Disclaimer: I don't own Sky High because if I did you'd be watching this instead of reading it, and it would feature Cody Linley (Mullet Fingers in "Hoot") as Darryl and Vanessa Anne Hudgens (Gabriella from "High School Musical") as Lori ('cause she's a super cutie).

Girl Trouble

(continued)

Willamena sat across the table from Warren, trying not to notice him but it was virtually impossible. Away from school, and even not around Will (who Willamena secretly was) Warren acted like a totally different boy…he was polite, well-mannered (as he proved by holding the door for Willamena and holding her chair out for her) and seemed to hang on every word Willamena said, watching with narrowed eyes of intense interest.

Had he been like this with Layla that first time at the Paper Lantern? No wonder he was the one she named as her date for homecoming without much hesitation. He would stand out in ANY girl's mind, and not just for his looks.

"You know what I think?" said Warren.

"What?"

"I think we should order before they decide to put us to work busing tables."

Willamena then noticed that they had been sitting in the pizza place nearly an hour as she had rambled on about little things (mostly stuff he knew from his REAL girl cousin who he was pretending to be).

"I'm sorry," she said, "you must think I'm a babbling little airhead."

"No," Warren smiled again, "I've enjoyed listening to you. It's given me a lot of insight into Stronghold…I mean your cousin Will."

What? Had Warren somehow discovered who Willamena really was?

"I guess you'll want a salad and a diet soda?"

"Heck no," said Willamena, "I'm starving. Let's get a large with EVERYTHING, including extra…no, DOUBLE extra cheese."

"Hmm," said Warren, "that's the same way Stronghold…I mean Will likes it."

"Uh…must run in the family," said Willamena, "we've got to fuel up a lot because super strength isn't easy to maintain…fast metabolism."

"Me too," said Warren, "my mom says I eat like a wildfire because of…you know."

"Hey War," came a voice from behind Willamena. She turned just as a tall, good-looking boy with wavy blonde hair and dressed in a tank top and jeans ambled up to their table. The boy seemed familiar somehow, but Willamena couldn't put her finger on it.

"Hey Darryl," said Warren as the two boys touched knuckles, "what's up?"

"I was just cruising around," he glanced his eyes up, "if you know what I mean, and I saw you and your new friend here. I thought I'd drop down and say "hi"."

This was puzzling. This boy seemed familiar, but he and Warren were very friendly to each other, and as far as Willamena knew Warren didn't have any other friends around school except for the gang. Could he be a "normal" person who was a friend of Warren's who didn't know his past or his secret?

"Darryl and I go to school together," said Warren, "Willamena here is Stronghold's cousin…she goes to the western division of Sky High."

"A California girl?" said Darryl, a white smile lighting up his already good looks, "funny, I would expect a blond beach babe with a nice…"

"Excuse Darryl," said Warren, "he's lost a few brain cells from oxygen deprivation when he flies too high."

"He flies?" This was a better clue, but Willamena was still in the dark about this boy.

"Yeah,' grinned Darryl, "wanna check out my wingspan?"

With that Darryl struck a "most muscular" body building pose, making his upper body's every muscle stand out in sharp relief so he looked as cut as an anatomy chart. Willamena's natural female instinct was one of impression as Darryl was more muscular than she would have first thought. There was a strange popping sound and with a muffled WHUMP a huge pair of snow white wings popped out of Darryl's back. That was when Willamena finally recognized him as a sophomore from Sky High she had seen in the halls occasionally showing off his wings for the girls or flying through the buildings between classes.

Willamena then realized that Darryl had just "outed" himself to an entire restaurant full of citizens. Any second people would either start panicking or mob him about him being a super hero, but strangely enough nothing happened except a couple of little kids pointed and "oooo"ed to their parents' bemusement.

"This is a "safe zone", Warren said as if he read her mind, "nobody comes here but heroes and their families. It gives them a place to just be themselves without worrying about nosey reporters or anti-super bigots."

"Yeah, lighten up cutie," smiled Darryl, "I'd think a California girl would be more laid back."

Was Darryl FLIRTING with her? Sure he was cute in a Jesse McCartney way, but there was something about him that was a little off-putting…he just came across as a show-off the way he flaunted his wings.

"Anyway," said Warren, "I'm just showing her around until Stronghold gets back with his parents and then we're going to the party afterwards."

The party? Willamena felt her heart skip a beat. Did Warren just ask her to the party at Layla's tonight? But she had to get back to normal before her parents got home…and then there was Lori as well. Things were getting out of control FAST.


"Yeah, I smell something REALLY strange here," said Magenta in her guinea pig form as she sniffed around Layla's garden. "It's like…I don't know…cinnamon or something with a kick to it."

"That means fairies," said Layla, "I knew it. Poor little things, this is probably the only haven they have in the whole city since they started in on whittling down Maxville Park. Darn that Mayor Lambert and his budget cuts."

"Not to mention his niece stealing your boyfriend," teased Magenta as she returned to her human form.

"She is NOT," said Layla, "she and Will are FRIENDS. And stop trying to change the subject. We need to catch this fairy QUICK, and that won't be easy."

"Okay Layla Williams, Fairy Hunter," said Magenta, noting Layla was the one wanting to change the subject, "what do we do? How do you know it's even here?"

"Well, fairies like to stick around and admire their handiwork…they're kind of vain that way. All we have to do is…"

"Follow Willamena and Warren as THAT is the result of its handiwork?"

"Oops."

"Yeah, "oops"," said Magenta, trying to actually keep from laughing at the whole ridiculous situation, "I think we better go find Will and…"

"Are you looking for Will too?" said a voice behind them.

Both Layla and magenta stopped in their tracks and turned to find Lori standing there.

"Hi Layla," she smiled, "have you seen Will today?"


"Party, eh?" said Darryl as he grabbed a chair and sat down without being invited, "it's been a while since I heard of old War here going to a party, not since…"

"Watch it, Chicken Boy," said Warren in a tone that would have weakened Will's bladder if it had been aimed at him.

"What,' said Darryl as he totally ignored Warren's warning with a grin, "I was just going to tell her about that little blast where you and Noel…"

"Strike two," growled Warren, his eyes actually turning red.

"Okay, okay," said Darryl, relenting. "It wasn't anything bad, just the two of them tried to sneak off and kiss and they created a cloud of steam that told EVERYONE what they were doing."

Willamena couldn't help but smile as Warren turned red in the face from embarrassment instead of anger. So Warren and Noel Summers…aka "Freeze Girl" had been an item before they were dancing together at Homecoming.

"We're just friends," Warren was quick to say as he glared murder at Darryl, who just continued to smile.

"That's true," said Darryl, "War here used to run with us when we first came to Sky High; there was me, Noel, Ira, Jade, Kelsey and Jeff, all freshmen last year. Things were pretty cool until…"

"Until what?"

"Chicken Boy, she doesn't want to hear about this," said Warren.

"Yes, I do."

"Well, you probably know all about what happened at Homecoming with Royal Pain and her gang…well, last year's senior class was just as bad…worse in some ways. They were a real bunch of jerks, basically ALL of them like Lash and Speed, even the girls. One day one of them decided he was going to show he was badder than the son of Barron Battle and tried to pick a fight with War here. Not just bullying, I mean a REAL fight."

"What happened?"

"Nothing major," said Warren, his eyes hidden behind his hair, which was always a bad sign.

"War beat him. BADLY. The kid's parents made a big stink about it, threatened to sue the school for allowing the son of a super villain in. Guess they forgot it was THEIR kid who started the whole thing,"

"So what happened?"

"I'm not sure exactly," said Darryl, suddenly getting serious, "all I know is when things were settled War got held back a year and a lot of us weren't allowed to associate with him anymore. It sucks that he got a bad rep over something that wasn't his fault."

So there was a major revelation about Warren; he was made an outcast and an object of fear because he defended himself against a bully, and his dad's history did the rest. Will was prouder than ever that he was Warren's friend now.

"But you're still speaking to him," said Willamena.

"I may have to "shun" him at school," said Darryl, "but War and me have been friends since grade school, even before…well, I won't say it. We're friends, and that's it."

Willamena liked what she was hearing, that Warren did have friends before he had come along, and they were just forced to hide it. Maybe a few more things like helping defeat Royal Pain would undo all the damage and everyone would realize what a good guy Warren was. Still, Will felt a little jealous as he thought of himself as Warren's best friend, even more than Darryl.


"Uh, hi Lori," said Layla, on the verge of panicking, "no, we haven't seen Will all morning, have we Magenta?"

"Nope," Magenta smiled, "I can honestly say I have not seen a BOY named Will all day."

Layla shot Magenta a "this is NOT helping" look, and turned back to Lori.

"So…uh…you've got another date with Will…I mean you're taking Will…I MEAN you and Will are going out tonight, right?"

"That's what I wanted to talk to him about," said Lori, "I'm going to have to cancel tonight…I haven't been feeling very good all day and don't feel like being far away from home. I hope he'll understand."

"Sure," said Magenta, "Will's a good sport. Knowing him, he may insist on you lying down and he'll bring you soup and ice cream and maybe read to you too. He's just that sweet a guy."

"Lori," said Layla, as she looked daggers at her smirking friend, "this is Magenta, she's a friend of mine from Sky…school. My friend from school. Magenta, this is…"

"The girl Will's always talking about," said Magenta with a mischievous grin, making Lori blush and Layla give her a glare to match any Warren could do.

"Anyway," said Layla, "if I see Will I'll tell him, but I'm sure he'd want to see you anyway."

"Besides," said Magenta, "he can bring you to the party here tonight. It's right next to your house and you can meet the rest of the gang."

Layla had never wanted to strangle anyone so bad in her life.

"That's very nice of you," said Lori, "but I couldn't impose."

"Impose? YOU?" Magenta threw her arm around Lori's shoulder like she had known her all her life. "We wouldn't dream of having a party without you. Any friend of Will's is a friend of ours…right Layla?"

"Yeah…right," said Layla as all thoughts of catching the fairy were replaced by ways of killing Magenta as painfully as possible. Of course she wouldn't REALLY do such a thing, but she could always dream.


"If you boys will excuse me," said Willamena as she stood up, "I have to hit the…I mean powder my nose." With that she left, hoping to give Warren a little time with his friend while Will sorted out what all he had learned.

"What's with you," growled Warren once Willamena was out of sight, "I didn't want ANYTHING about last year getting around to Stronghold."

"First," said Darryl, "it's not Stronghold, it's his cousin. Second, I don't know why you want it covered up. You were totally in the right, and you should still…you know."

"Still what?"

"Be with US."

"Is that what this is about? Geez Darryl, I don't see the others coming around and whining about it."

"I'm not whining dude," said Darryl, "I just think it sucks. We were going to be the "Team Supreme" all through school, and when we graduated we were going to be the new super team for Maxville. Or don't you remember our code names we picked out?"

Warren couldn't help but smile as he remembered. It had only been a year ago, but it felt like forever. Even though Barron Battle had been captured he still cast a long shadow, and Warren had felt like an outcast except for Darryl, who stuck beside him. They soon met the others, and talk of forming a team didn't take long, especially with the "opposites attract" affect going on between him and Noel. Darryl was going to be Avian, Jade was Poltergeist due to her telekinetic powers, Kelsey would be Monstra as she could change into a big blue creature, Jeff would be Occulon with his eyebeams, Ira's telepathy got him the name Brainscan, Noel was still called "Freeze Girl", and then there was Warren's title.

"Flamethrower," Warren smiled, the first time he had spoken the word in a long time.

"I hope I'm really not messing up your date," Darryl sighed, "it's just that I don't get to see you at all anymore. You're working nearly all the time we're not in school, and when we are we can't hang because of our stupid parents…or you're always with Stronghold and his sidekicks."

"Don't knock them," said Warren, "they've proven they're cool."

"Sorry," said Darryl, "I just…I'm sorry dude. I'll bail and let you make time with the babe."

"Look," said Warren, "why don't you come back to Layla's with me and Willamena? Once you hang with them you'll see what I mean."

"Yeah," said Darryl is a grin, "if they can put up with YOU, then they must be pretty cool…or pretty stupid."


"Magenta," Layla whispered to her friend as they entered the house. Lori had insisted on helping to set up the party even though she didn't feel very good. "Why did you invite her? We can't look for the fairy with HER around."

"Hey," said Magenta, "we have no idea where she is if she followed Warren and you know who, so what could we do? Besides, in case you forgot we've still got a party going on here in a little while, and things will get busy enough if the others show up and nothing's ready. Believe me, you DON'T want to hear Zach whining if the food's not ready yet."

"But why invite Lori?"

"Because YOU didn't. Come on Layla, she's your neighbor even if she isn't a super like us. This is a chance for you to get to know her as someone other than another girl Will likes. He says she doesn't seem to have any friends, so why don't we fix that problem?"

Layla hated to admit it, but Magenta was right. Even after Lori had been in the neighborhood for a few weeks Layla didn't know anything about her, and was ashamed that she hadn't wanted to either.

"You're right," she said, "let's get started, and hopefully the fairy will show up and we can catch her when Warren and…you know…come back."

After Willamena returned the pizza arrived and the three wolfed it down on the spot. Both Warren and Darryl were surprised at how quickly such a delicate looking little thing could pack away so much heavy food without even breathing heavily. At first Willamena felt very self-conscious about it, but Warren smiled and said he had no problem with a girl having a healthy appetite. Willamena felt like she was glowing from the compliment. She was really starting to look forward to going to the party with Warren, and maybe later…

Later? Party with Warren? AARRRGGGHHH! There it went again; these strange "girly" thoughts. He had to get turned back to normal BEFORE the party…BEFORE his parents got home…BEFORE Lori…

Oh no. LORI! They had a date in a little while…but there was no way he…

"Hey," said Warren with real concern in his features, "are you okay? You look upset abut something."

"Oh…uh…I just remembered…I need to get back home…I mean to Will's house…I need to…call home. MY HOME. I mean I have to get back to Will's place and call home to talk to my parents and let them know I'm okay."

"Oh, okay," said Warren, looking a little crestfallen. He had hoped to have a little more time with Willamena before he took her back and the rest of the gang at the party swarmed them.

"If you're in a hurry," said Darryl, "I could give you a lift." His wings unfolded and gently raised and lowered a couple of times. Doubtlessly a lot of girls would have loved to take him up on the offer, but Willamena wasn't one of them.

"Uh…no thanks," she said with a smile, "I don't fly very well…especially after just eating."

"I asked Darryl to come back with to the party," said Warren, "I hope you don't mind…or do you think Layla will?"

"I'm sure she'd be happy to have him come," said Willamena, "ANY friend of Warren's is welcome with us…them. Will and them."


As the trio approached Layla's house, they were greeted by the "dynamic duo" of Zach and Ethan, both carrying backpacks filled with cds for the monster boom box Zach was carrying.

"Yo dudes," said Zach, who then noticed the new girl as well, "and HELLO pretty lady. Name's Zach, like zap only with a "k", and what's your name?"

Willamena didn't know whether to laugh or shudder at the way the friend she'd had for years was acting. Was this what it was like for girls everywhere? Zach was acting like he didn't have a girlfriend, and wondered how Magenta would react knowing how he was acting.

"Her name's Willamena," said Magenta, who walked up and glared at Zach in a way that would make even Warren's dad take a step back. Zach sheepishly ducked his head to avoid the death glare, but he still felt it burning a hole into the top of his skull. He was definitely NOT cut out to be a player.

Magenta's glare quickly stopped when she saw the new comer with Warren and Willamena. Though not as tall as Zach he was still very good looking with wavy blonde hair and a big smile with killer dimples.

"Haven't I seen you around school?"

"Yeah, but you probably don't recognize me with my wings tucked up. Name's Darryl, I'm a friend of War here."

"Warren has a friend?" laughed Magenta. "I didn't know that kind of super power existed."

"Come on Magenta," said Ethan, "we're ALL Warren's friends here."

"That's Popsicle," said Warren to Darryl, "he takes things a little too literal at times."

"Come on over," Magenta said to everyone, though she was sure to take Darryl by the arm and usher him around to the backyard, "there's already another guest who's been a big help…"

Willamena's jaw dropped as she saw Lori sitting and laughing with Layla. For a moment she wondered if they were talking about her…him.

"Hi everyone," said Layla as she saw the approaching group, "this is Will's…this is MY friend Lori. You know Warren and Magenta, that's Zach, Ethan, Will's cousin Willamena and…"

"This is Darryl," said Warren, "he's a friend of mine."

Layla looked surprised, but didn't say anything.

"Uh Layla," said Willamena, "can I see you upstairs for a second?"

"Sure," said Layla, "Magenta, I'm leaving you in charge until I get back. Make sure nobody sets anything on fire…uh, you know what I mean."


"When did Lori get here?" said Willamena in a near panic after they had gotten to Layla's room.

"A bit after you left. She wanted to cancel your date for tonight, but Magenta and I thought she should come to the party instead. I'm glad she did, you were right…she's a really nice girl."

"I'm glad," said Willamena, "but in case you've forgotten I'm STILL not who I'm supposed to be. My parents are going to be home anytime, and now my girlfri…Lori is downstairs waiting for me too. What do we do?" Willamena sat on Layla's bed, her mind racing with all the thoughts of what had occurred today.

"I'm so sorry Layla," she finally whispered to her friend, "now I think I know what you go through all the time. Worrying about a hundred things, wondering about even more, and all the while guys like Warren can make you forget everything else. I understand why certain things are important to you while those same things may not seem important to me. I'm just a stupid guy, and I should think more of the feelings of those around me…especially yours."

Then it happened. Willamena felt a strange tingling all through her body, then there was another bright flash of light like before, but this time when it faded he was once again Will Stronghold. Will Stronghold stuffed into a very tight little blue dress.

"What the…?" was all he could gasp as the seams of the dress ripped out of the sides and then he squeaked as something else got VERY uncomfortable.

"Will," said Layla, "what's wrong?"

"I think I got my panties in a bunch…LITERALLY…" gasping for breath, he leaped for the bathroom door to get in and get some privacy as he needed to loosen up a bit.

Layla couldn't help but giggle, and then she heard another, higher pitched giggling. She turned and saw a tiny girl in a short green dress standing on her dresser, giggling as well. She could only gape as she realized what she was seeing.

"You…you're the fairy," she whispered.

"Good guess nature girl," said Tink as she flitted up in the air and came to hover in front of Layla.

"Why did you change Will back? I mean, I'm grateful, but why?"

"I didn't," said Tink, "you did. Actually he did."

"I don't understand," said Layla.

"Well," said Tink, "YOU wished that he would know what it was like to be a girl, so I turned him into one. Then, once he DID know what it was like to be a girl, the wish was fulfilled and he turned back to normal. Simple."

"Oh," said Layla, "I get it. It depended on how I worded it, right?"

"Yep," said Tink, "and you're lucky a fairy granted it. I don't even want to think what a genie would have done…like switched your minds or when he DID know what it was like he still would have stayed a girl. Genies are really mean that way."

"Thank you," said Layla, "I didn't mean to cause all this trouble for everyone."

"Are you kidding? I LOVED it. I haven't laughed this much in a LONG time."

The bathroom door opened a crack as Will stuck his head out.

"Layla," he said. "could you hand me my clothes? I'd like to get dressed and fly around to the front of the house so it looks like I just got here. I hope no one downstairs heard us."

"With that racket Zach's making with his boom box? I don't think they'd heard if you were fighting a tyrannosaurus rex up here."

After changing, Will flew out Layla's window and around to the other side of the house, where he landed and acted like he had just gotten there. He was surprised to see Darryl and Magenta were dancing while Zach sat forlornly watching and Ethan was talking with Lori. Warren was standing off to the side as usual, looking like he was waiting for someone. Will mentally kicked himself; Warren was waiting for Willamena. How was he going to explain her suddenly vanishing like that?

"Hi Will," called Layla as she came out of the house, getting everyone's attention. Lori came over and smiled to Will, making him momentarily forget his friend's plight, but only for a moment.

"Hi Lori," said Will, "could you give me a second with Warren? I won't be long."

"Sure," said Lori, I'll help Layla get the rest of the snacks ready. Did you know she's a total vegetarian? I think that's so cool."

Will smiled his acknowledgment, and then went over to Warren, who only nodded to him in greeting.

"Hey Warren," said Will, taking a deep breath as he braced himself, "waiting for Willamena?"

"Yeah," said Warren, trying to sound nonchalant but actually eager to spend some more time with her.

"Sorry dude," said Will, expecting a fireball at any second, "my parents and I just got back and my mom had to fly her home really quick. Something happened at home…HER home…in California…and she had to go."

Warren tried to hide his feelings, but Will could see the disappointment like a sign written on his face. He had probably instantly blamed himself for scaring her off somehow, or got the idea she didn't like him. Will had learned a long time ago that Warren had a bad self-image, and this was not the time to add to it.

"She did want me to give you a message," Will said, "she said she wanted you to know that she thinks you're a great guy and she likes you a lot. She just wishes she could have been able to stay."

That seemed to cheer Warren up, which was always a good thing. Will was also glad he could finally come out and tell Warren what he thought of him, even though he had to use the façade of his "cousin" to do it. This whole thing had been quite the experience, but he sure didn't want to have it again.

"Come on everybody," called Layla, "the veggie burgers are on."

"Great," said Will, "I'm starving!"

"You go on," said Warren, "I'm still stuffed from that pizza we had."

"Yeah," said Will, "it was good wasn't it? I…"

Will froze as the full implications of what was just said hit him. His eyes bugged out, and he thought for sure Warren was going to incinerate him on the spot.

All Warren did was stand there with his arms folded and actually smiling.

The End