Sorry this took so long but I've been gone on vacation. The first one of the summer -there are more to come. Europe baby! I went to Europe and it was AWESOME. I loved it. Spain and Italy. I might put a list of things I've seen and learned on my profile in the next few weeks.

I don't own Sky High.

I was dog-ass tired when I was waiting for the bus, lounging back on a bench. I'd had about an hour of sleep after I got home from my double because I had to get ready for school- shower, clean clothes, brush my teeth, eat something, the whole nine yards.

Ugh, school.

As far as I knew there were five stages of grief. Some say there are seven, but I can only remember five. So I say there are five. Denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance.

I wondered, as I smoked my first cigarette of the day, which stage I was at, but quickly dismissed it and thought of something I deemed more important.

How was I going to get shit faced tonight without getting a hangover?

See how the teenage mind works? Simple, I know.

I cracked open an energy drink with the hand that was holding my cancer stick and sipped on the pure caffeine -my double shift pick me up. The can was cold against my hand, like the breeze was against my knees. It was getting colder out, the start of fall causing the leaves to shift color into dusty hues. Yellows, browns, and reds. My street was picturesque -well, besides the teal haired girl (newly dyed) in the faded Motley Crue t-shirt (What can I say? I love Dr. Feelgood and Smoking in the Boy's Room.); holy, frayed jeans; and combat boots sitting on the bench.

I glanced up and down the block, anxious -the effect of too much caffeine, nicotine, and too little sleep. That and the Vicodin I've been taking for my ankle makes me jumpy. To alleviate said anxiousness I drummed my fingers on the plastic slats of the bench, downed my Amp, tore the tab off, finished my cigarette, and scoffed at the city bus that went by with a picture advertising 'Stronghold Real Estate: It's real-estates' on the side and 'Supers for a cause' graffiti on the back window.

I littered my cigarette butt in the gutter and pulled out another out of my new pack, savouring the taste in my mouth and the calm feeling in my chest that only smoking brings. I get my lighter lit on the first try and am so surprised that I move it too fast and it blows out.

Ugh. I'm not even going to point out how ironic that is.

While I'm attempting to light my lighter again, the bus rounds the corner.

I sigh, resigned and shove my unlit stick of heaven back into the pack, pocket my lighter and the box of Camels, and grab my backpack, crushing my discarded Amp can as I stand up.

Another day in hell. I don't know how much more of this I can stand.

It wasn't until the bus stopped and I saw Peace striding on did I remember his last words to me the other night. "You get off the bus before I do."

I also get on before him.

My eyes travelled to the windows and landed on a apartment building, red bricks and shabby entrance. Ivy was crawling up the ally side and the fire escape -I internally snorted at the irony- was almost touching the building next to it- the dry cleaners my mom used to go to. The couple who owned it lived in the apartments above the shop. I remember that they used to give me candy when I went with my mother to pick up her things. Back then the shop had been nice, now it looks a bit run down - the 'n' hanging down in 'cleaners'.

I met Peace's eye for a second before he plopped down in the seat next to mine -his usual one occupied.

"Nice hair." He grunted, as per usual.

"Fuck off. At least I have the metaphorical balls to do my whole head." I shot back, slouching in my seat, restlessly.

"How the ankle?" He smirked in a condescending sort of way.

"Fantastic. I have Vicodin." I muttered staring out the window.

He grunted, in what I'd like to think was jealously. I ignored him and pulled a book out of my backpack, slipping open to the book-marked page.

He glanced at my book, and although I couldn't see it, I knew the curiosity was there.

So I said nothing and kept reading, even when we were launched off the bridge and sky rocked into the air.

"Poems? Nelson, really?" Peace muttered a minute before we landed. Amused and condescending.

I flipped him off. "Screw you Pyro."

"You would."

"You wish." With that I shoved him back down in his seat as he tried to stand while I stood and exited the bus, only slightly limping on my twisted ankle.

-

That day I refused to participate in the Save the Citizen.

So I was up as a villain against some nerdy kid and Icy with a kid who's power I didn't even fucking know. I sat on the bench and refused to fight. Simple right?

Boomer didn't like this.

"NELSON! What are you doing?" He… boomed in that obnoxious way of his.

" I'm not playing this stupid game. It's beneath me."

He turned a shade of purple that I found quite fascinating. "It's NOT a GAME!"

"Looks like one."

"THIS IS TO PREPARE YOU FOR YOU'RE LIFE AS A HERO! It is a TRAINING EXERCISE!"

"Whatever."

"FIGHT NELSON!"

"No."

"Then you FAIL!" Again with the loud voice. I think he's over compensating for something, if you know what I mean.

Icy had a peculiar expression on her face and walked over to my bench. At first, I thought she was going to attack me, but she didn't. In fact, you'll never believe it, she actually sat down.

I threw Couch a smug look. He looked like he was about to bust an artery in his forehead.

Boomer opened his mouth, probably to say something incredibly stupid, when Medulla cut him off. "I find this very interesting. Perhaps we should see how this plays out, Couch. What do you say?"

Boomer didn't want to disagree with Medulla -I suspect a man-crush or maybe he wanted to look smart, agreeing with a genius. Whatever, doesn't matter.

"Fine." Boomer yelled, not boomed. I'd say that was one point for me.

"Boomer is an ass." Icy said, running her hand through her long hair.

"Just noticing?" I smirked, eyes skimming the ceiling.

She smiled back. "You're not a horrible as everyone says."

"Are you sure? I'm pretty horrible."

"I'm sure." She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Why?"

"No reason. Curiosity."

"A bit contradictory."

"Always." I slumped against the bench and watched the nerdy kid power up into a huge rock… thing. My partner paled a bit, looking a bit like an ant next to Rocky, as I have so dubbed him.

"Why are people staring at us?" I asked. "Am I that infamous?"

"No, I just don't play nice with others."

"People are bitches. I say fuck um."

"I think we'll get along just fine here Nelson."

"We sure will Icy. You hate this school as much as I do, don't you?"

She nodded in an off handed sort of way, as if she didn't want to talk about it and I respected that. Maybe I do have common decency.

"Icy…" she mused. Then smiled. "I like it Nelson."

"Good, I'm bad with names." I said, fingers twitching. God, I wanted a cigarette.

"Hardly anyone knows my real name." She mumbled. "They all call me Freeze Girl."

"That's a lame nickname. Like calling a girl name Elisabeth, Joan."

Icy laughed.

"What's your name?" She asked. "You're real name?"

I scratched my head and shrugged. "That's no fun. Takes the mystery out of everything."

"I do like the hair. Ballsy, but you looked better blond." Icy say looking at my 'dyke spike' as Kylie had dubbed it freshman year.

"A bit biased? You haven't seen me as a red head."

"Interesting." She gave me a measured look. "I'm having a party this weekend. You're welcome to come."

I considered this. "What kind of party?"

"The only good kind."

"I don't know. The last time I got drunk I twisted my ankle."

"How?"

"It's a long story."

"I bet it is." She paused. "So which way do you swing? You're not interested in girls are you?"

"No. Why?"

"Damn."

"You like girls?"

"Yeah." She shrugged.

"I'm almost flattered. Really didn't see that one coming."

She grinned. "Most people don't. I tried the whole 'guy' thing. I really didn't see the point."

I shrugged. "Whatever works for you."

"You're really not fazed? At all?"

"Were you going for the shock factor?"

"No."

"Well there's your answer."

"Nelson?"

"Yeah?"

"You're really cool."

"Tell me something I don't know."

She laughed and we both looked up as the buzzer screeched announced the end of the match.

My team lost.