Hey, people! First off, I'd like to thank all of you for your awesome and lovely reviews! You have no idea how happy they make me! So in light of that, here is a brand new chapter for you all, with a bit for you all to chew on. Also, a little bit of gift to all of you readers hoping for a little more of something after Lexi and Lash's "date"
Enjoy!
Wait…I still don't own Sky High.
Chapter 11:
"Hey Dad, do you happen to know Gwen Grayson from my school, by any chance?" I asked, the next morning at the breakfast table, subconsciously poking at the yolk of my sunny side up egg.
My dad, who was currently sitting across from me, donned in his lab coat and glasses, looked up from his issue of this morning's paper.
"The nice girl who came by our house yesterday?" He asked.
I almost dropped my fork. "She came here? Why?"
"She was personally inviting us to your Homecoming dance because apparently they are planning to honor Maxville's greatest superheroes. Why do you ask?"
The new piece of information entered my ears and settled somewhere in my brain between the not so distant borders of 'reasonable' and 'suspicious, so run the other way'. This was just adding to the huge stack of things I was already mulling about in my mind. I mean, why would she invite my parents to the Homecoming dance...does that mean she asked the Strongholds too?
"Lexi…Lexi?...Lexi!"
My head shot up and I realized my parents had been trying to get my attention.
"Sorry." I muttered, stabbing at a piece of my egg and eating it.
"So, why were asking about her?" My dad asked, looking back at his newspaper.
"No reason." I said quickly, but thought I could do my own bit of investigating, "Did you at least remember who her parents are? I mean, I am sure you knew them when you went to Sky High."
I heard my dad's paper rustle a bit as he set it down on the table. "Grayson, you said her name was?"
I nodded as I continued to eat my breakfast, so it seemed like this conversation was strictly casual and ones that you have to pass the time.
My dad tapped his chin thoughtfully. In the meantime of my dad trying to rack his brain for any recollection of the name, my mom came to join us at the table, also dressed in her lab coat and her hair tied up in a neat ponytail.
"Sandra, honey, do you happen to remember any of our classmates with the name Grayson?" My dad asked, after pecking my mom on the cheek.
"Grayson?" It was my mom's turn to think, but a quick moment later she was shaking her head. "No, I don't recall the name."
I was a tiny bit shocked, but part of me was glad to have obtained this little snippet of information.
"Well, it's not completely out of the ordinary. Maybe Gwen's parents aren't supers, or maybe they came from a different city. You never know." My mom offered.
At the mention of parents, an image of my parents' 1985 yearbook flashed in my head. No, it was not of Boomer's mullet, that was just weird. But it was the picture of the Mad Science club. I looked up at my dad who was quietly conversing on something with my mom and contemplated asking him about Sue Tenney. I mean, there has got to be something going on about the resemblance factor and the chances of it being a doppelganger are very slim. Plus, if my dad was in the Mad Science club with her, he should know something.
"Hey, dad, do you remember a…err…Sue Tenney then?" I asked, hesitantly.
It became oddly quiet as my parents had abruptly stopped talking. I looked up from my plate to find both of them giving me edgy looks.
"How do you know about Sue Tenney?" My dad asked.
By the tone of the question, I felt like maybe I wasn't supposed to have known about Sue Tenney in the first place. But that only made my need to know increase.
"I was looking at your old school yearbook and I saw a picture of her that's all…just curious." I explained then added. "So you did know her?"
Both of my parents sighed and I saw my mom discreetly nod her head at my dad.
"I did. We were in Mad Science Club together, friends almost. But…"
"But?"
My dad sucked in a deep breath and folded his hands on the table. "You have to understand that back then, the extent and variation of superpowers was not as wide as it is now. People didn't quite understand."
"Didn't understand what?"
"Sue Tenney was a different kind of super. Her powers were foreign to us, but nonetheless Mad Science Club was the only place that virtually accepted her. Sadly, the rest of the school didn't, even the teachers." My dad said, regretfully.
"What happened to her, dad?"
My dad shook his head, like he himself didn't know a solid answer. "After graduation, she just disappeared. No one heard from her again."
"Why?"
"Some say she was recruiting villains at our school." My mom said quietly.
My dad shook his head, obviously skeptical of it. But at the same time, he didn't say anything to contest that, like he also knew there was that possibility floating around. I mean, a former student at Sky High recruiting villains. That is practically unheard of. It shocks me thinking about it, but it dazes me and makes me shudder to see how much Gwen looks like Sue Tenney. Was Sue Tenney Gwen's mother?
Possible.
Creepy.
But possible.
"Alright, that's enough of that." My mom suddenly said, stopping us from any further questioning. It was obvious that she didn't like the subject matter. "Come on, Lexi, you need to get to the bus before they leave you behind."
She tapped at her watch and started to urge me from the table. Despite the fact that I didn't want to leave just yet and the fact that I knew Ron would hold the bus for me till I got there, I ended up complying with my mother and picking myself up from the breakfast table. After kissing my parents goodbye, I left the kitchen, back pack slung over my shoulder, and headed out the front door.
I walked alone for a few minutes along my usual route, pondering the long, growing list of fishy evidence, so to speak, in my head. They were like puzzle pieces. I just keep finding them, one right after another, but I have no way of knowing how to put them together. And to make things slightly more complicated, the whole 'Will & Layla' thing still exists.
And speaking of that…
I rounded the corner to the bus stop, in time to see Layla and Will standing together in conversation at the corner. Will looked like he was extremely enthused by something, completely oblivious to the artificial smile and happy expression on Layla's face as she listened to whatever he was talking about.
I swear, if he's talking about his night with Gwen, I'm going to… I thought to myself as I slowly ambled my way down the sidewalk and closer to my friends, one of which I am not very happy with.
"Oh, there's Lexi!" Layla said, hastily waving at me.
Will whipped around and excitedly waved at me, looking like he was eating something. I drew closer and found that he was eating a fortune cookie that I am quite sure Layla gave to him.
"Hey, guys." I greeted, before grabbing the other half of the uneaten cookie in Will's hand and peeling out the unread fortune.
"Your loyalties are clear when it comes to friends." I read out loud to them.
Well, there was no secret or subtlety in that one.
I flicked my eyes pointedly at Will, who paused for a moment, before realization dawned on his face. He smacked his head with his palm.
"Oh. God. Oh. I am so sorry. I totally spaced out, Layla. I am pretty sure you want to kill me right now." Will said, sounding genuinely apologetic.
Layla looked like she believed him as she shook her head. "No, it's actually the opposite."
I couldn't mask my surprise. "It is?"
Layla looked at me funnily before nodding her head. "Yeah, I have something to tell Will."
"Yeah?" Will repeated.
"Yeah, but you said you wanted to tell us something so you can go first." Layla said.
"Oh, right, well, mine's about homecoming." Will said, making Layla immediately brighten up.
"Really? Mine too!" Layla said, a hopeful smile on her face.
I didn't need anyone to explain to me what was going on here. I think I was getting a very good idea from Layla that she was going to ask Will, and it vaguely sounded like Will was going to discuss with us his date situation as well.
"Well, get on with it then." I said, urging Will onwards as I could see Layla was clearly eager to hear his news.
"I'm going with Gwen Grayson!"
"Woah, what?" I said, rather loudly before I could fully stop myself.
Way to dash Layla's hopes, Will.
I shook my head a few times, a rather disbelieving look on my face as I looked at him at a loss for words. A look that he took as a good type of shock. Otherwise he would have understood that my shock was a thick mixture of surprise and aggravation with him. But as I glanced at Layla, who looked crestfallen in every aspect of the word while she forced a smile, I relaxed a bit in her sake.
Just in time to put a small break in the conversation, as I was sure two of us needed to wrap our minds around it, the bus arrived and we all started to board. I went on first and plopped down beside Magenta, fearing that if I sat beside Will, I might just cuff him on the back of his head.
"I know! Can you believe it?" Will asked, as he stepped onto the bus, directing the question and Layla and me.
"No. Actually I can't." I quickly and curtly voiced.
Will didn't seem to have heard me and Layla lightly poked my arm to be a bit nicer, despite the fact I was pretty sure this was heavier blow to her than it was to me. Personally, if I wasn't so defensive about Gwen in the first place, maybe I wouldn't be so adverse to the idea. But so many bells and whistles are going off at the moment, and none of them are good signs.
The two of them sat down on the seats across the aisle from me, giving me enough room to hear the rest of the conversation.
"Me, a freshman, going to the homecoming dance with the most amazing girl in Sky High!" Will said, like he was in dreamy state.
Ouch. Thanks Will for that great sucker punch to my and Layla's insecurities.
Of course, this is me being slightly more sarcastic as the comment didn't hurt me as much as it hurt Layla. While I shrugged the comment off, knowing it to be just Will saying so, I could see in Layla's eyes that she was completely disheartened, despite the weak smile on her face.
"That's awesome." I heard Layla say, her voice in false enthusiasm.
Will looked at me and I gave a slow nod. "Sure…it's just great."
"I know!" Will replied, thinking he had gotten our approval.
I shook my head at Will obliviousness and at the fact that Layla's going to be hung up on this for awhile. The conversation went silent for awhile after that as Ron made his usual announcement of our take-off and the seat belts came out to strap us in. I mean, how else could you have a conversation during take-off?
I settled back in my seat just as the bus hit smoother air and Will suddenly recalled that Layla was supposed to tell him something too. Needless to say, I was naturally listening in.
"Oh! Yeah, I almost forgot. What's your homecoming news?" Will said, finally giving some attention to Layla.
Layla seemed to have lost the point of telling Will what she had originally wanted to. And it's understandable.
"I…I'm going too!"
"Really. Who with?"
Ok, now I really have to tune in.
Now two different things could happen here. One, Layla could flat out tell Will the real situation and the fact that she'll be going alone, or option number two, which I hope to God isn't the one Layla is subjecting herself to, is possibly digging herself a deep, deep grave of misunderstanding.
"Who with?" Layla repeated, her voice doing that thing where I know for a fact she's about to make up something.
"Yeah. Who asked you?" Will asked.
"Oh! Who asked me?"
Option 1, Option 1, Option 1, come on, Option—
"Warren Peace."
2?
I twisted around in my seat and gave Layla a less severe version of the sharp look Will was giving her. Now, I am not so confused by the fact Layla was possibly asked by Warren, considering he was the one making her the opposite of lonely last night, but I never really thought Layla would have said yes. I was in the right mind to think that Layla's choice was one made out of spite for Will.
I didn't know how right I was.
"Warren Peace?" Will exclaimed for about the third time since we got off the bus.
I followed close behind my two friends, Layla and I staying silent through Will's incredibly extensive ranting on her date choice. He had been going on and on about it, flinging his hands out in erratic patterns as he did so. I was getting a little sick of it, and was desperate to slap him on the head and tell him to shut up.
"You can't be serious!" He says, trying to reason with her. "Layla, the guy's a psycho and my biggest enemy!"
"No offense, Will. How is that Layla's concern?" I chimed in from behind, but was dismissed by Will, but Layla heard me and acknowledged me.
"Exactly! Thank you, Lexi! Just because you have a problem with him, doesn't mean I should." Layla said, as she continued to walk to first period.
"I firmly agree with that one." I added in.
Will looked completely horrified. "Oh no! Not you too! Lexi, are you actually telling me that you think Warren is a decent guy?"
"Yes, actually that is exactly what I am telling you, Will. Sorry that for once Layla and I don't side with you." I admit, walking faster to join Layla's side.
Will winced at my comment. He knew it was true. No matter what, Layla and I were there to agree with him. And I am sure it scared him now to know that we aren't.
"Gah! What is happening to the world! First, Lexi and Lash and now, Layla and Warren?" Will asked, no one in particular, but it was getting a lot of attention from other students swarming around us in the hallways.
Layla looked at me curiously for a moment, letting me know that I would have to explain to her what Will was referring to later. And lucky for her, I was already planning to, but I don't think the current time is the right time to do it, considering Will was showing no signs of quitting his rant to Layla.
"Layla, how…how can you go with him?" He demanded. "I mean, when did you two even start hanging out!"
Layla suddenly whipped around on her heel, one of her pigtails slapping Will on the way there.
"Last night: the Paper Lantern." She snapped at him before storming into the classroom.
I was impressed with Layla. She never snaps at anyone, especially Will. But now that leaves me with the pathetic and defeated looking Will.
Great.
He moved his eyes to me next, pleadingly. I quickly shook my head at him, setting my lips in a firm straight line.
"Lexi…" He started.
"Will, I tried last night, I really did. This is your burden to bear. Not mine. I'm sorry." I said, backing into the Hero Support classroom, but a thought became clear in my mind in light of the events and I couldn't help but stop and make one more remark.
"And another thing, Will. You really shouldn't judge people so easily. Not everyone is what they seem at first glance, that I can promise you." I told him, before walking into class leaving him with his thoughts…and possibly guilt.
I distantly hoped that my words struck him not only in accordance to Warren, but with someone else as well…maybe, perhaps, Gwen?
Just a thought.
I walked into class and dropped my behind in Will's former seat that had been vacant since he left. None of us had the heart to take it, but right now, I really felt like it no longer mattered. I looked at Layla in the seat beside me, her chin resting in her hand as she stared off into space.
I tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey, are you alright?"
She looked at me and numbly nodded. "Yeah, I'm just…fine."
"Right." I said, though doubted her completely but decided not to push the subject. I wasn't going to make her explain herself to me, seeing as she was put under the same light with Will just a few minutes ago.
"So…what was Will saying…you know, about you and Lash?" Layla asked, using a good tactic of getting her mind off of her own 'grave digging', by turning the attention onto me.
But just then, as only time would allow, the bell rang and Mr. Boy came in, ready to start another lesson. I straightened up in my seat and fished my binder out of my backpack. When Mr. Boy turned around to write something on the board, I leaned over to whisper to Layla.
"I will explain to you today, I swear. I think, on our way to lunch would be appropriate."
"Alright." Layla nodded, agreeing to my timetable before turning her attention onto Mr. Boy as he dove into a lesson concerning what to do if our superhero is caught with no means of escape.
Classes past fast as molasses, but in due time the bell was chiming again for lunch. We walked out of the History of Hero Support, Layla and I just a few feet ahead of Ethan, Magenta and Zach. The three were too busy arguing about our last lesson to pay attention to Layla and I, which was good, so I could freely explain to Layla the situation at hand without being questioned into oblivion.
At first, it was a little difficult to start this explanation because I am really sure that to my friends' ears a lot of it really didn't make much sense to them. But after looking for the best angle to start at, I ended up having to start from the beginning, well…sort of the beginning, more like the lunch situation. Layla felt the need to remind me about my minor shockwave incident that I caused but it was immediately brushed aside when she found out Lash followed me out and that I was wearing his jumper. She actually got a kick out of that one, much to my own discomfort. Next thing I know, I realized I had to explain to her what happened last night, and I can't fully do that without letting her know I was playing Agent 007 at the Paper Lantern. She was slightly upset, I mean, she slapped me on the arm for it. But she eventually recovered, not being able to stay mad at me, and let me finish. However, when we got to the part about me actually having a decent dinner with Lash and him walking me home, she just couldn't wrap her mind around it.
"That was…oddly sweet of him." Layla said, struggling to find the right words. "Are…are you sure we are still talking about the same Lash?"
"Yes, we are still talking about the same Lash." I assured her, knowing she'd come around to the idea. I know I have.
"Who's talking about me?" A husky, voice whispered from over my shoulder.
I jumped and my fight instinct kicked in, making me throw my elbow back into the unsuspecting person's gut. I quickly regretted that as I saw the black and white stripes and quickly turned around where Lash was leaning up against a row of lockers, rubbing his stomach with a pained expression.
"Oh my goodness, I am so sorry." I said, covering my mouth with my hand.
I turned to look at Layla who looked amused at the sight. She quickly nodded at Lash before mouthing, "I'll let you two talk.". She quickly gathered up Ethan, Zach and Magenta, who looked on with very confused expressions and started to lead them away to the cafeteria.
"Wait, what is this?" Magenta asked over her shoulder.
"Don't you be messin' with my homegirl, now!" Zach shouted at Lash, earning some weird looks from everyone in the hallway and some very embarrassed looks from yours truly.
"Ok, come on guys, let's go to lunch. Lexi will be joining us very soon. She just needs to have a little chat." Layla said, while shoving my friends down the hallway.
I mentally thanked Layla for her quick understanding and watched as she shoveled my friends away. When they disappeared from my sight, I turned around to face Lash, only to realize that in the meantime he had recovered from my sharp jab to the stomach and was standing relatively closer to me.
I awkwardly coughed and slid back an inch or so, so I wasn't craning my neck to look up at Lash. He smirked down at me, clearly treasuring that moment and tried to stretch, but I guess my sharp elbow did a lot more damage than I originally thought. He grunted and hunched over again.
"I really am sorry about that one." I told him honestly, leading him off to the side.
He shook his head and tried to play it off. "It's fine, I'll get over it. I've had worse. Believe me." He took a deep breath and rubbed his midsection before straightening himself up.
"Well, you shouldn't have surprised me. I don't exactly have a flight response."
Lash laughed. "I can see that. But how else was I supposed to get your attention?"
"A simple hello would have sufficed nicely." I told him jokingly.
"Yes! But what is the fun in that!" Lash said, then flicked his hair and casually started to walk beside me. "Besides, if I did hear you right—"
"You mean, did you eavesdrop right." I interrupted.
Lash rolled his eyes and waved his hand dismissively. "Details, you know I don't mind those."
I let out a soft giggle. "Sadly."
"And like I was saying, that if I heard you right, you were talking about me already." Lash stated with a smug glint in his eye. I rolled my eyes, thinking that if I said anything it would only give him satisfaction. "So telling Flower Child about our date?"
"Yes." I slapped my hand over my mouth, realizing I answered before I could think about it. I felt my cheeks warm up as Lash got this look on his face as he realized what I just said.
"Ha! You finally admit it! Yes!" Lash started to pump his fist, drawing a good amount of attention from people in the hallway.
I ducked my head and used my hand to cover my eyes. Despite the fact I was hiding my face out of my embarrassment, in my head, I was quite happy to admit that it was a date last night.
"Ok, stop, stop." I said, pushing his hands back down to his sides. "Yes, fine…it was a date."
Lash finally calmed down, but still held a pleased smile on his face. "Did you at least enjoy yourself? I seem to have forgotten to ask when I walked you home."
I sighed and slowly nodded my head. "Last night was…"
"Incredible. Worth your good graces?" Lash threw out there.
I gave a low laugh, but admitted. "I was going to say different…but it was really nice."
"Good. I had a great time too." Lash said, in a much quieter but genuine voice.
I smiled to myself at that. I suppose that's something else that convinces me that it was a date. Both of us actually enjoyed ourselves. I mean, maybe I was just being a bit stubborn in admitting it last night, but perhaps that was because my idea of my first date wouldn't have derived from a botched spy mission for me. But it did, and guess what? It worked out.
"You know, now that I think about it…" Lash's voice broke into my thoughts making me realize that we'd reached the open double doors of the cafeteria. "I…I think I forgot something else last night." Lash finished, turning to face me.
I turned to him and curiously tilted my head to the side. "What is it?"
Lash licked his lips as he looked down at me, his eyes holding this determined glint that gave me the good sort of chills. And before I could truly fathom anything else, Lash took my chin in between his thumb and forefinger, lowered his head, and pressed a kiss onto my lips.
There was a spark. No, literally. The minute he touched my lips, a blue spark appeared, but Lash couldn't be bothered by it. If anything, it made the kiss much warmer than before, giving me a fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach. But nonetheless, it only seemed to encourage me into kissing him back.
But as quick as the kiss came, Lash pulled away, but just enough to whisper against my lips.
"A goodnight kiss."
AWWWW
So I pray that satisfies you all! And I hope that you all liked the chapter! Anyone ticked off at Will? I am. Anyways, more is to come! You can count on it!:)