Wow, thank you so much everyone for the reviews. You guys rock! This is the last part of this story, but I have been thinking of writing a sequel. Depends on how lazy I'm feeling…enjoy! Oh yeah, and I don't actually hate Layla, in fact I actually quite like her, but sorry of this part offends any Layla fans.
Will woke up squashed against the wall lying on his chest, his right arm completely numb.
It took him a few seconds to realise the reason his arm was numb was because someone was lying on it, and a few seconds more to realise that that person was Warren, and with that realisation came a whole flood of realisations.
He and Warren had slept together. Warren had come to the prom. They'd danced in front of everybody. They'd kissed in front of everybody. Warren had told him he loved him. They'd slept together.
He smiled into the pillow. This meant something. They meant something. He meant something to Warren. Warren loved him. They'd slept together.
He tried to roll over, disentangling his arm from beneath Warren's body.
Last night had been so amazing. He couldn't imagine anything in the world happening right now to destroy his happiness.
He cast a last look at Warren, who was still sleeping deeply, then carefully crawled over him, pulling on some sweatpants and a t-shirt before making his way downstairs.
His mom and dad were sitting, silent, at the breakfast table, which should have been the first indication that something was wrong, but Will was too happy to notice, going to the cupboard and rooting around for cereal.
"Morning mom, dad. And how are we this fine morning?"
For a long moment there was silence.
"How was prom, Will?" his mom asked.
He grinned, carrying his bowl to the table.
"Prom was awesome. I think it may even be safe to say that prom was the best experience of my life so far."
"The paper seems to agree with you," his dad said coldly.
It took Will a few seconds to understand, his eyes falling to the large picture on the front page of the Super News, underneath the heading Fairy-Tale Love At Last?
The large picture of him and Warren kissing.
Will stared at it for a very long time.
"Something you want to tell us, son?"
He swallowed.
"I've been meaning to talk to you about that."
"Just couldn't find the time to fit us in, hm?"
"Steve," his mother said warningly.
Will bit his lip.
"Dad," he began carefully. "I didn't know how to tell you."
"Anyway would have been better than finding out like this," his dad spat, shoving the paper across the table.
In the picture, Will's eyes were closed, and one of Warren's hands brushed his cheek. It was a perfect moment, it had been a perfect night.
"In front of everyone at school, Will, and you couldn't even have the decency to tell your own parents."
"It wasn't like that," Will said softly. "We weren't planning on...things happening that way. Warren, he showed up at the last minute, because he knew I'd wanted him to go. He did it to show me how much he cares."
"Oh for God's sake," Steve snapped. "Can you hear yourself? 'To show how much he cares'. He doesn't care about you. He's using you for revenge! You don't mean anything to him!"
"Steve!" Josie cried, but she couldn't take his words back.
Will stared at him.
"Is that what you really think?" he asked. "That Warren's just using me?" He suddenly felt an anger so intense it hurt. Everything was actually going right, everything was actually good, and his dad was trying to ruin it by spouting some bullshit about revenge?
"How dare you! He loves me, he loves me. And it doesn't matter what the fuck you think, it can't change that!"
"Will!" his mother admonished, but he was past caring.
"I guess it was too much to think you might actually be happy for me," he said bitterly.
He didn't give his father a chance to reply before he left, slamming the door hard behind him. Warren was sitting on the stairs, his face as pale as his fingers, which were clutching the banisters in a death grip.
"I suppose it's futile hoping you came downstairs after my dad totally tried to rip us apart?" Will asked.
Warren nodded, looking solemn.
Will sighed and joined him on the stairs.
"He'll come round," he said. "He always does. It's just he tends to act first and think later. It'll be okay."
"And what if he doesn't?" Warren asked. "What if he never speaks to you again, because of…" He trailed off, but Will understood what he wasn't saying. Because of me.
"It's not gonna happen," Will said firmly. "He loves me. He'll accept me. I know he will." He tilted his face to look at Warren. "Which means he'll have to accept you too."
Warren closed his eyes, resting his face against Will's.
"Sorry," he said.
"Don't," Will replied. "Last night was so unbelievably amazing. Don't say you're sorry now."
Warren kissed him, gently, and Will closed his eyes and kissed him back, gently.
"We'll be okay," he said. "We'll be okay."
For a moment Warren remained relaxed against him, then he stood up suddenly.
"Where are you going?"
"Outside. I just want to be on my own right now."
Will nodded, trying not to let his hurt show on his face.
Warren went out of the front door, and Will got up slowly, nudging the living room curtain aside until he could see Warren pulling out a cigarette, lighting it with a flick of his finger. He took a deep drag then exhaled, tilting his head back to stare up at the clear morning sky.
Will watched him take another drag, then pulled the curtain back into place and went upstairs, lying face down on his bed and squeezing his eyes tightly shut.
The sheets were twisted beneath him, and he remembered last night, Warren pressed so close against him he felt like they could have climbed into each other's skin.
"Hey."
Will opened his eyes slowly, focussing on Warren standing in the doorway.
"I have to go home. I need to get some stuff."
Will sat up.
"I'll come with you."
Warren shook his head.
"I can do it."
"I don't mind."
Will could see the indecision in Warren's eyes.
"Alright," he said finally.
They went downstairs, where the kitchen door was still firmly closed.
Will could hear his father shouting on the other side of it. He wondered if his mother had told him that she already knew.
Warren reached out and took his hand, and Will stared at it blankly for a moment, before registering the slight squeeze Warren gave him.
He forced a smile, but he knew it didn't quite reach his eyes.
They got into Will's car, and he started the engine, pulling smoothly out of the driveway.
Will was a good driver. It was one of those things he could do without really thinking about it. He found it relaxing, carefree, a way to escape. He wished now they could just drive forever, that they didn't have to go to Warren's house, that they didn't have to go back and face Will's parents, that they didn't have to go back to school on Monday. They could just drive and drive forever.
He pulled up in front of Warren's house, and for a long moment neither of them moved.
"She's probably passed out somewhere," Warren said.
Will wasn't sure what he was supposed to say, so he said nothing.
"You can stay here if you want."
"I'm coming with you."
Warren looked at him for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay."
The front door was unlocked, and they slipped inside, feeling like thieves.
"It's just some stuff upstairs.
Will nodded, and Warren led the way, up to his room.
Will took in the bare walls and said nothing. Warren watched him, as if fearing some sort of reaction, and when none came he went to the wardrobe and pulled out a black hold all, stuffing several handfuls of clothes into it.
Will sat on the bed, his eyes travelling across several newspaper articles stuck to Warren's wall. They were on all sorts of topics, a murder case of a young girl, global warming, the Cannes Film Festival, but one in particular caught Will's eye.
It was of Barron Battle, Warren's father, detailing his arrest. There was a picture of Barron Battle, dressed in white Solitary garb, glaring at the camera. Warren had his eyes, so dark they were almost black, hard and intense.
He blinked, looking away, and his gaze fell on a white envelope by the side of Warren's bed.
Clark Kent Academy of San Diego, California.
He frowned, reaching for the envelope without thinking. Why did Warren have a letter from the Clark Kent Academy?
He had to read the first few lines of the letter again, just to make sure he'd got it right.
Warren had a place at Kent Academy? Warren was going to California?
Warren hadn't told him.
He slipped the letter back into the envelope and clutched it tightly.
Warren zipped up his bag and swung it onto his shoulder.
"I think that's everything."
Will held out the letter.
"Don't forget this."
Warren stared at him.
"I was going to tell you," he said eventually.
"When? After you'd left?"
Warren snatched the letter from him.
"Can we talk about this later? I just want to get out of here."
Will shrugged and stood up.
"Fine."
Warren opened his mouth uncertainly, but Will ignored him and walked past him to the door. When he realised Warren wasn't following, he stopped and turned around. Warren was standing at the wall by his bed, staring at the newspaper article about his dad.
Will bit his lip, then went back to him.
"Bring it with you."
Warren shook his head slowly.
"No," he said softly. "Not this time."
Will hesitated, then put a gentle arm around Warren's chest, and Warren leant back against him.
"Let's go," Will whispered.
Warren nodded, and they turned toward the door.
"I thought I told you not to come home," Warren's mother said.
Warren fought the wave of panic he felt at seeing his mom standing in the doorway.
He knew it was stupid, that Will was perfectly capable of overpowering her, that nothing could possible happen to him.
But he couldn't help but remember her fists and the unrelenting fury in her expression as she pounded him into the kitchen floor.
"We were just leaving," Will said, but Warren didn't move, staring, transfixed, at his mother.
He felt Will's hand in his, squeezing gently.
"Look at you," his mom spat. "You should be ashamed."
"Well we're not," snapped Will. "Now please let us past."
She didn't move.
"Mom," Warren said softly.
Her eyes were tired, so tired, and Warren wanted to take her and fix her, to make her the mom he used to know, the mom who had loved him and cared about him. He wanted his mother back.
"Go on," she said. "Get the hell out of my house. And don't you dare try and come back."
"Oh don't worry," Will replied. "We won't."
He pulled Warren, unresisting, to the door, and for just a moment, Warren found himself face to face with his mother.
"Goodbye mom," he said.
His mother didn't say anything, and Warren followed Will down the stairs, trying not to feel the heaviness in his heart.
He knew he wouldn't be coming back.
"How are you feeling?" Will asked.
Warren, standing by the window, shrugged, and Will bit his lip.
"Do you want me to leave you alone?"
"Do what you want."
Will sighed.
"God, do you have to be so difficult?"
Warren glared at him.
"I'm so sorry if my life falling apart inconveniences you."
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
Warren didn't say anything.
"Look, I know you're upset right now-"
"No you don't." Warren snapped, turning suddenly. "You have no fucking clue. My mom doesn't want me. She's thrown me out. How the hell could you possibly know how that feels?"
Will reguarded him coldly.
"I never claimed to know how it feels," he replied. "But while we're on the subject, my dad isn't exactly thrilled with me right now either."
"It's not the same," Warren insisted.
"Of course it's not, because it's not about you right?"
Warren stared at him.
"That's not fair."
"Well that's kind of how it feels right now. Why didn't you tell me about Kent?"
"Because I don't even know if I'm going yet. And you had no right reading that letter."
"Well I'm not sorry I did, because if I hadn't who knows if you would have told me at all."
"Don't be ridiculous," Warren snapped. "I would have told you."
"Would you?"
They stared at each other for a long moment.
"I have to go to work," Warren said finally.
"Of course you do. How convenient."
Warren sighed.
"I don't want to fight with you."
"Too late."
"Fine. You know, you complain about me being difficult, but you're just as bad, Will. And I'm sorry that I can't just shake off my mom abandoning me like it means nothing, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Kent and risk disappointing everybody when I didn't get the scholarship. I'll see you later."
Will closed his eyes and visibly flinched when the door slammed shut.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
That really wasn't supposed to happen.
Why did everything have to be so hard?
There were footsteps on the stairs, and for a moment he thought Warren had come back, but it was Layla's head that appeared round the doorway.
"I cannot believe you," she said.
Will sighed.
"Believe what?"
"You came out at prom? And I wasn't there? When did you even decide? Why didn't you consult me?"
"I didn't decide. It just sort of…happened."
"Will." She sat next to him on the bed and reguarded him seriously. "These things do not just happen."
"Well this did."
She waited.
"What?"
"What?" she repeated. "Tell me every tiny detail right now! What happened?"
Will sighed. He really didn't want to do this right now.
"Warren showed up after all. We danced. We went home. End of story."
She frowned suddenly.
"What's wrong? Why are you upset?"
"I'm not upset."
"Please, I've known you for seventeen years. I know when you're upset."
He sighed again, tired and deflated.
"Last night was possibly one of the best nights of my life. But today, it's like it didn't happen. Warren and I are still fighting, he's still trying to shut me out. The only difference is now my dad won't talk to me because I'm gay."
Layla but her lip.
"Oh Will, I'm sorry. Your dad'll come round. He loves you."
"I know. But I don't know how to show Warren he can trust me, that I'm not going anywhere. I thought after what we did-"
"What did you do?"
Will frowned, confused.
"What?"
"You said 'what we did'. But what-" She broke off suddenly. "Oh my God. Please tell me you didn't. Please tell me you didn't sleep with him."
Will flushed guiltily.
"I don't believe you. Will, how could you be so stupid?"
"Relax, okay. I knew what I was doing. And we were…careful."
"Yeah, and now Warren's got exactly what he wants from you."
"What did you say?"
She closed her eyes briefly.
"I just meant that-"
"I know what you meant. And you're wrong. He cares about me."
"I just think it's a little strange, that's all. He doesn't talk to you for three years, and now you're all he wants?"
Will turned away from her, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"You don't understand anything."
"Because you won't tell me! Why is he here, Will? Why is he living with you?"
"You want to know? You really want to know?"
"Yes, Will! I really want to know."
He turned back toward her, eyes blazing.
"Then I suggest you ask him. But just so you know, when you find out the truth you're gonna feel really, really bad. Now leave me alone."
"Will…"
"Get out!"
He heard her leave, and pressed his face into his pillow, wondering exactly when the people he trusted the most had turned against him.
Warren sighed in relief as he deposited his last load of dirty plates to the kitchen. That was it. His shift was over. He was free to go home.
Home.
Wherever that was.
God, he couldn't believe he'd managed to screw things up with Will again. He had to stop being a jackass, he knew Will was only trying to help, that Will cared about him.
It was just…how could Will possibly understand what he was going through?
Josie Stronghold would rather cut off her own limb than willingly abandon her son, Steve too.
How could Will understand how Warren was feeling now, when the person he'd expected to always love him, no matter what, had thrown him aside without another glance?
Warren hadn't always had a perfect home life, but he and his mom had loved each other, and they'd looked after each other, always.
Now…now she had gone, and he was alone.
How could Will possibly understand that?
He hung his apron on the employee hooks, then picked up his backpack and pulled out the hair tie holding his long hair back in a ponytail. He hated wearing his hair up, it felt so girly.
Outside, the evening air was warm, and Warren breathed the summer scent of freshly cut grass and stale barbeques. For a moment he wondered what it would be like to smell the salty sea air, to hear the Californian waves.
Stop dreaming.
He shook himself and began walking down the road, trying to figure out what he would say to Will when he got back.
Man, how did they go from being so unbelievably close to way too far apart in the space of a morning?
Warren was inclined to blame Steve Stronghold, but he knew that wasn't fair. Will needed to stop pushing, and Warren needed to stop pushing him away. He loved Will, and he'd felt a closeness to him last night that he'd never experienced before, that intense, incredible desperation.
He couldn't walk away from something that strong, not now.
"Warren."
He frowned as he recognised Layla coming down the road towards him. What was she doing down here?
"Hey, what's up?"
"I need to talk to you," she said.
"Uh, okay. Do you want to come back to Will's, or-"
"No. I need to talk to you now. I need you to tell me what's going on."
Warren blinked, a little taken aback.
"Um, Layla? I'm not really sure what-"
"I mean, why are you interfering in Will's life again when you've done enough damage already? God, you've barely been together and already you're breaking his heart. Why can't you just leave him alone?"
Warren swallowed, a sudden sick feeling in the bottom of his stomach.
"Where is Will? Have you seen him?"
"Yeah, I've seen him. And he doesn't want to talk to you."
"Look, whatever happened-"
"He told me what happened. Why can't you stop hurting him?"
"I'm not!" he denied. "We just had a fight, that's all. I can fix it."
"Can you?" she asked. "Maybe he doesn't want you to fix it this time. He knows why last night happened."
Warren felt himself pale. Will had told her about last night?
"What do you mean?"
"He knows you only slept with him to satisfy your own needs. He knows he doesn't mean anything to you.
Warren stared at her. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"That's crap," he snapped, pushing past her.
"He told me."
Warren stopped in his tracks.
"He…what?"
"He told me, Warren. He told me that's why it happened. That you were using him."
He shook his head.
"That's not true."
"Then why would he say it?"
"You're lying!"
"Am I? Go there, ask him yourself."
Warren stared at her. She couldn't be telling the truth. Will knew how important he was. He knew.
"Will told me why you're living with him."
No.
"No, he didn't."
Layla shrugged.
"He thought I should know."
"He wouldn't."
She looked uncomfortable.
"Sorry. Your face is looking better though."
He couldn't believe it. Will had told her, he'd told her.
"I trusted him," he murmured.
"Maybe he's trying to tell you something."
He looked at her.
"What?"
"Maybe he's trying to tell you he doesn't want you around," she said gently. "I mean, can you blame him, after you used him like that?"
"I didn't use him!"
She shrugged.
"Whatever. All I know is, he never wants to see you again."
Warren ran.
He ran all the way back to the Stronghold's, his feet pounding on the sidewalk and his heart in his ears.
He went upstairs and picked up the bag he hadn't had time to unpack yet, then he went back downstairs and left the house, quietly closing the front door behind him.
Will was sitting across the kitchen table from his parents, trying very hard not to throw something at his dad.
Steve kept saying things like "I don't understand" and "You liked that girl in freshman year" (Dad, hello? She turned out to be a major super villain.), while his mom tried to be placating and understanding on both sides.
Eventually, Will heard the front door go, which meant that Warren must have been home from work.
"Look, dad, I love you, but you have to stop being so stupid and except this. I am gay. I like guys. I like Warren. He's my boyfriend. I don't know what else you want me to say. It's who I am."
He carefully got up from the table.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
His mom nodded, and he left quickly, not wanting to talk anymore with his dad right then. He went upstairs, expecting to find Warren waiting for him, but he wasn't in Will's room or the guest bedroom. Will frowned. He could've sworn he heard him come in.
There was something weird about Warren's room. The bag had gone, but when he looked in the wardrobe, there were no more clothes in there.
Will suddenly felt very uneasy.
He went to the phone and dialled Layla's number, waiting impatiently for her to pick up.
"Did you say something to him?" he demanded.
"Well hello to you too. What are you talking about?"
"Warren," he snapped impatiently. "He's gone. What did you say to him?"
"What makes you sure I said anything to him?"
Will closed his eyes.
"Please Layla. If you did you have to tell me. I need to find him."
"Why? So he can make you even more miserable?"
"Fuck, what have you done?"
There was a short silence on the other end.
"I just told him the truth, Will. That you're better off without him."
He couldn't say anything to her after that. He hung the phone up, then with a roar ripped it off the wall and hurled it across the room.
Shit. Shit, where could he have gone? Will had to find him.
He ran down the stairs and grabbed his car keys, ignoring his mother's shouts from behind him as he slammed the front door and dived into his car.
He put the car in gear, mind racing. Did Warren have any friends, relatives? Only his dad, but Will doubted somehow he was there. Definitely not his mom. Where else?
He took a right at the bottom of the street, heading into the town centre.
Please let me find him. I swear I won't pick stupid fights again. Or read his mail. If only I hadn't opened that letter-
The letter. Clark Kent Academy. San Diego. California.
Warren was going to California.
He spun into a sudden u turn, tires squealing, the cars behind him honking loudly on their horns, and headed towards the bus station, driving well over the speed limit.
He didn't bother with a parking permit when he got to the bus shelter, pulling into the parking lot and jumping out of his car, knowing, instinctively, that Warren would be getting the first bus he could to California, that he didn't have much time.
He burst into the reception area, scanning the information screens until he found a bus for Los Angeles, leaving in ten minutes, bus bay seven.
Please don't let me be too late.
Warren was sitting on his bag in the bay, his head bent low, hair hiding his face.
"Warren."
He looked up, and Will saw the dazed, disbelieving look on his face before it was replaced with a cold, hard front.
"Get out of here, Stronghold."
"Whatever she said to you, it was a lie."
Warren looked at him, considering.
"Some of it, maybe. But you told her about my mom."
"What?" Will stared at him. "I didn't. I wouldn't."
"Then how does she know?"
"I have no idea! I didn't tell her. I wouldn't do that to you."
Warren shook his head.
"Whatever."
"I'm telling you the truth!"
"She asked about my face," Warren spat, gesturing sharply to the slight purple colour than remained in his skin. "How the fuck would she know about that if you hadn't told her?"
"I don't know!" Will cried desperately. "She must have guessed. I swear I didn't tell her. Please, believe me."
He went nearer, kneeling down on the sidewalk next to him.
"Do you really think I would betray you like that?"
"No," Warren replied. "But I don't know what to believe anymore." He watched Will carefully, and Will felt like those dark eyes were looking straight through him.
"She said some stuff…I don't know, Will. Do you think I used you?"
Will frowned, uncomprehending.
"What?"
"Last night. Did you just think it was about sex?"
Will closed his eyes, everything becoming clear. When he opened them, Warren was watching him, trying to look like he didn't care.
"Not for a moment," Will said softly. He reached forward, pushing a long strand of Warren's hair off his face. "Please don't go."
Warren looked past him.
"What have I got to stay for? I have no friends, no family, no money for college."
"You have me."
Warren's eyes were black and vacant.
"Do I?"
"Yes," Will replied simply. He tangled his fingers in long hair, turning Warren's head towards him, trying to bring him back.
"Always."
Warren closed his eyes, and Will leant forward and kissed him, Warren's arms locking around his back, holding him so, so tightly.
"Let's go," Will said and Warren nodded against his cheek, his hair soft on Will's face.
They stood up, and Will picked up the bag, then they went into the parking lot, got into the car, and went home.
Things after that rested in an uneasy tension. As if everyone was just waiting for something to fall apart.
Will had officially broken all ties with Layla. He ignored her teary apologies on the answer phone, and tore up the notes she put in the mail box.
Warren watched the closed look in his eyes and wished there was something he could do.
It hadn't escaped his notice that Will left a room whenever his dad walked in, and the atmosphere in the Stronghold house was tense and uncomfortable. Warren just tried to stay out of the way most of the time, and was relieved that neither Will's parents seemed to realise that the guest room bed was slept in very little.
Finals came and went, and Warren waited every day for a letter from Kent Academy, but nothing came. He had informed them of his address change as soon as he had moved in with the Strongholds, but was still waiting. He supposed he should have given up by now, but part of him couldn't quite let go, not until he was sure.
There was another letter from Layla in the mailbox that morning, and Warren debated for a long moment whether or not to throw it away, but in the end took it inside, and tossed it onto the table in front of Will.
"There's another one."
Will sighed as he looked at it.
"When's she gonna give it up?"
Warren shrugged.
"Maybe you should talk to her."
Will stared at him.
"What? Warren, she tried to destroy us. God, she nearly made you run away to California."
Warren rolled his eyes.
"I wasn't running away."
"Yeah right."
"The point is, I've heard those messages she's left for you. She seemed to be genuinely trying to protect you."
Will gave him a withering look.
"Don't try and be forgiving. It doesn't become you."
"I'll remember than next time we have a fight."
"Haha," Will replied sarcastically. He bit his lip. "I can't talk to her. Not yet."
"Okay," Warren relented. He sat next to Will at the table, reaching across and snagging a piece of his toast.
"Hey!"
"Sorry," he said around a mouthful, not sounding very sorry.
Will rolled his eyes.
"Anything in the mail?"
"Nothing."
He sighed and placed a gentle hand on Warren's shoulder.
"It'll come."
"I know," Warren said, but his voice sounded unsure to his own ears, and he didn't know if he believed it anymore.
He looked up as Steve Stronghold came into the kitchen, and watched the way Mr Stronghold's eyes lingered sadly on his son.
"Morning Will, Warren."
"Morning," Warren murmured.
Will didn't say anything, but abruptly pushed his chair back from the table.
"We'd better get going. Don't want to miss the bus."
Warren nodded, and avoided Steve's eyes as they slipped out of the kitchen.
God, he hated this.
Why did Will and his dad both have to be so stubborn? Didn't they realise that having each other was the most important thing? Warren would have given anything for his dad to be there when he was growing up, especially if he looked at Warren with the same pride Will's dad looked at him with.
Will came down the stairs, backpack in hand.
"Ready to face the masses?" he joked.
Warren rolled his eyes.
"It can't be worse than last week," he replied. Last week someone had fed frog spawn through the slats in his locker door.
Their 'coming out' at prom hadn't exactly gone as smoothly as either of them had hoped. It turns out, high school wasn't the most tolerant of places (who'd have thought?) and quite a lot of people thought that Warren and Will were less than admirable for their display at prom.
Warren had, admittedly, borne the brunt of the shit, because at the end of the day Will was still Will Stronghold, son of The Commander and Jetstream, part of The Stronghold Three and the most popular kid in school, but even he had had a few taunts and pranks thrown at him.
Warren couldn't even use his badass reputation to scare people away anymore, because it had been so long since he had actually gotten into any trouble, no one believed he was badass.
However, today marked the beginning of graduation week, which meant that in one week's time he would never have to set foot in Sky High again.
He would probably spend his life working late shifts at the Paper Lantern, but he was trying very hard not to think about that.
"Good Morning Sky High! Seniors, welcome to your last official week at Sky High, and get ready to party party party, because what else is Graduation Week for? And you deserve it, after the gruelling experience of Finals last week. Don't forget to go to the office to pick up your cap and gown between 12 and 3.30 tomorrow, because believe me, you wouldn't want to be the only one not wearing it."
Warren was trying not to think about Graduation. It was everything he hated in one afternoon; stupid hats, boring speeches, and the entire student body.
He very much doubted his mom was going to be coming, which meant there wasn't going to be anyone to watch him graduate. Not that he cared, of course.
"And Principal Powers would like to see Warren Peace in her office ASAP. That's all guys."
Warren blinked, ignoring the hiss that went through the class as they all turned to gawk at him.
What could he possibly have done now?
"Go on, Warren," his homeroom teacher said, and he stood up reluctantly, dragging his feet out of the door and down the hallway to Principal Powers' office, knocking once.
"Come in."
He cautiously peered around the door, and she looked up, a smile on her face.
"Ah Warren, come in. Take a seat."
Warren sat, watching her suspiciously.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes. Have you heard back from Clark Kent yet?"
Warren shook his head.
"Nothing."
She frowned.
"That is unusual. The funding board usually decides late last month, and send the letters out within three weeks. You should have heard something by know." She looked thoughtful. "Perhaps I should give them a call, see if I can hurry things along."
"With all due respect Principal Powers, I'd just as sooner wait until they contact me."
Her eyes lost the thoughtful look and she smiled.
"Of course you would, you don't need me interfering."
She turned suddenly serious.
"There is something else I need to discuss with you, I'm afraid."
Warren swallowed.
"I have been informed that you are now living with the Strongholds."
"That's right."
"Can I ask why, Warren?"
He avoided her eyes.
"My mom and I were having a few…problems. We just all decided it would be better this way."
Her eyes were gentle as she looked at him.
"Do these problems have anything to do with the bruises on your face?"
Warren clenched his jaw.
"Who told you that?"
"I spoke to the Strongholds-"
"It's not true."
"Warren please, they just want to help you."
"Well they should learn to keep their big mouths shut!"
He sat against his chair, breathing heavily, fists clenched to stop himself throwing fireballs across the room.
"I don't know what to do for you, Warren," Principal Powers confessed. "I don't know how I can help protect you if you won't let me."
"I'm fine," he ground out.
"You're obviously not fine. Have you spoken to your mother at all?"
"Not for two weeks."
"Why don't you try?"
He stared at her. How could she be so unbelievably stupid?
"You don't get it do you? My mom's an alcoholic. She broke one of my ribs, among other things, then she threw me out for being gay. Her last words to me were 'don't you dare try and come back'. Why the hell would I want to see her?"
Principal Powers looked at him sorrowfully.
"I am so sorry you have had to go through this. Have you spoken to the police?"
"No," he said immediately. "No police. She's still my mom. And I'm away from her now. It doesn't matter."
"Warren-"
"Please. I don't want her to go to prison."
She watched him for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay, if you think this is the best way to deal with it. After all, you are eighteen, legally you can do what you want."
"Except drink."
She smiled slightly.
"Except drink. Okay, you can go to your classes."
He stood up.
"And by the way. I'm glad you had such a nice evening at Prom."
Her eyes twinkled, and Warren ducked his head as he hurried out of the room, aware that his cheeks were a lovely shade of pink.
When they got home that afternoon, Mr and Mrs Stronghold were waiting for them at the kitchen table, and Warren got an awful sense of foreboding in the pit of his stomach.
"Will," Josie said. "We need to talk to Warren alone."
Will shot him an unsure look, and Warren nodded that it was okay. He sat down at the table, hearing the door close behind him.
"You told Principal Powers," he said.
Josie nodded calmly.
"I thought she had a right to know."
"It's none of her business," he spat.
"It is if it's affecting you at school," Josie insisted. She sighed. "I know you would have rather just kept it between us, but I did what I thought was best. I'm sorry Warren."
Warren watched her carefully. She seemed genuine, but he wasn't sure he knew how to tell anymore.
"Okay," he said finally.
"There was something else we wanted to talk to you about."
She glanced at Steve, and he nodded. Warren braced himself for them to tell him he wasn't ever to see Will again.
"We know you're still waiting to hear back from the funding board at Clark Kent Academy," Steve said.
Warren frowned, wondering what that had to do with him seeing Will, and how did they even know about Kent anyway?
"How do you know about that? Did Will tell you?"
The Stronghold's exchanged uncomfortable looks, and Josie nodded.
"He did, but only in your best interests."
"Yeah?" he asked harshly. "And what might those be?"
Steve reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope, laying it on the table in front of Warren.
"Go ahead, open it."
Warren opened it.
Inside was a check made out to Clark Kent Academy. For the exact same amount as his tuition fees.
"I know I haven't been exactly open minded and accepting where it comes to you and Will," Steve was saying. "But I hope this shows that I know I was wrong, and that I'm ready to move forward, with both of you."
Warren shook his head, stuffing the cheque back into the envelope and pushing it across the table.
"I appreciate the gesture, Mr Stronghold, but I can't accept this. There's just no way."
"Think about it, Warren," Josie interjected. "You can consider it a long term loan, interest free. You don't have to worry about it until after you've finished college."
"I can't okay? I'm sorry, but I just can't."
He made to push his chair back, but Steve's voice stopped him.
"Where else are you going to get the money? Your father?"
Warren felt his fists involuntarily clench. Steve fucking Stronghold had no right to talk to him about his father.
"Let us help you. This is such an important opportunity."
He shook his head.
"No," he said firmly. "Thank you for the thought, but no."
He opened the kitchen door, and had one foot on the stairs when the doorbell rang.
Without thinking about it he changed course, his hand on the door handle about to pull it open, when he looked through the spy hole.
He leapt backwards, as if he had been burnt, and fell against a potted plant on a small table. It crashed to the floor, shattering on the wood, and Josie rushed out of the kitchen, concern on her face.
"Warren?"
"It's my mom," he said, and he barely recognised his own voice. He sounded afraid.
"Quick, into the living room," she said, pushing him out of the hallway, and Warren closed the door and leant against it, holding his breath.
"Mrs Peace," he heard Josie say, a coldness to her tone. "I'm afraid Warren isn't here."
"It doesn't matter," his mom replied, and her voice sounded harsh and aged. He remembered when she used to sound soft.
"I've brought some of his things."
"That's very thoughtful of you."
"They were taking up too much space."
Warren closed his eyes tight, trying to block the words out.
"Well, I'll be sure to give them to him."
There was a long pause, in which Warren could feel his heart beating, like a jack hammer, against his ribs.
"How is he?" his mom asked, and it might have been his imagination, but she sounded slightly gentler, almost as if she cared.
"He's doing okay. He's a strong boy."
There was another pause.
"I should get going."
"Thank you for bringing these round."
The front door closed, and Warren went to the curtains, pushing them aside to watch his mom go down the front walk. She didn't look back.
Josie came into the room, carrying a cardboard box.
"She brought these for you."
He took it from her.
"Thanks."
"You okay?"
He nodded, suddenly just desperate to be upstairs on his own, or lying on Will's bed, listening to him breathe.
"I'm gonna take this upstairs."
He tipped the things out on his bed upstairs; mostly cds, a sweater and a few t-shirts, some mail and a couple of books, nothing of particular interest. He leafed through the mail, several promotional offers, a bank statement, a school letter.
And a letter from Clark Kent Academy.
He stared at it, his heart suddenly pounding.
This was it. This was his one chance, his one hope.
"Hey, what did my parents want?" Will paused. "What's that?"
Warren looked slowly up at him standing in the doorway. Wordlessly, he held out the letter.
Will crossed the room to take it, and as he read it Warren could have sworn his eyes got bigger.
"Oh my God," he whispered. "This is it."
Warren bit his lip as he took the letter back.
"Open it!" Will urged.
"What if I don't get it?" he asked.
"You won't know if you don't open it."
Warren nodded, took a deep breath, and opened the envelope.
Dear Mr Peace.
Congratulations! You have been successful in your application to our scholarship funding board and we are delighted to award you with a full scholarship covering the cost of tuition fees for your first year at the Academy.
"Well?" Will asked. "What does it say?"
Warren stared at him, feeling dazed.
"I got it," he said. "I got it. I got the scholarship."
"Oh my God. You're going to California!"
Will let a whoop and grabbed him around the neck, kissing him quick and hard.
"I'm going to California."
"You're going, you're going!"
Warren laughed suddenly.
"I'm fucking going."
He pulled Will onto the bed with him, laughing and kissing him at the same time.
"I'm going."
Will grinned down at him, cheeks flushed pink, hair messed, and Warren thought perhaps he'd never been more beautiful than in that moment.
"You're going," Will said again.
"I love you."
And Will smiled a brilliant, beautiful smile.
"I love you too."
"You know, your parents offered to pay my tuition fees."
It was later, much later, and they were lying naked on Will's bed in the dark, limbs entangled in a messy heap on top of the sheets.
Will shifted, so he could see Warren's face.
"They what?"
"They offered to pay my tuition fees," he repeated.
Will shook his head slowly.
"I can't believe that."
"It's true. Your dad wants to make amends. He said he hoped it would show that he was ready to move forward with both of us."
"Really?" Will felt a definite satisfaction. "I knew he would come round."
"Mmm."
Warren nuzzled Will's hair, his fingers brushing across the skin of Will's arms.
"Things are going to be okay, aren't they?" Will asked suddenly.
"Of course," Warren replied. "Why? Are you worried?"
Will half shrugged.
"No. I mean, it's just that everything's going to change, isn't it? You're going to California, I'm going to be a senior, not to mention the gay poster boy for superheroes everywhere. Layla and I are no longer friends, and I'm not sure if this whole thing between me and my dad is going to make us stronger, or do the opposite." He sighed. "It's all going to be different."
Warren's hand rested briefly on his cheek, then brushed the hair back from his forehead.
"You'll be visiting me most weekends, you realise."
"I will?"
"Yeah. Otherwise I might go into sex withdrawal."
"Oh haha."
Warren was quiet for a few moments.
"We'll be okay," he said.
"I know."
Will half turned into him, and he felt Warren's arm go around his back.
"You have to make it up with Layla."
Will sighed.
"Warren-"
"Just listen to me, Will. Half of me hates her for what she tried to do to us. But half of me knows that she loves you, and she would never intentionally hurt you. That what she did, she did because she cares."
Will stayed stubbornly silent. He wasn't sure he was ready to forgive Layla yet.
"Just at least think about it."
"Will it shut you up?"
"Possibly."
"Then fine, I'll think about it."
"That's all I ask."
Warren was stroking the skin between his shoulder blades in a very distracting manner, and Will leant forward to kiss him.
"I'd like to see California."
"And you will. I promise."
Will kissed him again, and Warren's hand moved from his back to his head, tangling his fingers in strands of hair as he deepened the kiss, rolling Will underneath him.
Will sighed against his lips, shifting his hips and enjoying the jerking response.
"God, Will," Warren murmured. "I want you so much."
"So have me," Will whispered, wriggling his hips a little more.
Warren groaned and then laughed throatily, kissing the corner of Will's mouth.
"I'm going to miss you."
"Not yet," Will said.
"No," Warren agreed. "Not yet."
His hand drifted across Will's throat, feather light, and Will felt himself arching into the soft touch.
"Touch me," he gasped. "Please, just touch me."
Warren pressed his face into the hollow of Will's collarbone, his hands trailing everywhere across Will's body, until Will was gasping and writhing beneath his touch.
"Don't stop," Will murmured desperately, and Warren took his face in his hands and kissed him.
"I'll never stop," he promised. "Never."
The day had finally arrived, and as Will stood in the driveway, he could hardly believe it.
Warren was leaving today, to go to California. The old Chevy he'd managed to save up for was packed with his things, and at that very moment he was inside collecting the final food packages from Will's mom.
Will wrapped his arms around his waist, feeling small and vulnerable, which was stupid, because Will was probably the least vulnerable person alive.
He chewed his bottom lip as he looked at the car, ready to go, ready to take Warren away from him.
It felt like they had hardly had any time together, and as the days of summer had seemed to slip right by them, Will had wanted to stop time, just for a little while, just so he could appreciate being with Warren without the rest of the world trying to intrude.
And it wasn't as if he was worried that Warren would be all the way over in California, not really. It was just Will was slightly terrified that once Warren realised just how many other people were out there, he would end up leaving Will for another guy. Or even worse, a girl.
"I'll be seeing you before you know it."
To Will's credit, he didn't jump when Warren's arms snaked around him, only a blink showing his outward surprise.
"I know," he replied. "I'm fine," he added, even though Warren hadn't asked.
"I know you are. You always are."
And for a split second Will wanted to ask him not to go, to stay, not to leave him alone.
He pushed the selfish thought aside.
"Are you sure you don't want me to drive down with you?" he asked instead.
"I'm sure," Warren replied.
"You'll call me when you get there?"
Warren chuckled.
"Your mom said the exact same thing to me."
Will smiled, but he had a feeling it didn't reach his eyes.
"I love you," Warren said softly.
Will nodded.
"I know. And like you said, we'll see each other soon. Everything's fine."
"You know, the more you say 'fine' the less I believe you."
Will sighed, leaning his head back onto Warren's shoulder.
"I am fine," he said, as firmly as he could. "But you'd better go. You don't want to be driving in the dark.
"Yes sir."
Warren kissed his throat gently, then released him and went round to the driver's side of the car.
"Drive safe," Will murmured.
Warren rolled his eyes.
"C'mere."
Will obliged, leaning into the car to share a last, lingering kiss.
"I love you," Warren said again, against his lips.
"I love you too," Will replied softly.
Warren's fingers were gentle in his hair for a split second, then Will pulled away and stepped back from the car.
"If I find out you've been kissing any girls, I'll kick your ass," he said, echoing Warren's words to him from the night of prom, the first night they ever spent together.
Warren laughed.
"They'd be lucky to have me."
Will smiled as the engine started up, and when Warren pulled out of the driveway, he watched until the car turned the corner at the end of the street.
He wasn't sure how long he had been standing there before he noticed Layla, watching him uncertainly from the hedge that divided their houses.
She didn't say anything as she approached him slowly, and he let her put her arms around him and rest her head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," she said, and he realised she was crying softly, her tears wet against his t-shirt. For a long moment he didn't say anything, struggling against the knowledge that she had tried to destroy the most important relationship in his life but at the same time knowing that Warren had been right. She had done it because she loved him, just like his Dad.
Will sighed.
"I know."
Her hair was soft on his cheek, and they stayed in each other's arms for a long moment, Will's eyes fixed on the last spot he'd seen Warren's car.
"You want some brownies?" he asked. "My mom baked a huge batch for Warren to take with him, but there's still a ton left."
"Will there be milk?" she asked.
"There's always milk."
She offered him a watery smile.
"Then let's go."
Will took her hand and led her into the house, and as they sat at the table with his mom and dad, brownies and milk, he knew that Warren had been right.
Everything would be okay.
Fin.