Rachel Feldman is literally the only character that belongs to me.

Sometimes as people grow older, they grow apart. Such is the case with the Cybersquad.

One of the biggest 'growing up' realizations Inez ever had was that by Junior High Cyberspace and Motherboard was the only thing keeping their little group together. Matt and Jackie both skyrocketed into popularity after Matt joined the track team and Jackie started helping out in the Fashion Club while Inez was...Inez. She just stayed the way she had been at age nine with a few minor changes by age 12. At some point Matt and Jackie started dating and that was a big factor in the continued deterioration of the relationship.

The second biggest 'growing up' realization at around 15 was that they had nothing in common any more by high school. Motherboard hadn't called on them for three years at that point and life had settled into a had his friends and activities (track and field, school paper) , Jackie had her friends and clubs (fashion club, yearbook committee, and a lot of other things Inez couldn't remember) and Inez had her things (Debate club, mathaletes) and her friend: Rachel.

Inez had known Rachel for years but they were never close friends until the end of Middle School after 'The Incident' with Jackie and Matt. Rachel lived in the same apartment complex as Inez, had always attended the same schools, and was only a day older than Inez. Rachel was a puzzle to Inez and everybody else because she seemed to be a massive walking contradiction: Rachel was highly logical but was horrible at most forms of math, she was kind but deeply sarcastic with a dry side to her humor, she had a good imagination but was also firmly grounded in reality, and she was a pacifist that would punch somebody's lights out if they hurt her friends.

This was kind of hysterical since Rachel was tiny. Inez had a growth spurt and was 5'3 but Rachel was 4 ft 9 inches tall. People were constantly tripping over her or knocking into her in spite of that fact she was a flaming red head and wore brightly colored patterned shirts (her favorite was a light orange gingham top and dark blue jeans.)

The point is that, because of 'The Incident' being busy with other things,and new friends, Inez did not really talk to Matt or Jackie anymore. Any time they did talk it was kind of...no REALLY awkward.

Like right now

The setting: Matt and Jackie are coming back early from a party. Inez and Rachel are coming back from a debate at the community center across the city. The time is 11:00 pm. Nobody else is on the subway except a weird lady at the far end who keeps talking to something in her carpet bag and feeding it dried crickets.

Both parties are sitting across from each other as far away from the lady as they can get.

Inez cleared her throat "So...how have you guys been?"

Matt and Jackie looked at her as if she was speaking a foreign language.

She tried again "Its been awhile huh?"

Silence.

Inez glared at them "What, you're too good to talk to me?"

Matt took out his earbuds and mentioned for Jackie to do the same, "What was that? Sorry we thought you were talking to Rachel."

"Oh! Um...How have you guys been?"

Matt shrugged "I've been better. The team lost the last race we had but we'll be ready next time."

"I'm sure you will" Inez looked at Jackie "How are you doing?"

The African-American girl replied shortly "Fine. Thanks for asking."

"Did I do something to you?"

"I don't know Nezzie DID you?"

Inez bit back an 'don't call me nezzie'. It was not worth it and it wouldn't help the relationship with Matt or Jackie. Matt was being friendly right now but the fact was that since 'The Incident' the relationship between all three had been extremely rocky. Matt was probably being friendly because they had a long ride until their stop and would have to see each other in school the next day. It was easier to let it slide.

However Jackie did not seem to get the underlying message "What? You won't even defend yourself?"

Matt warned "Jackie..."

"No Matt! I want her to own up for what she did!"

At this point, Inez felt her temper rise "What I did?! What about what YOU did Jackie?! What about that?! You HUMILIATED me!"

"It was just a joke!"

"It. Wasn't. FUNNY!"

By this point they were both standing and holding onto the pivoted grab handles while shouting at each other. Matt interjected "Look, I'm dating Jackie now, it was THREE damn years ago can't you two just-"

They ignored him "I couldn't show my face! I had to switch schools for the final year of Junior High!"

"You didn't have to do what you did!"

"I was DEFENDING myself!"

The lady shrieked "QUIET!"

The teenagers looked over at her in shock.

The lady hissed "You are upsetting Mr. Giggles" She continued to feed the bag crickets and cooed "Are you a good boy Mr. Giggles?"

The bag CACKLED in response.

"Yes you are!" She glared at them "Be silent or I'll see if Mr. Giggles enjoys human tongues!"

The girls sat down glaring at each other while giving the woman wary glances.

After a long silence, Rachel spoke for the first time "Okay, I'm going to be the Switzerland to your America and Germany since Matt is definitely NOT a neutral unbiased party in this-"

Matt interrupted with an incredulous look on his face, "And you are?"

She ignored him "Inez, Jackie should not have hurt you BUT you should not have hurt her in return. No matter how much she really deserved it. Instead you BOTH should have hurt Matt since this is all his fault anyway."

Matt snapped "Excuse me Feldman but its NOT my fault! I never encouraged any of this, I was simply LIVING MY LIFE-"

He paused and stared at something at the far end of the subway "Is that what I think it is?"

All four of the teens looked and saw a purple disk floating in midair.

Jackie said flatly "I'm dreaming. That's what this is. There is NO way-"

The lady chirped cheerfully "There's your ride home Mr. Giggles! See I told you that it would show up again!"

She opened her bag and a cacklefruit jumped out and hopped towards the disk and through it after stopping to hiss at the teenagers.

The lady closed her eyes and dropped off to sleep.

Matt ran towards it and was pulled in "I'd rather do this then what we're doing right now! SEE YA!"

Jackie followed him "Matt!"

Inez raced after them "Guys, we have school tomorro-OH CRAP I FORGOT THIS SUCKS YOU IN!"

Rachel watched Matt and Jackie in shock but snapped out of it when Inez was sucked in "Inez?" She walked up to it and was immediately sucked in as well before the disk vanished with a 'blip' noise and all was silent except for the snoring of the lady and the noise of the subway on the rails.