im sorry guys i have been so stuck with this story. i started this chapter the day after i posted the last one. school sucks, too. so im going to leave off with this bit by saying "Review if you were tearing out your hair waiting for this, as much as i was tearing out my hair trying to write it!" And i have changed my pen name up a little because Tempest pointed out an unwanted reference with the triple x's. so ive just taken those puppies out. so yes Shift.982 is still me :D

Chapter 12

"She knows something," Artemis reported over her communicator. She was perched on top of a roof top, watching the girl she knew as Shift.

"What do you mean, 'knows something'?" Robin's voice asked. "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything, she's just paranoid. Now shut up and let me do my job."

"Hey I saw her first, that should be my mission."

"Again I repeat. Shut up and let me do my job."

"Let me know if something exciting happens," Robin said bitterly.

"What like if a bird poops on me?"

"It better be a robin if it does."

Artemis just ignored that last comment and continued watching the girl walk down the street. You know if I wasn't a hero this would be really creepy. I am stalking a teenage girl. Yeah, no this is defiantly creepy.

~0~0~0~0~

I knew someone was watching me somewhere but I couldn't figure out why. I wouldn't let myself think that it was Robin again. He had more important things to do than hang around random neighborhoods, right? I continually checked around me as I walked, keeping my right hand wrapped around my knife in my pocket. I pulled my hood up over my head and continued walking. Unfortunately, hoods cut off your peripheral vision so I was practically turning in circles as I walked. Hearing something move off to my right, I froze. Whoever was watching me was getting sloppy.

~0~0~0~0~

"She's just walking down the road. Nothing interesting is happening," Artemis reported, impatiently rearranging herself into a more comfortable position.

"Just watch her. And see where she goes," Robin replied.

"She walked out of one house, walked into another, walked back to the first one and is now going right back to the second house. She keeps looking around like she knows I'm here. This is the most boring stake out ever."

"Just let her go on her way, now that we know where she lives maybe we can find out more about her," Robin said storing the newly found information to be used at a later time. She was intriguing. No other reason than that. Or at least that's what he told himself. He heard a faraway voice through the com in his ear. "What was that?" he demanded.

"She seems to know that I'm here, though I'm not sure how."

"I told you she was sharp. Talk to her."

"No way Bird Boy, Batman said this was strictly an observation."

"And that has always worked so well in the past."

"It's not happening."

Robin just sighed, pulling the com out of his ear. After setting the devise down, he pulled up his holograph computer and started typing away. "You'll thank me later," he mumbled when he hit the final button.

A deafening ring came through the communicator and straight into Artemis's ear, she yelped and dug the piece out of her ear before hurling it away from her. "Damn it, Robin!" she yelled.

~0~0~0~0~

"Who's there?" I demanded to the area around me. After a few seconds I heard someone yell and then scream out, "Damn it, Robin!"

There was a light thudding sound and a blonde girl appeared over the top of a fence to the right. She wore all green and even a mask. In her head she thought it was Artemis but she didn't appear to have a bow. "What do you want?" I demanded, pulling my hood lower over my face.

"Don't worry; I'm just here to talk to you. I'm Artemis."

"Shift. Why me in particular?"

"From what I hear, you are quite the shape shifter."

My eyes widened. "How do you know that?"

"I'm on the same team as Robin."

"Oh," I said processing, "how's his shoulder?"

"What do you mean?"

"He had dislocated his shoulder when I helped him out. I'm guessing he didn't mention that little piece of information."

"No he did not."

We stood there awkwardly for a few minutes before Artemis asked, "Can you show me?"

"Show you what?"

"How you shape shift."

"Umm, I guess I could. Pick an animal," I told her.

"A bear."

"Ok," I said taking a step backwards. I closed my eyes, picturing every part of a black bear that I could think of. I grew taller and more muscular, coarse black hair sprouted all over my body, replacing my clothes. When I was done changing I stood on my hind legs and stretched in attempt to adjust to my new body. When I dropped back down onto all fours and shook myself I saw that Artemis's eyes were about as big as dinner plates. I gave a low growl and smiled with my bear teeth.

"I'm..."

I changed back into my normal self and with a smile, finished her sentence, "Whelmed?"

"An excellent way of putting it."

"Not that this hasn't been fun but I probably otta get back."

"Keep this conversation just between us," Artemis told her before I could turn to walk away.

"What am I going to tell anyone? That I met Artemis and impressed her with my ability to shape shift? No one else knows about this ability. I'd rather not advertise that. I'm enough of a freak already," I told her pulling back a sleeve; revealing the jagged scars covering my arm.

"Robin mentioned that," she said staring at my arm.

"Tell no one," I ordered, staring at her from beneath my hood.

She hesitated but then slowly nodded her head in a silent promise. "Good bye, Shift."

"G'night." I started walking away, back toward Jades house.

If I was going to start seeing heroes more often I needed something better than just a hood to hide who I am. They all had masks. I needed a mask. If I played my cards right I could figure out a mask that covered up my scars too. And gloves. I could wear elbow length gloves to cover up the scars on my arms too. Whoa Jamie, you're getting ahead of yourself. You aren't a hero; you're just a girl that with scars that can suddenly change into random animals.

I may not be a hero but I have helped out. This ability may make me a freak but I can at least be a helpful freak.

Who would want your help? You're nothing but a skinny, scared nobody. Irrelevant to the grand scheme of things. Not even a blip on the radar screen.

I can dream.

Leave it at dreams.

I continued fighting with myself as I walked back to Jade's house. I walked into the unlocked front door. The smell of popcorn greeted me when I walked into the kitchen. "So I see you still want to be friends," I snarked, leaning against the door frame.

"I figured I have nothing better to do," Jade said shrugging.

"Well bless your pointed little head."

"I will consider it blessed," she said with a half-assed curtsy.

I returned her curtsy with a half-assed bow of my own. "Now let's educate you in the way of "The Breakfast Club."

We plopped down on the couch and dove into the popcorn. "That took you a while to get back" Jade noted as the previews started playing.

"Just enjoying the night," I replied, smiling to myself. If I kept up with these night time meetings I don't know if I'll be able to contain my happiness. I would lose my reputation as the silent scared girl sitting by the door if I started giggling to myself in the middle of class. I needed a new outlet. And due to the most resent event, all I could think of was becoming a hero.

please review guys! oh please oh please oh please be my prisoner (come on you know you were thinking it)