Chapter 19

The rest of our friends had knowing smirks on their faces when we met up with them at the park to watch the concert. Warren and I sat on a blanket and he pulled me closer to him, earning a wider grin from Will. The concert started and everyone fell quiet as we listened to a concierto. After half an hour of listening, Warren and I got up to get more popcorn, where we saw my aunt and uncle plus Danny and ended up buying cotton candy instead with them. They decided to watch the concert and left Warren and I to go to the playground, sitting on top of the jungle gym and pigging out on the cotton candy.

"Look at that," I said in a whisper, looking up at the night sky full of twinkling stars. Warren looked up once and then back at me. "Warren?"

He looked at me, and somehow I knew what he was thinking right then. My stomach clenched with guilt as I looked at him; what was the point of me making out with him if I was to leave in a few hours? Warren took my hand and weaved his fingers through mine, I put my head on his shoulders and was silent.

Finally he spoke in barely a whisper, "I had an epiphany today," he let out a tiny smile.

I raised an eyebrow in reply, "An epiphany? What?"

"Remember how I told you that I wasn't sure about being a hero?" I nodded and he continued. "Well, I did feel some adrenaline rush when I was fighting today, and I managed to control the fire in the vicinity, and I thought…well, that it wasn't too bad."

"You were great," I assured him, smiling as I did so.

"And now I can say that I'm ready to work as a hero," he replied.

"I'm looking forward to that," I said, and looked up at his eyes, our faces were inching closer to each other when a ringing interrupted us. It was my phone.

"Hello?" I said grinning at Warren, who glanced at his watch.

My mother's voice replied from the other end, "Hey sweetie, I'm at your aunt's now, but it seems as if they've gone off to the fair as well."

"Yeah," I told her. "They're here, they said they'll be going home soon though."

"Okay then, and how long will you stay there?"

I sighed, "I think a little bit after 12."

My mom replied warmly, "Alright sweetie, we'll wait, have fun with your friends."

"Thanks mom," and I turned off the call.

Warren turned to me and sighed, "And it seems as if Cinderella has until midnight."

I laughed, "So you're admitting that you're sort of like Prince Charming?"

He scrunched his eyebrows in disgust, "Urgh, Prince Charming? No."

I smirked, "And what will Warren Peace do to his Cinderella? I'm curious."

He cupped my cheeks with his hands and kissed me lightly. This was so much better than a moonlight dance. Suck on that Cinderella.

Halfway throughout the kiss however I was met with a sudden realization, my mom was waiting a few blocks away to take me back home. I couldn't stay. So that's why I did what I did next, I stopped our kiss and Warren looked at me, concerned.

"I'm sorry Warren, this was a mistake," I said, pulling away from him. He held my face closer to his in response.

"No it's not and you know it."

"I'm leaving," I said, looking away from him.

"So? It's not like I can't wait," he reasoned and I felt a tug at my chest. Boy did I want him to wait for me, really I did.

However, the more reasonable side of me won the argument inside my head and I said, "I don't want you to wait Warren."

He didn't say anything, he just looked at me, and I felt myself turning red by the second.

"Look," I finally said. "I'm stationed at the other end of the continent, and when you graduate, I know you'd want to stay in Maxville at first then move on to other places. The thing is…the time in between that, we're going to be away from each other. I could never ask you to wait for me."

Warren spoke, and his voice was no more than a whisper, "And what if I want to?" he asked with conviction.

"Warren…I want you to wait for me, I do, but I can't help but feel a little selfish in asking you that," I shook my head at him and I looked down at the sand beneath our feet. "There are other girls you should meet, date, and…well…"

I mustered a glance at Warren and was surprised to see a slight smile on his face.

"You're right," he muttered and I looked at him intently, my heart pounding faster. "I guess I would feel the same if I had asked you to wait as well."

I would have gladly told him that I could wait but felt as though that wouldn't be the best thing to say right then so I nodded slowly. He continued.

"Just one thing though," he said and I nodded at him, willing him to go on. "A few years from now, when there are a hundred guys trailing after you, promise me you'll let me take you out on a date."

I smiled at him and put a hand on his cheek, "Absolutely."

And we continued to sit there, with my head on his shoulder, silent as ever. A silent conversation passed between us, as if our goodbyes need not be said out loud. It was quarter to midnight when we decided to slide down the jungle gym poles and walk back to the concert.

We spotted our friends getting up to their feet and packing up the blankets they had sat on. Together we traipsed out of the park and into the bright lights of the midway which was about to close at midnight. We talked at random, reminiscing about what had happened during the week- with Warren as Harry being the highlight as well as the fight the day before- and wondering what would happen next week in the school.

"This was definitely the best week I've ever had," I told my friends as we headed out of the park and into the neighbourhood streets alight with streetlamps. Everyone seemed to agree that the past week certainly was a memorable one.

The walk did not take us long, and as much as I wanted to walk there for a while, we ended up reaching Aunt Lena's house in a very short time. This just proves furthermore that time definitely passes by quickly when one is having loads of fun, especially with one's friends.

Magenta, Ethan, and Zack said their goodbyes first before they headed over to their houses a few blocks away.

"Call us soon, and visit when you can," Zack reminded me as we shook our hands in that crazy guy handshake he seems to do with me a lot. I laughed and hugged him after failing to wring my hands in sync with his.

"It was really nice getting to know you two," I told Magenta and Ethan as I hugged both of them and they replied warmly, saying that they can't wait until my next visit.

I waved at them goodbye and I was left with Will, Layla, and Warren, all of whom had different expressions on their faces; Will was smiling sadly, Layla almost had tears in her eyes, and Warren…well, his look was hard to recognize, but if I was to hazard a guess, I'd say he was a little sad as well?

"Well, Vee, I guess this is it," Will said sheepishly as I turned to give him a hug goodbye.

"Yeah," I replied. "Thanks for your hospitality," I grinned and he laughed.

Layla turned to me now, and tears were definitely falling out of her eyes.

"I'm going to miss you so much," she said as she hugged me and I patted her back. "It was so nice having you here."

"I know," I said, close to tears as she was. "But I'll call and chat you with you soon don't worry, it'll seem like I never left."

She smiled at that and let me go.

"Well, Will and I better get going, we'll see you soon okay?" she said as she and Will waved goodbye to me and walked away, leaving me and Warren on my doorstep.

A second later the door opened and my mom's face was revealed, smiling widely at me.

"Hello honey," she said to me and turned to Warren. "And hello Warren, it's so nice to finally meet you! Your mom has told me loads of stories about you."

We were led inside the house and saw that Warren's mom was indeed in the living room with everyone else.

"Time to go soon," my mom said as I said goodbye to Danny, my uncle and aunt Lena, as well as Ms. Peace. "Your stuff is already home, and since no one's tracking any form of supernatural transportation anymore, you can teleport yourself."

I nodded at her and I saw Warren give me an inquisitive glance, I smiled and said, "Well, I can transport matter, therefore I can transport myself."

"Yes, you can do anything, I'm not as surprised anymore," he said teasingly and I swatted him on the arm.

My mom took out her teleporter, said goodbye to everyone and vanished. I waved goodbye to the others and walked with Warren towards the door. At the entrance hall I turned to him and prepared myself to say goodbye to him. I tried to read his face as I looked at him but I didn't want to guess at what he felt so I asked him instead.

"What?" I asked, as he looked at me smilingly.

He hugged me in reply and I felt lost in his warmth, "Just that…I'm glad you were sent to Maxville."

"Me too," I murmured. "Me too."

He raised his arm and touched my cheek softly, then let his arm fall, I savoured his touch and almost missed his words.

"I'll miss you."

I smiled at him, "So will I.

"See you around Warren," I waved at him and I teleported away, feeling myself leave aunt Lena's house, the last thing I saw was Warren waving at me goodbye with a ghost of a smile on his face.

---

Wednesday was Jackson's trial so I headed to the Justice League headquarters with both my parents. It was short and to the point, Jackson was sentenced to a lifetime in a high-security prison. And that was the end of that chapter, I wouldn't have to deal with him anymore, and frankly, I was on cloud 9, even though I knew that wouldn't last for very long.

Since I got the whole day off school, I stayed at the headquarters, helping out with the response team and doing some paperwork like I had during this summer.

I sat in the café at around noon with superheroes Cyclone and Vectress when I saw a group of superheroes walking into the grand hall; they looked as if they were new to the place. They were all dressed in a colourful array of costumes, each one representing their powers presumably.

"Looks like the new batch," Vectress commented on the group "I met the previous group last week, they were nice, except for that elastic guy with stripes and his somewhat heavy-set friend."

Cyclone and Vectress were 2 years older than me, and they graduated from Sky High themselves, so we talked much about my time there.

At half past 12 the two got a distress call and had to leave, and I headed out of the café, passing by Wonderwoman who took me to the main control room to watch over the city.

"I have to give the tour to the new heroes after Green Lantern soon, want to come with as Vraine?" she chuckled and I grinned.

"I'm not sure I'm really tour guide material," I said as I watched the group head over to the control room through the monitors.

"Suit yourself," Diana grinned and walked over to the main doors to greet the newcomers.

And then it hit me, it was the senior class trip from Sky High!

I stumbled up from my seat as I saw the group come in; Diana was leading them to where I was, the main monitor.

"And here we are, we usually have at least one person manning this station, we have the bird's eye view of the city here, and detectors for abnormal activity," Diana was explaining to the group as they walked around.

Diana introduced me to the group and I said my hellos timidly. I could feel their gazes on me, mainly because they knew who I was probably. I recognized some of them and they waved eagerly at me, I smiled and made little conversation with them.

But the person I was most looking forward to seeing ever since I realized it was their class trip that came today was still down by the main doors, talking with another super. He was wearing a black leather-like suit, a.k.a. X-men style, with red down the arms. The logo on the right of his chest caught my eye; it was a cyclone of fire, just like what we managed to do during our fight with Thunder. I smiled.

Walking down the steps to greet him wasn't as bad as I expected, sure I had a massive liking for him, but I knew that being romantically involved with Warren wouldn't be the best right now. We were both willing to stay good friends, and that's what I intend to do. I guess I expected it to be hard, but now that I see him here, it's nothing but that; I was happy to see him.

"Flare," I started as I looked him up and down, surveying his costume. "It suits you well."

"Hey," he said, giving me a wide hug. "It's good to see you."

I smiled up at him, "Nice costume," I said as I touched the patch on his uniform.

"Thanks."

I heard Principal Powers say over the student's heads that the tour was over and that all the students were free to go around the headquarters and meet back in an hour at the entrance hall.

Warren…ehem, I mean Flare held out his arm for me to take.

"Shall I be given the tour by the famous Vraine?" he teased.

I played along as I took his arm, "Well, my services don't come cheap Mr. Inferno."

He chuckled, "I'll get you some lunch."

"That would work."

I sat across from him on the small café table, munching on a chicken wrap.

"You don't think this is too weird?" I asked.

"What is?"

Casually I waved a hand, "Oh, you know, sitting here, all dressed up. It's just…different, from our normal conversations that's all."

Flare only chuckled in reply, "Yeah, I can't believe I actually miss those talks."

"Ahh…of course, no one can match my randomness when it comes to talks. Remember when we were playing cards and I told you the story about sex-ed in my school?" I laughed.

Flare shook his head as he grinned, "Who wouldn't?"

I giggled, "Well, when I came back to school on Monday, they were wrapping up all the presentations, and all these brochures and…ehem…products were shoved at me. It was hilarious."

"Too bad they don't have that at Sky High," he replied, as he drank his soda.

We talked more for a while, mostly nonsensical stuff like other people's costumes and superhero names, and where everyone was planning on going after they graduate.

"The IAS for you is it?" I asked Flare and he nodded. "Good, we may be able to come and join forces on international newbies missions."

"They have that?" he asked.

"Well, they have it once a year I think."

"Either way, I think I would be a little intimidated working alongside Vraine," he replied and I giggled.

"You know I don't bite, and you shouldn't be intimidated, for I am nothing more than a newbie like yourself."

Blaze shook his head, smiling, "It's strange, a week ago I didn't even think of coming to the trip because I wasn't at all ready. And now here I am in this ridiculous costume, and I actually want to fight villains."

"It's called the 'Heroic Impulse'" I laughed jokingly. "And I happen to like your costume very much."

We grinned at each other and when we were finished with lunch, I took him around the building, talking just as we used to.

……

An hour later, Warren's group was scheduled to leave so I took him towards one of the benches near the entrance and sat down with him. Minutes later, his schoolmates came around, followed by Principal Powers.

"Looks like I have to go," he said and I got off the bench and stood up.

"Well, have fun for the rest of your trip," we walked out of the rest area and stopped by one of the marble pillars in the entrance hall.

"Yeah, and you have fun with…normal school and saving the world," he grinned and I nodded, smiling in spite of myself.

"You too, I mean, you will be saving the world soon enough, whether you like it or not."

"Hey you know me, always taking risks and all that jazz," he said in such a happy tone that I recognized it as 'Harry's tone' at once. I giggled so hard that some of the people passing by turned to look at us.

"Oh, I'm really going to miss you and everyone," I said sadly and he walked over and gave me a hug.

"I'll miss you too, but technically, you're only a zap away from coming over to Maxville and visiting us," he let go of me and I nodded once again, showing that he was right.

"But hey, remember me when you're all famous as Mister Inferno," I joked and he laughed his deep, booming laugh.

"You're one to talk miss Superstar Vraine," he chuckled and I hit him on the arm.

"You've been spending WAY too much time with Batman and Robin."

Principal Powers entered the great hall and called out to everyone that they were leaving. I hugged Warren once again and he smiled down at me.

"See you around Vraine."

"Bye Flare," I waved at him and he walked off, but not before I muttered something that I was sure he heard perfectly.

He looked back and nodded at me, a smile forming on his lips. I decided that it was time for me to get home and get my homework from my best friend Alex. I went on to find Wonder Woman to say goodbye when I heard a familiar voice call out my name. I turned and saw Ms. Peace standing before me, a big smile on her face.

"Thank you, you have no idea what your words meant to him, he's actually excited to be a hero now," she smiled knowingly and I realized she probably heard everything I just said to her son.

I smiled back at her and gave her a hug.

"Well, you and I both know he'll be an incredible fire elemental super hero soon enough."

"Of course, just like you," she grinned and I shook my head.

"Nope, just LIKE you," I corrected her and she laughed and we said our goodbyes.

I left the Justice League headquarters with a new feeling stirring up inside me. Anticipation. Anticipation for what lay ahead, I was neither scared nor happy, I just thought about meeting the rest of the elementals soon and that gave me enough courage, knowing I wouldn't be alone.

I accepted a long time ago that I was the ultimate Mary Sue, but you know what? I don't care anymore, especially because I know that the most extreme critiques of all time have accepted who I was and were excited to see me save the world.

My time at Maxville has been an eye-opener for me and for Vraine; that even the most powerful superheroes will get scared at some point in their life, they'll get frustrated, sad, hopeless, and helpless. They'll meet people, many they won't like, but that's inevitable. However all the negative things will be countered by countless of perks, such as meeting new heroes and having fun saving the world.

Each superhero is unique- Mary Sue or not- and none of us are ever alone when it comes to saving the world.

A/N:

Well there it is, the final chappie in this story. It took me a while but there you have it, consider it my new years present for those who are still reading this. Thanks for the reviews, faves, and alerts, and C2 adds. I truly appreciate them. And plus, I've got an epilogue on the way, but it might take me a while to post since I'm back to school on the 4th.

Once again, thanks for reading this story, and a special thanks to those who stuck by from the very first chapter. *hands out cupcakes*

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010! :)

-lala