(Jax's POV)

I drove down the soaked streets quickly, trying hard to get Andi back to my house before she got hypothermia. Every so often I'd glance back at her just to make sure she was okay. Oh, come on, A voice in my head said. You know damn good and well that she's fine. You like her! I pursed my lips, considering if my thoughts were right. I do not like her! Just because I'm worried about my homeless friend doesn't mean I like her! Another voice retorted. You've been frenemies since you two met; you aren't friends. The way I see it, you're finally starting to realized that Emma isn't who you're looking for. You only dated her because your dad made you. When it boils down to it, Emma is a good girl who gets good grades, does good things, and uses her powers for good. You're a bad boy who gets bad grades, does bad things, and uses his powers for bad. Emma is tight and stuck up when Andi's been there the whole time, crazy, fun-loving personality on overdrive. She'd never turn you down if you asked to skip school to go have some fun. They say opposites attract, but this isn't a cliché romance novel. The good girl isn't going to fall for the fucked up bad boy. It's time you payed attention to who really cares. And who you really care about. I felt my stomach twist into a knot. Was the voice in my head right? Was Andi really the one for me? I shook my head, trying to clear those heinous thoughts from my head.

"What am I thinking? Me and Andi? Pffft. We'd kill each other in minutes," I said to myself. I tried to feel secure, but even I didn't believe what I was saying was true.

I felt relief wash over me as I saw the familiar houses on my street. My house was one of many on the edge of a wide road lined with homes. I lived with my aunt and uncle for obvious reasons. They could be a little uptight, but they were good people. I parked my bike in the garage and picked Andi up bridal style, carrying her inside. I walked toward the bathroom when my aunt stopped me.

"Jax Novoa, what have we said about using your powers to hurt people? We can't keep hiding the bodies in the basement and mind-wiping them." I rolled my eyes.

"Aunt Caitlyn, I didn't hurt anyone with my powers. This is my friend, Andi. She's homeless. Her mom kicked her ou-"

"Oh no, we are not housing a hobo. Take that heathen back outside! And why is it wearing your jacket!?" she retorted, cutting me off.

"She's not a hobo! Her mom kicked her out and she had to get a job at Walmart! I found her crying in the rain! I'm helping her! She's wearing my jacket because she was soaking wet and cold. And most importantly, "it" is a she!"

"My goodness, why didn't you just say she got kicked out? The poor darling can stay as long as she wants!" I took the wet bags off Andi's arms and walked her to the bathroom. I sat her down and shook her arm gently, trying to be kind. She groaned and opened her eyes. They immediately widened as she surveyed her surroundings. She looked like a deer in headlights as she jerked back and forth.

"Where am I?" she cried frantically. I tried to calm her down, but it seemed like she was still half asleep, trapped in a nightmare. I tried to wake her up by calling her name and shaking her, but she kept jerking around and yelling.

"Get away from me!" she screamed, scrambling backwards until her back was against the shower door. "I'm sorry, it was an accident, Mom!" I slowly walked forward, listening worriedly as her cries got more and more distraught. He eyes were now shut tightly as she cowered down in fear. I knelt down and wrapped my arms around her, gently stroking her hair until she calmed down and settled back into sleep. I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding in and tried once more to wake her up.

"Andi, get up. I brought you back to my house." Something I said must have caught her in her sleep, as she almost instantly began to stir. She stretched her arms, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"What?" she asked groggily.

"I brought you back to my house, you're staying here for a while." Suddenly, she was up like a light.

"What!? There's no way I'm staying with you, Jax!" she retorted.

"Why not, Andi? Why? Why would you rather be alone, cold, and tear covered on a roadside bench than in my house?"

"Because I hate you!"

"Why do you hate me? What have I ever done to you?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe tried to destroy the magic realm? Or seducing my best friend for your own selfish reasons? Or maybe, just maybe, tricking me to give you the Hexoren? A lot of things, Jax. And that's not even counting the fact that I hate your personality. Remember what I said to you right after you drove me to school?"

I clenched my jaw tightly. Adrenaline and fury rushed through me, but I willed it away. I had to be careful with this or else I'd ruin the entire friendship I'd been trying to kindle. "Andi, I know I've made some bad choices involving powers in the past, but that doesn't mean you can just run away from me. Either stay with me or freeze on the streets"

She pursed her lips and looked down. "Fine, but I'm going to need some clothes. My backpack's waterproof, but my duffel isn't."

I nodded. "I'll get my aunt to throw your stuff in the dryer, be right back." I rushed upstairs, searching my dresser for clothes she'd actually fit in. I grabbed a pair of blue boxer briefs and the smallest shirt I could find. I zoomed back downstairs, unzipping Andi's duffel bag and pulling all he wet clothes out. A soggy cardboard box was at the bottom, but I ignored it. I left the ball of laundry on the counter.

"Aunt Caitlyn, could you throw Andi's clothes in the dryer?" I called.

"Of course, dear," came the reply. I re-entered the bathroom, handing Andi the clothes and a towel. She looked down at the shirt and underwear with a raised eyebrow.

"That's the best I could do," I said before she could say anything. I stepped out, shutting the bathroom door behind myself to give her privacy.

"Tell Andi where my room is once she comes out," I said to my aunt as she turned on the dryer.

"Okay, but no funny business! I know what happens when teenage boys and teenage girls get together alone!" I rolled my eyes and laughed, glad that everything was finally normal again. I walked up the stairs to my room, changing my wet clothes with a spell and laying back on my bed. I let out a long, content sigh, waiting for Andi. I stared at the blue walls for a while before I closed my eyes and relaxed, sinking into the soft mattress.

I looked up when I heard the click of the door handle and suddenly felt like the breath was knocked right out of my lungs. Andi's hair was wet, but brushed nicely and a few loose strands hung over the shoulders of the white t-shirt. The shirt I'd given her was long enough to serve as a nightgown. I couldn't help but admire her.

However, I got a funny feeling in the back of my chest as I gave her a once-over. Sure, I had gawked at girls before, but usually I'd be the kind of pervert who'd be staring up and down her exposed legs. (I mean, it's not every day you see a girl without pants on.) But for some reason, I found myself staring at her face. Her bright eyes that held hints of pain and betrayal and the huge smile that split her face. The way her hair fell perfectly and how everything about her was just so aesthetically pleasing. The voices were right. I like Andi.

"Hey, Jax. What's up?" she asked, her grin widening. I didn't know what caused her sudden change in mood, but I decided not to ask.

"N-nothing. Just hanging." She sat down on my bed, throwing her backpack on the floor.

"Cool room," she said, looking around at my computer desk, dresser covered in Halo Mega Bloks, stereo system/entertainment center, XBox One, mounted TV, and everything else in my awesome room. I watched as she grabbed the TV remote, turning it on to Nickelodeon. She then pulled out a ratty old 4th Gen iPod from her bag. I glanced over at it, watching as she pressed the power button and slapped it several times, trying to get it to turn on. I pitied her, so I discreetly cast a spell, transforming it into a brand new 5th Gen one with a fancy green and black case. She turned to me and trapped me in a huge huge that left me breathless for a couple of different reasons. I smirked slightly, watching each of her movements.

As she moved around in my big t-shirt, the cloth shifted and I noticed a nasty red scar running from her back over her shoulder. Accompanying it was a red and black scar circle that I soon recognized as a cigarette burn. I stared at her shoulder with horror. Who would ever blemish her perfect skin like that? And why hadn't Andi ever mentioned it if somebody was abusing her? Come on, Jax. Look at this logically. She easily could've fallen on a cigarette. And a steak knife. Or a whip. I thought. I am looking at this logically! There's no way that was an accident!

I decided that I had to do something. I slowly moved my hand toward her shoulder. I took a deep breath and ran my hand over her scar tissue.

I felt my stomach lurch from the feeling of the burnt flesh. From the sudden feeling on her sensitive wounds, Andi yelped and jumped out of bed.

"What are you doing!?" she yelled. I stood up, stepping over to her. I pulled the shirt sleeve down.

"Andi…." I murmured sadly. "Who did this to you?"

"I…. Jax... I-I, um, fell?" she replied. It couldn't have been more obvious she was lying.

"Andi." Came my gruff reply. This whole business was making my stomach turn. Somebody was hurting Andi…. and she was letting them. She glanced left and right and then to the bedroom door as if she was looking for a way to escape. I was about to lock the door when she dashed out it, speeding down the hall.

I quickly followed her out, but I couldn't seem to find her. I asked my aunt if she had gone downstairs but she had simply shaken her head. I was about to give up when I heard a choked sob come from within our upstairs bathroom. I cast a spell to unlock it, barging in to see Andi sitting on the floor with her back against the wall and her face buried between her bent kneecaps.

"Andi…." I said again. She jerked up in surprise and I felt my heart break a little seeing her tear-stained cheeks.

"Jax! W-what are you d-doing here?"

"You know why I'm here."

"I can't tell you, Jax, you wouldn't understand… You've got it easy, a family that loves you and cares about you. Spells and money to do whatever you want… It isn't easy living like I do, Jax!" I felt a pang of hurt as she spoke. She had no idea. I knew what that was like. Once my mom died, my dad acted like a tyrant. Beating me around and giving me cigarette burns that he automatically healed so the council wouldn't find out. I knew what it was like. I knew well.

"Tell me what's happening, Andi. I care about you and your well-being. I know that it sometimes feels like nobody's there for you, but I'm right here with open arms. I've been through hell; I know what you're going through. Talk to me," I stared into her eyes I spoke straight from the heart.

"Can we go back to your room first?" she said, clearly about to break. I picked her up, carrying her back to my room and gently laying her on the bed. I settled in behind her, resting my arms across her. She changed the channel on the TV to the Spongebob Movie, trying to stall.

"You gonna talk?" I asked quietly.

"It- it's…. my…..-m-mom….." she replied, her voice merely a whisper. As the words floated to my ears, I had a sudden flashback and realization. The way she screamed 'I'm sorry, Mom' when she had a nightmare, the fact that she was on the streets rather than at home, everything. Her mom was abusing her. And I was pissed off. I sat up, balling my fists.

"I'm going to go kill that woman," I growled. Andi suddenly curled into a ball, looking depressed.

"She…. ki-kicked me out…. Because of a stupid fight…. I'm so useless…." she said, quivering. I leaned down next to her, pulling her into my chest and staring into her defeated eyes.

"You aren't useless! You're smart, funny, and talented. You'll never be useless, you're the greatest person I know!" I replied, hoping she'd believe me.

"No, I'm not! I'm awful! I get terrible grades and never pay attention in class, I'm only funny when I'm aggressive, and the only thing I'm talented at is being destructive and pissing people off!" By this point she was sitting up, her back to my pillows. I wasn't sure what I was feeling, but I knew I didn't approve of this self-bashing. My words didn't seem to be getting through to her. She was convinced.

"I've never had a boyfriend because everyone turns to the sweet, kind, good-girl Emma instead of me! I'm an ass to my friends, I cry when I'm supposed to be strong, and my whole being is just one giant cliché! I'm just a piece of junk to everyone!" That was it, I'd heard enough. I had to stop this. "I don't know why I even both-" I cut her off by pressing my lips to hers. I saw her eyes shoot open is shock, but I stayed true to my course. I pushed her backwards so she was laying against my pillows and I was on top of her. My hands slowly massaged her back and her arms traveled along my neck as we kissed, our motions perfectly in sync. I felt her heart beating out of her chest as I pushed myself against her in the most passionate kiss I had ever experienced. I put my whole heart in that one action, focusing all my attention on here. I'm not sure how long we laid there, making out as Spongebob and Patrick sang about being men in the background.

Once I had kissed her until my lips hurt and my lungs were empty, I pulled away, panting for breath.

"Andi, you mean more to me than anyone in the world. Don't you forget that." She looked as if she was in a daze, a blissful look plastered to her thoroughly kissed face. She turned toward me, smiling wide.

"Now let's finish watching this movie," I said. He grin grew, which only made me happier. I wrapped my arms around her thin frame and settled in, content that everything was finally at peace.

Review Replies

(Chapter 9)ProfessionalInterneter- It's okay if you're late, as long as you review. But wait, aren't you a Jemma shipper? And you're talking about the Jandi feels? That means I'm succeeding in my master plan! I mean, thanks!

(Chapter 10)ProfessionalInterneter- Yes, the Jandi is picking up indeed. Also, that poem tho! That was adorable, hilarious, corny, pervy, and everything I want from a reviewer. I always thought you were cool, but now I know you're awesome!

(Chapter 10)NeonLights14- Ah yes. Thanks for reviewing!

(Chapter 10)Guest- Yeah, I never thought I would either. XD

(Chapter 10)Mercedez-benz- You're welcome, I love it when you review. Also, now that you mention it, I think I'm gonna make a fic like that at some point. :)

(Chapter 10)Guest- You like the story? You think I'm awesome? Ahh, compliments from strangers. XD

(Chapter 10)Guest- Aww, I love the little touch of Arabic. Thank you, international reader!

(Chapter 10)Guest- Aw, I'm touched. :)

(Chapter 10)Guest- Jeez, here's your chapter! Pushy. XD

(Chapter 10)Guest- Yes, it is cute, isn't it?

(Chapter 10)Guest- Hiiii right back at you! :)