(29)

I didn't actually pass out, my vision just went dark before the whole room erupted. I went down on one knee just in case but I remained conscious.

My fire unicorns slowly faded away and I could soon hear running steps on the gym floor. The gym was louder than ever and the echoes it made caused my ears to ring. I braced myself to whatever or whomever came to throw themselves at me in victory.

I felt someone help me to my feet and I assumed it was Warren.

"Feeling faint?" he asked placing his mouth near my ear so I could hear him.

I nodded saving my breath for breathing only. I leaned against him silently letting him know that being on my feet would make me a little wobbly.

The crowd seemed to take forever to die down. Nearly everyone in the gym had to come and congratulate us; shaking our hands. Saying a few words, and even a few speeches on how we've inspired people.

Warren eventually lead me back to the locker room to change out of the armor. My vision was a lot better when the heat of the gym went down and the people evacuated.

"For a battle that was less than ten minutes you sure managed to ware yourself out," Warren said leaving me to sit on the bench.

"The next time you whip up a fire tornado on your own you let me know how exhausted you are," I said putting my head in-between my knees.

"I just have… one question…" Warren trailed off.

I looked up at him seeing a smirk on his face.

"Why unicorns?" he asked breaking into a full on smile.

I smiled with him as I slowly shook my head, "Because I'm a girl."

We changed in silence after that. Neither of us needed help taking off the armor… though some of it was attached to our sweaty clothing underneath.

Warren and I headed out together. My father's car out take us back down to the planet.

"Where is he?" Warren asked.

The parking lot of absolutely empty. No busses, cars, nothing.

"He knew we needed a ride back…" I thought out loud. "How do we get back?

Warren and I slowly crept towards the edge of the school. The world below us wasn't too far away. We could see most of the street lights and some of the roads.

"I can see my house… how 'bout you?" Warren asked.

"My lights aren't on…" I trailed off finding my own lot.

"Should we travel by bubble again?" Warren asked.

I glanced up at him to make sure he was serious; which he was. I then took a second look back down at the earth.

"We're gunna have to fall most of the way… otherwise we'll be in the air for a long time." I explained standing on the edge with him.

He gently held my hand in his as we faced the edge of the school. We stood there with the toes of our shoes barely hanging over the edge. The wind moved our hair but everything else was motionless.

"Maybe we should get a running start," I said hearing a siren sound from below.

"Great idea, Izzy!" Warren perked up taking a few steps back from the edge with me.

We walked back a ways just enough to get a full on run in before we jumped.

"Now, you're sure you can do the bubble thing again, right?" Warren asked cautiously.

I squeezed his hand in mine before I glanced up at him, "Yes, dear."

"One, two, three, go!" I shouted a moment later taking off towards the edge.

The only way I would jump is if it wasn't such a serious matter. I pretended to be at a lake jumping off the dock and into the water. Warren ran with me keeping my hand locked in his.

I let out a short shriek when we jumped over the side. Warren moved his hands from mine to my shoulder getting closer. His grip on my shoulders was a lot firmer and it almost hurt when his fingers dug into my skin.

"Now?" Warren yelled over the wind.

I shook my head, "Not yet, we just jumped."

Silly boy is afraid of falling, I thought. And I thought Warren was fearless…

I glanced back down at the earth that was getting very close…

Maybe he isn't that silly, I thought.

"I suppose now wouldn't be the best time to confess that I really don't like heights," Warren spoke with wide eyes staring at the ground.

I rolled my eyes playfully as I pulled myself closer to Warren, "Okay, whiner-baby, I'll make the bubble."

I positioned myself above Warren so the bubble would engulf us when I created it. We flipped a few times before it came to the gradual decent.

"Hey, look!" I explained playfully. "Their's the ground."

"Stop teasing," Warren said with a smile.

With how exhausted I was and how magnificent his smile was, instead of melting inside, I nearly fainted. Was the attraction mutual or was I falling for the bad boy like every other typical school girl?

We landed at the entrance of Bear Path. It was pretty light out and Warren insisted that we land closer to my house. He figured he could find his way home in the light.

"Pick you up in an hour," Warren said as the gates opened.

I was facing the gates and was completely caught off guard when Warren planted an innocent kiss on my cheek. My jaw dropped as I turned to watch him go. He never looked back as I watched him turn the corner towards his home.

I touched the spot on my cheek where he kissed me noticing it was hot compared to the rest of my face. At first, I thought he left a burn mark on my face but then realized it was just his natural temperature.

I walked into Bear Path in a daze. I kept reaching up and touching my face still feeling it at the same temperature as before. Why would Warren be so… forward?

It was in his nature to be hot headed but never… affectionate?

I opened my front door and immediately headed up to my room. I closed my door behind me and felt my cheek once more. It was the same as it had been five minutes ago; comfortably warmer than normal.

I snapped back to reality, "I need to figure out what to wear."

I glanced over at my closet door seeing the answer. A white dress was hanging from my open closet door. It was long and made me worry it would be too long. The straps were thin but were covered in diamonds; the fake kind. The neckline was low but squared letting me show off more skin than usual but not too much. It was fitted as it came in to complement my hour glass figure.

I took it off the closet and gasped at the back. The back was nearly non-existent. The straps came down to another that came across my back. But the dress itself didn't start back up again until the lowest part of my back.

I quickly showered getting all the stank off me for the Homecoming dance. I dried myself off and put on my dress just to make sure how much back would actually be exposed.

It fit me nicely and was long enough if I put on some heels. I turned to see my back in the mirror and nearly sank inside.

"It's too much," I whispered seeing my entire backside.

I then noticed that my dress has a small ruffled train behind me.

"Someone will step on that," I said out loud.

I turned to face the mirror properly. Warren wouldn't see the back… but it was him and the rest of the school I was worried about.

I glanced at the clock and let my emotions hit rock bottom, "Guess I don't have a choice."

I quickly ran back to the bathroom and started to do myself up. I curled my hair with a medium size curling iron making curls and waves in my naturally curly hair. I punned most of it up leaving a few waves lose to cover some of my back. I put on a decent amount of make-up highlighting my features.

I heard the doorbell ring and my heart sank with the rest of me.

"Will he look at me differently from now on?" I asked myself.

I put on my glasses hoping that he would still see the geeky blonde he always knew.

I quickly went down the stairs. I stopped as I reached out for he doorknob; I was starting to shake a little.

"Great, now my nerves are acting up," I said before I opened the door.

I had to take a few double takes at the very handsome man that stood before me. With a mint condition tuxedo on and neatly groomed hair, Warren was a sight for the heavens.

His expression once he saw me was one I never thought he possessed; mostly amazement with a little bit of shock.

"Isabel?" Warren asked in a low whisper.

His tone of voice sent chills up my spine as I was suddenly afraid to answer him.

"Yes… Warren?" I said slowly in case this man before me was at the wrong house.

Warren inched over me again. I swallowed hard as I let him gaze over my body that was now figure flaunting than body hiding.

"I…" Warren trailed off.

We were both at a loss for words on how to describe one another. We were both rather… exposed to a side we had but never put on parade before.

I then noticed what Warren was holding, "You… got a corsage?"

"I… thought it would be… appropriate," Warren struggled with his words.

A smile tugged on my lips and then grew into one.

Warren Peace charming?

"I don't have one for you," I confessed feeling utterly stupid.

Warren then smiled with me, "I personally don't think the flower would last too long with my uh, body temperature."

His words reminded me of what happened after we landed. I turned my face away trying to hide my embarrassment.

"Isabel," Warren said. "Are you sure you don't have one for me?"

I slowly glanced up at him seeing his gaze look past me. I turned to see where he was looking and found a corsage on the coffee table a few feet away.

"This weird," I spoke walking towards it.

"What is?" Warren asked coming inside.

"That my father is no where to be found, and then when I come home I find this dress in my room and a corsage at the door," I explained.

"Maybe he set it up," Warren suggested.

"But it wouldn't be like him to set up my future when he's always talking about me having a "natural" future," I said looking up at Warren.

"We should probably… start heading for the school," Warren said after a long pause.

"You're right," I said heading out the door. "We will be expected soon."

Warren followed me and asked, "But how are we going to get there?"

I glanced up at him, "You mean… you-"

"I thought I would ask your dad to borrow the flying car but… if he's not here and neither is the car then…" Warren answered.

I smiled immediately thinking of an alternate way.

I took Warren by the hand and lead him out farther away from the house.

"Izzy, what are you doing?" Warren asked confused.

"If we can travel down by bubble we can travel up by bubble," I said smiling up at Warren.

"How?" Warren asked.

"Hot air balloon," I answered. "We will just tweak a few things."

"Isabel," Warren said my name sternly. "You are a genius!"

We each still held the corsage in hit's box, "Just try not to burn the flowers before we reach the school, okay?"

"Now pull me close or it won't work," I said stepping forward.

Warren seemed to gladly take my waist and pull me even closer. I was almost pressed up against him now. I leaned back looking up at the sky and placing my hand before my mouth. With my index finger and thumb together I blew out lightly creating a bubble that expanded down instead of up. Once Warren and I were engulfed in it I straightened myself out.

"Now focus on just warming the bubble up… " I trailed off finding it better not to mention the bubble would pop if he made it too hot.

I placed my free hand on his shoulder for balance and to stay alert of his body temperature. As his temperature started to raise so did we.

The bubble eventually lifted off the ground and headed for Sky High.

"Can you steer this thing?" Warren asked.

"Yes, I can," I assured him.

"Let me know if your hand starts to get hot," Warren said as his thumb started to rub against my back.