TODAY'S AUTHOR'S NOTE IS A WHOLE PAGE ON WORD. You are allowed to skip, but I guess you only have to read the bold…

A/N. Good morning/afternoon/night! :) Today we start the...

FIVE DAY UPDATE! Whee! But don't let that stop you from voting for me in Elli's BSGS2011! But really, if you have another favorite that tops my story, vote for them! I mean, I'm not forcing you. XD Because everyone really deserves to win -we've all come so far! :)

Umm…so yeah. I know I said vote (by the way three out of the four that voted wanted me to continue last week :3) for when you wanted me to update, but Curlscat just did the following:

Give a good reason why it should be this week (I think another reviewer –the one fourth who wanted me to update this week instead of last- also said this)

Made a bargain with me (Ish :3)

Curlscat said that even though you wait, you get three extra more updates. If I had continued last week, you'd only have gotten two. So that's the good reason. Also, I asked her to nag me for this so I'd never forget:

If I get into another round (I think this is the last round though, ^.^'), you get an additional six day update! So it's like five updates one week, then six updates the next week. You see? So, I decided to start my five updates this week. And...if I -possibly- win, in a few weeks (because that's when Elli's going to announce the winner), you will get an additional seven day update. A whole week with an update each day. Yup, no kidding.

Wow, +230 reviews…that's almost as many as how many Facebook friends I have… WOWZA! Thanks for all the mucho gravy and Pucktastic comments.

Warisha - Your review for Ch. 23: Whoa, I thought you were going to figure it out. Sadly, no. Lol. When he was in the gang he did not accidentally murder someone while trying to defend himself and that's not why they keep going after him. You were really close though! Well, sort of. I can't really explain without giving it away.

Warisha and co. - Your review for Ch. 24: Lololol. Your siblings made me laugh. I don't take any offense at all (suck on that sister of Warisha ;D), and I have no idea what your brother made up. Lol, but even they can't make me stop writing. The only ones who could possibly be able to do that…well, that's a secret! ^^ But anyways, I'm glad your siblings reviewed because now I have a lot of reviews! WHEE!

Also, twilightfunatic has requested that I tone down the Spanish just a bit. So, if Ariana starts to seen non-Hispanic, that's okay.

Chapter 25: The Hideout

"Ariana!" I called, running down the hall after her. "A!"

She stopped and turned around, waiting for me to catch up with her. I paused beside her, trying to regain my breath.

"I've run around this whole school looking for you!" I explained, holding my side.

"Por que, why?" she responded, looking slightly amused.

"Want to walk home with me?"

Ariana raised her eyebrow at my request. Well, it sounded more like I begged her rather than asked her.

"Why are you asking, amiga?"

"Because lately we haven't been walking home together since I've been getting rides, or you've been getting rides... mostly you," I said, narrowing my eyes accusingly. "Red's always going home with Tom now, and it's too boring to walk home alone."

Ariana smiled sheepishly. "Actually..."

"Ariana!" a new voice called. Ariana looked behind me, a smile spreading on her face.

I turned around and Josh grinned at me.

"Oh," I responded in defeat. "You're going home with him?"

"Him?" Josh responded, sniffing. "I do have a name."

"Sorry, lo siento," Ariana responded, bowing her head. "It's our one year and a half anniversary so..."

I waved my hand. "Don't worry. You two go have fun."

Josh grinned, wrapping an arm around Ariana's shoulder. "You can join us if you want, Daphne."

"Nah, I don't want to intrude," I told him.

"You need to get a boyfriend so we can double date," Josh commented, frowning slightly.

Ariana laughed. "Oh, trust me. We couldn't double date with the guy she's got her sights on."

"Ariana!" I warned, glaring.

"Don't worry, I can keep a secret, D."

"I know but..."

"What are you two talking about?" Josh interjected, looking curious.

"Never mind," I said quickly. "You two go have fun... I'm going to go walk home... alone... I could be kidnapped... maybe even killed-"

"Stop being over-dramatic, Daphne," Ariana reprimanded, rolling her eyes. "Hasta luego!"

I grinned, shaking my head. "Okay, bye."

I watched as they walked off towards Josh's locker. When they were out of sight I sighed, turning around and walking straight into someone. I winced at the contact of my face and their hard chest.

"The tables have turned," a familiar voice commented. I looked up to see Mr. Firay smirking down at me. "Watch where you're going, Daphne."

I scowled, stepping away from him. "Right."

I turned around and started walking for the back exit of the school. All the other students went out the front where the buses were, and I didn't feel like dealing with the chaos. I heard footsteps behind me that told me Mr. Firay was following me.

"You're not angry about me taking your phone away, are you?" he questioned, falling into step with me.

I ignored him, concentrating on the door so I didn't snap at him. He chuckled beside me.

"Or maybe you're jealous of my date again?"

I swallowed, willing myself not to talk. I couldn't let him know I was the least bit jealous, otherwise he'd mock me. Or figure out I liked him.

The thought passed through my head and I almost froze in surprise. Well I did freeze for a split second, but I forced myself to keep walking. I pushed open the doors that led outside to the parking lot.

What if Mr. Firay did figure out I liked him? Would he ignore me? Would I be scolded? Would I get in trouble? Or maybe he would tell me he liked me too...

I shook my head. Impossible.

"Daphne!"

I heard a horn blare, and a rough grip on my arm made me stumbled backwards, back into Mr. Firay's chest again. I looked at him in surprise; he stared down at me, his eyes hard.

"Don't walk out into the road without paying attention! You almost just got hit!"

I looked to my right to see a black car with tinted windows stopped about a foot away from Mr. Firay and myself. The car door opened and, to my surprise, someone familiar stepped out of it.

"Sage?" I gasped in disbelief.

"Daphne, Matt," he greeted with a grin.

"What are you doing here?" Mr. Firay asked, a frown slipping onto his face.

"I've come to pick up Daphne."

Mr. Firay glanced at me, and I smiled smugly back at him.

"How..." Mr. Firay trailed off, his eyes narrowing.

I shrugged. "I don't know. You took my phone away so I couldn't call him."

"That's why you weren't answering my texts," Sage commented with a frown.

I nodded, hooking a thumb towards Mr. Firay. "He tricked me and took it away."

"That's not very nice, Matt," Sage commented, frowning at Mr. Firay.

Mr. Firay scowled slightly. Sage shrugged and gestured me towards his car with a nod of his head. I nodded back, walking away from Mr. Firay and going to stand by Sage.

"Where are you going?" Mr. Firay asked.

"Some place," Sage responded vaguely.

"Have fun on your date," I added, doing my best to keep a straight face.

I walked around the car and got into the passenger's side of the car and got in. Sage climbed into the driver's side. Mr. Firay was hovering beside his window, frowning. Sage rolled down his window slightly.

"Seriously. Where are you guys going?" Mr. Firay asked.

"On a date," Sage responded, a grin spreading on his face "See ya later, Matt!"

Mr. Firay opened his mouth to respond, but Sage quickly rolled up his window, cutting him off. I turned my head so Mr. Firay couldn't see me snickering. Sage pressed on the gas pedal, and we left Mr. Firay standing in the middle of the road with a scowl on his face.

I started laughing. "That was great, Sage!"

Sage smiled, keeping his eyes on the road. "I only think it's fair. After all, he's trying to make you jealous, so two can play at that."

I sighed. "Even though you say that, and I want to, Mr. Firay would never be jealous."

"I wouldn't so sure of that."

"Eh?"

"Well he took your cell phone away, right? Matt is an ex-gangster. Do you seriously think he enforces the school rules on people? And isn't he one of the student body's favorite teacher?"

"Well no, but..."

"Why did you even have your cell phone out?"

"He wanted me to prove I had your number," I responded, frowning. "He tricked me though. That's when he took it."

Sage started laughing. I scowled at him.

"It's not funny. I need my phone and my mom works all day."

"Daphne, did you ever think the reason he took your phone was because he didn't want you to contact me?"

"Yeah, but that's impossible."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because he's a man... and I'm just a high school girl."

"That wouldn't stop me," Sage pointed out, giving me a side-long glance.

"But you said-"

"The point I'm trying to make," he started, cutting me off, "is that you should have a little bit of confidence in yourself."

"But he's got a date," I muttered, looking out the window.

"Date, Daphne. That doesn't mean girlfriend. You and I are out on a date, aren't we? And I'm not your boyfriend... unless you want me to be." He let an impish grin grow on his face.

I smiled, shaking my head. "You're right... they're just on a date."

"You can always steal him back."

"I never said I liked him," I pointed out, turning to look at Sage.

"You didn't have to. It's obvious."

I blushed, quickly looking out the window again. "Is it really?"

"To everyone who has seen you interact outside of school, then yes. Well except to you and Matt, I guess."

I sighed. "There's no way he could like me."

Sage smirked. "If you ever get the chance, look at his cell phone."

"Huh?"

Sage shrugged, focusing all his attention on the road again. I watched as we passed the downtown area, and soon the outskirts of town. I frowned slightly, turning back to Sage.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a secret," he responded in a teasing tone.

I frowned, but let it go. I watched out the window as we pulled onto a dirt road that led into the forest. The deeper we drove into it, the denser it became. I glanced at Sage nervously.

"You're not bringing me out here to kill me, are you?"

Sage laughed and shook his head. "No, I'm going to show you something you might appreciate."

"All the way out here?"

"Look."

I looked out the windshield and my eyes landed on a huge building. I could tell it was abandoned; the paint was peeling, the windows were broken, the lawn was overgrown, and part of the roof had collapsed.

"Oh joy. A rape hut," I said sarcastically.

Sage snorted. "A what? What the hell is that? But no, it's not 'a rape hut'. This is Matt's and my old gang's hang out place."

"Really?" I looked at the building with new respect. "What happened?"

"A few years back a storm knocked a tree into the roof, and none of us were carpenters, so we had to ditch it."

"You had Everafters in the gang, didn't you? Couldn't they fix it with magic?"

"Most of their powers were destructive, not repair like. And Matt's power…he didn't use magic, I guess."

I nodded in understanding. "Then...why not just call a carpenter?"

Sage raised an eyebrow. "And exploit our hideout? I think not."

I nodded in understanding. It was kind of exciting to have a secret hide out spot. I wouldn't want anyone to know where mine was if I had one. But it was a sad thing to have to abandon it.

Sage parked the car and I unbuckled myself, getting out quickly. I started across the lawn, eager to look inside.

"Wait up, kiddo!" Sage called after me and I heard his footfalls as he ran to catch up. "It's dangerous in there, so don't wander off alone."

"Dangerous?" I repeated, turning with a frown. "How?"

"Can't you tell? It's falling apart. I haven't been here in a few years, well no one has been here in a few years. Who knows how safe it is?"

"I still want to go inside," I complained. "We drove all the way out here."

Sage looked at me for a moment, and then sighed. "Fine. But if anything happens to you, you tell Matt it's not my fault."

I grinned. "Deal."

With that, I turned around and hurried towards the porch, stepping up the creaky stairs. I tried to the door, and was pleasantly surprised to find it open. I turned around to shoot Sage a grin. He smiled back, making his way slowly up the steps.

I opened the door and a heavy set of mothballs and dust filled my nose and I coughed for a second, trying to adjust myself to the musk. When I did, I entered fully entered the house, only to be enveloped in darkness. The only light came from the door I had just entered from.

"Is there a light switch in here?"

"To your left," Sage responded, coming into view at the door. "But I highly doubt it-"

Light filled the room as I switched on the light switch Sage was talking about. He looked at me in surprise.

"Maybe the electric company didn't notice yet?" I suggested, shrugging.

"Maybe," Sage murmured in agreement.

I surveyed the room in front of me. It was very large, and very bare. The only pieces of furniture in the room were a ratty old couch that was against the far left wall, with a recliner to accompany it, and scattered chairs against the right.

There was a stair case on either side of the room, that led up to a balcony that hovered over the last quarter of the room. It was very grand.

"What was this room used for?"

"Fights," Sage replied simply. "Mock fights. Challenges. Practice."

I stared at him in awe. "You actually fought here?"

"It was our base for a reason, you know," Sage responded, raising an eyebrow. "C'mon, I'll show you something cool."

"Okay."

I followed Sage towards a set of stairs on the left, and he carefully began stepping up them. He took one step at a time, testing each stair with his weight before stepping on it fully. When we finally made it to the stop without incident, he gestured me toward a door directly across the hall.

"This is our hall of fame in a way," he told me, opening the door the room.

I peered in and furrowed my eyes in confusion. "What are all those papers on the floor?"

"What?" Sage looked around me and he let out a little gasp. "What happened here?"

The room was scattered with papers all over the floor. There were also a few miscellaneous items lying around as well. Sage pushed me aside and walked into the room, frowning deeply.

"I wonder who did this," he commented, squatting down and picking up one of the papers.

I walked further into the room and bent down and picked up what looked like a photograph. I turned it over to the front and was staring at a familiar face, only a few years younger.

"Sage," I started, walking over to him. "Is this you?"

Sage stood up, taking the photo out of his hand. He looked at it for a second and grinned. "That's me. Back when I was a junior."

"You were so cute!" I commented, taking the picture back. "I would have totally dated you."

"Hey," he said, sounding offended. "I'm only four years older now."

I ignored him, bending down and picking up another piece of paper. This time it was a news article cutout. I scanned it quickly. There was a picture of a teenager, who was a little bit handsome, on it. In a nutshell, the article was about the teen that had beaten another nearly to death.

"That's Cain," Sage commented, making me jump. "He was arrested though."

"Why is the clipping here?"

"Didn't I tell you? This is our hall of fame. Granted, everything used to be on the wall though... I really wonder who tore it all off."

"Hall of fame? As in..."

"As in if you did well in a fight, you're picture would be up on the wall. On the back it'd say your name, age, opponent, and how long the fight took. You could also get on the wall if you got into the newspapers. There were other ways of getting on it, but I'm not going to explain."

I looked at the picture of Sage when he was a junior. Sure enough, there was writing on the back. "So it took you ten minutes to beat this guy named Tristan?"

Sage nodded. "It wouldn't have taken so long if the bastard hadn't surprised me with a knife."

I let out a startled gasp. "Is that legal?"

Sage gave an exaggerated sigh. "There's nothing illegal or legal in fighting...well, technically speaking."

"But that doesn't seem fair..."

"Nothing's fair in fighting, Daphne," he informed me. "You'd do best to remember that."

"O-okay," I responded, turning my attention back to the papers on the floor.

I continued to look at the backs of photos and random news articles about all the different people who were in the gang. There were quite a few of Sage. All the ones I found with him I put in my pocket to save.

"Found it!"

I jumped at Sage's sudden outburst. "Found what?"

"Look, look!" he said excitedly, shoving a photo into my hands.

The photo was of a very handsome teenager, who was glaring at the camera. I had to resist the urge to snicker.

"Was he always like this?"

Sage laughed. "Matt would never smile for any pictures... however there is one in here."

"He's so cute. I wish I knew him when he was younger," I commented, flipping the photo over. "Eh? Why aren't there any names on it?"

"Because, he was our gang leader."

A/N. Dun dun dun! Haha, were some of you expecting that? Too bad you have to wait for tomorrow for the next update! But hey-if I had uploaded last week with two more chapters, you would have only one this week! XD

Actually, you're only supposed to have one because my Duke TIP is Saturday. *glare glare glare*...

Just kidding! I don't mind if I miss a few on the test (actually, I know I'm going to miss at least four or ten in each section) because everyone says it's hard. I'm going to try my best! ^^

Anyways, thanks for your reviews! And an update will come about tomorrow after school! :D

~Lara