Well, I'd like to thank:

midnightshadowwings, aviator301/The Aviator, MetalMyersJason, maxtwin15, Jacky06, IGGY n' FANG FAN, redfeatherz, avikar, Bellaness, I-LIVE-4-MAX-RIDE-AND-TWILIGHT, kaylormonkey, Griffon's Flight

Thanks all of you! I love you all!

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Sasha awoke on the beach, laying on top of someone with their arm wrapped securely around her waist with her head on their shoulder. The person's chest was hard, muscled and warmly comforting. With a soft groan, Sasha's eyes fluttered open. She shot to her feet, screaming. Nick jumped awake and looked up at her from the ground.

"Wow, Sasha, what was that for?" he muttered.

Sasha glared at him. "You were—I was—Never mind!" she choked, realizing he had no idea of what position they had been in- the position that she found had been oddly comforting and, well, really, really nice.

The memories of the lab hit her suddenly. "Whoa, what happened back at the lab? I blacked out after you…. After you punched that guy…" she trailed off as Nick got to his feet.

He looked at her as if it was no big deal. "Yeah, I punched him. He deserved it for what they did to you." He broke out in a grin. "And he'll be hurting for a week."

Sasha sighed and shook her head. "What did they do to you?" she asked.

The grin was wiped from his face. He sighed and knelt down again, showing her the scratch. There was nothing there. No scar. No nothing. "It's gone." He said, standing up again.

Sasha stared at him. "They did something to us, didn't they?" she glanced fleetingly out onto the vast ocean. "Something's different. Those shots hurt a lot and I know they did something." Her voice increased as she spoke.

Nick stuck his hands in his pockets. He'd gone through something at the lab that Sasha hadn't, and he wasn't about to explain it.

"Sasha, I should take you home. The sun is setting and the whole school must be looking for us. Where do you live?" he asked.

"Somewhere along this beach. Let's keep walking." Sasha said, turning in one direction along the water.

The two walked in an awkward silence for a minute until Nick, unexpectedly, broke the silence. "You're acting a lot different now than at school." He said softly.

Sasha's head snapped to him, then back at the white dotted sand. "I can rarely be myself around some people." She murmured softly, barely able to be heard above the waves crashing, "But if I want friends, I have to be different sometimes. There are few people I know who understand that. I don't act like myself so often now that I'm almost becoming that other person." Her voice was sad and quiet.

"I know how you feel." Nick spoke, matching her soft tone.

"I don't know what it is, but I feel like I can talk to you. I never see you talk to anyone at school. Why?" she looked up at him.

He looked back at her and with a sigh broke away from the gaze. You're different, he thought. "It's a long story. It's not one you need to know."

There was a long pause.

"I think we'll be getting to know each other well, Nick. You may not want me around, but I can't do this alone. And I need to tell you that I'm really scared right now." She was beginning to sound desperate.

"I know."

She looked immediately relieved. "Good. Thanks, Nick."

They turned to each other, a realization dawning on them.

The ice was broken now.

Nick and Sasha were friends.

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Yay! More coming soon, maybe even tomorrow! I know this chapter was short, sorry! Please review! A 'Hello' is even loved!