Mako's Message: So, I'm actually kind of freaked out that I've broken 50 chapters. I knew it was going to happen, but it still kind of freaks me out when I make the new chapter file. Hopefully I'll get over it before I hit 60 chapters. Anyway... we are making progress. Yes we are. We're inching along, but we're hitting plot points. I'm gonna try to pick up the pace a little, and I hope you wont object to that, but I can't let myself keep getting delayed by new idea's springing up mid chapter. One of which you'll find after the chapter.


Okay, so all that stuff I said before about whether or not I was important to Dave has been been put to rest. I am important to him, and Dave has proven himself to be extra special awesome.

When I was leaving school on friday, Jessi grabbed me and stuffed something into my backpack, said, "From Dave." and then ran off. I had no idea what she'd given me, since Marcus was waiting for me. (In a damn police cruiser to boot. I mean really? Was he trying to make a point, or just embarrass me? If he was he'll have to try a lot harder than that.) So it sat there in my bag, eating at me until he finally left for the night, reminding me that he'd know if I left.

And what did I find when I dug into my bag?

A cell phone.

A cheap, pre-paid cellphone, but a cell phone.

There was a message waiting for me on it, "Forgive me?"

I immediately texted back, "It's a start."

He sent right back, "Oh good. I was starting to worry Marcus took it,"

It was kind of nice to know he was waiting for me to text him back. And it was great to finally get to talk to him after nearly two weeks. We talked all night and I even took the phone to bed with me. It was kind of silly, but I got kind of a thrill out of putting him on speaker phone and setting the phone on the pillow beside me and pretending he was really laying next to me... The things I admit to you.

Today he texted me with something that was... really kind of surprising. That Dr. Gravity guy invited him to join an actual team of heroes. He's going to meet them tomorrow night, and he asked if I wanted to come with him.

I asked him, "So what happened to wanting me to live a normal life?"

He said, "I don't think I realized just how much this all meant to you until you punched me in the face over it. And, I figure that if you're part of a team it'll be safer. There'll always be someone to watch your back, ya know?"

It was sweet, if a little insulting that he thought I needed a whole team to watch my back. The only back up I need is from a guy with a sniper rifle. Anybody else would just be in the way.

I had to remind him that I was grounded though. As awesome as it would be to be part of a superhero team, I didn't want to make this whole situation worse by sneaking out.

When I put that suit on again, it's going to be with Marcus' approval. Even if I have guilt trip him to hell and back to get it.


~DELETED SCENE~This scene was removed for sake of pacing, as well as the realization that Marcus would have Mindy's bike locked up, at best, and therefore this wouldn't have made any sense.

I just couldn't stand being in this house so I said "damn the consequences I'm going to see Dave."

I don't know what the point was though.

I took my bike and I rode to his house, stashing the bike behind the garage. I didn't see any lights on in the house, so I climbed up onto the garage and waited outside his window for him to come home. After awhile I realized I might have made a mistake. I had no idea if he was even going to come home. He could've headed straight out as Kick-Ass. He could've already been out on patrol.

That was when the light came on in the room. I couldn't believe I hadn't heard him come home, but there he was. I was going to go knock on his window, but then I saw Katie walk into the room.

Dave sat on his bed and she sat down on his lap. They were talking, and then they started kissing, and then I turned away and climbed down, got on my bike and went home.

I don't know what I was thinking.