Okay, I've never updated twice in a day before but here I am. AGAIN. I had a writer's block in the last chapter. Well, not really a writer's block but I didn't really know how to write it. While this one is the exact opposite! It's shorter than the last one but hopefully, you'll enjoy it so PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter 10: It Doesn't Add Up

"Wow, what happened to your hair?" Jason asked as he sat beside her in their Spanish class.

Cassie looked up from her notebook, where she was doodling. It was Wednesday already and she hadn't seen Jason since that Friday night because he was sick on Monday and Tuesday, "I just wanted to change it a bit." She said sheepishly, "Don't worry; I'll change it back to blonde soon enough. But what do you think? Love or loath?"

Jason looked at her weirdly before putting on a bright smile and gave her a soft peck on the lips, "Love, for sure."

When Mr. Esteller came in the room, he gave the students his usual bright smile and then handed them their corrected exams that they took on Monday. Jason didn't get anything from the teacher since he wasn't there on Monday but Mr. Esteller stopped in front of Cassie with a huge grin on his face, "Cassie, I'm very impressed with your work." The muscular, bald man said, "Keep up the good work." He handed her the paper before moving on to the next student.

As soon as Cassie laid her eyes on her grade, she was smiling proudly. Jason peeked over her shoulder and saw the red writing that said: 94.

He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed tight, which felt slightly awkward for Cassie, remembering the warmth that Jaime gave out whenever he did that, "Good job, sweetheart." And he kissed her on the cheek quickly.

Cassie shrugged him off before Mr. Esteller was able to catch them, "Thanks." She smiled after she finally got him off, "Jaime helped me a bit this weekend."

And then fire seemed to be burning inside Jason's eyes. He didn't look sweet or smart or calm and cool, the way he always was but he looked furious, like if he was ready to break his desk in half. "Jaime?" he asked with a bitter tone, "You still hang out with him?"

His girlfriend nodded, "Well, not in a while really but then I was with him this weekend and thought, 'hey, he could help me out in Spanish'. You know, since he's bilingual and all." She said as if it weren't that big of a deal, which to her, really wasn't. But seeing him like that, listening to his scary, sour tone of his voice terrified her.

Jason forced a heavy sigh, "Well next time, just tell me whenever you hang out with him, okay?" he asked, his voice still bitter but more calm.

But this time, it was Cassie's turn to be pissed, "What? So now I have to tell you who I hang out with? Where I go?" she snapped furiously, "You might be my boyfriend but it doesn't mean you have to know whatever I'm doing every second of the day."

"Look Cassie, I'm just trying to protect you." He said, his bitterness wasn't there anymore but she could pretty much feel his arrogance in the air.

"From what?" she cried out, loud but not loud enough for the teacher to hear from the other side of the room.

Jason seemed baffled at her argument, "From what? From him, Cassie!" Him, he said it like if the word was a disease.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she said, holding onto the sides of her chair, careful as to not bend it.

Jason let out a sigh, "Nothing." He muttered as he faced the board, "Forget I said anything."

Cassie was on the floor, laughing and giggling like a maniac while Jaime's hands were on her sides, tickling her. Cassie was kneeling on the floor really, almost hugging herself, trying to block all of Jaime's attacks, as she liked to call them but laughter was pretty much one of her weaknesses. She couldn't stop laughing that she could barely feel her muscles, her lungs were exhausted, as if they were tired of breathing, yet it felt great. To her, it felt like she was flying, which she could do by herself but differently. It was like she didn't even need to try. He was making her laugh. And it made her feel like she was floating in mid air.

Her whole body twitched as he tickled her on the neck, "Say it!" she could barely hear Jaime say over her laughter.

"No!" she had to force herself to yell as the tickles were becoming unbearable.

Jaime stopped what he was doing. Then, Cassie felt arms wrap around her waist, pulling her off the ground and onto the green couch. She was now kneeling on the couch, forcing her eyes close. And then the tickling started all over again, "Just admit it!" Jaime said, not letting her get to the floor a second time, "You would never have that grade if I didn't help you!" Cassie wasn't able to contact Jaime on Wednesday so she had to wait until Thursday to tell him the good news about her grade.

Cassie's back was to Jaime but she could just feel his proud and annoying smirk, "Never!" she cried out, laughing and smiling all the same.

"Fine," he said, "you asked for it." And then the tickling become more ticklish, if that was even possible.

Her back arched instinctively and then Jaime's hands weren't on her anymore and then she dropped. Her back landed on the couch, her head was suddenly on Jaime's lap. But she didn't really care, by then, she was still laughing, her eyes closed facing the ceiling.

Jaime looked down at her, pleased. When she finally opened her eyes again, it was like if her eyes were the ones laughing, making him feel warm inside. "Are you ready for round two, Blondie?" he cackled.

Cassie put her hands in front of her, she was still giggling. "No!" she cried out, "No! Please!"

"Then say it! Say that you had a good grade thanks to me!" he said proudly.

She was smile was beaming; "Fine!" she gave up, after what felt like forever, "I got a good grade because of my awesome friend named…Garfield!"

Jaime was tickling her again, "Liar!" he cried out and Cassie was laughing like crazy again, "Or else I seriously will not stop, Cassie!"

Somehow, Cassie was able to sit up and face him, "Okay, okay! I'll say it!" she finally told him, "Jaime Reyes is the whole reason I got a good grade in my Spanish quiz!" she exhaled quickly, "Are you happy now?"

He nodded approvingly, "Very." He said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Thanks." That's when Cassie leaned forward and kissed Jaime on the cheek.

When she pulled back, they were both burning red.

Cassie felt her chest tighten, not in a bad way, but in an exciting way that made her insides twist. She felt embarrassed, yes, but she also felt like a weight just floated off of her shoulders. Like if it was something right, or something she'd been meaning to do. She didn't but it was like she did at the same time.

"Th―that was for helping me out." She was finally able to say.

Jaime was still red, like her, but shrugged as if it was nothing but really, he could still feel her soft lips against his skin, "No problem."

Cassie was kneeling on the couch, trying not to make any eye contact. They sat like that for a few moments, just dying of embarrassment, yet still longing for that single moment, until Cassie interrupted the thoughts, "I thought you weren't going to call me that anymore?" her voice was so sudden, Jaime almost jumped out of his skin.

He was still thinking about the small peck on the cheek when she spoke up and surprised him so much he only had time to say one thing, "What?" he said.

"I thought you weren't going to call me 'Blondie' anymore." She repeated, more precisely now, "I'm not blond anymore, if you haven't noticed." She strand of her hair and playfully shook it in front of Jaime's eyes.

He shook his head, as if he was daydreaming and looked at her in the eye, "Oh, yeah." He lost his cool that he had not even five minutes ago and was rubbing the back of his neck, "It's not like you were born a brunette. Inside you're still blond."

Cassie raised an eyebrow at that, "Does that mean I'm stupid?" she said as she put hands on her hips.

"No! I just meant that your hair's naturally blond, that's all." He said, "It doesn't mean you're stupid at all―"

She put her hands on his shoulders to make him stop talking, "It's okay, Jaime. I was just messing with that brain of yours." Her right index finger was on his forehead and she put a slight pressure on it.

Jaime couldn't help but smile at her. "Damn, this girl really wants to get tickled today." And Cassie made a run for it, leaving her shoes behind. And Jaime was right on her tracks.

Cassie was flying already, took a look back behind her, Jaime was running after her but wasn't using his armor. She made a right turn to the training room but the doors didn't open fast enough and right after she entered the room, Jaime's hands were around her waist again, lifting her and making her turn. He was holding her life someone would hold a teddy bear when they were scared or just wanted to feel their soft fur. They were turning together and Cassie was laughing with joy.

Jaime was still holding onto Cassie when they finally stopped turning, they realized the whole Team was in the training room for what looked like a briefing. Every one of them was staring at the two of them. Jaime quickly let go of Cassie, who almost tripped at the sudden lack of balance.

Nightwing was looking at them seriously, which was off since if that ever happened, he normally would be dying of laughter. That alarmed Cassie, "What's wrong, Nightwing?" she asked, taking a few steps forward, Jaime following her.

The leader turned around and popped up picture of a girl. More specifically, a dead girl with black bangs and a light beige skin tone.

"Alicia Jones, 15 years old. She was found dead yesterday evening in Los Angeles." Nightwing said, "She had blue eyes and was killed when she was on her way to buy flowers because her mother asked her to at the last minute. She was stabbed in the heart."

Superboy crossed his arms, "And why is this case an interest to us?" he asked.

"It's related to the serial killer isn't it?" Robin asked before Nightwing could respond, and the leader nodded.

By that time, Cassie was already shaking, completely forgetting that not even 5 minutes ago, she was laughing and dying of embarrassment from kissing Jaime on the cheek. She felt an arm around her, warm and familiar. Jaime. She took a step closer to him, laying her head in between his shoulder and chest. Cassie felt his arms tighten around her and then rubbing her arm reassuringly, it made her feel better, but she had never felt so terrified in her life, even after she battled countless of super powered villains.

This time it was Batgirl who spoke up, "But didn't he kill blond girls?"

Nightwing nodded, "And that's why we decided to dye Cassie's hair black." He explained, "And just a few days after she gets black hair, the killer so happens to change his M.O. That's no coincidence." He said and then he turned to Cassie, "I think he's targeting Cassie."

Nobody spoke for what felt like forever. Jaime could pretty much feel how uncomfortable Cassie was, so he was the one to speak, "But wouldn't he know that those girls aren't Cassie?" he asked.

"Exactly, and that's what's bothering me." Nightwing said, "It's pretty obvious this guy is a pro, at least it looks like it but even an amateur murderer would at least check that he got the right victim, and failing four times? It's just not possible."

"This is confusing." Beast Boy said.

Nightwing was facing, like he always did when he was nervous or thinking, "This doesn't add up."

And all Cassie wanted to do was to curl up in her bed, having Jaime's arm around her again and cry.

What do you guys think? Do you guys know who the killer is? Do you know why? Tell me if you like and PLEASE REVIEW!