AN: I don't own Sky High or anything affiliated with it. I don't own any of the songs used. I don't own Domino's pizza.

I must thank my friends, Chris Kim and Nancy and Dara, for that time we went Karaoke and forced Chris to sing the song that Warren sings (the second one, not the first one). Besides setting up the last line of this chapter, that was the whole reason for this being written.

Please review because they make me happy!



Passing Notes: Will



In celebration of the Christmas season being just around the corner, we decided to have a little party at Yuri's house. Why Yuri's? Because her parents were going to be away thus giving us a whole house floor to ourselves (and hopefully we wouldn't wake the renters upstairs). Anyway, Yuri says that they never complain when things get loud. They're very heavy sleepers.

Layla and I were the last to arrive. Ethan and Maj were testing out the new video game Yuri's dad had brought back from his last business trip to Japan and Zach was cheering on whoever was winning; when we entered, it was Ethan. The sound of swearing from the kitchen let us know where Yuri was. And the subsequent swearing in a lower register let us know Warren was trying to help her salvage whatever was cooking. They were probably failing miserably. It wasn't often that we came out of these little excursions eating anything but take-out and chips.

I got out my cell phone to call our favorite pizza delivery service when they both burst out of the kitchen.

"Why can't you control water?" Warren yelled, rushing for the fire extinguisher.

"It's not my fault! It's my DNA!" Yuri shrieked back. "Anyway, you can control fire! Why don't you put it out?"

Grabbing the canister, they rushed back to the kitchen. "I can light fires, not put them out. There's a difference!"

Lots of hissing later, Yuri let out a wail of despair. "The pizza!"

Suppressing a chuckle, I dragged Layla to the kitchen. "I'll just call Domino's now, okay?"

Yuri glared at me, trying not to smile. "It's all his fault." She pointed at Warren who shot her a defensive look. I had a feeling they were having the equivalent of a lover's tiff. The past few months had been spent masquerading as a couple in hopes that Yuri's 'adorably obsessive-slash-slightly stalkerish' (as spoken by Layla) ex-boyfriend would 'get over it'. He had yet to get the message, but at least he didn't show up more than twice. The second time, Warren, who is actually kind of scary when he's not your friend, threatened to break the guy's arms.

Voices snapped me out of memory lane. "Hey, you never told me this thing ran on gas," Warren defended, a frown directed at Yuri. "I thought it was electric."

Backing away to the den, I ordered four large pepperoni pizzas and looked around. At least we had chips and soda on the dining table and…

"Wow," Layla began, looking over a set of shelves near the television, "you have a kareeokee machine?"

Yuri dashed out of the kitchen, Warren sulkily in tow, cringing. "Ohmigodno. Not kareeokee. It's not kareeokee. Please, never say it like that in front of me again," she grimaced. "It's 'ka' as in crows 'caw', ra as in 'rah, rah, rah', o as in 'oh', and ke as in Kelly. And you roll the r."

"Okay, okay," Layla apologized, "but you have a…kah-rah-oh-keh machine?"

"Yeah." Yuri walked over to the entertainment system and opened a panel, revealing dozens of records and Cds for the machine, three microphones, and a couple songbooks. "Wanna try?"



By the time the pizza arrived, we had set up a system to choose songs for each other. Ethan, by the powers that be (okay, so it was because he had a sore throat), had been appointed song master and would be picking names out of a hat and choosing songs for everyone. Whichever song Ethan chose, you had to sing. As a rule, anything exceptionally embarrassing would never be mentioned again so as to prevent blackmail. All recording devices were not to be used, just in case.

Ethan rummaged around in Yuri's old fedora for a name.

"Layla," he said, reading the curlicue handwriting of our host. "And you'll be singing," he proceeded to flip through the songbook, "Do You Believe in Magic."

He handed her a microphone and flipped on the TV.

A cheesy video involving some clouds and people in a meadow came up and we waited the few bars for the lyrics to appear.

After the next couple uneventful songs, my The One courtesy of the Backstreet Boys (if anyone tells anyone, I will literally fly them up to the school and leave them there overnight), and Maj's I'll Be There for You, we had something interesting.

"Okay Zach, you're next." Ethan handed him a microphone and pushed a few buttons on the karaoke remote.

The sweet, dulcet tones of Play that Funky Music wafted from the speakers.

Zach stared at the screen all through the first verse, dumbfounded. "Dude, that's harsh."

"Come on, come on, " Maj urged, "it'll be funny."

Reluctantly, Zach began reading the words as they appeared on the screen.

"Play that funky music, white boy," he sang-spoke, hesitantly. "Play that funky music right…" Encouraged by Maj, he stood, moon walking to the front of the room.

"Play that funky music, white boy," he Saturday Night Fever disco posed and nodded in Maj's direction. "Throw down the boogie and play that funky music 'till you die…"

By the end of the song, he was doing the weird shoulder scrunch thing to get out high notes. I seriously hoped Yuri's parents had some sort of surveillance equipment in the house because a prime shot like that should never be wasted. And my phone's memory was full.

Next, Warren sang Skydiving. We were all very surprised that he knew the words since we thought the only things he listened to were rock and alternative. It turned out he was a country fan…and had quite an extensive collection at his apartment. But you learn something new everyday.

Yuri was giving him a look when he finished. "I didn't know you could sing well and write poetry," she observed. "Plus, your range is rather impressive."

He shrugged, gracing her with a smile. "I guess I'm just a man of many talents, miss music expert."

She steepled her fingers, looking up and grinning playfully. "Indeed. Eeenteresting." Unable to keep a straight face, she giggled. "Okay, who's next?"

"Actually," Ethan looked in the hat, "you're last."

"Oh." Yuri peered over at the songbook. "What am I singing?"

"Um…Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend, a la Moulin Rouge," Ethan replied.

Yuri blanched, then scowled.

"Hey, I had to sing-" Maj put a hand over Zach's mouth.

"We know." She rolled her eyes and turned to Yuri. "Oh go on, it's only us."

"And don't forget to dance," Warren added, smirking.

Sighing, Yuri grabbed a mic and sat on the coffee table, legs crossed, and swiped the black fedora from Ethan. "The French are glad to die…" She gave him a look that could have been interpreted as 'die, die, die' or 'come here, you sexy beast', both of which were very disturbing thoughts. "…for love."

Donning the hat, she rose, stalking around the table. "They delight in fighting…duels."

Making her way over to the side of the couch that Layla, Warren, and I were sitting on, she continued. "But I prefer a man who leaves…" She looked at us as if sizing us up. "And gives expensive…" She plopped down in Warren's lap. "…jewels."

Giggling, she danced away before he could catch her.

"A kiss on the hand may be quite continental,
But diamonds are a girl's best friend
."

Warren made a grab for her waist as she sang, but Yuri teleported to the back of the couch we were sitting on.

"A kiss may be grand but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat,
Or help you feed your…
"

Looking out from behind me, Yuri waggled her fingers at Warren who sat down next to Maj and sulked.

"…pussycat.

Men grow cold as girls grow old,
And we all lose our charms in the end
."

Yuri walked behind the couches to where the others were sitting.

"But square-cut or pear-shaped,
These rocks don't lose their shape.
Diamonds are a girl's best friend!
"

She continued, stalking around the room like…well, a bad impression of a stripper. Or a good one, depending on how you looked at it. Me, I was trying not to laugh.

"There may come a time when a
Lass needs a lawyer.
But diamonds are a girl's best friend.
"

Blowing Zach a kiss, Yuri posed for an imaginary camera. Obligingly, he started firing off imaginary shots.

"There may come a time when a
Hard-boiled employer thinks you're awful nice.
"

She winked.

"But get that ice or else no dice.

He's your guy when stocks are high,
But beware when they start to descend.
Diamonds are a girl's best
Diamonds are a girl's best
Diamonds are a girl's best friend.
"

Making her way back to the front of the room, Yuri attempted to swing dance by herself and ended up sprawled on the coffee table. Shaking her head, she blew a few loose strands of hair from her face.

"And back when those louses go back to their spouses,
Diamonds…
"

Picking herself up, Yuri stood and cat walked back to the couches.

"Are a girl's…"

She spun on her heels and posed again…

"Best…"

…before taking her original seat: in Warren's lap. Leaning back to look him in the eye, she smiled sweetly.

"Friend…"

Giving Warren an air-kiss, Yuri turned to the rest of us and bowed.

Sighing, Warren picked her up and set her down on the couch. "Why does this always happen to me?" he asked.

"We've already established that you are the hott, unattached, rebel loner type," Layla replied condescendingly, as if they'd gone over this many times before. I think they probably had, too. "Get over it."

"I get to choose the next one," Zach swiped the songbook and remote from Ethan and proceeded to pore over it. "Will, Layla," he pointed to us. "This one."

Handing us mics, he punched in some numbers. As soon as I heard the opening music, I knew I'd have to kill him later. Information like that floating around might be a deadly form of blackmail someday. Layla (and Maj and Yuri), however, sighed romantically. Pht, Girls.

Leaning into me, Layla began the opening lines of 'our song.'

"Tale as old as time,
True as it can be.
Barely even friends,
Then somebody bends,
Unexpectedly.
"

I shifted to look at her, forcing myself not to try and read the words on the screen because I knew them anyway. Or I thought I knew them…and if I got them wrong, well, she'd forgive me. Right?

"Just a little change,
Small, to say the least.
Both a little scared,
Neither one prepared,
Beauty and the Beast.
"

We always laugh here because I was such a beast to her right before we started dating. A corny little couples' thing, I know, but still. And she always takes my hand when we begin the bridge.

"Ever just the same,
Ever a surprise,
Ever as before,
Ever just as sure,
As the sun will rise.
"

Layla loves to sway with the music; neither of us can dance, but she loves to sway. So we swayed during the break and, every once in a while, her head would end up on my shoulder and Yuri and Maj would sigh. I glanced over at the guys to see Ethan and Zach sniggering quietly at my plight. Warren, on the other hand, looked extremely amused, but managed to keep a (nearly) straight face.

"Tale as old as time,
Tune as old as song.
Bittersweet and strange,
Finding you can change,
Learning you were wrong.
"

I looked across the room again and saw Zach inching his arm around Maj's shoulder; she tried to pretend she didn't notice so he'd keep on. Layla and I exchanged a knowing smile over it.

"Certain as the sun,
Rising in the east,
Tale as old as time,
Song as old as rhyme,
Beauty and the beast.

Beauty and the beast."

When we finished, Yuri sighed, a dopey smile plastered on her face. "Awww."

I had to reply. "Aw, shut up." And threw a pillow at her.

Throughout the course of the night, we ended up singing We Go Together, Jerk it Out, and That Thing You Do. We also tried to convince Ethan to croak out some Billy Joel, but he refused, saying he had to save his voice.

The most humorous highlight of the evening was, of course, Warren.

I picked him a song I knew he'd just hate, but I knew it'd be hilarious if he sang it.

"Okay," I told him, handing him a mic, "you do this and you can pick the next one you sing."

He looked pensive at the prospect. So far, he hadn't been allowed to choose a song for himself. "What is it?" he asked, looking at me shrewdly.

"Just say you'll do it and I promise you get to pick the next one," I replied.

"What is it?" he asked again.

"Nu-uh, promise," I stated firmly, crossing my arms.

Thinking it over a moment and, obviously, going 'what the hell', Warren nodded. "Okay."

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, I handed him the mic again and started the song. And really, really hoped he didn't burn Yuri's couch.

Upon hearing the song's intro, Warren glared at me. Yuri bursting into laughter probably didn't help. For the whole introduction, he started at the television, probably trying to figure out how mad Yuri would be if he threw a fireball at it.

Thinking better of his fireball idea, Warren raised the microphone and began reciting, in monotone, the words on the screen.

"I'm too sexy for my shirt," he declared in monotone, "too sexy for my shirt. …so sexy it hurts."

He used the break to glare at me some more. This look ,unlike the ambiguity of the look Yuri gave Ethan earlier in the night, was obviously 'die, die, die.' Oops.

"And I'm too sexy for Milan," he continued, nostrils flaring, "too sexy for Milan, New York, and Japan."

I couldn't help snickering despite the glare of death he was sending me.

"And I'm too sexy for your party, too sexy for your party," he proclaimed, snorting. "No way I'm disco dancing."

Yuri, who by this time was leaning on him for support with tears rolling down her cheeks, wheezed, "You have to do the dance!"

The music continued as she pulled him to his feet and forced him to catwalk as the chorus played. "What the fuck-" he protested as she made for him to swivel his hips.

Warren growled, making a grab for her before turning back to the screen, sighing. "I'm a model, you know what I mean. And I do my little turn on the catwalk."

"Yeah on the catwalk, on the catwalk, yeah," Yuri prompted.

"'I shake my little'…I am not 'shaking my little touche on the catwalk'!" he bellowed as Yuri continued posing him.

"Oh, shut up and sing." Yuri scowled at him, crossing her arms.

"I'm too sexy for my cat," he grumbled. "Too sexy for my cat…poor pussy, poor pu- Hey, what are you doing?"

Yuri sat down on the ground and started to meow and rub up against his legs. Of course, we were all nearly dead with laughter by then.

"I'm-too-sexy-for-this-song," he rattled off before throwing the microphone at me as Yuri dissolved into a ball of mad insanity on the floor. "There!"

While we waited for her to become sane again, meaning not caught up in a fit of laughter, Warren sent me another glower. "I hate you," he sulked.

"Aww, Warren," Maj teased, "we all know you're too sexy." She sniggered as he turned his glare on her.

He then proceeded to ignore her and swiped the songbook from me. "This better be worth it," he muttered to himself.

He punched in a few numbers and pointed to Yuri. "You," he said.

"Hm?"

"This is a duet, so you get to sing with me." He smirked at her. "And, unlike that other one," here Warren shot me a glower, "this is a real song."

You could almost see Yuri regret the hip swivel thing. But her shoulders relaxed when she heard what song Warren had chosen. Warren had a rich, deep voice that I somewhat envied. If I could absorb DNA like Kirsty, a girl in our class, I would steal his voice.

"If I never knew you,
If I never felt this love,
I would have no inkling of
How precious life can be.
"

Taking Yuri's hand, Warren led her to the front of the room as if he were leading her to a dance floor before continuing. A very gentlemanly move which I stored in my brain for future blackmailing purposes.

"And if I never held you,
I would never have a clue
How at last I'd find in you
The missing part of me.
"

Layla sighed audibly beside me. I had to admit, when Warren worked the charm, he did pretty good. Lucky for me he didn't work the charm all the time, and never on my girl.

"In this world so full of fear,
Full of rage and lies,
I can see the truth so clear
In your eyes…
"

Taking the opportunity, Warren used his index finger to raise Yuri's chin and look her in the eye.

"So dry your eyes.

And I'm so grateful to you,
I'd have lived my whole life through…
"

Warren smiled his 'charming' smile and I thought I saw Yuri blush as a wistful expression crossed her features.

"Lost forever,
If I never knew you
."

Pensive, Yuri began her verse in a breathy tone, looking up at Warren with her head tilted.

"If I never knew you,
I'd be safe, but half as real,
Never knowing I could feel
A love so strong and true.
"

Letting her voice ring, Yuri smiled up at Warren. I turned to Layla and kissed her cheek. "No matchmaking," I whispered in her ear.

She swatted at me. "You're no fun."

"I'm so grateful to you,
I'd have lived my whole life through…
"

Yuri closed her eyes and for a split second, I imagined her on a stage. An actress would be a perfect cover for her, I mused, but never perpetually out of work.

"Lost forever,
If I never knew you
."

"I thought our love would be so beautiful," Warren dropped Yuri's hand to brush her cheek with his fingertips.

"Somehow we made the whole world bright," she replied, leaning in to him.

"I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong,
All they'd leave us were these whispers in the night.
"

I marveled at the contrast in their voices. I know I'm not incredibly deep or anything, but Yuri stretching her range and Warren belting out the lower notes reminded me of a gentle rain; distinct, but soothing.

"But still my heart is singing
We were right…
"

Beginning the bridge, they began to alternate lines; Yuri singing the melody with Warren doing the counter-melody. It surprised me that they'd never sung together, as far as I knew, before.

"If I never knew you,
(There's no moment I regret)
If I never knew this love,
(Since the moment that we met)
I would have no inkling of
(If our time has gone too fast)
How precious life can be.
(I've lived at last…
)"

Picking her up by the waist, Warren spun Yuri in the air.

"I thought our love would be so beautiful,
Somehow we'd make the whole world bright
."

Warren set Yuri down and she pirouetted in his arms.

"I thought our love would be so beautiful,
We'd turn the darkness into light.
"

I felt Layla sigh again when Warren joined Yuri. A special date would probably be in order sometime in the next week or so, just to get all that extra mushy, lovey-dovey stuff out of her system. Thankfully, I had a little cash saved up.

"And still my heart is singing
We were right…
"

"We were right," Warren echoed.
"And if I never knew you,
I'd have lived my whole life through…
" he trailed off.

"Empty as the sky," Yuri answered.

"Never knowing why," they sang together.
"Lost forever
If I never knew…
"

Both smiling, they went for the last note…

"…you…"

Taking a bow, and making Yuri curtsey, Warren led her back to the couch.

Layla stood, pointing at them. "You guys should-"

I tried to cover her mouth, fearing the next words would be 'start dating.' Not that that would be bad; it's just, Layla tends to meddle in other people's affairs. And the last thing we need is another homecoming. Literally. Also, would it not be more confusing if they did start dating and Yuri's ex found out that the beginning of their 'relationship' was just a cop out to get back at him? Anyway, Layla was talking.

"-enter the talent show!"



Okie dokie my loves. I think that's my favorite chapter. I like it a lot because my darling friend Chris really is like our darling Warren Peace. I hope you enjoyed reading it because I enjoyed writing it. :) Please leave me a message to know that I'm appreciated. I check my hits counter every so often and go 'huh?' because I am confuzzled. Anyway, just a few more edited ones and then we can get to the good stuff.

Lots of love, SeraphStar.