Chapter 5

Homecoming was this Saturday, only three days away.

The two girls had walked to the mall after school, despite Layla's initial objections. Magenta picked out an outfit for her, a flowing green dress that Layla had to admit, fit her quite nicely. To her surprise, her first thought upon looking in the mirror wasn't what Will would think of it, but rather if Warren would've liked it or not.

"Are you sure it's not too green?" Layla asked, stepping out of the dressing room.

"Green looks good on you," Magenta shrugged, tugging down the skirt of her black dress.

"But does it make my hair look too red?"

"Your hair is gorgeous," Magenta sighed before giving a mischievous smile. "Besides, I think Warren likes red."

Layla flushed, causing her friend to laugh.

"Stop, we're just friends. Kind of..." Layla said, turning back toward the mirror. "And he isn't going to see me in it so it doesn't even matter whether he does or not."

"Sure," Magenta said dryly, rolling her eyes. "Because that's how you really feel."

"Really!" Layla insisted, turning to glare at the other girl. "Besides," she started, showing off her still slightly blistered hand from a week ago, "This is what happened the last time I gave him a compliment. Last time I checked, when a guy is interested he doesn't do the girl bodily harm."

Magenta shrugged, turning back toward the mirror in front of her.

"I'm just saying that sometimes he looks at you like he's definitely interested. And he isn't as nice to the rest of us as he is to you."

"That's because he doesn't know you guys that well," Layla said, shaking her head.

"And you knows that much about you? Come on!"

Layla just shrugged, picking at the fabric of a shirt hanging off the nearby rack.

"Fine," she relented, pursing her lips. "But who knows if Will's going to drop his stupid crush on Miss Techno-bitch anytime soon. He was back to hanging out with her this morning, didn't you see?"

Magenta walked back into the dressing room after giving her reflection one last look. Layla frowned at her friend's comment. She was right. Will paid a little more attention to Layla after the confrontation in the cafeteria, but she thought it was more to keep the peace between his friend and girlfriend if anything else. He hadn't spoken to her all day apart from a few words on the bus, and then it seemed like he was avoiding her in the hallways.

But what did she expect? Him to come running into her arms, telling her how much he loved her and he just didn't realize it until now? 'Yeah, right.' Layla scoffed to herself, staring at her reflection with a frown marring her features. She would just have to keep at until the ball was in his court. If something came of it, great. But if not...

There was always Warren.

Layla smiled to herself. Magenta would swear on her life that he had a crush on her, but Layla just couldn't see it. She had to admit, he wasn't unattractive in the least. The complete opposite of Will, really, but there was something about him that was alluring all the same.

It was confusing, but there was that part of her that wished he could still be her date for the dance. She couldn't say that he was the most gracious guest, but he was decent to her... sort of.

She had went to The Paper Lantern that night after his suspension to get his side of the story, but he seemed to have the evening off. That or he just didn't want to see her and hid until she was gone, which she couldn't rule out as a possibility either. He had mentioned before how her stalking him was kind of annoying.

There were rumors today at school that Principal Powers was considering expelling him if he acted up once more this year. Layla wasn't sure what Warren was like before they came to Sky High, but judging by the way the other students gossiped nowadays, she could only guess that his impulsive behavior was rather recent. Before these altercations, he spent most of his time being a recluse, not bothering anyone or even acknowledging them for that matter. It was odd, really.

But truth be told, she found his brooding nature kind of fascinating. It was a change from Will's fun and sometimes goofy-to-the-point-of-annoying demeanor. He may have layers and layers that cover up who he really is inside, but Warren had soulful and knowledgeable eyes that you could sink into. He just needed someone to crack his shell, and maybe she could be the person to do it. Wait- what?!

Magenta walked out of her dressing room and looked at Layla oddly.

"Are you going to change? Or are you going to pine over Will all day?"

Layla jumped a little, having been deep in thought, and sheepishly followed Magenta's lead, walking into the dressing room to change back into her regular clothes.

"Do you honestly think he'll ever see me as more of a friend?" Layla questioned from inside the small room, untying the back of her dress as she did so.

"Who, Warren or Will?" she teased, then became serious at Layla's huff of indignation from inside the dressing room.

"I don't know," the other girl replied truthfully, "But Layla, you can't keep chasing after him. I say let it go and if he comes around later, then great. But if not then at least you have the chance to meet someone who could be a better match for you."

"You don't think Will's a good match?" asked Layla, pulling her jeans up her legs.

"I think Will's a great guy, no doubt about that. But you guys together? I just can't see it."

"Why not?"

"You and he make great friends... but I think the fact that you two have known each other for so long has made you biased. There's just no chemistry there, at least from what I can see. I know you love him, but can you honestly say that you're in love with him, or the idea of him and you being together?"

Layla was quiet for a minute or so, and just as Magenta was about to ask if she was alright, Layla walked out of the dressing room slowly, her shoulders slumped.

"I don't know anymore. I like the way he makes me feel, well, up until this school year anyway. It seems like lately all I've been feeling this past few weeks has been resentment. Do you think we'll be nothing but friends our whole lives?"

Magenta studied the redhead, choosing her next words carefully.

"I'd never say never," she insisted, giving her friend a hug. She looked like she could use one.

The girls pulled apart after a few moments and headed toward the front of the store, dresses slung over their arms, to make their respective purchases.

"You want to come hang out at my house? We can watch a movie." Magenta suggested, handing over her money to the clerk after the price flashed up on the register.

"Maybe later, I have something I want to do first, but it won't take very long."

"Need me to come with?"

"Nah, this is something I have to do on my own," answered Layla, handing the clerk her money.

If Magenta was curious about what that something was, she didn't let on.

"Alright well, call me?"

Layla nodded in response and the two parted ways, one girl thoughtful and the other determined.

A/N: Warren is in the next chapter, I promise! Someone asked why Warren was suspended when the first fight between he and Will was much worse. Based on my school experiences, the first incident was more of a stern "warning". From what I got out of the movie, Warren usually kept to himself and didn't normally cause problems, which is why the two boys simply received detention instead of a worse punishment the first time around. But Principal Powers can't have her students going around picking fights all the time, can she? :) On a side note, sorry this update took so long. I'm getting married in a few weeks so I've been extremely busy…