Fact about me, Brokenrussiancrawl:
There is something fulfilling about writing a story. Or even finishing one is an achievement of its own for me. Getting comments is nice; hearing that people like my story and are waiting to read more, or saying that they want me to continue to write for certain characters is a pleasing thing to a gal like me.

Trouble

Layla looked out the bus window and sighed. She had tried to get out of going to school. She wasn't going to lie to her mom and tell her she was sick, no she just asked her mom flat out if she could skip today. Her hero support class was supposed to pick a person in the hero classes to be there 'sidekick'.

She didn't want to do it, because she was sure that Will was going to want her to pick him, but she wasn't. Instead, she made up her mind to ask Warren if she could be his supporter. He hadn't said much, just looked at her and shrugged saying, "Better you, than anyone else."

Layla had taken that as a compliment. Warren wasn't big on compliments and when he did give one, he was normally putting someone else down. She had smiled at him and said that she would try because she was sure that someone else wanted to be his partner just as much as she wanted to.

Warren just gave her a look that clearly said, 'no one else is going to be my partner. It's you or no one.' Again, Layla felt flattered. But she didn't let Warren know that was how she was feeling; instead she smiled and walked away before he could see how happy she was.

It was a shock to Layla that Warren actually talked to her. When they first met she knew he didn't like her because she was Will's best friend. Of course when Will started taking to hero classes with Gwen, going out with Gwen, partying with Gwen, his hatred for her didn't last long. It was funny, their friendship happened by her crying over Will at her favorite Chinese restaurant and they just got to talking and he was a pretty cool guy. He made her smile and laugh and he had a pretty good sense of humor.

On Monday she didn't think that he would want to talk to her, but when she got to her locker she saw him leaning against the wall and she had asked her if she were feeling any better that she was last night. She had smiled at his concern and from there a strange and unexpected friend ship began to grow between them.

Layla was ripped by her thoughts as the bus landed with an impact that made Layla's head whip back and made her bite down on to her lower lip. She wished she was paying a little more attention to where they were so she would have had time to brace herself. Looking up the bus driver caught her gaze and gave her an apologetic smile and then opened to doors to let the students off. Layla waited for everyone to pass her then she followed after.

Magenta was there waiting for her and she smiled at her friend, "Hey."

"Hey," Magenta said looking bored. Layla didn't take it personally; she knew that this was how she reacted to everything.

They didn't say anything to each other; they just began to walk to their lockers that were close to each other's. As they walked thru the open doors Layla saw a figure leaning against the wall next to her locker. She couldn't hide her smile as she looked at the dark figure that was dressed in all black and was wearing a leather jacket. The person was glaring at anyone and everyone that passed by him, even if they didn't look at him.

Magenta saw him to and sighed. She never liked new people, but for some reason she really didn't like him. Layla wondered why, but she didn't ask because she knew she wouldn't like the answer. Magenta rolled her eyes when the figure spotted them and stood up straighter like he had been waiting for them.

"I'll see you in class," she grumbled before stalking off.

Layla watched her go and then shook her head; she wondered what was making her so upset. She frowned as she continued to her locker. When she was closer to her friend she gave him a short half smile and began to open her locker.

"What's her problem?" Warren asked.

Layla rolled her eyes. She knew that Warren didn't like Magenta any more then Magenta like him. But he had a reason: he didn't like anyone. Sometimes Layla wondered if he really liked her.

"She doesn't like you very much." Layla thought there was no point in lying to him.

He smiled at that, "Well the feeling is mutual. What I want to know is why."

Layla was wondering the same thing, but she just shrugged as began to collect her books for her class.

"Are you still going to pick me, of am I going to get stuck with the guy who glows?"

Layla laughed, "He's not that bad, I promise. But you have nothing to worry about, I'm picking you."

"Good," was all he said as they began to walk to the gym.

Warren held the door open for her and let her walk in before him. They broke up and went to stand with their classes. Coach Boomer began to scream names off a clip board in a random order. Layla's name was the third name to be called.

Layla stepped forward and faced Boomer. "Who do you want?" he asked in a bored tone as if he already knew who she was going to choose.

Layla stuck out her chin and stood taller than she was a minute before. "I choose Warren Peace."

Boomer nodded and began to write down on the clip board but stopped and looked up at her in shock, "Really?" Layla nodded and stepped over to Warren. "Okay then," was all Boomer said before he began to call other names.

Will walk up to her with Gwen following behind, "Why didn't you pick me?" Will asked in any angry voice.

Layla turned to him and smiled a little, "Because Warren wanted me to."

"I wanted to work with you too," Will said in frustration.

Layla didn't say anything to him, she just turned away and faced Warren again. Will wasn't too happy about that and he grabbed her arm to swing her around to face him. Layla gasped in pain at how hard he grabbed her and tried to pull away, but that didn't do anything; he held on stronger.

Warren was in front of her in an instant, prying Will's hand from her arm and throwing him across the room. You could see the steam coming off of him and Layla backed up as the fire popped up from his jacket.

Will was on his feet in a flash and was moving towards him at a fast pace. Will hit Warren, but he didn't go anywhere. He didn't even flinch, all he did was threw a fire ball at a shocked Wills face.

Coach Boomer came over to see what was going on and began barking orders, using his super voice to try and get the boys attention. It didn't work. They kept going at it both getting thrown across the room by the other.

Layla didn't want them to fight any more, so as they were picking themselves off the ground and began to move towards each other, she ran in between them and stood her ground.

"Get out of the way!" Will said to her, but she wasn't looking at him.

Warren glared at Will for a moment longer before looking at Layla and calmed down, the fire that had covered his body was gone and she knew it would take few minutes for his skin to cool down also. She also know that if Will said the wrong thing he would be all flames in a heartbeat and that was what Layla wanted to avoid.

"I think we should go," she said so that only Warren could hear her.

He looked at Will then back at her. He sighed and then nodded his head in agreement. They began to walk to the door and Will started to stay something. But he was cut off by a vine that grew out of the floor and wrapped itself around Will's mouth. As Layla held the door for Warren she looked back and locked eyes with Will. She gave him a hard look and tightened the vine for a moment to let him know that she really meant for him not to say anything.

She walked out of the gym and followed Warren for a moment before he anger came her, "What was that?"

He turned to her and glowered, "What do you mean, that was me saving your ass."

"You don't have to use that language. And I didn't need to be saved." She crossed her arms.

Instead of taking her bait for the argument he took hold of her arm gently so he could look at it. For a moment Layla wondered what it was that he was looking at, but then she remembered how hard Will had grabbed her. As she glanced down she noticed an ugly bruise already beginning to form.

She knew he was getting upset by the fact that his touch began to burn a little. He pulled back and ran a hand threw his hair, "I should rip his head off."

"No, you should," Layla said in a calm voice.

"He gave you a bruise, Layla." Warren said in outrage.

"I was there." She shot back at him.

"Are you sure? Cause your acting like nothing happened." Warren's legs braced and he crossed his arms over his chest.

She didn't want to fight, she didn't. But he was being so hard headed that she just wanted to throttle his neck a little. A cartoon flashed threw her mind of a woman chocking a man and his eyes rolling to the back of his head. She couldn't help it, she giggled.

Warren looked at her like she was weird but that only made her laugh harder. After some time Warren cracked a smiled and began to laugh with her. If anyone looked at them she was sure that people would think that they were crazy, standing in the middle of the hallway laughing at nothing. Or maybe they would be too shocked to do anything but stare at Warren because he was laughing. And he never laughed. Well not in public.

They sobered after a moment, and she grinned at him. He just shook his head at her.

"Thank you," she said after a moment. "It was really nice of you to stick up for me. Even in your own way."

"Whatever," he mumbled.

"It's not whatever to me, you stood up for me, and it means a lot to me," Layla took his hand and just for a second she felt him squeeze her hand in return.

Just then Principle Powers came up and Warren and Layla let go of each other. "Warren I need you to come with me."

Warren nodded and looked over at Layla who gave him a sad look in return. She didn't want him to be in trouble. It was her fault he was in this mess to begin with. She should have just chosen Will and then everyone would have carried on living their lives without any confrontation. But no she had to choose Warren when she knew that Will would be angry.

But Warren smirked at her and gave her a wink as he began to follow Powers to her office, where she was sure he was going to be in trouble.