Doc code 1278803-4576a

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Entry 25--

"Sorry we can't stick around for dinner, but Arno's got a test coming up, and I have an essay due tomorrow… plus, I haven't exactly researched it yet," Thaal said, grinning sheepishly. "I'll probably be pulling an all-nighter as it is."

"I see," I said, glancing up from one of the omnicoms Arno had packed into the duffel bag. "So this wouldn't have anything to do with your desire to avoid Cselia's father?"

"A-avoid… Now then… hey…You…" Thaal scowled. "You're the Coluan! You're the one who should be worried!"

"Then why on earth are you worried?" I asked.

"Um, mainly because Cselia and I aren't always on the best terms, and her dad is… in a word, highly overprotective."

"That's two words, not a word," I pointed out, shaking my head slightly.

"Yeah, whatever, the point is, the combination of him being overprotective and you being a Coluan will most likely result in an explosive confrontation."

"It takes two reactionary components to create an explosion," I said quietly.

"Yeah, well, technically speaking, all her dad would need to explode is seeing those dots on your forehead," Thaal grumbled.

"I am still at a loss," I said, setting the Omnicom down and looking at Thaal. "Why does her father dislike Coluans?"

"That's a good question," Thaal said. "I have no idea."

"I am experiencing difficulty in understanding why he would dislike Coluans. Actually, I am having difficulty even imagining how he came to know Coluans in the first place."

"You don't have to know someone to dislike them," Thaal said.

"How is that possible? It is illogical to simply decide to dislike someone without any first-hand knowledge," I said.

"Yeah, but it happens all the time," Thaal said. "Anyway, I've got to go. Hope you have fun tonight."

"I doubt it," I said.

"Yeah, me too," Thaal said. "But one can always hope…"

"Hope what? That you'll actually pay attention in chemistry? No, maybe I'll stick to hoping you stay awake," Cselia said, poking her head into the room.

"Do you always just barge in on people?" Thaal demanded irritably. "What if he'd been getting dressed?"

"Then he probably would have kicked you out, or at least locked the door," Cselia replied snootily. "Now, Arno's sitting downstairs looking all forlorn and forgotten, so you two had better head off. And Querl, you and I are going to dinner now!" She didn't seem to be very worried about her father's dislike of Coluans, and it heartened me, though only slightly.

"I hope your dad is in a good mood tonight," Thaal said.

"Oh, well, if he isn't, that's his fault," Cselia replied. "Now come on, Querl. Thaal, Arno's probably wasting away down there, especially since he can smell the food cooking but you insisted on going back to--"

"Fine, fine," Thaal grumbled. "I'm going. Bye, Brainy."

"Good-bye," I said, waving once as he left.

"Come on," Cselia said, grinning, "I'm starving."

"Will Jonis be joining us?" I asked, following her out of the room.

She paused. "No," she said after a moment, "He takes dinner in his room."

"Oh," I said, wondering why he would wish to stay alone in his room.

"Anyway, let's go," Cselia said. "We wouldn't want to be late. Bye, Arno!" she shouted down the stairs, waving at the large artist.

"Bye Cselia, bye Querl!" Arno said, waving over his shoulder.

"Bye," I replied, waving also.

A/N: ha! I finally updated again! I'm at a library, and I am not only taking advantage of their wifi, but their comic books also! (I found two "Supergirl and the Legion of Super Heroes" comics... yay!)

Well, comic books and a bunch of regular books too... however, at the moment I'm sitting by the comics on a beanbag chair and I couldn't be comfier... unless I had chocolate... hmm...

Anyway, I am absolutely extatic about all the reviews I've been getting. Thanks again, everyone!!!! I'll keep writing... I think I've beaten my writer's block, and I'm really close to finishing this fic... because I'm writing a sequel. This one was getting a bit long... Anyway, sorry I lied, but the sequel is when Brainy actually re-joins the legion... At least, that's what I think. Thaal might not agree... I think he wants Brainy to get back sooner than my schedule allows... Anyway, stay tuned!

PS: Sorry this is such a filler chapter... the next one was too long to combine with this...