Chapter 18: Hidden Variable

They spent the night in the Dolphin, but they would be returning for the festivities that night. There was a faire in town. Many of the cyborgs were sick with hangovers, none more worse, however, than 002. 0016 stayed at his side. He was out of it most of the day and the more time she spent with him the more guilty she felt. He was drunk. He didn't mean what he did. "Then why did he drink so much more once you left?" Shut up! He was drunk, he just drank more, that's all. "He got drunk because of you. He loves you." HE CAN'T LOVE ME! I love 004! "Maybe so…doesn't mean he doesn't love you. Face it." 0016 stood, she was almost to the door when 002 let out a cry.

"Wait!" She turned, looking back at him. His eyes were closed tightly. "I'm sorry! Don't go! I didn't mean it!" 0016 felt her face burn up, not because she was embarrassed of the words he was saying, but because she felt so horrible. Her eyes welled up with tears again. She stood there. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at her. He must have been asleep. I wonder if he knew that he just said that, or what it means. 002 was silent for a second before speaking up. "What are you doing in here?" He asked. 0016 smiled lightly.

"I was taking care of you. You've been really sick. I told you guys you shouldn't have been drinking so much." 0016 said jokingly, as if she didn't know why he had drunk so much. 002 smiled.

"Yeah. I guess you were right." 0016 nodded and left.

It was working out fine. Later that day 002 was up and moving again. He was as healthy as ever and even more relaxing to 0016, he had finally acknowledged that he thought she was beautiful but that was it. He said he had never even thought about kissing her, but once he did it he didn't know what to do. 0016 said she didn't mind as long as he didn't mean it. She admitted to him that she had somebody in mind. With that, 002 shot a knowing gleam. It was weird, 0016 had been afraid that this would ruin everything, but instead, it made her and 002 the best of friends.

Nighttime came around and the cyborgs headed back to the festival. 0016 sat beside 002. They pointed stuff out and talked. 004 should have known that those two would get along more than anybody else. They were both Americans. 002 was from New York and 0016 was from South Carolina. However, their accents were quite different but that seemed to make 0016 laugh even more. Laugh. She was laughing. 004 couldn't help but to wonder if he would ever be able to make the southern girl laugh the way she was now. So full of joy and hope. Not like the angry stares she usually sent at him. He wondered what had caused this sudden change. Not more than a few days ago they were the worst of enemies. They couldn't stand being in the same room, much less laughing together. And it wasn't just 0016. 002 looked happy as well. Out of experience, 004 had realized that 002 was always upset. He always had something to complain about and never had a reason to smile. 0016 was something different, she was a breath of fresh air to the group. A young, beautiful, girl with an energetic and optimistic personality. She always tried to smile for everyone and that usually made everyone else smile back. Now that 002 and 0016 had become friends, the only person 0016 didn't show that same warmness to was 004. That fact alone made him feel lonely.

0016 sat with 002. They were laughing about a corny joke 002 had said when 0016, as quick as she could, glanced over at 004. Her eyes caught his blue gray pools. He was staring right at her. She quickly hid her surprise but couldn't bring herself to frown. He looked hopeless. He quickly hid his emotions and looked away. 0016 was silent, her mouth half open and gapping. 004 had just been staring at her and she hadn't even noticed. She wondered why. 002 looked at her face and then past her at 004. He smiled knowingly and turned back around.

"You should tell him." 002 said lowly. 0016 turned to him quickly, her face pink and red.

"What?!" She calmed her nerves and put on a faked innocence. "Tell who what? I don't know what you are talking about." 002 smiled again.

"Yeah, right. You don't have to say it but it's obvious." This whipped the smile right off the girl's face.

"It is?" She asked. 002 nodded.

"Well, it is to me. Maybe not to everyone. I don't think he knows."

"He was just looking at us." You mean he was just looking at you. 0016 mentally scolded herself before glancing back at 004. He was still looking away over the water as they rode toward the shore.

"I guess you're wondering if he likes you back?" 002 asked. 0016 blushed again.

"Sorta…" Yes, you hit the nail on the head. 002 nodded.

"I'll see what I can find out." 0016's blush deepened.

"NO!" Everyone turned to her, looking surprised at her sudden outburst. She hid her face behind 002 and whispered into his jacket. "Don't. I don't want to know. What if he doesn't like me?" 002 didn't say anything. He just smiled. Oh shut up. He likes you. 0016 blushed again and looked over 002's shoulder at 004. He looked so alone.

004 looked over as 0016 whelped in surprise.

"NO!" Everyone was looking at 002 and her so she glanced quickly at him and then hid against 002. That was it. That was the sign. 0016 definitely liked 002. That must have been why she wanted to help the other day. He must have said something about her and 004 and 0016 must have found the idea revolting. Why else would she glance at him with that surprise on her face? 002 and 0016 were a couple. He couldn't interfere.

A/N: OOHHH!! I feel SSSOOOO bad! I've just been so busy! Haven't been online for like...two whole weeks! I had a research paper and I'm doing this thing with the kids and I just didn't have time. Oh, and Starlight, thanks for your review. It caught my attention. Oh, and the long awaited answer to Wolfwood, yeah, she's random. I lost my crush to this ditz named Tracey a while back so now whenever I write a story with an annoying random girl, I name her Tracey. Well, here is the only other chapter I have completed. And I haven't started another story but I did read the entire Tamora Pierce 'Immortas' series so now I'm in a fantasy mood. I'll work more on this tonight while I sulk about not being able to go to the basketball game. ^.^ Oh, and by the way, since you have to be a good fan to read this far into any of my annoying dumb stories, my e-mail address is SlytherinPadfoot@aol.com. I just don't want people sending hate-mail at me for a few of my other stories.

Ja-ne!