Hey Guys! How are you?

(Someone throws mushy tomato)

OK! OK! I'm sorry! I know that I'm super late! I got hit by three hurricanes, lost power all three times, got busy with makeup work, got sick (twice), lost my internet connection and now am super busy with Christmas stuff.

Now since you've waited so long, I'm sure you want me to skip the answering review part and get to the story so I will. Well, maybe I'll…

(Someone else throws rotten egg)

Going! Going!

Super-fast-disclaimer-that-is-often-seen-in-car-commercials: TheX-MendonotbelongotstrayphoenixandtheirviewsandopinionsinnowayreflectthoseofMarvel,StanLee,oranyoneelsethatworksatMarvel.TheycanhonestlyallburninhellforwhattheyhavedonetoJOTTinmypersonalopinion.AndnowIsoundlikePietrosoI'llshutupandgeton with the story. (pant! pant!)

I therefore present to you, the seventh chapter of what appears to be my best story to date, "Points of a Love Triangle, Part 1"

"Bye Alex!" I call over my shoulder as I run down the stairs with Scott. I sort of feel bad that we had to leave the second he came in but Scott told him: we're never free.

We hustle down to the garage and jump in the car, skipping the opening the door part.

That's one of the things I know Scott loves about this car. It's easy and quick: one of the few things in his life that are.

I smile at him despite myself and he smiles back as he starts the car.

"What?" he asks me jokingly with that grin of his.

"Nothing" I say teasingly, "Just you".

I know that he's rolling his eyes behind his glasses and I'm proud that I can know thanks to our rapport.

As we pull out of the garage, he asks me if I want to listen to music. I know the answer to the question I ask next but I ask it anyway because I know it bothers him.

"Aren't you nervous about the mission?"

He laughs.

"Of course. Music just gets my adrenaline running"

I fake a hurt look. "Are you saying that I don't get your adrenaline running enough?"

"The times that it matters" he says waggling his eyebrows seductively.

I lightly kick his leg and find out that that's not the safest thing to do to the driver. He swerves into the next lane where a police car is driving. The sirens go on.

"I hate you" he murmurs with a smile as I make us mentally invisible to the other drivers and the sirens turn off to the cop's confusion.

"I should let you get a ticket someday" I tell him. He smiles, steps on the gas now that we're invisible, and plugs his iPod into his car. Linkin Park's Somewhere I Belong plays loud.

Something inside of me can't help but laugh at the puzzled glances of the drivers we pass as they search for the invisible source of loud music.

Linkin Park isn't really my first choice of music. I like Alanis Morrisette or someone like that but I don't mind a little rock. It's the only chance Scott gets to listen to it. He says it'll ruin his 'rep' if he listens to it in front of the kids.

We drive for 15 minutes in silence with various songs playing in the background. I glance at him curiously but his mind is far off. He's been zoning like this since his aerobics class the other day. And he's still zoning as we come close to our exit.

"We turn here, honey" I tell him and he jumps at the sound of my voice.

"Sorry" he apologizes and turns at the sign marked 'Bayville Mall'.

"Scott, are you OK?" she asks me.

"I'm fine" I try to say cheerfully. I know that my solemn attitude is troubling her so I smile.

She smiles back at me, hopefully throwing out any doubt that she had. I try to keep my eyes and mind on the road as we get closer to the mall but my mind drifts back to Emma and I know that I have to bring it up before we get there. I know in my heart that if I wait until later, I won't be able to tell her.

"Jean, we need to talk" I sigh. I have three minutes to have this conversation.

Jean looks back at me and smiles. Her cheerful mood has returned. And my heart breaks.

I don't know if I happened to be wearing my heart on my sleeve or if it's just our link but she catches it instantly and frowns. "What is it?"

I avoid her eyes as I speak. "Well, I might have been a bit dishonest about our financial troubles" I say in the lightest way I can think of.

I keep looking at the road. I've got two minutes and I don't know if I'll finish. I take deep breaths trying to organize my thoughts.

"How dishonest?" she asks, the fear brimming in her voice.

"Oh, um, about…a lot"

Please don't ask why, please don't ask why, please don't—

"I see" she says sadly.

"I'm fixing the problem, though" I tell her reassuringly.

She glances at me. I look her in the eyes as I place a firm hand on her shoulder and drive with the other one. "You know I'll take care of you"

That makes her smile and then laugh. "Scott, you know I'm not a damsel in distress. I can start working to help you"

"That won't be necessary" I tell her as I keep watching the road. I've got two minutes.

"I'm getting another job, Jean. The pay is really good and we'll be out of this mess in no time"

"Another job, Scott?" she asks almost harshly. "You come home exhausted everyday from that aerobics class of yours and you want another job?"

"It's OK: I'm quitting the aerobics teaching profession. The pay for this is twice as much"

I can feel it in my bones what she's going to ask next.

"What is 'this'?" she asks skeptically.

All right, remember the cover story you came up with…

"Tutor"

I see in her eyes that she doesn't understand.

"Scott, isn't that what you were doing at the mansion?"

"Well, not really. A tutor is more part time."

This last part makes her smile. One minute.

"Which means…" she implies seductively "more time for us, right?"

I grin at her knowingly and she smiles knowing that it's a yes. That went better than I thought it would.

"But, how is that supposed to get us out of financial trouble? You'd need to be a private tutor to make the kind of money you say you can" she says worriedly.

"Or, you have a rich, bratty teenage student" At least that part's not a lie.

The conversation ends here as I park and we jump out of the car. I take her in my arms and kiss her on the lips. I hate lying to her like this but I really don't have a choice. The truth would be way too much for her.

I just don't know if I can keep up the charades for long…

"HELP ME!" a girl cries out from the center of the mall.

I find myself groaning. I had just found this jacket in my size!

"What's going on?" Christy asks running to the store window to look over the edge. Reluctantly, I join her just as Betsy and Thorn run out of their changing rooms in the outfits they were trying on.

"HELP!" the girl screams again as this huge dude grabs her around the waist and lifts her over his head.

"I am the Juggernaut!" the man bellows. Tell us something we don't know! I think to myself sarcastically.

"We have to help her!" Betsy shouts as she starts to take off. Thorn stops her however.

"No! We can't be discovered!" she says suddenly. Who made her boss?

Something catches my eye. As everyone is running for their lives, a group of teens is running into the building. Unsurprisingly, Christy catches it before I do.

"Emma, look! It's Scott!"

Holy Crap! It is Scott! He was leading his team of spandex clad teens into a formation around the big guy. He was shouting orders and—man, that outfit really brings out his ass.

>Not the time to think about this, Emma!> Betsy exclaims urgently into my head. She's always in other people's business AND minds.

The group's attention was still on the teens, the "Juggernaut" and the captive who was a teenage girl with short blond hair.

"Gangway!"

We all spin around to see Dax rushing down the stairs to the battle.

"Oh no! Dax! Get back here!"

Fear floods through me without my permission. He was going to get himself killed! But we couldn't reveal ourselves.

>I think that he's already blown our cover for us, Emma!> Thorn yells into my head as she rushes down the stairs behind Dax. Betsy follows suit without delay. Christy stays behind, though, and shoots me a shy look.

"Well?" she asks. It's obvious she's not going to risk her life without me. I merely scoff at her.

"Well what? Let's kick some ass!"

The shy look is completely erased from her face and is replaced with a smirk that matches mine.

I take off down the stairs, eager for battle and eager to see what my teacher can really do.

And maybe teach him a few things myself…

The wait for Part 2 of 'Points of a Love triangle will come out soon. Keep your fingers crossed. :)