Broken Chapter 4: Lies, a sky high fanfic

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

Okay, we're going to pick up the pace a bit beyond the first week of school. So, let's do the time warp! Okay, enough of that cheesiness. We're basically going to skip some time a bit now that we've gained vital info about Claire, we can skip totally pointless time where we gain no information. Get it? Got it? Good. Enjoy! Also – now that I've returned to school, I'll try to update as soon as I can. Last week I was off, so I spent a lot of my time writing; but I've got ideas! I'm also assuming that, since just about the only way to Sky High is by bus, that they are taken to the dance by bus.

Disclaimer: Only own Claire and Abigail and her currently unseen parents.

Broken – Chapter 4

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Warren sat in his room, reading a book. It was his typical Friday night, just the way he liked it: quiet and peaceful. Sara was downstairs, reading her own book. School was moving along rapidly after the drama of the first week. Most of the time, Warren sat with Claire at lunch; she'd began to open up a little, but she was still as shy as could be. Breaking the peaceful silence, his cell phone went off. Warren dug through the piles of junk in his messy room for the phone. He yanked it out from a pocket of a pair of jeans. "Hello?"

"Warren?" a voice asked over the phone, sounding afraid.

"Claire?"

"Yeah…"

"Are you okay?" Warren went over to the window seat, pulling the curtains on his window back, looking over at Claire's window.

"My aunt has someone over…" she was pacing back and forth in front of her window. Claire settled in front of her window. "I don't know something about him…"

"What did he do?" they looked at each other.

"He kept asking questions about me and just staring….I can't explain it Warren, something just doesn't fit…"

"It'll be okay. I'm going to watch from my window and come over in a bit. Okay?"

"Okay. Thanks."

"No problem." Both watched as the other hung up their phone. Warren stayed at his window, watching, as Claire settled back on her bed, the glow of the T.V. against her and the rest of the room. Fifteen minutes passed with nothing happening. Warren tried to stay awake. After twenty minutes, Claire jumped up from her bed, her back facing the window. Warren jolted awake, paying attention. Claire backed around her bed, revealing the man through the window. Warren got up from the window seat and tore for the front door. Slamming the door behind him, Warren glanced up at her window. She was still visible to him; he ran across the street, knocking on the door as calm as he could. Abigail answered the door.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm Claire's partner on a project for school and we were supposed to talk about it tonight. Is she home?" Warren thought quickly.

"Yeah, she's up in her room." Abigail let him in. Warren went up the stairs and opened the door to her room. The man had her pinned up against a wall. He stepped back as Warren went to Claire.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Claire pushed a piece of her hair back.

Warren turned to the man. "Leave her alone," he instructed in his most menacing voice. The man backed up as Warren led Claire out of her room. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine."

"Let's go." The two went down the stairs, but were stopped by Abigail's voice.

"Where do you think you're going?" Abigail called from the living room.

"Out," Claire replied, pulling her jacket on.

"Some last minute, project things," Warren added. Claire looked at him, confused. He mouthed to her, "I'll explain later." They went out the front door and across the street to Warren's.

"Warren?" Sara asked, coming to the front door.

"Hey Ma." Warren hung his jacket up on the coat rack. "Mom, this is Claire. Claire, this is my mother, Sara Peace."

Sara smiled warmly, holding out her hand. "It's wonderful to meet you Claire."

Claire shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you too, Ms. Peace."

"Well, you two have a good night." Sara smiled and headed back to her book in the living room. Warren headed up the stairs towards his room, Claire following.

"So, what was the whole project thing about?" Claire asked.

"I needed an excuse. I highly doubt your aunt would have liked the story that her boyfriend was in her niece's room doing god knows what, so I'm here to help her." Claire smiled a little. "You're sure you're all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

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"Hey, Warren," Claire approached his locker. "I wanted to thank you again for…"

"It's nothing," Warren cut in. "That's what friends are for."

Claire smiled a little and headed for her locker down the hallway. It had been about a week since the incident with nothing new happening; homecoming was the next day and the school was buzzing about it. Warren began exchanging books from his bag and locker. Will, Layla, Zach, Magenta, and Ethan came up, all greeting him.

"So, how's it going with flame girl?" Zach inquired.

"Oh, I didn't know you were interested in her," Layla said sweetly.

"It's not going because I'm not interested," Warren informed them, throwing in a book and slamming his locker shut.

"Well, I guess that's a good thing," Ethan pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"What are you talking about?" Layla asked.

"Cause it looks like Josh Martin's making his move," Zach answered.

Warren leaned against his locker as they looked down the hallway. Next to Claire stood Josh Martin, obviously saying something.

"So, do you have a date for homecoming yet?" Josh smiled at her.

"No," Claire replied quietly, taking a book off the top shelf.

"Then maybe you'd like to go with me."

Claire shut her locker door, turned around, and looked at him. "Sure."

"So, I'll meet you there?"

Claire laughed a little. "Okay."

"Awesome." Josh leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. "See you then." He went down the hallway. Will, Layla, Zach, Ethan, and Magenta watched Josh while Warren watched Claire. The look on her face was somewhere between elated, awestruck, and hopelessly in love. He ground his teeth together a little, attempting to let it go.

"I've gotta head for the buses. See you guys tomorrow." Warren turned and went down the opposite end of the hallway.

"You know," Ethan started when Warren was out of earshot, "if I didn't know any better, I'd say that he is interested."

"Why?" Magenta questioned.

"He did look pretty pissed when Josh was talking to her," Zach agreed.

"If Warren says he isn't interested in her, he isn't," Will told them.

Claire settled next to Warren in their usual seat on the bus. This time, he looked out the window as she tried to deduce what was wrong with him.

"So, what'd Josh want?" Warren asked.

Claire pulled her bag off her shoulder. "Why do you want to know? Curiosity?" she inquired jokingly. Warren made no comment. "He asked me to homecoming."

"Really? And?"

"And what?"

"And what was your response?"

"When pigs fly. What do you think?" Claire replied sarcastically.

Warren turned to face her. "So, you said yes?"

"Why? What's wrong?" Claire's face fell a little.

"Nothing…it's your life."

Why Warren had even come to homecoming even he couldn't explain it. He had no intentions of going, yet he was standing in the Sky High gym in his father's old tux. Will and Layla, Zach and Magenta, and Ethan and his date were all dancing. Warren stood near the food table, almost like a wall flower. Josh was standing near the door, waiting for Claire. Songs passed after another; the doors opened with more people coming in from the late buses. Among them was Claire, in a light blue dress with silver accents on the top; the dress fell at different lengths from slightly above her knees to mid-calf. She looked pretty to say the least. Josh seemed to think so, judging by the way his face lit up and immediately took her out to the dance floor. Warren watched, glaring slightly. He had never liked Josh from his first day at Sky High. He was always finding new ways to torture and torment Warren just because he was the son of Baron Battle. Now, Warren figured Josh only asked Claire because she was his friend.

Josh was trying his best to make Claire become an extrovert, if only for one night. Of course, she wasn't going for it very much. A few times, Claire glanced over at Warren. For some odd reason, she was slightly delighted in his discontent. He had been acting so mysterious yesterday after Josh had asked her and wouldn't tell Claire a thing about it. She danced some, but mostly let Josh take the lead. After a long time, Josh stepped closer, trying to talk over the music.

"Do you want to get a drink and maybe go for a walk?" he said loudly.

"Sure," she answered.

Josh took her hand in his, leading her through the crowd to the food table where Warren stood. As Josh retrieved two drinks, Claire stepped over to Warren.

"Hey."

"Having fun?" Warren asked, even though he could care less.

Claire smiled a little. "Yeah. You?" Warren shrugged a little.

Josh came over, handing Claire a cup. "Ready for that walk?"

"Sure." Claire turned back to Warren. "I'll see you later."

Josh took Claire's free hand and led her out of the gym, into the quiet hallways. "So, are you enjoying Sky High?"

"So far…" Claire took a sip.

They walked in silence, making it quite someway from the gym. "Your parents work in Europe, right?"

"Yeah…how did you know?"

Josh stepped in front of her and stopped. "My parents work with them, Claire."

"They do?"

"They're all villains."

"Huh?"

"Your parents aren't heroes. They're villains."

"Josh, did someone slip something into your drink?" Claire was confused. She knew for a fact her parents were heroes. She'd seen them fight crime in Europe the last time she was there. If someone told her that her aunt was a villain, it wouldn't surprise her; but…her parents?

"I'm serious Claire."

"Are you getting sick or something?"

"Accept it. Your parents aren't trying to rid the world of crime. They're causing it."

Claire took a shallow, jagged breath. "You're lying to me. Why would you do that?"

"I'm not," a smirk spread across his face.

"No, I know that you're lying!" Claire shouted. "You're lying!"

Josh stepped away, disappearing down a hallway. Claire continued to yell the same thing at the hallway as if he could still hear her. She wouldn't accept; she couldn't. Claire knew for a fact he was lying. What kind of person would like how she was so upset by what he'd said? She never should have said yes. He'd barely said a word to her since the whole Save the Citizen thing. After five minutes, she stopped and brushed away small forming tears, trying to regain her composure. Silently, she went into the gym again. Taking deep breaths she went to one side of the gym.

"Where's your date?" Warren came up behind her. Claire turned around and looked at him. "What's wrong?" Her face look downcast and she was quiet again, her mouth far from the slightest smiling it had done earlier.

"I'll tell you later."

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"So, what happened?" Warren asked as the bus home took off.

Claire took a deep breath. "You'll think it's stupid…"

"Try me."

"How could I have been so stupid to go with him?" Claire leaned back in the seat. "I should have known better…"

"Then stop evading and tell me what's wrong." Warren was beyond curiosity this time. Something was genuinely wrong with her. The last time Claire had acted like this was…well, never, really; but it was like she'd reverted to her old self. Claire leaned up, whispering to him so no one else would hear. "Huh?"

"Do I have to say it again?" Claire inquired wearily.

"No, I heard you…but, I don't really get it."

"I know he's lying…"

"Then let it go. If it's so obvious he's lying, then don't let it bother you. Josh is a jerk anyway."

Hope you enjoyed it. Please review! I'll try to update soon!