

"I'm sure you've got some cool stuff." Richie says inviting himself in.

We follow his lead up to Jimmy's room where he shows Richie and me a light saber from Star Wars. Meanwhile Virgil's hypnotized by a lava-lamp. However, when Jimmy mentioned his father's gun everyone quickly snapped out of it, just the thought of looking at a gun… I tried to shake it off, "Look I've got to go. See you at school." I say hastily running out the room. By now I felt like a major wuss, but I didn't care. The last thing I wanted to see was his dad's stupid gun.

A few weeks later Jimmy apologized and started hanging out at Mr. Hawkins' rec-center. One day I stayed after school for math so I was late getting to the rec-center. I knew there had to be a faster way, and if I didn't get there in thirty minutes or less I'd be getting an ear-full from Virgil. That's when I remembered the sewer-system that irrigated the whole city, there's one right behind of the rec-center! I shove my books in my water-proof backpack and head for the sewers. Once I get the heavy lid off I call some water up to greet me. Once I'm on the ground I create a wave I can surf all the way there. "Alright," I say to myself. "I was just on Brandon Drive and Ash Street and the center's on 8th and 12th street… so if I take a left here and keep straight I should be there in no time." I follow my directions and keep surfing. About halfway there my cell starts ringing—I check the time—thirty minutes exactly. I answer the phone trying to block out the splashing noises, "Hello?"

"Will," Virgil says on the other end. "Just where the hell are you? Even if you were staying after school you still should have been here half an hour ago!" he yells, "And what's that splashing sound?"

"I'll be there in about five seconds, I'm… taking a short cut—just stop nagging me." I retort, avoiding the question.

"I am not nag—", I hang up on him. Well that one's going to hurt in the morning.

I have to gain more speed, so I motion the water up and forward creating a bigger wave. I keep going like that until I get to the next lid. This one should lead to the rec-center. I create a "water-latter" up to the roof of the sewers and try to push the lid off, but to no avail. After banging on it for a minute I get an idea. I come down from the latter and propel right into the lid with the help of my water-jet. It hurt like hell by the way, but I'm now out of the sewers. Panting, I try to slide in through the gym unnoticed—but that's exactly where everyone happens to be right now. Within seconds Freda's looking me up and down, "You'll do." she says bluntly. "We can use all the help we can get." I can't help but think: where's Overprotective Virgil when you need him? Becausewhen it comes to Hurricane Freda the very least I could use is an umbrella. What I don't understand is why she hates me so much, does she think I'm taking Virgil away from her? Because I'm 99.9% sure she and Daisy have more of Virgil's attention than I do. Well anyway—for whatever reason—I got sucked in to helping with this year's Fright Fest, but Jimmy really got into it. He was really good at making this kind of stuff. We turned the place into one huge maze, and after a week of putting up with Freda we were done. Jimmy went in the maze looking for Freda—he took a long time—but in the end he found Nick and his gang instead. Jimmy ran into the locker-room with Nick and Company on his tracks, once they caught up with him they shoved him in a locker. Freda, Virgil, Richie, and I followed the screaming and found Jimmy. I opened the locker and Jimmy fell out tears flowing from his eyes. How can he be such a jack-ass?

Fright Fest came and went the next night, Jimmy didn't even show up for school. Mr. Hawkins had dropped me off at the rec-center to help with the clean-up while he picked up Virgil. I was busy taking down posters when Jimmy showed up, but the only time I paid him any attention until he pulled out the gun. Everyone stood around him trying to console him. "Look Jimmy, I know your upset, but don't screw-up your whole life over Nick. He's not worth it." I say. Our efforts seemed to be working until Nick's gang tackles him. As the gunshot sounds a feel a piercing stab and fall to my knees, clenching my side. I turn my hand over to inspect the damage… and my hand is dripping with red. Jimmy lowers the gun and backed himself into a corner, he starts muttering something over and over.

"I'M SORRY—", he shouts, with only his final round to silence him. After that I pass out from blood loss.

*Virgil POV*

The scene is still fresh in my mind.

"It's bad that anyone got hurt, but why Will?" I ask. "All she wanted to do was help… she was Jimmy's friend!"

"Bullets don't discriminate between friends and enemies, Virgil. The important thing is that Will's going to be alright." the psychologist answered.

I was still frustrated, "I'm just mad. I'm mad at Nick for messing with Jimmy, I'm mad at Jimmy for shooting Will and committing suicide, and I'm mad at myself for stopping her when she was trying to help him… I'm mad at everyone!" I shouted.

"And it's alright to feel angry, Virgil", she says, "It's what you do with that anger that matters."