BOOP!

The sounds of soft sniffling are the only things giving life to the stone quiet room as I quietly walk in. "W-What do we do now?" Jinx suprises me by hugging a quivering Terra. "I-It'll be ok, I....I'll take the blame." She gives a small smile to the astonished Terra and the incredulous Blackfire.

"Why?" Blackfire floats over and grasps Jinx's dress. "Why would you do that!?" Jinx gives off a sour and joyless laugh. "Because I love him." Blackfire lets her go. "I love him, and I failed him." Jinx grasps her arm. "I wanted to make him proud of me, to show him how great of a team we are." Terra and Blackfire start to sniffle softly. "It's my fault, so I'll take the blame."

She reaches over and grasps them in a weak hug. "At least you two will get to stay."

I feel like a total dick now after watching them, but something inside me snaps and I scowl. "Isn't it MY job to decide who stays and who goes?" The three of them squeal in fright as they leap in alarm. "B-B-Boss!?" My scowl deepens as I walk towards them. "And look at this mess!" I lean down to the now quivering girls. "Who told you that you could toss your shit all over my floor?!"

Jinx swallows her fear and by the look of it is trying to work the nerve up to talk to me. "I'm very disappointed in you three, why I'm SO disappointed that I may have to!" I swing my hand up and bring it down in a manner that looks like I may slap Jinx. Terra screams in fright and Blackfire growls in hurtfull anger. Jinx stands rigged waiting for the slap that will never come, because as my hand races to her cheek, I slow to a stop and, "BOOP!" With a gentle poke, I press in her cheek.

In typical fashion, Terra, Jinx and Blackfire freeze solid, and I swear they seem to take on the color of granite as they stare at me slack jawed and stupefied. "I'm so sorry girls, I never should have snapped at you like that." I frown slightly as a few tears collect in the corners of my eyes. "I know it may take some time, but I hope you three can forgive me."

Not waiting for the still frozen girls to answer, I scoop up their stuff and start for the stairs. "I'll just take this stuff back to your rooms and maybe we can still go to the mall today." I smile softly to the three of them and chuckle abit as they still haven't moved. "Be right back."

After struggling with the surprisingly heavy items, I manage to stumble down the stairs. But the living room is empty. "Girls?"