A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter! This is post- Rise of Nine, and since I won't be reading the Fall of Five for another three weeks, I'm keeping it that way.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. It all belongs to Pittacus Lore (James Frey & Jobie Hughes). I only own the plot of this fan-fiction.

I stare at Nine training Ella with disgust. I asked him to let me take over a few times, and he kept answering with, "It's okay sweetheart. We wouldn't want a slug popping up making you accidentally hurt Ella." I finally gave up after like the fifth time. I'm not going to beg Nine.

"Would you stop looking at Nine like you're going to kill him? How can we battle the Mogs if you two don't agree on anything?" John asks from beside me. He, Eight, and I are lying down, lifting weights across the room.

I exhale as I lift the biggest one I found in Nine's private gym. Somehow, it agitates me that it's all Nine's stuff we're using. I look at John, who is on my right. "Doesn't he annoy you? Do you never feel like you want to rip out his guts?"

Ever since John and Sarah got back together, our conversations haven't been very lengthy. I mean, what do you expect after you tell a guy you like him, he tells you he likes you back, and then you kiss him?

Then again, he did tell me he loves Sarah, and he probably does, so then silly me went ahead and said I like Sam. I do. I do like Sam, but as a close friend. I'm not prejudiced, but I don't see myself with anyone other than a Loric.

"When we were on our own with BK," John says. "Nine and I did fight twice, and I did find him annoying, but we both realized there's a bigger enemy. I'm actually surprised Nine is keeping this going. He wants to defeat the Mogs as soon as possible."

I set the heavy dumbbell down and sit up, glaring at John. "Are you implying that I don't want to kill the Mogs just as much as all of you?"

"Six," John says, exasperated.

"Don't 'Six' me!" I exclaim. "Is anyone actually with me on this?"

Eight breathes heavily on John's other side before setting down his own dumbbell and saying, "I'm sorry, Six, but I'm with neither of you. What you and Nine are doing is so silly."

I stand up and walk out of the gym, passing by Marina on a treadmill and Nine training Ella. "Watch out, Six," Nine says. "You don't want the slugs to kill you."

I clench my fists, stopping with a halt. I walk over to Nine and grab him by the shirt. "I'm not afraid of all slugs," I say. "Because the one in front of me right now doesn't scare me one bit."

Okay, that sounded way better in my head.

I let Nine go and stalk out of the gym, making my way towards the elevator, and leaving the building unarmed.

.

Nine's POV

It' around Nine pm, and Six still hasn't come back.

"You think she got caught?" Marina asks worriedly.

"I wouldn't worry about her," I say, pretending to look bored. It's not like I wasn't worried either. Six can be the most enraging girl ever. I have seriously never met anyone like her.

I fight her not because I want to see who's better, but because I want to see if there's a limit to her determination. I taunt her using her fear of slugs because she just needs to be reminded that she's not invulnerable, and maybe, just maybe, I'm trying to tell myself that.

"I think we should go look for her," Four says.

Just then, the elevator dings. Six steps in, flanked by a man and a teenager. Everyone stands up in alarm, but then Four realizes that the teenager is his long lost friend, Sam.

"Look who I found," Six says, grinning.

"Sam!" Four exclaims. "Is that your dad."

Sam nods, smiling. "We would've never guessed that you'd be so openly hiding in plain sight, but I understand now. Very smart," he says. Of course, Sandor was a genius. "But then I saw someone punching a tree, and my first thought was Six because who else would punch a tree? The blonde hair confused me, but when she turned around, it was her." Six smiles, something that has become very scarce ever since Dulce.

After some introductions and pleasantries, Four announces that he's going to show Sam around.

"I'll do it," Six suggests. Four gives her a strange look. Maybe jealousy? When we were on our own, Four's voice sounded different when he spoke about Sarah, yet the same thing happened when he spoke about Six. Could it be he has feelings for her too?

"No. It's okay. I want to talk to Sam," Four says. Six huffs.

"Suddenly jealous of Johnny spending time with Sam?" I taunt after Sam and Four disappear down the hall. Sam's dad, Malcolm Goode, raises an eyebrow. Six glares at me. Of course, anything we say indicating that Six actually has feelings and cares for people pisses her off, and usually everyone avoids saying anything. Except me.

Taunting Six is so tempting sometimes because I know she has feelings, and she has weaknesses. I know she's not made of steel.

I just wish she doesn't know the same thing about me.

…

…

A/N: Okay, in this chapter I meant to contrast all the anger Six feels towards Nine by showing that Nine doesn't really hate her. He just wants to see how strong she is. He wants to see if she would really try to end this feud or not.

Yeah, just thought I cleared that up in case I didn't make Nine's motives that clear.

Please review with thoughts and suggestions! :)