A/N: Get ready for a long-ass chapter! I'm so excited for the next one :D Thanks again for the reviews and readings!

After a night of catching up on my non-Heylin homework from friday and getting a bit of fitful sleep, I was ready as ever to get back to good old trash heap high.

As I rummaged through my heaps of clothing, a nagging frustration crept into my mind.

Why is everything I own so damn impractical?

Disdainfully I picked up a delicate cream colored sweater that, only a month ago, I had absolutely adored.

Now, it seemed, my only thought regarding clothing was how well it would hold up if Chase popped in to screw with my life. I could just picture the look on his face if I tried to roundhouse kick him in a mini skirt or too-tight jeans.

Finally, I decided on a pair of comfortable jeans, a tight black turtleneck, and a worn in pair of black combat boots.

My hair pulled back in a sloppy bun, I ran to the bathroom and got washed up, opting out of my usual cosmetic applications. Makeup was certainly not impervious to a run in with either the xiaolin or heylin.

I took my hair down, shook it out, and turned to see the finished product in the full length mirror behind me.

As soon as my eyes took in my reflection, I froze. Wild hair, tight black turtleneck, combat boots... the only thing missing was Chase's patented smirk and some bronze armor.

There were only a few minutes left before the bus came, but there was no way I'd risk looking like Chase Young's mini-me.

I grabbed the first shirt I saw in my room -oddly enough, the cream sweater- and swapped it for my turtleneck.

I was pulling off the boots in favor of pale blue ballet flats, when a low, monstrous rumble warned me of the bus' approach.

I let out an involuntary yelp before grabbing my bag and dashing out into the street.

With muttered apologies to the disgruntled driver, I climbed onto the yellow beast and started down the aisle.

"Regina!" My cousin Lynn called out, her voice and grin entirely too perky for the early hour.

Her eyes were so bright I almost had to squint as I moved into the seat next to her.

Looks like somebody's got a nice, fat piece of gossip.

"Did you hear?" She gushed as soon as my butt hit the seat.

"Hear what?" I indulged her.

"Well," She settled in, turning her body to fully face mine as though the news required some preparation. "Apparently, Ms. Tyler-"

I repressed a chill at the sound of her name.

"-is missing."

I could practically feel the color drain from my face.

"What do you mean?"

"Principal Carrol got a weirdly abrupt resignation letter from her on saturday. He tried calling her house and cell, but she didn't answer." She leaned in a little and dropped her voice to a whisper. "And even creepier: It's like she never left on friday. Her car's still parked at the school, her briefcase is still on her desk, she didn't even log off her computer!"

Panic filtered into my thoughts.

Crap.

Why hasn't Chase taken care of this?

Doesn't he realize?

I was the last person to see her...

My own words to Ms. Tyler echoed hauntingly in my mind.

"People will notice I'm gone! Plus, you would be the last person I was seen with..."

Suddenly the panic-prompted warning was enough to make my stomach churn.

"...Do the math, Aleera, the outcome is not in your favor"

"...Regina?"

I blinked, snapping out of the anxiety-ridden vortex of my thoughts.

"What?"

Lynn frowned, an unusual look for her.

"I said: Are you alright? My mom told me you were sick yesterday, and you're not looking too good."

"I'm fine." I said, taking a deep breath.

"Oh good." She said, sounding momentarily relieved. "Anyway, it's weird, right? Like something out of CSI."

"Yeah." I said, smiling blankly.

The bus came to a slow stop in front of the school.

"Still," Lynn chuckled, grabbing her bag and standing. "Not the worst person to just up and vanish, you know?"

"Yeah." I repeated, echoeing her movements robotically.

She tossed me an odd look as we got off the bus and parted ways.

I stood outside of the main entrance for a moment, trying to collect my scattered thoughts like autumn leaves blown by a wind.

I have to talk to Chase. I decided, my eyes scanning the parking lot before finally stopping on Ms. Tyler's black Honda Civic. There's got to be some way to cover this up.

Gently I let my head fall back against the brick wall behind me.

If I had only known getting involved with him would be so damn dangerous...

Of course, what about Chase Young didn't scream "Danger"?

"You okay?"

Cara shrugged her bag onto her shoulders, her dark eyes concerned.

"Yeah, just thinking." I assured her, managing what I hoped looked like a genuine smile.

"Well, cut it out." She teased, linking my arm with hers. "They discourage that kind of brazen rebellion here."

I laughed, a real laugh. Cara had always been good at distracting me from whatever was worrying me.

Suddenly I wondered what I'd do without her.

If I did choose to stay with Chase, to toss aside my life in favor of a new one, Who would be my Cara?

The thought of divulging anything to Chase was absolutely unacceptable, and somehow I couldn't picture having a normal slumber party with Jack Spicer.

"Uh-"

The stiff, hesitant tone of Cara's voice brought me out of my musings.

I looked up to see-

Tommy.

His name felt cold and out of place in my mind.

I saw a tiny flinch in his blank stare as he caught my gaze for a moment.

The girl he'd been talking to- a girl, he'd once complained, who had the intellect of a sea sponge- sized me up icily before grabbing his arm and leaning forward as if to tell him something exciting. Really she was just trying to give him a better view of the efficiency of her wonder bra.

Tommy's eyes slid away from mine and I tugged Cara with me down the language hall.

She looked at me questioningly, but said nothing.

"I'm fine." I said. Answering her silent inquiry.

She smiled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we entered Latin.

"Salvete, Puellae!" Our black haired, sweater vested teacher greeted.

"Salve, Mr. G." We replied, delighting in his contagious grin.

"Did I miss much?" He asked as we took our seats.

Cara and I exchanged a brief glance before she said "Just a very...interesting narration of Calligula."

I smiled wryly, wondering if Chase knew just how interesting Cara had found him.

The intertwining of two such separate parts of my life was odd to think about.

If only I could tell her what he really is..or...

What I really am.

Just then, it clicked in my mind.

Cara, my best girl friend and confidante since second grade, has no idea I'm an entirely different person than I've always been.

The girl I used to call my sister, was unaware of a huge part of me.

Suddenly I felt like a stranger just living my life.

I was apparently out of it for the rest of class, even Mr. G's usually hilarious and riveting explanation of the ablative case,

which would explain Cara's reaction as soon as we got out of class.

"Alright, What's up?" She demanded.

I turned around to see she'd stopped walking and now stood stubbornly in the hall.

With a frown, I moved back through the sea of teens to stand in front of her.

"What are you talking about?"

She flicked raspberry colored locks over her shoulder in annoyance.

"Don't do that, Regina. I know I haven't known you forever like Tommy, but I can still tell when you're really upset."

She looked hurt. "Why won't you tell me what's wrong?"

I sighed, shaking my head.

Damn it all...

"Would you believe me if I said I couldn't tell you?"

"Yes, but I still wouldn't like it."

She thought a moment then frowned "Are you in trouble, or something?"

"No, it's not bad just..." I searched for the right word. "...confusing."

"Can I get a general overview?" She asked hopefully.

"...Yeah." I said, guiding her up the stairs to math while I tried to translate my problem into a normal-sounding issue.

She was quiet, waiting patiently till I was good and ready.

"So," I finally began. "An opportunity has recently come to me... An option which, if I chose to do it, would help me to hone my talents into something useful and change my life drastically."

I'm sure I sounded like a nut job, but Cara digested my explanation ponderously.

"An opportunity...like a special school or something?"

"Yes." I said, a little relieved that she understood. "The only problem is that it would take me away from here- from you, my home, this school- for a very long time."

She was quiet again for a minute or two.

We stopped outside of Ms. Tyler's room.

"Okay." She said finally. "You know what I think?"

"Go ahead."'

She looked me earnestly in the eyes.

"You've lived your whole life here, right?"

"Yeah..."

"With the same people, buildings, friends-"

"who I adore!" I interjected.

"-Ditto-" she said, smiling. "-But don't you think it's time for some change?"

I started to interrupt.

"Hold on a sec." She took my hands in hers, effectively shutting me up. "Regina, It's about time you let yourself do something drastic, something good for you."

I bit my lip.

She has a point...

"It's understandable if you're scared or uncertain, but you shouldn't let that stop you from changing your life for the better."

"But what if it doesn't make my life any better?" I asked. "What if I make the wrong choice?"

"Then at least you know and you're not just left to wonder "what if?" " She smiled. "I'm not going anywhere, miss. If this doesn't pan out, you can always just come on back here and hang out with me."

The late bell rang as I wrapped her in a tight, purposeful hug.

"I gotta get to class," She said, returning the embrace in full. "You coming?"

I stepped back from her. "Not today."

Tears welled up in her eyes and I could tell she understood that this might be the last time we saw each other for awhile."Alright. Goodbye, Regina."

"Bye Cara." I said softly "I'm taking my cell if you want to talk."

"Of course!" She said, putting a hand on the doorknob "You wont get rid of me that easily, Lambert."

I heard the door close behind her as I made my way down the staircase.

Tears blurred my view of the hallway.

I knew now that the choice I was making was the right one, but that didn't mean I couldn't grieve a little.

I snuck out with the senior lunch crowd and headed to the field.

As I took a seat on the bleachers near the track, I realized I had no idea how to get in contact with Chase.

"At least the xiaolin gave me a damn whistle." I muttered, staring out across the autumnal landscape.

"I find it difficult to come when called." A familiar voice answered. "Some people can't be treated like servants or tame animals."

"Still," I argued. " You could buy a cell phone or something. It's a hell of alot easier than just hoping you're going to show up."

"I take it you've made your decision then?" Chase asked, his lips against the shell of my ear.

An involuntary shiver danced through me and I craned my neck to see him leaning against the metal bleachers, dressed in his Mr. Young garb: Scarlet button down, black dress pants.

His gold eyes flickered over my face.

"You've been crying, which means you've either become way too attached to Spicer, or..." A smile curved his lips. "You're mourning the life you're about to leave behind."

I hugged my arms to my chest defensively. "And that makes you smile?"

He offered me his hand and helped me down off the bleachers.

"If it means you're my new apprentice: absolutely."

"I am not your apprentice." I said, stepping away from him.

He cocked a brow at me. "Very well, my student then."

"That I can handle." I submitted.

He looked back at the school, scanning the crowds of teens milling about the courtyard.

"Is there anyone you wish to say goodbye to?"

I frowned and turned my back to the familiar building.

I know he didn't just mean friends.

There was still my family to think about.

But god only knew I could never tell them I was leaving...

"No. I don't think I could."

"Fair enough."

He produced the golden tiger claws from seemingly nowhere and tore a portal in the air.

"Ladies first."

I took a deep breath, blinking back tears and took a step through.

As we hurtled through the rift, Chase's hand fell onto my shoulder with a surprisingly comforting weight and warmth.

"I'll take care of your family."

The words shocked me, coming from him.

"Thank you." I said, my voice thick with tears.

He cleared his throat.

"That sweater is completely impractical, by the way." He repiled. "I sincerely hope you don't think that's what you'll be wearing from now on."

I smirked.

"I wouldn't dream of it."