Chapter 2

Over at the Cyberspace, Kira sat at a table with Ethan and Conner. As they awaited Thea's performance, a new girl appeared through the doors of the Cyberspace. She had a blue tube top on with a tan shirt on over with a jean skirt. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and she had her left hand and wrist wrapped in a brace. She had a necklace dangling with a pendant on it that looked the same as Thea's. It had a blue phoenix on it with her name, Skyler Lyn, engraved in blue letters. She sat down on one of the computers and began to type. Conner watched Skyler's every move as she continued to type at the computer. Kira looked at Conner's dazed face. Kira waved her hand in front of Conner's face and was still surprised that she couldn't gain his attention. "Earth to Conner!"she said. Conner finally snapped out of his trance and looked over at Kira. "Huh? What'd I miss,"asked Conner as he entered back into reality. Ethan rolled his eyes at the clueless jock and looked back down into his notebook on the table. "Why do you keep looking at her?"asked Kira. Conner looked around the room trying to ignore what Kira was saying but she wasn't going to let him get away with it. "Conner, you have been staring at that girl at the computer ever since she walked in. Admit it, you like her." Ethan looked up from his notebook and stared at Conner. "Does Mr. McKnight have a crush on Skyler?"asked Ethan as he looked over to the girl at the computer. "I don't have a crush on her! She just seems familiar. I feel like I have seem her before,"said Conner. Kira rolled her eyes as she held her guitar close in her lap.
Trent approached the table with a tray of sodas for his friends. Kira turned around in her chair and looked at Trent. "Hey Trent, do you know who that girl is over there?"she asked as she pointed to the girl at the computer. Trent looked over at the computers and saw the young woman in turquoise typing. "Yeah, that's Skyler Lyn. She just transferred in with her brother Damien. I think Damien is dancing with Thea today or after her; something like that." Trent placed the tray of drinks on the table and wiped his hands with the towel on his shoulder. "Thea should be performing pretty soon. I'll be finished here pretty soon and once I finish, we can head over to Dr. O's lab." Trent walked back into the kitchen and returned to work. Conner refocused his attention over to the computers where Skyler sat staring at the computer screen. "I think I am gonna go talk to her,"said Conner. As her approached the computer where Skyler sat, Haley came up from behind and tapped him on the shoulder. "Conner, have you seen Thea?" Conner shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't seen her." As Haley leaned to the side and looked out the window, she saw Thea pull up in her car with Damien in the passenger seat. Skyler got up from her computer and went outside to where Thea and Damien pulled up. Conner watched through the window as he saw Skyler greet Thea with a hug and then jumped into Damien's arms. Damien swung Skyler around in a circle as she chortled with glee. Conner wanted to be the one to swing her and listen to her laugh. As Damien set Skyler down and pulled out a bag from the trunk. Thea locked her car and walked into Cyberspace with Damien and Skyler. She recognized Conner and approached him with glee. Conner observed Thea's unusual ensemble as she took her final steps towards him. She had on a sleeveless purple top on with tassels hanging from the bottom of the shirt top. Her arm gloves were sleek with tassels hanging. She wore a headband with rhinestones and wore sleek black pants. "Conner, it's nice to see you again,"she greeted. "Likewise Thea,"said Conner as he focused his attention over to Skyler. "Oh, let me introduce you. Conner, I would like you to meet my dance partner and Damien,"said Thea as she gestured her hand to Damien. Damien put his hand out to Conner. "Nice to meet you Conner,"said Damien. Conner looked at Damien, grabbed his hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you to,"said Conner as he let go of Damien's hand and looked at him. Damien had on a black shirt with a silver mesh top on over it. His black pants gleamed in the light with the silver rhinestones going down the sides. The one thing Conner noticed was his necklace; a pendant dangling from a thin gold chain. It had a silver phoenix with his name engraved in silver letters. "Oh there you are! C'mon your on right now,"said Haley as she pulled Thea by the arm over to the stage. Damien followed behind and left Skyler and Conner behind.
"Break a leg you two!"called Skyler as she stood next to Conner. "Well, I don't believe we have met,"gestured Conner as he looked into Skyler's crystal blue eyes. Skyler looked at Conner and smiled. "No we haven't met. I'm Skyler Lyn but most of my friends just call me Skyler,"she said. "Well, it's nice to meet you. You know, maybe I could get to know you better maybe buy you a soda or something,"said Conner. "Sorry, I can't stand carbonated drinks,"said Skyler. Conner gritted his teeth as he mentally kicked himself. "A soda! Nice job McKnight! What kind of man are you to offer a soda! You don't offer a soda you offer something greater than that!" "Although I do enjoy smoothies,"said Skyler with a smile. Conner lost focus and began to stare at Skyler's hand in the brace. Skyler tried to regain his attention . "Is there something wrong?"she asked. "Don't say anything about her hand. That would be a stupid mistake. She said she likes smoothies so just take her up on that offer,"Conner thought. "Conner, are you okay?"asked Skyler. "What happened to your hand?"Conner asked with a crack in his throat. Skyler looked down at the skin tone brace on her arm. She looked up at Conner with a huff in her voice. "That was a random comment." Conner snapped back into reality and realized what he had just said. "Why the hell did you say that! You are such a moron!" Conner yelled in his head while he began to mentally kick himself again. "Skyler! I didn't mean to say that! I don't...I ... sorry,"said Conner. "That was the most pathetic attempt anyone has ever made to impress me. I'll talk to you later Conner but right now, my brother needs me,"said Skyler as she whipped her hair in Conner's face and walked away. Conner stood still dumbfounded by what he had just done. "I can't believe I just blew the chance I had with Skyler." Skyler walked past the table where Ethan and Kira sat. Ethan looked at the anger in Skyler's step and just looked back at Kira. "Well, looks like Mr. McKnight didn't get the girl,"snickered Ethan. "You win some you lose some,"said Kira. Conner stood frozen on the floor; he couldn't move. A warm feeling descended on Conner when he felt the hand of a friend touch his shoulder. As Conner turned around, he saw Tommy standing behind him. "Hey Conner, you alright? You look a bit dazed." Conner shook his head. "No worries, I'm fine,"said Conner. "Hey, I didn't miss Thea's performance did I?"asked Tommy as he faced the stage. "No, she's going on right now,"said Conner as he and Tommy began to approach the stage.
Haley walked on stage and put her lips up to the microphone. "Alright everyone, there is a special treat in store for everyone today. Please welcome Thea Reynolds and her partner Damien Clark." Haley picked up the microphone and walked off the stage with the audience applauding for Thea and Damien as the walked on stage. Damien stood on one end of the stage while Thea had her back to the audience with her left leg popped and her right hand propped next to her ear. Damien stood at the other end of the stage with his legs apart and his head looking down at the floor. Haley went over to the sound system an put their cd into the player. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Mambo Number 5,"played the stereo. With the music beginning, Thea began to bounce her hips and Damien popped his shoulders up and down. Thea began to walk over to Damien on the other side of the stage with her body hunched forward and Damien walked to her. They reached the middle of the stage by the time the lyrics rolled out of the stereo. Their feet began to tap with every beat.

One, two, three, four, five
Everybody in the car, so come on
Let's ride to the liqueur-store around the corner
The boys say they want some gin and juice But I really don't wanna
Beerbust like I had last week
I must stay deep
Because talk is cheap
I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita
And as I continue you know
They are getting sweeter

The crowd began to clap in unison as the two continued to tear up the stage with their taps. Skyler sat at the very front with a big smile on her face. Tommy stood next to the table where Ethan and Kira sat and watched in amazement. Thea threw her leg directly up in the air, pulled it close to her body and then fell onto Damien's shoulder. Damien caught Thea's leg and threw it back up in the air. Thea placed her foot back on the floor and continued to tap in the center of the stage with Damien. "There is no way in hell that girl is my teacher's aide,"thought Tommy as he stared bewildered towards the stage.

And jump and down go and move it all around
Shake your head to the sound
Put your hand on the ground
Take one step left
And one step right
One to the front and one to the side
Clap your hands once
And clap your hands twice
And if it looks like this
Then you are doing it right

Thea tossed her body to the floor as she rolled over her toes. Damien grabbed her hands as she rolled down and twirled her on the floor. Thea arched her body up and then threw her legs into the center splits while Damien let her hands go and threw his leg up in the air vertically. Their song ended with a boom and the audience clapped ferociously. Kira and Ethan stood up out of their chairs and clapped and cheered with Conner behind them whistling with glee. Tommy cheered and clapped along with the others. Thea and Damien held their pose for a few seconds and then stood up on the stage. Skyler began jumping up and down in front of the stage , screaming and clapping. "I know I probably won't have my voice tomorrow morning but my Thea and Damien are worth every scream!" thought Skyler. Damien and Thea took their bows and walked off the stage. Skyler tried to make her way to the end of the stage to greet her friends but was stopped by the crowd. Skyler tried to cut her way through the traffic jam but couldn't find a way out.
All of the sudden, Skyler felt a sharp pain in her neck. She tried to scream for help but was silenced but the pain in her neck. Skyler became unconscious and fell into the arms of a mysterious stranger. He gagged her mouth and began to drag her out of Cyberspace. Kira looked over her shoulder as the others walked through the disbursing crowd to greet Thea and Damien. To her surprise, she saw Skyler being dragged away by a mysterious stranger in black and sleek silver. Kira followed the stranger out of Cyberspace but tried to be as hidden as possible. As the stranger walked outside Cyberspace, Kira hid behind a plant and watched his every move. The stranger held his hand out and summoned an invisi-portal. The stranger threw Skyler's lifeless body over his shoulder and stepped through the invisi-portal. Kira watched Skyler's arms dangle as she laid over the stranger's back. After he had crossed the barrier of the invisi-portal, Kira dodged towards the portal and disappeared with them.