Standard Disclaimer: check the prologue
SOOOOOOOO sorry, I had planned this to get out in March but now look it's July. Damn. Trying to get through this is hard. Honestly. I have no plot bunnies for this story.
Next chapter…thanks to my reviewers, your comments really keep me going! Thanks to the suggestions you sent me as well I'll keep them in mind!
The day before Valentine's Day, and my stomach was in knots with anticipation. Not that I wasn't looking forward to going out with Lee Chang because I totally was. I mean just like Warren is the most popular in Sky High for his looks and badass attitude, Lee Chang is legendary for his charm, looks and would you believe his intelligence? God, I sound so obscenely teeny-bopper-ish.
"Josephina!" My name echoed in the already noisy hallway of Super Prep…well think of the devil.
"Hi Lee." Don't you dare blush Josephina Mabel Fox! Don't you DARE!
The world seemed to slow around us and I couldn't seem to focus for the life of me on anything else but Lee, the way his dark emo haircut seemed to suit him just right, or how his glasses made his honey eyes sparkle, or the dimples in his cheeks when he barely smiles or the way his tongue brushes ever so gently along his lips. Nothing registered at all, not even the words coming out of those oh-so-kissable lips of his.
"Josephina?" His voice was husky and immediately brought me out of my trance.
"Huh? Sorry…I—"
"Was staring at me," He finished with a self-conscious grin and tugged at his ear oh-so-cutely, "Is there something on my face?"
"No, you're mine…I mean your face is mine…fine." Can I please go crawl under a rock somewhere? He smiled again.
"Good, anyway, I'll see you after school okay?"
"After school? For what?"
"Decorations for the dance…I just told you that."
"Decorations…right, sorry. Distracted."
"You sure there's nothing on my face?" Damn his smile.
Smile Oshi! Do something! "Positive…" Did I just squeak?
"Good, it'd be embarrassing if I had junk on my face while talking to a pretty girl." He pushed back an errant dark lock of hair behind my ear. DO NOT BLUSH!!!
I watched him saunter off greeting people along the way in his charcoal black and candy apple red uniform; he didn't move like Warren, but he was damn close.
"Talking to Lee again?" Nani's husky voice whispered against my ear making me jump into the lockers on my right.
"Don't do that!" Willing my breath to normal, I glared at my best friend only to be greeted by an amused grin. "And yes, I was talking to Lee, but it doesn't give you the right to sneak up on me."
"Yeah it does, I called your name three times, but you kept doing that wistful sigh…so it had to be Lee."
"I wasn't sighing," I muttered bitterly as Nani pulled me to our next class AP Calculus, a senior class with half the Varsity Men's Soccer team. There is a really good reason to love sports at this school.
After school…I sat in a circle with a group of the Dance Committee working on some of the decorations, who's bright idea was it to hand-make half of them to cut costs? Right…Lee's. Damn. He can get just about anybody to do anything when he flashes that dazzling and charming smile. Yes! I caved!
The group of girls giggled and gossiped incessantly; I wish Nani was here, she'd keep me sane. But no, my best friend absolutely refuses to take part in anything remotely involving the girls of the cheerleading squad (bad experience) and the twitterpatted fans of my Valentine's date.
The ballroom of the hotel was slowly becoming a formal explosion of hearts, tinsel, balloons and streamers as the Junior Class Council decorated the room according to our designs. The hotel manager gave us the special Supers room that only supers were allowed to rent out and at a discount too! Today we were putting up the harder and bigger displays so they wouldn't be so much work tomorrow. The anticipation was building up so much it was palpable. If it wasn't one thing it was another…thank God for work. At least there I don't have to worry about dresses and hair and this dance.
"Oshi, you have to tell me about your dress, what color is it? I hope its beige, with your skin; I think beige is best for you." Cathy rambled on and on today about things I could live without: dresses, make-up, color schemes, hair, jewelry and everything that made me ill and uncomfortable.
Let's face it, I'm a tomboy, I prefer my baggy pants and long shirts over skirts and dresses any day. I mean, my mother had to pull me out of ballet because I fought with the other little girls who teased me for wearing pants and sneakers instead of tutus and hard pointed shoes. Femininity does not apply to my clothes except for my school uniform or when I'm dealing with Sophie. Only, my niece is getting to be more and more like me everyday, she's actually quit play-dates that involved tea parties in favor for soccer in the park.
"Sorry Cathy, my aunt and nanny are dressing me, I have no idea about it… and now that I think about it, I'm a little scared." Great, now she's made me paranoid. I really hate it that every staff member here is so interested in my personal life, Warden Winters said it had to do with my being the youngest staff member or something like that. Some of them have decided to relive high school vicariously through me. What a load of bullshit.
Somebody please save me from this insanity!
"Peggy, that needs to be higher. A little more, more…Josh can you help her?"
"Mei, those candles don't need to be lit yet."
"Jorge, it's a dolphin ice sculpture! Not your sick wet dream!" The ballroom was a flurry of action the morning of the dance, a lot of work had been put into the decorations over the past few days, and it was incredible that not a few days ago this was just conception art on paper. The large ballroom floor was littered with pink, white, red and silver balloons being blown up by a five freshmen with wind-based powers. Three telekinetic students were near the far wall hanging a paper mâche thing of our school's crest that looked incredible.
"Josephina! You got a visitor!" Amelie bellowed from across the ballroom and everyone turned to the tall black clad figure leaning uncomfortably against the large French doors. Warren? What the hell is he doing here?
"Hey, this isn't a show, get back to work everyone!" I called everyone's attention to me with an abnormally forceful voice before carefully making my way over to Warren. I say carefully because my date is watching and it wouldn't do if he thought I was interested in someone else…which I am NOT.
Before Warren could say anything he was dragged behind me out of the ballroom and I could have sworn there was a collective sigh from all the straight females and gay males of my class. It was a little unnerving, then again Warren did look very good in those jeans. Damnit, I thought I was over these girlish-preteen feelings!
"What are you doing here?"
"Hey Oshi, I'm good thanks for asking." A playful smirk brushed along his lips because God forbid he have any emotions in public.
"Sorry, hi Warren, what are you doing here?" I repeated tilting my head exasperatedly, if I don't get back in there, who knows what chaos will happen besides Lee might think I don't like him.
"It's 2 o'clock."
"And?"
"We have to get Sophie and head over to Will's house." Glancing at my watch I started panicking.
"Oh my God! It's two already! We have to get Sophie and go to Will's! Why didn't you say something?!" Smacking his arm, I pulled Warren back into the ballroom after me towards the VP Ariel Storm. "Ari, I have to go…big important thing…sorry, you can handle things right?"
"Yeah, I can but where are you going?" She followed me as I dragged Warren out of the lobby to the car park.
"I…just have to… I have to go. Bye!" I called as Warren pulled out of the lot leaving Ariel standing under the light snow.
"Daddy!" Sophie's stubby baby legs carried her into Warren's knees as she wrapped her tiny body around his legs.
"Sophie, I can't move." Her bright blue eyes stared innocently up at the pyrokinetic before they started to well up…uh-oh, kiddo's in a mood. Intervention! Intervention!
"Sophie, what did you do today?" I sat down on my knees to the three-year-old's level with a bright expression. It worked, Sophie let go of Warren's knees and sat down on the cold pavement before babbling in baby talk about her exciting day. Warren crouched down and lifted my niece bodily mid-report and tucked her under his arm before heading to the un-Warren-like station wagon. The baby girl squealed with excitement of the new game.
"Warren! Warren! Stop that, she's a baby not a sack of rice!" I chased after the two trying to dust off my baggy cargo pants in the process. No use, Warren's got the freaking long legs and he airplaned my three-year old terror of a niece into her baby seat we installed in Warren's car just for her.
As soon as the little girl was buckled in, I slapped Warren's arm for the second time today completely ignoring the muscular bicep under his coat. "Ow," he rubbed the spot playfully trapping my hand between his arm and his larger hand. For once I was glad of the cold as the blush rose to my already pink cheeks.
"That's what you get, punk, I told you not to do that." The grin on face hid my embarrassment well but he didn't let my hand go. Why Warren aren't you letting my hand go? Stop blushing Oshi! This is your friend, you have no feelings whatsoever like that, you LIKE WAR—LEE CHANG!
It didn't register that we had gotten into the beat up station wagon and were on our way to Will's until the car jerked to a stop.
"Let's go munchkin," Warren's voice was paternally affectionate as he picked up Sophie out of the car seat, "C'mon Oshi, the guys need your help with homework." Yes homework on a Saturday, it was the only time I could fit into my schedule around the dance and my other responsibilities…I AM NOT A NERD!
"Oshi!" Layla cried happily bounding out of Will's house to hug me.
"Hey! Omf!" Ow, for such a slight girl she's more powerful in her fricking hugs than her vines! "Yeah, Layla that didn't hurt at all."
"Oh I'm sorry, but I really—"
"Mommy!" Sophie reached out for Layla from Warren's arms interrupting whatever the earth-girl was saying to cuddle the three-year old.
"Oshi! Thank God you're here, can you please explain to Glow-boy here that Aquaman's powers are not derived from meteors like Superman!" Magenta pulled me into the house away from the warmth of Warren's side. Let the studying begin.
Nearly three and a half hours later, we had to call it quits because of our various Valentine's Day activities, including my dance and the Mayor's Ball. While I had Aunt Paige, Maya and possibly a whole arsenal of servants excitedly willing to help me primp, Layla and Magenta only had one another and I offered to get them ready for their school dance at my place.
"Guys, we'll see you later, when they're pretty. Have fun doing guy stuff." I called as Stewart opened the backseat door open for the three of us and helped me lock Sophie into her baby carrier.
Layla gave Will another sickening display of PDA and Magenta merely nodded at Zach before climbing in. Sophie was reaching for Warren that he had to give her tight hugs before she would finally stop blubbering.
"Hey Warren, you gonna stop by and help me tuck her in? Nadia is M.I.A again; Maya just called and said no one can get a hold of her. Probably at another party." I asked quietly. Warren is not by nature a publicly affectionate person and I therefore do not try to embarrass him by questioning him loudly or in a normal voice about our activities whenever he comes over. Looking after Sophie, studying or him just hanging around my house is between us, not us, Will, Layla, Ethan, Zach, Magenta and the whole rest of the world.
"Yeah, I'll be by before you head over to the Mayor's Ball." He whispered softly into my ear making me shiver slightly. I can NOT have these feelings for Warren! He is my friend, my dearest and best friend! I could only nod to stop me from squeaking or having a sort of word vomit about feelings and other embarrassing things.
Back at my house Magenta and Layla were getting help from my servants, while I played a bit with Sophie and listened to my two friends talk about stuff, usually Sky High related stuff…until my name came up.
"So Oshi, what's going on with you and Warren?"
"Eh?"
"Yeah, Oshi…I was wondering that too."
"Um, Sophie demands that he be around and it's hard to deny her anything…"
"That's not what I meant!" Layla stated excitedly giving Magenta a knowing look.
"Then praytell what did you mean?"
"Remember when I called you a few weeks ago?"
"Vaguely…"
"When we first learned of the whole 'Daddy' Warren thing, Layla, be specific!"
"Right…" How did I not see this coming? Wait no… I did.
-Flashback-
"MOMMY!!!" Sophie screamed as she ran into my leg knocking me down and the phone out of my hand. "Mommy! Mommy! Daddy mean!"
"What do you mean, what did Warren do?" I addressed the toddler attached to my legs while trying to reach for the cordless phone just beyond my fingertips…got it! "Layla, can I call you back?" I hung up after scooping the three-year old in my arms, "Baby, what happened?" She was wearing layers of my old Halloween costumes and a big pink flimsy hat from who knows where.
"Daddy mean…"
"Right I got that part, what happened?" Speaking slowly and squatting down to her level is really bad for the back.
"She gave me a make-over." Warren's growl and heavy footsteps stopped behind me.
"A what?" I rose quickly with Sophie in my arms to look at him. My lips quivered with barely constrained giggles. "Oh my…" Warren still wore the bright red plastic headband from earlier, but now sported three sloppily braided pigtails tipped with neon colored pom-poms. There were even a few Barbie combs tangled in the mess! Multiple Clip-on earrings hung from his now visible ears with some chunky 60's necklaces I had from Halloween years ago, Sophie even tried putting more make up on his face!
"Not funny, Oshi." Oh very funny, Warren. I thought to myself, but I don't fancy being burnt to a crisp any time soon.
"Daddy not pwetty fow the tea pawty." Sophie's blue eyes implored me, while a bright pink ring of lip gloss coated her mouth and there was rouge on her cheeks. Great more cleaning…crap, is it on my clothes?
Giggling would have been really bad, but it's so hard! "I-I th-think Warren is pretty enough, baby girl…" Ignoring Warren's glare at the 'pretty comment' I led them both back to the bathroom, I hope mom had a lot of make-up remover.
Once Sophie was clean, I rang for Danielle (Sophie's nanny at my house) to take the little girl to the kitchen while I helped Warren look like Warren again. "Sit. I should really take a picture, this is priceless." Thank goodness for security cameras! Only I'm soooo not going to tell him. I rather like living, thank you very much.
"How about you try and I'll roast you alive?" He muttered miserably. Exactly, I'd be signing my death warrant if I told him about the security cameras.
"Well you're the one that got bullied by a three year old." Taking out the snarled braids and ribbons from Warren's surprisingly soft hair was no easy task. What did Sophie use? Glue?
He glared pointedly at me. "You know how hard it is to deny her."
"This is true. But never to the point of being a pushover like you." I ran the comb through one braid and proceeded untangling another bit of the mess before looking at the boy sitting on the edge of my bathtub. My hands immediately clasped over my mouth and nose as snorting laughter erupted from behind olive colored fingers. "Dude, I can't take you seriously with the jewelry, take it off."
Watching him try to remove everything was just about as entertaining as seeing him glowering at Sophie while wearing it. Finally taking pity on my friend, my fingers gently removed every bit of gaudy toy piece of jewelry and accessory from his head before I went back to disentangling his hair. Working in silence to the steady sound of our breathing, I left the headband on to remove the make up without the interference of his hair or from my niece. She'd cry if she saw me dissemble her masterpiece.
"Who were you talking to earlier; I thought I heard you say Layla."
"It was Layla, she wanted a second opinion on dresses; but why she's asking me I don't know." Slowly half of his face was clear of the goo Sophie splattered on. "It's not like I have any real fashion sense."
"Yeah you do, all women do." I smacked his arm lightly.
"That was a rather sexist comment Mr. Peace. I'll have you know that not all women are fashionable capable, take me for example, if it weren't for my school's uniforms Maya would probably have me in dresses and short skirts." He smirked at the image earning him another smack to the arm. "Listen Mr. Bad Ass, the only thing I wear outside my uniforms is baggy jeans and long shirts. They're comfy."
"And they work for you. You make them look sexy." My eyes widened in fear, where the hell did that come from? "I'm kidding."
"Please don't ever say that again. For a moment it sounded like you were attracted to me." Not that that wouldn't be a bad thing…wait no, naughty Oshi! I turned away from him to hide my thoughts swirling behind my dark brown eyes. "I don't need to be creeped out okay?"
"I noticed; you didn't make a crack about me kidding."
"Dude, I know you have a sense of humor and all, but don't say stuff like that, if any of those Warren Peace fan club girls heard you…I'd be… well I'd be rejected and dead while Sophie would be alone with you and you two can play dress up every frickin' day. There, you're done."
"Don't give her any ideas, Oshi." Warren stood up towering my 5'7" frame, I had been loosing weight lately, and Maya's been getting worried.
"Exactly, so don't say creepy stuff like that. I rather like living thanks much." He smirked at me before tossing the hair-band onto the counter to watch me put back the cleaning supplies. "So really watch what you say or that future just might happen."
"What, you a psychic now?"
"Sure and I predict that you're hungry, so let's go before Sophie graduates High School." Casually Warren slung his arm around my neck leaning his full weight on me nearly causing me to stumble down the stairs, "Agh! Warren get off, jeez if you fan-girls don't kill me, that doesn't mean you get to."
-End Flashback-
"Oshi when we came over and you two were a tangle of arms and legs on your den floor! How can you say there's nothing going on between you two?" Layla demanded, her voice rising in pitch.
"Because there isn't! I don't know how many times I need to repeat myself, but I will, we are just friends and that's all we're going to be. My niece adores him and I cave into her demands."
"Fine, be in denial."
"I am not in denial."
"Sure you're not, you just act defensively all the time."
"Well, I am practicing to be a lawyer." They gave me a pointed look, "For the last time, Warren and I are just friends, so drop the subject. I do not like him like that!" Why the hell am I lying through my teeth?
Like I said… SORRY!! It's been forever ago since I started this chapter. I hope you liked it. Please review, I finished this in between two final essays while studying the summer in London.