Thanks for all your wonderful reviews! I really appreciated your warm and kind welcome! Here's the next chapter. It's twice as long as the previous chapter, since I won't post chapter 3 till next Friday, since I'm going away on a scholarship. Okay, now you get to learn more about our hero!

Lucky Me

But he says storms always fade
after they've had their way
They're never as bad as they seem
As long as the rivers still run to the seas

-Great Big Sea

Wally was rarely stressed. In fact, he was one of the most laid-back people he knew. Now that he had nearly all the time in the world, he didn't have many concerns that he couldn't solve. He could run off to England and back again within twenty minutes. He could speed his way through nearly everything. Of course, times had a habit of changing.

Spending his time following Jinx around, stopping crime and trying to balance all his chores and responsibilities, he was starting to feel the weight of the pressure. It was almost like his old life, before that horrible accident…

Wally closed his eyes and pressed that memory out of his head. That was the only thing that could make him cry. And he didn't like crying very much. Laughing was a much better way of numbing the pain.

Wally rarely walked. It was far easier to run at the speed of sound than subject himself to the indignity of walking like any pedestrian. Yet, since he had his own secret identity, he had to act normal like any other teenager. He didn't mind though, it was nice to be normal.

Home sweet home to him was Star Labs and the attached house next door. His uncle had not allowed him to move out on his own, and had asked Dr. Emil Hamilton, the official doctor of superheroes if Wally could remain with him and his family. .

If the Teen Titans knew that Kid Flash, fastest boy alive, hero of heroes lived under supervision, they would never let him live it down. He had wanted his own apartment or loft in the center of town, but he had to wait till he was eighteen for that. Being underage was like being under water, a real wet blanket.

Section 11 of Star Labs had been the home of many heroes and meta-humans, who were being studied to help them control their power. Wally could control his powers quite well by now, so he was just there for the food.

The other kids weren't so lucky. Across the hall lived Brenton Fitzroy who was still having problems controlling the range of his flames. He had been brought for testing and help. Wally had tried to befriend the eight year old, but the boy was a sullen little monster who tended to shoot fireballs if he didn't like the look on your face. Down the hall lived a little psychic girl named Hope Aston, who wasn't allowed much, since she was so sick. Wally had only seen her once or twice, being carried back to her room after surgery.

"Good morning, Dr. Hamilton," he called politely, opening the door of the charming Tudor home on the outskirts of town "Wallace, is that you?" an urbane voice called from the living room. "How was your patrol? Are you keeping our city safe?" he asked.

Wally smiled as he removed his shoes and laid them at the door. Dr. Hamilton was one of the few people who knew about his secret identity, as it would have been kind of hard to hide that he spent most of his nights out. That and his wife, Shayna was an excellent cook and had to know why so much of her food was disappearing at such high rates. "Excellent. Really excellent. Foiled six robberies and stop three muggings. You'd think the bad guys would take a hint, crime doesn't pay. "I better go then. I'd hate to disturb the genius at work." As much as he loved talking to the older man, he was so tired and hungry!

As Wally walked away, he knew his home situation wasn't as bad as he thought. Dr. Hamilton was a great guy and a nice teacher. Mrs. Hamilton was a great cook who always kept a dinner plate or four warm for him. It was just their screaming kids that drove him nuts. Natalie and Nathan Hamilton had hit the terrible twos and had only gotten worse. Apparently, no one had told them it was supposed to be a passing phase. Just the sight of the two blond children tearing down the hallways at full speed was enough to spoil his appetite. Which wasn't easy, considering he ate about twenty thousand calories a day.

His rooms at the lab were simple but provided everything he needed. A comfortable bed to sleep on, a desk for writing and a closet to hold his clothing. Of course, his aunt had spruced it up a little. He had his laptop computer, his bed and his music system, which allowed him to listen to his favorite tunes and rock out. On the wall were posters of his favorite actresses in bikinis, Wally's favorite form of female clothing.

Putting on his favorite tunes, he threw himself onto his bed and began to relax. Superspeed definitely put a strain on his muscles. He hadn't been exercising properly, something he knew he should be doing to keep his body limber. He imagined a reality where a crowd of Jinx harem dancers massaged his muscles and fed him copious amounts of extra cheese pizza. That would be nice.

Wally sighed as he made his bed. He could not get Jinx out of his mind. He could still hear her laughter in the stillness of his quiet room. He wanted to see her again, her voice sent shivers down his spine. He had come so close to kissing her. At that moment, he had felt completely and utterly…different.

He lifted the picture of his late father from its perch on the side of his bed. "Dad what's happening to me?" he asked. He had never felt so nervous about a girl before. He felt like he was losing his mind and he was addicted. It was frightening him.

Still, he had to check his mail and he had studying to do. Uncle Barry had pulled favors with professors to teach him by correspondence so that he could begin college. Opening his account, he pondered why everyone seemed to have such high standards for him? Life was too short for frown lines.

As usual, his email was full. Although now that he was a Superhero, he rarely gave out his email address to people, he still had a devoted group of friends from Nebraska (he hated admitting that he came from the Corn-huskers, it sounded even more geeky than he could bear) and some friends from school in Central City and in Metropolis, when he had been living his aunt and uncle. What could he say, people loved him?

So some of the emails were actually people he wanted to speak to. The rest was his work from the Titans and from his teachers.

Hey, Wally!
It's so sad you got sent to another boarding school. I know it's for geniuses but still, I miss you. Can't believe a goofball like you is an actual genius, you are too cool to be a geek. Having a party next week on Sunday. Would love to see you there,
Dana

When he had moved away, his aunt and uncle had told them he had been accepted to a special boarding school for gifted children, since he had graduated from the day school for gifted children. Wally had asked that they say he was a secret agent on a mission from the CIA, but that request had been ignored.

Wally smiled. Dana was a cool gal. She didn't have Jinx's charm and dangerous wit, but he would definitely enjoy a dance with her. They had dated briefly before Wally had decided to go out on hero duty alone. It would be nice to see her again.

Besides, she lived next door to his aunt and uncle, he could stop in for a visit and buy get two pizzas for one phone call. Ohhh, good idea, he should order a pizza, that would definitely brighten his day.

Nebraska rules! You are such a dweeb for not visiting, city boy! Too good for us now? I'm challenging you to a football game, and you better come and take it, chicken.

Joey

Wally rolled his eyes. Sometimes, he really missed his home town friends. Of course, now that they were off having their own normal lives, without guarding the safety of the world, it was hard to keep in touch. But he'd have to visit them sometime. He would just have to figure out an excuse to get himself over to see his former best friend, Joey Keenan and the rest of the gang. He was so different from the little troublemaker they used to know.

The next one was from Robin. Back to hero business, as usual.
Slade is on the move. We think he's in your territory. Do recon and get all the info you can. Contact me if anything comes up.

Robin

Wally had grown up in hero duties with Robin. Their mentors had been close friends and the two had attended an impromptu hero academy together, where they trained together in sparring, recon and other crime fighting methods, as well as a first class education.

It was strange that Robin was so much like a brother to him. Besides for mutual interests in crime fighting, they didn't have much in common. Robin was a strait-laced workaholic and never wanted to play hide and seek in the cavernous Wayne Manor or playing pranks on the mentors.

Wally chuckled when he remembered how he had once put a trick pillow under Batman's chair. He still had nightmares over that incident. His mentor had allowed Batman full discretion over his punishment and Wally still had a fear of bull finches from that incident.

Still, in their lonely isolation as heroes in training, they had found they had a lot more in common than they thought.
Robin was still a good friend and Wally had been proud to fight by his side. He had constantly asked that Wally move into the Tower with them. "It would be nice to have someone to help out with recon duties. And…you would be very useful to the team."

Wally would have gladly taken up the offer, if Uncle Barry had not put his foot down and said a tower full of "hormonal teenagers and junk food" was no place for a West. Wally had offered his opinion on that line of thought and got sent to bed without dessert.
Next was the actual schoolwork portion.

Wally,
Your latest exam was abysmal to say the very least. I expect better work from you next time. We reviewed the material many times and I see no reason for you to have failed so badly. Problems ten and fifteen were skipped, which makes it very difficult to mark. Please note my corrections that I sent back and consider actually applying yourself. I know you're smart and if you concentrate, you could be my best student. I can't allow you to waste your potential like this. Your uncle will be contacted if this behavior continues.
Professor Michael Rosenbaum

This was bad.

Dear Wally,
Your assignment on The Merchant of Venice was sloppy, rushed and poorly written. Your essay had no thesis statement, you relied on plot summary and I am not sure why you kept replacing the name Portia with the name Jinx. I expect better work from you.

A photographic memory will not replace good study skills. You failed to argue why Shylock is both a villain and a tragic figure. Saying that he "was a bad guy among bad guys," is not a fair or intelligent argument.
Please re-do the assignment and I will consider averaging the two grades. Also, please begin reading Les Miserables and considering essay topics.
Please don't make this into a habit,
Dr. Tara Charendoff

He looked at his grades sheet with horror.
Advanced Molecular Biology-D (Failure to turn in homework on time)

Applied Mathmatics-D (Drastic fall in grades, please discuss)

Organic Chemistry-F (illegible writing

Macro Economics -C (Poor knowledge of material)

Computer Science and Discrete Mathematics

Law and Literature-B

Criminal Psychology-C
Wally watched his doom sink in. His uncle would hit the roof and then send him to boarding school. Uncle Barry was a major stickler for good grades and how they were a prerequisite for any other privileges…like a nice play station or hero duty or existence. He had asked not to be signed up for so many classes, but no one listened to him.

"You can't declare superhero on your tax form, Wallace. An education is your greatest strength. You can graduate fairly quickly if you keep up a proper schedule. Remember, hero duty is a privilege and responsibility, not a right," came a familiar voice. "A privilege that can very easily be revoked."

He stared balefully at the enormous stack of books on his desk and cracked upon the first one. "In 1815, M. Charles-Francois-Bienvenu Myriel was Bishop of D----He was an old man of about seventy-five years of age; he had occupied the see of D---- since 1806. Although this detail has no connection whatever with the real substance of what we are about to relate, it will not be superfluous."

Wally was quite sure that he was bored out of his mind. He could read quickly, but his mind needed rest a lot more than it needed attention to M. Myriel. Besides what kind of a name was that?He'd wake up tomorrow and deal with him later. Right now, his stomach was grumbling and it would be heard. He could think later. Now it was time to enjoy himself and daydream of Jinx.

"Wally, would you like some cherry pie?" Mrs. Hamilton asked from outside his room. "I just put the twins for a nap and decided to do some baking. Emil mentioned he had flunked you in biology. He says that if you put in some more work, he'll be happy to raise your grades next semester."

"I'm coming, Mrs. H. Save me half the pie!" At least that helped. Things would be better after food.

Next chapter-More Jinx time! A lot of details but needed for the plot. Decided to do a small contest, my favorite review (picked at random) will get a preview.