AN: Hey kids, I'm starting a new Sky High fic(Duh). This is a tid bit different from my first one. And so we're all on the same page… I'm currently at school and the apartment I'm living at does not have internet. So I'll write during the week and post on the weekends. So here's the first chapter. I hope you all enjoy.
Chapter One
They say every super hero has a weakness. Something that when all else fails will bring them to their knees. For Superman it was Kryptonite, for Storm, it was claustrophobia, for Spiderman it was venom which negates his spider sense. Even Magneto had the weakness of any non-metal weaponry. Mine was simple. A lit candle, a campfire, a lit gas stove burner. Any of these things would make me think twice before entering a room. Ironically as it was my powers were the opposite. I not only could manipulate water, but I could create it, control it, and become it. Now most people who know of my weakness [which is very few mind you] wonder, why fire? Couldn't you just muster up a water ball and put the fire out? While it is physically proven water asphyxiates fire's oxygen, and at long distances I could simply toss water ball at a fire and it would be put out, but at close up distances, there's nothing I can do. Imagine water boiling in a pot. If left boiling long enough there would be nothing left of the water. It would simply evaporate and steam would rise into the atmosphere. Well put me too close to an open flame, and I'll be raining molecules made up of Lexi. According to my mom it was something I could get over with practice and trust; whatever that means. My mom also had my power. My father had the power of fire. He could muster up a fireball just as easy as my mom and I can muster up water, but that's beyond the point.
My name is Alexis Rochester, otherwise known as Lexi. I live a simple life with my parents at home. Until August of the year I turned 15, I began high school. Not just any high school either, Sky High. Why does this change my life at all? High school harbors some of the best- and worst times of a teenager's life.
The bright morning sun shown on my face as I starred at my shadow cast on the sidewalk. I starred down at my lime green polka dotted painted toenails. My long wavy blonde hair fell in front of my face. I released a sigh of boredom. My shadow cascaded a good nine feet down the sidewalk, I made up a whole five foot two of that seven. I bit my lip and put my hands on my hips. My dark wash low-rise jeans rested softly on my hips. I watched as a yellow school bus that looked no different than any other I'd ever ridden on pulled up. I climbed up the steps and stood in front of several students my own age who looked just as normal as any other freshman. Of course they weren't. They all had special abilities just like me. "Superpowers" some may say. I sat alone in a seat towards the back. The bus came to an abrupt stop as two more people boarded. I heard the bus driver making a small ruckus towards the front of the bus. I sat up and looked to see what was going on. Two students had boarded. The bus driver eagerly stood and tried to boot the African American boy who sat in the seat behind him out. I didn't recognize either of the students. I sat back and continued to stare out the window.
"Excuse me?" I heard a voice say next to me. I looked up at the red headed girl who had just boarded staring down at me.
"Yes?" I asked skeptically.
"Is anyone sitting here?" she asked. I looked down at the seat. Does it look like anyone is sitting here? I thought.
"No, go ahead," I chose to say instead. She smiled and sat down. She had on a green floral skirt over a pair of blue jeans. Interesting choice in clothing.
"I'm Layla," she said. I nodded and offered a weak smile.
"Lexi," I replied.
"It's nice to meet you," she offered. I nodded.
"Yeah," I turned back to the window and continued to watch the lamp posts and mailboxes as they flew by. I think she got the hint because she turned and began talking to her friends. Just when I thought I was in the clear she tapped me on the shoulder. I looked at her.
"These are my friends Will and Zach, guys this is Lexi," she introduced us. As if we really needed an introduction. Will had shaggy brown hair. Then I figured out why the bus driver had been so eager to welcome him. He was Will Stronghold; the son of Jetstream and the Commander; two of the most well known and powerful super beings alive. Hmm, I pictured him more… manly.
"Pleasure," I said still offering the same sarcastic weak smile.
"So are you a freshman too?" Zach asked. It took me a minute to think as I got caught up in his bleach blonde hair and bright yellow colored clothes.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"So what's your power?" Will asked. I groaned to myself. I guess the idea of having a quiet bus ride to school wasn't happening.
"I can harness the power of water," I said dully.
"So how does that work?" Layla asked.
"I don't know. I just suck all the water out of the air and… well do what I want with it," I explained impatiently. All three of them seemed completely oblivious to the fact that I had no interest in making small talk with them.
"You'll all have to wait for power placement to see what my power is. But I promise it's awesome!" Zach said excitedly.
"Can't wait," I said. Will and Layla laughed. Oh now they pick up on my sarcasm. Another student got on the bus. The bus driver closed the doors and tore the Velcro badge of his uniform to reveal a sky high emblem. He began driving and turned off where there was a road sign that said 'Road Closed'. He drove to the end of a bridge that hadn't been completed, or had been torn down, I wasn't sure which. It wasn't until he made it clear he wasn't planning on stopping at the end of the bridge that I thought he'd really lost it. As the bus launched over the edge of the bridge and began falling towards the city I sat just thinking about the fact that we were plummeting to our doom. Just when I came to terms with our fate our school bus sprouted wings and some rocket boosters and gracefully flew towards our school. I sat in silence the rest of the bus drive and thought quietly to myself.
We drew near the beautiful school that sat gracefully in the sky. It was as though it was held up by the fluffy clouds that floated lightly below it. I smiled as I stepped off the bus and watched the bustle of the returning students reconciling with their classmates. On a large grassy knoll several African American girls who looked very similar performed a cheer, wait scratch that, one African American girl, I guess that was her power, to multiply herself; seems interesting. I walked in the front of the group of freshman who probably looked just as intrigued as I did. Just as we neared the front steps that ascended to the front doors I felt a vortex of speed surrounding myself and the other freshman. When it finally stopped it turns out it was no vortex at all, just a chubby kid with a seriously deteriorated sense of style. Before I knew it a tall dark haired kid stretched his way next to him. I placed my hands on my hips and raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, I'm Lash and this is my buddy Speed," the taller guy said.
"As heads of sky high's welcoming committee we'll be happy to collect that fifteen dollar new student fee," the chubby one… well 'Speed' said. Lash stretched out his arm towards the African American boy from the bus.
"I don't remember the hand book saying anything about a new student fee," he said from behind his thick framed glasses.
"Okay, very funny boys, but I'll take over from here," a tall dark haired girl wearing a completely adorable pink outfit said. "Hi, I'm Gwen Grayson, student body president." She proceeded to introduce herself. I smiled at the prospect of becoming her new friend. I stood back and attempted to listen carefully as she discussed the safety rules of the school. Once she finished she led us all up the front steps and to the gym where we would go through power placement, Sky High's method of separating the heroes; the cool kids, from the sidekicks; the total losers. I of course would be placed in the hero class; just like both of my parents.
We stood in the large gym as a flash of light flew above our heads and landed behind the podium. The sparkle of light turned into a woman. Principal Powers. I couldn't help but feel slightly jittery with the excitement of showing off my powers. I heard little if anything that she said when she announced "Comet Away!" as she poofed back into a star and flew from the gym. As the group turned and watched her we saw a man standing on a platform.
"I'm Coach Boomer, formally known as 'Sonic Boom'" he yelled sending a shockwave through us. "This is power placement, you will step onto this platform, and you will show me your power. And yes you will do this in front of the entire class." The first few students went up and either completely washed out into the sidekick class as other students shined. "Rochester, Alexis." I heard snapping me out of my self diluted daze. I smiled and skipped up the small steps onto the platform. "What's your power?"
"Well I could show you much better than I could tell you," I said. He tilted his heads sideways and looked at me skeptically.
"Get to it then missy," he replied. I turned with my back facing the rest of the students and smiled as I sucked the moisture from the air and created a large pool of water in the opposite end of the gym. Waves crashed around and splashed water all over the gym. The coach nodded.
"Impressive, but what can you do with it?" he asked. I released my thoughts and the water. It fell to the ground in a giant wave and evaporated back into the air. I turned back to the coach. That seemed quite adequate to me.
"Well what would you like me to do?" I asked impatiently. He pushed a button on his remote which made a villain dummy pop up from the ground.
"Take that dummy out," he instructed. I nodded and mustered up a water ball. I extended my arm back and threw it at the dummy forcefully snapping the steel bar that held it onto the floor in half. I looked to the coach and crossed my arms. I tapped my foot. He smiled and wrote something on his check board. "Hero." I smiled satisfied and skipped back down the steps and took my place back with the rest of the freshman. A bell rang above our heads. "Lunchtime, we'll start back up after lunch, starting with you." He said pointing to Will. I laughed slightly and walked out of the gymnasium preparing myself for my first day of lunch.
I walked into the lunchroom and was instantly welcomed by the profuse scent of school food and anticipation. I found my way into the lunch line and got myself a turkey sandwich. I found a seat at a table with other freshman heroes. Before I even had a chance to enter the conversation I heard a voice behind me.
"Hey," a females voice said. I turned around and saw Gwen Grayson towering over me. I smiled.
"Lexi right?" she asked. I nodded.
"Why don't you sit with us?" she asked. I nodded and stood up. I followed her to a table where the African American cheerleader sat along with a few other upper class heroes. I sat across from her next to Gwen.
"Everyone, this is Lexi," she introduced us.
"I'm Penny," the African American girl said.
"Nice to meet you," I smiled and gazed happily at my soon to be new group of friends. This seemed to be turning out to be the best school year of my life.