Hello everyone! I am still here, believe it or not. All I have to say about this chapter is that it ended completely differently than I planned. And for those of you who care, I'm using C-Cat a ton more than I originally meant to. He's turned out to be quite something.
Xaris of the Fish – Thanks so much!
Moonjava – Thanks!
giveGodtheglory – Hehe, C-Cat is my fav charrie, I think. Glad you like it!
Jjonahjameson – I'm so glad you're still reading and reviewing! And sorry about the way slow update.
Griselda Banks – Yeah, I didn't really emphasize Jake's last name because that part was written from Nikki's point of view. Why would she have any reason to think anything of his last name? But nice catch in making the connection! And I'm not sure anybody can entirely understand C-Cat…but he is way cool, I'll admit. J
Tokoyo – I can't tell you how happy I was to get your review! C-Cat is one weird dude. And I loved writing the dialogue between MJ, Peter, and Venom. I hope I kept him mostly in character. I know I made at least one mistake, but I tried my best. Thanks again!
Trekkie in a Truckerhat – Thanks so much! Glad to have you back.
Yyunesprith – Thank you thank you for the compliments! They are very appreciated. As far as Aaron goes, I guess that my explanation for Nikki's behavior is that 1. she has no reason not to be going out with him and 2. I think you might understand a little better after reading this chapter. ;) And if I was Venom, I think I would be a little less inclined to be too venomous to the people I was hoping would save my life. Hehe, Anderby…you'll find out!
Ficfanang – Thanks! And I have to say that your review was a reminder to me to get on this story and finish this chappie!
Logan – C-Cat is a lot more complex than he originally seemed and I think everyone has noticed that. Thanks for the review!
All Dressed Up and No Place to Go
Jake casually flicked a magazine into Nikki's arms as they passed in the hall. She didn't look at him, but stuck it between the books she was carrying.
Nikki avoided contact with Jake and Allie at school so as not to arouse any suspicion. It got a bit annoying, but she was used to it by now. Besides, after the incident with the crystallized door, she hadn't spoken to Allie.
Flipping through the magazine in class, Nikki spotted a little note penned in blue ink.
Looks like we made the serious news!
She read through the article. It was mostly speculation made to sound like fact. Nikki was about to put it away when she noticed a small picture. It was blurry and dark, but she immediately recognized the person in the photo. How could she not?
"This is going too far, Jake," Nikki muttered darkly. She shoved the incriminating article into her backpack crossly. "I'm in the news as a criminal."
"Yesterday we discussed the causes of the Civil War. Today we will be looking at…"
The teacher's droning lecture signaled the cue for Nikki's mind to wonder. What she wouldn't give to have C-Cat's abilities once in a while. Just stop time and get up and leave the room for a while.
She smiled, her eyes retaining their blank stare. What a funny kid. She'd been trying without success to talk with him again but had discovered a very discouraging fact: C-Cat was virtually impossible to find.
If he wasn't anywhere in the store or basement, he could very well be in his own little dimension, with no way to reach him. And he hadn't shown any intention of continuing their conversation.
Nikki clenched her fist and brought it down silently on her notebook. I'm gonna talk to him again. He can't hide forever.
The bell rang; an irritating clang that seemed to pound in her temples.
Allowing herself to be jostled out of the room and into the halls, Nikki sighed inwardly. She could feel the hum of excitement that sang in the air. Everyone seemed to have some reason to be in a good mood except her.
It was prom night.
"AAAAAGGGHHHH!" screamed Allie, darting out of her room.
Nikki poked her head out from behind her door. Allie was holding up her sparkling magenta skirts with one hand, and pointing hysterically with the other.
"C-Cat, you get out now!" she cried shrilly. "You almost ruined my dress!"
There was a loud giggle in reply.
Allie reached into the bathroom, grabbed the first thing she saw, and lobbed it into her room with all her might. She withdrew against the wall and waited for the resounding crash. But there was nothing.
Just as she opened one eye to see what had happened, C-Cat appeared beside her. He was holding Nikki's curling iron and grinning sinisterly.
He placed the iron back on the bathroom counter, still smiling at Allie. Then he disappeared.
Nikki closed her door again. She'd just missed another chance to talk to that kid.
She smacked her forehead; then suddenly remembered that she was wearing a lot more makeup than usual. She tried to walk too quickly in the long dress and ended up stumbling.
"Stupid skirt," Nikki snapped at it. Making her way more carefully to her dresser this time, she sat down. Her reflection stared back at her gravely. But it was – dare she think it – a rather pretty kind of seriousness.
She touched her hair gently. With it all pinned up with jewels and held out of her face, Nikki realized that she had a growing resemblance to her mom.
Her green eyes sparkled with life beneath a layer of eye shadow and mascara. Her lips looked all that more lovely, painted carefully instead of smeared with the cheap gloss she usually wore.
Standing up, Nikki eyed her figure critically. She hated to wear anything sleeveless and this dress didn't even have straps.
It was white. A little bit of delicate pink curled about the skirts. Nikki knew it was very much a princess dress; the kind that could stand up on their own while its wearer struggles to hoist their legs high enough to step into it.
Her arms were too sculpted, she decided, but there was nothing to be done about that.
She bent down to gather up her jewelry. Odrade had allowed both her and Allie to get some real jewels for the prom. That had been Allie's doing.
Attaching the tiny diamond to her ears, Nikki felt too extravagant. As it was, she and Allie would probably have the most expensive dresses at either prom.
Jake could have had the most expensive tux, but, as he put it, "No matter how much it costs, I'm still gonna look like a dancing penguin."
Done adding the finishing touches, Nikki escaped upstairs unnoticed. The plan was for her to walk to Claire's house, and Luke and Aaron would pick them up. Nikki didn't dare ask Aaron to come to Odrade's Fresh Food Mart.
She had just quietly closed the secret door when a voice to her right made her jump. Nikki whirled around, attempting a fight stance in high heels and floor length skirts.
"All dressed up but no place to go."
Mortified, she let her hands fall back to their sides. "Jake."
"Nikki," he said. He was leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed and looking quite striking in his tuxedo.
"Look," she said, "I know I told you I wasn't going to prom, but I wasn't lying."
He laughed humorlessly and straightened up. "You're just going out on a midnight stroll in a formal."
"No, I'm not. I'm going to a different prom – at another school." Nikki stared hard at him. "Why on earth would you care anyway?"
Jake shrugged. He kept a maddeningly unreadable expression on his face. "No reason. So," he said. "How are you getting there?"
Nikki ducked her head without meaning to. She felt a little embarrassed at having to walk all the way to Claire's. "I'm gonna walk over to my friend's house, and we'll get picked up from there." She lifted her chin defiantly.
"You're going to walk around New York City all by yourself at this time of night?" he said skeptically.
"It's not that late," she said, her words lacking conviction.
Jake stepped forward suddenly, offering her his arm in a gentlemanly manner. "Would my lady mind if I escorted her?" he said in his best 1800's imitation voice.
Nikki burst out laughing. He looked so funny, standing there in a tuxedo and winking at her and talking with a voice that was much too deep to belong to him.
She very nearly accepted his offer. But then she remembered the incident only a month ago when Allie had gotten jealous. If she saw him giving Nikki his arm, it would look ten times worse.
"No, I – I can't." She dropped the hand she had been lifting.
Jake cocked his head at her. "Allie?" he said softly, reverting back to his own voice.
Nikki opened her mouth. She closed it. By the look in his eyes, she could tell he knew more than he let on about how Allie had been treating her.
He lowered his arm. "I'll at least walk you there. You shouldn't be wandering around by yourself in this side of town." He winked again. "We're not the only thieves in New York."
She smiled a little, thinking of her still-secret abilities. "Oh, I think I can handle it."
He raised an eyebrow, laughed, and motioned her toward the door. "That's okay. I don't mind. Allie and I don't have to leave for another half hour."
"Won't she notice?" asked Nikki, casting the secret door a furtive glance. She half expected Allie to come walking in at any moment.
Jake closed his eyes. His lips parted as he murmured something. Nikki couldn't hear him saying anything and realized that he was using his powers.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing." Jake grinned roguishly at her.
"Right." Nikki swept out of the store and he followed.
It was still quite light out as they walked together down the busy sidewalks. Jake laughed aloud several times at the stares they got for being so dressed up. He nudged her. "This is almost as good as the stares we get in our costumes."
"Shh!" she hissed sharply, shaking her head.
Nikki forced her feet to keep moving at the same speed. She still got skittish whenever any of the group mentioned their "jobs."
She felt Jake's suit brush against her bare arm as he elbowed her again. "Hey," he said soothingly. "Don't get all nervous on me."
"I'm not." She restrained the glow that tried to creep over her face after he touched her. And this glow wasn't blue. I'm totally losing it, she thought with a mental sigh.
Jake seemed to notice something was up, so he started talking.
"I wonder if C-Cat's still tormenting Allie," he mused aloud.
Nikki contemplated the odd little boy briefly. "Naw. He'll be driving somebody else crazy by now."
"Like Odrade," suggested Jake evilly. "I'd almost join him in that right now."
Nikki laughed.
She forgot about being nervous, and about why she was even walking with him in the first place. Jake had that effect on most people. He was fun to talk to, always joking around. He had the talent of being able to make anybody feel comfortable. Nikki imagined that even his worst enemy would have to laugh along with him.
Turning somewhat serious, she said, "C-Cat's not just an annoying little mute, Jake."
"Oh?" he asked. "How so? You haven't been talking to him again have you?"
Nikki knew he was just teasing. She nearly corrected him; told him all about her mystifying conversation with C-Cat and her determination to speak to him more, but she stopped herself. For some reason, she felt that C-Cat wouldn't want anybody else knowing about it.
Instead, she settled for, "He has his own little secrets."
"Doesn't everybody?" said Jake.
"You've certainly done a pretty good job of keeping yours to yourself," Nikki told him. "Where're you from, anyway?"
He shook a finger at her. "And you've told us all about your family and past life."
She said nothing.
"See, Nik," he went on, "All of us have secrets, and it makes things a whole lot less complicated if they stay that way. In reality, how much do you really know for sure about any of us?"
"Enough," she admitted. "And that's all."
Jake smiled sadly. "You know about Allie's dad, and I'd be willing to put a few dollars on you knowing something about C-Cat too. But do any of us really know Thorn?"
"Can anybody?" said Nikki.
Jake chuckled. "Probably not."
"But you can tell me about Veron Odrade, right?" she pressed. "I know that he's no mystery to you. Where's he from, and who does he work for?"
"You don't think Veron Odrade is his real name do you?" Jake had a weird look in his eyes. Nikki felt an odd twist of fear in her stomach.
"No," she said quickly.
After a few uncomfortable minutes, he said slyly, "So…how 'bout them Yankees?"
And neither of them said anymore about the subject.
A block from Claire's house, they stopped to part ways. Nikki was hesitant to leave. She could tell that Jake was too.
For a moment, they both stood there without speaking, shuffling their feet. At length, Jake looked at his watch. "You're a couple minutes early."
"Yeah," said Nikki.
The empty silence that followed hung in the air pathetically.
He looked at her. "You've changed, ya know that? You're a lot different now."
Nikki straightened up self-consciously. She brushed imaginary specks off her dress. "In what way?" she demanded.
"Well, you're more independent," he began, evidently realizing how awkward this topic could quickly become. "And…"
"And?"
Jake appeared to be wishing that he could take back his first comment. He stuck his hands in his tux pockets, ill at ease.
Nikki felt her spine prickle. She longed to hear his next words, yet dreaded them at the same time. For the first time, she was grateful to be all dolled up for the prom.
He still hadn't said anything. It seemed like hours were crawling by. Why wouldn't he just spit it out? She resisted the urge to tap her foot impatiently.
"And you're more confident."
Nikki stared at him.
Jake continued, talking faster. "When you first showed up, I kept expecting to wake up every morning and find out that you'd run off. You were like a scared rabbit; always ready to bolt."
"But I didn't," she said, an automatic response.
Right then, she found herself half wishing that she had run off. Why on earth had she gotten her hopes up? What was he supposed to say? she upbraided herself angrily. That I was pretty? He's about to go to prom with his girlfriend…
"I should go," she said. She could feel her cheeks warming at an alarming rate.
Jake began backpedaling down the sidewalk as he talked. "I'll be back to walk you home. There were some unsavory people around on the streets tonight." He saluted with a wink. Then he pivoted on his heel and set off at a steady pace toward the food mart.
Nikki waved weakly and hurried up the steps to Claire's door. She was glad to be away.
She rang the doorbell. Her finger had barely lifted off the button when the door flew open.
"Oh my gosh, Nikki!" cried Claire in delight. "You look gorgeous!"
Nikki allowed her friend to whisk her inside. Closing the door, Claire gave her a big hug. "This is going to be so much fun! And you'll finally get to meet Luke." She giggled girlishly and blushed beneath a layer of foundation.
"Hey," she said, touching Nikki's cheeks, "you've gone and messed up your lovely makeup job."
Nikki started. "Wha-?"
Claire drew Nikki into her bedroom. Sitting her down in front of a large bureau – not as large as Nikki's, but still quite roomy – Claire set about fixing the problem. She bustled around, gathering up several bottles and potions. "Streaks," she explained.
Nikki leaned in close to the mirror, gazing at her reflection.
Two thin lines trailed down her face; one from each of her eyes.
Tears.
Claire gently wiped them off and added a dab of foundation. She didn't ask why Nikki had been upset. Nikki was grateful.
The doorbell a few minutes later sent both girls into a flurry of last-minute activity. Nikki gathered up her composure again and pasted on a smile.
"I know that you'll love Luke," Claire said excitedly as they scuttled to the door.
Nikki's smile turned genuine. "Ooh, the elusive Luke. I can't wait."
Claire swung the door open wide. Two young men stood on the steps, each looking somewhat uncomfortable in tuxes. Aaron was hardly recognizable with his unmanageable shock of hair parted and mostly tamed. But he still looked nice.
He entered first. Nikki tried to be polite while attempting to get a good look at Luke. Upon later recollection, she realized that she had answered only about half of Aaron's questions, and ignored most of his answers to her questions.
After what seemed like an eternity of formal and pointless greetings, Aaron finally got the picture and moved out of the way.
Claire and Luke stood in the doorway together. Claire's face was lit up like Nikki had never seen in before. She was practically radiating joy.
Luke was not at all what Nikki had been expecting. Her first observation was that he had to have the oddest skin she had ever seen. It was an unnatural white color, not pasty, but very pale.
She quickly realized why it seemed so odd: Luke was at least partly Hispanic, yet had an unhealthy hue to his face. But his dark brown eyes sparkled with life. He had high cheekbones and a wide smile, and his dark hair was slicked back in a dashing manner. Nikki liked him immediately.
He held out a hand to shake hers. "It's nice to meet you, Nikki." He had a slight accent.
"You too." She thought Claire had to be very lucky.
Aaron looked between them. "Shall we head out?" He sounded a little tense.
There was a collective murmur of agreement.
Pairing up, they set off down the front steps and out to Aaron's car. It was a brilliant blue jaguar. That's so Aaron, thought Nikki. He took a few swift steps ahead to open the door for his date.
She started to get in and noticed Claire giving her a fervent look. Nikki slipped her friend a secretive thumbs up. Luke seemed perfect. Claire relaxed visibly.
But her relaxation didn't last past the Aaron turning the key in the ignition.
Nikki lunged forward to grip the dashboard in front of her as Aaron pealed out of the driveway. Before she had even recovered from shock, she was slammed into the car door as they screeched around another corner.
"Aaron!" she screamed. "What are you doing?"
"Driving," he said calmly.
Nikki stared at him, flabbergasted. He didn't look at her. His lips were pressed together in a tight line. He was angry at her.
Wedging herself back in the seat, she directed her gaze straight ahead. Maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't get hit. Or - and this was the better but less likely option – they would get pulled over by a cop first.
Aaron didn't direct any more of his conversation at Nikki during the ride. He spent most of it showing off and honking obnoxiously at slow drivers. When he did talk, it was to shout a reassurance to Claire that he wasn't going to get them killed.
Mortified, Nikki had to force herself not to literally sink down through the seat. She had never been so embarrassed in her life. Her danger sense was continually ringing in her head.
Howling sirens caught her ears as they neared the bridge. She didn't dare twist around to see if the police were getting close.
Claire suddenly cried out in alarm. At the very moment they merged into a lane of traffic on the bridge, a black SUV tried to swerve around them.
They had landed in the middle of a high-speed chase.
Nikki was never quite sure how the following scene actually played itself out. Somehow Aaron - already going to fast - lost control of the vehicle.
Everything slowed down to a crawl. It seemed to Nikki that some sick-minded person was just trying to make her experience the entire incident on slow-mo, rather than actually saving her life.
They did a 360. Then somebody hit Aaron's beautiful new jaguar from the left. They careened to the right, got turned about by another collision, and smacked nose-first into the guard rails.
Nikki was sure something white had exploded in her face. But it started to deflate. The air-bag.
That would have been the end of it, but for the still-spinning car that bumped them from behind.
She heard the crunch of metal breaking metal. She felt time nearly stop. She was vaguely aware of vertigo as the car started to teeter, almost like some nearly forgotten dream.
Nikki's survival reflexes kicked in, ignoring her own protests against it. They can't know who I am! Her body didn't care.
She swung around to the left, ghosting through the seatbelt, and wrapping her right arm around Aaron while kicking off her shoes. Her feet gripped the floor. She bent her knees like a loaded spring; then released it in a burst of energy.
Pinning Aaron to her side, Nikki's hands each grabbed an arm of the passengers in the back seat. She plunged through the seat, her momentum still carrying her. Her ghosting time through the rest of the car was remarkably short.
The group shot out like a rocket. Time returned to normal.
Nikki let go of them, her arms flailing wildly as she flew through the air. She screamed. Her bare feet hit the pavement first.
They clung to it tightly, and she ended in a pitiful imitation of one of her father's classic poses: the crouch. Except that it was a great deal more difficult in a formal dress.
She straightened up unsteadily, looking for her friends. She wished that she hadn't done that crouch. It was too smooth, too impossible.
Claire was crawling toward Luke, sobbing. She was sort of dragging her leg. Nikki realized in horror that it was probably broken.
Luke sat up just as Claire reached him. He was coughing and gagging, one hand pressed against the side of his head. It was bleeding freely.
Aaron was the closet to Nikki. He had been knocked out. His sleeve was torn and soaked with blood, and his once white shirt was blackened with dirt. Nikki guessed that he had slid across the ground on his chest.
The paramedics had arrived. As several raced toward Aaron wheeling a stretcher, Nikki padded barefoot to Claire and Luke.
Claire looked up when Nikki knelt beside them. "Nikki?" she gasped. Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.
Nikki chose not to acknowledge her best friend's fear and confusion. She studied Luke instead. "How's he doing?"
Luke coughed again and lay back down. Claire swallowed. "I'm not sure." She whispered, "Luke, please stay awake. Help's here." She gave him a light peck on the forehead.
Paramedics were coming for them too. Claire hung her head. "He's gonna be in the hospital for a long time again. He hates it there."
"Again?" Nikki started to ask.
"Listen," Claire suddenly jerked her close. "I promise that Luke and I won't tell anybody about what you did if you promise to explain everything to me later."
Nikki winced. What choice did she have? "Fine. But what about Aaron?"
Claire started to move away as the medics reached them. "You kidding? He must've had a concussion. They won't believe a word he says."
As the two girls were separated to be checked over individually, Claire added, "And after a while, he probably won't believe it either."
The paramedic cocked an eyebrow at Nikki. "What?"
She shook her head.
"Ok, Miss," he said, disbelievingly. "Now…anything broken?"
"No."
After making sure that she really was fine, he whistled in amazement. "I don't see many people come out of a crash like that in your condition…except for the ones Spider-Man saves." He gave her a funny look.
Nikki felt her stomach clench. She still hadn't thought up a story for how they got out of the car so fast.
"Was Spider-Man here?" he asked, hopefully. "My kid would just die to have his autograph."
Nikki shook her head, a little numb with relief.
"Oh," said the paramedic disappointedly. "Well, maybe some other day."
"You know," he said as he led her over to the ambulance, "every so often my son talks about how much he wishes that I was Spider-Man. He thinks that Spidey must be the coolest dad out there."
Nikki laughed hollowly along with him.
Before the man left her at the ambulance, she touched his sleeve. "If your son is interested, tell him that I've seen Spider-Man by the University a lot."
The paramedic cocked his head at her.
Nikki ducked her head. "I've had a couple run-ins with him."
"Okay," he nodded. "Thanks. I'll tell him."
As soon as he had turned away, she heard a gentle giggle beside her. She held out her hand without looking at the disembodied head. "C-Cat, I think it's time for a clean getaway."
A hand appeared out of nowhere and clasped hers in a cool grip. The colors around her faded to grays and whites. She heard a voice.
"I agree."