Chapter 6. Something's Gotta Give

Warren stood by the entrance to Sky High, waiting for Verity to make an appearance from one of the buses pulling up to the curb outside. She'd been reverting to her quiet ways again; giving excuses to break dates and even reasons to avoid him at school. He was worried he had done something wrong and was really anxious to find out what it was. So anxious in fact that he arrived at the school an hour earlier than usual, so Verity couldn't sneak inside before he got there.

His scheme worked. She was slowly climbing the stairs, her long, brown ponytail bobbing up and down. She lifted her head as she reached the door, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets when she saw Warren behind the glass. He smiled his cocky smile and waved at her with three fingers. She returned a weak grin and walked purposefully into the building, trying to get lost in a sea of people. Unfortunately, everyone was still avoiding her, so it wasn't that easy to hide. Warren walked right up to her and put an arm around her. She closed her eyes, asking for patience.

"Hi ya, sweetie," Warren said, a little loudly. He got looks from everyone in a five foot radius. Quieter, he added, "Why have you been avoiding me again? Did I do something?"

Verity shook her head, looking up at him. She quickly pecked his cheek. While still on her tiptoes, she whispered, "The voices are back. Just stay away."

She managed to leave him shocked long enough for her to get a few seconds head start. But, eventually, Warren jogged up to her locker and stared at her expectantly.

"What?" She asked sharply.

"You know what." Warren's voice was gruff; he wanted it to be known that he was not in the mood for her games. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Verity slammed her locker door and looked up at him. "Because there's nothing you can do!" She looked like she was going to cry; instead she held her head up proudly. "I can't fight them much longer. And rather than have the greatest temptation on top of me in my bedroom," she nodded at him, "I've decided I love you too much to risk your life. Until I get this handled FOR GOOD, you and I aren't together." She turned on her heel and began to walk away.

Warren reached out and grabbed her upper arm. "Oh, no you don't. We're not going to end this conversation until I get my say."

Suddenly ice went through Warren's veins. Verity looked back over her shoulder as Warren, weakened, slid to the floor. Her eyes were cold, but at the same time a hidden fire burned behind them. She turned fully around and bent down to kiss his cheek. "Trust me. You get no say."

She walked away from him and toward her class, leaving him confused and hurt on the floor. Soon Will and Layla came upon him. They looked at him on the floor and came rushing to him.

"Warren! Did you get into another fight over Verity?" Layla quickly glanced him over, looking for blood, or possibly, wrongly angled body parts.

"Kind of." Warren sat up, his strength almost completely returned. "I got into another fight WITH Verity." He sighed and put his head in his hands. "The voices are back."

Will and Layla looked at each other, exchanged confused looks, and turned their attention back to their distressed friend. "Huh?"

Warren explained all about Verity's condition, the way it took over on the day of Save The Citizen, and how she'd just 'iced' him now so he'd let her go. "You guys, I know this is bad, but I love her to pieces. I only want to help. She just won't let me."

Layla smiled. "I think she is. She's asking you to stay away. She doesn't want to hurt the man she loves." She nudged Warren. "She loves you, Warren. She doesn't want to risk hurting you. So until she gets some professional help, she wants you to help out by not getting involved. It's pretty sweet."

Will rolled his eyes. Only his girlfriend would think a psychotic killer who was trying to change for the man she loved was sweet. "Look, Layla's right. Just leave Verity alone for a while. She really cares about you." He refused to say she loved Warren. "When and if she's ready, she'll let you know."

Warren smiled at his two friends. "You guys are right. And just because I can't be around doesn't mean I can't leave her little notes or something, in her locker." He grinned wickedly at Layla. "Can you help me really quick?"

Layla, raising an eyebrow, returned his smile slowly. "What did you have in mind?"

Warren stood up and pulled Layla to her feet. Then he led her to the front lawn of Sky High. Right outside the door was an old dead rosebush. The grounds men were too lazy to dig it up and plant a new one. Warren looked at Layla. She laughed.

"We're not supposed to use our powers outside the gym, Warren."

"Please. It'll be doing something nice for the school, too. Then the front of the building won't look so grotesque."

Layla gave him points for the word, and shook her head as her resolve faded. She couldn't believe what she was doing. She placed her hands almost right on top of the bush and concentrated. Soon, beautiful yellow roses, with soft pink tips, had appeared on the bush in front of them. Layla wiped her hands in sarcasm. "That was a lot of work." She winked at Warren.

Warren smiled in return and plucked two roses from the bush. He ran back up the steps and to Verity's locker. He had just gotten it open when the bell rang. Will was leaning on a locker about a yard away, examining his fingers. Warren quickly placed the flowers inside on top of some of Verity's textbooks and grabbed his book bag from on the floor where it remained from his fall. He tapped Will on the arm.

"Let's get going, Stronghold." He started quickly for their class.

"Sure you don't want to wait around for your girlfriend?" Will retorted.

Warren stopped and looked at his best friend. "Look, I know you don't like her, but can't you accept that she's trying to change. We love each other, Will."

"And I think that's great, Warren. Really, I do. But guess what?" Will got right up in his face. "Evil can't change." He stood his ground as Warren's face contorted angrily. "All I'm saying is, will you be ready if she needs you to destroy her to save her? Will you be ready to give that kind of help, and lose the girl you love forever?"

Warren looked away, fear and sadness in his dark eyes. "She can fight this, Will. That won't have to happen." He started to walk without his best friend. "It'll never happen."

Layla put an arm around Will as they watched Warren walk away. "I hope he's right about that," Will whispered to his girlfriend. "Killing her will kill him."