Lash Livingston had no idea how, or why for that matter, he was still in high school. By all means, he should be in a cell for last year's Royal Pain incident, but it had ultimately been decided that everyone had been manipulated and used by the villain, including himself and his friends. Sure, it was Speed's idea to go along with the crazy scheme and Penny was friends with the mastermind behind the plan, but when thinking back on why he'd done it… Lash didn't know what his reasoning was. It furthered the theory in Principal Powers' mind that he was just another kid caught up in the web of lies that was Gwen Grayson's grand project.

He thought about it still, even almost a year later. He felt like he'd gotten a slap on the wrist and a warning; don't do anything like that ever again or else. He knew it was his age keeping him from getting locked up in a cell, paired with the ideas that he and his friends, though Penny would deny being their friend, deserved a second chance. A chance to prove themselves, a chance at redemption. It wasn't spoken, but they all knew what the school and their parents wanted… They just wanted their kids to become heroes. He supposed that was all any super parent would want. Well, most of them anyway.

Just as he was thinking about how his sophomore year would probably be the highlight of his high school experience, Penny's bubblegum popped loudly. It was getting on his last nerve. It kept breaking his concentration, though it wasn't as if this was the first time he had tried mulling this over.

"Check it out. It's Stronghold and his crew of sidekicks," she said, eyes set on the bus stop.

She sat on the first couple of steps to Sky High, her double right beside her. To her left was Speed, leaning on the rail in waiting, to her right was Lash, relaxed on the steps with his thoughts. They all looked up as the group of friends were standing in a huddle.

There was Stronghold, Will, the son of the world's "greatest heroes." He and his friends were the reason Royal Pain had been defeated, his parents part of the reason the three juniors on the steps weren't in juvie hall. Beside him was his perky redheaded girlfriend, the green thumbed Layla Williams. Finishing up the circle was Zach, the glowing one, Ethan, the melting one, and Magenta, the shifter. Each of them had played some part in their downfall and had become some of the most popular kids at the school for their heroism at the homecoming dancing. A sixth person joined them not too long later, the hot headed Warren Peace, wearing his signature scowl.
When they disbanded, that was when Lash saw something new, someone rather. She had the wildest mop of curls he had ever seen, long reddish brown ringlets catching sunbeams and creating a soft halo around her head. She kept her head down, carrying a crossbody satchel that looked relatively new and had very few adornments. She stayed close to the flower child and Stronghold, holding Layla's arm as they escorted her to the front doors of the school. As she got closer, he could see she was wearing a long white hoodie and light blue jeans. She was on the thicker side, soft curves almost completely hidden by her attire.

As they neared closer, Stronghold said something to his friends and broke away from the group. While his friends veered right, Will kept straight ahead, coming to a stop in front of the trio. He looked at them, holding the strap to his bag almost awkwardly. It had been a long time since he had anything to say to any of them. Though they had been schoolmates for an entire year, when the three had returned to Sky High in the weeks following homecoming, everyone had kept their distance. There had been few who dared go up to them and say something over the course of finishing up the school year, but for the most part Penny, Speed and Lash had kept to themselves.

"What do ya want, Stronghold?" Speed grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. He stared down at his shorter classmate, giving him a stern and unappreciative glare. It was as if his presence alone insulted him.

Lash had to admit, it was strange that Stronghold of all people had approached them. They didn't talk. They only ever had P.E. together and occasionally passed each other in the halls. In that time since homecoming, they'd barely said ten words to each other, between the four of them for that matter.

"Look, I'm just gonna get to the point," Will sighed, putting a hand into his pocket. He looked uncomfortable, and Lash realized that even with the popularity he had, Will Stronghold was still a huge, awkward dork. "Lay off the new girl. She is completely off limits. I'm begging you guys to just leave her alone."

The trio stared at him, unamused. Though Royal Pain's terror and shortlived reign was behind them, they didn't magically change into do gooders over the course of a few weeks, let alone a year. Speed and Penny still laughed at the expense of others, Penny spat nasty words at people, Lash watched on and assisted in shoving the little guys into lockers now and again. It wasn't so frequent, but their legacy still made the rounds. Old habits die hard.

"And why would we do that?" one of the Pennies snapped, blowing her gum into a big bubble. It popped loudly once more and she continued to stare blankly at Stronghold.

The second Penny crossed her arms and hummed, rather unimpressed. "Better question, why should we?"

Will stood there, further pushed into discomfort. He looked over at his friends where they had stopped a few feet away. They were waiting on him. Lash followed his gaze to the group of friends, but his focus became the new girl. So close, yet still far, he could see her eyes were dark. She was still holding onto Williams' arm while the rest of the people around her spoke with ease. She didn't look at them, she didn't say anything. Her eyes slowly came up, her hair bobbing and swaying, bouncing, as she looked around. She stopped on Lash, and their eyes met.

"Because she's Layla's cousin and she's been through a lot, so the last thing she needs is you guys messing with her," he heard Stronghold explain, though he was vaguely listening. The girl across the way stared at him, but when he smirked at her, she turned her head down lightning fast. Her hair fell in her face, unkempt and under no control. It built a wall between them, he couldn't see a detail in her face. "So just leave her be."

Lash finally decided to become active in the conversation. He turned his attention to the sophomore. "So what? That doesn't give her special treatment. We all have baggage."

Will's expression changed, his eyes darkened a bit. He grit his teeth. "I'm serious, guys. Don't bug her. Don't shove her. Don't even call her a name."

The shift in attitude reached the three former villains and they looked at each other. Sure, it wasn't strange for Stronghold or Williams to defend a little sidekick or whomever was the target of their badgering, but usually it occurred in the moment. He wasn't even giving them the chance. They didn't even know the girl's name yet.

"Okay, say we lay off this chick, what's in it for us?' Speed asked, looking back at Will.

Stronghold shrugged. "I don't know, man, maybe you guys become better people in the meantime?"

"Yeah, yeah. You don't have to give us this run down again." Lash rolled his eyes. He'd heard it a million and one times by then, how he should try to be a good person, how he should use his power for good. His eyes landed on the girl again. He couldn't help but think about how out of place she was, not even just at the school but among her friends. She looked like an afterthought, something added to a painting only after it was finished.

He took her in, even if from just the side view he had of her. She looked soft, with her doe eyes and round cheeks. She pouted, but he could tell that was just her natural state. She was a gentle presence among the loud white noise that was a bustling high school on the first day. She huddled closer to her cousin when a large group of kids passed them. She watched them go by wearily. Zack patted her shoulder, which caused her to jump. A rabbit, no, a little bunny.

"So what's her name?" he heard himself speak before he could think it through, but it was a reasonable enough question. He glared at Will, though indifference settled in his eyes.

The three on the steps looked at Stronghold expectantly, waiting for the grand reveal. They had a ton of other questions, ones that would go unasked because they knew better than to speak them. He wouldn't tell them. They doubted they'd find out. But in the back of his mind, Lash felt them begin to eat away at him. His heart tugged with desired curiosity.

"Daisy," Will said, letting out a low breath. Something told Lash he wasn't as relaxed as he'd like to be. The bell rang and Stronghold looked away, his guard dropped just enough to show his true worry. He took a step toward his friends, then looked back at the upperclassmen. "I mean it, she doesn't need grief from you guys."

Lash put up a hand, the other over his heart as if he were going under oath. He bit back a smirk. "What do you take us for Stronghold. If she's off limits… then by all means."

Will looked at him wearily, probably the most concerned with him over his two friends. "Right," he mumbled and turned away, jogging up the stairs to join his friends and the new girl. He started talking to his girlfriend, the two seeming to ignore the third presence who clung to Layla as if dear life depended on it. She followed their lead, still looking rather out of place among the group of homecoming heroes.

"I can't believe he had the audacity to say that to us," Penny huffed. She made herself into one person again, standing up. Speed grabbed her bag for her as they all turned to climb the stairs, ascending to their junior year of Sky High.

"Yeah, like he has the right to tell us what to do," Speed scoffed. He looked more irritated than usual, and it was only 8 a.m. "Like hell I'd take orders from Stronghold."

Lash, for once, kept quiet. He had nothing to say, nothing to add. He kept his eyes turned up, watching the group ahead disappear through the doors of the school. Something didn't sit right in the pit of his stomach or his heart. Something was off, something was strange. He licked his lips. He had a hunger to discover all he could about the little bunny. Something inside of him craved it.