This don't mean that, you own me
This ain't no good, in fact it's phony as hell
But things worked out just like you wanted too
If you see me out you don't know me
Try to turn your head, try to give me some room
To figure out just what I'm going to do

-Match Box 20

I ended up sitting in the Mist Mobile sometime around ten thirty. Ivy came home around five and after a few hours of bonding I hit the streets. I'd even put on Ian's special slutty costume just for the occasion. Chris was more than happy to pick me up and now we were just kind of sitting here.

I bit my lip and turned away from Chris. "So. Ian's decided to move to California…and I don't think he was gonna tell me."

His brows rose. "Really? I thought you guys were close."

"So did I. But apparently pimping me out is too much work so he's going to run off and play seamstress somewhere else."

"Oh." He blinked at me. You know, I figured since we had such a good morning after, we wouldn't be awkward but here it was, all out in the open.

One of us just had to address it. And since Chris actually has some class I guess it's gonna be me. "The sex was good."

He snickered, breaking the tension slightly. "Yeah it was."

"We should do it again some time. Maybe after our second date."

"Oh well, if you're gonna be a prude about it…"

I slapped his chest and crawled into his lap. We sat there a moment, and it was perfectly comfortable. "Thanks, Chrissy."

"For what?"

I shrugged, curling into his side. "Not being an asshole."

He chuckled and I smiled into his neck. "No problem." Chris told me. If he was faking sincerity, he faked it well. Going on, he asked, "Did you think I was gonna be an asshole or something?"

"Well, no, but you can never be completely sure, I guess."

"Hm."

"Yeah. Well, that and you didn't call me the next day so…"

I had meant to be playful, but apparently he took it to heart. "Carrie, I didn't mean to blow you off, it's just my dad was being so cool and my mom wanted me to go school shopping with her-"

"Yours too?" I asked blinking in surprise. "What is there like a my baby lost its virginity handbook that says they have to make us shop with them or something?"

"I'm not sure." He said, serious but smirking. "You wanna ask them?"

"No, but that reminds me," I sat up a bit, matching his smirk with a raised eye brow, "Why didn't you tell me you had a MILF?"

Chris' insanely pale cheeks flushed under his mask and his eyes narrowed at me. "I do not."

"Yes you do, she's gorgeous. And," I added with a smile. "She said I could call her Angie."

"When did you even meet her?"

"When you blew off my birthday, Christopher."

Dark brown eyes stared at me. "I had just been stabbed."

"Yeah, and you had a hot mom to nurse you back to health." I teased, "But seriously, wow."

"Do we have to talk about this?" He asked, clearly unsettled by the new development in our relationship. "How about school? You ready for school?"

"Meh. I have to swing by it and show the newbs around tomorrow." I shrugged, moving to settle on his chest. My own chest still stung a bit, but I was getting better at ignoring it. "Luckily Frankie's gonna swing by and we're gonna tackle the Niners together."

There was a pause as he took in what I said. After a few seconds, he asked, "Please tell me you don't mean my dad."

"What?" I chuckled, "No, Frankie Contenna. Short for Francine…Why the hell would your dad be at an all girls Catholic school?"

"I don't know," He said, tucking his arms around my waist, "I don't understand half the things he does."

His head rested on mine and I felt his arms tighten slightly. We sat there a while. I'm not sure how long, but it was comfortable. With his breathe hitting my neck and my legs resting on the dashboard.

I fell asleep in his lap. I can admit that. It had been a long day…long couple days.

-The Next Morning-

I was up at the crack of dawn. Well, seven thirty(in the am), but still, after weeks of sleeping in, it felt earlier. I was no longer in the Mist Mobile, much to my surprise, but rather on my couch.

In my costume.

Fantastic. Rolling off it and onto the floor, I let out a grunt. Silently, I made my way to the shower.

"Are you the tooth fairy?"

I froze at the voice and turned very slowly to see Tanis standing just outside her bedroom door. Nodding mutely, I watched her beam. "I haven't lost a tooth yet, but I have a loose one!"

I smiled stiffly at her and flashed her a thumbs up.

She tilted her head at me, her long blonde hair tilting with it. I smiled despite myself as she spoke, "Why are you here?"

"Uh…" I pitched my voice higher than it normally would've been. "I thought you'd lost it already. My mistake."

"Oh." She blinked, her green eyes still wide.

"You should go back to bed." I said, my own voice starting to grate on my ears.

Tanis nodded and ducted back into her room. "Bye."

I waved silently as I shook my head. Dear lord, what if I had been a burglar? Or a vicious little purple haired kid with a foul mouth? God, Izzybug was sheltered. And I'd have to talk to mom about explaining why the Tooth Fairy had a leather bathing suit for a costume. Not exactly emoting childlike innocence and wonder with this outfit.

I stripped quickly and stashed my outfit and wig under the sink. Sighing, I went about removing the dark eye make up from my eyes as I heard rustling outside the door.

"Uh…occupied."

"Open up, Carmen."

"Ouch," I popped it open, smirking at Ivy, "Full name."

She took a seat on the toilet as I continued to scrape the gunk off my face. "Uh. Ive, you're a girl-"

"Obviously."

"What get make up off good?"

The teenager sat there a while. I've really been having that effect on people lately. I wonder why. She finally managed a quiet, "What?"

"What'll take the make up off?" I asked more directly. I really should mind my grammar around her, I mean, she is fucked up on pain killers.

"Oh, uh, lotion usually does it for me."

I opened the medicine cabinet open and began routing through it as she went on. "So…did mom tell you yet?"

"Tell me what yet, Ive?"

"That I'm gonna spend the year with Memaw."

My hand stilled as I turned to look at her. She wasn't looking at me though. My little sister's face was directed at the bathtub, and all I could really bring myself to look at was her hair. Same shade as mine and Tanis'. I couldn't look any lower because than I'd be looking at a long bandage that ran from her shoulder to along her neck.

Swallowing I shook my head. "No," I told her quietly, "She didn't mention that." I let out a fake laugh, "Guess this means you won't be coming to reg with me today huh?"

Ivy let out a shaky breath before she started crying. For a moment I was too stunned to do anything. Ivy was our rock. The strongest –and let's face it most normal- one in the family. I bit my lip and slipped onto my knees in front of her. Her bruised face was hidden by a curtain of blonde locks and I pushed them back as gently as I could. She cringed, and tried to turn further away from me as her shoulders shook.

"Oh, baby, I'm so sorry," I cleared my throat when my voice caught. "But, I mean, maybe it's for the best. I mean, no one's more supportive than Memaw and…god, Evey, I don't know."

"Mom's thinking of transferring and dad's a wreck and Tanis is all upset and clingy! She slept in my room last night, Cici!"

Christ, she hadn't called me that since she was six. I did not miss it. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her down onto the floor next to me.

"What am I gonna do in Canada? I don't know anyone there and you'll be so far away!" She let out a hiccup before going on, "And I know mom just wants me to be safe but it's not fair!"

"I know. Maybe, maybe I can talk to her or something?" I offered, holding her tighter to my chest. If she was upset about my lack of shirt she said nothing. I sense she had bigger problems.

She sniffled and pulled away from me. "How am I supposed to train if I'm in Canada?"

"Train?" I echoed. Oh right, the superhero thing. "Well. I guess the first step is to enroll yourself in a self defense class."

"Then?"

"Then maybe, work out a bit, go to the shooting range."

Her hazel eyes widened a bit. "S-have you shot people?"

I blushed. "Well, with tranquilizers and to be fair they were mostly Ian."

"You have." She said sternly. "Why didn't-"

"I tell you? Because I didn't want you following in my footsteps."

"I'm going to anyway," Ivy said stubbornly.

I sighed, "I know. But that doesn't mean I want you to." We sat there a few minutes, trying to collect our thoughts. I had hoped that she'd forgotten about the whole thing, but I guess that was hoping too much. I rested my head against hers. "Train in Canada. Come back in a year. I'll get you a costume."

"Really?" Her voice was small, but earnest. Pleased.

"Yeah. When are you going?"

She shrugged, "I think a week."

I rubbed my eyes. "A week, huh? That doesn't give us much time." I glanced at her hands. I knew her one shoulder was still bothering her from the way she was favoring it, but I asked anyway. "When I get back, wanna hit up the range?"

"Range?" She repeated.

"The shooting range. I'll give you some tips. I bet Memaw'd take you if you asked."

Ivy beamed at me and I returned it with force. "Get some sleep first though. Otherwise you'll get a harder kick back."

She nodded and we stood. Well, I stood, then bent down and helped her sorry, beaten ass up…That sounded meaner than I meant it to. But I did feel sorry for her, and she was beaten, so it fit. I helped her back to her room, where, as promised, Tanis lay dozing on her bed. Ivy let out a quiet whine when her eyes landed on her, but said nothing. Just slipped into bed like the good sister she was and wrapped her arms around the kid.

I shut the door. I stayed there a moment, just outside the room and wondered why my mom would want to send her away. But I was kidding myself. I knew why. Mom thought she'd be too freaked out by the city. Thought some time at Memaw's, who lived on a ranch in Calgary, would be just what she needed.

And frankly I agreed with her.

A/N: A necessary filler chapter. Don't judge me the good stuff comes in the next one, I promise. Also, for the sequel, should I keep using first person narrative?