Ashes to Ashes

Warren could hardly believe it.

"What are you doing here?"

Calmly, the girl lifted her head to glance at him over the top of the history book as her mechanical pencil came to a stop on the notebook supported by one side of the text. "You asked me that last time. Maybe it's you who needs the glasses."

As if the week had not been bad enough. First the whole event of finding the girl in one of his places reading. Then Freon had drawn everyone's attention to her just after school by stalking right up to him and slapping him. The next day Stronghold and "The Group" decided to pester him about what happened. Sure the gossip was flying all over the school--most of it started by Freon and highly exaggerated--but the pack of idiots followed the Hippy in deciding to make him tell them what happened instead of believing the rumors. It had gotten worse from there.

Now, it was Monday again and the girl was taking up the very spot he had found her in on the same day last week. Apparently she had hearing problems. Before he could say anything however, the hand with the pencil rose to make a circling motion in the air with the eraser.

"Look, we already went over that. If you want to try doing something else, tell me where to find the Fifth Power-Plant Disaster in 1963 so I can answer question number fourteen." Her hand dropped to turn a page and skim back over it. "I swear I've gone over the chapter ten times already and it isn't in the text."

"Of course it isn't. Look back two chapters."

Rather stunned he answered the demand, Warren blinked. The girl was busy flipping back so did not notice his reaction.

"Well that's stupid. Why didn't they ask it for the review in that chapter?"

"Trick question."

"Hm."

Taken off guard, Warren frowned at the ground for a moment before glancing around. The space was not all that small, even if it was more a triangle with the edge of the ground dangerously close. Finally relenting, he found a spot that was comfortable and dropped down to open the book he had with him. Both of them were quiet and minded their own business.

Warren found he had actually forgotten the girl when he looked up only to see the place where she had been sitting was empty. Blinking, he stared at the spot before going back to his book. It was weird but he did not really care either. Sky High was just a place for such things to happen.

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In the History Class, Warren took a moment on arriving to look over the desks. He saw various people but the girl with the glasses was not there. Taking his seat, he put his books down and opened the notebook to find the assignment. As the final bell rang, the door was closed and the teacher went around collecting papers. When his was taken he glanced around again. She was sitting in the back corner nearest the windows. As it was a joint class, Gavin was seated beside her.

For the most part, he paid attention in class. With all the reading he did every day, he was ahead of most of them so he only needed a few notes now and again. Actually, he was again trying to remember her name. He knew at least half the people in the Senior class but she was not one of them. And even after what he had been through with Stronghold's gang, he did not attempt to recall the names of the Sidekick group.

Unfortunately, Freon was in his next class. If he had not wanted to graduate and get away from all the shit of high school, he would have seriously considered skipping class. It was done, hard to do, but there were those who could successfully escape even the super-powered teachers and Principle Powers herself. He had never tried in truth. The day drug on slower than ever.

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The final bell signaled utter chaos. Students grew even noisier in the rush to their lockers. No one ever wanted to stay in the school longer than was absolutely necessary. If one was not skilled in making their way through the chaos, likely they would end up trampled or shoved out the doors without getting their things from their locker. Even Warren was often shoved or tripped despite everyone's attempts to stay away from him. He had come to tolerate it.

Actually, he wanted to hurry in order to catch Stronghold before the idiot got onto the bus. Since the Hero was still the most popular, he would likely have heard everything anyone wanted to tell him. Jamming various books into his bag, he slammed his locker closed and shouldered the pack to get to the doors. Outside, things were just as rushed but a little less noisy since there were no walls to amplify the noise.

"Stronghold!"

Even after a couple years, his voice shouting that name made those closest stop and stare. Hell, idiots. It did suffice to get Will to stop and turn. Warren approached him and just gave him a dark look. The Hippy-girlfriend was right behind. Okay, so he would be civil despite his temper.

"Tomorrow I want to talk to you."

"Uh, sure Warren...what about?"

Just glowering, Warren turned away. Behind him, Will Stronghold swallowed. Already he was trying to figure out just what he had done to get his friend pissed off at him again. Layla looked a bit concerned but pulled Will onto the waiting bus before anything more could be said.

Warren was on his way toward the bus he had to take back down when he saw the girl with glasses and Gavin both just beginning to sit down on the lawn out of the path of the bus-rush. Both were already opening books for what looked to be a study session of some sort. When he thought about it, he never did recall seeing her on the bus most seniors took. Shaking his head he climbed onto the bus and focused on work that night.