A/N: Well this is just a silly little story I've decided to write to help alleviate the anger I feel after watching that crappy finale. The point of a season-finale is to answer questions, not create even more! Okay, on with the story! It's basically a Chloe/Alek version of the season finale. Also, Chloe choses to use her brain or her "instincts" and NOT go with Brian to visit his grandmother. Happy Reading!

Chloe sighed in boredom, collecting the scattered piles of clothes and carrying them out of the dressing room. As she began to re-hang the various overpriced items she held back an exhausted yawn. She had been up until two the previous night training with Jasmine and Alek. Since her mother was human and completely unaware of the whole Chloe is Mai and has claws situation they had to wait until she was asleep to sneak Chloe out of the house. Normal teenagers snuck out to go to parties…she snuck out to race across rooftops and spar with her two Mai protectors. And to think, she used to believe the biggest problem that came with being sixteen was saving enough money to get a car. Yeah right. Now she had to worry about random men from The Order pushing her off another building. Oh, and the creepy stalker who was apparently taking pictures of her. Not to mention the fact that if she even kissed a guy they would drop dead at her feet. Life at sixteen wasn't exactly what she had been expecting. The night of her birthday she had gone out searching for adventure and excitement, and boy had she found it.

"Chloe, you don't look so good." Her boss commented, giving the wavy-haired blonde a once-over. "You're practically dead on your feet."

"Yeah, sorry. Late night." Chloe explained lamely, trying to avoid lying to Lana. Ever since Chloe had helped her escape from her controlling ex-boyfriend, the two girls had actually become tentative friends. Definitely not as close as she was with Amy or even Jasmine, but it was a better relationship than they had before…which basically had consisted of Lana scolding her for being late…or for texting…or talking with her friends while she was on her shift.

"Well I hate to be the one to tell you this…but I need you to work late tonight." Lana Jacobs admitted, waiting for the inevitable protests from her employee.

"Okay. Let me just let my mom know I'll be home late." Chloe sighed, pulling out her phone and shooting her mom a quick text. Maybe this would get her out of training for a night. Then she could finally get a decent's night sleep.

Shooting the blonde an impressed look, the dark skinned girl grabbed her purse and reminded Chloe to lock up after her shift, then she was gone. Not long after her boss left, a familiar face entered the vintage shop. Immediately, Chloe knew who it was.

"Hey."

"Hi." Chloe replied quietly, her green eyes darting up to meet his blue ones. The last time she had seen Brian she had been yelling at him to leave. Truth be told, she felt slightly guilty for yelling at the guy. He was going through all sorts of family issues and she was the only person he felt that he could trust. If only he knew how many secrets she was hiding from him. But, he had completely overreacted when he punched Alek. He smiled weakly at her, seeming encouraged by her response.

"I just wanted to apologize." He started, "I was completely out of line the other day. It's just…I thought he was hurting you. And-And it was him."

The young Mai stared at the brunette, biting her bottom lip anxiously. She knew deep inside that she and Brian could never be as close as he wanted. She was surprised that he even still wanted to be her friend after everything she had put him through. She figured he thought she had been leading him on, but truthfully she hadn't meant to. For some reason she had found herself unable to let go of Brian. Maybe it was because he made her feel more normal. More human. Maybe the reason she was so reluctant to let go of him was because she wasn't quite ready to let go of her humanity. But was that selfish of her? Even though she had told him on multiple occasions that they could only be friends she knew he had hope. Hope that one day he would have a chance. And maybe pretending that was possible for a little while longer wasn't so bad. If she sent him away it would be like accepting the fact that she could never have a regular life. That she was different.

"It's okay." She replied, replacing the clothes on the racks. "As long as it never happens again."

"It's a deal." He said eagerly. "Actually I have other news. I found my grandmother's address on the back of one of her old letters. I'm going to drive up there tomorrow."

Chloe stopped what she was doing and gave him her full attention. She knew how important uncovering this mystery was to him. Heck, he had dropped out of college to learn more about his mother's death. And Chloe wanted to be there for him. She really cared about Brian…probably more than she should. "Are you sure that's a good idea? What if it's dangerous?"

"I'm sure I'll be fine." He re-assured her, smiling at her obvious concern for his well-being. "Of course, you could come along to protect me if you want to."

The blonde felt her chest tighten at his words. She bit her tongue to hold back her first instinct, which was to immediately accept. He was her friend, and she was supposed to do whatever she could to help her friends. But then, would this really be what he needed? Was her inability to let go of this friendship hurting more than it was helping? As she took in the hopeful look on his face she was filled with regret. She should have just walked past him when she saw him the morning after he witnessed her and Alek's kiss on her front porch. She should have let him have breakfast with that other girl and not slipped back into his life. They had the option for a clean break…and she messed it up. If she really cared about Brian, wouldn't she free him of his attachment to her? It was dangerous for anyone to be a friend of The Uniter. Was it fair for her to put him in danger without his knowledge? Then she had her answer.

"Brian I don't think-"

"Oh no, it's okay I get it. You don't have to say it."

"Actually I think I do." She contradicted sadly, her voice firm. "I don't know how to say this, but…I'm not looking for a relationship. I have a lot of stuff going on in my personal life and the last thing I need is to add boy drama to that. So, while I really care about you I think it would be best if we didn't see each other for awhile."

"How long is awhile?" He asked, his face devoid of it's previous cheerfulness.

"For however long it takes for us to be able to just be friends." She replied firmly, feeling her breath catch at the wounded look that spread across his handsome face. She knew this would hurt him, but it still was painful to see how badly her words stung him.

"I'm not sure that's possible. I can never be just friends with you Chloe King, I lo-"

"Just stop, please." She interrupted, colored eyes burning with unshed tears. "I can't do this. I'm sorry."

"Fine. I'll leave." He replied brokenly, his eyes filled with betrayal. "I don't understand you Chloe. When we first met you seemed so interested, then the next day you decide we can only be friends? It's that blonde guy isn't it? You're choosing him."

"What do you want me to say?" She questioned softly. "That I chose him over you? Is that what you want me to say?"

"It would sure make a hell of a lot of sense." He spat angrily before running a hand through his unkempt hair. " You know what, never mind. It doesn't even matter. Goodbye Chloe, I hope he makes you happy."

Cat-like green eyes watched the man leave before tears spilled down pale cheeks. There, it was done. He was free. She ran the back of her hand across her face, chasing away the tears. Then, she felt a lightness in her chest. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She felt like Atlas did after Hercules relieved him from carrying the weight of the world on his back. She no longer had to worry about the danger she was putting him in. She no longer had to avoid Alek's calls when she was with "her human". Well, he wasn't hers anymore. And she wasn't sure he was ever really "hers". Resolutely, she dialed Jasmine's number. It was time she started taking her duties as The Uniter more seriously.

A/N: Leave a review and I'll send a preview of the next chapter! Thanks for reading!