Disclaimer: Nothing. I own nothing. If I did, Kid Flash and Artemis would have stayed, and Jaime and Wonder Girl would've been around from the first series.

Jaime sloped miserably through the school gates, his ankle hurting, even though his mom put ice on it. He guessed that was an advantage to having a mom that new how to deal with injuries; he didn't have to put up with awkward questions from doctors. Except the time when he's had to go in for a broken wrist, and they'd seen all the bruises. That'd put Jaime on the 'alert' list in the doctor's mind, he was almost certain.

"Hey, look!" Crowed Benito San Rio, who stepped in front of Jaime, overshadowing the smaller boy. His thick friends, Pedro and Chucho. Jaime bit back a groan of annoyance. Why, why, why? Why was it that he got the abusive step-dad? Why was it that he was the one bullied? Why did his mom not see what was happening? And why did it have to be him that found the stupid scarab? Instead of, say, some complete stranger.

Trust me, you weren't my first choice either, said the scarab, annoyingly.

"Gee, thanks. Then why did you choose me?" Asked Jaime, successfully annoyed. He'd somehow forgotten about Benito and co., who were staring at him.

"Uh…¿Que?" Asked Pedro, unsurely. Jaime ignored him. Or just wasn't focused. It's anyone's guess.

"Are we missing something here?" Wondered Benito aloud.

I was forced to choose you because you were the only available human at the time! Scarab was also ignoring the bullies, which was unlike him, as he'd usually be giving Jaime about a million ways to kill them.

"Well, couldn't you have been patient?" Whined Jaime, missing the seriously freaked out looks he was receiving from people. "Couldn't you have waited for the right person?"

No! Said the scarab, that may've shut me down completely. As it is I'm fortunate you came along in time!

"Way to change your tune," growled Jaime.

"Dios mio!" Yelled Benito, giving Jaime a seriously worried look, breaking the scarab and his human host away from their bickering.

"He's definitely schizo!"

"Or just loco. Loco bicho raro!"

The boys ran off, leaving Jaime staring after them, hurt.

He sighed and turned, seeing Carlos and Louisa pointing and whispering about how much of a loco bicho raro he was. Their (numerous) friends sniggered, but Jaime was used to this. He shouldered his back pack and walked on. But then he saw Milagro, staring at him fearfully.

"Desaparecer! Loco bicho raro!" She yelped, taking hurried steps back. And then she added, in a whisper, "I hate you."

Milagro turned and ran, leaving Jaime to just stand there, shell shocked. He honestly couldn't believe his little sister had just said that to him. He wasn't surprised at Carlos or Louisa, no, but that didn't matter so much, they hadn't grown up together, weren't family. But Milagro? She and Jaime had always been close, much closer than other siblings. It had always been them and mom, up until two years ago when Jose came into the picture. And he never hurt Milagro, he treated her as any dad should. Likewise with Carlos and Louisa. And he was always nice enough to Jaime's mom. It was just Jaime he hated, Jaime he'd singled out to be his personal punching bag, Jaime's life he'd chosen to make miserable.

But anyway, Jaime slowly turned and ran away, ignoring the laughter and jeers from the other kids. He stole a skate board from the bike shed and went as fast as he could home, bumping into people and almost getting killed by rolling out in front of a moving vehicle twice.

When he got home, he crept around the back of the house and climbed up the trellis to his window. As always, it was open (it was very hot at times) so Jaime just opened it further and slipped silently inside.

He dumped his books quietly on his bed, smiling grimly. Carlos may be strong and fast and clever etcetera, etcetera, but Jaime could be quiet and secretive. Treading softly (Jose and Jaime's mom were downstairs), Jaime packed another change of clothes, his mobile, his switch blade (a gift from his late father), a tooth brush and tooth paste (he had to be careful creeping to the bathroom), before tip toeing downstairs. His mom was watching TV with Jose, so they were out of sight from the kitchen. As fast as he could, Jaime packed as much food as he could. Only stuff that would last; crisps, chocolate bars, two bottles of water, and a pack of biscuits, and with his experience of food thievery (he often skipped dinner since Jose came, and he had to eat something, the scarab nagged at him incessantly until he did), he managed to do it as silently as possible.

Jaime quickly wrote out a note to his mom, saying sorry, stole a picture of him, Milagro, and his mom before Jose had come. Then, with a flash of satisfaction, Jaime stole Jose's wallet, and ran through the front door, out into the big wide world, with no idea of where to go.

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