A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting the new chapter but I figured you guys could do with a break from the emotional trauma but the writing bug has come back with a vengeance and I hope you like the stuff it's putting down for you all! Remember to review please, they really make me want to keep doing this!

Later that night Principal Powers called the Peace household to let Warren know he was expected to attend school the next day but Crystal was to take as much time as she needed before returning. She was sure Warren would keep Crystal caught up on her work if there was any concern in that area.

But when the next day arrived, Warren was reluctant to leave a girl still so vulnerable who clearly needed support and understanding. However, on the insistence of Crystal and his mother, he reluctantly agreed to go and also let the Paper Lantern know that neither of them would be attending work for a while.

He clambered onto the bus, dreading his second day as a sophomore. As it turned out, he was right to be apprehensive. Even though Crystal's mother's death wasn't supposed to be a secret, he hadn't expected people to be so open about it. Nor could he explain how everyone seemed to know she was staying with him.

As soon as he boarded the bus all eyes swivelled towards him and he was bombarded with questions. How was she? Was she ok? Why hadn't she called anyone?

These questions Warren could deal with and understand but then they got more intrusive and just plain rude with some incredibly insensitive people asking why on earth was she staying with him and if he'd actually seen the body?

At this, Warren turned around slowly and looked down the bus at all the faces of his classmates with such a menace in his eyes that they immediately fell silent. After all, they were still aware of his background; it had been the talk of the school for the day he'd missed, and with a father as volatile as his, who knows what he'd do.

'Listen,' he said in a soft, quiet voice. Even the bus driver stopped the bus to hear what Warren had to say.

'How Crystal is, what she's doing or where she's living is none of your damn business. Her mother just got killed for Christ's sake! How the hell do you think she's doing? And as for calling you? Like hell is she going to do that! So lay off the questions, don't even think about calling the house and let the poor girl deal with the issues! Now,' he said, addressing the bus driver, 'why the hell aren't we moving?'

Hurriedly the bus was put in gear and sped towards the school. The bus driver didn't want to anger the son of Baron Battle any more than anyone else did.

Warren managed to get through the whole of homeroom without anyone pestering him but the anger he'd felt on the bus still pumped round his body and he was pretty on edge. But in History the teacher was late to the lesson, which meant it wasn't long before the questions started up again. He tried ignoring them, he tried glowering at the inquisitors but nothing seemed to work and he could feel the anger bubbling back up to the surface as his arms became increasingly heated. Finally, he snapped, sending a huge ball of fire into the bookcase on the far side of the room.

Suddenly everyone was silent and sat staring at Warren, watching for any sudden movements. After a moment Warren was calmer and asked the crowd just one question that, he hoped, would put his mind at rest.

'How the hell do you all know I was there and helped her out?'

No one spoke up until Will volunteered the information.

'The whole superhero community knows Warren. It came to everyone's house in faxes, telephone, even their comm. devices. They said, that is the NVTS said, that Crystal's mother had been killed as a result of the activity of…your dad and Ice T. Everyone's been told that you and your mom are looking after Crystal until things are sorted out. All the superheroes are on full alert, looking for any sign of them.'

As Warren's posture relaxed, the class breathed a collective sigh of relief and one girl sent a rain cloud over to the books to extinguish the flames.

Just then the teacher bustled in busily carrying piles of books and a number of pens which rolled off the pile as she set it down on her desk, completely oblivious to the smoking bookcase behind her.

'Ok,' she said breezily, 'let's pick up where we left off yesterday. 1954 I believe it was…'

As she carried on in this manner Warren groaned inwardly and let his head sink down onto his arms.

He woke up as the bell went for lunch and after collecting his pile of school lunch he ambled over to his table hoping for a bit of peace of quiet. Unfortunately about 20 nervous girls holding a giant envelope, which, he assumed, contained an equally giant card, thwarted him in this.

One of them was pushed forwards by the others and, with a quiver in her voice, asked if he'd mind giving the card to Crystal 'cos everyone in the year had signed it.

Honestly he did mind – how stupid would he look walking home with this under his arm? He was going to say something to that effect when all the fight suddenly went out of him and shrugged his shoulders and mumbled 'Sure'.

They squealed with excitement but hastily composed themselves after one look. He was only midway through his meal when his name was announced over the tannoy to visit Principal Powers' office. When he got there she motioned for him to sit down before starting.

'Now, Warren, I heard about your little escapades on the bus and in History today. Do you really think that's appropriate behaviour on your second day as a sophomore?'

'Honestly, yes,' he said. 'Crystal is completely spaced out, really distant from everyone and all they can do is wonder why she hasn't called them! They're just so self-centred and immature!'

'Warren, you have to remember that most of these children haven't experienced grief or loss like you and Crystal has. They don't understand how people react to these situations so they just want to be involved.'

'I know that, it's just that they keep asking me stuff…' he trailed off.

'And you don't know how to be the centre of attention. It is difficult at first but of you're going to carry on doing good deeds like these then people are going to pay attention to you. And when you become a hero, it will simply intensify.'

'But what about when Crystal comes back to school? They're so insensitive about it, they're likely to ask really inappropriate questions.'

'Well maybe I can ask the students not to overburden Crystal with questions at the moment. She has more than enough to deal with for the time being poor child…I mean it's bad enough that her mother died but to have her father implicated in it all-.' She broke off suddenly with a gasp and her eyes widened. 'Warren, forget I said that. I shouldn't have mentioned it. Crystal didn't want anyone to know about her father so I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't tell anyone.'

'Of course I won't but I did already know though Crystal doesn't know I know – if you know what I mean. There was a picture of her with him and her mom in her house. I know her father is working with mine. I just don't know why.'

'Leave that to the NVTS. Now you'd better get back to your lessons. I'll write you a note for Coach Boomer. Save the Citizen was my favourite as a student,' she said as she scripted a piece. 'Sometimes I can't believe you still play it. Still,' as she signed the note with a flourish, 'many more citizens have been saved since it was introduced so I guess it's not so surprising it's still in use. Let Crystal know we're all thinking of her, won't you?'

He nodded and slowly wandered to the gym. He'd heard about this Save the Citizen game and he wasn't too sure if he was looking forward to it or not. He could already hear the Coach pairing people up as he walked in.

'Peace! Where have you been? You're twenty minutes late. I ought to report you to Principal Powers.'

'I wouldn't bother,' he said as he handed him the note.

'Hmm,' he said with displeasure, 'well change and get back in here. You're up next as the villain paired with Miss Pinati.'

He returned to find his partner, a redheaded girl, standing opposite two guys.

'Peace and Pinati vs. Stronghold and Geld,' the Coach called.

'I'm Layla,' the girl whispered as they got into place.

Warren glanced at her, not in the mood for niceties, 'Just leave this to me, sidekick,' he muttered.

Silence descended on the crowd as the buzzer sounded. They'd seen Warren's power in the cafeteria and were interested to see what he'd make of a super strong guy who could fly and one who could, well, glow.

Warren watched as Stronghold took off towards the ceiling of the gym, followed his flight path and then flung two well-placed fireballs straight into his stomach. He was knocked out of the sky and crashed back down onto the gym floor leaving a sizeable dent and him seeing stars. But Warren didn't notice the impact he'd had on one of his strongest classmen. Something had come over him – he felt all the anger he had for his father and Crystal's father wash over him and all he could see was the 'pink mist' as he'd heard it called so many times.

His arms erupted in flames drawing gasps from some of the crowd. He saw the boy with unnaturally bright hair edging his way towards the dummy that now dangled mere inches above the gaping hole that symbolised it's death.

'Hey!' he called.

The boy jumped but ran on towards the dummy. Warren had just thrown two large fireballs in the boy's direction when all of a sudden, two vines shot out of nowhere, wrapping around the boy's ankles causing him to fall to the floor and the fireballs to shoot harmlessly above him head. The dummy fell through the hole and the buzzer sounded.

As it did so, Warren shot a dark look at his partner and growled, 'What the hell did you do that for? I thought I told you to leave this to me.'

He stalked off back to the changing rooms as the girl shouted at his retreating back, 'I wasn't going to let you kill him!'

He changed hurriedly and made it just in time to the first bus off this 'god-forsaken hell hole'.

After calling in at the Paper Lantern, he returned home to a very familiar scene. His front door was ajar and he couldn't hear any voices inside…

A/N: I know it's evil but I couldn't resist! I hope that the next chapter will be up soon, I've already started writing it so fingers crossed! I hope you like it and please review, even if it's just a word or two!