** Chapter 3 **

I doodled absentmindly on my board as Mr. Firelight, my mad science teacher with a love for explosions, drawled on about a chemical mixture that would cause someone to lose their latest memory and how useful it is if a citizen sees something they're not supposed to. Or something along those lines. Sadly, neither Josie nor Baron had this class with me so I was all by my lonesome self.

I glanced up as I heard annoying, high pitched giggles. Blonde bimbo Stephanie Richards was sitting at the table in front of me giggling at something that Steve had just whispered to her. She thinks she's so cool because she's the daughter of Fantastic Four's Reed and Sue Richards, getting her stretch abilities from her father. Sadly, she lacked the brains both her parents had and was a complete idiot. And I do mean complete idiot. One time she told me she wanted a brown cow for a pet. I asked her why. She said so that she would have her own supply of chocolate milk…

She was serious.

"Stevie!" Steph giggled as she slapped his arms playfully. For goodness sakes! I don't mind flirting, but this is just ridiculous!

"Miss. Richards, since you obviously aren't listening to the lesson, you must already know it. How about you come up here and show the class how it's made?" Mr. Firelight ordered as he glared at the now shocked blonde. I hid my smirk.

"But I don't know how," she huffed as she crossed her arms.

"Perhaps you should have thought of that before deciding to ignore the lesson," he reprimanded her.

"It was my fault, Mr. Firelight," Steve said, ever the hero, defending Steph.

"Very well. Just don't let it happen again," he said, begrudgingly letting them off the hook. He turned back to the chemicals on the front table as he started continuing with the lesson. Of course. If it has to do with Steve, then it's perfectly fine. I swear he could get away with murder. Not literally. Well, I hope not…

The bell rang signaling the end of the period and time to go to my favorite class. Save the Citizen. No, seriously though. It's my favorite class. I love watching others use their powers and discovering how horrible or awesome their powers are. There's a big difference between having a cool power and a useful power. Not to mention, that the whole school had it for the last hour of the day. It was the one class that all of the superheros and sidekicks had together.

I picked up my things and got up, slowly making my way towards the door behind everyone else as students squeezed through the door into the crowded hallways.

"Caroline. Could you please stay after for a few minutes?" Mr. Firelight called behind me. I mentally groaned as I stopped. Other students glanced back surprised and immediately started whispering about what I might have done as they left. I sighed and turned around and walked back to Mr. Firelight as he sat on the edge of his desk.

I looked at him expectantly, waiting to find out what he wanted from me. He waited another moment to make sure that all of the other students had left the room.

"Now, Carlie," he started as he folded his hands together on his lap. "I'm sorry about singling you out at the end there, but I'm concerned about how you're going to do in my class. Last year, you didn't do that well and that was a fairly easy class. This year is going to be harder. That means you need to actually pay attention in class."

I felt a blush spread through my face at being caught. Oops. So he had seen me ignoring him in favor of doodling apparently. He nodded as if to affirm this.

"I think it would be best if you got a tutor," he said carefully, watching my reaction.

Surprise swept through me as my icy blue eyes went wide. A tutor? Really? I mean, yeah, I got mostly C's (Okay so they might have been D's) in science last year, but I hate science. It just doesn't make sense. I do good in all of my other classes. I've never needed a tutor before…

"Anyways, I want you to think about it. I know it's only the beginning of the year, so this is more of a heads up than anything. If you do bad, then we'll have to work something out. Whether you stay after and I give you private tutor sessions, or I have a few students who would be able to help you out. It's up to you," Mr. Firelight finished up as he smiled at me. "Well, go on then. Don't want to miss Save the Citizen."

'Thanks, Mr. F. I'll think about it,' I held my sign up for him. He nodded at me and I left the classroom.

I was distracted as I walked to my locker and missed all the stares and whispers as I dumped everything into my locker except for my board and the attached marker. I made my way towards the girl's locker room as I considered what Mr. Firelight had said. I mean I guess it would be a good idea to have a tutor. I really suck at science. But I don't really want Mr. Firelight to be the one who would tutor me. He's a great teacher and one of the few teachers who will listen to what you have to say. I just doubt I'll actually listen to him teaching me a second time when I don't even bother the first time. Maybe a student tutor would be a good idea…

I shrugged my thoughts away for another time and went into the noisy locker room as girls laughed and gossiped while they changed.

I noticed absentmindly that as I walked in the loudness of the locker room went down from 10 to about a 2. Slowly, the noise built back up as whispers ensued the room.

"Did you hear-"

"She totally sent him into a trance-"

"Bended Boomer to her will-"

"Didn't even know what he was doing-"

"It was a freshmen-"

"No, a sidekick-"

"Maybe, she's doing him-"

I was easily able to get to my locker from the path that was created for me and opened my locker. I pulled off my shirt and pants as I changed into shorts and a school t-shirt alongside the other girls who were changing. Some girls that were already changed stuck around to gossip with their friends who weren't done yet.

I brushed back my long black locks to put it into a ponytail, but frowned when I realized that I was out of hairbands. I grabbed my board and walked over to the girls who were looking in the mirrors above the sink doing their hair. I quickly jotted a message down on my board and tapped one of the girl's shoulders.

She stopped what she was doing as she turned around. Her eyes got wide when she saw who it was that had tapped her shoulder.

I held up my board and smiled gently at her, 'Do you have a hairband I could use? I'm all out.'

"Oh, totally! It's no problem," she smiled at me, relieved, and pulled an extra hairband off of her wrist and handed it to me. I smiled my thanks at her as she scooted over so that I could do my hair. Immediately the girls near her starting whispering excitedly to her, asking what I had wanted and why I had talked to her. I brushed back my hair again and tied it into a high ponytail.

I made my way out of the locker room, board swinging at my side, ignoring the whispering girls behind me. A lot them probably think I'm trying to act 'cool' not talking with them or that I think I'm too good for them. Really, it's just annoying to hear people constantly talking about you. Would you want to hang out with someone that you just heard whispering about you? Yeah, great friendship material right there. It usually isn't this bad, but my protecting that freshman, Jon, from Boomer really stirred up the gossip mill apparently.

I searched the stands in the gym for my friends and a smile spread across my face as I spotted Josie. She had stood up as soon as she saw me enter the gym and was waving her arms around like a mad woman. I made my way up the steps and to the area where she and Baron were sitting.

'You guys get over your little argument from earlier?' I asked, holding up my board as I sat down next to Baron and Josie moved to sit on my other side.

"Yeah, it was no biggie," Josie waved her hand as if the issue was not even worth mentioning. Yeah. Sure. It's not like she stormed off in angry huff not wanting to even talk to me about it. Oh wait.

'Uh huh,' I commented unbelieving.

"Seriously, Carls. It's fine now," Baron shrugged uncaring. I rose an eyebrow at him as I pursed my lips, looking between the two of them. Considering that they were both waiting here for me and not trying to kill each other… yeah. They're good.

"You however," Josie poked me as she stared at me demandingly, "haven't been behaving so well. What's with all the gossip I've been hearing about you beating Boomer's ass without lifting a hand to save a little sidekick?"

"Josie," Baron rolled his eyes at her. "I told you already, it's just a rumor. Right, Carlie?"

I bit my lip as I looked down into my lap, feeling a light blush spread across my cheeks as both of their gazes widened in shock. I didn't even have to answer them. They already knew now. Yeah, that's a side effect of people having to use only your expressions for answers half the time. They always know what I'm thinking.

"Oh my gawd!" Josie squealed. "This is sooo major! I can't believe it! Carlie, you are that little twerp's savior!"

"What happened?" Baron demanded, looking concerned and angry as his fists clenched. "Did Boomer hurt you? I'll kill him!"

"Oh shut up, Baron! She's fine! Tell us everything!" Josie said excited as she stared at me, waiting for a word by word replay of what happened. When Josie says everything, she means everything. Luckily, I get let off the hook with the main idea of what happened since otherwise my hand cramps up from writing so much and then I won't be able to actually talk with her for a little while.

'Well, first I went to my locker where I was getting my stuff out for Mad Science. Right when I was about to shut it, it was slammed close. My first thoughts were angry, thinking that it was some stupid jock,' I started out as I quickly wrote down what had happened and gave them a moment to read the board. Josie's eyes widened in excitement as she read my board, but Baron's narrowed behind his thick glasses in anger. 'I was still angry even when I saw it was a puny freshmen that was shaking like he had jelly for legs. He's obviously a sidekick was my first thoughts. Then I got confused when he suddenly stuttered out for me to help him.'

I shook out my hand as I let them read the next passage on my board. I cleared it off and continued once again, 'Then I heard someone behind me. I turned around and Boomer was there demanding that I give him his freshmen to beat up for the day. I felt bad for thinking meanly of the bullied freshmen and decided that I couldn't let Boomer beat him up. So I whispered as softly as I could into Boomer's ear to apologize to the sidekick, me, and then go to class. And he did obviously.'

I sighed in relief as I finished. I bent my fingers and rubbed my tired hand as I let them read the last part that was on my board. Josie looked up at me her brown eyes impossibly wide with excitement. Baron looked… upset. And angry. Very angry.

"Eeep! What happened after that?" Josie said staring at me, knowing there was more. She always knows. I swear she's meant to be a mom someday. She just knows. Like everything.

I doubt that'll happen though.

Not that a guy wouldn't marry her, just that she's got a little too much energy. Right now at least. Hopefully she'll calm down as she gets older. Hopefully.

Her gaze narrowed as my hand didn't move to tell her anything else. I gulped and a smile spread across her face, knowing she had won.

I blew at my bangs exasperated, but continued nonetheless, knowing she would pester me until I told her every detail. 'Then I talked to the sidekick for a moment and he said his name was Jonathan Boy. And he said thanks. Nervous little guy though.'

"Awwww," Josie cooed. "That's so adorable! Oh, I know! Point him out for me! I want to see him!"

"Who cares!" Baron said angrily. "What if Boomer had gotten angry and decided to hurt Carlie? What if he had covered her mouth and chucked her into the lockers before she could do anything? What if-"

"Oh, don't get your panties in a twist," Josie rolled her eyes as she flicked her lowset, brown ponytail over her shoulder.

I bit my lip for a moment as I looked at Baron's angry face, but the worried brown eyes that hid behind his clunky glasses. I tore my eyes away and looked around the gym for Jonathan, trying to find where he was sitting. I finally spotted a group of sidekicks all talking excitedly around a red faced Jonathan. I felt a smile spread across my face as I noticed, amused, that Jonathan had been staring at me. His face got even redder when our gazes connected and he ducked his gaze to his feet, embarrassed while his friends continued trying to get more details out of him most likely. I pointed towards him and Josie immediately pinned him with her gaze as a giant smile spread across her face.

"Look at that little guy! Wow, he would have totally got pummeled if you hadn't helped the little guy out, Carlie," Josie commented as she stared at him with a critical gaze. "You know, he's already a good bit taller than both you and me. If he had a new wardrobe, new haircut, and got rid of those clunker glasses, he could be a looker. No offense, Baron."

"Whatever," he said sourly. I laughed at my friends' antics. They were always an amusing duo. I looked over at Jon, thinking about what Josie had said.

He was looking at me again, but this time he didn't duck down. I smiled at him. He slowly smiled back, causing my smile to grow wider.

Yeah. He could be.

AN: Bum bum bum! Might there be some romance on the horizon? Yes, no, maybe so. I honestly have no clue! Lol Thanks for everyone who's reading and has reviewed so far. :P It reeeeaaalllyy helps me when I hear your thoughts about what you think about the story or how you think I could make it better! Again, let me know if there is any character from the movie you really want me to add into the story! REVIEW! :D