If this idea's been done before I apologize. I don't own Lash or anything affiliated with him, but I do own most of the characters in this story. Since I don't know Lash's real name, I made it up. I thought of using Jake, since the actor who played him was Jake Sandvig, but that's been done before, so I made it up completely. Josh Ford is not his real name, I own it.
As The Tables Turn
Chapter One
"Don't you roll those eyes at me young man."
Lash shifted awkwardly in the passenger seat of his mother's black BMW as she stopped at a redlight. Rain drummed insistently on the roof of the car, a constant rhythm that made Lash want to fall asleep -- not to mention he'd spent all night getting a lecture from his old man, keeping him up till one in the morning. It was his mother's turn to lecture him now as she drove him to the new school he'd be attending and he really was not in the mood for it.
"Of all the people to go get themselves thrown in jail and ultimately kicked out of their high school," she continued, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, "I never could have imagined it would've been my own son."
It'd been a year since the incident with Sky High, and just as his mother said, Lash had been completely expelled from school when thrown in jail with Royal Pain and the gang. He'd gotten out only with the help of his father, who knew the best defense attorney ever. A story was made up about Lash being blackmailed to work with Royal Pain, and the jury had fallen for it. Not that he wasn't grateful at all.
But now he had to start over at a new school, a public school for normal people. People without powers.
People. Without. Powers.
It was a nightmare in Lash's mind, and he was dreading it.
"Stop sitting over there like your best friend just died." his mother snapped. "It's your own fault I'm taking you to this new school, your own fault you've ended up in this civilian surrounding." She shook her head. "I cannot believe I had to resort to this. Do you know what your grandmother would say?"
Lash rolled his eyes for about the millionth time that morning, and a sharp smack to the back of his head reminded him of his mother's earlier command. He gave a sigh but said nothing. It was best not to talk to her when she ranted like so. And where did she get off telling him to stop moping? It was almost like his best friend had died. Speed was still in jail because his parents wanted him there; they wanted him to learn his lesson. Without Speed, Lash felt like a nobody. Without Speed, Lash had no friends at all.
"Cannot believe this." his mother repeated. "Do you know how lucky you are that your father wanted you out of jail?" She asked, turning to her son. "I swear to God, Joshua, if you put one toe out of line this year, I will...ohh, I don't know what I'll do yet, but you will highly regret it."
Starting to roll his eyes again, Lash quickly closed them so she wouldn't see. He rested his head back against the headrest, and fingered the strap of his messenger bag which was slung over his legs, the bag secured at his feet. He knew he'd have trouble making new friends, for the mere fact that they were normal people, so a part of him was hoping that he wouldn't make any -- maybe he'd get through the school year quicker without any drama from them.
"Here we are." his mother said grumpily, and she pulled up to a curb.
Lash opened his eyes and peered out the window. On account of him being grounded since being released, his mom had come up here to register him herself and this was the first time he was seeing it. Shady Oaks High School consisted of three brick buildings, the one in the middle larger than the two on either side, and it was so old it looked like it'd been there since the dawn of time. Students littered the grounds, hanging with friends or rushing to get inside, and Lash gave a sigh again. This was going to be a long day.
"And god damnit, Joshua --" she always used his full first name when she was angry, "-- try to remember that you must not use your powers. Do you hear me?"
"Loud and clear, ma." he said dryly, throwing open the door.
"I mean it!" she said as though he didn't believe her. "If I find out you've been stretching one pinky out too far, you will be sorry."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." he replied quickly, climbing out of the car.
"You're to meet me here directly after the bell rings, young man." she said to him as he pulled his bag out with him. "No...hoo-hahing around."
He made a face, scrunching up his nose at her choice of words, and nodded sarcastically before slamming the door shut. "You old hag." he said, before turning and starting for the middle building.
As he neared the double doors, he got many stares, most of them curious, some of them menacing. He made a face at a particularly bulky guy who was giving him the death glare, before disappearing inside. The hallways of Shady Oaks were dark and cool, and like the grounds, littered with students. The floor was made of marble, dark colors mixed together, and the lockers were dark green -- it was much different from Sky High.
With a deep breath, he started for the office, as his mother had told him to do the night before, to pick up his schedule.
"Can I help you?"
The girl sitting behind the secretary's desk looked nothing like a secretary -- in fact she looked to be no older than himself, so as Lash entered the office he was almost a bit confused. Reading the look on his face, she quickly laughed.
"Oh, don't worry, I don't work here." She said -- she had an airy and light way of speaking; a way too bubbly personality that made Lash's insides twist with disgust. "My aunt's the secretary, I'm just watching the desk for her for a moment. But I know everything about her job, so what's up?"
He sighed, and shifted his weight casually. "I'm new here." he said, "My mom came and registered me on Saturday."
"Oh, I hate starting a new school on a Monday." she said conversationally, as she turned towards the computer at the desk. "What's your name?"
"L -- Josh." he said. "Josh Ford."
She quickly typed something into the computer, brow furrowing as she read through stuff, and Lash threw a look around the office, drinking it in. It was a small, cozy kind of room, where there was only the one secretary desk. There was another desk behind it with a telephone on it, and behind that against the wall were the teacher's mailboxes.
"Here we go." the girl's voice knocked him from his observation and he turned back to her. "Joshua C. Ford?" she asked -- there must've been more than one.
"That's the one." he stated as though it were a death sentence, and she clicked on something.
The printer beside the computer stirred to life, and she turned to him as his schedule printed out. Her eyes moved down him briefly before coming back to his face.
"Where are you from?" she questioned.
"Maxville." he answered shortly.
"Why are you all the way in Shady Oaks?" she asked.
"Long story." he said.
She nodded, but didn't seem to take the hint that he didn't want to talk. "What grade are you in?" she asked.
"Eleventh."
She smiled -- her teeth were nearly perfect. "Me too." she said. "I'm Marion by the way; Marion Carter."
He nodded, beginning to bounce impatiently on the balls of his feet, but thankfully (for him), before she could speak again, the door behind the second desk opened, and a rather plump woman came out.
"Oh what's this?" she asked, quickly going to Marion's post -- this was the secretary.
"New student, Rosie." Marion said quickly, "But don't worry; got him all settled." She gracefully plucked the paper from the printer, as she rose from the wheely chair.
"Sometimes I wonder if letting you know everything about the school's database is a good thing." her aunt said, taking the seat when she'd moved. "You're lucky I trust you."
"No, you're lucky I'm so trustworthy." Marion said, coming around the desk with Lash's schedule. "Here we are, Josh." she said, holding it out to him.
He started to thank her quickly, wanting to get the Hell out of dodge, but the bell rang. Shit, there went his tour of the school before class actually started. Marion gestured to the paper Lash held.
"We're in the same first period; Marine Biology." she pointed out. "I could walk with you there -- might make things easier."
He gave a sigh, looking down at his schedule. Sure enough, his schedule said Marine Biology. He looked back up at Marion and finally took her in. Something about this girl screamed, 'I Have No Friends'. Her blond hair was wavy, and slightly messy, falling slightly past her shoulders, and her eyes were a dull green color. She was wearing a button-up sweater with rainbow stripes (which completely belonged in the trash or the thrift store), and a ripped up jean skirt, complete with hot pink pantyhose, and black moon boots. Weird wasn't the word for her.
He gave a reluctant nod. "Yeah, I guess that'd be cool." he said.
She beamed. "Great." she said, "Let's go, Josh."
She started for the office door and he lightly touched her arm. The sweater was itchy against his fingers and he vaguely wondered how on Earth she managed to wear it, and she turned to him, raising a fine-thinned eyebrow.
"Don't call me Josh." he said. "I go by Lash."
She smirked. "That's kinda cute." she said, before bouncing from the office.
With a roll of his eyes, Lash followed. This was going to be a long day, indeed.
You probably hate Marion, but I swear she'll get better. She's not as ditzy and airheaded as she seems. I know this was kind of short, but it's the first OFC fic I've ever written (I mostly stick to slash). Comments?