I took Ben and Sam to the park once I finished my homework. We just hung out, and I let them roam around. Ben was displaying signs of abilities, but the doctors weren't sure what it was yet. I had been an early bloomer, and it was clear that Ben wasn't. But that was all right. Nothing was set in stone until puberty hit… or the summer before freshman year. But with my brothers, I had a feeling I was in for a handful. They were already amazing at their studies, and their social skills were through the roof. It was all quite ridiculous.

I just watched them play. I had to break up a few arguments between them, but other than that, there was peace between my brothers. Sam was so athletic; he swung from the monkey bars like they were nothing and climbed the rock wall like he was floating. Ben was the little engineer. He loved making things in the sand. He was quite creative. It gave me even more insight toward their powers. It also helped me appreciate my family a bit more. I hadn't known about these talents until just today.

"So what did the doctor say?" I was on the phone with Warren later that night. I relayed to him all the information I had obtained that day. Maybe not word for word, but something along those lines. "At least you have nothing to worry about. It'll pass soon."

"Yeah. I was worried I had, like, bi-polar disorder or something. Then I'd have to take pills."

"That would be the day, you taking medicine." I chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you've got that problem solved. Now we just have to worry about Homecoming." I sighed. "I'm still not happy that I ended up breaking our pact."

"We don't have to break it. We could just have a movie night or something the night before."

"Yeah, but we agreed to not even go to the dace."

"Well, maybe we should add that if it's to help a friend, then it's ok. Besides, Joel moved, so I'm never going to see him again. And that was probably the main reason you came up with that idea, just so I'd feel better about the stupid incident anyway."

"It worked, didn't it?" I laughed and agreed. "And Gwen is going with Stronghold."

"Well, I guess it can be payback for both of us."

"Yes! You're coming over to the dark side." We both laughed. "MiMi was upset that you weren't there today. She bitched about how my work ethic was poor today."

"Oh, poor MiMi." I cooed. I smiled, even though he couldn't see. "Thanks for being a good friend."

"Thanks for being a sap." He replied huskily.

"No, seriously. I'm trying to tell people how much I appreciate more. I don't do it nearly enough and you've been with me through it all, even when I was bitchy."

"Well, you're not being bitchy anymore. So that's good."

"Exactly. You stuck it out with me. Thanks. Beth would never have done the same thing. I owe you."

"Naw, you've done enough shit for me before. We'll call it even."

"Thanks, Warren. You're the best."

"I know." We both laughed and hung up. I flopped onto my bed, ready for sleep, when I realized something that suddenly seemed vitally important to my existence. There was a reason why I needed Warren to be there. There was a reason why I thanked him for doing so, and there was a reason I let him get away with so many things. It hit me for the first time that I was in love with Warren Peace.

The rest of the week went by as usual. Or rather, as usual as it could get with the students at Sky High. Gwen continued flirting with Will, getting him wrapped around her girly finger. And the freshmen continued to sit next to Warren and me, making things funny, and allowing me to poke fun at not only my best friend, but myself as well. It had been a while since I'd been comfortable enough to do that. The entire situation made me laugh. Warren was getting back at Will very conspicuously, and I was getting back at Gwen inconspicuously. It worked pretty well. Warren and I would ride there together, he would meet up with Layla at the dance, and I would meet up with everyone else. We had to make it seem like Warren and Layla wanted to be alone, while I was just having a good time. Well, as much as I could with it being a school dance and all.

My mom was very surprised to hear that I was going to a Homecoming. She was even more shocked to hear that Warren was going as well. But I think she was secretly pleased that we were overcoming our rebellious social awkwardness. She took me shopping for a dress, even though I told her I could fit into an old dress, or just throw something together.

"No, Charlie. You need a new dress. You're a senior, and I won't have you walking around in old clothes. You need to make a statement. You need to give Sky High your legacy." Mom always got a bit dramatic when it came to the fact that I was a senior, and would be graduating soon. "So we're going somewhere nice to get your dress."

"Mom, I don't want to spend too much. It's only Homecoming."

"I know! I can't wait until we go shopping for prom." I rolled my eyes. "Don't give me that look. You know that's the main reason I wouldn't let you be homeschooled."

"Yeah, unfortunately." I replied. "In case you haven't noticed, my social skills are the same as they would be if I had been taught at home."

"Not true. You wouldn't have met Warren."

"I never wanted to go to Sky High. He and I would still be friends since we met in second grade."

"Charlotte, don't argue with me." Mom replied smoothly. She could control herself when she wanted to. And since we were in public, she wanted to.

Throughout the next couple of hours, my mother held up random dressed that she thought would either look good on me, or that I would like. I had to admit, Mom had a good fashion sense. But I wasn't too preoccupied with my appearance at Homecoming. I felt jittery about my recent epiphany, but since Warren was my best friend, I knew I shouldn't worry about it. Granted, he didn't love me back, so that was a major setback; I'll admit, it hurt to accept that. But I knew that he would stay with me until the end, despite his lack of affection toward me. We would always be friends. So that was somewhat of a comfort. Another comfort to me was that he had once told me that he always thought I looked good, so there was no pressure to become glamorous just to put on a show for him.

That is, until I saw Layla shopping with her mother. She had tried on a green dress with gold straps that wrapped around her pale back. Even with her hair pulled up in a messy creation, she looked good. I felt myself go as green as her dress with envy at her beauty.

"Hi, Charlie!" She greeted me with her typical contagious smile. "How are you? Are you shopping for a dress, too?" I nodded. "Is this your mother?" I nodded again. "Hi, Mrs. Kade. I have to tell you, it's an honor to finally meet you." My mom smiled her most charming smile and thanked my friend for her flattery.

"Please, call me Marie. And is this your mother?" Layla nodded, and the two women began conversing.

"Layla, I thought you didn't like Warren."

"I don't."

"Well, you look stunning in that dress. You might have a hard time keeping his hands off of you at Homecoming." The redhead laughed. "Seriously, that dress looks great on you."

"Thanks, Charlie. Have you found your dress yet?" I shook my head.

"I'm hoping that the store will close, and my mom will let me wear an old dress, or something casual." That started a similar reaction to that of my mother's, and Layla began searching for a dress herself. "Layla! I don't need you to help me find a dress."

"Charlie, your mom has great fashion taste. I can see that just by looking at her. But I've seen what you wear every day to school. I know what you like. Trust me." She was logical. I hated it. But I allowed her to find me a dress. "What's your size?"

"I'm a six. Damn hips." I chuckled.

"I wish I had your curves. This dress was my last hope. It actually makes me look like I have a chest." We laughed together. She handed me a few dresses of her choice, and made me try them on in the dressing room. The first one didn't fit across my chest. The second one was way too big around my waist. "Well, what's the verdict with this one?" Layla asked.

"I'm getting this one." I walked out, and the girls waiting for me agreed unanimously. There shouldn't have been a second guess. My mom paid, and we said goodbye to Layla and her mother as we drove home.

"Are you happy with the dress?" I nodded. "It looked lovely on you."

"Thank you."

"I think Warren is in for a treat."

"What?"

"Warren. He's going to be shocked to bits when he sees you."

"What makes you think he even cares about what I wear?"

"Aren't you two going together?" I shook my head. "Why not?"

"He's going with Layla." I told her.

"Warren's going with a freshman? Don't give me that bullshit, Charlie." I couldn't help but chuckle at her swearing.

"I'm serious. I told him to go with her."

"Why would you do that? Don't you want to go with him?"

"I don't even want to go at all, mom."

"Then why are you going?"

"It's a friend thing." I answered shortly. "It's a long story, and I don't feel like going into details. It's just nonsense that won't matter in a couple of months. By then, everything will have been sorted out."

"High school is a strange thing." My mom muttered. "Well, I hope things work out. You don't need any more drama. You're a senior; you shouldn't have to deal with it." I shrugged. "God, just get with Warren already!"

"Mom!" I exclaimed.

"I'm serious! I've been waiting for you two to get together for so long. I want grandkids!" I was horrified by this behavior.

"Mom, I'm not even eighteen yet! Having a family is the last thing on my mind." I chuckled. "I might not even have kids." It was my mom's turn to be horrified. "Besides, what makes you think I would have children with Warren?" My stomach was twisting up, hoping that my mother wasn't aware of my feelings toward my best friend.

"Because you guys are perfect for each other. You balance each other out. You're the Yin to his Yang. Almost exactly, due to your abilities." She explained. "It's quite obvious you two are in love."

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't have to hide it from me."

"I'm not hiding anything." I protested. "We're not in love, and we're not dating, and we're certainly not going to have babies together." Mom smirked.

"You say that now. But watch what happens."

"Nope. I'll say that forever until you get the message." I felt myself getting aggravated, but not at my mother, more so at myself. I hated conversations like these. "Warren and I are not a thing, and never will be."

"But you want to be." Mom said quietly. I sighed, knowing that she knew. She didn't need superpowers to know that. She was my mom.

"Yeah. I do." I replied just as quietly.

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