Here's my new chapter! Yahoo! Oh, wait that's a search engine XD

Anyways, this chapter has links to drawings! I wanted to show the drawings the characters made. Just copy these drawings into your browsers address bar and remove the spaces. The story-format document doesn't like website links. Sorry!!

There will be more drawings later one.

Zane - That's actually a good idea.

Me - Thanks! Hey, wait!

Please review!


"Hey, Niko! Look!" Niko watched as Jaden ran up to where she was sitting on a bench. She sighed, closed her sketchbook, and put it aside. She straightened her Capris and her jacket.

"Watcha need?" she asked. She had a small smile on her face, and her hand was resting on her sketchbook. She held a pencil between the fingers of that hand. Jaden stopped running and held out his sketchbook. Niko leaned forward. Her smile widened to a full-blown grin.

(Here's the drawing of Chazz. cyberdragondancer. deviantart. com/art/Does-Chazz-Care-At-All-95539116)

"Awesome drawing, Jay!" Jaden smiled even wider. His eyes fell on Niko's sketchbook. He looked at her knowingly.

"Still not done yet?" It was more of a statement than a question. Niko chuckled nervously as Chumley ran up to them. He actually ran. Seriously.

"Guys, you have to hurry!" His statement was shaky, his breath coming in heaves. "You have to help!" Niko stopped any other train of thought, and stood. Her things were already tucked into her bag, and the strap of her book bag was across her chest.

"What's wrong?" Jaden's voice was a few notches louder than when he had addressed Niko. Chumley gestured behind him, still short of breath.

"It's Syrus."


They ran as fast as they could. Chumley had explained in three-word sentences that Syrus was by the Obelisk dorms, and was currently being beaten to a blue and red pulp.

Niko felt a jab in her side. She looked down as she continued to run, but saw nothing. Syrus' pain was carrying over.

Niko sprinted.

She halted outside the Obelisk boys' dorm. She saw exactly what she'd never wanted to think about in her life...

Syrus was curled into a ball, while two Obelisks continued to kick him in the sides. He covered his head with both hands, trying to curl back into himself.

Jaden and Chumley had finally caught up. Niko didn't notice, or didn't really care.

She could see Zane and Alexis talking to Crowler, completely ignoring the scene. Her blood boiled, and her head throbbed. She stormed forward, ignoring Jaden's and Chumley's warnings.

She walked up to the Obelisk with the blue buzz cut. She shoved him, getting his attention.

When he turned towards her completely, she grabbed him by his collar, and threw him against the nearest wall. Suddenly the surrounding area was quiet. Now the scene was interesting. Niko could hear Crowler muttering.

The Obelisk's feet were clear off the ground. Niko had ignored the fact she was a good three inches shorter than him. She heard Alexis saying something to Zane, but ignored that as well. She happened to be very good at ignoring things.

"What the hell's your problem?" The Obelisk yelled as best he could. Niko's hold on him was beginning to choke him. She glared at him. He squeaked when he saw her eyes change from amethyst to ash grey. She leaned in close, not blinking.

"You won't touch him, or any other Slifer on this campus, unless you want to have an untimely end. Got it?" He glared at her. Niko lifted him higher off the ground. He began to squeal out an apology. She dropped him rather roughly.

Niko calmly took a step back, and turned around. She knelt by Syrus, who was crying softly. She rubbed his back and touched his shoulder gently.

Zane watched as she helped Syrus up. She also made sure that Chumley and Jaden were able to support him as he tried to walk. The other Obelisk, whom Niko hadn't bothered with, began muttering something.

Niko spun around, and swinging from her hip, punched him in the nose, knocking his glasses off his face, and messing up his shoulder length wavy teal hair. He fell to the ground. Niko stood over him, with a leg on either side of him. She glared down at him.

"Say something intelligent now," she spat after a solid 10 seconds.

Niko turned away, walking with Chumley, Jaden, and Syrus to the infirmary.


The four Slifers stumbled into the infirmary. Ms. Fontaine looked up from the patient she was attending to. She looked alarmed and hurried over.

"My goodness, what happened?" She ushered Syrus over to a bed. He sat down stiffly. Chumley and Jaden sat down near him, but Niko stood a small distance away. She paced only slightly, and kept her arms folded against her chest. The patient whom Ms. Fontaine had been attending to watched the group from where he sat.

The patient waited for Ms. Fontaine to leave to get more bandages. He stood up, and walked over. Niko watched him for a moment, but rolled her eyes when she saw who it was.

"Woah, Sy. What in the heck happened to you?" Atticus looked Syrus up and down, taking in his bruised appearance. Syrus shook his head slightly. His face still had faint tear stains. Chumley looked at Atticus from the chair he sat in.

"He was cornered by two Obelisks," Chumley said. "They were saying something about how he needed to stay away." Niko watched the group, her eyes still an ash grey. She stood next to Atticus.

"They weren't in charge." Everyone gave her funny looks. She pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "They weren't the ones who planned to beat you up," she elaborated. "They were just hit men." Syrus fidgeted uncomfortably. Niko kept her gaze steady.

"What did they say to you, Syrus?" He continued to squirm, despite his injured condition. Niko narrowed her eyes. "Syrus?" Her voice had an edge to it.

"They told me to stay away from Obelisks like Alexis, that she didn't want to be bothered by me." Niko's eyes widened. Her brain put the pieces together.

She walked over to a chair, and collapsed into it, laughing hysterically. She placed a hand over her face. Everyone looked just as confused as before. She sighed, taking a breath.

"Chazz thinks that you're drawing Alexis," she explained, "and there's no doubt that he's jealous. So he wants to make sure that you aren't able to draw her." Jaden looked from her to Syrus and back.

"But Syrus is drawing Jasmine." Niko burst into giggles when he stated the obvious again. She sighed, and stood.

"Oh, now I feel a little better. Now I'm really going to enjoy kicking Chazz's ass, and maybe Zane and Crowler's, too." Syrus frowned at the statement.

"But how do you know it was Chazz? And what did Zane and Crowler do?" Syrus asked. Niko crossed her arms again, but mostly because she didn't want them hanging at her sides.

"Those were Chazz's flunkies and Jasmine is a friend of Alexis. He thinks you were looking at Alexis, not at her friend. As for Zane and Crowler, it's mostly because they didn't do anything at all." She frowned again. Atticus smirked.

"But I thought you liked Zane. I don't think beating him up would help your relationship." Niko shrieked at his comment and tried to tackle him, just as Ms. Fontaine came in.

"Niko! Atticus is injured! You need to leave him alone, or leave the infirmary!" Niko settled down, and everyone watched as Syrus was bandaged and cleaned up.


The four Slifers and the Obelisk walked down the walkway. Niko turned to Atticus.

"Why were you in the infirmary anyways?" Atticus rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment as he laughed sheepishly.

"Well, you see...On the beach, my fangirls-" Niko raised her hand, cutting him off. She eyed him suspiciously.

"You were putting on a surfing show and you flopped. Your fangirls were worried and Ms. Fontaine just 'happened' to be there." Atticus nodded. He seemed a bit shocked at how Niko knew that. Niko shook her head at his expression.

"Your fangirls are the only thing predictable about you." Atticus sighed and folded his hands behind his head, happily taking in a breath of the fresh air. He turned to Niko.

"Seriously, though. When are you going to admit you like Zane?" Niko's face turned bright scarlet, almost matching her Slifer uniform. She glared indignantly.

"For the last time, I DON'T like him, especially after today." Chumley frowned. He tapped Niko's shoulder, getting her attention.

"He's the one who told me to come and get you." Niko blanked. She thought for a moment.

Still blank. Atticus laughed at her expression.

"I think we finally stumped her." She glared at Atticus, her ash grey eyes still filled with confusion. She shook her head in disbelief. Chumley nodded.

"I'm dead serious Niko." He raised his right hand. "I swear that if I'm lying, I'll never eat a grilled cheese sandwich again." Niko sighed. Atticus eyed her bag. He looked her in the eyes.

"Hey, did you finish your drawing?" Niko shook her head. Atticus grinned. "I bet you did," he said in a singsong way. He grabbed her bag, and pulled out the sketchbook. Jaden and Chumley held Niko back by her arms. Atticus stopped, wide-eyed, as he stared at the page. He turned to Niko.

"Good grief, Niko," he said. "How in the heck do you do that?" He handed the sketchbook to Syrus. He held it out so Chumley and Jaden could see it. Their eyes widened.

(Here's the drawing of Zane. cyberdragondancer. deviantart. com/art/Zane-Chooses-Distance-95487462)

"Wow. I think you captured his essence," Syrus said. Niko rolled her eyes.

"What, with the small glare?" Syrus nodded. Jaden turned to Niko.

"Good job on the eyes." Niko nodded with understanding and gratitude. She smiled happily. She looked at all her friends.

"Thanks guys." Chumley and Jaden let her go and they all walked back to the Slifer cafeteria. After all, does Atticus seem like the type to be picky about his food?


Tell me what you think, drawings included. Constructive criticism is welcome.

Zane - You never take criticism well.

Me - Sure I do!

Bastion - Technically he was just criticizing you now, and you didn't take that well.

Me - (O-o) Now that's a paradox.

Jaden - What's a paradox?

Me - Nevermind.

Please review!