Disclaimer: I do not own Sky High, just Claire and her parents and anything you don’t recognize

Alright, here is chapter three, I think this is the longest chapter in the story so far, in fact this is the longest story, a little fun fact for you all, this story is twenty-three pages long and it only has three chapters. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I’m glad you all like this story and as an answer to Chennai’s question; Lash is a senior in this story, for two reasons, 1. In the movie, I always saw him as a senior and 2. He needs to be a senior for the sequel and yes, you heard me correctly, there will be a sequel, but I’m not telling you anything else about it. Okay, now you can read the chapter.

Chapter 3:

Why Can’t I?

“Claire, wake up, you don’t want to miss your second day of school.” My eyes snapped open. Three things ran through my mind then; Sky High, my friends, Lash. I sat up and threw the blankets off and walked to my closet, trying to find something to wear. I ran through my room, trying to find something to wear that looked good but didn’t look too good. Unfortunately, I had poor fashion sense.

“Clair, hurry it up!” My mom called.

“Okay, okay, I’m hurrying, I’m hurrying,” I called back, settling for a T-shirt and jeans. I didn’t want to miss my second day of Sky High, as my mother had said. I rushed to the bathroom with fresh clothes on my arm and quickly took a shower.

After I had finished my shower, I started blow drying my hair, as quickly as I could, wishing that I could’ve received a power that helped me maintain my hair better, or something! Maybe I should get it cut, it would be a good idea but I didn’t want to get it cut. I just couldn’t make up my mind about anything could I?! Well, except for the fact that Lash was cute and made my heart flutter.

I was finished in the bathroom and rushed downstairs.

“Hurry up and eat something Claire, your going to be late!” My mother urged.

“I know, I know,” I said, walking to the pantry and grabbing a pack of Pop Tarts. I usually didn’t put them in the toaster.

“Do you have your lunch money?” My dad asked.

“Yes,” I confirmed, rushing to the front door, grabbing my coat and bag and slipping on my shoes. “See you guys later!” I called to them as I walked out the door. I heard them return the farewell as I closed the door. I ate my Pop Tarts as I speed walked to the bus stop, hoping that Ron hadn’t arrived yet. Or worse, came to the bus stop, noticed I wasn’t there and drove on without me! The bus was just coming around the corner as I got there. I sighed as I finished my Pop Tarts and put the wrapper in a pocket in my bag. I’d throw it away later. I’d have to remind myself to do that or it would become a mess and stink so bad, like it did every year. I was a bit of a pack rat and a little on the lazy side.

The bus came and stopped in front of me. Ron opened the doors.

“Morning,” he greeted.

“Morning,” I replied with a smile as I got on the bus. I sat in the same seat I did yesterday as the bus continued onto the next bus stop. I pitied those who had to go a normal high school, that’s probably why we ‘abnormal’ kids tend to get picked on in the normal schools. Those other kids are just jealous. I had had my share of bullies; I had also had my share of friends who drifted away from me in middle school. Well, now I had new friends that were like me, unless, of course, they didn’t think of my as a friend. I hoped they did.

Just then, Ethan and Magenta walked onto the bus. I waved to them, hoping they would wave back. They did, well Ethan did, and Magenta just sort of raised her hand. They came to where I sat. Ethan sat beside me while Magenta sat across from us.

“Hey, Claire,” he greeted.

“Hey, Ethan,” I greeted back.

“How did you sleep?” I could help but giggle. I guess there wasn’t a lot to talk about when you were just starting out as friends and there was no assigned homework to talk about.

“Good, you?” I answered.

“Good.” Ethan answered, sounding slightly embarrassed. I leaned around him to talk to Magenta.

“What about you Magenta, how did you sleep?” I asked. She just rolled her eyes and shrugged. I turned to Ethan. “She doesn’t talk much does she?” I asked in a hushed tone. Ethan shrugged. Zach walked on then. Ethan and I waved to him; he waved back before he went to sit next to Magenta.

“Hey guys,” he greeted.

“Hey,” we greeted back.

“So, what’s up?” I asked. Zach shrugged, I smiled. They did consider me their friend! I wonder if Will and Layla did to.

We talked about random things as we neared Will and Layla’s bus stop. And, just like with everyone, I waved and Ethan waved with me. They waved back. I couldn’t help but smile as they came to sit behind Ethan and me. Zach and Will started talking. Ethan soon joined in their conversation.

“Hey, Claire,” I heard. I turned around and saw Layla.

“Hey,” I replied smiling.

“So, I saw you talking to Lash yesterday at lunch,” she said. I smiled.

“Yeah, so?”

“I think he might like you back,” she said quietly.

“No, he couldn’t, I mean we just met,” I insisted. He couldn’t! I mean, he was a senior and I was a freshman, he was a hero and I was a sidekick. Yeah, I’m sure he liked me.

“Well, what did he want at lunch yesterday?” Layla asked.

“My name,” I answered sheepishly. Layla raised her eyebrows. “Doesn’t mean that he likes me,” I hope he does. No, no Claire, don’t get your hopes up! I scolded. “What about Will? Does he like you back?” I asked. She started laughing immediately.

“What?” She asked, making everyone look at her in a strange way. Her laughter died down immediately and things became awkward.

“She said something funny,” Layla said, pointing at me. I sighed.

“Yeah, I was talking about something my…dog did,” I said. I got a few strange looks to before everyone went back to their conversations.

“So, what did your dog do?” Ethan asked.

“Um, he, uh, somehow got on the counter.” I answered. That was the best I could come up with! Now my new friends were giving me strange looks. Layla put her head in her hands, groaned, and shook it.

“Um, why did he do that?” Will asked.

“He thought he was a cat,” I said quickly. There were dogs who thought they were cats and vice versa. That earned me more strange looks. I tried to keep the smile plastered on my face and the embarrassment and awkwardness from sneaking in.

“How did he do it?” Zach asked.

“Uh, we don’t we just walked into the kitchen and there he was,” I said, laughing. Layla started laughing to.

“Isn’t that just so funny?” She asked.

“Uh, yeah, hilarious,” Will answered, forcing a smile. Ethan even gave a little chuckle.

“I don’t get it,” Zach said.

“Because there’s nothing to get,” Magenta said. “It wasn’t even that funny.” My face fell. “I bet it didn’t even happen.” Now what? I could tell them the truth, but I don’t think Layla would like that very much.

“Everyone please remain seated as we start towards the school,” Ron said. I breathed a sigh of relief as we all got into proper positions in our seats and the seat belts and safety bars strapped us in. I clutched the safety bar, bracing myself as the bus drove off the end of the road.

GWTH

We sat in our new classroom on our first day of learning. I was excited. I couldn’t wait to see who our teacher was and what he had to teach us. We were all sitting in our desks, talking as we waited for our teacher. I sat next to Layla, of course. The door opened and a short man with grey hair and a grey mustache walked in, wearing a brown jacket, over a blue button up shirt with shorts. I stifled a laugh when I saw him walk in. I’m sorry, but I think shorts look tacky with anything but a t-shirt.

“Good morning class,” he said, walking to his desk and laying his suitcase down on it.

“Good morning,” we all responded, our chattering quieting down.

“Welcome to Hero Support,” he said, walking behind a chalkboard on wheels. “My name is All American Boy!” He said, jumping out from behind the chalkboard in a red and blue uniform-complete with cape and mask. He stood on desk, posing. I stifled a giggle. It was just so funny! “Of course, now a days, I just go by Mr. Boy,” he said, getting off and removing his mask. “And this year, I’m going to teach you to be the best Hero Support that you can be. Without Hero Support, well there wouldn’t be any Heroes,” he continued. Now I highly doubt that there wouldn’t be Heroes, I mean, have you seen the stuff they can do? “Alright, there probably would be Heroes,” he admitted. “But they would be very lonely, lonely Heroes indeed, and-,” he stopped then, looking at the desk behind Layla. I looked back to see Zack had raised his hand. “Yes?” Mr. Boy asked.

“Yeah, um, when do you get to pick our costumes and names because I call dibs on Zack Attack?” Zack asked. I smiled and shook my head but I did agree with him, when did we get to pick our costumes and names?

“Well, you don’t get to pick,” Mr. Boy said. What? We didn’t get to pick? That was hardly fair! “On Graduation day, you will be assigned to your Hero and they will pick your name and costume,” they got to pick it for us? Maybe Layla’s right, the whole Hero and Sidekick thing was fascist, but then again, this is High School. “I think it’s mostly to avoid clashing colors.” He went on. “That’s why, when I was paired with the Commander, red, blue and white it was,” he said, pulling down a poster on the wall of him and the Commander, “which for me was a very good thing because blue really makes my eyes pop, it’s very dramatic.” He said. Man, this guy talks a lot. Is this what the whole year was going to be about? Mr. Boy reminiscing and trying to make Sidekicks sound cooler then they really were, unless you’re like Batman and Robin. Then you’re cool, but how often does that happen? Batman and Robin are fictional. Will raised his hand then.

“Excuse me,” he said. “I didn’t know you worked for the Commander,” he said.

“I worked with the Commander,” Mr. Boy corrected. “We were a team, Mr…” he looked down at his clipboard for Will’s last name, “Stronghold,” he finished. He looked down at his clipboard again as realization dawned on him. “Stronghold, you Steve’s son?” He asked.

“Yup,” Will answered.

“And he never mentioned me to you?” He asked, pointing at the poster.

“I don’t think so,” Will answered, most likely sugarcoating it, we all knew it obvious that the Commander had never mentioned his Sidekick to his son.

“That makes sense, the Commander wouldn’t have time to flip through scrapbooks that I took the time to make for him,” his voice faltered at the end. “No, the Commander’s gotta be out there saving the world!” He was obviously trying to sugarcoat it to, probably mostly for himself. “With your mom,” he continued. “Your mom, did she ever mention me?” He asked, sounding hopeful, but also doubtful.

“Uh, no,” Will answered. Without warning, the classroom started shaking and the lights went out.

“Incoming!” I heard Mr. Boy yell as I covered my head in defense. The shaking stopped and I hesitantly raised my head.

“Hey look,” Magenta said. “He does glow,” I looked back to see that Zack did indeed glow. I shared smiles with Layla.

“Told you so,” Zack said. The lights came on soon after that when a man with an abnormally large head walked in.

“Greetings,” he said. “A little misfire in the mad science lab, no need to panic, unless you’re a single cell organism,” well, I wasn’t sure what that meant-I was never good at science-but I think I’m safe since I’m pretty sure that I’m not a single cell organism.”

“Mr. Medulla,” Mr. Boy said from where he was hanging on the vent. “We in Hero Support are trained never to panic.” The vent dropped then causing Mr. Boy to let go, flip over the desk and land with his head in the garbage bin. We all started laughing. It was really funny.

“My bad, I’ll get the nurse,” Mr. Medulla replied as he started backing out of the classroom. “Unless she’s injured.” I just continued to laugh. I couldn’t help if everyone’s first year of Sky High started out like this.

GWTH

“It just seems like he’s making Sidekicks sound cooler then they really are,” I was saying.

“Claire,” Layla scolded.

“Well, you never see Sidekicks on the news,” I said. Layla raised her eyebrow.

“I think this has something to do with a certain Senior in Hero class,” she said. I knew who she was talking about immediately.

“Who, Lash?” I asked. “Pfft, no, is he in Hero class?” I asked.

“Wait, are you talking about Stretch Boy?” Zack asked. I gave him a look.

“He has a name,” I said. He just rolled his eyes as he paid for his lunch.

“He’s not as great as you think,” Ethan said.

“What do you mean?” I asked pulling out my money.

“He dunked my head in the toilet yesterday.” Ethan answered. I furrowed my brow in confusion.

“What?” I asked, not noticing someone snagging my money from my hand.

“Claire!” Layla exclaimed, catching my attention.

“What?” I asked.

“Your lunch money,” I looked to my hand to see that my money had indeed been taken and I knew the culprit. I turned around to see Lash smiling at me.

“Lash, are we going to make a habit of this?” I asked.

“Maybe,” he answered.

“Alright, I’m going to assume that you want something for my money back so what is it?” I asked.

“You assume correctly,” Lash answered. I raised my eyebrows, awaiting to hear his demands. “I want an answer to one simple question.” He said, walking closer. “Hero or Sidekick?” He asked. I sighed.

“Sidekick,” I answered.

“Oh,” he said, sounding disappointed. I did my best to ignore the pit that formed in my stomach and the fluttering in my heart.

“I guess when a giantess mixes with some with no powers yet has the Hero genes, you get a shrinker, now please give me my money back,” I said, saying the last part as sweetly as I could. He smiled, reaching back to me to return my money. I was just about to grab it when he pulled it away from me.

“Hey, Lash!” I exclaimed, jumping up to try and get my money. He laughed as he stretched his arm further. “Hey, not fair,” I said. I hadn’t noticed Layla and the others walk off. He laughed more.

“You gotta get it,” he said. I glared at him as I jumped up, caught his arm and pulled it down, making a grab for my money. “Hey, that’s foul play!” He exclaimed, stretching his arm further.

“This coming from the guy who’s using his power to keep money from a girl who can only shrink,” I said.

“Alright fine,” he said, retracting his arm and giving me my money back and in that moment our eyes met. We both smiled as I started to walk away to pay for my lunch and look for my friends.

No POV:

Layla smiled as she watched the Claire and Lash. Neither of them would admit it, but she knew that they were head over heels for each other, probably the whole school knew it, they’re little infatuation with each other was a hard thing to hide. But her smile faltered as she remembered what Ethan had said. She wouldn’t doubt that what he said about Lash was true and that would mean Claire might get hurt and that worried her. She hoped her friend would be okay.

GWTH

Speed stared at the two, shaking his head. He had told Lash not to get mixed in with that girl, it was a bad idea and Gwen would be royally ticked, but very rarely did Lash listen to anyone. He huffed as they had their little moment. He didn’t see what was so special about that girl; she wasn’t even that pretty to start with. Her hair was all matted and tangled and bushy, she had no figure to speak of and she was most likely a Sidekick! Lash still had a goofy smiled on as he walked up to Speed. Speed gave him a disapproving look and shook his head.

“What?” Lash asked. Speed just snorted and walked away. Lash looked back at Claire as she walked back to her friends, her long bushy, tangled auburn hair bouncing as she did so. He smiled as he walked after his friend.

Alright, how was it? I hope you liked it, the ending may seem a little rushed but that’s only because I was trying to finish it really quick because it’s late and I wanna go to bed but I wanna get this up first. Alright now a couple of things.

There is probably going to have a lot of filler in it, and that’s because there is a big (okay, not so big) montage in the movie of them in their classes up to around the Home Coming, so I’m gonna need to fill that time space with things, so I wanna hear your ideas, I might be able to put them all into the story, depending on how much you submit, so please submit your ideas for some chapters in the story, I’m seriously at a loss.

One more thing, I want to put up a new story and I have a poll with some of the stories I have on the waiting list and I want to put one of those on after I have updated all of my stories at least once. So, go to my page and on my profile, near the bottom, there are some stories with their fandom and the pairings that they have and then go vote for the one you want. Alright, that’s it, R&R please!