PJ sat on the roof, tears flowing down her face. Stupid Wyatt, Stupid Dad, Stupid hearing. All of it was causing pain to rain down on her life, and she was freaking sick of it.
Chris leaned out the window. His cousin rarely went up to the roof anymore, because of the danger. She only came up when she needed to be away from whatever it was or she was going to kill someone, and he, as the cousin that was pretty much her brother these days (formalities were rarely touched upon in 2026) it was his job to get whatever it was out of her mouth.
He climbed up and stuck his head above the roof, keeping the rest of his body standing on the railing and one hand free. "PJ, can I come up?"
PJ shrugged. "Can I stop you?"
Chris pulled his whole body up and sat on the edge of the roof. PJ collapsed into him. He hugged her close.
She looked up with her deep brown eyes at Chris's face. She pulled a hand free. "Why does everyone hate me so much?"
"PJ," Chris sighed. "Not everyone hates you,"
"Oh yeah?" she laughed bitterly. "Certainly seems like it. Wyatt killed Mom and Coop, and Payton barely even remembers her, so he obviously hates me, and he's supposed to be family! He made me give up my whole life, Chris! And the elder's hate me, because they're the ones who gave me that stupid 'your powers are conflicting' crap. And now everyone in the resistance thinks I'm a ticking time bomb! Everyone doesn't hate me my pale white ass,"
Chris smiled. "I don't hate you, and Payton and Parker don't hate you. Your dad didn't hate you, neither did your mom or Uncle Coop,"
PJ rolled her eyes. "Dad doesn't count, he's dead. Mom and Coop don't count, they're dead too. Payton and Parker are my sisters, of course they don't hate me, we can't. We're the best chance of having a second generation power of three. And you…." PJ struggled to think of a reason why Chris was sticking around and Wyatt wasn't, but suddenly she was drawing a blank.
"And why don't I hate you, PJ?" Chris asked triumphantly.
"Because…uh….we understand each other?" she tried.
Chris hugged her, then turned back so she could see his hand. "PJ, not everyone hates you, they just don't understand that some demons aren't necessarily evil, just like how Wyatt is evil. In fact, I wanted to ask you something,"
"Alright, what?" PJ asked.
"You know I'm going back to save Wyatt,"
"Yeah, I know. It's our only chance," PJ didn't want Chris to leave. While technically he was a few months younger than her, he always felt like an older brother instead of a younger cousin, ever since they were little.
"Will you lead the resistance for me while I'm gone?"
PJ stared a moment, then laughed. "Ok, Chris. Enough with the practical jokes. I can't even here a demon shimmering in behind me and I'm a ticking bomb. Why would you want me to lead the resistance?"
"Because," Chris said, his eyes fierce. "You're the best demon fighter I know, your capable of defending yourself and others, and your smart. You're the best for this, PJ,"
PJ stared at him a moment. "This isn't a joke?"
"No," Chris said, "Why would I do that to you?"
"Alright," she said. "If the others will follow me, I'll lead the resistance for you,"
And the two cousins shook hands and hugged on it, not knowing that it was one of the last few hugs they would share in the dark future.
