A/N: IMPORTANT: This is shameless self advertising but I'm writing a new Maximum Ride fic. It's (mostly) canon, post- FANG, and features a measly two OCs. Here's the summary, 1st person:

Yo. I'm Ic. That's right, laugh it up. With (almost) nothing but $97, Oreos, and a chain-smoker Aussie boy, I'm taking off to find my Mom's longlost best friend. Oh and maybe prove he's my Dad. Wanna come along for the ride? Rated T.

Yah?

To be honest I didn't like Aline in this one. I feel like I made her too slutty .-. Oh well. This chapter is actually almost deserving of its T rating :P

Disclaimer: I don't own.

The answer was unkind.

It was unkind of me to yell to Mathias. Then again, it was unkind of Nico to try and kill me. I mean: the dark, chilling thing when I was flying, a mineral found only in Hades? How obvious did he want to make it that he wanted me gone?

"Are you sure you're okay? I'm sorry," Mat said. His glasses didn't hide the hurt in his eyes or his voice.

"No. I'm not okay. But I'd be much less okay if it weren't for you. In fact..." I glanced around and saw we'd pretty much been left alone. Then, I did something very stupid. I put a hand on Mathias's shoulder, pulled him down to my height, and kissed him.

He tasted like powered donuts. But it was little more than me pressing my mouth to his and him doing nothing. I had a terrifying thought that he had a girlfriend and I was totally on somebody else's territory. He just didn't give off 'I have a girlfriend' vibes! I let him go and stepped away already streaming 'sorry's.

"It's okay," he interrupted during the twenty fourth 'sorry', "Unexpected but okay," He ran a hand through his hair, "Let's let Alexis finish damage control and get you out of that gear."

I nodded but he refused to meet my eyes.

"I really am sorry. I don't know what I was thinking."

We stood inside the storage shed- alone- trying to get me out of the equipment.

"When you fell or when you... kissed me?" Mat grunted as he pulled my unfortunately lifesaving helmet off. Really, if it hadn't done its job I would be a lot less embarrassed right now. I also wouldn't feel compelled to do what I was about to.

"Both," I said, answering his previously unanswered question. I sighed to myself but went on, "Why didn't kiss me back?"

"Huh?" Mat had his back to me but I could see blush creeping up his neck.

"You didn't kiss me back," I said slowly, inching closer to him, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No."

"Do you not like me like that?"

"No."

"Is it just because you weren't expecting it?"

He said 'no' like it pained him.

"Okay. Then why?"

"No reason."

"Of course there's a reason," I said, perhaps a bit too exasperated, "I'm learning there's always a reason. What's yours?"

"Can we just go?" Mat headed for the door but I stepped in front of it, crossing my arms.

"You blush," I accused.

"What?" Mat said, reaching for the handle.

"You blush," I repeated patiently, grabbing his hand, "You stutter. You hide. You don't want to go close. You dream, you get breathless, you stare. I know how it looks. I know how feels."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Mat scoffed. He tried for the door handle again and I captured his other hand.

"You like him."

Mat makes a noise like a cornered animal, "I don't-"

"Then tell me why. It's not that hard," he didn't say anything, just kept staring at the ground like it would give him the answers to my questions.

"So how long have you liked him?"

"I don't like him-"

"Quit lyi-"

"I love him."

Three words that were like a blow to the stomach. I let Mathias go and stepped back, wrapping my arms around me.

" 'And isn't that ironic... it figures'," I said, half to myself.

"What does that mean?" Mat asked just as quietly. He fell in step with me as I began to pace the shed.

"I mean it's ironic, duh! I knew what you were going to say and I really hoped I was wrong. Except for the first time I'm right! I wonder what else I'll be right about. It's ironic because I was getting out of a rut. I'd cleared my head and I was falling for the right guy and then I find out he's all wrong!"

It took me a second to realize Mathias was no longer in step with me. He was standing, a porcelain statue, staring at the floor.

"Wrong?" he echoed, "Is that how you feel about it?"

"What? No. No!" I cried, desperately trying to backtrack, "I don't think it's wrong at all! I don't care! I-"

"I've gotten used to people saying that. I just didn't think you would. I thought you were better."

"I am! I'm just upset. Gosh, you're just so perfect in your own way and I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm getting that," he said, a corner of his mouth twitching up, " You know- or I guess you don't know- but it's hard to tell people. You don;t know how they'll react. But I put up with it. 'Cause if life gives you melons..."

"...you're probably dyslexic?" I said finishing the gaff.

"Something like that," the corner of his mouth settled, up, "No one else, besides Thalia knows. Some assume, like Sara. Don't tell. And if it makes you feel better: you're, if I could, the girl I'd fall for," he sighed, like flute that keep in air too long, "I've got to think. I should go and you should too."

He brushed past me, still leaving stupid, hopeless shivers. I stayed in the shed, suddenly cold. A single bulb winked over head, like it was using Morris code to say: y-o-u-r-e a-n i-d-i-o-t, over and over. I switched it off and left. The first person I met that evening was the cause of all my problems.

"Sorry," I muttered for the twenty-eighth time that day, as I bumped into someone. I looked up to meet obsidian eyes and looked and looked.

"You," I sneered.

"Me," Nico agreed.

"I absolutely hate you! It's all your fault!"

"Um okay. I wanted to see if you were alright. Elizabeth told me about your fall. I was worried about you."

"Of course you were! And I wanted Shaant Hacikyan to cut his hair. No, better yet I own the TARDIS! Of course you were worried!"

"I... was?"

"Look, just get out of my way. I have places to be an a shallow grave is not one of them."

"What are you going on about, Aline?" Nico demanded, no longer quiet and 'caring'. He said my name a way, too. Rougher. Not like he meant it to be sweet, in another 's' word way. Like he could control me. What felt like ages ago Thalia had told me that names had power. Nico had a terrible and hopefully unknown power over me. In reality I shook my head in disgust at myself.

"I'm going on about how, because of you, I lost who could have been my best friend here. I fell off the rock wall and I fell for Mathias!"

Nico raised an eyebrow, "Isn't he-"

"Gay? Yes! And aren't you evil?" I pushed Nico and walked away. I was absolutely seething inside. Still, he caught up with me with ease.

"I'm not evil."

"Go lie to another girl," I muttered, though somehow the thought of him with another girl stung.

"Aline," he said again. And the power started working. He didn't grab my shoulder or my hand but wrapped his arms around my waist. I was trapped, surrounded completely by him. I couldn't breathe out, only in, and I breathed in earth and chocolate. Nico was hard, not soft muscle at all, and his hands were cold where my shirt had ridden up up. Why did I want to cry and die? Why did I want to grab him and kiss him?

"I'm not evil," it didn't sound like he was lying. Really, "It's just-"

"You're not good," we said at the same time. But which one of us was right?

Scary? Snotty? Stubborn? Smexy? The possibilities are endless. As for 'names have power', I'll give you a hint: The most powerful player in the game of Aline's life, hasn't yet been named.

Did you hear (read) that line '...there's always a reason'? And about Mat... I've changed my plea: Got a problem? Get the f*ck out, kthnxbai Shaant Hacikyan is from Cute Is What We Aim For (thank you, Emmmmaaaa).

And if you want to see what Mat's perfect lips looks like: http: /www. youtube. com/watch?v=uBtH2YlNiNc&feature =channel . It's minutes 1:02- 1:07 ;) I mean REALLY! Have you ever SEEN Brendon Urie's mouth! Squee! Haha. Ha.

Mmm.