Author's note: This story was inspired by a recent reviewing of the movie (How could anyone only watch that movie once?) and as I was watching, I paid special attention to the chemistry between Layla and Warren's characters. There is definitely something on Warren's side. I'm thinking if he wanted, he'd be the type to love from afar, thinking himself not worthy enough of the woman he loved. But that's just me. This story will be a two-shot: the first half is about Will and the second is Warren's. And yeah, I realize that I've started yet another story whilst still having two others open. What can I say? I'm trying to purge my brain so I can get back into writing my other ongoing stories. The title was given to me by a friend that proofread this for me.

Music suggestions: 'Wish I' by Jem, 'Better sorry than safe' by Halestorm.

Disclaimer: Sky High doesn't belong to me. Kind of like all the other fandoms I've written for thus far.

The Relationship Cycle

What she had with Will was good, she wasn't about to deny it. It had been pretty amazing, to be honest. Will was a very attentive and doting boyfriend who definitely wasn't afraid of a little PDA to show his girl how much he really loved her and being in her company. They'd had what most couples only dreamt of.

"Hey Layla. How were your morning classes?" Will asked enthusiastically, pulling in beside her from an adjacent hallway. It was their first day back of their sophmore year. He looped an arm around her waist and placed a quick peck on her cheek before she replied.

"You should know. You were there with me for the first two." Layla answered with a smile and a slightly chastising tone.

"Really? I don't remember seeing you there. Are you sure?" Will teased, looking confused as he tugged at one of her braids playfully. "You are my girlfriend. Pretty sure I'd remember if you had been."

"You're funny, you know that?" Layla deadpanned, half-heartedly shoving him away and continued towards her locker.

Will laughed as he stumbled away from her a few steps before running back to her side as if a magnet were pulling him back to her.

"Perhaps you could give me a reminder. You know, to help with the memory retrieval process." Will requested mock seriously, leaning against the locker next to her as she spun the combination into hers. Layla sent him an impassive look with one eyebrow raised before opening her locker and sliding a couple books into it.

Will countered the look with one of the sweetest lopsided grins as he lifted one hand to her face, rubbing his thumb back and forth gently. Layla relented and a smile blossomed on her own lips.

"Alright, fine." Layla replied, setting her bag on the floor between them as she looked both directions to make sure no teachers were loitering within detention writing distance. "But really. You shouldn't pretend to forget about me just to get me to kiss you. You know an excuse isn't required."

They'd had the sparks as well as the friendship and they retained that chemistry for a long time. Nothing about their relationship had been rushed, either. They didn't even make love until the end of their junior year. Prom night that year was one of those memories that she would never regret or forget. That aspect of their relationship had been pretty spectacular and she was glad they decided to wait as long as they had.

"Are you sure about this?" Will asked, laying slightly on top of her as he teased at the strap of her dress. The lights were dimmed, the hotel door was triple locked, and Will had even thought to bring a few candles. She'd passed up sure awhile ago.

"Will. I've known you practically my whole life and we've been best friends for just as long. We've been dating for the past two years and been slowly working our way up to this moment. I've never been more sure about anything." Layla replied in a steady tone, her expression as confident as her tone.

Looking down, she continued unbuttoning the white dress shirt that he'd interrupted her from. Once she was finished and pushed it down his shoulders, he pulled away to throw the shirt to the floor. Before he could lean back over her, she pressed him down onto his back. Smiling seductively at his questioning gaze, she hiked her dress up and maneuvered into an easier dress removing position by straddling him.

"Isn't it your turn now to do a little undressing?" Layla asked coyly, putting his hands at either side of the hem of the dress. "I even made it man-hand accessible just for the occasion."

Their relationship was also safe and predictable. And perhaps that is what had killed it in the end.

"Layla. Layla!" Will called out, racing to catch up with her after their graduation ceremony. She turned away from her parents as Will grabbed her up off her feet and swept her around in a circle, whooping happily as he did so. "We made it! And with only one more crazy trying to take over the world through the school. We're still alive!"

Layla rolled her eyes as she laughed along with him.

"Will, put me down!" Layla ordered between giggles.

"So we're still meeting everyone tonight at the Paper Lantern, yeah?" Will asked as he righted her on the ground and put some space between them.

"Why wouldn't we? It's what we do every Saturday night, silly." Layla replied, making a face. "Why would tonight be any different?"

They stopped having sex. She didn't even realize it right away and she couldn't say the last time they had. It just hadn't felt...fun anymore. They progressively became less intense and more like routine. They hardly even kissed anymore.

"Will?" Layla asked from her garden nook as he sat on her couch watching the evening news.

"Hmm?" Will mumbled out, only half-listening to her.

"I was thinking that maybe tonight, if you wanted, we could..." Layla began to ask, being cut off by Will's "superhero" cell phone. He held up his finger as he answered the phone.

Layla waited patiently for him to tell her he was off to save the world with his parents once again.

Replying in short, serious replies, he ended the call and looked up at her apologetically.

"It's alright. It wasn't all that important anyway." Layla said, waving off the apology before it could make it's way past his lips.

"Brunch tomorrow at my place?" Will asked, standing beside her as she opened the window that led to the fire escape.

"Yeah, sure." Layla agreed, forcing a smile.

They had never lived together, but she knew it was ending when they didn't even sleep over at each others' apartments at all. As well as when they stopped leaving possessions at each others' places, and started collecting objects that had in the past taken up permanent residence. His spare uniform hadn't been returned to its place beside hers in months.

It was one simple phrase that sealed the deal one cold November night.

"We're over, aren't we?" Will asked quietly as they both sat on her couch, watching TV with her laid back on his shoulder.

She didn't even have to ask what he was talking about, she'd known for awhile.

"Yeah, I think so." Layla replied in the same hushed tone. And just like that, they weren't Layla and Will, the 'it' couple of their generation. They were Layla and Will, the same old 'just friends' they'd always been.

It didn't hurt when it ended. When she first started daydreaming about how their life would be together, she could imagine very clearly how heartbroken she'd be if they ever went their separate ways. She couldn't ever imagine not being in love with Will. But here she was almost five years after they started dating, feeling almost as if a weight had been lifted. She thought she'd be terrified of being alone. But she wasn't scared. She had a feeling that there was something out there waiting for her, a purpose waiting to be taken up. All she had to do was be patient.

And if there was anything she could rely on, it was her patient nature.

oooooouooo*oooooozooo*oooooorooo

(Hiding face behind hands and peeking through fingers) Well? How'd I do? Was it rushed, or not enough detail to any particular aspect you think should have been? Was it confusing? I tried dividing up all the different memories, but it didn't look right to me. It's part of the reason why I divided the story into two chapters. I've always pictured when I think of Layla and Warren as a couple, that it would take time. I think that Layla and Will are good together and I like that they ended up together in the movie. But then there's Warren, hastily patched up with the "Ice girl" to make it all happy that their powers cancel each other out. Well, that's all nice and dandy I suppose, but I read way too much into...pretty much everything and that wasn't good enough for me. And then I started reading Layla/Warren fanfiction and now I'm totally hooked to the ship. Back to my point: after all the time Layla spent pining after Will, I seriously doubt she'd be the type to just drop him like a hot potato less than a year later. They've been best friends since childhood, it would take time for a romantic spike such as theirs to come back down to friendship levels. Anyway, this has gone on for way too long. Be posting the second half soon!