Disclaimer: I do not own anything associated with Sky High and its affiliates (lol I feel official). But seriously, I don't own anything but Lexi Storm and her parents.
Chapter 1:
My white Converse beat rhythmically on the pavement as I walked down the sidewalk. I kept one hand wrapped around the strap of my backpack and the other had its thumb hooked into the pocket of my blue skinny jeans. My eyes were trained on the long line of pristine houses lining the cookie cutter suburban street here in our city of Maxville. Though I shouldn't be generalizing things too much, considering my house is right down this exact street. But what can I say, my parents, the lovely Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Sandra Storm, wanted me to grow up in a normal environment considering not much is left to imagination by their double jobs as super—
Wait.
I am getting a bit ahead of myself. Let me backtrack a bit.
My name is Lexi Storm, or Alexandra Storm, but it seems too formal for my liking. My parents, said above, are the resident physicist and biochemist around these parts in Maxville, by day at least. When trouble calls, they turn into Elemental and Invisible Woman, whose names are self-explanatory. Now having two supers as parents is a legitimately awesome thing to have. Believe me, I understand that. Especially now, starting my freshmen year at Sky High with the power to control and produce electricity and the power to create force fields. The former from my father and the latter from my mother, as genetics would later explain. However, I can't say the same for my friend Will Stronghold. He, on the other hand, is still in the workings of his powers.
And funny thing I mentioned Stronghold…
I comb my straight hanging black hair away from my face, my single streak of blue flashing in the corner of my eye, as I trotted up the front porch steps to the immaculate house of the Strongholds. I stood on my tip-toes, fishing the house key off the top of the door and happily let myself into the house. As I was walking down the hall, a loud thump resounded from upstairs. I curiously peered up, knowing what will was doing. And with a shake of my head, I let the smell of frying bacon lead me to the kitchen, where I found Mrs. Stronghold and my other red-headed best friend, Layla, looking as ever green-child as ever.
"Morning!" I chimed brightly.
"Hey, Lexi! Wait, how did you get in?" Mrs. Stronghold asked curiously from her post by the frying pan.
I waved the key around before setting it down on the counter with a cheeky grin. "You guys should find a better hiding spot." I counted this as the third time the Strongholds would need to find a new hiding spot for their spare key. I suppose, I had been around so many times that I know a lot of the nooks and crannies of this place. Guess I should thank Will and Layla for that one
Layla giggled as we shared a quick hug before I plopped down beside her at the breakfast table. I saw Mrs. Stronghold pick up the key and rolling her eyes at my antics before saying, "Right, Lexi. Would you like some breakfast?"
"Sure!" I said, happily picking up a slice of bacon from a plate and taking hearty bite out of it. Usually, I would have had breakfast at home, but mom and dad were called away on early business.
Out of the corner of my eye, Layla grimaced and shook her head.
"What?"
"I wonder how I can be best friends with you and Will."
I feigned an offended gasp. "Coming from the girl who tried to turn me into a vegan when we were twelve!"
Layla's grimace instantly dropped and she rolled her eyes, nudging me in the elbow while she laughed. She eventually, and much to her own horror, let me finish my slice of bacon but took it upon herself to excitedly discuss her excitement over finally being able to attend Sky High.
"I mean, now people won't look at me weird when I make teachers' dead plants come back to life!" Layla noted happily.
"Yeah, and now at least I can use my electricity freely, you know, without being accused of being a witch or something or other." I mumbled, waving my hand around erratically.
Layla gave me an incredulous look from over the rim of her glass of orange juice. "You burned out half of the lights in the school and fried Missy Bottoms' hard drive."
I looked at her innocently. "In my defense, the girl copy and pasted my project. It was one time, get over it!" I exclaimed.
Layla happily left the subject, but was laughing at me nonetheless. I eventually joined her. She knew as well as I that I would never use my powers for something other than the good of others. Layla was similar, always trying to find the good in people. But for me, it was just one of those instances where the said Missy Bottoms deserved it. But no matter, I paid for it by a bit of a tongue-lashing from my mom, but a proud pat on the back from my dad (who was probably to engaged in the science factor of my actions to notice my mom's reproachful look).
Our laughing was suddenly cut short by the entrance of Mr. Stronghold followed by our the last third of our trio. Will waved at us and sat down to eat his breakfast.
"Hello, Commander." Layla said, subtly wiggling her finger at her eye to indicate Mr. Stronghold hadn't put on his glasses yet, otherwise he might be confused for his superhero self when dealing with one of his realtor customers.
"Oh, thank you, Layla." He fished his eyeglasses out of his pocket and slid them on. "Oh, Lexi! How are you? I thought you usually ate breakfast at your place." Mr. Stronghold said, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Oh, Good and I do. But mom and dad had an early job to attend to."
"What was it? Trouble at their labs downtown?" Mrs. Stronghold asked, referring to my parents cover jobs.
I shook my head. "No, something about a giant mechanical worm out destroying the Great Wall of China." I corrected casually.
The Strongholds nodded their heads understandingly, like I had just told them it was raining outside. Hearing what I said wasn't an unnatural occurrence, considering when the Strongholds turned into Commander and Jet Stream, they fought alongside my parents.
I looked up just as they turned on the kitchen television where an international broadcast from China was being shown. I recognized the tight-wearing forms of my parents, the electric blue and silver too hard to miss while they managed to disarm, by means of my dad's power of the natural elements and my mother's containment of the area, and stop the gigantic worm from destroying anymore of the Great Wall.
"Wow. You're parents are awesome." Will said, wistfully.
"Shame they weren't here to see you off, honey." Mrs. Stronghold said, stroking my hair.
"It's alright. They talked to me last night, so I'm set."
"Oh, I remember when Will was in pre-school and he refused to let go of my leg-" Mrs. Stronghold started to reminisce with a glistening tear in her eye…that is until Will interrupted her.
But Layla and I couldn't help ourselves to openly laugh.
I ruffled his brown hair playfully. "Awww. Little Stronghold didn't want to leave his mom's side!"
He rolled his eyes and pushed my hand away.
Suddenly, the ringing of a phone drew everyone's attention from the television. At first, Mrs. Stronghold reached for their normal house phone, expecting it to be an associate from the realtor company. But Mr. Stronghold stopped her.
"No, Josie. It's the other one." He pointed to the bright red phone that was reserved for…well…self-explanatory reasons again.
And within minutes, Mr. and Mrs. Stronghold had booked it down to their inner sanctum, yes, my parents have one at home too, and were zooming off to save the city…again. The broadcast on the television changed to footage of the Commander and Jet Stream fighting a giant robot harassing the city. We watched till the robot was finally defeated and the Commander was lifting its eye up for the whole city to see.
Will smiled half-heartedly at the screen, obviously proud of his parents. But all the more pressure on him. I knew that he felt like he had a lot to live up to and I won't deny that he does. To make matters worse, his powers haven't arrived. Will told me this a few nights go and hasn't had the guts to tell his parents. We could only hope that by some development, his powers arrived today.
Knock on wood.
"Come on, guys. The bus will be here soon, we should get going." I suggested, getting up and slinging my backpack over my shoulder.
Will and Layla agreed and all three of us left the Stronghold residence. We took our route to the bus stop, waving at neighbors as we passed by.
"You know, after seeing your parents. I can't help but feel like I can't wait to graduate already." Layla said with a wishful tone.
"Why? It's barely the first day." Will said.
"Because I can't wait to start saving mankind!" She replied happily.
"And womankind!" I quipped, my feminist side peeking out.
Layla nodded at my addition and made her own. "And animal kind. Can never forget them, especially after watching you and Will eat a poor baby chicken and pig!" She turned an accusatory eye at us.
"It was a slice of bacon, give me a break!" I exclaimed, slapping my forehead. "Beside—Hi, Mrs. Ewing!" We waved to the old lady watering her plants on her porch. "Besides, you can't save just the animals. What about the rainforest?" I asked.
Layla gasped and nodded rapidly. "Good one! That too, of course. I don't know guys, I just feel really great about this year!"
"Me too!" I agreed truthfully.
"Yeah, it should be great." Will added weakly.
I reached out an arm and patted his back in a supportive sort of way. He half-heartedly smiled and gathered us both in for a hug. One that made me laugh and Layla blush at her proximity with Will.
We finally arrived at the bus stop, only having to wait a few minutes till a uniform looking yellow vehicle pulled up to the curb. The door opened and Will trotted up the steps first, followed by myself and Layla.
"Is this the-uhh bus to Sky High?" Will asked blatantly, making the everyone on the bus look at us, well Will, incredulously.
"SHHH! Do you want EVERY villain in this neighborhood to know who we are?" The bus driver shushed us in a stage whisper.
"Sorry." Will mumbled, apologetically.
The bus driver shook his head at us disapprovingly before demanding. "What's your name, freshman?"
Will swallowed nervously and shifted backwards a little bit. "Will…Will Stronghold."
The bus driver's eyes widened like saucers, utterly surprised, which could be said the same of the bus. He quickly shot out of his seat, bumping his head on the ceiling on the way there, and faced the bus.
"EVERYONE! This is WILL STRONGHOLD the son of the Commander and Jet Stream!"
Subtle.
He grabbed Will's violently shaking it and introducing himself in a rather forced official manner. "Ron Wilson- Bus Driver."
I wondered then if this was the treatment Will received, I could only hope mine was a little less…obvious? Of course my hopes were shattered when Mr. Wilson's eyes settled on me, widening more than before.
"You…you're the daughter of Elemental and Invisible Woman!" He gasped, dropping Will's hand and pushing him aside to grab my own. "I am a big…no, HUGE fan! I have a poster of your mom at home." He slipped to me.
I laughed nervously, pulling my hand away from his and backing into Layla, who was equally freaked out. "Hehe, that's not weird at all…"
But Ron Wilson was unaware of how awkward things were and turned to the two kids in the front row. A black kid in an orange get up and girl, who thoroughly enjoyed rocking the punk rocker chick look, what with her multicolored hair and purple and black clothing.
"You two, up. Will Stronghold and Lexi Storm get the seats up front." He said, freaking me out just a tiny bit more since I never even told him my name.
Mr. Orange Suit shot up immediately, gladly giving up his seat. "It would be an honor. I'm Ethan, by the way."
I smiled politely at him, thinking him sweet. The girl on the other hand glanced at us moodily, obviously not wanting to give up her seat.
"Hurry up, Magenta." Ethan urged.
The girl rolled her eyes. "I'm coming. Giving up my seat for Stronghold and his girlfriend." She grumbled.
I quickly shook my head at that title and pointed to Layla. "Oh no, that's Layla."
That earned me a hard sock in the back from my blushing friend, making me yelp. I gave her pointed look which she returned with a scowl before explaining that she wasn't Will's girlfriend. But I knew otherwise. Either those two get together soon, or I am going to lock them in a closet till they kiss. I've been friends with them too long to know that they really do belong together. If only Will realized it…
I let Layla and Will take the seats up front, where Layla was hit on by a curly-haired nerd, Larry, after their claims of not dating. I moved to the back of the bus and sat down in the empty spot next to Magenta, hoping she wasn't still grumpy about Mr. Wilson taking her seat. But it was either next to her or beside a guy with bright white hair and donning neon yellow apparel who was trying to tell the person in front of him about his powers, whatever they happened to be.
"I'm Lexi." I said to her, feeling rather stupid to repeating it since Ron Wilson proclaimed it already.
"I know." She said flatly as Mr. Wilson started to maneuver the bus on the route to school. She knew I already knew her name so, unlike me she didn't need to repeat it.
A few minutes later, Magenta spoke again, her flatness diminishing. "I like your sweater."
I looked down at my white jumper with the bright blue lettering, 'KEEP CALM AND BE TOTALLY AWESOME' and smiled. "Thanks."
She cracked the tiniest of smiles and I had the slightest inkling that we were cool. Unfortunately, there was no room for anymore conversation as the bus suddenly stopped at the beginning of an incomplete highway.
Magenta and I shared a curious look as Ron Wilson suddenly tore at his shirt sleeve to expose the Sky High badge underneath.
"Next stop—Sky High!"
He pulled on a lever and seatbelts flew out of our seats and crossed over our chests, thoroughly strapping us tightly in. But my question was why did we need them?
It was then the bus shot forward, speeding towards the end of the highway which was complete and free air. I looked frantically at Magenta then at Layla and Will who looked just as terrified as I did, thinking they would be the last thing I'd see before I plunged to my death.
And just as that thought hit me, the caution sign dropped and the bus drove off the edge.
The bus erupted in screams of terror, myself being a part of those screams, as the bus felt like I was dropping. But much to our dismay, the bus suddenly sprouted wings and started to fly higher up into the air.
"Pfft. Freshmen." Ron commented from the front of the bus.
It was then my screaming started to die down as I realized that I actually wasn't plunging to my death. Eventually all the screaming subsided save for the few people who still weren't wrapping their minds around the fact that we were flying.
Within a few minutes, through the thick cloud coverage, emerged the gargantuan, floating building of Sky High. Ron was busy telling us about the school's general tendency to move places if dangerous measures are at hand and something about 'anti-gravitational propulsion', but it seemed like everyone was far to enthralled by the view of the school to care, myself included. Magenta and I looked out the window, witnessing to the grounds of the school being stocked with students of all shapes, colors and sizes, seeming completely normal…if you do ignore the floating part of the school that is.
As we drew closer to the school, the bus shook and jolted with Ron Wilson's rough landing.
"Sorry, 'bout that!" Ron Wilson called, coughing awkwardly to hide his lack of a smooth landing.
The other students rushed off the bus, some of them kissing the solid ground and thanking God they were alive. I thanked Ron for the ride and hopped on outside with Magenta following, wanting to take in the school firsthand.
"Wow, look at this place." Layla breathed, looking around her.
I could only nod in agreement. Behind me, I could still hear Ron upping his bus driver duties.
"Don't ever be late. Because the bus waits for no one." He said, his voice taking on a lower, intimidating tone. But that was instantly dropped when he shouted again. "Except for you two! Stronghold and Storm! The bus is always here for you!"
Thankfully I was already off the vehicle when that was shouted, but I couldn't say the same for Will. Will was the last one off the bus, holding the business card of 'Ron Wilson—Bus Driver' who offered free rides to Will and me if we were ever late to school. I shrugged at the offer, hoping to never have to use that, but Will safely tucked it away in his wallet.
We started walking up the pathway to the steps of the school, alongside our fellow freshmen. We moved in a general sized clump, watching the workings of our home outside of home for the next four years. From up in the sky the school seemed partly normal, but now that I am up close, it's anything but. There were boys with heat vision using it to indirectly touch a girls butt, and the girl in turn froze them on the spot. The cheerleading team was very…uniform to say the least…that was until I realized there was only one girl on the team and the rest were her clones.
Wow.
I was jolted out of my thoughts as my hair started to whip around my face. The clump of freshmen was suddenly getting tighter and we were all knocking into each other. It was then I noticed a swiftly moving blur circling around us…roping us in.
