It wasn't until Mary was unloading the dishwasher that she realized that she was low on food. Her friends had already finished off the take-out and leftovers in the fridge that morning. There was enough to make some toast and eggs in the morning for Suzy and Randy and maybe a simple lunch for school, but nothing else. She could go grocery shopping after school tomorrow but that didn't help her with tonight's dinner. Maybe some soup? There should be some cans in the pantry.
The doorbell rang. Mary shot a look at the clock. The twins couldn't be back from school so soon. She wasn't expecting to find Josie and Steve on the other side.
"Hello, dear," Josie said, coming in and pulling Mary into a gentle hug. She leaned back and pressed a hand to her forehead. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thanks." Mary stepped aside to let them in.
Steve held up two large cloth shopping bags. "Thought we'd bring you some food if you don't mind us staying for dinner."
Mary smiled. Looks like dinner was covered. And a few things for tomorrow, by the looks of it. "Not at all. Suzy and Randy aren't home, yet, and I don't know how many people are going to invade my house tonight, but you're more than welcome to stay."
"We've got plenty for everyone," Josie said. She looked through the doorway into the living room. "Oh, hello, Warren."
Warren nodded slowly. "Mrs. Stronghold."
"Oh, call me Josie. Thank you so much for looking after Mary. I remember she could be a bit of a handful when she was sick."
A slight smile pulled at the corner of his lips as Mary shot him a look to not say a word. "It was no problem. What are friends for?" He shot Mary a quick smirk before turning to Steve. "I can take those into the kitchen," he said, gesturing to the bags.
Steve handed over one of the bags, turning slightly to the women. "We'll get things set up for dinner. Will and Layla know to pick up the twins. Hope you like company."
Mary smiled. "Always."
Steve and Warren retreated to the kitchen while Josie took Mary's arm and they continued into the living room.
"Are you sure you're all right," Josie asked, sitting on the couch and pulling Mary down next to her. "Will said something about your powers changing."
Mary nodded. "I'm ok. Apparently when I was turned into a baby and then back again, my system didn't react well. My ability to create forcefields is still there but my ability to not feel pain is gone. Now I can bend light to see through things."
"Any other side effects?"
"It just felt like I had a bad case of flu for a few days. But Warren's mom came to look me over and Warren's been making me drink some kind of tea that helps with sickness. It tastes awful, but it must work because Warren says I can go to school tomorrow."
Josie pressed her hand back to Mary's forehead. "You don't have a fever, so it must have worked." She dropped her hand and smiled. "But I don't want you to overdo yourself when you go back. If you feel lightheaded or tired–"
"I'll go straight to the nurse's office," Mary said with a soft smile. "I'll take it easy, Josie. No crazy heroics or pushing myself too hard. I'll even skip Power Training and Save the Citizen until I'm completely recovered. Promise."
"Ok. But I'm going to have Will and Layla look after you, too, ok?"
Mary nodded. "All right." She knew they would watch her like hawks, anyways. And if not them, then Warren would.
"Have you been keeping up with your homework?" Josie asked, looking at the pile of books and papers on the coffee table.
"It took a while but I'm good to go. Warren even insisted on studying ahead so I could be ready for any surprise pop quizzes."
They chatted about school work for a while. It felt nice to have an adult besides her mother be concerned about her education and keeping up with what Mary did in school. It made her feel loved. Warren and Steve came in to join them and laughed at Mary's scowl when she spotted the mugs they brought.
"It's just regular tea," Warren assured her as he handed over a mug.
Mary still gave it a tentative sniff before taking a sip. Simple English breakfast tea. She gave a slight nod as if she approved of his choice, making him chuckle, and leaned back into the couch as Steve took a seat in an armchair. Warren slid next to Mary and she subconsciously shifted closer to his heat.
Mary asked about the Stronghold Real estate business and was content to sip her tea as Steve recounted a tricky sale they'd just closed on. Though the industry of buying property never fully captured her interest, Mary enjoyed the odd story or two. And it was nice to have adult chatter around after the multiple nights of teenage company. It never hurt to branch out to different age groups. The story, and the next, ate the time up. All too soon, the door was opening and Randy and Suzy were rushing in with the others not too far behind.
"We won!" Layla said the moment everyone dropped their bags by the wall. "You are looking at the new Freshmen class representative on the student body council!"
Mary grinned. "That's wonderful! I knew you'd win."
"There wasn't a doubt in my mind," Will added.
"Was it because Hippie was the only one running for the post?" Warren asked with a slightly teasing smirk.
"Layla would have won even with competition," Mary said.
"Actually, there were two others who were running, but the Freshman class chose me," Layla said proudly. She sat down next to Mary on the sofa. "I have so many ideas. I can't wait to get started. But first I have to have an orientation of some kind to learn the rules and how things are set up. Then I can get to work on-"
"Breathe a little," Will said, smiling at his girlfriend. He turned to Mary. "She's been like this since they announced her as the winner. How was your day?"
"You know. Sleep, disgusting 'healthy' tea, and more sleep." Mary sent a soft glare Warren's way. "If that tea hadn't cure me, I was going to be very unhappy with you for making me drink it for three days."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Forgive me if I'm not shaking in my boots."
"So the normal between you two," Will said before Mary could retort back. "But you'll be ready for school tomorrow?"
Mary sighed, nodding. "Yeah. Don't worry, I'll take it easy."
"Are you staying for the musical auditions after school?" Zach asked.
"The school musical, already?" Steve asked, looking up from where he was swinging the twins on his arms. They giggled as they swayed. "What did they pick this year?"
"Beauty and the Beast," Magenta said. "Warren's trying out tomorrow."
"Ah," Steve turned to the boy. "What part?"
He shrugged, though he stiffened slightly at the attention. "I'd be glad to get any part…but maybe the Beast?"
"You'll get it," Mary said. "They'd be crazy not to recognize your talent."
"I'd be prepared, though," Ethan said, helping Magenta hand out drinks they'd gotten from the kitchen. "Melanie's in the Theatre club and some of them can get super competitive."
"Who's Melanie," Layla asked.
"How competitive?" Magenta asked.
Ethan blushed slightly. "Melanie's the girl I danced with at the dance. She's a sophomore. But she's been part of the Theatre club since her first year and she says that if a non–theatre club member or anyone from choir auditions, they have a low chance of getting a spot. Not unless they're outstanding."
"Sounds like how it was in our day," Steve said, setting the twins down. "Barron Battle was one of the more talented singers in choir and he got the lead in Oklahoma!."
Will rolled his eyes. "Really need to let that go, Dad," he said.
"My point," Steve said, smiling slightly at his son before looking at Warren, "is that you should bring your A-game." The oven dinged in the kitchen. "Ah. Lasagna's finished warming up. Josie, give me a hand getting dinner ready?"
Josie smiled and the two of them left the living room.
Mary glanced at Warren. His eyes were staring into space, caught up in his thoughts. She squeezed his hand, making him come back to the moment and turn to her. "There will always be competition; every part you go for will be someone who will be better than you in something. Just keep yourself centered and do your best. If someone tries to shake you, stand fast and ignore them."
"It seems things are stacked against my chances," he said in a low voice. The others were pulling their homework out, barely looking at it but having it out for appearance sake.
"So what if they are?" Mary raised her chin slightly. "Didn't you face off against Royal Pain and her henchmen and save the school? Didn't you turn your image around from villain to hero? You are Warren Peace and you can handle whatever they throw at you." A small flash of insecurity appeared in his eyes. She linked her fingers with his, smiling warmly. "And you'll have me and the others supporting you the whole way. We'll be sitting in the audience. If the nerves get too bad, just perform for us and no one else."
Warren let out a soft breath of air, squeezing her hand back. "What if I'm not good enough for even a villager role?"
"Then we go for ice cream," Randy said, popping up and making the two of them jump. "That always cheers me up."
Suzy nodded from next to her brother. "And I'll make you sweets to make you feel better. But you're going to get the role. I just know it."
Mary chuckled. "See? You have the full Lamb family behind you."
Warren smiled. "Then I can't fail."
Randy and Suzy puffed up with pride. "Nope," they said together. Mary shook her head but noticed Warren was much more relaxed than before.
Josie appeared in the living room doorway. "Sorry, kids, but Steve and I are getting called away for something. The food's ready and don't worry about the Tupperware, Mary, we'll pick them up this weekend. Will you all be ok?"
"Yeah, Mom," Will said. "Can I stay the night?"
She smiled. "Sure. Just remember to get your homework done. And early bedtime, guys. Mary needs her rest."
"Bye, Mom," Will said.
"Bye, Mrs. Stronhold," the others said as she left. The front door opened and then closed.
"Food," Randy and Suzy said, hurrying into the kitchen.
Mary laughed. "You'd think they never get fed," she said, but she pushed herself off the couch. The others were already in the kitchen and she hung back as they moved around the kitchen. They filled up the space fairly easily, bumping into one another and dodging hot plates. She laughed as Zach shuffled around the edge of the crowd, full plate raised high above his head. He managed to get free and grinned. "It helps to be tall," he said.
"Seems so."
"You want us in the living room or the at the table?"
"I don't think everyone can fit at the table. Just be careful not to spill in the living room."
Zach grinned. "You got it. Magenta, can you grab the paper towels?"
"On it," she said, grabbing the roll from the counter and sliding around Steve. She paused by her boyfriend, her own plate in hand. "We're good." They walked into living room, Randy and Suzy following. Will had more lasagna than anything else on his plate. Warren's was more balanced. Mary stepped into the kitchen for her own plate. Layla was making up a salad.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Better." Mary smiled slightly. "I'll be glad to get back to school. It's better than just sitting not he couch and drinking Warren's awful tea."
Layla paused, vinaigrette bottle poised over her plate. "Mary, you should know something before you go back." She looked toward the living room but it seemed the others were debating on what movie to watch. She turned back to her friend. "People have noticed you and Warren aren't at school. There have been a few crazy theories about why…and a few not so nice rumors floating around."
Mary frowned. "What? Do they think we're skipping school to plan a team-up and become the next villains to take over the world?"
Layla's lips twitched. "A few think that, but there are enough students out there that are quick to point out that Warren saved the school." Layla bit her lip, as if there was something she didn't want to say, but she continued anyway. "I told people that Warren was only looking after you because you got sick. But some think the two of you have been…well, that you've been fooling around and using the sickness as an excuse."
Mary blushed but turned to face her food. "What creative imaginations high schoolers have. Who's been spreading those rumors?"
"A few seniors."
Mary raised an eyebrow. "They wouldn't happen to be friends of Gwen and her bunch, would they? People bitter that their friends were stopped?"
Layla shrugged. "Maybe. But I just wanted to let you know what people have been saying."
Mary smiled at her friend. "And I appreciate the heads up. Thanks for sticking up for us." She sighed and looked toward the living room. "I'll have to let Warren know before he goes home tonight. He's not going to like this."
Layla nodded and picked up her plate. "The others know about it but we haven't said anything to Randy and Suzy. We'll try to help kill the rumors."
Mary nodded and Layla left the kitchen with her plate. Great. Just what she needed. So not only was she still going to be 'Nightmare's kid' but she would have to add 'Gwen's leftover henchmen drama' to her list. High school sucked.
"Hey, you ok?"
She looked up as Warren leaned against the counter. "Layla's been catching me up on what's going at school. Apparently, people have been talking about us and why we're absent."
"They've been talking about us before. Why is this any different?"
"I'm not shocked by their idea that we've skipped school to have a villain team-up to take over the world. Frankly, that's probably an older rumor." She smiled slightly. "You're on the clear for that one, though. You apparently have fans who stuck up for you; claiming you're not that person anymore because you saved the school."
Warren rolled his eyes. "Great. Groupies. Fun."
Mary laughed at the level of sarcasm he spread on those three words. "Aw, what's the matter? Don't like having a fan club? Oh, maybe they have t-shirts and buttons!"
He glared at her, which only made her chuckle again. "Don't put ideas into their heads." His eyes softened. "But there's something else."
Mary sighed and nodded. "Some of Gwen's old friends are spreading rumors that we've taken the three days off of school to fool around."
Warren's eyebrows rose up in surprise. "They do know that you're only 14, right?"
"They either don't know or don't care." She placed a piece of garlic bread on her plate. "It probably won't go too far, anyway. With all of us shutting down the rumors and pointing out that they're just bitter people, it shouldn't affect us too much."
"But it does affect you." Mary looked up at his worried expression. "We're villains' kids. We're used to rumors and prejudice because of that fact, but that doesn't mean that we don't hate when we're being talked about. We'll be getting more of that kind of talk when we become Heroes, having to live in our parent's shadows, but that doesn't mean it won't get to you." He stepped closer, touching her arm. "You still have me, though. I'll have your back." His lips turned up slightly. "This isn't the first time I've dealt with rumors. My first year, there were at least seven different rumors floating around of who I was sleeping with and why. Everything from trying to destroy someone's relationship for fun to trying to blackmail my way to better grades. They'll either die down or something bigger will come by and take people's attention."
Warren wasn't going anywhere and she didn't think he'd let her push him away, either. Mary smiled slightly, feeling better knowing that he would still be around. A small part of her had thought he might distance himself; that tiny bit of her that always reared its head to try and sabotage the good in her life. She wrapped her arms around his middle, pressing her face into his chest as she hugged him. "Thank you. For everything."
He returned the embrace, his warmth sinking into her skin. "Any time, Pics."