A/N: OMG, the rewrite is actually finished! And just in time for the holidays too! :D I think you guys are really going to like what I've done with this story! I've nearly TRIPLED the size of it! Yes, that's right - that means A LOT more chapters of Megamind goodness for your reading pleasure! I've included a few things that weren't there before, made some changes, and I have no doubt the story is MUCH stronger for it! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! ^_^ Now, as before, this fic is going to be rated M overall for a reason. Yes, that's right, you guessed it - the smut is still there, and uh... *Clears throat, blushes* Much more graphic... XD But still very sweet. It doesn't come until later in the story, and those chapters will be clearly marked. Some of the chapters will be shorter than others; I'm breaking it up based on where I feel it should be so I don't end up with chapters 20 or 30 pages long... XD Most of the breaks follow the same points as before. I think the chapters will probably be much longer later in the story than early on. If you commented before, PLEASE comment again! :D Everyone, please read and comment! Positive reviews are like a drug... I just can't get enough! ;D That said, I can't think of anything else that must be pointed out for this chapter, so please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Megamind.

Just Another School Year

Chapter 1

This would be just another school year, just like every other, Roxanne Ritchi figured as she arrived at Metro High School for the first day of her senior year. OK, sure, she was a senior now, and had the prom and every other luxury afforded only to seniors to look forward to (like the privilege of driving her car to school instead of taking the bus), but other than that, she didn't really expect anything to be different about this year as opposed to any other. She would go to her classes, do her homework, and hone her skills as a journalist and editor for the high school paper — as she always did. With the exception of planning for her future college education — she had already decided she wanted to be a reporter — her days as a senior would be much the same as they always had been throughout her high school education. She didn't expect anything to really change, at least not in any kind of meaningful way. Fate, though, had other plans.

The day had begun just like any other, only this time she had driven to school in the silver Chevy Malibu her parents had given her over the summer break for her birthday. It wasn't brand new; in fact, it was a few years old, but it had been well cared for and ran smoothly, so despite a few cosmetic blemishes (a scratch on the bumper here, a small scrape on the bottom of the door there, nothing major), Roxanne had been extremely grateful for the gift. She'd never been overly obsessed with appearances anyway; after all, it was the heart inside a person that mattered, not the image others refused to look beyond, and she'd always felt the same went for vehicles as well. So despite the fact the car was not a bright red brand new camaro or the flashy new corvettes many of the senior men were showing off, she was immensely proud of her silver baby. It could purr just as well as theirs could, but hers could get better gas mileage — a plus for any teenage high schooler on a limited budget. Smiling at the promise of a bright new school year, she had grabbed her backpack and notebook and headed towards the large red brick building.

Not much had changed over the summer vacation. The same people still hung out together in the same cliques, the same unfortunate geeks getting ignored and huddling together under trees to share their griefs and concerns for what promised to be another miserable year of being bullied. The "popular" girls were still found squealing together over Metro Dude's latest heroic antics, and the jocks still strutted through the school grounds as if they owned the place. Freshmen stood apart observing the interactions of older students with awe-struck, envious eyes, dreaming of the day when they, too, would find their place among them and fit in. Nothing had changed, not even Metro Dude.

Roxanne shook her head, smiling in an amused kind of way as she spotted the high school's most popular and promising student showing off for a group of screaming girls. Captain of the football team and the best wrestler in the school (by far), Metro Dude wasn't exactly the brightest bulb on the planet… But he certainly had powers and a certain natural charm that promised to propel him into the limelight in the very near future. An orphaned alien from another galaxy, Metro Dude — or Wayne Scott, as his adoptive parents had named him — had been adopted and raised by the Lord and Lady Scott, a very wealthy family who had fallen in love with him when they had found him as a baby. Metro Dude had, therefore, never wanted for anything, and his natural charisma and showmanship had catapulted him to the very top of the popularity ladder. This was a man who would do great things… With the power of flight, laser vision, super-human strength, and invulnerability to boot, Metro Dude was shaping up to be quite the hero, and had already begun to win the hearts of Metro City's citizens by testing his crime fighting abilities in preparation for the launching of his superhero career. Over the course of the summer alone, he'd managed to save an old woman's life from an oncoming bus, stop a bank robbery or two, and catch a fleeing gunman from a murder scene, just to name a few of his exploits. Once he graduated from high school, Metro Dude would become the greatest hero Metro City had ever seen… Roxanne had high hopes for his career, and looked forward to the day that she would be able to cover his exploits in her own career as a news reporter.

"Hey, Roxy!" Metro Dude shouted as he spotted her, flying over to land gracefully before the young woman. He was wearing his typical charming smile, and Roxanne tried not to giggle at it. He hadn't changed one bit. "How was your summer?"

"Not bad," Roxanne shrugged, smiling back at him. "Uneventful. I spent most of my time studying up on journalism and trying to determine the best college to go to for a career as a reporter. I think I've narrowed it down to a few possibilities, with Metro State the most likely choice. I still have more research to do before I decide, though."

Metro Dude chuckled, casting her a kind of suave, knowing grin. "Same old Roxy… Still the journalist, even at home. You'll make a fine reporter."

"Well, thank you, Metro Dude!" Roxanne beamed at his compliment. "That's very kind of you!"

Metro Dude merely shook his head, looking serious as he placed one hand over his heart, raising his other up, palm facing Roxanne as if taking an oath. "I only speak the truth! You earned your credentials yourself."

Roxanne giggled. He certainly was a charmer, even if he wasn't her type. "Even so, it's always nice to hear a compliment. I've heard of your own exploits, as well. Becoming quite the crime fighter in your time off, huh? I think you're going to make a great hero."

Metro Dude chuckled and shrugged, flexing his burly muscles as he puffed out his chest. For a teenager, he already had the frame of a man, and enough musculature to go head to head with a body-builder. He looked almost like a perfectly chiseled statue… "I'm thinking of going by the name 'Metro Man' once I kick off my career as a superhero. What do you think?"

Roxanne nodded. "I think it most definitely sounds better than 'Metro Dude,'" she snickered. "Much more adult."

Metro Dude nodded. "Yeah, I don't much care for Metro Dude either… But it's only for another year, then Metro Man will be born!"

"I look forward to his unveiling," Roxanne smiled, starting to move towards the doors to the school building to get to class. "Are you looking forward to the new school year?"

Metro Dude nodded, floating gracefully along the ground beside her as she walked. "Should be exciting. With all the new privileges we seniors have, it should make things more interesting, and of course, then there's the prom…" He chuckled as Roxanne cast him a pointed look. "Don't worry, Roxy. I won't ask you. I know you're not interested, but the rumors are already starting… You know how the others see us."

Roxanne sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah… The reporter and the hero, what could be more perfect? You know those rumors have haunted me every day that I've gone to this school, and we've never even done anything to start them!"

Metro Dude shrugged. "I guess they just don't understand the concept of friendship."

Roxanne nodded. How true that was… Most of the kids who went to this school were airheads who really didn't understand much of anything, let alone the value of a true friend. Lifting her chin, she smiled as she determined, "Yes, well, I've decided I'm not going to let it bother me this year! This is my senior year, and it's going to be a good one!"

"That's right, Roxy!" Metro Dude agreed. "Ignore the rumors. You focus on the important issues. Let the gossip die."

"This will be a good year," Roxanne repeated confidently, "Full of good things and pleasant experiences."

"Oh, did you hear?" Metro Dude asked her quietly, his feet finally touching the ground to walk beside her as he looked her in her eyes. "We're getting a new student today…"

Roxanne shrugged. "So? There are lots of new freshmen coming in…"

Metro Dude shook his head. "No. Not a freshmen. He's a senior."

Roxanne blinked. A senior? That was a little unusual… "A senior? Are you sure?"

Metro Dude nodded. "He's being admitted today. I don't know anything more than that, but the rumor I'm hearing is that he's going to need to be watched…"

Roxanne considered this for a moment, her curiosity piqued. The new boy would have to be watched? Why? Was he epileptic? Physically or mentally handicapped? A troublemaker? She shook her head to push out the troublesome thoughts, insisting firmly, "Metro Dude, you know better than to listen to rumors. For all we know, this kid may be no different than any other. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt before we start watching him, OK?"

"Of course, of course. You're right, Roxy," Metro Dude agreed, properly chastised for his suspicion. "Justice never judges before all the facts are in."

Roxanne laughed softly. "Boy, Metro Dude, you even sound like a hero."

Metro Dude's grin brightened. "Really? You think so? I've been practicing…"

"Keep it up," Roxanne giggled. "You'll be a superhero in no time. Now come on. Let's get to class." She picked up her pace, Metro Dude following right behind her. Though she wouldn't admit it out loud, she wondered who this new boy was, and what he would be like…