Chapter Seven

"Interesting, just interesting...."

The next morning, Ebony stood in front of her long mirror wearing her leather shorts and a sleeveless top that zipped up in the front. She let the zipper down till it rested on top of her bra and wore a pair of knee high boots. She felt great, and she knew the shorts were a bit much but she didn't care. It wasn't like she had anyone to empress. Ebony turned around giving her self on last check when the paper on her bed caught her eye. After getting her paper from "the sleeping giant" she had started scribbling symbols. First hearts and stars, then circle and squares, both of which made her more confused then when she had started so when she gave up and borrowed the dots and dashes of Morse code she was surprised to find that it actually was Morse code. This had made her excited except for one thing she didn't know what it meant. Maybe if it had been years ago after the summer she went to camp with her sisters she would be able to decipher it no problem, but it had been years.

Ebony picked up the piece of paper looking at the dots in a daze. She was hoping that the words would just jump out if she looked hard enough, but they didn't and her head was beginning to hurt. "WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?!"

Ebony turned quickly. "What do you want, Siva?"

Siva pushed her newly finished braids off her shoulder. "Those are mine I've been looking for them since the virus!" She screamed referring to the leather shorts.

"These," Ebony said twirling, "don't belong to you. Besides do you actually think you could fit into these, if so, you're crazy?" Ebony grinned.

Siva frowned then smile slide across her face. "No biggie, I'll just get me some more at the City today."

"What?"

Siva faked shocked. "Oh, you didn't know? Jack's going to the City and I'm just going to...tag along."

"Wait you can't go, what about Java and her group."

"Please, they're not after me." Siva smirked. "And I'll tell you a secret, the only reason I'm here is because I tried to kill Tai-san in her sleep and Jay caught me."

"You liar, you're here because you can't handle the sight of Lex and Tai-san together."

"Well, that just means that I can come and go as I please, and you...can't" Siva broke out into a fit of laughter but stopped when she saw Ebony charging toward her.

"YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GO ANYWHERE IF I BREAK YOUR LEGS!" Siva screamed running out of the room and down the stairs to the first floor. Ebony was face behind her when someone grabbed her waist stopping her.

"What's going on?!" Jack yelled over Siva's screams and Ebony's cursing they quieted looking at him.

"She's trying to kill me!"

"No I wasn't I was just going to pullout her hair and break a couple of her fingers!!"

Jack looked exhausted. "Siva go wait out on the porch." Siva grinned and flounced out of the house slamming the door with finality that made Ebony try and jump out of Jack's grasp after her, but she couldn't because his grip was too strong. He turned her around loosing his grip but still holding on. "What's your problem, Ebony?"

"Let me go!"

"Not until you tell me what's up with you and Siva."

"Why can't I go to the City?!"

"You know the answer to that. You're a target Ebony."

"I can take care of myself, Jack!" she screamed getting into his face, which was difficult because of her height.

Jack looked at her sarcastically "No you can't! You just want to duke it out with Java like a couple of cats! I'm not letting you!"

"And who are you Jack, why are you here anyways."

Jack sighed calming slightly. "I'm here to protect you."

She smirked pulling herself out of his loose grip smoothly. "You? Protect me?"

"Make sure you don't do something stupid, like kill your sister."

"Aww...How sweet."

Jack smiled. "So what can I do to get you out of this stint and make you happy?"

"You can let me go to the City." She grinned.

Jack moved closer to her whispering in her ear. "To bad I'm not here to make you happy now am I? But those are some really nice shorts." Jack laughed walking out of the door.

Before he could close the door Ebony turned. "YOU JERK!"

"That hurt Ebony!" Jack yelled sarcastically over his shoulder and closing the door leaving her alone. Ebony screamed in frustration kicking the door then sitting on the steps. She leaned on to her hands letting them cradle her chin. He liked my shorts. Ebony smiled at the thought. I'll have to use them to my advantage.

Chapter Eight

"The leaders of Destiny...."

After Siva and Jack had left and her anger of not being able to go subsided Ebony realized she was home alone which in turn meant she could do anything she wanted. This was her kind of deal and she quickly found herself basking in glowing sun light on the nearby beach. She of course had the paper of codes with her and when ever she was up for it she racked her brain at what it meant, but nothing was coming through and she was about sick of staring aimlessly at dots and dashes. She didn't like the idea but she knew she was going to have to ask Jack for his help.

Ebony dozed slightly in the blazing sun that was growing hotter with every minute but she knew that there wasn't much she could do go back into the brick oven of a house or try and get some resemblance of a breeze that flowed off the water. She stirred slightly when she felt the cool shadow of some one standing over her. "Pick a card." It was Jack.

Ebony sighed looking up. "What do you want?"

He was still smiling. "Pick a Card."

Ebony reached up pulling at one of the cards in the fan Jack had created. She looked at it: Queen of Hearts. Ebony almost broke into a fit of laughter. Oh the irony "Now what Jackie Boy?"

He frowned slightly at his new nick name and sat beside her as she still laid spread out the card now balancing delicately on top of her chest. She turned her head smiling and waiting for his answer.

"Memorize it and give it back."

"Ok, you can take it." She said moving her hands to her sides.

Jack looked at the card. "Y-You have to put in the stack."

"Oh, really?" Ebony played innocent. She was enjoying watching him sweat.

"Y-Yeah, Ebony, p-play the game right will ya?"

"Ok, ok." Ebony sat up taking the card and sticking it in the deck.

He grinned. "Now I will tell you what card I have based on my fantastic knowledge of women."

"W-What?" Ebony giggled. He's joking right?

"What?" He said innocently grinning.

Ebony couldn't help but smile. "Nothing..." She watched Jack expertly shuffle the cards. Folding and kneading the cards but not bending them to disuse. I wouldn't expect that. Ebony grinned. When he had finally shuffled the cards he pulled one out showing it to her: Ace of Spades. Ebony interrupted him just as he was about to ask her if it was her card. "I'll tell you now it's not my card."

He frowned slightly. "It's not?" She shook her head. "B-but I did it right I know I did."

"Maybe you missed a step." Ebony sighed trying to be helpful.

"No I didn't miss a step." He reshuffled the cards and pulled another card: Two of Hearts.

"You got the suit right, but...Jack don't worry about it's no big deal. Can you play go fish, right, we could play that?"

Jack sighed in frustration shuffling the cards. "The guy said that the trick was foolproof and that it really impresses the girls."

"Oh really are you trying to impress me Jack?" She smiled.

Jack looked up he's eyes wide with the realization of what he had said. "N-no, I was just testing it out."

"Oh." Ebony frowned. "I better go in now, maybe make something to eat." She rushed off toward the house before Jack could stand up.

Ebony sat on the back steps of the door leading to the kitchen; She didn't know why she had not ran to her room, but for some reason she couldn't. She didn't have the heart. Part of her was waiting, waiting for someone to come and take her away. Was it Jay, No, she knew they were over and she knew she was going to have to break it off when this charade was over. Ebony sighed. I love him but not in the way anymore. Then she did some very uncharacteristic leaning over into her hands she started to cry. She hadn't cried in so long, but it was making her feel better. That was until she realized someone was standing over her. "Ebony...are you ok?"

She was caught; Ebony stood looking away from Jack. "Nothings wrong..." She tried to rush out of the room, but Jack grabbed her arm.

"Ebony if you're mad at me, I didn't mean...I was trying to impress you."

Ebony looked up at him. "Don't do this to me, not now."

"Why, Ebony What's Wrong?"

"Nothing! Nothing! Jack leave me alo—" He kissed her. What the hell was he thinking? Ebony pulled away violently slapping at Jack. "What were you thinking?"

Jack looked stunned. "I-I-I-...."

"I-I-I You WHAT?" Ebony mimicked in anger. After a few moments of silence she got ready to stalk off when Jack said.

"I was thinking I could be more then a friend to you."

Ebony stopped. More then a friend? "What do you mean, Jack; we're not even 'Friends'?"

He walked closer a little surer of himself. "Ebony, I know you're lonely. That's why you were upset earlier...."

"STOP, stop saying what you're saying."

"It's the truth, you're lonely!"

Ebony slapped him. "You don't know me Jack, so don't pretend like you do." She hoped he would back off; she really hadn't wanted to hit him.

But he didn't, "Well does anyone know you! Well? Amber...Siva, Java? Jay! Does Jay even know every part of you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yeah, when you're crying, and held up in your room three—four days at a time. Ebony I'm worried."

Ebony sighed she felt her anger dieing, "You don't have to worry about me Jack."

"I want to...let me be here for since I'm the only one around."

Ebony turned looking at him. The word 'yes' was playing on her tongue, but she still wasn't sure. "I dunno, let me think about all of...this; you me and this more then 'friends' thing...."

Jack nodded watching Ebony leave and go up stairs. He really wanted more; Jack wanted to love Ebony, but this was the only way he knew how to get to her...offer himself up to her.

Chapter Nine

"A Deal's, a Deal..."

Ebony walked nimbly down the stairs the next day. She had waited until she was sure of what she was going to say before she came down, and now she knew exactly what her decision was going to be as she pushed through the dinning room door and found that it was empty except for a few of Jack's things scattered around. She never realized how messy he actually was. I've dated men who where clean to the point of disgusting, but gees! Are all Genius' this messy? Ebony looked around but the heard distinct taping coming from the living room. She walked staying at the door. "You put it together, eh?"

"Yeap, everything's there." He said quietly staring at the laptop screen as he sat on an old plushy coach. He looked up at Ebony and smiled then scooted from the center of the coach. She sat down next to him her body feeling his heat as she sat close. "I'm putting some programs on them."

"Cool..."

He looked at her. "You don't know what I'm talking about do you?"

"I was married to a Techno leader, I know a few things."

"I forgot. You're a widow...you don't dress like a widow," He said eyeing her shorts.

She smiled. "What can I say, I go against the grain."

"I'll say."

Ebony grinned, she knew he was itching to ask her what she thought about they're discussion from last night but she wanted to see him squirm. She sat for a moment staring out of a window and watched as he fidgeted leaning back on the coach but then moving toward the table where his laptop sat. Finally she sighed. "Ok..."

He looked at her. "Ok?"

"Yes, we can be friends, but no one can find out about this."

"Afraid of being with a geek?"

"No Jackie Boy it would be more embarrassing for you then it would be for me."

"How?"

Ebony took two of her braids and twisted them until they were in a Zulu knot. "Jack what were you thinking, she's a nothing but a sneak!" She said giving her best Amber impression.

Jack laughed. "That was good but I don't think we have to worry about her."

"Ahh, but you're forgetting I have a boyfriend."

Jack sobered slightly. "Oh...yeah, Techno Jay, forgot about him."

Ebony wrapped her arms around his neck leaning her head against his shoulder. "You don't have to worry, as long as we keep quiet we won't have to worry about a thing."

"Siva?"

"She's in her room most the time, besides I think she's having a thing with Lex."

"Yeah, I think so too. She ditched me yesterday when we went to the City." Jack hesitated for a moment. "So, now what?"

"This..." Ebony leaned up giving him a kiss which he quickly took too. She noticed it was a little different from anything else, his technique, or maybe it was just her, but when they came up for air they immediately went back to kissing. This is probably the best deal I've ever made. She thought slyly.