Broken Chapter 3: Friends, a sky high fanfic

A new school year, a new student, a new villain; just another ordinary day for the students of Sky High.

So, here's a new chapter. We learn a bit more about Claire here. That's all I'm gonna say.

Disclaimer:Only own Claire and her screwed up family.

Broken – Chapter 3

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An alarm clock went off. Claire hit the button, threw the covers back, and went into the bathroom. She turned the shower faucet and shut the curtain. Sitting on the lid of the toilet, she tightened the bandages on her wrists before going in. Claire wrapped a towel around her body when she was done and went for her closet. She had to pick something to hide her wrists; finally, she pulled out a large black hoodie to go over her black shirt and her jeans. Cautiously, Claire pulled the bandages off and put on her clothes, grabbed her bag and headed for the bus.

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Warren took his time leaving the classroom and going to lunch. Slowly, he went through the line, getting his lunch. Will, Layla, Zach, Ethan, and Magenta waved at him as he passed by.

"Hey!" Will called.

"I'm gonna sit somewhere else today," Warren told them. They looked confused. "I'll be back tomorrow." Layla shrugged; the rest soon followed suit of acceptance. Warren headed to the table at the far end and sat down, beginning to eat. Claire glanced up from the table.

"What are you doing?" she asked, putting her fork down.

Warren swallowed a bite and looked at her. "I'm eating."

"What are you trying to do?" Claire pulled her black jacket's sleeves down further over her hands.

Warren brushed some of his hair back. "What are you talking about?"

"Is it your goal to mess with my mind or something?"

He laughed a little. "Mess with your mind? Now, that sounds like something I would do," he added sarcastically.

Claire let out a frustrated sigh. "Whatever…" The two ate without a word or barely looking at the other. Claire really didn't care why he was there, unless he was trying to screw with her mind. Warren was simply curious, but still really didn't care. Claire took a sip from her bottle; her sleeve slid back on her arm. Warren caught a glimpse of her wrist before she pulled the sleeve back down.

"What happened?" he inquired. Claire looked up, bewildered. "Your wrist."

Her eyes flitted between her wrist and Warren. "I caught it…" she replied softly.

"On what?"

"Why do you care?"

"What do you catch your wrist on that makes it do that? An oven door?"

"How would you know what makes a wrist look like that?"

"Pyro. I've accidentally caught my wrist on fire a few times."

"How?"

"You really need the run down?" Warren's voice was slightly sarcastic. Claire looked back at her food, twirling her fork in it. She was evading his gaze and Warren knew it. "Come on, it can't be that bad."

"Oh, you don't know the half of it."

"Bet you I do."

"It deals with why I hate being a pyro. Got it?" Claire was upset with him and she wasn't intent on hiding it.

Warren shrugged, returning to his food. Claire ate a bit more, put her fork down, and picked up her bag as she started to stand up. "I'm out of here." She slung her bag over her shoulder, picked up her tray and walked away from the table. Warren watched as she threw out her trash and left the cafeteria. For a moment, he sat, staring at the door; then, he got up and followed her path. She made her way to the staircase that led to the doors of Sky High before he caught up.

"Why is it that you're pushing everyone away?" Warren asked, slowing down as he came up right behind her.

Claire made it halfway down the stairs, stopped and whirled around. "Why do you care so much?"

"I don't!" Warren protested.

"Then stop following me!" She started down the stairs again.

Warren picked it up and began tailing her again. "Pushing away people doesn't do anything."

"How would you know?" Claire questioned over her shoulder.

"Because I used to."

Claire turned around again. "You don't seem to be doing a good job right now." Warren raised his eyebrow in a mocking suspicious look. "Look, can't you just leave me alone?"

Warren took a step forward with a tough look. "Give me one reason."

She let out a loud, frustrated sigh. "You're impossible!" She began to walk away again.

Warren stayed where he was. "That doesn't count."

"I don't have to talk to you."

"You did the first night of school."

Claire stopped dead in her tracks. Slowly, she turned around and went until she stood right in front of him. "The only reason I talked to you then was because I thought you were some person I would never see again. I had a bad day and figured, why not confide in some random stranger?" They stood, staring each other for a moment. "Will you leave me alone now?" her voice had dropped to her normal tone and volume. Warren watched her for a moment.

"Hey, Warren!" Zach called, running up. Warren rolled his eyes as Claire disappeared to somewhere else on campus. "Dude, I don't think she wants to talk to you." Zach put his elbow on Warren's shoulder, leaning on it.

"She might've…if you'd stayed inside," Warren growled.

"You know, she doesn't seem too interested." Warren looked at him peculiarly. "Why are you so interested in her?"

"I'm not interested in Claire."

"You're making it look like you really are…"

"I'm not interested in Claire." His words were punctuated by his hands lighting up with flame.

"Whatever…" Zach said, going back inside. He headed for his locker, where Will, Layla, Ethan, and Magenta waited.

"What happened?" Will questioned.

"He says he's not interested in Claire." Zach leaned against his locker.

"Is that her name? Claire?" Layla jumped in.

"I guess, 'cause that's what he called her."

"What's with him lately?" Ethan inquired.

"I'll never understand that guy," Zach shook his head slightly.

"No one will ever understand Warren," Magenta corrected him.

Claire had been the first one on the buses at the end of the day. No school for two days; no one bugging her for two days; no one trying to mess with her mind for two whole days. People took their sweet time, trickling in and choosing a seat. She just wanted to get home, spending a weekend in peace; hopefully, her aunt would be gone for the weekend, if she was lucky.

"Hey," Warren said, sitting down, shattering her thoughts.

"What now?" Claire leaned back, looking at him.

"Do you always have this attitude?"

"What attitude?"

"This whole rebellious, I want to be left alone and have everyone hate me…"

"Whoa, hold it there, pyro boy!"

Warren laughed a little. "Pyro boy?"

"I don't want everyone to hate me."

"You sure about that?"

"Everyone chose to hate me!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"No one was willing to reach out. How should I be expected to try and make friends with those who won't reciprocate?" Warren nodded a little, letting the silence sink in between their rapid fire conversation. "It was like that at my old school too. No one wants to reach beyond what they know." Claire glanced out the window. "Once again, why did you come back here? And don't tell me you were curious."

Warren thought for a moment. "I want to be friends."

"Huh?" Claire turned back to face him.

"I want to be friends."

"Friends?"

"Just friends."

"Are you trying to prove to me that not everyone at this school is psycho or against outsiders?"

"No. It's just a simple gesture. But if you don't want it…"

"No, its fine…we'll be friends." Claire's tone was slightly confused.

He nodded again as the bus pulled up. Both Warren and Claire stood up. They glanced at each other for a bit and got off. Claire began up the sidewalk to her house as the bus pulled away. "Wait – you're the one who moved in here?"

Claire turned around, crossing her arms. "Yeah…why?"

"I knew someone moved in here a few weeks ago…"

"What?"

"I live across the street."

"Oh…" Claire glanced down and back up. "Do you…do you want to come in for a while?" Warren raised his eyebrows. "That's what friends do, isn't it?"

"Sure." Warren came up next to Claire as she put the key in the doorknob.

"But you have to promise me one thing."

"Okay."

"We have to stay quiet for a while."

"What?"

"I'll explain when we get inside." Warren nodded and Claire quietly opened the door. They dropped their bags by the end table. Claire peered in the living room, and then the dining room and kitchen. "Okay, you can talk now."

Warren leaned against the kitchen doorway. "What was that about?"

"I had to make sure my aunt wasn't home."

"Still confused."

"She's not exactly the nicest person." Claire reached up into the cabinet for a glass. "You want something to drink?"

"Water's fine."

Claire pulled down another glass and began to fill them with tap water. "You're not going to go tell your friends anything I tell you, are you?" She handed him the glass. Warren shook his head, taking a sip. Claire sat down on a bar stool. "My aunt hates me."

"Really?" Warren took a seat on another bar stool.

"She was younger than my father and resented that my grandparents favored him over her." Claire sat her glass down, brushing some hair from her face. "So, when my parents decided that I belonged in the States rather than in Europe while they fought crime, they sent me to live with her. She decided to take out her frustration at my father on me. She's also kind of…destructive. Abigail, my aunt, brings home any man willing to give her attention." Warren nodded slightly. "I guess when you spend your whole life without attention; you need it at some time."

"What about you? Is that going to be you?" Warren joked slightly. Claire looked confused. "From what you've told me, it sounds like you've been pretty neglected."

"Unlike my aunt, I learned how to deal with it." Claire shrugged a little. "I don't hate her for neglecting me. I don't approve of her bringing home any man who'd care for her for five minutes…"

"So, you like your aunt, even though she neglects you?"

"I'm not saying I like her either…it's…complicated…" Claire sighed, taking a sip of water. "Some of the guys…they just seem so…creepy…and disturbing."

"In what way?" Warren's voice was concerned, finally loosing his calm, I-don't-care front.

"When I was eight, this one, whenever Abigail wasn't around, kept staring at me…in this…strange...a way that I can't even describe…and this other one, when I was eleven, made a pass at me."

"Seriously?" Warren leaned forward a little.

"Yeah…" Claire paused a little. "I'm sorry…I really didn't mean to dump all this on you…"

"Its fine."

"I've never let anyone see this far into my life before…"

"Really, it's fine…hey, if any of those guys ever does something that creeps you out, call me."

"What?"

"We're friends, right?" Claire nodded. "Friends don't let things like that happen." Warren took a small piece of paper, writing his number on it, and handed it to Claire.

"Thank you Warren." Her voice was soft.

"You've been really honest with me, Claire…my dad is Baron Battle." Claire sat for a while, quietly. "I'm not proud of it, but…"

"It really doesn't matter to me. Who your family is, that doesn't define who you are. You define who you are." Warren nodded a little. A door slammed shut, along with the sound of giggling. "Oh no…" Claire jumped up, snatching her glass and putting it in the sink.

"Is that her?" Warren asked in a low tone, doing the same.

"Yes…we need to get out of here…" The two took off down a hallway, and soon stopped, ducking into a closet. "I'm sorry," Claire whispered. "This probably wasn't how you planned on spending your Friday night."

"It's fine," Warren whispered back. "Do you usually hide in here?"

"Sometimes…" The two voices from outside came closer, and then upstairs. "I think it's safe outside." Warren and Claire cracked the door open and made their way to the front door. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Remember our deal?"

"Yes, I remember." Warren nodded a little. "I'll see you later."

"Bye."

Warren headed towards his house as Claire shut the door and went upstairs, sneaking into her room.

"Hey Ma," Warren called, hanging up his leather jacket.

"Hey Warren. Were you just over at that house across the street?" his mother, Sara, called from the living room.

"Yeah…" he leaned against the doorframe.

"So, are they nice?" Sara placed a bookmark in and sat her book on the coffee table.

"I only met the girl…she goes to Sky High…"

"Really?"

"She controls energy…and a pyro…"

"That's wonderful. What's her name?"

"Claire."

"I'm glad you two are getting along. Is that her mother who lives with her?"

"Her aunt. I'm going to head upstairs."

"Good night, sweetie!"

"Night Ma." Warren headed up the stairs, to his room, and shut the door. As he turned on the music and sat on his bed, he looked out the window at the windows of Claire's house, watching intently.

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