A/N: First off I'd like to thank those who reviewed: ephona, SomethingCorporate (they rule, by the way), sweetypie15, Roses.Are.Black, and diosa de noche. Your comments are greatly appreciated! Most of this chapter came about while I was daydreaming during SATs (I don't recommend doing this. Even though it is a boring waste of five hours. Last time I took the test I got a 1600 out of 2400 and that's pretty good despite the daydreaming. Hopefully I do better this time. Or I'll have to spend another Saturday in December taking the test...for five hours). I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, as stated in first chapter. Melissa and Renee are my own, though.
Chapter Two: A Rather Contrary Girl
"Huh?"
I sighed heavily. "You think I'm a snob because my dad's The Commander, don't you? You probably think I get everything I want and that I'm a little daddy's girl, don't you?" I asked frantically. I can't help it. I hate when people don't like me because of who my father is.
"Uh...no." Warren said, confused. He was still looking at me weird.
"No? You don't think I'm a snob?" I asked with wide eyes.
"No, I don't think you're a snob..." Warren said. He was still looking at me weird.
"Oh, well, that's a relief. You have no idea how many people treat me weird because they think I'm snobby." I laughed in relief. But if he doesn't hate me because I'm a snob, why does he hate me?
Warren looked at me incredulously. Does he have a staring problem or something? Really, what's up with that? I tried to ignore it, but I'm not good at things like that.
I sighed heavily again and asked, "Do I have something on my face?"
"Huh? Oh, no. I was just thinking that it was funny that you were so afraid that I didn't like you because you're a snob. It caught me off guard."
"Yeah, I do that to a lot of people." I said as I tried to piece together two...things. I think I'm never going to get the hang of this.
"The reason I don't like you is because your father put my father in jail." He spurt out.
Wow. That's a new one by me. But in actuality, it's kind of believable. My father can be kind of...righteous. To the point of it being corny. And annoying, too. He can be a bit of a glory-hog, too. I mean, it's always The Commander that saves the day. If I was Warren, I'd hate me and my whole family too. But the thought that his grudge with my father affected me just didn't rub me the right way. I mean, it's hardly fair for him to hate me because of my dad.
"Who was your father?" I asked quietly. My dad loves telling stories of the villians he brought down. Another thing that I don't like about my father.
I thought he wasn't going to dignify me with a response when he mumbled, "...Barron Battle..." under his breath.
Barron Battle? For the life of me I cannot remember who he was...after awhile I just stopped listening whenever my father was telling us his victory stories.
"And which one was he?" I asked meekly.
"Surely you know who Barron Battle is? He's only your father's greatest adversary." he snorted. The sarcasm in his voice was positively dripping.
"Actually, if my memory serves me correctly, it was Royal Pain that was his greatest adversary. And trust me, my father has probably told me about your father. After awhile I just stopped listening." I said quietly.
"You stopped listening?" he asked incredulously.
"Well...yeah. Sometimes I hate his stories. They're all about the glory of capturing the villain. And that was okay when I was a little girl, but now it just seems as if he's showing off. Even though I don't want to be a hero, I could tell you that that's not what being a hero is about. It's about helping people selflessly." I said as I snapped the final piece into place.
"Ah, finished?" Medulla came over to our table, took the gun, and shot it at the skeleton at the far side of the wall. The torso shrunk but the arms, legs, and head remained the same size.
"Warren Peace and Melissa Stronghold...C-...a few parts are out of place and while the mechanism worked, it did not work to the entire desired effect. A little more work and a little less chit-chat would go a long way." he said, handing the shrink ray over to Warren and walked over to another table. For a minute, neither of us talked. The silence was nearly unbearable. I just couldn't take it.
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on they right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away they coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." I said, breaking the silence.
"What?" he asked, looking up.
"Sorry, what that means is..." I started, but he interrupted me.
"No, I understand what you said, but what is that from, the Bible or something?" he asked. I was surprised. Nobody understands what I'm saying when I quote scripture. How is it that he could? I always have to translate it for everyone else.
"Actually, yes. It's from the Gospel of Matthew...chapter 5, verses 38-42 if I remember correctly." I hadn't meant to quote the bible. It just popped into my mind.
"What, are you one of those Jesus freaks?" he asked, snorting.
I giggled. How far from the truth he was! I love the Bible, even though I'm pagan. I think it is a beautiful piece of literature and I think that everyone regardless of religion should read it. Jesus was a great man even though I don't believe in Christianity. He gave some pretty good advice and I'm sure he did amazing things. My grandmother told me I was quite a contrary girl. I suppose that's true, but it makes life interesting.
"Actually, I'm Wiccan." He again looked at me as if I had sprouted two extra heads. I explained my reasoning to him. He looked as if he didn't quite understand me in general. We picked up our stuff and headed for the door.
"And what does the Gospel of Matthew have to do with me?" he asked sarcastically, empasizing the "Gospel of Matthew" as if it wasn't relevant to him. I was about to explain it but the bell rang and we picked up our stuff and headed for the door. It seemed like the conversation was over now, forgotten. But I didn't want it to be...he didn't get the point of why I recitied that particular peice of scripture, because I have yet to explain it to him. I swear, the one time I don't want the bell to ring, it does...why?
"Hey, Warren." I called out to him. He turned to face me.
"Remember the Gospel. Basically, it's uncool to hold a grudge, especially against someone who's only related to the object of your vengeance. Trust me, you're not the only one that dislikes my father. I apologize for him if he wronged you." I said as I walked past him, calling out Layla's name as I saw her in the hallway on the way to lunch. I'll just hope I got through to him, but I'm not going to really stress over it.
"So, how's it going, Lyssa?" Layla asked me as we waited in the vegetarian line for lunch.
"It sucks. I don't want to be here at all. You?" The whole ordeal with Warren made me temporarily forget that I'm not at Arthur Bently anymore.
"I'm not all that thrilled with it either, but I guess we'll get used to it." Layla smiled at me and we walked over to where the rest of the gang was sitting. We all started eating and chatting, but where was Will?
I turned around and started looking around the cafeteria for him. When I found him my heart nearly froze: he looked to be in a staring contest with none other than Warren Peace. Am I the only one thinking that that's not good? I was about to get up and interrupt them, but Warren just brushed my brother off and went to take a seat at a table by himself.
I sighed in relief. That could have ended up in a disaster. Warren looked really confrontational with Will; even more so than with me. Why is that? At least I had powers where if Warren were to attack me I'd be able to hold my own...poor Will had no powers even though pops put all his faith in him. How is Will going to break it to dad that he didn't make hero status? My heart breaks for him. Will managed a shaky smile as he came and sat at our table.
"Will, how are you doing?" I asked sympathetically.
"I guess it's going fine, sis, but I don't know...I'm stressing about what to tell dad." He was worried. It was natural. What I wouldn't give to switch places with Will. I know that father places all his faith in him, yet he has no powers. It also helps that Will definitely has the drive to carry on father's legacy; me, I just want to do art...I don't think I'd give a damn if I had no powers.
I was shook out of my reverie by a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, babe, what are you doing sitting here with the Stronghold Failure and his little sidekick buddies? Why don't you come and sit with me?" the voice of Lash breathed seductively in my ear. I cringed inwardly. Okay, I'll be the first to admit it: the guy is fucking hot. Bold, underline, and italics, fucking hot. But that's not the point. No one calls me babe, and no one disses my brother or my friends.
I turned to him with a fake smile and whispered in his ear in a seductive, saccharine-sweet voice, "I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a plastic spork, asshole." Okay, the plastic spork thing was a bit immature, but it's true: the guy's an asshole.
Lash and Speed laughed at my rejection. "I love it when they play hard to get. Why don't you rest on it? You can come to my table anytime, babe. I'm sure hanging out with these losers will eventually get boring." Lash laughed cockily as he sauntered away with Speed in tow. Gag me with a spoon! I glared at his retreating figure and flipped him off. Idiot. Why do guys like that think that when you say no in a manner as I just did, they automatically think that you're playing hard to get? Goddess, get over yourself.
"Wow." Zach said, amazed for some reason.
"What?" I snapped. I didn't mean to; Zach can be dorky, but he's the sweetest guy ever, but I am just not in the mood right now.
"A senior talked to you. A senior hero."
"Well that's not surprising since she was made a hero," Magenta replied.
"My question is what does he have against sidekicks?" Layla asked.
"He has a problem with sidekicks because he's a self-absorbed asshole, and all I can say is that if he's going to be the new hope for the world next year after he graduates, just shoot me now because I don't want to be here when it all crumbles." Okay, so that was a tad dramatic; I don't give a flying duck because I'm just so pissed off right now.
It's only the first half of the first day of school, and already I'm in a foul mood. This does not bode well.
A/N: I hope you liked! Oh, and the reading was taken from the King James Bible...so here's a translation if it's hard to understand:
"You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. And if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, give him your coat as well. And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him."
Until next time! Please review!
