Chapter 2.
It was a Monday, my least favorite day of the week. I always wondered…if indeed the day was named in honor of the moon, why we didn't get to sleep in. My argument didn't carry much weight with my father and so I went to school, coffee in hand, dreading Mr. Medulla's test in second hour. It was one more reason to hate the aforementioned day of the week, as we seemed to have some sort of quiz or test every week like clockwork on Monday. This time it was for my class "Kryptonite: Fact or Fiction" in which we studied several means by which super heroes and villains were defeated. I'd studied quite a bit, but still doubted my ability to get a good grade. Despite being labeled as Medulla's teacher's pet I had just as much trouble passing his class.
I entered the room, eyes glued to my study guide. Layla called me over to where she was sitting. I dropped my backpack by the seat and adjusted my scraggly blue jeans and orange sweater before I sat down. "So did you find a job?" she asked with a smile, green eyes sparkling, obviously she had studied as much as she cared for.
I steeled myself inwardly and forced my hands to release the notebook. I always had a hard time talking to Layla. I don't know if it was because she was so friendly or if I just had a hard time communicating with people in general. Either way, I tried to force myself to talk to her, if nothing else it would definitely teach me patience, "Yeah I got the job at the bookstore just a block down from where I talked to you guys on Sunday."
"That's great," she replied, "I'm sure you'll like working there. Do you know what your hours are yet?"
"No, the manager said he'd call me within the week, hopefully I won't be slammed but I'd like to have some money…" I was interrupted by the crackling of the intercom.
"Attention all teachers: All seniors are to be excused from second hour for a special meeting in the gymnasium. Again, all seniors are to be excused from classes second hour for a meeting in the gymnasium."
All of the last year students in the room immediately looked up at Mr. Medulla. He looked quite upset at not being able to give us our tests. From the look on his face I didn't know if he was going to cry or just throw something. I scooted farther to the side in case it was the latter. The big headed man finally spoke, "You heard her, all seniors are excused to the gymnasium," he paused apparently waiting for action, "Now!" he yelled nasally and we obediently scurried out.
The students from Mr. Medulla's class seemed to be the last ones to arrive in the gymnasium. There were only twenty one students in the senior class, one of the smallest on record. Though classes were generally smaller than public schools they usually had at least forty students. On the other hand, we had some of the most prestigious students to date in our class and we were all knew each other, for the most part. Since both Knight and I hadn't started until this year we were not as accustomed to everyone.
Our group was the largest and most varied amongst the cliques of the senior class. There were few groups that had sidekicks and heroes sitting side by side. We clustered together on the bleachers out of habit; I took a seat by Knight quietly, "What's going on?"
"I don't know, no one seems to know," he answered, pushing his hair back, "Mr. Boy seemed really flighty today though…"
The talk was silenced as Coach Boomer and Principal Powers entered, both with clipboards in hand. They watched us with discerning eyes, "Ok, listen up," Boomer began with a shout, "I want to lines, sidekicks here, heroes there," he pointed to his left and right, "GET MOVING!" he sonic-boomed much to our chagrin.
I gave Knight, Ethan, Maj and Zach a smile as they left us to line up with the rest of the sidekicks. Will and Layla headed up the hero line with Warren and me behind them. Somebody tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to see Frankenstein in black and white standing behind me. I half-started, but tried not to let it show, "Very funny Charlie," I said sarcastically, waiting for the shape shifter to resume his normal form. He didn't have time to before Coach Boomer was calling his name.
"Charlie Baker!" he strode over, calves quivering in their usual striped tube socks, "I don't believe you were given permission to use your powers!"
Frankenstein promptly morphed back into the teenager who smiled at Coach consolingly, "Sorry Boomer, it won't happen again."
"It better not," the gym teacher answered. According to Layla, Charlie had been a favorite of Boomer's since freshmen year. He had shown his power by morphing into a duplicate of the Coach at the original placement.
"Alright everyone, you've been called here for a momentous event," Principal Powers had a way of making everything sound dramatic, so I doubted the actual importance of this, "Today, you will be embarking on a wonderful journey of friendship…today you will receive your hero/sidekick assignments."
There were collective coughs, gasps and whispers. Coach Boomer stepped forward, wielding his clipboard like a football coach, "I will announce the assignments, once and once only," his voice took on a note of self-importance, "When I say your name, please find your partner and stand quietly together until all names have been announced. As you know there are an odd number of students so one group will have two heroes and a sidekick. Does everyone understand?" he waited half a second, "Good!" and with that the listing began.
Layla and Magenta were quickly paired off while Will ended up with Ethan. Next was Warren; Boomer promptly called Knight's name and the two stood to the side with equally pleased expressions. Now that the rest of the group was paired off I assumed I'd be with Zach, it seemed like they were trying to keep friends together…then again I was probably assuming too much.
"Lydia you'll be teamed up with Quincy Ace," a small girl scurried towards me from the sidekick line and I stepped back out of the way as Boomer continued listing teams.
"Hi," I said holding out my hand to her. Though she seemed to be my height she was of notably smaller build. She took my hand in hers with a firm grasp that surprised me.
"Quincy Ace…but of course you've guessed that already," her freckled face took on a tinge of red as she stumbled over the introduction. I wanted to tell her I was just as nervous, but I doubted it would do much good.
"You have a really cool name," I offered.
"Thanks," her green eyes flicked to mine and then back down, "It comes from the Latin word for five…I'm the fifth kid in my family."
"Wow, I'm an only child…sort of, my cousin Knight lives with us."
She nodded and glanced over to where Knight and Warren were exchanging one-syllable words. Apparently Quincy knew who Knight was; she probably had a class with him or something. We both lapsed into a semi-comfortable silence. Both of us, I think, were pretending to be very interested as Boomer listed off the rest of the names. Zach ended up with Larry, the boy who had one-upped Boomer at power placement by turning into a huge rock-like creature. I wondered how they'd work the whole team work thing out.
Coach Boomer finally finished the list. There was one team of three, Basil the guy who could have eight arms at will, Michelle a girl who could travel through televisions, radios and even phones by turning herself into a energy stream and Terrance, the sidekick who could absorb water. Unfortunately, the attractive boy with deep blue hair was unable to anything more with the liquid once he had absorbed it, but there was an upside, he'd never worry about drowning or dying of dehydration. Of course his hero compatriots weren't looking at him very favorably but then again not many heroes were. Despite efforts to make the school more balanced there was still a definite schism between the hero support and heroes.
It was ironic to me to think that once we graduated none of this would matter. It would be then that the rift would heal for those who would open their eyes. When the sidekick saved the day and their partner's life the veil would be lifted to reveal that, yes, some of those lowly beings had brains and heart enough to make up for their lack of power. I almost laughed at my train of thought, at this rate I'd be one of Layla's buddies in no time. Her views didn't seem so radical or annoying now that I had spent more time at the school.
I awakened to the world again as the speaking changed from Coach Boomer to Principal Powers, "In addition to these special sessions of save the citizen all seniors will be attending special field trips to places like Professor Xavier's school for the gifted and Moran University which is in the UK. Special permission slips will be sent home today so make sure you get those signed by your parent and/or guardian. Remember these trips are a privilege and as such will be revoked should any mischief take place," with that she lifted her hands, shouted, "Comets away!" and was gone in a blur of white light.
Coach Boomer lectured us on what the new rounds of Save the Citizen would entail (including fighting exclusively with our partner) and then barked at us to go to our third hour class. Mr. Medulla's test had been, thankfully, postponed for the next day. I only hoped that wouldn't induce him to add more questions to it tonight. I waved shyly to Quincy as she walked down the hall towards her class. She didn't reciprocate but gave a half-smile that I assumed meant all was well between us. Third hour was my designated meeting time with Mr. Mardos, my assigned advisor on all matters heroic. I sighed before opening the door to his office, smiled at the passing Will and company, and entered.
I noticed that Knight had been stopped by a traveling Principal Powers after exiting the gym and the two were currently walking towards the office last I saw. I'd have to ask him about that at lunch.
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"I'm confused," I finally ventured, "What is this about?"
"A scam," Warren answered sullenly from the end of the table. I looked to someone else for a more thorough explanation.
"Bro, it's tradition," Zach said and received a glare for calling the pyro "Bro".
"What's tradition?"
Layla looked embarrassed, "Some of the seniors are thinking of…sharing answers for Medulla's test come finals week."
"So cheating is a tradition at Sky High?" I asked with eyebrow raised.
"Well no senior class has done it since the people who were seniors our freshmen year," Will explained, biting into his hastily prepared hero sandwich.
"And we all knew what type of people they were," Ethan added and then rolled his eyes. He made brief eye contact with me and then looked back at his food. Neither of us had quite gotten over the uncomfortable situation of his liking me in a way I couldn't reciprocate. I hoped we would, it would be a shame to lose his friendship.
"So what does this have to do with us?"
"It's totally tradition," Zach repeated.
Maj spoke more bluntly, "Why not? If everyone else is going to? It'd totally get back at Medulla," she eyed me openly, I was known as one of his favorite students, "We'd understand if you wouldn't want to of course, since you are such friends with him."
I was getting to the point in our relationship where I could ignore Maj's abrasive nature but that barb stuck deep, "It's not right, and I wouldn't do it if it was Medulla or any other teacher."
The conversation took an uncomfortable silence. Knight still hadn't returned from his meeting with Principal Powers so I didn't really have an ally to look to. It was obvious that both Layla and Warren agreed with me, but one didn't like causing problems amongst friends and the other was too arrogant to admit he could possibly take the same side as me.
"On a friendlier note," Will began with a charming smile, brushing his dark brown hair away from his face, "Everyone's invited to my house for a study night, that includes our new partners so, Quincy and Larry," he said the boy's name with annoyance, "Can come also if they want."
"I'll ask Quincy," I said and got up to do it then and there, the atmosphere at the table didn't exactly make me want to stay.