WAR & PEACE ▹ W. PEACE

two.

On her way to the cafeteria, Layla approached Diana to offer unrequested compassionate words and criticize the system again. Diana didn't need pity or support, she just wanted to be left alone, but Will Stronghold fidgeted beside her, evidently in need to say something.

She got in line to grab her food, followed by Will, Layla, Zach, Magenta, and Ethan, the boy who melts.

"So, huh, Diana," Will began. "Do your parents know you don't have powers?"

Diana glanced at him and then back to the food, grabbing an apple.

"My parents are dead."

He winced. Perhaps Diana was a bit harsh, but she didn't want to talk about her family with someone she barely knew.

"I-I'm sorry," he lowered his gaze. "Does Principal Powers know?"

She eyed him weirdly, wondering where he wanted to get with that conversation.

"That my parents are dead? Yeah."

"N-No! I mean, about your powers. O-Or lack thereof."

"Kinda."

"And, huh, is she okay with that?"

Diana paused. Linda didn't know she would pull that on Power Placement. Her grandma would probably get upset and disappointed. Again. Diana was used to it by then.

"If she isn't, that's her problem, not mine," she settled.

"R-Right!" He tried to sound cheerful, which came out awkward. "Wish I had your confidence," he murmured.

Diana wouldn't call it confidence. It wasn't easy that the only relative she had left wished she was something she wasn't. But she couldn't pretend she was okay when everything was bullshit.

Layla insisted Diana should have lunch with them, so she relented to make her stop pestering her. Maybe she should keep her distance, it was safer that way, but they seemed nice and welcoming, and it would keep Linda off her toes for a while if she told her she had made friends.

As long as she kept her emotions in check, everything would be all right. She had a lot of practice living with Linda.

Diana sat at Layla's left, in front of Magenta.

"Okay, am I crazy, or is that guy really looking at me?" Will asked.

Diana had to double-check. When she twisted her neck to look at the person he mentioned, she only saw a boy with long dark hair giving off "bad boy" vibes glaring in their direction. After her mind processed his face, she verified again to be sure she wasn't going crazy.

Her eyes met with his dark and intense gaze, and recognition shone in them, widening slightly.

Quickly, Diana faced the front as if getting caught doing something wrong.

"Dude," Zach breathed. "That's Warren Peace."

"That's Warren Peace?!" Layla gasped. "I've heard about him. His mom's a hero, and his dad's a supervillain, Barron Battle."

Warren Peace. Diana's heart shouldn't beat so fast just by learning his name.

"So, where do I come in?" Will asked.

"Your dad busted his dad," Ethan supplied. "Quadruple life sentence."

"No chance of parole until after his third life," Magenta added.

Will exhaled.

"That's great. It's my first day at Sky High, and I already have an archenemy."

Diana wanted to look at Warren again, but that would be too obvious, so she controlled herself.