Title: Mother Nature's Call
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Sky High characters, and include some of my own in this work. All but the characters in the movie are mine.
Feedback: Guys, I really appreciate your feedback and reviews. I'm not sure about Warren being in the same grade as the others. He's a year older, so it makes sense to me that he'd be in grade higher. I took out the reference to him being a junior though, just in case.
Synopsis: Sophomore year comes quickly for Will and friends. When trouble arises from student transfers, members of the small group of friends are faced with difficult choices.
Mother Nature's Call
Chapter Seven: Trust
Will reached for the orange juice his mother set out for him in dismay. Layla should have been there by now. Looking at the clock again, he decided to try calling her. No one answered the phone.
"Will, you're gonna miss your bus if you wait any longer." His mom told him, encouraging him out the door. The tall teenager reached for his backpack relunctantly before running out the door. He technically wasn't allowed to use his powers outside of school, and even then he wasn't supposed to use them unless it was in gym class. So he ran, and found himself panting for breath as he stood outside the closed bus door, knocking on it to gain entrance. The door opened with a groan, and he climbed on ignoring the bus driver's scowl.
As the bus dropped off its cargo, Zach and Magenta glanced at each other. Will had only nodded to them this morning, and Layla was absent. Curious but neither willing to comment, both stopped walking as Ethan asked, "So, where's Layla Will?" They picked up the pace again at his response, "I'm not sure." This time Majenta saw Ethan begin to open his mouth and nudged him to stay quiet. Looking at her questioningly, Ethan decided that maybe it was better to remain silent.
Will headed off to class while the others stopped at their lockers and talked before going to Hero Support. When they reached their classroom they smiled, Layla sitting inside already.
"Hey! We missed you on the bus this morning," Majenta said, smiling genuinely at seeing the red head.
"Oh, right. Sorry guys. I'm staying with some friends for a while so I'll be catching a different bus. I missed you guys too. How's Will?" She asked, feeling guilty for not giving him a call to let him know not to wait for her this morning.
"He's okay," Zach said, wanting to say more but stopping at the look that Majenta sent his way.
Class flew by for the four friends, all of which were ready for lunchtime when it came. After the bell rang, Layla stood up quickly.
"'Kay guys, I've got to go meet some friends for lunch. I'll see you later in class." Watching her rush out Ethan barely had time to pipe up.
"Sure," Ethan's response was energetic, a nice ploy to those who didn't know him well.
"Come on guys, we've friends of our own to meet for lunch." Zach said, grabbing his stuff and heading to the cafeteria. When they got there they saw Layla at the table with John and his friends. They were leaning in towards each other, talking excitedly about something. Their voices were too low to be able to tell what though, even as they passed by to go for food or to sit down at their usual table once they'd gotten some.
"What's up?" Warren asked, looking at the three once they joined him.
"Wish we knew." Majenta said, seeing his eyes light up in agreement. Will walked into the cafeteria a few minutes later. Seeing Warren and the others, he walked to put his stuff on the table. Even as they said hey to him he saw her, sitting there looking as pretty as ever, sitting close to John and talking rapidly about something. Will acted on impulse, unable to control the urge to confront her that came over him. He said nothing in response to his friends' greetings but left the table to walk straight to the one Layla was sitting at.
"Hey Layla, where were you this morning?" Will asked, his voice like steel. Surprised, Layla turned suddenly stopping mid-sentence.
"Oh, Will, hey. I, I'm sorry I didn't call this morning. My mom's out of town so I'm staying with friends for a while. I caught a different bus to school." Layla said, recognizing the look on Will's face. He had been worried, and now was angry.
"You could have stayed with us." Will said simply, his eyes squinting as John put his arm around Will's girlfriend.
"Nanh, she's staying with me and Tara. She's in good hands." John said, smiling. What pushed Will over the edge was how genuine the smile was, John was truly pleased.
"Oh really..." Will stepped forward. Layla stood up quickly to stop him from doing anything.
"Yes, Will. I am. Just like I am sitting here for lunch and talking with my friends. Please, leave us alone." Layla saw Will's eyes go wide, and felt her stomach twist into knots.
"Hey Will, come join us man," Zach called out, watching the scene like everyone else in the cafeteria.
"I'm not leaving without Layla," Will said, watching John and his friends stand up.
"You're not leaving with her." John said, as Warren walked over to stand behind Will and slightly to the side.
"It's Layla's choice." Warren said. He couldn't force her out of the snake pit if she didn't want to go. But he could make sure she wasn't forced to stay in it. Feeling heat emanating from his friend, Will nodded his head in thanks. He'd rather make the choice for her and take Layla away from this group he could not bring himself to understand or trust, but he knew he couldn't. As he stood there and watched her smile and sit down, he wished more than ever that he knew what was going on.
"I'm staying. But thanks guys." Layla looked at both of them with a sincere smile. Turning to Will again, Layla said, "Thanks for the trust Will." To everyone else, it sounded like Layla was disappointed in her boyfriend. To Will it served as a reminder. "Please, trust me." she had whispered, looking like her next breath would depend on his very response. He hadn't hesitated, he thought he did, and standing here now, he wondered if he'd let her down.
With his head down Will returned to the table where his friends watched in silence. Warren, looking Layla over, stood in place. Something was up, he knew it, because he knew how much the hippie loved Stronghold. She did, even now her love for him oozed out of her like fresh, sticky blood. She was hurting because he was hurting, and Warren wanted to know why anyone had to hurt at all. He continued to stand there, willing an explanation from her that never came.
She couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes. So she turned back to John and started small talk, about classes and assignments and the food on her tray. Eventually Warren cooled down, and let the flame die out. He returned to the table to grab his stuff before leaving for his next class. Will skipped the actual eating part of lunchtime, opting to wait in misery until the bell rang and lunch was over.
It didn't take long for word to spread of the near fight or harsh words exchanged in the cafeteria. No one doubted that Will and Layla had officially broken up now. It was high school after all, and word spread of relationships formed and ended faster than Speed could get from one end of the school to the next, when he had still attended. Will ignored the glances people sent his way, he was regarded as quite a catch and many of the girls held a secret crush on him. Layla on the otherhand was shunned. Will was considered the wronged party in every sense, and so she was pushed and shoved in the hallways and ignored in class. She found herself grateful that the day was over.