Since I'm actually in a bit of a good mood, I've decided to release another chapter into the story for the hell of it. Hope you enjoy it. FYI, it's my Birthday.

The football sailed across the clear blue sky all while gradually descending back down toward the field. As a number of students, all in football gear, tackled and crashed into each other, the football rested in the waiting hands of Tyler Greyson. With a sense of urgency, Tyler ran as quickly as his legs could carry him. Several opposing students tried to rush him, but he plowed right through them like they weren't even there. It was a straight shot from to the end zone for Tyler, and he reached it without another player ever reaching him. Rather than celebrate, Tyler took a moment to catch his breath before tossing the ball to the referee. The other students, some who'd originally opposed him, came to congratulate him, but Tyler was modest about it all. This was especially true considering that it was actually practice on the field, so such celebration was unnecessary. Then came the howling voice of the coach as he called the team back to the starting point.

Meanwhile, at the bleacher seats by the field, Corey and Damien were watching on with only marginal interest. They weren't actually part of the football team, but it was in the middle of the school's free period, so the boys chose to spend their time watching practice. There was a handful of other students there, including Brad Hendry. He was seated several rows below Corey and Damien and hardly giving them any consideration. He did glance now and then, if only to sneer in their general direction. Corey did catch Brad glancing up him, giving the fellow student and sly but telling nod. Brad's response came in the form a single extended middle finger. Corey neither had nor wanted trouble with Brad, and he intended to keep it that way.

Damien gave a nudging elbow to Corey to draw his friend's attention and whispered, "Hey Corey, check it out. Isn't that the European student that transferred last year?"

Without responding, Corey directed his attention to a tall, slender girl with long, curly red hair walking along the bleachers. She was watching the practice game much like the boys, but paid no mind to them. Corey and Damien knew almost nothing about the girl outside of her name; Allegra Martinez. The boys knew that she was a transfer student that came to their school in late November of the previous year and that she was from Europe, likely Spain, but not much beyond. Allegra apparently appeared to prefer keeping to herself. This seemed strange because, all things considered, she was actually fairly attractive with her wavy brown hair and slightly dark complexion. This was especially apparent in particular to Damien.

Corey noticed the way his friend was looking at Allegra and said, "Uh, Damien, you know it's not nice to stare, right?"

"I... I wasn't staring. I was just admiring the weather." Damien relied on the most painfully obvious lie in the history of mankind.

Corey cocked an eyebrow and replied, "Really?"

Recognizing that Corey saw through his lie, Damien said, "Okay, be honest; you think a foreign exchange student like Allegra would be interested in a guy like me?"

"Maybe, if you get a change in clothing." Corey quipped.

"What's wrong with my clothes? They seem fine to me."

"Damien, you wear mostly black clothes pretty much all year round. Girls don't typically go for that."

"So what, I should wear rainbow suspenders?" Damien asked.

Corey, unsure if Damien was joking or not, replied, "I wouldn't go that far, man."

"Ah please. Like any chick would go for a couple of losers like you two." A deep, burly voice called out.

Corey and Damien recognized the voice belonged to Brad, who'd been eavesdropping the whole time. Corey swiftly responded, "And yet, here you are sitting near us. That kind of says more about you, dickhead."

Damien audibly chuckled at the clever wordplay while Brad responded, "Dickhead, huh? That's pretty funny, Mercer. Speaking of which, how's your old man? I heard he almost bit the big one the other night."

Uh oh! Damien thought as Corey stood up.

"Oops! Did I touch a nerve, Mercer?" Brad taunted, all while Corey came closer until they were face to face.

"I don't know, Brad. Maybe you should talk louder so I don't 'accidentally' knock your teeth out." Corey snarled in a darkly serious tone.

"Try it, Mercer, if you got the spine for it." Brad said challengingly.

Corey was by that point practically nose to nose with Brad and they were about to trade blows before Damien stepped between them. "Okay, how 'bout we just take a step back and let cooler heads prevail. Corey, we should probably head back to class, don't you think?"

Corey didn't respond because he knew his best friend was trying his hardest to keep the issue from escalating. Corey opted to leave with Damien, but not before he pointed right at Brad. Brad responded with a finger gesture all his own, only not with his index but his middle finger and only for the second time in as many minutes. Damien pulled Corey away and ushered him away, walking right passed a bewildered Allegra as they went.

"What the hell, Damien? I could've taken Hendry." Corey claimed.

"I know. That's why I pulled you away." Damien said.

I appreciate the thought, but you don't have worry about me. I would've be fine." Corey stated.

Then to Corey's bemusement, Damien surprisingly asked, "Who said I was worried about you?"

A stunned Corey stopped dead in his track while Damien continued on toward the side entrance to the school, and he was left thinking, Unbelievable, my best friend just fucking trolled me.

As the school day came to a close, Corey and Damien headed to the bike rack where the former's two-wheeler was waiting. Upon reaching the bike rack, Corey turned to his best friend and said, "Hey, my Mom's making chicken salad and there's wrestling tonight. Feel like coming over?"

Damien appeared to hesitate on his reply, and he eventually said, "Rain check? I kind of got other things I have to deal with."

"Other things? Like what? Maybe I can help." Corey said.

"I appreciate the offer, but these aren't things I can't handle." Damien insisted.

Corey was slightly taken aback even as he replied, "If you say so, man."

A high, girly voice suddenly said, "Uh, hi Corey."

Corey and Damien found Serena walking up to them, and Corey replied, "Hey, Serena."

Damien took a step back and swiftly saw the proverbial writing on the wall. Without a word but with an understanding grin, Damien gave Corey a pat on the shoulder before departing. Corey couldn't stop his friend from leaving, and Damien was already long gone by then. Serena fidgeted in place, holding on tightly to the books she had with her. Corey was in a state of speechlessness, his own thoughts racing for the words he wanted to say to Serena. After a very long and decidedly awkward silence, the first words were exchanged.

"How are you?" - "Are you okay?" they both said at literally the same time.

They laughed at their shared mishap and Serena said, "You first."

Gathering himself somewhat, Corey said, "I'm glad to see you're okay. I was worried you might've been hurt."

"I was lucky. If that man... if Zeus hadn't been there, I probably wouldn't be alive now. So, I kind of owe him my life." Serena said.

Corey recalled how he, or rather his alter ego, referred to himself as Zeus, and he was surprised Serena even remembered. "This Zeus guy... he seems like a good person."

Serena couldn't keep herself from smiling with nervous intrigue. "It's weird though. There's a part of me that feels like I know him."

A feeling of dread filled Corey and he said, "Who do you think he might be?"

"I don't know, but he saved me so if I were to ever see him again, I'd want to say 'Thank you.'" Serena admitted, and she appeared to blush.

Corey couldn't keep the smile from forming on his face, and it was during that split second moment in time that he contemplating telling Serena. Instead he said, "I'm sure he'd appreciate your gratitude."

"Yeah." Serena said with a cute giggle.

Out of nowhere and probably without even thinking about it, Corey asked, "Do you want to hang out with me some time? Hit the library again or walk in the park or see a movie?"

Serena was at a loss for words, and then she saw a limousine parked nearby with Winston waiting. "Oh no."

"Was it something I said?" he asked, but she didn't reply.

Corey looked to see the limo himself and Winston, who gave the teenager a telling nod. The door on the other side of the limo and An older woman appeared from inside, a scalding and indifferent expression on her face. Serena's expression was one of trepidation and even hesitation. The woman in question leered at Serena before shifting her gaze to Corey, who in turn didn't flinch. Or, at least he didn't appear to flinch. This was the same woman from the passed weekend, who scalded Serena after the attack by the Nemean Lion. Corey didn't dare waver, but Serena breathed a sigh of disappointment.

"I've got to go home now, Corey." she said with sadness in her voice.

Corey heard Serena but he wasn't listening to her words, instead saying to her, "That's the same lady I saw you with back in town. Who is she?"

With a labored sigh, Serena said, "That's Elizabeth Faulkner, the Mayor of Dover... and my stepmom."

Corey's eyes widened in shock and he uttered, "Say what?"

"Serena," Elizabeth Faulkner called out in a shrill, somewhat uncaring tone. "Get in the car, it's time to go."

Serena was noticeably gritting her tooth before she said to Corey, "Sorry, Corey, but I have to leave. I'll see you tomorrow."

Corey couldn't say anything before Serena hastily walked to the limo and entered into the backseat. There didn't seem to be much he could say anyway. Serena seemed almost intimidated by her stepmother, and Corey was still stunned by the revelation of the older woman's occupation. He heard the door close, but he also noticed the window coming down. Serena looked back at Corey with a troubled glance, but she at least managed a light smile. Corey returned the smile before he turned away and returned to his bike, believing it best not to cause a scene.

"Excuse me," a voice called out, and Corey quickly noticed Elizabeth Faulkner approaching. "You're John Mercer's eldest child, am I correct?"

Corey tentatively replied, "Yeah."

"Thought so. You're almost the spitting image of your father." Elizabeth claimed.

Corey couldn't tell if this woman was being flattering or condescending and asked, "Is there something in particular you need for me?"

Elizabeth stopped only a few inches from Corey, standing about a half foot taller than the younger teen. Corey could tell she was studying him but the reason as to why escaped him. One thing was clear as day; Elizabeth seemed to look down at Corey with veiled contempt. It was as if Corey had somehow done this woman wrong but he hadn't the slightest clue what he'd done. It was during this uncomfortable situation that Corey glanced at the limo and saw Serena watching the entire thing with a measure of embarrassment and sadness.

"Might I offer a word of advice," Elizabeth said, drawing Corey's attention from Serena. "Keep the future interactions to a minimum."

As Elizabeth started to depart, a bewildered and inwardly drawn insulted Corey asked aloud, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Elizabeth stopped and, without turning around to acknowledge Corey, she coldly replied, "My stepdaughter was supposed to attend a private school, but she 'insisted' on attending public school instead," She turned her shoulder and added, "I did not approve of that decision."

Corey considered his response in the hope he wouldn't offend this woman. He finally said, "Maybe she wanted to prove that she could handle public school. Based on what I've seen, she seems pretty comfortable here."

"Still, it wasn't a decision of which I approved." Elizabeth claimed.

"Maybe not, but it was Serena's decision, and with all due respect, I think you as her stepmother should at least show some level of respect for her choice." Corey stated, standing his ground in defense of him new friend.

Elizabeth slowly approached Corey, almost like a beast stalking its prey. "How old are you? 15, 16 maybe?"

"17." Corey replied, remained steadfast.

"Serena is younger than you by a couple of months. I wonder if you think that you're old enough to decide what's best for my stepdaughter." Elizabeth said with only the faintest hint of malice in her tone.

"I think she's capable of deciding for herself." Corey responded, his own tone measured and concise.

Elizabeth smirked and said, "You are your father's son, young Mr. Mercer," She turned and started back toward the limousine. Then she added, "You're every bit as headstrong and foolish as he is, and those types of people are the always the first ones to die."

Corey's eyes widened and narrowed at the same time, and his blood began to boil. "What'd you just say?"

Elizabeth was already inside the limo. Winston closed the door before entering the driver's seat. An incensed Corey hastily approached the limo, but it already sped down the road. He didn't even have time to pick up a rock and throw it at the vehicle, not that it would've done any good. The last thing he needed was a trip to juvenile hall. With nothing left he could possibly do, Corey gathered himself and started up his bike. With a frustrated sigh, he soon sped off in the opposite direction for home.

Evening fell over the Mercer home. The family was gathered at the dinner table for the meal of the night. Patricia had a large bowl of chicken salad, and she went about handling out second servings. Corey was in the middle of his first serving, while Maggie was already on her second. Patricia smiled as she watched children enjoying the meal, all while Maggie playfully stuck her tongue out at her older brother. Corey naturally responded in kind, and the siblings shared a light but heartfelt chuckle. John managed to just a little bit, and Patricia took notice that something different about her husband.

"I know that look before," Patricia said. "What's bothering you, honey?"

The children noticed, and Maggie quickly asked, "What's wrong, Daddy?"

"Yeah, what's going on, Dad?" Corey asked soon afterward.

John thought about it for a while before he said, "The Mayor paid a visit to the precinct this morning."

Corey's eyes widened, while Patricia said, "Mayor Faulkner? What'd she want?"

John leaned forward with his hand folded, a heavy breath leaving his lips. "It's has to do with the lightning man who's been showing up lately."

Corey felt the blood drain from his face as soon as his father mentioned his alter ego. "What about him, Dad?"

John studied the room, his family waiting with baited breath for his next response. "Mayor Faulkner wants the lightning man arrested."

An astonished Corey was left thinking, What?!

Author's Note: This was a relatively short chapter that showcased Corey's normal everyday school life and his interactions with various people, including his best friend Damien, new friend Serena... and Serena's stepmom. Not much else to explain, this is pretty much filler. Let me know what you think. Peace.