Mary was about ready to drop. Her feet ached from dancing and her camera cards were full of pictures from the dance. She leaned back in her seat, watching the new couples dance. Magenta had come out of her darker attitude and was enjoying herself with Zach, whose dancing mimicked someone having a seizure, though neither of them cared. Will and Layla were swaying, their go to dance since they'd gotten together. Ethan had found a tall sophomore to dance with and they were on their third dance so far.
Warren sank into the seat next to her, placing two cups of punch and a plate of snacks on the table. Mary grabbed a carrot. "Who said you could have any?" Warren asked.
She raised an eyebrow. "Want it back?" Warren rolled his eyes with a slight smile. Mary finished off the carrot and reached for one of the cups. "Enjoying yourself?"
Warren leaned back in his seat and propped his feet up on the chair across from him. "More than I thought I would." He chewed on a grape and smiled. "The dance being a trap and the school being turned into babies was a twist."
Mary grabbed another carrot. "How will they top this for the next time?"
Warren shrugged, grabbing another grape. "They could set something on fire."
"Ah, so you're joining the dance committee?"
"Yeah. Right after you join the cheerleading squad."
The two laughed. Mary pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and looked over the dance floor again. "I wonder what it will be like on Monday."
Warren shrugged, his gaze following hers over the new couples and partying teens. "I'm not sure if anything will." Mary met his gaze. "This school has seen a good number of villains and henchmen leave this school. It's literally a career option when you graduate. They may not advertise it, but Sky High has probably had a few attempted takeovers in the past. And the Hero/Sidekick system doesn't seem to have really changed beyond a few tweaks here or there."
Mary's smile had faded slightly as Warren talked. She hadn't thought about that. "They really haven't changed things to reduce the risk of making super villains?" She slumped in her chair. "That's depressing." Her eyes traveled over the crowd. How many here would go on to be villains? Who would rise and who would fall? They were here to learn to be Heroes, but not all could go that way. It was impossible.
"Of course," Warren said, breaking through her thoughts, "if we got the right person on the student council- someone who could put things into motion- some real changes could be made."
Turning to face him, Mary narrowed her eyes. "Who were you thinking?" He looked out onto the floor and she followed. Her eyes widened and she looked back at Warren with a grin. "You're a genius."
"I'm not just a pretty face."
"Layla's perfect. She's knows how to get things done. She's an activist for at least a dozen other things and if she gets Will on it, his reputation could help move things along." Mary laughed and looked back at the swaying couple. But her enthusiasm dimmed as a thought occurred to her. "How do we sell them on the idea, though? We can't make them run for student council."
Warren shrugged. "Beats me. I only came up with the idea." He stood suddenly and held out his hand. "Last dance. Join me?"
Mary smiled and slid her hand into his. "Love to." She didn't bother to grab her shoes as he led her onto the floor and pulled her close. She loosely wrapped her arms around his neck, blushing a little as his circled her waist. They swayed like the other pairs on the floor. Mary rested her cheek against his shoulder and his head was bowed slightly to look down at her. She was content leaning against him and soaking in his warmth as their swaying slowed until it resembled lazy shifting. She felt safe and cared for in his embrace, like nothing could ever touch her as long as he was there. He may not feel the same way, but she would imagine he did for just this one song. All too soon, though, the song ended and the gym lights turned on. Mary blinked at the sudden brightness and lowered her hand from Warren's shoulder to shield her eyes. Warren turned his head away from the lights to let his own eyes adjust, his hair once more brushing her bare shoulder. She leaned closer to him, smiling at the soft caress.
"Please report to the busses," Principal Powers said over the loud speakers. "They shall return you home and, despite the setback tonight, thank you for coming out."
Warren led Mary to the table and held out an arm for her to grab as she slid her heals back onto her aching feet. Once she was stable, they grabbed their things and followed the crowd out to the busses. Layla and Will climbed onto Ron Wilson's bus, grinning at the man before taking their seats. Magenta, Zach, and Ethan followed the two. Mary turned to Warren.
"Would you like to come over tomorrow?"
Warren shook his head. "I can't. Work." He smiled softly. "But I'll see you Monday." Mary matched his smile and nodded. She reached out and hugged him. He hesitated for a moment before his strong arms pulled her closer. Their embrace lasted for a few moments before Warren had to pull away to catch his own bus.
Mary sank into her own seat on the bus and grinned at her friends across the aisle. "What a night."
Will laughed, his arm draped over Layla's shoulders. "You can say that again."
Layla leaned against Will's shoulder, smiling to herself. It had taken a long time, but they were finally together. Mary couldn't be happier for them. They deserved to be happy.
Mary pulled her feet up under her, barely seeing the homecoming pictures spread across the coffee table or the cup of tea that was starting to grow cold. She'd gone through her nightly routine already, but wasn't the least bit interested in climbing into bed. The house was too quiet and empty. The lights she'd turned on in the living room chased away a bit of the darkness, but it couldn't stop her from missing her siblings. They'd have filled the silence with their laughter and arguments. Without them around, Mary felt lonely, curled up on the couch in her pajamas.
Did she put too much focus on the twins? She was doing all she could to make sure they were loved and cared for, but maybe Layla and Magenta had a point that she should do something for herself. She'd had more time to herself in France- enough time to cover photo shoots, catwalks, and other projects from her old school- but not so much since her return to Maxville.
She focused on the pictures and picked one up. It was the one she'd shot of Principle Powers and Coach Boomer dancing after everyone had been turned back into their normal selves. It was a pretty good shot, actually. Maybe she should look into the yearbook or school newspaper. Having specific projects to work on might help her image at school. People hadn't really seen her as a villain's kid when she was taking pictures. She'd had a bit of respect.
Mary put it off to the side and moved a few other pictures around. Magenta would love this picture of Zach wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She looked like she wasn't impressed with him, but the slight upturn of her lips proved otherwise. Mary bet the two of them would be a couple by the end of the term. She looked over the shots of her friends, the couples appearing clearly in the pictures; Will and Layla, Magenta and Zach, Ethan and the sophomore girl. Everyone seemed to be pairing off. Would they focus on their partner and forget about her?
She shook those thoughts away and slid the pictures into a stack, wrapping a rubber band around them. Mom would love to see these. Maybe a visit was in order for tomorrow.
With Randy and Suzy asking to stay longer at Taylor's house to play, Mary was the only one waiting in the room at the prison Saturday afternoon. She'd worn a simple green dress that her mother favored and had braided her hair out of her eyes. Mary absently wondered if she should pick up some hair dye on the way home to fix her blue streaks. The stack of homecoming pictures was laid out in front of her on the table.
Trisha Lamb was led in and settled like normal in her chair. She grinned at her daughter. "Homecoming was eventful, so I hear."
Mary blinked. "How could you know so soon? It happened just last night."
"Villain news travels fast here. The idea had merit but it's hard for someone so young to pull something so intricate off."
"Well, I think Gwen- or Sue, really- had more than enough time to plan everything if she her memories of an adult when she was turned into a baby by the Pacifier."
Trisha shrugged. "Well, if she ends up here, she'll be in interesting company. Barron's got some sort of score to settle with her or something from high school." She leaned forward and grinned. "But let's not talk about Sue. Tell me how everything else went."
Mary spent the next ten minutes rambling about what happened, who wore what, and showing off the pictures she'd taken. Anything she could remember, she told to her mom. Trisha became concerned when Mary told her that she'd been turned into a baby, but was pleased that she hadn't been harmed in her infant state. She held her daughter's hand as Mary continued with her recount of the dance.
"Will and Layla are now together, too. They couldn't be separated last night. Here," she pulled out a picture of the two swaying on the dance floor and handed it over. "Warren says that we should get them to run for student council. They might be able to change things enough so there aren't so many villains like Gwen."
Trisha smiled at her daughter. "It's an admirable goal, dear. I hope you just remember that some people will always be villains and that can't change. Besides, if there weren't villains, a lot of people would be out of work."
Mary chuckled mirthlessly. "True enough."
"By the way," Trisha said, lifting up a picture and smiling softly, "how are you and Warren doing?"
"Good." Mary smiled and leaned her arms on the table. "We talk and laugh, even joke around a bit. He's intelligent and very sweet when you can get him to open up. I couldn't ask for a better friend, Mom. He's just so…wonderful."
"I can see that." At Mary's questioning look, Trisha turned the photo around. Mary's eyes widened.
It was of her and Warren, standing close to one another on the dance floor for the last dance. Her head was tucked against his shoulder and they held one another almost lovingly. Mary reached out and slowly took the picture, drawing it closer. Had Warren really looked at her with such a soft and sweet expression? Did they really look so comfortable together?
Trisha smiled. "It seems you and Warren are closer to being a couple than either one of you thinks." She chuckled. "Won't Barron be surprised?"
Mary stared at the picture for a while longer before putting it back on the stack. She'd have to print out her own copy. That was a picture she might like to have with her.
"So," Mary said. "How have you been? Anything new or interesting here?"
Trisha smiled at her daughter but allowed the topic change. She started talking about how she'd just been granted permission to join some of the recreational groups. She was deciding between the book club or the gardening club. Nina Flores, aka Villainess, had suggested basketball but Trisha wasn't very sporty. Mary laughed as she remembered her mom trying to teach her how to shoot a hoop and had ended up giving herself a black eye.
The rest of the visit was filled with random chatter and nothing of real value. It was just good to talk with her mom again like the old days. Mary almost wanted to frown when Joey came in to tell them their time was up, but he was only doing his job. The two women stood and, with a quick check to Joey for approval, embraced before either of them left.
"I'm glad you visit so often," Joey said as he escorted Mary to the security check out point. "She's really missed you the past year."
"We've all missed her, too." Mary smiled up at the man. "Thanks for looking out for her, Joey. It means a lot to us."
He grinned. "Anything to make a pretty girl smile." Mary laughed as he wiggled his eyebrows from under the brim of his security cap and walked away to allow the other security officers to check Mary for anything being smuggled out.
Once out into the bright afternoon, Mary continued to the bus stop for the ride home.
The twins couldn't stop talking about the sleepover. Thanks to years of practice, Mary was able to listen to the two simultaneous narratives of the evening while fixing dinner. They talked straight through dinner and it was only when they were digging into their ice cream that they asked about homecoming. Mary told them everything- except for her moments with Warren- and even pulled the photos up on her computer after they finished their dessert.
"What was it like being a baby?" Randy asked from his seat on the couch next to Mary.
"Strange. I remember thinking that I wanted Mom and constantly crying because I didn't know what was going on or where I was. I know what happened now, but I was so confused at the time."
Suzy climbed into Mary's lap and wrapped her arms around her sister's neck. "I'm glad you're ok," she said as she buried her face into Mary's shoulder.
Mary held her close. "Me, too."
Randy looked through the photos on the laptop. "Will and Layla are together?"
"It's about time," Suzy said, resting her head against Mary's shoulder as she stared at the photo of the two teens.
Randy flipped to the next picture. "It only took a super villain to ruin a dance and almost make the school fall from the sky."
"Not the most ideal situation, but will make one heck of a story later in life," Mary said.
"You think they'll stay together and get married?"
"Don't know. Maybe."
Suzy smiled. "They'll be good together." She looked up at Mary. "Can you read us a story tonight?"
Mary smiled and kissed her sister's forehead. "Of course. How about Jack and the Beanstalk or Rapunzel?"
"Can you read us Beauty and the Beast?" Randy asked, looking up with eager eyes.
"Yeah," Suzy chimed in.
"Anything you want." Mary stood, shifting Suzy to her hip. Randy raised his arms and she lifted him, too, settling him on her opposite hip. She had to adjust them slightly, but managed to get up the stairs with little problem.
She tucked them into Suzy's bed and read them their story. They fell asleep just as she was saying the final words, so she kissed them goodnight and retired to her own bed. She felt much better with the twins home. Falling asleep was easy.
Monday morning found Will and Layla walking to the bus stop hand in hand. It brought a smile to Mary's face and she snapped a quick picture of the two.
"Have a good weekend?"
Layla smiled. "Wonderful. You?"
"I visited Mom. You know, they'd already heard about homecoming in the prison. Mom said news like that travels pretty quickly."
"Do you think Gwen will be put in the same prison?"
Mary shrugged. "Hard to say. The prison has some pretty high profile villains. I guess the courts will have to figure out if she's worth a cell there. Besides, I'm not sure if they'll try her as a 17 year old or as someone older. I mean, she's already lived an entire life but then turned into a baby." She laughed slightly. The trial would be a mess, that's for sure.
"Do you think anything will be different at school?" Will asked.
"I don't think things could stay the same after the dance," Layla said. "A villain tried to make the school fall out of the sky. How are we supposed to keep things the same?"
"Warren thinks there may have been school take overs in the past and nothing's really changed because of them," Mary said as the bus pulled up.
The doors opened and they climbed in, heading to their seats as the other riders applauded them. Will smiled and slapped a few high fives. The three sat down in their seats near Magenta, Zach, and Ethan.
"Something should be done about that," Layla said as they sat down.
"About what?" Ethan asked.
"How nothing changes even though there may have been more villain attacks in the past." Layla turned in her seat to look at all of her friends. "If something happens, shouldn't it be up to us as students to try and fix it? Maybe we could do something to change things."
As the bus took off, Mary turned to Layla and Will. "Have you two thought about running for student council?"