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CHAPTER 8: Some Like it Hot

They all arrived home tired and exhausted, but stayed up as Zoey and Janie fixed up the minor injuries.

Hank needed stitches for a knife wound, Alex had his knuckles bandaged because they wouldn't stop bleeding, and Sean had tissue in his nose when he passed out on the sofa from the extra melatonin Janie dosed him with. Then they had gone to the kitchen after Janie tucked Ori in, to ice the bruises that the rest of them had.

Zoey sat on the floor, leaning against the island as Simon rested his head on her lap as she scratched his ears, and she used her other hand to hold a bag of peas to her neck. Alex had ice blocks for his knuckles and chin, and Hank had eaten the frozen steak that was supposed to help his face, which Erik had managed to punch he had told them reluctantly.

They laughed and talked through the night, mostly about seeing double the Charles. Zoey and Charles both stayed silent, but they couldn't help but steal glances at each other.

Then Charles had glanced at his watch and told them all to go to bed; it was already two a.m.

Janie was the first to wake up that morning, her stomach growling. She walked through the quiet house, and took her a second before she realized everybody else was still asleep. She decided to start cooking brunch, as a nice surprise for the lot.

Since she was alone, she was dancing and singing without shame as she cooked.

"Hold me tight… tell me I'm the only one… and then I might, never be the only one…"

She shook her hips a little as she flipped the chicken breasts in the pan, wincing as a small fleck of flying grease gave her a small burn on her hand, but then going right back to moving her feet and hips.

She couldn't help it. All that excitement of saving Zoey earlier gave her a rush, and it hadn't ended yet. The thrill of being decisive and trapping them in the ivy, the pain of being hit by Emma, the twinge she felt in her stomach as Alex protected her. The running, the combat… Janie loved the feeling.

She was shaking with adrenaline now; she'd gone through her weird depressed phase before she went to bed – which gave her nightmares where she and Ori were back in the city, and she woke in a cold sweat - but when she turned to her other side and went back to sleep, she continued on an adrenaline high of happiness.

She turned to see how the potatoes and garlic bread were going when she bumped into something hard.

By now she should've known who it was but she still lashed out, still spooked by her nightmares. Before she hit anything, Alex's strong grip caught her wrist, close to his face. They locked eyes and stood like that for a second or two before Alex broke the silence.

"You need to stop doing that."

"Then stop creeping up on me then," Janie said, and she tugged at her wrist but Alex kept a soft yet sturdy grip.

"I saw you dancing and couldn't interrupt," he said.

"Oh, god!" Janie blushed and shook her head. "For your own good you should've just turned around and spared the pain of seeing that…" She tried to laugh it off but it came out sounding winded. When she smiled widely, she felt the bruise crease on her cheek and winced.

At that, Alex's smile turned to a frown.

"She hit you hard, that bitch," he said and reached forward. She flinched, but Alex still touched the edges of the bruise on her jaw lightly.

"It's fine," Janie said, and shrugged. "And it was you who interrupted before I could kick her ass," she said with a smile. She turned as she pulled at her hand yet again to season the garlic bread.

But he tugged back, rather hard, and she turned around, unable to react before he brought his head down till their lips met.

She sighed into the warmth as he shifted his head to apply more pressure. Her skin tingled as he reached around, letting go of her hand, to bring his arms to her lower back and pull her closer.

Janie smiled at the softness of his lips, kissing him back as she relished in the warm heat of his power and the hum of a buzz that was spreading through her.

She then faltered, unsure where to place her hands for her first kiss. She decided to brace herself on his shoulders as she tried to take it all in.

"Hey, what happened?" he suddenly said against her lips and he pulled back only a little.

"Hmm?" she said faintly, her eyes still closed. She slowly opened them to find him less than a few inches away, and could feel his breath mingling with hers.

"You stiffened, like you were thinking hard about something," he said, brushing some strands of hair behind her ear.

"I was… um…" she sniffed, shrieked and turned around to the garlic bread, some of the sides now black. She splashed the seasoning on quickly as she turned off the stove and grabbed a rag to push the pan off the heat.

"Janie…" Alex said, waiting for an answer. She felt his warm touch on her shoulder and turned around as she lightly pushed his hand away. Better not to touch him.

"Nothing. I was just worried about the garlic bread," she said, avoiding his eyes at the last part. How could she explain it was her first kiss? Or that she was freaked out she actually liked it… but knew it couldn't go anywhere?

"Jesus, Janie! Stop being so hot and cold with me!" he said, stepping closer to her. She sidestepped to the counter, and Alex stayed with her.

"I'm not…" she said faintly, surprised at his sudden change in his mood.

"I mean I'm not experienced in this stuff, but girls don't shy away so easily after a kiss, right?"

"What?" she asked, her head snapping up. He was new to this as well?

He raised a brow, and smiled.

"What, Sean and Hank didn't babble to you where I was when Charles found me?"

"No, they didn't," Janie said, truthfully. They'd never told her anything; she had heard them talking about it to each other.

He sighed and stepped back, and the heat leaving her; she suddenly felt unnervingly cold. She almost shivered but crossed her arms and stepped closer to the still warm stove.

"I did something… out of anger, and my power was just starting… anyways long story short I ended up in jail and managed to get along with nobody. I asked for solitary confinement. It was my third year there when one day the door opens and instead of a guard, it's Erik and Charles."

He waited for a moment, then finally turned around to face her and started towards her.

Janie fled to the fridge but Alex managed to reach the door before her.

"That's why I have my reason for inexperience. Now why-" he took a step forward, Janie took a step back and Alex grabbed her wrist again.

His hands were scalding hot.

"Ouch! Hot! Hot!" Janie yelped, pulling her wrist away.

"Shit!" Alex said, releasing her quickly. He saw deep red on her wrists before she rushed to the sink, putting the cold water on full blast. Alex turned to the fridge and opened the freezer box. He grabbed the ice, but it melted in his hands.

"Shit!" Alex said again, and he looked around frantically. He grabbed a rag and oven mitts and clumsily managed to scoop some ice that melted a little slower. He ran over to the sink, where Janie was hunched over the counter, her face clenched in pain.

"Janie…"

He was speechless. He couldn't believe he hurt her. Even more he couldn't believe his power was influenced by strong emotions… towards her. He wasn't feeling angry, he was more annoyed - maybe a little flustered and desperate to kiss her again more than anything. But now he was feeling guilty.

"Janie," Alex repeated, reaching forward to put the ice on her wrists. Her head pulled back as she looked up at him, unflinching.

Alex raised a hand and lightly rested it on her underarm, cupping her elbow. She didn't flinch, which he gladly took as a sign his hands weren't burning hot anymore. Even better, she didn't seem scared of him.

"Janie, I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened-"

"Alex," Janie said, taking a shaking breath as she stepped a smidge closer to him. "It's-"

"Janie, please, we need-"

"What the hell is this?"

Alex and Janie turned their heads to see Charles, with Zoey next to him, raising a brow and slightly grinning. Janie blushed and looked down, stepping out of Alex's reach, but not from the ice on her wrists.

"Nothing, Professor. Just burnt my hand on the stove is all."

"Like hell you did!" Alex said in a raised voice. "Professor, it was me. We were… talking and I grabbed her and…"

"It's really ok, Professor, like you said we're still figuring out our powers-"

"You burned her?" Charles and Zoey asked at the same time. Charles looked downright furious, and Zoey more-so surprised.

"You always tell us we're still learning our-" Janie started but Alex interrupted.

"I was getting annoyed. I didn't mean for my power to fluxuate, I swear! Usually it's just with anger – I lost control but-"

"She was probably making something you didn't like for dinner? Probably made you annoyed," Zoey stepped forward.

Everybody fell silent at the random remark.

"Well that sounds about it. Charles, go, physically tell the others that dinner will be ready soon, I'll help Janie with the rest of it," Zoey said.

To everyone's surprise, Charles left, though only after giving a raised eyebrow glare to the three of them; his eyes lingered on Zoey last, and she shook her head slightly.

"Okay guys," Zoey said turning to them once the coast was clear. "What is going on?"

Janie and Alex fell silent. Zoey sighed, and looked at Alex.

"You. It was probably anger that brought it on? Wh-"

"I wasn't angry. I was just…"

"I'm not being easy enough for you, am I?" Janie suddenly said.

Alex looked stupefied, but she continued.

"I bet that was all bull shit, about being inexperienced. I mean look at you!"

Janie stopped, and looked away as she blushed.

"Janie-"

"Well I'm not the easy type. And nothing else is going to happen. It's not going anywhere."

At that she walked over to Zoey and whispered "You can take care of the rest of dinner?"

"Yeah, I've got it."

She left rather quickly.

Alex started walking after her, but Zoey held out her hand, furrowed her eyebrows, and brought out the slight anger she felt when Alex first confessed to hurting Janie. A small ray shot out and hit Alex in the back. He stopped abruptly and looked over his shoulder grimly.

"You are going to stay and help me. Also, start talking," she said. She went over and closed the door. "Get the garlic bread, scrape off any burnt edges."

She turned to the chicken and grabbed the tongs to turn it over again. It already smelled great and the skin was turning brown, but it needed some more time. Alex did as she told and was scraping off some of the burnt edges, but most of the bread was ok.

"Talk, Alex."

"Why should I talk to you?"

"What?" Zoey asked, surprised as she turned to face him.

"Why should I talk to you when you'll be leaving in a few days? Why should I bother to get to know you more - or talk to you about myself?"

"I think we both know that Janie was hurt in some way before she arrived, even though she hates to admit it," Zoey said. Alex's eyebrow twitched and his mouth went thin. Zoey took the chicken off the heat.

"And I need to make sure that even when I'm gone, you're not going to hurt her anymore."

Zoey wanted to slap herself. What the hell was she doing, getting attached? She couldn't help it; it was the problem fixer in her. It's what helped her get along with the customers at the bar.

She turned back to the chicken to put all the food on serving plates.

"The first week, I was a wreck around Janie. I couldn't form sentences, I ignored her- I was just rude. But she was just… I dunno. She was barefoot, her hair was tangled, and she was so fierce and protective when it came to Ori… but then one day I went to the kitchen and she was making us our first cooked dinner in forever. I just randomly started helping, and we got to talking. I don't know when it happened, but we were suddenly getting closer. I even asked Sean for advice!"

That explains why Janie came to talk to Zoey, when she said he was tense. It was just his personality… and him being a teenager.

"Good thing you didn't take Sean's advice, that boy is not as smooth as he thinks he is," Zoey laughed. That got a laugh from Alex too, who was now bringing out the plates and silverware.

"Alex," Zoey said, and he stopped and looked over at her.

"She's still scared. We might not know exactly why," Zoey said, and Alex made a small twitch in his mouth which told her he might know more than her, but she ignored it and continued. "But she needs to feel safe here. She's only been here for a month, remember that."

Alex sighed, then closed his eyes tightly and wrung his hands through his hair.

"Dammit, I hurt her!" he said loudly. "She just… she keeps pulling away."

"Then stop pushing," she said, now bringing him to sit at the counter.

"But I have to… she has to know that we have something, whatever the hell it is."

"She's not ready, you have to see that," she said softly.

He frowned, and then laughed.

"It's like with you and Charles, he just-"

Zoey's abrupt laughter interrupted him.

"Sorry, what?"

"Exactly my point. You know, he hasn't really smiled or laughed at all since Cuba? Until you came along; the first time we heard him laugh was the day he introduced us to you. He's even been spending less time in his study since you've been here. You have to notice how-"

"He is being a respectful host, Alex," Zoey said, trying to hide her shaky voice.

Alex had just voiced something she never would've thought would be said aloud. She noticed the attraction between them, but she just hid it away because she would be leaving soon anyways, never to see or think of him again after he would most likely wipe her mind of him and the others.

"Stop spewing nonsense and get the others-"

"Not until you stop blushing and look me in the eye and tell me it's nothing."

Zoey looked up, startled at his response. He only looked back.

"What I can tell you, Alex, is that I'm leaving in two days."

He frowned.

"I guess it's a general girl thing, then," he finally said, and left before Zoey could say anything else.

At lunch, they talked about the previous night, Ori sounding jealous but still frightened at what had happened. Then they went their separate ways. Zoey had given Simon some extra tidbits, so she took Ori and Simon to run around outside to burn them off.

Zoey was at it, sprinting along with them. She soon got tired, and instead found shade under a bunch of sunflower stalks, to sit and watch the girl and her dog play.

She heard the faint hum of Charles's chair come up behind her, and she waited for the soft grunt of him lowering to the ground before she turned her head and smiled, meeting his gaze at her level.

"Beautiful day isn't it?" she said. The sun was bright, and there was even a soft breeze in the air.

"I think it might have something to do with her," he said, looking out to Ori and Simon, a bit far but still in sight as they ran around; Ori tripping and then rolling, and Simon barking while prancing around and playing.

"You're right," she said, nodding.

Charles glanced back at her.

"And you as well," he continued. She just shrugged one shoulder. The breeze picked up, moving her hair to dance in front of her face.

She grabbed the hair tie from her wrist and started to bunch her hair back into a ponytail when Charles spoke quickly.

"No, keep it down."

Zoey actually blushed, and she turned to look at him, her arms still in the air.

That almost seemed spontaneous on his part.

"Oh… um, well no. Sorry. Sorry, I didn't mean to say that," he said, now flustered. Zoey was relishing this moment as she slowly let her hands drop. This was the first time he wasn't so reserved.

He was still muttering something, and Zoey reached forward.

"Charles-" but she stopped, suddenly about to touch his hand. She pulled back quickly, but that was enough to shut Charles up, and make him frown.

"Why are you so scared of me?" he asked, abrupt yet again.

Zoey opened her mouth, and then shut it, turning back to look at Ori and Simon, still running around.

He sighed, and made a move to leave, but she spoke.

"I'm not scared of you… I'm scared of your power."

She almost whispered it, but she knew he had heard it.

"But… why?"

"Seriously? Charles, you can make people do things. You can know what anyone is thinking, you can speak to them in their minds, you can move anything, and it's likely that there's more I don't even know about… I'm just scared what that will do to me if I touch you, and it multiplies and strengthens. I don't have a mind like yours; I won't be able to handle it."

Zoey met his blue eyes, and was thrown off by the almost…admiring look he was giving her.

"After all that has happened, you still underestimate yourself, Zoey."

She swallowed, unsure how to reply.

"Maybe. But so do you Charles."

He blinked, and raised a brow. She just smiled.

"Zoey, there's a few things we need to talk about-"

"Zoey!" Ori yelled from afar.

"Well, we still have a day or two to talk. Gotta go! See you at dinner?" she asked. She waited for a short nod before she ran off to Ori and Simon, her heart still beating rapidly.

Thank you so much for reading! And thank you even more for the reviews!