Notes:

I don't own X-Men: Evolution.  Marvel Entertainment and some other people do.

Shaina (pronounced SHAY-nuh) AKA "Splinter" is my character, so don't steal her.

Keri AKA "Dark Elf", however, is not mine.  She belongs to my little Sister, and a big thanks to her for letting me use it and helping to keep her in character.

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Strange Triangles

Chapter One:

The New Girl

December 24

It was Christmas Eve.  But who cares?

All Logan cared about was finishing his game of pool before he got kicked out the bar.

As he took his next shot, he thought about all of the other mutants living at the institute.  Most of them had gone home for the Holidays, except for Cyclops, Rogue, Beast, and Professor X himself.  Though to his knowledge, Professor and Beast were the only ones actually at the mansion.

Had he really been paying attention, he would've probably sunk his shot.  But he wasn't, so he missed the ball entirely.  As he cursed under his breath, he heard giggling behind him.

He turned around, and came face-to-face with a woman his age (How old he looked, that is; she looked like she was in her late 20's).  She had reddish-brown hair and dark blue eyes with a hint of purple in them.  She was wearing tight jeans, Black boots, a blue sweater, and a brown coat.  All and all, she had a pretty face and a nice figure.

Logan, however, was unimpressed.  "What're you laughing at?"  He snapped.

She smiled, and looked at the ceiling.  "Nothing…"  She answered innocently.

He turned back to his pool game, and quickly looked around the bar.  He thought that he was the only one in there, but apparently, she had slipped in, undetected.

Logan rolled his eyes, and got back to his game.  He couldn't make it in one shot, but maybe in two…  He got poised and aimed.

"You're doing it wrong," A female voice said behind him.

Logan turned around and glared at the woman behind him.  "What are you talking about?"

She sighed, got up, and grabbed a stick.  "If you'd aim from here…" She walked over about three steps, "…you could make it in one shot."

Logan narrowed his eyes.  "I didn't ask for your advice."

She looked up at him, "Well, technically no, but when I said, 'You're doing it wrong,' you answered, 'What are you talking about?'; therefore implying that you wanted to know what I meant.  So, yes, actually, you did ask for my advice."

Logan blinked at her.  The funny thing was that he actually understood her.  Since he couldn't think of a better retort, he simply said, "Whatever."

The woman ignored him, and instead looked at the pool table.  "Yes…I believe…I could win in one shot…"

Logan looked at the table.  "No…I don't believe….You could win in one shot," He said, mocking her.

She rolled her eyes.  "Actually, I think I could."

"Actually, I think you couldn't."

"Quit it.  But hey, I'll just leave you to your game."  She walked away, her hips swinging slightly.

Logan looked at her, at the table, at her again, and then said, "Do you really think you could make it?"

She turned to him, grinning.  "Yea, I think I could,"

He handed her a stick.  "Sink it, and I'll buy you a drink."

She shook head slightly, still grinning.  She took the stick, and took her position at the end of the table.  "Here we go!"  She hit the ball, and it ricocheted perfectly against the sides of the table, hitting every ball it needed to.  She had won by the time it stopped.

She looked up at him tucked some of her hair behind her ear.  "Well, whaddya know?"

Logan was shocked.  "How did you do that?"  He demanded.

She shrugged.  "It's all in the wrist.  Now, about that drink…"

He sighed.  "Yea…I suppose you're going to hold me to that, huh?"

The woman nodded.  "Oh yea."

The two walked over to the bar, and sat down.  Logan couldn't help but wonder how she could sit in such tight jeans.

She looked around, and saw that the bartender was no where in sight.  So, she banged her hand on counter yelled, "YO!  CAN WE GET SOME SERVICE OVER HERE?!"

When this failed to produce so much as a curse, Logan hopped over the counter and pressed his ear to the nearest door he could find.  After listening for about five seconds, he held his head back up.  "Don't count on seein' him for the rest of the evening.  He sounds pretty busy…"

The woman slapped her forehead.  "Of course!  That's who that blonde was!"

Logan rolled his eyes, and checked underneath the counter.  "Well, there is some stuff down here…I suppose we could just leave the tab…"

She nodded.  "Right…Uh, just get me a beer…"

Logan looked under, and pulled out one for her, and another one for himself.  Then, he climbed over the counter again, and handed her drink.

She took a swig.  "Ah!  That's good!" She sighed.

Logan didn't say anything.

There was a silence, and then she spoke.  "So, what's your name?"

"What's yours?"  He countered.

"I asked you first!"  She insisted.

"You tell me first, or you'll never know," Logan said calmly.

She rolled her eyes.  "Riiiiight….I'm Shaina.  Shaina Hope."

"Logan," Logan replied.

Shaina made a face.  "Ya got a last name, too?"

"No.  I don't," He answered gruffly.

"Right!  OK!"  Shaina groaned, rolling her eyes.  "Next question: You come here often, or just on Christmas Eve?"

"Both."

"Don't you have a family to be with?"

"No.  Don't you?"

She smiled.  "Nah."

Logan looked at her.  "Why am I talking casually to a complete stranger?"

Shaina stuck her tongue out.  "Hey, I'm not so strange!"

"I think you are."

"Yea, well you're pretty strange, too!"  She retorted.  "What kind of a name is 'Logan', anyway?!"

"What kind of a name is 'Shaina'?"

"It's Irish!…Well, I think it is!"

"Sure, sure…And Logan…well, it's my kind of name."

"Riiiiight …"

"You already said that."

"Did I now?"  She asked, not sounding as if she cared.  "Do you have the time?"

He looked at his watch.  "11:28."

"Aye!  I gotta get home!"  Shaina cried.  As casual as you please, she hopped off her stool, and made her way to the door.  However, she stopped when she reached it.  "Hey, Logan.  Unless you've already got plans, ya wanna meet here tomorrow night and play pool…say…8:00?  I could use another free drink."

Logan shrugged.  "Sure.  Why not?  8:00's fine."

Shaina nodded.  "Right.  See ya then!"  She departed.

Logan looked down at his half-full bottle of beer in front of him.  "What a weird girl!"  He thought out loud.  He paused, and thought for a minute.  "On the other hand…I found her…interesting…And when did I start wearin' a watch?"