Chapter 3:
"What's up with you guys?!", Cornelia asked as she pulled her arm out of Will's grip.
"I still need to get some more shorts, to go with my new shirts.", Hay Lin replied.
"What's the matter with you two?!", Taranee asked them.
"What are you talking about, Taranee?", Hay Lin asked her friend.
"She's talking about, you hooking up with Sam, sometime this mourning!", Irma implied.
"And you getting with Marcus, Cornelia!", Will pointed out.
"How did you........ Did you read our minds?!", Cornelia asked Taranee.
"Didn't need to.", Taranee replied. "The both of your emotions were being sent out like psychic radio waves."
"Plus, we've seen how you two were looking at them during breakfast.", Irma added.
"The point is, it hasn't even been one day and you two already gotten with the counterparts of your old boyfriends!", Will said. "Don't you think that's a little rash?"
"Not to mention a little risky.", Irma added. "For all we know, they may do to us what the Vanders of our world have done!"
"You're wrong!", Hay Lin said softly as she held her head down, clutching a shirt, she picked out earlier, tightly. "They went through the same things we went through! I know Sam won't betray me! And if you don't like it, then fine!"
Hay Lin then looked up at her three friends who were giving her a hard time about getting with Sam Vanders.
"Just stay out of my business!", she snapped shocking the three as she walked away.
"That goes double for me!", Cornelia said. "I've seen what the Cornelia of their world did to Marcus! And even after all that, he doesn't judge me because of what she did to him! You may be our leader, Will, but you can't decide my love life! So, back off!"
With that said, Cornelia walked off to do some more shopping, leaving three surprised girls.
"I say we let them get there hearts broken", Irma said quite annoyed.
"And if it doesn't happen?", Taranee asked. "I mean, Hay Lin is right. They did go through pretty much the same crap as us."
"But they're still Vanders.", Will said coldly. "As far as I'm concerned, Angelo Vanders can keep his distance from me!"
"The same goes for Leonas Vanders!", Irma replied as she rubbed her stomach.
"Guys, this isn't our world.", Taranee reminded the two. "And as weird as it sounds, I think that Hay Lin and Cornelia are true to their feelings. Maybe we should try to get along with the Vanders that are here with us."
"As long as one of them isn't Leonas!", Irma proclaimed.
"Same goes for me when it comes to Angelo!", Will said.
"Whatever you two say.", Taranee said as she walked off to do some more shopping.
'Say what they want, but I have a feeling that they'll follow their hearts sooner or later.', Taranee thought to herself as she grabbed some socks. 'There may even be a chance for me and the Malcom that's here now. Maybe.'
Elsewhere, Angelo, Leonas, and Malcom were talking with Sam and Marcus about their little hook-ups.
"Honestly guys!", Angelo said. "You get with the alternate versions of your old girlfriends from our home world?!"
"Malcom?!", Marcus said looking at his brother. "You read our minds?!"
"Didn't need to, big brother.", Malcom said. "I could feel you and Sam's feelings, this mourning."
"Also, we saw how you all were looking at each other.", Angelo pointed out.
"Plus, I can smell their scent all over you two.", Leonas said.
"And you point is?", Sam asked.
"Our point is, that one, you don't know them to well.", Angelo replied. "Two, it's way to early for this."
"Maybe so, but I like this Cornelia.", Marcus said. "And none of you can stop me from being with her."
"Same for me and Hay Lin.", Sam said.
"Fine!", Leonas said.
"Fine!", Sam said as he and Marcus walked off to do more shopping.
"Think we should keep an eye on them?", Leonas said.
"No.", Angelo said. "They can handle themselves."
"What about you two?", Malcom asked. "Think there's chance of you two getting with you old girlfriends counterparts?"
"Please!", Leonas said looking through some shirts. "The way she's been avoiding me, I say it's pretty unlikely. And that suits me just fine for now!"
"Remember, man. This is a different Irma.", Angelo said. "Not the one who did you dirty."
"Yeah, I know.", Leonas said. "What about you and this Will?"
"Getting together?", Angelo asked. "It can happen. When, chickens learn to fly."
"Oh brother.", Malcom sighed as he looked through some pants.
The three hours passed by quickly, and everyone was there at the vans ready to head back to the mansion. It was a bit of a tight fit, but they got in. Once home, everyone took their clothes, and other things, and put them away in their rooms. It was a tiring mourning for them all.
Later that week, in the afternoon, James and Shan Ying decided to have a Bar-B-Q.
"You kids go have some fun while, we grill up some food.", James said as he and Shan Ying brought out some food to grill.
"Just go enjoy yourselves.", Shan Ying said happily. "It's summer for crying out loud! You got three more months before you have to go to school."
"Aaaaaawww!", they all moaned.
"Yeah, you still need to get an education.", James replied.
"True.", Taranee agreed.
"Well, I say we enjoy the weekend while we can.", Sam said as he held Hay Lin's hand. "I know I am."
Hay Lin then giggled as she blushed a bit.
"I second that.", Marcus said taking Cornelia's hand making her blush.
"Oh brother.", Will and Angelo said softly.
They both then looked at each other after hearing each say the same thing. Granted they were a few feet from each other. They then huffed and walked in different directions keeping as much distance from each other as possible.
"They really need need to try and get along.", Malcom said.
"I hate to admit it, but your right.", Taranee agreed. "I say give it time. They'll learn to get along. I hope."
"I just hope that it's before this big threat rises.", Leonas said walking up.
Irma, after seeing Leonas walk up to them, backed away in fear. Tarane saw this and felt her fear.
'Irma remember, this isn't that Leonas!', Taranee told her telepathicly.
Irma heard her, but was still scared of him.
"Stay away from me!", Irma yelled as she backed away.
"What did I do?!", Leonas asked as Irma walked off quickly.
"It's something that happened, in our world.", Hay Lin said sadly. "It was something that hurt Irma both in body and spirit."
"I take it, it involved the me of your world.", Leonas said.
"Yeah.", Cornelia confirmed. "You see.........."
'Don't tell!', Irma mentally shouted to Taranee. 'I don't want to relive that again!'
"It's something that Irma doesn't want to relive.", Taranee said interrupting Cornelia, who raised an eyebrow at her.
'She doesn't want to go through it again.', she told Cornelia and Hay Lin mentally.
They both then nodded, understanding Irma's feelings about the whole thing. Hay Lin took Sam with her towards the pool to sit under an umbrella, while Marcus took Cornelia to sit under a tree, leaving Malcom and Taranee standing there alone.
Standing there, alone, Malcom and Taranee felt a bit out of place.
"Talk about awkward.", Malcom joked.
"Oh yeah.", Taranee said.
Malcom then sat on the ground, and made a flame. He then made it dance around on his fingers.
"The Malcom of my world used to do that.", Taranee said.
"It helps me get rid of any stress I may have when dealing with any problems I have.", Malcom explained. "You should try it. I can tell by looking at you, that you have a few problems."
"It couldn't hurt.", Tarnee said as she did the same thing.
As the flame danced on her fingers, she somehow felt the stress go away. It was like the flame made her feel free. Like at that moment, the cares of the world were gone.
"You're right. It does help get rid of stress.", Taranee said. "I have to remember to do that the next time I start to get stressed out."
"Glad I could help.", Malcom said. "Not to change the subject, but how was the Malcom of your world?"
Taranee knew this was going to come up, sooner or later. So, she decided to just come out and tell the truth.
"Well, before he and the other Vanders betrayed us, he was so kind and caring.", Taranee said sadly. "We could have talks anywhere in the city, thanks to our mental link. It was wonderful. But then, that night happen. He contacted me mentally, saying that they were in danger and needed our help."
"You then called the other Guardians and rushed off to save them, only to find out it was a trap!", Malcom said. "You felt hurt and betrayed that he did this to you all for money."
"How did you............."
"It was the same way for us.", Malcom replied. "Angelo was the hardest to take down, but they got him too. After it all happened, I severed my link with the Taranee of my world. It hurt, but if we tried escape with my link to her still there.........."
"They would of busted you.", Taranee concluded. "I had to do the same with the Malcom of my world."
After seeing how sad Taranee was, Malcom decided to lighten the mood.
"They ever try to harness you psychic powers?", Malcom asked grinning.
"Oh Lord yes!", Taranee grinned. "I had fun frying their computers!"
"Same here!", Malcom laughed. "And don't get me started with the whole melting the steel wall thing!"
"I melted a lot more than the wall.", Taranee laughed.
After sharing a few more laughs, they heard James call out to all of them.
"Come and get it y'all!", James yelled. "It's chow time!"
"Boy time flies, when you're having fun!", Malcom said as he got to his feet.
"You can say that again.", Taranee said as Malcom helped her to her feet. "And don't you dare say it again!"
"I was this close to doing it too.", Malcom grinned as they walked towards the picnic table.
They then shared a good laugh.
"You know what, Malcom?"
"What?"
"Even though we were hurt by the counterparts of ourselves, I'd still at least like to try and be friends.", she said extending her hand.
"I'd like that too.", Malcom said shaking her hand. "Now, let's to the table and eat."
"I second that.", Taranee said as they got to the table.
Once at the table, James stood up to say grace.
"Dear Lord, I like to thank you for the food, we're about to eat.", James started off. "I'd also like to thank you for bringing us this young people, here to help them start a new life here, if they choose to stay. In short Lord, I like to ask that you watch over us all in the coming year. In your name we pray, Amen."
"Amen.", everybody said as James took his seat.
"Okay everyone let's eat!", James said happily.
A/N: Well, the couples have stood their ground against the others about them getting together. Taranee and Malcon are getting along. Angelo and Will really don't like each other. And what's the deal with Irma? Why is she so scared of Leonas? Only time will tell.