YOUTH ⌲ Layla, Warren Peace Sky High

III.

A/N: So happy I could update:)

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The next morning, Coach Boomer stops me and my group of friends.

"Good morning, sidekicks," he greets us and then looks at me, "and Miss Stronghold. Hero support is that way and hero classes are that way."

I look down the opposite direction from all my friends. I really don't want to leave Layla. I don't want to leave Will defenseless. And I really don't want to go to hang out with a bunch of stuck up heroes.

"Move it!" Coach Boomer yells and I jump.

"I'll see you later," I offer a parting wave to them.

"Have fun," Layla cheers me on as I walk down the hall.

I enter the classroom and look around in surprise. It's a very nice room for a school.

"Welcome to the Heroes Hall," someone walks over and greets us. "I'm Bullseye and I go by they/them pronouns. While you are in my class, you may address me as Bullseye."

I look around and see other freshman heroes.

"I have a seating chart on the board by last name. Please, just work with me, people. Meeting new people is a great way to start the school year," Bullseye smiles as I follow the line of people to a desk map.

I look at the desk number for myself and see B3. I turn around and look for the third table in the second row.

I make eye contact with Warren Peace. It figures he's sitting at the table I share with him.

I nervously walk over and can feel my heart rate increasing a lot. I scoot my chair to the very edge and sit as far away from Warren Peace as I can.

He turns to look at me and I look down, hoping my shaking isn't visible. I hate being this vulnerable, but I don't want confrontation and he genuinely terrifies me.

"Cold?" I hear him say.

I glance over at him. He must see my anxious shaking.

"I can fix that," he says in a monotone voice and shows me a fire orb in his hand under the desk.

I widen my eyes at the threat, suddenly very worried for my life. He lets out an attractive and scary laugh at my reaction. I scoot away from him some more.

"Do I scare you, Stronghold?" he smirks.

"No," my voice comes out softly.

"What did you say, Stronghold?" he says. "I didn't quite hear you."

"No," I say a bit louder.

"Are you sure?" he makes his flame orb grow bigger and I just about lose it.

"Mr. Peace!" Bullseye yells throughout the classroom. "No powers right now."

"Sorry," his voice is deep and monotone as he extinguishes his ball of raging fire. Then, he glances at me with an amused smirk, "I think you were scared."

"You'd like me to be scared of you," I retort and scoot closer to him a little to prove a point.

"Aren't you, princess?" he leans over and whispers in my ear.

A chill rolls down my spine as he moves away and I try to figure out what to make of this.

Why was that so hot?

And why is he so conversational today?

And why did he threaten me with fire?

"Heroes, welcome," Bullseye begins. "Today, we will learn the fundamental values of being a true hero."