For the next few weeks, Brad and I went out a little. We went to movies and festivals and restaurants. But sometimes, he left abruptly like the time at the restaurant. There wasn't much to do at Sanctuary so I was able to go out with Brad. Everyone teased me but my only defense was that we were just friends. I looked forward to every date, uh, I mean meeting we had and was really happy.

"I'm actually kind of happy that Alex is going out with that kid even though I'm worried as hell," Adam had commented one day. "There's a lot less pranks going on in Sanctuary lately."

"Yeah, you're right," Brennan said. "It's actually kind of nice, but, I feel like I kind of miss the pranks."

"I don't," said Emma. "I'm sure that you won't miss the pranks once there are pranks again."

Things were that way for a long time. Once, Brad had to go on a business trip and I wouldn't be able to see him for three whole weeks. I practiced with the robots in the dojo or the other members of Mutant X to get my mind off him.

"Jesse!" I shouted. "Please come and practice with me in the dojo."

"Ohhhhhh," Jesse grunted. "Do I have to?"

"Yes," I answered.

He followed me reluctantly into the dojo. I smiled cheerfully and stretched out first. Then I fell into the position to fight. But first, I changed into Jessica Simpson, who I knew Jesse really liked and it caught him off guard.

"Oh man," Jesse whined. "Stop changing, it really freaks me out."

"Good."

I was Jessica Simpson and because of that, Jesse was holding back a lot. "You're holding back!" I shouted as we threw puches at each other.

"No, I'm not," he shouted back.

"Oh, so if you're not holding back, that means you really do suck!" I said, laughing.

"Okay, maybe I am holding back," Jesse admitted, "but only because you're……………."

"Someone you're in love with right now?" I finished his sentence for him. "I know that, that's why I changed into her. It gives me an advantage."

I kicked Jesse and punched his chest. He tried to hit me but I jumped and dodged it. Next, I swung my leg and hit his right arm. He groaned and his hand automatically went to his arm. He rolled up his sleeve which showed a big bruise. I couldn't help but laugh.

I was laughing so hard, my stomach hurt. When Jesse was charging towards me, I didn't notice. He threw a punch at me, and I gave out a cry of surprise and ducked just in time. He kept throwing fast punches at me and I dodged most of them. I jumped out of the way and landed on my feet on the other side of the dojo. I was out of breath and was breathing heavily.

Jesse smiled in satisfaction. "Have you had enough?"

"No!" I shouted. I changed into Brennan and zapped him with small bolts of lightning while laughing all the time. Jesse tried to dodge all of them, but couldn't. When he was totally exhausted, he fell down onto the floor and lay there staring at the ceiling. I changed back into myself and walked over towards him. He warned me not to take advantage of his exhaustion. I smiled sweetly and assured him that I woudn't. Then I changed into Sam and froze his feet so he couldn't get up and walk until it melted.

"Hey!!!" Jesse yelled. "You can't do this!!"

"Oh yeah?" I asked. "I just did."

But as soon as I was out of the dojo, Jesse followed me out. "I guess you forgot I could phase through the ice, huh?"

"My mistake," I said. I changed into Brennan and zapped him with another bolt of lightning, then changed back into myself.