AN: Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it. Just a side note, when lyrics are put into the story, the actions described after a set of lyrics are what is occurring when those lyrics are played. I know that is hard to understand but I hope you guys kinda get it. R&R

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for people and plot you don't recognize.

Ch 3: For The Rest Of Our Lives

Nerves overtook me as Lash and I slowly walked towards the front entrance. Music was blasting through the doors and it took everything I had to not puke in the bushes. You will be surrounded by a bunch of super powered teenagers. Sure you don't have a handle on yours yet, but honestly, what could go wrong? I huffed at my failed attempt at self-reassurance. As we climbed the front steps and opened the door, everything moved in slow motion. My heart was pounding in my ears and my knees were quaking. Lash must have sensed it. He put his arm around me, holding my waist, and pulled me close. Blow by Ke$ha was playing and that, compounded with Lash's presence, helped me breathe. We entered the open door and made our down the dimly lit hallway. My heels clicked lightly against the grey tile floors and the noise echoed off the lockers on either side of the hall. We soon found ourselves outside of the gym, a balloon arch standing outside the open doors. We passed under it and were thrust into a wonderland of music, lights. and smiling faces. The AC was on what I assumed was full blast, judging by the fact that the air in the gym was much colder than it had been at the bus stop. I'll be thankful for that later. Lash led me over to a table and I quickly removed my heels and placed them on top. For a moment, I forgot about the mission I was to partake in and I pulled Lash onto the dance floor. Miss Me Kiss Me, started playing and I started to sway to the music. Lash just kinda stood off to the side and watched me as I jerked and rejected as best I could in my dress. He swayed slightly and was staring over my shoulder. I followed his gaze and found myself looking at Warren Peace, who warily watched me as well. I took Lash's hand and led him towards Warren. Next to him stood the hippie, Layla, who Lash had told me numerous stories about. She glared at Lash and he tried to pull back, but I held him firm. I offered a smile to the two super-teens in front of me, receiving a grunt from the hot head and a careful smile from the hippie. We stood there a moment without a sound and, frustrated, I opened the conversation.

"Can we talk to you guys in the hall?" I asked. Peace and Layla looked at each other and Warren shrugged. He led the way, hippie following closely behind and I following her, dragging Lash. In the hall, farther into the school, Warren Layla faced us, arms crossed over their chests. I nudged Lash, but he continued to watch his feet. I rolled my eyes and decided to be the one to start things off.

"We need your help," I said. I turned to Lash for him to continue, and this time, he spoke up.

"We are all in danger," he breathed, "Gwen Grayson is really Royal Pain. She's gonna take down the school." Hot head looked at me, as if for verification, and I nodded.

"How does she think she's going to pull it off?" Layla scoffed, still not fully believing us.

"She has the pacifier," I piped up. Warren's eyebrows shot up as he looked hurriedly between me and Lash.

"The pacifier?" he growled. "Where is it?" Lash shrugged and shook his head.

"I wish I knew."

"Who else knows about this?" Layla asked. She looked as though she could cry at any second.

"Penney and Speed. We are all supposed to stop anyone that gets in Pain's way." Layla huffed and, just as I predicted, angry tears began to stream down her face.

"What's with your change of heart?" Warren asked, studying Lash. He shrugged again.

"I'm tired of always being the villain. It's not as glamorous as she promised. All it does is cause me pain." Layla's tears dried up as quickly as they had started.

"We have to stop her!" she exclaimed. Warren assured her that we couldn't do a thing until Gwen made her move and, until then, we needed to lay low. Making our way back to the gym, I heard 'Seventeen Forever' blasting through the gym's open doors.

You are young and so am I

And this is wrong, but who am I to judge

You feel like heaven when we touch

I guess for me this is enough

I pulled Lash onto the dance floor and wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt him gently place his hands on my hips as we swayed to the music.

We're one mistake from being together

But let's not ask why it's not right

You won't be seventeen forever

And we can get away with this tonight

By the time the song ended, I had almost forgotten why I was there in the first place. But as the final chord was strummed, people around me were turning toward the stage intently. I followed everyones gaze and my eyes landed on a peppy looking brunette. Layla and Warren appeared next to me and Lash.

"This is it," Lash said. Gwen went on a short rant about the "greatest super being the ever walked the halls of Sky High" and paused rather dramatically, ending with a 'me!' Her body was quickly encased in armor. A ray gun shot from a hole in the stage and into Gwen's hands. She began firing the weapon, which shot out a beam and changed whoever it hit into a baby. My compadres and I ran towards the exit, just like everyone else, only to find Penney and Speed fencing us in like animals. Warren quickly redirected us to the back corner of the room. Along the way, we acquired three other super-kids. The first was an african-american, nerdy looking boy, decked out in orange, who looked like he was going to pass out from all the hyperventilating he was doing. Next to him was a short asian goth girl who, under normal circumstances, would have probably been scowling right about then. Standing a tad too close to her was a lanky, Slim Shady wanna-be that was obviously trying to hod goth girl's hand. So this is the A-team. Warren blew a giant fire ball at a metal grate in the corner, which fell off, revealing a shaft we could easily crawl through. I quickly introduced myself to the three new comers as we lined up to crawl into the shaft. Layla was first to go in, followed closely by Magenta. I followed her, dragging Lash in behind me. Behind Lash was Ethan, Warren, and finally, Zach. The crawl space was small and claustrophobia set in as I pressed on, going deeper into, what we determined to be, the air vent. Eventually though, it was pitch dark, due to the absence of the decorative lighting that had been scattered throughout the gym. In the dark, my panic increased greatly.

"Hey warren, how 'bout a light," someone suggested. Behind me, Lash laughed. Warren grunted.

"Not unless you wanna get barbecued." Fuck.