Author's note: It would seem that whenever I write a scene, at the same time I'm thinking of another scene that would compliment that later on in the story. Sometimes it makes it kind of hard to get just one of those ideas out clearly and coherently. The first scene of this chapter came about as I was writing the costume scene in "orange". The rest sort of trickled down from there. Oh, and the "unveiling scene" with Sebastian and Mason talking...I was totally thinking of Eurotrip. You know, the nude beach scene with Michelle Trachtenberg? Anyway...Also, there's a little scene inspired by the movie Ten Inch Hero. (I swear, I cannot leave that movie well enough alone! And I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the movie Chica De Los Ojos Cafe! Totally agree with you.) As for the last song on this chapter's playlist...I was in a weird mood. I was listening to the opening chords as I was thinking about Sebastian's thoughts and his reaction to the other boys' attention on the bikini clad Pandora. No one's leaving or dying. Just thought I'd make that clear.

Music Suggestions: '(Can't get my) head around you' by The Offspring, 'End of the summer' by Theory of a Deadman, 'Gone forever' by Three Days Grace.

Disclaimer: Should I even keep bothering with repeating myself? The answer is still a resounding "no".

Green

"Mom," Pandora began one summer morning, plopping down in the center of her parents' bed as Max finished dressing. "What does a girl do to get a guy to notice her?"

Max looked down, glad her back was turned to her fifteen-year-old daughter as she failed to hide the knowing smile.

"Most times, they've long since noticed. They just refuse to do anything about it." Max replied as she finished zipping up her tight green hoodie and turned around to face Pandora. "Makes us girls miserable in the process. I doubt they do it on purpose, though."

"That doesn't really help me, Mom." Pandora muttered forlornly, flipping over onto her stomach with her legs swinging in the air and her chin propped on a fist.

"You, Bella, and the boys still plan to go on that float trip the school put together this weekend, right?" Max asked as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

"Yeah. So?" Pandora replied in a bored tone.

"What do you plan on wearing?" Max asked conversationally, an idea forming in her mind...something that Alec the Father would probably throw a fit over. Well, it was a long time coming considering the bad karma he'd built up by terrorizing her in their early days together. Besides, she knew Pandora had her boys and Bella at her back. This one little, minuscule modification wouldn't hurt anything.

"That simple one-piece that Dad just barely approves of. I've already had this lecture with Dad and I'm not really prepared to have it again. I might just fall asleep this time." Pandora stated flatly, looking up at Max as she sat down next to Pandora on the bed.

Max smiled impishly at her daughter as she tugged a belligerent Pandora into a standing position.

"Come on, sweet. Go grab Bella. We're going shopping."

oooo*moooso*oooao*ooxoo*

"Hurry it up, Pandora!" Bella called out with a hint of impatience, her crossed leg starting tap restlessly. They'd already been to three stores and turned up with zip. She herself already had a bikini and had bought a new one at the first store they'd been to. It would seem that none of the suits Pandora had already tried on matched up to either Max's or Pandora's specifications. "We've still got two more stores to check out and we need to pack! Not to mention I'd like to buy a few other things for the trip while we're here. Like food...ooh! Chocolate...mint chocolate..." Bella finished her rant by trailing off to pull out a pad of paper with a list already started on it. She scribbled chocolate on the list again.

Pandora stepped through the curtain, her hair tumbling down over her downcast face and her arms curled around her bare stomach insecurely. She peeked up through her lashes hopefully and unwound her hands to hold out slightly at her sides with a little shrug.

Bella gasped and a bark of laughter escaped her lips when she looked up and saw Pandora. Max's eyes lit up and a soft smile graced her features.

"It's perfect, darling." Max said encouragingly, holding her hands out for Pandora.

"Those boys won't know what hit 'em." Bella agreed with a firm nod as she reached out to high-five Pandora.

oooo*oooao*oooozoo*ooosoo*

Pandora stood at the island in her kitchen next to Bella with an open and beat up green duffel bag inbetween them. Pandora chewed on her bottom lip as they both peered into the bag for inspection. Bella looked back to the list she held and started reading it off like a checklist.

"Alright," Bella began, "We've got towels, sunscreen, chocolate. Doritos, cool ranch and nacho cheese." Bella intercepted as Pandora began to interject. Pandora nodded succinctly.

"Check to all the above so far." Pandora answered shortly.

"Peanut butter, bread, chocolate, extra clothes, cookies, chocolate, extra swimsuits, music, CD player with batteries, some cash, and chocolate. Does that sound like everything?" Bella asked after she finished reading the list, looking up at Pandora with a slight frown.

Pandora tilted her head to the side and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully for a moment before answering.

"Maybe we should put another chocolate?" Pandora asked, peering back over into the bag. Bella nodded in agreement.

"Yeah you're right. Adding chocolate to the list." Bella concluded, turning and picking up another bag of chocolate Hershey bars off the counter.

ooooz*ooovo*oooonooo*ooomo

"Hey!" Bella exclaimed in a huffy tone, her hands on her hips as she and Pandora halted about 10 feet behind Mason and Sebastian. "Thanks for waiting!" she finished sarcastically.

"Holy crap." Mason directed at Sebastian quietly in an awestruck tone when they turned around to face the girls, "Did you have any idea at all she looked like that?"

Bella glanced at Pandora with a slight frown in a distracted manner, as if merely making sure everything was in its proper place before turning away and perusing the crowd to assuage who had already arrived for the float trip. Bella was wearing her new bikini, a green and brown tie-dye design, with a pair of cut-off shorts and wide rimmed sunglasses perched high on her head as she glared, in passing, at the boys.

The corner of Sebastian's mouth quirked up slightly before falling back down into a straight line.

"I had my suspicions." Sebastian replied lightly, his gaze never leaving the sight of Pandora as she slowly drew the oversized, long-sleeved green t-shirt over her head to reveal a matching itty-bitty green bikini bedecked with little white flowers.

It was going to be a long weekend.

ooooowoo*ooonooo*oooeooo*ooosoo

Sebastian stared on darkly at the campfire where Pandora was currently residing. That part wasn't the cause of his current sour mood, for Pandora sitting alone by herself was hardly ever a problem. She even had Mason sitting next to her on one of the large logs laid out for such purposes. And if he were the type to trust other people, Mason would be very high up on that list when it came to defending Pandora. It was, however, the twelve other boys from school that were paying her more attention than Sebastian was comfortable with.

In many ways, Pandora was perfectly capable of taking care of herself–especially considering the present company were all ordinaries excluding himself and Bella. In others...she still had a little growing to do. She had an attitude that spoke volumes of the strength and morals she kept hidden beneath the surface, she was easy going by nature and didn't like to be the cause of a fight or argument. And that was sometimes her downfall. Even Miss Peace and Harmony Bella was more outspoken and prone to little bits of "self-defensive" violence than Pandora.

Most of all, she certainly didn't like being the center of attention. Because even after all that had changed, it was still dangerous to be special and stand out in a crowd. And while most transgenics, himself included, loved nothing more than to cause a scene in spite of the fact, he knew it made Pandora extremely uncomfortable. It was only around super-close friends and family that she let loose and made her transgenic roots known.

Tonight seemed to be an exception, however. She appeared to have shaken off the restraints and hesitations to have some fun. Even though he caught her sneaking quick glances in his direction every few minutes for some reason that he couldn't fathom, that was the only evidence left of the unsure and quiet Pandora. She appeared to glow as she chatted enthusiastically with every one involved in the discussion, which appeared to be on the most recent "Eyes Only" hack.

Leave it to Pandora to be talking about something serious with a bunch of high-schoolers who cared more about their cell phones and weekly allowance than the politics of transgenic freedom and government corruption. It probably helped–at least that's what Sebastian thought–that all she had on was her bikini top and a pair of board shorts.

Would it be too caveman of him if he stomped through the little circle, hefted Pandora over his shoulder, and carried her away from all the leering eyes and almost comatose obvious staring?

Yeah. Pandora probably wouldn't like that very much. Besides it's not as if it were right of him to be thinking of her like that anyway.

"So," Bella said conversationally, interrupting Sebastian's envious thoughts as she stood beside him and faced the same direction he was. "Standing here being all green and hulk-like ain't gonna change the situation before you, you know?"

"What?" Sebastian asked impatiently, giving her a patronizing glance with one eye before turning back to Pandora and every other boy included in the trip circled around her, continuing to chat her up and make her laugh.

Bella shook her head and gave up on the argument. He still thought Pandora was too young, even though she was only one year younger than them both. Things were changing, yet they both chose to continue circling around each other. The safe route. Bella shook her head and decided to change the subject to something she'd been meaning to discuss with him.

"Nevermind. You didn't forget what's coming up, did you?" Bella asked, her tone changing into something almost anxious.

The corner of his mouth quirked up. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Sebastian replied sarcastically. Bella turned and faced him completely with a pleading look in her eyes. His tone and face settled into a reassuring expression and lowered his voice slightly. "Of course I do. How could I forget?"

"And you're sure you can catch me before I do something stupid?" Bella asked surreptitiously, glancing over at the hoard across the way for a moment before looking back to him.

"What, like get yourself knocked up?" Sebastian joked, turning his full attention on her and dipping his head down slightly.

Bella inhaled sharply and her eyes widened the slightest bit. Obviously this was not a time to be his usual snarky and sarcastic self.

He threw his arm over her shoulder and pulled her into his left side, squeezing her tightly and started walking forward.

"Relax, would ya? I've got you covered. Don't worry about a thing." Sebastian said reassuringly as he looked down at her one last time, dropping his arm as they reached the circle around Pandora. Bella nodded, looking slightly reassured but still tense.

He missed the smile that brightened Pandora's face when she glanced his way and saw him there at her side.

oooooaoo*oooxoo*oooo*oooeoooo

Oooh...is that a hint of mystery there? Wondering what's coming up for Bella and Bastian? It may or may not be what you think. You're welcome to throw you're ideas at me. And I may or may not give you a straight answer. (Hey! I can't give all the goods away before a proper first date, as it were, lol!) We've still got a ways to go and it'll be all the more fun for you when it all comes together. That's the plan, anyway. And I'll let you all in on a little secret...it's physically impossible for me to keep a secret for too long when it comes to writing. How is Pandora coming along? Am I trying to stuff too much into one character? What about the others? (I'm totally asking way too many questions for an end note. Guess I'll wrap it up now.) Until next time...