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Title: Falling Through Love?

Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance

Disclaimer: I do not own Sky High or its characters.

A/N: Sorry 4 the longgg update. Please forgive me? Please feel free reviews! Oh, and I'd be very impressed if any of u figured out Victoria's hideout after reading this chapter! Hehehe...Enjoy!...Hehehe...

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Chapter Twelve

The Moment

Carmen held her brother tightly as they walked toward Layla's house, which was beginning to feel foggy in her memory. She was tired, and the thought of Victoria using her mother as bait made her chest tighten and her heart pound with fear. But she mentally slapped herself for not thinking quickly enough. Victoria had been planning for months, or maybe even years, on taking over the world! She should have seen it coming from a mile away. After all, she hadn't been strong enough to stop Victoria from entering her mind and ripping her of that one memory. The memory that could have saved them all, heroes and villians...

" Why are you so sad?" her brother asked, cocking an eyebrow. She didn't realize the grimace that had formed on her face, clearly showig her mental battle inside her mind. She shook her head and looked down at him.

" Nothing", she said, then stared blankly at the ground as they walked down the cement, her sneakers slapping against the ground.

" Well, I didn't expect to see you here", a voice said, startling her. She looked up and saw Lash, walking slowly toward them, his hands in his pocket. Lash's tall figure seemed to have caused Richard dismay, because he backed away and hid behind her. She rolled her eyes and turned toward Lash, wondering why he was here. Wait... Maybe I said something that I couldn't remember, she asked herself. The memory of today was a blur to her right now.

" Come on", she said, grabbing Lash's hand and pulling him and her brother along with her. " I need your help." The thought alone sounded strange and unusual.

" Why?" he asked, trying to pry his hand away. Her grip tightened, as her words went by quickly.

" You know Victoria, right? Well for some psychotic, unexplained reason she has decided to take over the world by bringing back her dead brother. That's why I think Michael was absent today. Because of his power and she need it so she kidnapped him. And I think she has my mom because when I got home everything was destroyed and my brother explained everything that happened. So now, my best guess is that Victoria is using my mom as bait to lure me to her hideout which I think I know where it is. And I don't know why she still wants me, but all I know now is that we have to stop her at all costs. Undersatnd?"

Lash and Richard exchanged looks as Carmen panted from the running talk she just did.

" So, you're saying that Victoria is planning to take over the world? And she's using your mother as bait to bring you to her?" Lash rephrased it, raising an eyebrow. Carmen nodded, and ungrasped Lash's hand.

" Well, um...Wow", he said. She nodded once more and continued down the path, then stopped and turned to him, making him step back a little.

" This wasn't a chance meeting", Carmen said, eyeing Lash suspiciously. He brushed his hand through his shaggy, brown hair and stared down at her. Richard hid behind her again, his hands pressed behind her back. Did Lash really put off such a frightening vibe? But then she remebered the fear that had been awakened when she first saw him, too.

" You were, well...", he was searching for the right words,"...Different, I guess. Or at least today you were." She considered what he said. Besides, her memory had been erased, right?

" Different as in how?" she asked. She knew she was waisting time, but the need to figure out how much power Victoria had grew stronger. Maybe Victoria could change a person's personality with her mind powers?

" You looked very happy", he said with disgust, then looked at her straight in the eye. " But, your eyes looked lost, like you didn't know what was going on or something..." She blinked. Maybe Victoria really wasn't that strong?

" So I went to see what was wrong", he said, smirking. She looked away, and continued to walk down the street, Lash and Richard following closely behind. After about one minute, Lash finally spoke up.

" Where are we going?" he asked.

" To Layla's", Carmen responded. She stopped, and turned around, sensing that Lash had stopped. He looked confused, and at the same time, completely weirded out.

" Sidekick?" he said. Her eyes narrowed.

" I mean, Laylie- no, um...Lydia?" he asked, already forgeting Layla's name.

" Layla", Carmen corrected, and continued walking. Lash shrugged, dug his hands in his pockets, and quickly followed once more, careful not to ask anymore questons. She seemed to worked up right now.

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Carmen sat on Layla's couch with Richard right next to her. Lash was leaning against the front door, his face clearly irritated. A few seconds later, Layla came out from the kitchen. She pushed a strand of red hair behind her ear, and took in a deep breath. She was obviously frightened, but that didn't surprise Carmen. She was, also.

" Well, my mom has called Principal Powers and they're already setting up a plan and warning all of the heroes", Layla explained, sitting down on the dark, green chair to her right. Carmen looked up, her eyes hopeful.

" What about my mother?" Carmen asked. Richard also stared at Layla with the same hope, while Layla's own eye's softened.

" They've gone looking for her. But no one is sure where Victoria's hideout is..." Layla explained. Carmen nodded, and started to think. Where could Victoria possibley be?

" Don't they know where her address is?" Carmen asked.

" They knew, but when Principal Powers and the other got there, it was empty - Wait!" Layla suddenly remembered something, and she hurridly ran back into the kitchen where her mother was. Carmen turned toward Lash, but he shrugged, and continued to tap impatiently on his crossed arms. About ten minutes later, Layla ran back, a piece of paper in her hand.

" Here", she said, handing the paper to Carmen. " Principal Powers found this at the house. It was letter, written by Victoria. They faxed it here for you, although they're not sure if it holds any importance." Carmen nodded, and began to silently read the letter.

Dear Carmen,

I've been waiting for the day that you would discover My plan, Or when I would Tell you. And I suppose you Haven't figured out where my hiding place is? Carmen, dear, isn't it Exciting to become a part of a villian's evil plot. Or are you too Rattled with fear? I Suppose you should be... After all, the world's super beings are in Great danger.

But Right now, I Am in too much joy to care about your problems. You should just give up, now. This is my Victory, and none of you "heroes" can stop it. The world, will be shrouded over with Evil...

Well, have a nice day,

Victoria

Carmen set the card down on the coffee table and sat back down on the couch, her face blank and her mind completely confused. Layla leaned forward and snatched the letter. She quickly read through it and looked up with the same look of confusion.

" What does this mean?" Layla asked. Carmen shook her head.

" I don't know. I think she was just trying to mock me..." Carmen said. Right now, her mind had been turned into a maze of confusion and sadness. It seemed all hope had been lost, and there would be no chance of discovering a way to stop Victoria and her diabolic plan.

" And what about Michael?" Carmen asked. Layla shook her head, indicating that he was also missing. Carmen pressed her head against the couch and rubbed her temple. There had to be a way? If they didn't figure it out, the world would remain in grave danger...

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Carmen sat in Layla's living room, re-reading the letter once more. The digital clock flashed 8:03. Her brother Richard had fallen asleep on the chair where had Layla sat, while Layla had taken a short nap in her bedroom. Carmen figured Layla's mother was up in her room, talking to Principal Powers or some other high powered super being, on the phone. Carmen had been thinking for hours, trying to figure out what exactly Victoria was doing and where she was hiding. It seemed Victoria was being cocky, playing with her head.

" Would you stop readin that thing. It's giving me a headache." Carmen turned and saw Lash leaning against the kitchen door frame, a bottle of water in his hand. He opted to stay, although all he did was read the letter and shrug. No one knew if it held any clue. Or maybe it was only written to taunt Carmen? That idea made Carmen angry, and at the same time, feel weak.

" I can't", Carmen said, shaking her head. " I have to figure out what it means." She then turned back to the letter and began reading it, again. Lash rolled his eyes and walked over to the couch. He placed the bottle of water on the coffee table, and snatched the letter from her. She looked up, annoyed, and tried to grab it back but he turned his back to her. After reading it, he slammed it down onto the coffee table.

" There's nothing there", he explained to her as if she were some child. " Now, Principal Powers and the others are-"

" Are what?' she said sharply. " Searching everwhere for Victoria? They're not going to find her. She's not some stupid kid! I know how she acts! I've fought with her. She's vindictive, cold-"

" Evil, mean, cruel, horrible. I know, I know", he said, clearly amused with her sudden outburst. Carmen sighed and sat back down on the couch, once more. Great, now Lash was taunting her.

" Ya know, feeling completely helpless isn't going to solve anything", he explained, also leaning back against the couch. She nodded, understanding that she was acting like some hopeless puppy that had been kicked.

" But, my mother... Your mother hasn't been abducted!" Lash looked at her, then stared blankly ahead.

" Well, I wish she was. It'd be better than being dead." Carmen looked at him, suddenly wishing she hadn't said that. She felt as if a hand had grasped her heart, and stopped it from beating, as a wave of grief washed over. She didn't like the deep sadness that hovered in his eyes.

" I'm sorry", she whispered. He shrugged, and cracked his knuckles. " Nothing to do about it now", he said, but his eyes held the same sadness which he seemed to be trying very hard to hide.

" But, I just want her to be okay!" she said. He nodded. " I'd be surprised if you didn't."

Carmen lifted her legs to her chin and wrapped her arms around them, suddenly wishing that she was back home, with her mother making dinner, then closed her eyes. She was surprised, however, when Lash's arm gingerly wrapped around her shoulder, and pulled her closer. Her eyes burst open and she gazed up at him, his eyes startingly honest. Without any kind of signal, Lash's arms wrapped around her waist, as her legs feet slid back down onto the carpet. Instinctively, her arms wrapped around his neck, one hand racking through his dark, brown hair. His lips hovered over hers, breath mingeling, before he finally kissed her, his lips soft on hers, with a hint of awkwardness. He pressed her closer, making his lips come even hard on hers.

" Ew... You guys should get a room." Carmen pulled away with surprise and turned. Her brother'e eyes were barely open, and he was staring at her and Lash with disgust. He stuck out his tongue, then grabbed a pillow and pushed it in front of his face. Carmen couldn't conceal the smile that had formed on her face, then turned back to Lash. Before he could kiss her again, something caught her eye.

" Look!" she said, holding up the letter. Lash raised an eyebrow and stared at the letter, obviously puzzled. Then his eyes sidened at what she was pointing at. Maybe there was a clue after all?

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Actually, I wouldn't be impressed if u figured out the clue. It' not hard! Well, please review, and I hope u guys enjoyed this chapter(which I'm pretty sure u did...) :D