[[Author's Note: I'm usually a stickler for continuity and pointing out approximately the time a story I'm writing changes from established continuity. But once in a while I want to tell a story so bad that it defies my interest in figuring this stuff out. If you're a stickler like I usually am, I apologize and hope you find something to like anyway. We're a while after Xavin's departure and the Malibu house wasn't destroyed as it was in the comics.

If you are a Runaways fan like I am, you can check out my work on YouTube under the name HalfwayBeret, I'm directing an adaption on volume one right now.

For anyone who may object to this as a story idea, I would like you to know I already have all the details planned out and will not be changing them. I encourage you to see this through to the end. Of course, if it's my writing and stuff like that that turns you off, well by all means, leave when you feel like it.]]

…

I try not to think of myself as a stupid person. If I stay in that frame of mind too long, it feels really hard to come back out. I have and still do stupid things. I should have known Nico didn't feel the same way. I should have known Alex was planning something. And maybe I should have seen from a million miles away the kinds of people my parents really were. I do stupid things when I'm honest, I do stupid things when I'm faking. And the thing I was standing there and lingering over was somehow both.

It had been six months since the invasion. Six months since Xavin left for me. Every one of my emotions jerks back and forth since then. How did I really feel about her? How much was honesty and how much was confirming for a greater good? And did I miss those little moments of normality? I thought months ago I hated it when we went out in public and hated it when I had to play pretend… I wish I could say for sure it was a we and not an I.

I was always sure I hated it. And yet here I was, wrestling with myself to knock on his door and just have another shot at playing pretend again. I wasn't going to lie. Not to him. I'd hate myself forever if I led him on.

Knock knock knock.

I waited, holding my breath for some response. When a minute or two passed, I nearly rushed back to my bedroom to try and forget I ever considered something like this. File it away with the other pointless, stupid thoughts I've had before. But given just a little more time, the door creaked open and Chase, naked besides his boxers, gave me a look with his tired, baggy eyes.

"Kar…? The hell are you doing up?" He asked with a yawn. "It's… The clock is facing the other way, so I dunno. But it's late."

"Can I come in for a sec?" I asked.

Chase blinked twice and took a look at the reptilian beast sleeping near his bed before he motioned I cross through. "Yeah. Okay. What's up?"

I crossed straight to his bed and took a seat, looking up at him as he turned on the lamp at his bedside table. "… I wanted to ask for a favor, Chase."

"You mean other than requesting I answer the door?" He picked up his alarm clock and referring to it. "3:22 AM. There we have it."

"Chase… I need help with something… I've been… I've been really lonely lately."

"Uhh… Okay…?" He said, raising an eyebrow.

"And more than that the universe just likes to keep treating me like it's dog toy," I continued, holding my fingers to my forehead. "My parents were killers, they stuck me an arranged marriage, I honestly can't figure out how much I even liked her and now she's gone… I was comparing my symptoms with signs of bipolarity before any of this crap started, and now I just don't know what to make of anything."

"Yeah, well you're not alone," Chase said, sitting on bed thereafter and sighing. "Universe likes to dick around with me too."

"The thing is Chase, I've been thinking about it. About feeling lonely and all that stuff. And about how I used to… Still kind of… Fell about Nico. Knowing deep down she'd never think about me the way I did her, but wishing she'd just pretend."

"I'm trying my hardest to follow you right now Karolina, but-"

"But I'm not going to ask her to compromise… So I wondered if maybe just I should compromise for a little while."

Chase was definitely offput by this. To my surprise, he seemed to understand exactly what I was talking about. "Karolina, listen, I like you as a friend and all-"

"I'm not asking you to change me," I said quickly. "You don't even have to change you. But I need a break already! I need to escape, even if I have to come back later. The same way anyone else our age needs to get away from report cards and picking a college to go to or whatever. I can't bring my parents back to life as decent people, I can't will Xavin back and no matter how long I keep the bracelet on, I can't quit being an alien."

"So why do you think you can quit being gay?"

"Maybe I can't. But I can pretend for a little while. Maybe." I said.

"Kar… I meant it when I said I liked you-"

"You remember how hard you used to try and impress me every year since you quit trying to make me and Nico eat worms? Since you first grew up? Before all this happened, before we were looking death in the face with the Gibbo-whatever, you kept trying to get me to notice you."

"Yeah. And that was also before Gert." Chase said with an exacerbated sigh. "I've already spent too long trying to make things go back to the way they were. I'm not going to play house with you on this one Kar… No matter how much fun that sounds. Besides, I know that's not you."

"Well they say everyone's a little gay, you know," I pointed out. "Couldn't I be a little-" He cut me off with that serious look he sometimes gets. I nodded sadly and pushed up from his bed, quietly saying, "No. You're right. It's a stupid idea. Thanks for being honest, Chase." And letting out a sigh. Heading back for bed alone again.

…

I was awoken a while later by the sound of pounding on my bedroom door. With a yawn of my own I opened it, part of me wanting to be naïve enough to believe it would be anyone else. But of course it wasn't. Not at just after five in the morning.

"Chase?" He'd pulled on a worn down old t-shirt for his trip down the hall.

"I couldn't get back to sleep after you left… I hate to admit it, but I'm really feeling lonely these days too."

He opened his arms and I walked into them, feeling him wrap tight around me a moment later. Somehow it wasn't the same kind of warmth as Xavin, but it felt good anyway.

"So… You pretending you like this?"

"I don't need to pretend to like a hug, Chase."

"But you're going to pretend to like the rest?"

"Sure," I said. "Pretending is fun sometimes."