Ahoy maties!

I actually attempted to post this last night, but fell asleep only to wake up when my dumb drunk friend called me and I had to go pick him up and drive him home. Not before throwing my car in reverse in my driveway and seeing a huge black bear sniffing around my garbage cans...So, that'll be five dollars for making me drive him home, five dollars for making me drive myself back home, five dollars for almost getting me eaten, and ten dollars for waking me up...!

Waking me up is a very serious crime, my sick children...remember that.

Despite losing my mom, I've had to pick up and keep moving. Some days are harder than others. Some days are easier than others. But I've been doing okay my darlings. I do appreciate the messages of comfort and encouragement.

I think I was reluctant to finish this chapter...I mean...I've been writing this for TWO years...which is sad because it's a fan fiction...BAHAHA...Good Goddess...But still, I was reluctant to finish it, because the shit is finally starting to hit the fan...the things that I've had plotted in my head for the last two years of my life are finally being put into play...in a fan fiction...XDDD O, woe is me, pathetic are we!

I appreciate those who have held on for this seemingly never-ending ride, which is pretty much all of you...and my army of sickos continues to grow each day. I mean, I lose count of the email alerts I receive on my phone in one day. "So-and-so is following you"...admittedly, it's a LITTLE creepy to see that. I can only imagine what it would be if I met my sweet sickos face to face!

We'd be a team of unimaginable proportions...

Canon is being reintroduced a bit here. Fear not, gentle sickos, give my your hands and I will provide you warmth and comfort at the bleeding heart you may suffer...which I'm sure will only get worse...Foreshadowing...? Dun...dun...DUUUN!

~Will's POV~

The porcelain of the toilet seat felt unbearably cold against my forearms. I heaved, feeling the last of my dinner make its way up my throat. With a final cough, I sat back on my heels and leaned against the wall. That felt cold too.

Everything seemed cold.

Looking down at my hands, I clenched and unclenched my fists. They felt heavy with sleep, and a sort of tingling numbness. I rubbed at my arms, trying to find warmth.

Nothing.

Just a chilly, empty numbness.

With a long, shivery sigh, I flushed the toilet, wincing at the updraft of the scent of vomit. With shaky limbs, I dragged myself to my feet and hunched over to the sink. I flinched at the coldness of the faucet as I turned on the water.

With warm water, I rinsed out my mouth and rubbed at my face. The warmth was faint, but comforting. I scrubbed my palms together under the flow, trying to feel the heat. My eyes slid shut and I nearly collapsed into sleep. Before I could, I grabbed onto the sides of the sink and lifted my head, trying to rid my skull of the icy mist cloud.

Groaning quietly, I turned off the faucet and went back to my bedroom.

Once back in my bed, I tugged the blankets off of the floor where they fell once I had hurriedly vacated the mattress to throw up unceremoniously in the bathroom. I struggled to find the warm spot where I'd been settled.

Couldn't find it.

Instead, I cocooned myself in the blankets and curled up, trying to trap in all of the warmth I could. And for a moment, I thought that despite feeling so weak, I was comfortable.

However, it was short lived when the heat gathered entirely into my body and I tossed the blankets swiftly off of me, wiping sweat from my face.

I worked my tongue around in my mouth. It was dry and felt thick. The ache that had been in my stomach had been spreading. It was in my chest and my thighs as well now.

The ache made me feel weak and tired, but I couldn't find sleep to soothe it as I tossed and turned all night; all the while I was immediately too cold, or too hot…and at times I felt entirely numb.

When I next tossed my body onto one side, I let out a hoarse, delirious sob.

Oh god, Warren…why?

~Warren's POV~

"Warren! Don't even think about going to bed!"

Exhausted, I slumped against the frame of the stairwell, groaning. Of course, I hadn't intended to go to bed, but still, the sound of her voice yelling from the kitchen dug at my nerves.

"Taking a shower!" I managed to call back.

"Alright, but be quick! We gotta talk!"

"Oh, I'm sure we do." I mumbled, dragging myself up the stairs to my room.

The floor was devoid of dirty clothes and there was a laundry basket on the end of my bed. My grimace softened and I reached up to rub at my eyes tiredly. Mom had gone through my room and had taken care of my clothes. I'd been doing my own laundry, sort of, for the past seven years. Why exactly were things in this household beginning to change now?

I slipped into the bathroom, stripped off my clothes and reached for the hot water faucet in the shower. Hesitation stopped my hand, and I reluctantly turned on the cold water, peppering it very lightly with warm water. I shivered when I stepped under the spray.

It woke me up I suppose and I couldn't entirely comprehend the cold because of the fire element in me…but it wasn't at all comforting. Quickly, I washed up and started rinsed off. As I leaned my head back, I did my absolute best not to worry about how often I had thought I'd spotted movement in his bedroom as I'd stood outside throughout the night…watching over his house…

Gratefully turning off the cold water. Once out of the shower, the fire in my body worked swiftly to soothe my slightly chilled skin, drying me off as it did.

I dressed in some clean clothes from the basket and shrugged into my leather jacket as I went down the stairs. Before going into the kitchen, I pulled my boots back on. And for a second, I thought about picking up my bag from the floor and just taking off to the bus stop on my bike.

"Oh, come on Warren,"

I jumped and whipped around. Fire leapt from my hands and shot up to my shoulders at the sound of the unfamiliar voice.

There was a man standing behind me in front of the now open door. About as tall as me. Short, deep burgundy hair. Pale skin. Dark sunglasses shielding his eyes from view.

At the sight of my fire, he shied back and raised his gloved hands openly, a hiss spitting out warningly from between his teeth. His very…pointy teeth.

"Whoa! Easy, boys! Warren, cool off." Mom touched my shoulder, "Warren, power down. It's fine." She shook her head at the stranger, "I told you not to sneak up on him unless,"

He gave a slight nod, "Unless I want to get torched. I didn't mean to."

Mom shook my shoulder, "Warren, seriously, it's okay. Power down."

Slowly, the fire receded from my shoulders but still licked the air between my fingers. "Who the hell is this?"

"Mark Lodge, somewhat pleased to meet you. Forgive me if I don't shake your hand." The stranger said, smiling gently and adjusting the collar of his blue button-up beneath his black suit jacket.

I looked at Mom, and she gestured at him, "Lodge is my partner."

Cocking an eyebrow back at the guy, I spoke, "You didn't tell me that out of the three you work with, that your partner was a bloodsucker."

Lodge grimaced and pressed a thumb tip against a fang, his canine teeth shrinking down as he did. "It's a recent thing."

Mom shrugged, and led the way toward the kitchen, "Yeah well, you and I never talk about anything anymore, so that's probably why you didn't notice me missing a lot more frequently than usual a couple of months ago. That had to do with this dipshit getting himself killed."

Lodge scoffed, "You cried over my body and you know it, Peace."

Mom scoffed back, going around the island in the kitchen. "In your dreams, Edward." Lodge grabbed his chest, "Oh now, that just plain hurts."

I silently watched them go back and forth. I didn't have much family, and I'd never really seen my mom socialize with anyone so…casually. I hadn't thought about her having friends. Good friends as it seemed…

"Yeah, I'm sure it just breaks your decaying little heart." Mom said, ducking into the fridge. Lodge in the meantime went over to the kitchen window and tugged closed the shades. Afterward he reached up and took off his sunglasses, "You'd make an excellent schoolyard bully."

Mom backed out of the fridge, smirking and holding the orange juice. "I would, wouldn't I?"

"Okay, this is weird." I said, cutting into their banter.

They looked over at me as if they had forgotten I was there. Lodge's eyes unsettled me. They were the palest of greens, probably had to do with that whole vampire thing…and there were a couple of ragged scars beside the left eye, dragging the corner of it down slightly.

Mom waved a hand, "Don't mind the scar, Warren. Turns out vamps stay just as ugly as they were when they were human."

Lodge cocked an eyebrow at her, "Pft, well you're no forest nymph yourself, duckling. And if I recall, two years ago, I shoved you out of the way so it wouldn't be you taking a bullet through the eye socket. So if I'm 'ugly', it's your fault."

Mom merely smirked.

"What exactly were we supposed to talk about?" I asked.

They looked back at me once again. Mom's smirk faded and then she poured two glasses, "We gotta talk about you, Warren."

"What a surprise. I seem to be the focus of all of your tendencies these days." I sighed, leaning against the doorframe.

"Well, you're bringing it on yourself. You're the one who turned on the parental instinct." She said, shrugging.

"'Parental instinct'? Please do tell me where the hell the off switch is?" I inquired, sounding somewhat sincere.

Lodge chuckled, "He's pretty funny for a 'silent, anti-social and troubled teen', Angela."

I shook my head and gestured at her coworker, "Why is exactly he here?"

She slid an orange juice across the island toward me. I didn't touch it. She sighed and took a sip from her own glass. Then she spoke, "He's my backup I guess you could say." I glanced at Lodge who had crossed his arms and was now leaning back against the sink.

"You brought a flammable sack of undead as your backup against a pryokinetic?" I asked, lowering an eyebrow, confused as to where this was going.

"I know that you've been going to the Utilidor at night. And let me tell you,"

I started, "What do you,"

She continued as if I hadn't spoke, "that place was the hangout spot for some…unsavory characters years ago. And based on what Lodge told me,"

"Whoa, wait." I said, standing up straight. "You had him follow me?"

Lodge brushed a hand through his hair, "She was worried about you, so you can't exactly blame her."

"I wasn't talking to you," I spat at him. I looked back at Mom, "What the hell is going on here?"

"Warren, that's what I'm trying to find out. Lodge said that you just go there and wander around for hours. Like you're looking for something, or someone. And not to mention, Concussion called me."

I stiffened.

"Yeah, he called and told me that you went to see your father…Warren, you didn't tell me."

I was quiet for a moment. I let her search my eyes, willing her to just let this go. Things were already hard as it was. I didn't need more guilt or pain. But she wasn't going to drop it as it seemed.

"Yeah, I went to see him. What else did Concussion tell you? That he was afraid that I was gonna piss fire on them?" I asked.

Mom set her jaw, "Well, I'm sure you were treated a bit more roughly because of the circumstances you placed them in. I had to talk him down from coming to get you and question you."

"Question me?" I asked. Great…they finished the translation…

"He said you and…him talked about Royal Pain."

There was another span of silence.

Then I sighed, "I don't know why you're questioning me about things that you already know I'm doing."

"Warren, Lodge told me he saw a little guy dressed up like a goblin,"

"I'd say he's more like the Keebler Elf." I said.

"You've met him?" Lodge asked.

"Yeah, he's a giggly little fuck." I said as a matter-of-factly.

"Years ago, that was Royal Pain's sidekick, Stitches. Just tell me what you've gotten yourself into, Warren, so I can help you," She said, imploringly, coming around the island toward me.

I shook my head, "There's nothing you can do to help me, Mom. Because if everyone suddenly knows about it, he'll mute his presence even more. He'll get even more discreet, and it'll be a lot harder for me to catch him. A lot harder for me to keep whatever he's planning from happening. A lot harder for me to protect what I care ab…" I bit down on my tongue and replaced my words, "So please, just stay out of it…"

She touched my arm, "Warren, being a Hero doesn't mean you have to go it alone."

I grabbed her hand, "Mom, seriously…I really wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't important. It's not that I don't need help. I do. It's just that I can't have help. Just give me some time…please."

More silence…

Those tawny eyes bore deeply into me. And just as she was about to say something, Lodge cut in, "Angela."

We both looked over at him. His eyes were focused thoroughly on me. "Let him go…at least for now."

At that moment, I was grateful that Deadbreath was here.

Mom looked down at the floor and then sighed, "Alright, fine…I'll leave it be…for now…I'll give you a little more time. Just promise me you'll tell me if you need me?"

I hesitated and then nodded, "Yes."

She pressed her lips together in a firm line and then sighed. "Well…cinnamon toast?" She went back around the island and took bread out of the cupboard. Her hands were a little shaky and I could tell just letting it go was hard for her. Forcing herself to go on casually was going to be a challenge. And I wondered how long this could hold out.

Lodge shook his head, "None for me. I'll see you at the station, Peace."

"Bye." She said, looking over her shoulder.

Her partner edged past me, paused and then said, "Keep your promise, will you?"

I narrowed my eyes slightly, staring into those pale green eyes. He stared back just as wholly. Finally, I gave a small nod. He gave a smaller nod in return and replaced his sunglasses. I stared after him as he left. When I heard the front door close, I looked back at Mom.

From the angle of her gaze, she'd turned to watch the guy go. She smirked, and then looked over at me, "Am I too old to date?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Too old to da…The vam…oh for the love of…" I groaned, leaning my head back in exasperation. "I'm going to school now. Bye."

"Hey, wait for me in the car!"

~Will's POV~

I smiled weakly at Gwen as a few people from the Snow Ball committee brought parts into my living room for the snow machine that she had to build at the last minute. She offered a grateful and slightly apologetic smile back for my willingness to comply with her needs.

She mouthed, "You okay?"

I gave her a reassuring nod, and leaned heavily against the living room doorway. That was another big fat lie. My whole body was sore and achy. I was a little hungry, but the thought of food made me feel sick. My limbs felt exceedingly weak and I was tired. And I was doing my absolute best to keep my emotions in check. I never thought my mind capable of such depression. Gwen assured me that a little normalcy would help, but being around others just made it hurt more. Something made me think that this pain was unimaginable and no one here could ever understand.

I sighed quietly through my nose, Maybe I'd just be better off dead…

There were four Pennys in the room, all talking at once as they shuffled through papers and fliers. Gwen was hard pressed to keep her concentration on dismantling and rebuilding the parts she was being provided with.

"Where's the snow? We changed the name because we'd have snow!"

"Yeah, it can't be a Snow Ball without snow!"

"Penny, I'm trying to concentrate." Gwen said gently.

"We're gonna have to test it."

"I think Jeremy is bringing some snow."

"When is he getting here?"

"I don't friggin' know! AH!"

"Penny, chill out, you're all giving me a headache!" said a Senior girl I didn't know.

The Pennys clamored, and I wondered for a moment if they each had their own personalities and thoughts.

I turned from where I leaned against the doorway in the living room, hearing some knocks at the front door. And then someone was frantically ringing the bell. Quickly, I moved to open up the door. Just as I reached to touch the knob, it turned and in came three more people I didn't know. And right behind them was about half a dozen of my Mad Science classmates.

"Whoah, Ryan? Uh, hi Larry. I didn't know you guys…were on the committee." I said, closing the door as the stragglers made it inside.

The vertical-ascender was lugging in a heavy cooler with Larry who was thankfully not a ten ton rock at the moment. The others were hauling in bags of food in each hand. Ryan chuckled, "Can't have a meeting without snackage!"

Larry nodded, "Absolutely no meeting without the proper snacking materials!"

"I uh, I guess not."

Time went by and more of the kids of Sky High poured into my house. It was aggravatingly hard to get to Gwen with the crowd. Someone had flipped on the stereo in the living room and was playing it considerably loud. Red dots danced through the house as Ray used his laser vision to light up my Mom's crystal paperweight. I had personally never been to a meeting for a Snow Ball committee, but I was pretty sure this wasn't how they went down.

Finally, I found Gwen in the backyard. She was standing beside what looked like her finished snow machine, biting her lip as she poured in a bag of fake snow. My schoolmates were standing around, cradling sodas, waiting for the big moment. I glanced into the pool and saw that about a dozen had made themselves at home in the water, and were laughingly splashing, playing chicken or a sorts of water ball.

Gwen pressed a few buttons and then the gathered crowd let out whoops and cheers as the machine dispensed the fake snow in even little flakes, gently covering my yard. For a second, I marveled at her creation. Amazing what you could build with odds and ends such as old iPods, parts from a lawnmower, a couple of unused remotes and a 1950s blender.

I lifted a hand and watched the light, fluffy snow land on my palm.

Snow wasn't a very common thing around Maxville. It maybe snowed three to four times in the prime of winter, which wasn't exactly upon us. Even if it was fake, the snow wasn't an unwelcome thing for me to see.

I looked up and saw Gwen twirling about in the falling snow, smiling widely. One of the Penny's clapped excitedly, grabbed her hands and twirled with the technopath. "I knew you could do it!"

Gwen looks pretty in the snow…I thought absently.

My stomach lurched within me, and I hurried back inside pushing aside people in my way, rushing to the bathroom just off the study. Thankfully, it was empty as I burst through the door and collapsed against the toilet. I hadn't really eaten anything during the day, so vomiting my stomach lining was not pleasant. Hot tears burned my eyes as I gripped the brim.

I flinched, heaving again when I heard the door open wider and then close behind me.

"Oh, Will." Gwen's voice sounded. I felt her soft hands gently brush back my hair and cup my forehead as I leaned over the toilet. I gagged, and coughed.

"It's okay." She reassured tenderly.

When my body was finished with its onslaught against me, I let out a sob.

"Shh, oh Will. Come on, here." I allowed her to prop me against the wall and give me a couple of tissues to wipe off my mouth. She went to the sink and filled one of the paper cups from the dispenser with water. After wiping off my mouth, I took the water and swished it around. Shaking my head as the toilet flushed, I let out a sob again. "I just want to die."

Gwen shook her head, and cupped my face, "Will, don't say that."

"Oh god, I do."

I hated how I sounded. It made me want to vomit again. I sounded so pathetic. I'd always sighed in boredom when things like this happened in movies. But a broken heart really did hurt…and I wanted to take back all of the times I'd ever scoffed at it.

Gwen shook her head again, "No, no you don't. Because Warren is here."

It felt like something clicked its way down my vertebrae. And I looked wide-eyed at her, something like hope turning in my stomach…or was that nausea? "What? What do you mean he's here?"

Gwen brushed back my hair, "I talked to him in school today and I got him to agree to come here and talk with,"

The door burst open behind us and in came the music and laughter. "Ha! I know, you, whoa! Oh shit. Uh, sorry." It was Speed. He looked over his shoulder out the door, "Muy occupado, dude." He looked back at us and held up his hands, backing out, smirking at what the situation looked like.

"My bad, just continue where you guys left off! Just lookin' for a free bucket!"

He backed out and closed the door behind him.

Gwen rolled her eyes, "Of course, how are you gonna talk with him if your house is full of people? By the way, I did not invite all of them. Being the smart ones they are, they probably all thought 'ooh big party at Will's house!'" She shook her head and sat back on her heels, combing her fingers through her hair to neaten it.

"Well, you could talk in my car I guess. Nope, wait, there are people in the front yard too…God…" She looked apologetically at me and took my hands, pulling me up. "We'll figure something out, go brush your teeth, okay? I'll go poke around."

~Warren's POV~

I stood alone, leaned against a tree across the street. A hand loosed itself from my pocket and reached to rub at my dry mouth as my teeth clenched together. Half of Sky High seemed to be flowing through the doors and windows of the Stronghold house. I could hardly think what to make of it.

From observance, I knew that outside of the bed sheets, usually Stronghold was anything but meek and mild. Usually he had a bright friendly smile on his face and from what little I had observed since his entry into Sky High, it wasn't too hard for him to make friends. It wasn't difficult for him to draw the attention in a room.

But for the past few days, he'd been so depressed that no such sufferer of melancholy would ever seem up to throwing a party at his house.

He still drew the attention to him in a room, but in a more pitiful way. The guy had wandered aimlessly between classes, staring at the floor with his glassy, weary, darkly-ringed eyes. His skin had a sickly shade to it and he constantly cradled a hand toward his stomach.

And I caused it…

I cracked my knuckles and pressed my head back into the bark of the tree. I hated to think that it was my fault. A little sadness trade for safety isn't going to kill him…

Stuffing my hands back in my pockets, I went back to observing the crowd. Studying faces for any signs of deception or guile, firmly focused on finding anything incriminating. But being so far away wasn't helping. I'd have to go inside to really be able to observe who socialized with him…and figure out who was the danger.

It had to be one of the kids in school that Royal Pain-in-the-Ass had replaced me with. Or someone close to him. But if I got too close, things could get ugly, whether it be between Stronghold or between Pain's supposed sidekicks.

It sucked to be a Hero…

~Will's POV~

Brushing my teeth while two people made out with one another in my upstairs bathroom was a little unnerving. At first I'd thought of asking for the small space, but in the midst of their tonguing I figured that they were doing little harm aside from making me slightly uncomfortable…and upsetting the soap dish.

I doubted if there had ever been a party like this in this house before. I couldn't believe how my classmate managed to crowd every corner, every wall, every open space and every room. There was even someone standing guard in front of the towel closet that mumbled, "Occupied" to anyone who passed.

Luckily people weren't breaking things…

The sound of a stack of books hitting the floor in my bedroom floated to my ears and I heaved a sigh. They really were everywhere!

This place was gonna be a mess before the night was done…

"COWABUNGA-A-A-A-A-A!"

…And that sounded like someone riding in my Dad's giant suitcase down the stairs…

I didn't have room in my mind to wonder in awe that some of these disrespectful, messy idiots were actually going to be responsible for saving the world one day…

All my thoughts could focus on was the fact that he was here. He was willingly going to speak with me. But how had Gwen done it? I didn't think I'd ever seen them talk at all. Hell, I'd never seen Warren Peace talk civilly with anyone at school. I eased down the stairs, willing everything that was currently wrong with my body to take five and leave me the hell alone.

Once I reached the first landing, I realized that I had no fucking clue what the hell I was going to say to him.

"Shit…" I mumbled. Then I ducked back, almost getting the sole of Ryan's sneaker to the face. "Whoah! Jeez. Ryan, come on! You're getting cheese all over the walls!" I called up to him as he climbed upward, showing off to a couple of girls upstairs.

I heard a loud thud and looked into the living room where Larry had decided to sit his giant rock ass on the couch. "Larry, dude," I exclaimed, "do you really have to be a two ton rock right now?!" I waved a hand, "Please power down, man."

The rock giant waved his giant mitts at me, trying to calm me down.

"Power down," I said again, my sneaker sliding through something wet. Soda or something spilled on the floor. Great…

"Heads up!"

I turned and threw up my arms as a Frisbee came flying toward me.

A striped arm stretched out and seized it from the air. I lowered my arms and shot a glare at Lash who nudged his hair to one side, shrugged at me, and smirked, "My bad."

What the hell am I gonna do about my parents? I wondered briefly, looking around at the mess. But what about Warren…? I reminded myself.

"Hey, Will, what's up?" came a familiar voice behind me.

I whipped around, "Magenta?!"

She nonchalantly raised an eyebrow at me. Her violet nails were tucked into her purple camo pants, and her skin showed a little under the small black jacket she wore over her tank top.

"What're you…what're you doing here?" I asked, nervously brushing back my hair.

She scoffed and glanced around her. "Well, Layla was too pansy to come over and see what the big choke was…something about 'not being invited' or something. I was feeling kinda nosy, so…" she lifted her shoulders slightly, "here I am."

"I uh…"

"I know you're a bit of a floater when it comes to social cliques, but I didn't think you'd fill your house with half of Sky High." She mused.

I looked to the floor, "I'm sorry."

She chuckled, a rare occurrence for her, so I looked back up at her. The smile seemed slightly condescending, but sort of light-hearted. "Why would you be sorry? For not inviting us? Dude, I know you didn't invite anyone here. I can deduct that you didn't even expect there to be a party. I'm actually surprised that they haven't tied you in your boxers-not-briefs to a tree outside as a host prank."

I frowned, wondering how she knew my preference to boxers, and also feeling sheepish at the comment.

She dipped her chin down a little, trying to catch my eye. "Hey"

Looking back into her eyes was a little nerve-wracking. I was so used to that deep, thousand-eye stare. But I was a little shocked to see them almost…concerned.

"Are you okay?" she asked. Her eyes locked gently into mine, and I found myself staring back.

In school, the guys had all noticed that something was wrong with me. Layla, Zack and Ethan had tried talking to me about it a couple of times. Magenta had stayed silent. But I felt like she knew exactly what was wrong…and her being her, I didn't think she could be so affectionate.

And I felt like I was looking into her impossibly dark eyes for the first time. They were a lot darker than Warren's eyes. But at the moment I felt like they glimmered slightly. Two black holes, but at the same time a comforting night sky. I'd had no clue that her eyes could portray so much. They told me things. Comforting things. They gave me room to speak as they silently said to me "It's okay." "You can tell me, but only if you want to." "There's no reason to be afraid."

A lot like Layla's green eyes would speak to me.

"You've been hanging around Layla a lot…" I murmured.

She smiled lightly, "I guess she's smoothing out my rough edges a little bit."

And I smiled a bit back, but was unable to hold it for long. It hurt to smile, my lips cracked a little and my tongue darted out to wet them before blood could well up.

"You know, I saw Warren Peace hanging around out,"

"Will!"

I jumped at both Magenta's statement and at Gwen as she enthusiastically moved over to us. Gwen hooked her arm in mine and held up a finger to Magenta, "Just stealing him for a little while!"

I glanced back over my shoulder as the pink-wrapped Senior dragged me away. I saw Magenta, whose lips were pressed firmly together and I saw her jaw clench. Her eyes lost that soft glimmer and became solid and indifferent again. She mouthed, "I don't like her."

I turned away, and followed Gwen out of the living room. "It's a little bit small, but I managed to clear out the pantry in the kitch…Oh well, nevermind."

Once in the kitchen, she paused as she saw the door to the pantry was closed. I grimaced, hoping that whoever was making use of the small room wasn't knocking down all of Mom's things…

Gwen groaned and let go of my arm. She gently rubbed under her eyes and threw her hands up, "I'm out of ideas. There is literally no place to be alone in this house!"

But I knew that there was one place left here that was completely silent and entirely untouched by the gathered students of Sky High.

There was a long pause between us, and vaguely I heard the sound of someone riding my dad's overlarge suitcase down the stairs again through the loud music and the constant laughter and chatter.

"COWABUNGA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-AAAH!"

"I…I know a place…"