A/N: Wow! Thanks for all the feedback, guys! You've all made me feel so much better about this idea. I'm inspired and on a roll!

Lucy: Amen! Nerds are DEFINITELY better than princes! And I'll try not to get writer's block, lol.

lady knight keladry: Heehee, I've always liked him too! Great to know I've scored a point or two in the creativity category! As for your question, yes...almost all these next few chapters will be flashbacks.

Claire Henry: The overload of Suspian makes me want to cry, too. And I'm flattered that you can't stop reviewing, teehee! Thanks for the positive comments and your thoughts on the movie. If you had an account, I'd PM you and talk more. :-)

Dana Skywalker: If you happen to show up in the TLC chatroom when I'm in there, be prepared for a bunch of hugtackles!!

Myr: Wow, thank you! I'm so happy you enjoyed this story! (winks and uses the actual flame to toast a marshmallow...) Psst...if you'd really like me to debate you, clear up your clouded understanding of my views and explain my "hypocrisy", get a real account so I can PM you and not waste space in my author's notes. (winks again)

I'll reply to the rest of you un-anonymous people when I can! Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy this next chapter; I'm amazed that this is getting so many reviews already! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside...


Chapter 2: Unwanted Attention

London, 1941

The smell of after-rain and exhaust fumes hung in the air, mingling with the brisk clamor of people hurrying and taxi cabs zipping past. The street was slightly damaged in places and unsmiling soldiers marched to and fro, making repairs and getting ready for the next possible bombing. Greasy puddles held colorless reflections of the tall gray buildings that loomed overhead, occasionally rippling whenever a drop of drizzle happened to fall from the cloudy sky.

Ordinary.

Drab, dull, gray and ordinary. The city around her somehow seemed determined to blot out any spark of magic that found its way in. Dreariness pressed at her, closed in on her, whispered to her...Be ordinary again, be ordinary...

Unlike her siblings, Susan had long ago given up trying to fight it. Narnia had made her extraordinary for a time, but now she was back in her own average world and there was nothing she could do but try to move on. This was home now, and it was no use pretending any different.

She took a moment to pick up a magazine that she wasn't interested in and flipped through it, moving over slightly so she wouldn't be in the way of the person next to her. She snuck a peek out of the corner of her eye and noticed with dismay that it was...a boy. A very geeky boy who looked far too interested in her for comfort.

She bit back a groan as he faced her and brightly said,

"You go to St. Finbar's."

Well, no doubt about his interest now. Susan cringed inwardly and forced a smile.

"That's right."

"I go to Hendon House. Across the road."

She didn't answer and stared at the magazine, hoping he would take the hint. But instead, he looked at her with more of that unnerving eagerness in his eyes.

"I've seen you," he commented, a tinge of sympathy in his voice. "Sitting by yourself."

"Yes, well...I prefer to be left alone," replied Susan, deftly dropping another hint.

"Me too!" he exclaimed, an oblivious smile on his face. (Susan tried not to roll her eyes.) "What's your name?"

She hesitated a moment. She'd had enough trouble fitting in at school. If word got out that he fancied her, what little reputation she had would be dashed. So she did the only thing she could do.

She turned and gave him a name.

"Phyllis."

"Phyllis," he repeated, his smile widening. He held out his hand. "My name is..."

"Susan!" Lucy ran up to Susan and tugged on her sleeve, panic in her face. "It's Peter! You'd better come quickly!"

Susan sighed (not knowing if it was in irritation or relief) and dashed across the street to the station with her sister, desperately hoping the boy hadn't heard her real name and feeling a slight twinge of guilt for lying to him.

--

Warren's hand fell to his side. He watched her go for a moment; then turned away with sagging shoulders.

What had he been thinking? Practically everyone – his classmates, his peers – had labeled him an outsider, a nobody. Why should Phyllis be any different? Why had he gotten his hopes up?

He couldn't deny that he slightly fancied her. She was beautiful and smart; anyone could see that. But it wasn't so much attraction as it was a longing to reach out. He'd been watching her for a while and noticed that she rarely smiled. She almost always sat by herself and it appeared she had no one to talk to or laugh with. And just minutes ago, when he'd seen her eyes...they seemed somewhat dull and sad, like a fire that used to be there had died away.

She was an outsider, too. And he'd hoped that somehow, they could be outsiders together.

But yet again, hopes were dashed...and he was alone.

Well no, not completely alone. Warren had friends. They were few (and usually much older than him), but true-hearted; and he was grateful for them.

"At any rate," he muttered to himself, "I'd rather be a nobody with a few good friends than a somebody with a lot of false ones."

The thought took the edge off his disappointment, and he shrugged away the rest. He'd get over it, as always; and he needn't worry about Phyllis anymore. She probably didn't want him around, anyway.

But she needs you, Warren.

He sighed. That stupid, nagging little voice in the back of his mind refused to go away. And he couldn't shake off the feeling that she did need him...or that she was going to need him. It was that feeling, that voice, that had made him come up to her in the first place.

Don't give up on her. She needs a friend.

But why him? She had hardly spoken to him; she didn't want to speak to him...

Go after her, Warren. Go.

He took off his glasses and polished them against his scarf, shaking his head incredulously. This was crazy.

But his train was due any minute. He'd have to go over there anyway.

Catch the train and go to her.

Feeling terribly awkward and not at all brave, he pushed his glasses up on his nose again, pulled himself together and crossed the street with suitcase in hand.

--

"Really, is it that hard to walk away?" The tussle was over, and Susan was annoyed.

"They bullied me first!" protested Peter. "I tried to walk away, but they wouldn't let me! And anyway, I shouldn't have to put up with..."

She gave him a reproving look. Peter sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

"You're right. I'm sorry Susan, it's just – hard. The hostility, the ridicule, the patronizing…I mean, don't you ever get tired of being treated like a kid?"

Edmund gave a humorless laugh. "Peter, we are kids."

"But we didn't used to be," said Peter, fists clenched in frustration. "We were…we were…"

"I know, Peter," said Susan gently. "We all know. But that's in the past now, and I think it's time to accept that we live here."

Peter came back to the bench and sat down with slumped shoulders.

"Boarding school. I can't think of anything more dreary at the moment."

"I'm…I'm a bit nervous about it," said Lucy in a small voice. Susan smiled, relieved that the conversation was turning to a different subject, and she squeezed her sister's hand.

"It's your first time going. I was nervous too."

"As was I," said Peter, also smiling. "You'll be great, Lu. Every bit as valiant and brave as you were in Narnia."

"And I'll be there whenever you need me," said Susan.

Lucy flashed them a grateful smile. "Thanks."

A moment passed, and Susan leaned back in her seat to let her eyes wander around. She glanced to her left…and her heart sank.

"Oh no." She caught sight of the boy she'd met earlier weaving his way through the crowd towards them. Towards her. She had to think fast.

"Quick," she hissed, grabbing Peter's arm and glancing desperately at the others. "Pretend to be talking to me."

"We are talking to you," said Edmund, giving her a perplexed look.

Susan glared. "You know what I mean…"

"Ow!" Lucy jumped up, a startled look in her eyes.

"Now then, don't overdo it Lu," said Susan in exasperation.

"But something pinched me!"

"Ow! I say!" exclaimed Edmund, abruptly standing to his feet. "That hurt!"

"What on earth...? Susan, let go! Where are you dragging me?"

"I'm not touching you, Peter," gasped Susan, struggling against some unseen force and trying not to panic. "Someone is pulling me!"

A strange haze clouded her mind and her vision went blurry.

"Quick!" she heard Edmund shout. "Everyone catch hands and keep together. This is Magic!"

She blindly grabbed for Peter and Lucy's hands, and the only thing she knew was the pinching and pulling and tugging, the power that was dragging her to nowhere. She was dimly aware of a train roaring past and a ringing in her ears…flashes of a foreign landscape…a white light growing brighter and brighter…Hope...


A/N: Yes, due to the whole nerdy kid vs. Caspian thing, this fic will be movie-verse with lotsa bookverse thrown in to "fix" the movieverse things I hate, lol. I hope no one minds...I almost feel like I'm betraying people... (bites lip) Stay tuned! More next week, hopefully!