CHAPTER NINE

"Why aren't you getting ready for Homecoming?" Allison Stronghold asked as she burst into her daughter's room. The smell of alcohol already surrounding her.

"Because I'm not going."

"Why?"

"Don't feel like it." Astrid mumbled, her face buried in her duvet.

"Well, I'm going out with the girls. Don't wait up." Allison exclaimed. Astrid could already hear her mother's friends downstairs.

"Wasn't planning on it."

"Let's go girls!" Allison screamed.

Sometimes it was as if Astrid was the mother and Allison was the daughter. After Samuel Stronghold passed away, Allison took to drinking and often went out on Friday nights but the next day, she was back to a nice, normal mother.

Astrid had originally planned on attending Homecoming with her friends until the issue with Lash, she didn't want to ruin anyone else's night with them arguing.

Pressing play, Astrid had just settled down with a large bowl of popcorn when her cousin came charging through the door yelling.

"Will, breathe. What the hell is wrong with you?" Astrid said, placing her hands on her cousin, forcing him to stay still and stop pacing.

"Pacifier. Stolen. Homecoming. Gwen. Her mother. Need go. Now. Mum. Dad." Will gasped, pulling out his phone and the card with Ron Wilson's

"So, you're telling me that Gwen Grayson stole the Pacifier that her mother made, from the Secret Sanctum and she's going to use it against your parents at Homecoming."

"Yes!" Will exclaimed.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go." Astrid yelled as she grabbed her jacket and shoved her shoes in her sneakers.

After calling Ron, the young Stronghold's ran to the bus stop where Ron Wilson was already waiting for them. It didn't take that long to reach Sky High and after thanking the bus driver, the Hero and the Sidekick were charging towards the school. Astrid was attempting to stay calm but things were unfolding just like they had happened in her dream.

As Astrid and Will were running towards the hall where the dance was being held, Astrid noticed one of the vents was glowing. Once Astrid had pointed it out to Will, he used his super strength to pull the vent cover off the wall, allowing the rest of the group to clamber out of it.

"You're never going to believe this. Gwen.." Will started.

"Is Royal Pain's daughter."

"Yeah, and she.."

"Stole the Pacifier." Will got cut off again.

"She turned everybody into babies, including your parents."

"Okay, that I didn't know."

"This is even more than the great Will Stronghold can handle." Layla said, snark evident in her voice.

"She's right. It's going to take all of us." Will explained.

"All of who? You and Warren?"

"Will, the rest of us are only Sidekicks." Astrid pointed out.

"Just because you have powers, that doesn't make you a hero. Sometimes it just makes you a jerk. Makes me a jerk."

Astrid smiled at her cousin's revelation and tried to disguise her laughter for a cough when he couldn't think of the words to say.

"We get it. You've been a jerk." Layla said.

"Layla, in case my Homecoming date ends up killing me tonight, I just want you to know.."

Once again, Will was cut off. Except this time he was cut off by Layla kissing him.

"Fucking finally!" Astrid hollered causing the rest of the gang to look at her weirdly. "What? I've waited for this for a long time."

Unfortunately, the moment was cut short by Penny, Speed and Lash. They had joined Royal Pain's side, just as Astrid ( who had disappeared from sight) had dreamt.