Megin Levin's POV

Chapter 3

I slammed my locker shut, but my anger was spent, and I actually felt exhausted. I just wanted to go home and relax.

But apparently the universe had other plans for me.

I didn't get two feet out of the door before I ran into Ben. Despite my attempts to just slide around him, he made it obvious that I wasn't going anywhere by sticking his arm in my path. I briefly considered breaking it, then let out a sharp breath and said,

"If you're expecting an apology for what happened, you're gonna be here for a long—"

"I don't expect you to apologize. I just want you to listen." He said, stopping me before I could finish. I blinked a little at that.

"Yeah, well, I'm not in the mood." I ducked under his arm and walked past him. But then I paused for a minute. What if he wanted to say sorry for what he had done to Kevin? I realized that I wasn't so mad at him for doing it, but for showing no remorse, no sign at all showing that he wanted to fix it. I mean, he was supposed to be a hero after all. I turned around.

"What exactly did you want to say to me?" Ben got a look of relief on his face and opened his mouth and—

Was cut off by a choked scream, coming from just outside. We both rushed out to find Kevin and Gwen locked in battle with more DNAliens. Dear God, where did they come from?

I was about to jump the one on Kevin when another pointed a stun-gun at me, and everything got dark.

When I woke up, it was nighttime, and I was on the cold asphalt where I had passed out. I quickly sat up, then instantly regretted it as my head felt like a ton of bricks fell on it. I'm ashamed to say that it hurt so much that I groaned. I put a hand to my temple and looked around. I could see a shape that looked like Ben in the dim light. I tried standing, failed, and just crawled over to him. He wasn't far. He was facedown, unconscious, so I rolled him over, putting my hands on either side of his head, checking for a concussion. There didn't seem to be any, so I roused him in a caring, and gentle manner.

"BEN! Wake up, c'mon!" he was coming to as I shook him, and noticed a small sheath of paper next to him. In spiky handwriting was scrawled,

PLUMBERS

WE HAVE YOUR TEAMATES

DO NOT INTERFERE WITH OUR DEALINGS ANY LONGER, AND WE WILL KEEP THEM ALIVE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RETRIEVE THEM. ANY SIGNS OF RESCUE WILL RESULT IN THEIR DEATH.

-DNALIENS

I began to hyperventilate. They had them, Kevin and Gwen, they were gone. I tried to get hold of myself. Calm down Megin, calm down! What would Kevin do if you were gone? He'd go save your ass!

"Meg?" Ben said. Ben. I had forgotten all about him. "What happened? Where are Kevin and Gwen? Megin what happened?" I knew he was panicking when he began to repeat himself. Not completely calm yet myself, I silently handed him the note. He read it and we sat in silence for a minute.

When I was sure that my voice wouldn't break, I spoke. "Come on. Let's go." I got up, wobbled a bit, but refused to go down. Ben looked at me bewilderedly.

"Go? Go where?" I looked at him like he was mental.

"Where do you think? We have to go get them. I don't know about you, but I'm not about to let some nasty alien hold my brother hostage. And I strangely like Gwen, so what the hell, she's a bonus." Ben nodded.

"But how do we find them? Gwen's usually our tracker." He slowly got up too, but fell. I tried not to laugh as I helped him. When he was up we were kinda close, like in those movies where the heroine and the love interest are just playing around, then suddenly realize their attraction for each other, and she's close to him, definitely within kissing proximity and he smells really good…

But just like in the movie, I remembered my responsibilities (not to mention the fact that I hate Ben) and stepped away. I caught a disappointed look in his eye before he awkwardly turned away. What did he have to be disappointed about? I mean I know that I'm no dog, but c'mon, he had a girlfriend anyway…

I shook my head to clear it, and replied to his unanswered question.

"I put I tracker in Kevin's cell. Wherever he is, I know." Ben looked at me funny. "What?" I asked defensively.

"Obsessive much?"

"I like to call it fiercely protective." I said, then reached into my pocket, pulling out my handy-dandy locater. The signal was a bit fuzzy, but towards the north-east direction from here. "They're probably underground, the picture is weak. Uptown though. Now all we need is transportation…" I trailed off, instantly thinking of the car. I ran as fast a could to the parking lot, where it thankfully was still parked.

Ben caught up with me and said, "Okay, but Kevin would never just leave his keys in the ignition." I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I've been a gangbanger for the past six years. You insult me by implying that I wouldn't know how to hotwire a car."

Ben began to gape at me in a 'you-can't-be-serious' way. I grinned.