The next day at school, Chandra was standing by Layla, having gotten her books and now waiting on the green-covered girl. Chandra tensed as Will walked up to Layla.
"Listen. About lunch yesterday…"
"What about it?" Layla asked him.
"At the table, Penny was being…"
"Please. Not a big deal."
Chandra looked sharply at the girl, but she gave her a look telling her to drop it. Chandra complied, letting the girl 'fight' her own battles.
"No, it is, and" Will continued, oblivious to the exchange. "I feel bad, so let me make it up to you." His voice went up an octave, "Maybe tonight we can go to the Paper Lantern?"
Layla's eyes lit up. "But you hate Chinese food." Point, Will!
"But you don't."
"Paper Lantern. 8 o'clock." She smiled.
"Will!" Ethan's voice came from around the corner. Chandra looked up in time to see Lash's arm pull him back behind the wall."
Chandra charged around the corner with Will only seconds behind her.
"No, guys! Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey!" Will reprimanded, grabbing Ethan from Lash, who had been in the process of stuffing the poor boy into a locker. Lash started growing taller than Will, trying to intimidate him, but Chandra stepped in.
"Hello, boys." Chandra smiled sweetly.
Lash looked down into her eyes and, despite her smile, saw fire behind her eyes. He took the warning for what it was and shrunk back to his regular size.
Warren had been watching, unnoticed, from his locker. He could see the smile but was too far away to read the warning in her eyes. He felt his heart pang in jealousy but shook off the feeling. She was just a friend.
"Zach too," Will added to Lash's displeasure.
"Come on!" Chandra snapped, all pretenses of sweetness gone.
Lash started to back away. "What are you doing?" Speed asked incredulously. "You're afraid of a girl whose power can't even be used offensively?"
Lash shook his head. "Something tells me that she's not making an idle threat. And I'm starting to think that she can do more harm than people think."
Speed scoffed. "That's ridic…" he stopped as Chandra turned her stare to him, his throat suddenly dry. He released Zach and then hid his discomfort by turning back to Will. Chandra stepped back, showing that she was not going to interfere in this battle. Will turned to her and gulped but nodded, showing he understood her decision.
"You just think you're so big and bad, huh, Stronghold?"
"No, I-I don't" Will stammered. Despite being willing to face them alone, he did not want any trouble.
"Please! Will will totally take you," Ethan added as if the result of such a fight were obvious.
"You saw what happened to Warren?" Zach added. Chandra put her hand on his shoulder, silently telling him to refrain. Zach nodded, understanding the message.
"Watch it, Stronghold. That big mouth is gonna get you in trouble," Speed continued.
"I didn't say anything." Will was losing hope of avoiding a fight.
"Why not settle this in P.E.?"
"Settle what?"
"You're on," Ethan agreed for Will. "If Will beats you in Save the Citizen, lay off sidekicks for the year. And if he loses, you can dunk Zach in the toilet every day till graduation."
"What?!" Zack protested.
"You got yourself a deal," Speed said, pointing at Will's chest as he and his buddy walked off.
Will turned on the two boys. "C- Come on! Guys, are you crazy?! No freshman ever won Save the Citizen," Will pointed in the direction the bullies had left, "and those guys are undefeated!"
"And you barely know how to use your powers!" Layla added in. At his look, she shrunk, "Sorry. Not helping."
"Well, you'll have to suck it up," Chandra said, stretching her arms out behind her, her turquoise t-shirt sliding up just enough to see her scar as it crossed her belly button before she settled her arms down again.
A few kids stared, not having seen the ragged scar before. When Chandra turned her head towards them, they averted their gaze.
Chandra then looked at Will once, and walked off, tilting her head to Layla to follow her. Will trailed after them, reluctantly sitting down in the stands around the arena. Two people, a girl with ice powers and a boy with six arms were facing down Lash and Speed in the arena.