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Chapter One: Layla

There was one thing that Evelyn did truly notice, however, about Sensei Stick that he tried with passive effort to truly keep hidden; he loved her mother like his own daughter. She wasn’t his daughter by blood, but truly by spirit. Evelyn knew that he had looked at her just as if she were his own flesh and blood. And he looked after Evelyn the same, as if she were his own granddaughter…

He didn’t let her life be ultimately lived by his own “teachings” because failure for her mother faulted him. He was her teacher and respected guardian and ‘this’, Sky High, was his “alternative” for her.

This school marked her mother as a true legend. But, to Evelyn herself, Elektra had been a true hero, ‘her’ hero…

----------- Flashback ----------------

Elektra gazed up through hazy, blurred eyes. Tears marked them as she fought through the searing pain, the coldness… and the bone-chilling realization that death, once again, had come for her. But this time… this time, it was eminent and inescapable.

“Evie,” She croaked, her voice cracking and soft, choking through her own tears… and her own blood… “Don’t hate… Don’t hate as much as I do. Live. Never… give up. I love you, so much…”

And there she died, silent and with a tragic finality, cradled within the tiny, trembling arms of her own daughter. The eyes once so fierce and strong, gazed up lifelessly toward the infinite sky… and at the one last thing in the world she’d ever loved…

--------- End of Flashback -------------

Despite his teachings, Stick retreated into himself often. Evelyn knew he hadn’t been the same after her mother’s death. He blamed himself as her teacher… and as her remaining father figure in life.

He had made a promise to himself that he would teach Evelyn everything he knew, “everything”, in order to make certain she could protect herself far more efficiently than her own mother could herself. His guilt was deeply palpable, undenied to the point that Evelyn could easily sense and sight it within the depths of him… yet, he had chosen ‘here’ to send her…?

Could he not bare the sight of her…? Had she failed his expectations somehow…? Or was it the resulted failure of his tactics and wisdom with her mother…?

Many overwhelming emotions and thoughts flitted through her head, making it pound heavily. But, she didn’t let them show outwardly or give any indication to what her thoughts truly were about.

All classes she had throughout the day so far were the same, purely introductory for the purpose of beginning. Evelyn saw how the Sky High school class system worked and the various grade levels in which were processed. It seemed fair enough…

She grabbed her lunch and found the most secluded table in the cafeteria, all the while ignoring the stares and whispers received by the sight of her presence. She didn’t really give care to anything. It just didn’t matter to her.

Grabbing a book out of her bag, Evelyn went to reading. Despite the ways of her life, she enjoyed a good book, literature and fiction especially. In some ways, it led her into another world and allowed her to forget.

But sadly, she was abruptly interrupted in the middle of her moment of intrigue in Mercutio’s speech with a soft voice in front of her… “Um, hi…”

Trying not to be too rude, after all the girl sounded friendly and shy enough, Evelyn pulled her book down to peer over at her.

At her blank stare the girl stammered, “I, uh, noticed you’re alone. I was, um, wondering if you’d like to sit with me and my friends. I mean, no one should really have to sit by themselves at lunch…”

She was a pretty girl, with long red hair and green eyes. Green eyes… god, it brought back memories of her mother. Evelyn knew she was cursed with those forever. She had them too.

When everyone looked at Evelyn, they would say that she looked every bit like the image of her late mother, same green eyes, long brown hair, and pale skin. Anything else not resembled to her belonged to her paternal line, features apart of a man that Evelyn didn’t even know. And wouldn’t even want to know…. But, that was the way of life.

“It’s alright, I prefer it that way. But thank you.”

The girl’s features revealed some brief curiosity… and a hint of mistrust. “Let me guess, it’s because we’re sidekicks, isn't it?” She asked quietly.

Rolling her eyes, Evelyn sat her book down upon the table to give the girl her full attention, replying rather curtly, “Look, I don’t belong with anybody, neither your classified heroes nor your classified sidekicks. Bottom line, I really don’t give a shit. I just want to be left alone.”

Silence met her answer. Quite honestly, it surprised the hell out of Evelyn when the girl actually smiled at her. “Wow,” was her answer, followed by a, “So, would you like to meet my friends…?”

“No.”

“Don’t you want to break the fascist tradition here…? It’s stupid.”

“I already told you that I don’t care. And really, I don’t.”

She turned back abruptly to her book, hoping to finish the monologue that she had been reading earlier. Unfortunately, the girl didn’t go away. In fact, she sat quietly in the vacant chair in front of her…

“What in the name of all hell do you want from me? I told you to go away. Period. End of story. Good bye.”

“You sound alot like someone I actually know,” She stated bluntly, her expression unfazed. “And quite honestly, he’s far more intimidating than you appear to be.”

Evelyn rolled her eyes. “Like I give a damn…”

“Look,” the girl stated, “My name is Layla.”

Silence.

Sighing heavily, the girl continued, “I heard you were the daughter of a treasure, Elektra’s daughter…”

Evelyn’s shoulders became tense and rigid. Other than that, she neither gave nor showed any specific reaction, just merely peered up at Layla blankly from behind her book… “You know nothing about my mother and you know nothing about me so don’t presume to.”

Layla shrugged, replying sincerely, “I don’t. I just think that she had been a good woman… look, if you change your mind, just look around or ask for me. Not everyone here at Sky High is as bad as you think they are… nice to meet you, Elektra.”

She stood and left abruptly.

Why did people have to bother people that clearly didn’t want to be bothered…?

Sighing quietly to herself, Evelyn turned back to her story, not caring about the group of eyes that followed and observed her in silence.