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Ashes to Ashes	By : BurneHazard Category: S through Z > Sky High Views: 5390 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Sky High, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Warren found himself puzzling over things more and more. They were not blaringly obvious, blatant things that would draw attention from everyone. Maybe they were things that actually meant nothing at all. Or things he could be imagining he saw. No matter what, his mind had caught the idea and oddly would not release it. It was bothering him a lot.

First there was the smooth way that Crystal had communicated with him in the arena. Of course he did reason that the signals were pretty obvious, enough for even someone like Stronghold to pick up on had he been in there. Then there was that...meeting on Halloween. It was hardly a hug but it was clear she had wanted something. After a lot of thought, he figured out he kind of wanted the contact after the fact. And that drew his attention to the way he had grown used to Crystal in his spaces and how easy it was to be around her.

Every time he arrived at school since Halloween, he found himself actually beginning to watch for Crystal and study her. She was like anyone else really. At least, at first glance. Then he began to notice more of those small things he could have been imagining. The girl associated only with Gavin. She shied away from contact with others. Walking down the halls she moved swiftly and stared straight ahead. Rarely did she ever make eye-contact unless it was a glower or narrow-eyed stare.

The more he watched, the more he began to realize some of her actions were familiar because he did them himself. In class she was silent unless asked a question, she never volunteered the answer or drew any notice to herself. At lunch she ate quickly, finished before everyone else and then sat reading something or doing assignments. Like him, Crystal used her locker only when necessary. She carried her bag with her and simply switched books at lunch.

No one approached her and she likewise did not go near anyone unless necessary for class. Only Gavin and Warren himself seemed to be able to approach her. Even when they were sitting together after lunch to do homework, Warren found that the two worked smoothly. Crystal actually did look at Warren but when she turned her attention to him, she rarely ever made eye contact unless it was because she was growing frustrated or he was walking a thin line.

He was also becoming aware of the reasons Crystal seemed so easily able to understand his unspoken signals that day. Gavin did not speak. So they had actual conversations either via pen and paper or the slight natural signals and expressions. Apparently they had been friends for some time because even though he watched intently, Warren found a lot of those unspoken conversations completely confusing.

~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

Christmas was coming up fast. Things were also growing a bit more hectic in school the closer the holiday break came. Of course the school was brightly decorated in all the themes, even down to the snow on the ground which was not all unusual given how high the school drifted in the sky. Unfortunately the tests increased as teachers attempted to cram as many lessons as possible into students before they went on break.

Warren was one of the few who managed to stay out of the general crush. He actually had Gavin and Crystal to thank for that. Crystal was tutoring him on Chemistry in the free period after lunch. He was actually thankful for the break from hearing the S.S.S. (as he had adopted from the inside joke) talk about what they would be doing with their families on Christmas. It also spared him from having to share.

"That should be carbon."

Drawing his focus back to the chart, he compared the symbol to the one he had written before frowning and changing it. Crystal pulled her hand off the notebook and returned to her own assignment. It was not that she knew the stuff, it was just that she had a way of comprehending and explaining it that helped Warren to understand as well.

"If that requires carbon...why does this next one refer to phosphorus?"

"You're mixing the components up again. We've gone over this twenty times already. Here..."

As they continued, Warren found himself wondering about something. The further into December it was, the more Crystal seemed to be on a short fuse. For a prime example he had not mixed the components up, she had misunderstood. That in itself was odd. Gavin was watching quietly. By this time Warren had begun to interpret that sort of look. So he was not imagining it, Gavin noticed something off about the girl too.

"The last one's simple. See you in class."

Both of them blinked after her when she rose and left. It was very odd and the third time she had done it. Enough was enough. Warren turned to look at Gavin before putting his pencil down.

"Okay, you're her best friend. What's up with her?"

The guy tilted his head slightly which meant he was considering. Finally he nodded. He flipped to a new page in the back of the notebook and began to write. As he did, Warren finished the last question up and pushed his text aside. Gavin's notebook was slid toward him so he could read.

You heard her parents are divorced, right? Her mom ran out on her dad around this time a few years ago. She took everything but the house and what was bolted down--including Crystal. It was a messy divorce. Lasted over a year. Her dad finally won custody of her again but her mother refused to let her go back home until after Christmas. Ruined the entire holiday for her, you know?

Reading that, Warren found himself frowning. So he was not the only one with a past that still hit hard. Maybe that was why he got along so easily with Crystal. Gavin he had figured out he could like because the guy said nothing and minded his own business.

"Yeah, I think I understand. She seemed...preoccupied."

Gavin took the book back to write again. This time Warren slid closer to read while the guy wrote.

Yeah. A lot of shit went on through the divorce. Her mom's a bitch. She had Crystal believing her dad was going to hunt them down, kill her and rape his own daughter. When Crystal started talking to me again about halfway through--on the advice of one of the shrinks her mother forced her to go to--she kind of woke up. That was when she started demanding to go back home to her dad.

"Brainwashing?" Warren was actually too stunned to think of asking anything else. He barely registered Gavin's nod as he stared at the words.

She doesn't talk about it and don't ask her. Just believe that it was seriously fucked up. Especially since her mom called their house last week to demand Crystal visit her this Christmas.

Slowly shaking his head, Warren just sighed. Now that last part was far too familiar for his comfort. His dad had pretty much demanded the same thing; that Warren go spend the day with him in the pen. He did love his dad, really, but it was also a giant sore-spot in his life.

"Tis the season..." he muttered bitterly.
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Ashes to Ashes