Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. I don't even own half of the stuff they say either, so it truly is not mine, like, at all.

A/N: My apologies for no chapters last week. We were in New York City and there was literally no time for writing. At all. It was quite a busy trip. But it was fun. I hope you all had as good of holidays as I did. Review please.

Chapter 11

Will and his friends entered the classroom, backpacks slung over their shoulders. Will was still glowing with his success from yesterday and not even the fact that he was back in high school could stop his happiness.

"Dude, you made sidekick history!" Zach said, clapping him on the shoulder. Will was pleased to notice that he didn't even stagger one bit now, though he did blush at the praise.

"Aw. I don't know about that." He said, trying to brush it off, though he did feel rather good about his success. Not because he wanted to prove to other people that he was great but because he was happy to finally have his father's approval again, even if it was for a little bit.

"No, seriously. From now on, people mess with us at their own peril." Ethan agreed.

"You're breaking down barriers, proving we're not heroes and sidekicks." Layla agreed. "We're just people."

"Super people." Will corrected, though he did like the idea of living in a world where there was no classification of heroes or sidekicks.

"Seats, please." Mr. Boy requested, looking bright and chipper as always. "We have a lot to cover this morning, starting with motorcycle sidecar basics." He clapped his hands excitedly and then his gaze fell on Will and his expression changed. "Uh, except for you, Mr. Stronghold. Would you gather your gear and come up here, please? I've got your new class schedule."

Will went forward hesitantly, taking the piece of paper from him and holding it with limp hands. Why was he getting a new schedule? He was rather happy with the one he had now.

"Congratulations. You've been transferred to the Hero class." He said. "Oh, and by the way, if you should find yourself needing any hero support, I still do a little freelance."

"But what about them?" Will asked numbly, gesturing towards his friends, who were all looking at him.

"We'll see you on the bus." Zach said.

"We'll hang at lunch." Ethan assured him.

"Right after you've dunked Ethan's head in the toilet." Magenta muttered. Will looked back at them and then directed his lost gaze towards the teacher, who gaze softened when he saw Will's hesitance.

"Well, you best not be late." Mr. Boy said gently. Will nodded and went to the door, glancing back one last time. His eyes connected with Layla's.

"Just go already." Layla said, waving her hand. Will went to the empty hall and glanced down at the schedule, finding the room number and heading that way. He knew he should have felt excited, but all he felt was numb. And a little disappointed. All his friends were in classes that he would no longer be in. And it was doubtful that he would have any classes with Warren, because even though he was a hero, he was also two years ahead of Will and freshman and juniors rarely had classes together. He went closer to the door, where he could hear the teacher's voice spilling out.

"Rays!" He announced. "From the silliness of the shrink ray to the devastation of the death ray. These are the very foundations of Mad Science."

Will stepped into the classroom and all eyes turned to him instantly.

"Yes?" The teacher said, almost as if on instinct. He looked up and recognized Will. "They told me you were coming. Unfortunately, all the lab partners are taken. I suppose I could pair you with my teaching assistant."

Will followed his hand and found Gwen at the other end. He suppressed a shiver. The girl still freaked him out. He sat down next to her uncomfortably and started on the assignment.

Twenty minutes later and Will was well and truly lost. He could barely work the TV, never mind make a ray. The teacher wandered around behind him, brutally degrading the student's work.

"That's great…if you're building a heat ray." The teacher said, loud enough for Will to hear. His palms got sweatier as he stared at the pieces in front of him. "You're supposed to be building a freeze ray."

"Okay, I have no idea what I'm doing." Will finally admitted, looking at Gwen. It was the first time he had spoken to her today and he still didn't raise his eyes to meet hers. Scary, scary girls. He didn't even want to talk to her, but he had to do something, because the teacher was closing in.

"Dreadful technique. You've confused rays with beams!" The teacher shouted, sounding even closer. Will flashed a desperate look at Gwen and she waved her hand quickly. To Will's surprise the ray assembled itself swiftly. "D! Minus! I'd give you an F, but that would only mean having to see you in summer school."

Will clenched his fists as the teacher approached from behind him.

"And what have we here?" He asked.

"Uh...Well, I don't know. I didn't do it." Will said truthfully, fearfully glancing up at the man. He didn't seem to be entirely stable.

"You're far too modest, Mr. Stronghold." The teacher said, picking up the ray. He aimed it at a student and actually fired. Will's eyes widened. "Or perhaps not modest enough. Miss Grayson, in the future, please allow the students to succeed, or fail, on their own."

Gwen nodded and Will waited until the teacher left before turning towards her in amazement.

"How did you do that?" He asked. Was it something he could learn? Because that would be amazingly helpful.

"I'm a Technopath. I can control technology with my mind." Gwen explained.

"Wow." Will said appreciatively. "All I can do is punch stuff."

"Yet he'll be the one on cereal boxes. Show me the justice in that." The teacher muttered as he passed them once more. Will pursed his lips. It was true, after all. He really wasn't anything special. He just wished other people would stop treating him like he was.

Will spotted his friends and stood up.

"Guys! Guys! Over here." He called. He saw Warren raise his head and steadfastly did not meet his gaze even though he desperately wanted to. His friends came towards him and Will wished he could have hurried them along. He was not exactly comfortable sitting with all of these people around him. He felt like he was chum in a circle of sharks.

"Sorry." Lana said as soon as they were close enough to hear. "All full."

"That's okay," Layla said, trying to regain composure. " Uh, I think I see empty table over there. Come on, guys."

They walked away and Will watched them go, feeling as though they had just abandoned him to the sharks. He wanted to call them back, or go and sit with them instead, but Gwen's fingers were clutching his shirt sleeve, like claws holding him in place.

Oh well. He'd just spend the rest of lunch staring at Warren.