Jace stared at Jordyn, "Why?" His tone was filled with his disapproval.

"Because Kylle, of all people, wants to check up on your progress in the next few days," Jordyn sighed, "and I don't want him getting mad at you."

Jarvis smiled, "Let him warm up to the idea." Kids can be seriously stubborn about stuff they don't want to do. "At least he asked for your reason," Jarvis laughed.

"Why wouldn't I?" Jace asked indignantly.

"I'm just saying that you just strait out tell him no," Jarvis smirked, "The situation could always be worse."

"You're extremely positive," Jace muttered.

"I don't see that as a bad thing," Jarvis shrugged, "It just means that the little things won't get me down."

"Positivity is something most people learn," Jordyn added.

"Oh," Jace sighed. Kylle wants to check up on my progress? Why? Last I checked he didn't care about me. "Why is Kylle checking up on me when Mom's the one that wanted me to do this?" Jace's voice held a bit more spite then he had intended.

Jordyn shrugged, "Because he wants to see you be able to use weapons. I have no idea. It's just what he told me last night."

Jace growled. So by doing this I'd be showing my worth to him. Great, I don't want him to like me anyway. Jace sat stubbornly on the ground, "I won't do it."

Jarvis laughed, "You really remind me of my sister."

"That's great," Jace snapped.

Jarvis started laughing more, "You know reminding someone of someone else does not mean that they see you as that person."

Jace's eyes widened in surprise, "Wait? What?"

"It was written all over your attitude," Jarvis smiled, "You don't need to be able to read people's minds to be able to read their thoughts."

Jace blinked before shaking his head, "Okay, whatever."

"And there you go sounding like Danya," Jordyn sighed, "At least give it some thought. I don't want you getting in trouble."

Jace nodded. I don't want to do it. He watched Jordyn and Jarvis spar. The two of them were evenly matched and never beat each other. I don't understand why they bother. Neither of them will ever come out on top. Jace lied on his back and stared at the sky. He put his hands behind his head. What if the voices I'm hearing in my head are actually in everyone else's heads and I

"Let's take a break," Jarvis said just as Jace was starting to doze off. Jace sat up and stared at them, "You look tired."

"You looked half asleep just a second ago," Jordyn commented lightly.

Jace rolled his eyes, "I was thinking."

"Last I checked you don't look half asleep when you think."

"Shut up," Jace muttered, "So what? I had been thinking and that wasn't filling the time."

"So you dozed off but remained awake enough to pay attention to what's going on around you," Jordyn sighed.

Jace shrugged.

"Do you ever sleep?" Jarvis asked.

"Sometimes," Jace shrugged.

"More like never," Jordyn corrected.

"I do too sleep!"

"C'mon," Jordyn sighed, "I think we should head back."

Jace nodded. He walked ahead on the way home.

"How'd it go?" Kylle asked the moment they walked in. Jace ignored him and walked up to his room.

"It was fine," Jordyn answered vaguely.

Jace flopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, "What if the 'voices' are just the thoughts running through everyone else's heads? That would certainly explain why they look at me the way they do." Then again I could just be confusing myself…or aggrandizing myself. Either one. Jace chuckled to himself.

"Jace!"

Jace sighed at the sound of his name, "I'm asleep." He rolled onto his side so his back was facing the door. Actually no. I'll just close my eyes that way they'll think I'm asleep. He rolled over so he was facing his bedroom door and closed his eyes. Of course actually falling asleep might be a good idea. Then again I'd really rather not. There was a knock on his bedroom door, "Jace." Jace stiffened. I'm asleep, Mom. I'm asleep.

"Jace," the door opened.

Jace did his best to keep his breathing regular though he could feel her gaze. You are making me really uncomfortable. Could you please just go away now?

"Are you asleep?" She asked in surprise.

No, but that's beside the point. Jace resisted the urge to growl as his shoulder began to itch. You just had to itch now didn't you? I'm trying to convince Mom that I'm asleep and my shoulder starts to itch.

"Jace?"

Jace's jaw clenched. Just go already so I can deal with my shoulder!

"You really are asleep. I'll just let you sleep then."

Jace sighed in relief and opened his eyes as the door closed behind her. That was terrible. Now naturally my shoulder doesn't itch anymore. I wonder when Kylle will "check on my progress". Jace sat up and looked out the window, "I wonder how much trouble I'll be in."

The next day Kylle accompanied them.

Jace's eyes widened, "What? But you said a few days!"

"I changed my mind," Kylle shrugged, "Is that a problem?"

Jace studied the ground, "No."

"Okay then."

"This is Jarvis," Jordyn introduced his pink haired friend.

Kylle nodded.

Jace sat against Jarvis' favorite tree.

"C'mon, that's my tree," Jarvis said playfully.

Jace shrugged indifferently, "Okay."

"Well?" Kylle glanced at him expectantly.

"What?" Jace asked. The slightest hint of defiance glinted in his eyes.

Jarvis sighed, "Oh boy." He sat down next to Jace, against the tree.

"Aren't you going to do anything?" Kylle asked.

Jace shook his head, "No. Why would I?"

Kylle's eyes narrowed, "You haven't been doing anything, have you?"

"And if I haven't been doing anything?" Jace asked.

Jarvis bit his lip, "I really don't feel like this is going well."

Jace glanced at him.

"So you aren't putting any effort into being able to defend yourself and those close to you?" Kylle asked.

Jace stared at him, "Uh…"

Jordyn stepped back in shock. Wait what?

"That is the reason people learn to wield and use weapons," Kylle's tone became cold, "It is the reason people learn to fight. Imagine if one of your younger sisters was in danger, what then? If you can't fight then you can't protect them." His eyes narrowed, "And your sharp tongue might just get you or your family killed."

Jace remained silent. His gaze shifted to the ground. That's not fair. It's not that I don't want to protect them. I just—

"Well? Are you going to continue to waste your time being defiant and cursing your mother or are you actually going to put effort into it?" Kylle asked.

Jace clenched his fists.

"Or are you just a burden to your family?"

Jace gritted his teeth. Shut up. Just shut up!

"Are you going to let them protect you or are you going to do your part to protect them?" Are you really that worthless?

Jarvis watched uneasily.

Jace bit his tongue. If I say anything then I'll just get ripped into further. He really doesn't care.

"Well? Are you going to answer me?"

"It's obvious that he gets it alright?" Jordyn intervened, "There was no need to say half of those things to him."

Jace stood up and wandered off.

Jarvis watched worriedly, "I really hope he doesn't do anything stupid."