The next morning, Chandra had helped Layla put herself back together, saying that she should just tell Will she liked him and if he didn't like her back, value the friendship but know that he wasn't the one for her if he didn't like her for her.

At the bus stop, Will walked up to the pair, a huge smile on his face. Chandra huffed and turned her head. Layla rolled her eyes and will stared at Chandra, confusion written over his features.

He shook it off and excitedly said, "You're not gonna believe what happened last night."

Layla cut him off, handing him a fortune cookie that Warren had generously provided, telling them the message inside.

"Of. I love these," he smiled. "'Your loyalties are clear when it comes to friends." It took a second for his brain to catch up with the message. He paled, and looked at Layla, his eyes begging for forgiveness. "Oh, God. Oh. Oh, I totally spaced. Uh…" he looked between Chandra's murderous glare and Layla's hopeful eyes. "I'm sorry. I know you must want to kill me."

Chandra rolled her eyes. "That depends on what you do next, Stronghold." Layla shushed her, causing yet another eye roll.

"Actually, just the opposite. I have something to tell you," Layla said, her confidence growing as she got closer to the words.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, but you first."

"OK. OK. It's about homecoming." Chandra clenched her fists knowing where this was going, and desperately hoping she was wrong for Layla's sake.

"Really? Me too."

"I'm going with Gwen Grayson," he smiled estatically, "Can you believe it?"

Chandra could see the hope and life drain from Layla's eyes as Layla stared at him for a split second before she saw the girl molding her face into a fake smile. Chandra started towards Will, intent on knocking some sense into him before Layla put a hand on her chest, stopping her momentum.

Will, oblivious to the tension, continued, "Me, a freshman, going with the most amazing girl at Sky High."

Chandra started forward again, her fists clenched and her eyes glowing black, seemingly sucking all the light from the air around them. Will finally noticed her expression, scared for a moment before shaking it off, "What's wrong?" he asked stupidly. Chandra charged dark energy in her hand before strong, rough hands clamped down on her glowing hand, holding her back. She turned, furious that someone had stopped her, but when she saw the worried face of Warren, her anger melted. She was still furious, but not about to murder Will for his stupidity. Chandra stared into Warren's eyes, her fiery ones meeting his caring and determined ones. She calmed further, knowing that Warren was just trying to stop her from doing something that, while she was still angry, knew she would regret.

Will looked between the two of them, before his eyes widened and his face took an angry expression.

"You and Warren!" he shouted, drawing even more attention from the bus that Chandra now realized had pulled up behind them which Warren had jumped out from.

"So?" Chandra asked.

"'So?' He's my enemy. How can you be dating? How can you even be friends?"

Chandra's eyes darkened and Will stepped back, knowing that something was wrong, even if he was still angry and didn't know what.

"Listen, Stronghold. You may be popular and have forgotten who your real friends are. You may be oblivious and stupid and unloyal. You may be strong and think you are kind, but you are hurting the people you hold closest to you by pulling away from them and not paying attention. Open your eyes. Layla…" she cut herself off as Layla rapidly shook her head no. Chandra sighed. "You hurt Layla most of all. Think on that. And think of why I might be so angry right now."

She shook her head, grabbed Layla's arm, and guided the sad girl to the bus, Warren trailing behind them, protectively separating them from Stronghold.

Layla and Chandra sat down by their sidekick friends. When Will looked to the back of the bus, he was met by disappointed or angry looks from every one of his perhaps formal friends.

Will ignored the looks, noticing them, but thinking they were directed at Chandra for his treatment of him. He sat down next to Zach, noticing the boy scoot a little further away from him.

Will was confused for a moment before he shook it off. Maybe he smelled, he had lifted a lot of weights that morning and had been too excited to tell Layla the news to take a shower.

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. What's your homecoming news?" he asked Layla. Chandra growled and made to get up, but Layla but a hand on her shoulder and smiled.

"I'm going too."

"Really. Who with?"

"Who with?"

"Yeah, who asked you?" Layla rethunk her plan, realizing that Chandra liked Warren, so she changed her lie at last second.

"No one, but I'm going with Chandra and Warren. Aren't they such a cute couple?" Layla asked.

Will's face morphed into one of shock. "Wait, you don't mind that Warren, the guy who nearly roasted everyone, including you guys, is dating your friend?"

"Nope. If he makes her happy, then I fully support them." Layla smiled, finding muted pleasure by the anger and shock in Will's expression.

She smiled and got to her feet, walking off the bus that had parked at the school a few minutes prior. Ron smiled at Layla, knowing what she had done, and tipped his hat to her. He had become quite fond of Layla after Chandra had introduced the two. Chandra and Ron had become close, ever since Chandra stood up to Lash and Speed for him. He knew that the girl was more powerful and dangerous than she looked, but he also knew that she had a heart of gold, despite all the layers of black on top of it. He turned his face away from Will as he got off the bus, greatly confusing the boy as Ron took out the keys and got off the bus. Will stared after him, wondering again, what had he done?

Will trailed after Layla and Chandra, protesting their kindness to Warren Peace before Chandra snapped.

She turned, her eyes glowing black again. "Will, you are about this close to learning what the Black plague felt like. Stop being an idiot and wake up. We haven't done anything wrong. Warren was supportive and kind, even driving Layla home at 10 at night after she had finally given up waiting for you to remember she existed."

Will opened his mouth to speak but Chandra held her hand up, realizing a crowd had gathered.

"Betrayal is something I take very seriously. You betrayed all your friends when you abandoned us. You betrayed Layla when you chose to spend time with Grayson instead of the girl who had been your best friend and liked you even before your powers showed up. You betrayed me when you decided that I was a traitor and didn't trust me. You betrayed everyone that cares for you. And I know you think that Grayson cares for you, but there is something up with that girl. She only liked you after you displayed powers. Don't you find it a little suspicious that she is isolating you from all your friends, going behind your back and being mean to us, and is a two faced liar? I will warn you one last time, get your head out of your ass and look around you. Maybe if you figure it out, you won't be the idiot I think you are."

She turned her back on him, grabbing Layla's hand as Warren followed after them. Will looked at their retreating backs. Seeing Layla look one last time at him before sighing, straightening her shoulders, and walking away from him.