Basically this chapter had to be written so you guys could see where the heck I went from last chapter and for just realistic reasons...The thing is though I reaaally like the next chapter and I'm too excited to wait for your opinions, so tonight I give you two! Hang in through the Brian frustration, Alek nummingness is coming and it couldn't without this background! :)

Chloe POV

"...and I'm their Uniter," I finish off. "Its my job to bring all the races together." I take in a breath and bite my lip, waiting for his reaction. So far he's just listened, nodding in all the right spaces. "So..." I say, not making the situation awkward at all. "What do you think?"

"I think...I think its a lot to process," he chuckles nervously, running his fingers through his hair.

"Tell me about it." I answer, rolling my eyes. "I probably went through the denial stage every time I accidentally did..." I extend my claws "...that."

Brian's eyes widen and he pulls his shirt down over his shoulder to reveal five red holes etched into his skin. Four in a row, one slighty off to the left and down. "Is that how I got these?" he asks me as though he isn't sure he wants to hear the answer.

"Um. Right. About that. See, I thought you were dead and it just kind of...happened." I finish lamely.

"Alright then..." he says slowly, lifting his sleeve back up. "So tell me if I got this right. You wouldn't kiss me because of the Mai curse. Mai can't kiss humans because they'll die."

"Or they'll be paralyzed," I correct.

"Or they'll be paralyzed," He repeats. "But you kissed Alek and he's fine." Brian's eyes are full of suspicion.

"Alek's Mai too." I say quickly. "Sorry, forgot to mention that..."

"Well then. I guess that clears up almost everything."

"Almost?" I ask.

"How come I'm here and perfectly normal? Why am I not dead or in a state of paralysis like you said?"

"I asked Jasmine about that." He gives me a confused look. "Another Mai girl. She goes to my school. Dark hair and brown eyes? You've seen her before...Anyway, she's the new leader of the Mai but she hasn't quite learnt everything yet. Her theory is that since the Uniter's job is to unite, the curse might not apply to her," He looks a little lost. "Meaning me," I clarify.

I could tell Brian wasn't really listening to me, but at that final part his eyes light up. "So we can be together!" he grins and takes my hand.

For some reason my stomach lurches and I pull my hand away. He looks at me confused and hurt. Shoot. Chloe, do something!

"Brian," Thinkthinkthink... "we don't know for sure and I'm not risking your life. We need to wait until Jasmine is absolutely positive."

And even then, Chloe? Would you want to date him then? Now that he's so suddenly attainable, now that the games have ended, do you still love him?

Of course I do, I snap at my inner voices. Speaking of which, when did those get there?