After spending the night killing each other in new and interesting ways, trying to maximize the amount of strength they could gain, until it was time for Beth to head home. Before she left, Beth insisted that she would pick him up by the lifts at six on Friday for the party. So on Friday, he put on his new suit and headed up to the third level, arriving around five fifty.

"Chris!" He suddenly heard Beth yell from nearby after waiting for a few minutes. He looked over to see her stepping out of a long limo wearing an elegant dress. "Over here!"

Chris walked over with a frown. "We're taking a car?" Chris asked skeptically.

"Duh. Why else would I need to pick you up? Come on, let's go!" Beth rolled her eyes, before pulling him into the limo.

"Okay, but why do we need to take a car? Where are we going?" Chris asked as he got in the car.

"Well, first, we're heading back to my place, where you'll meet my parents, then we're heading to the Emerald Pavilion for the party." Beth explained.

"Okay… still don't see why we need a car. Couldn't we just take a rail car?" Chris asked.

Beth gave him a weird look. "Well, for starters, the rails don't go to my neighborhood. Secondly, if we have the car, why not use it?"

Chris frowned, before shrugging. "Fair enough."

The limo wound through the streets before entering a gated community, before it finally arrived at a large house deep inside. "We're here!" Beth announced, jumping out of the limo, dragging Chris along and into the house.

"Ah, Beth, you're back!" An older woman exclaimed as they walked in, pulling Beth into a hug. "And who's this handsome young man?" She asked as she pulled away, looking Chris up and down.

"Mom!" Beth complained, shifting uncomfortably. "This is just Chris! He's a friend!"

"Ah, of course." Beth's mom nodded with a smirk, clearly not believing her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Chris. I'm Abigail, Beth's mother."

"And I'm Beth's father, David." An older man added with a grin as he walked over.

"It's nice to meet you both." Chris greeted them politely.

"So, you're the one Beth is dragging into the military with her, right?" David continued, examining Chris a bit closer.

Chris cocked his head. "I guess you could put it that way." He agreed with a nod.

"Hey! I'm not dragging him! I convinced him with solid, logical arguments!" Beth protested.

David chuckled. "Yes, yes, of course."

Abigail rolled her eyes at David, before turning to Chris. "So, Chris, is this your first Ball?"

Chris's eyes widened. "Ball? Like, dancing Ball?"

"Did I not mention that?" Beth asked innocently.

"No. Does this mean I need to dance? Cause I would have at least practiced." Chris commented.

"Nope. I mean, we could dance, but we don't have to." Beth shook her head. "The main purpose of the Ball is socializing, so a lot of people just stand around and talk."

"Ah… sounds fun." Chris replied noncommittally, trying not to offend Beth's parents.

"No, no it doesn't, but this is the price we must pay for status." David sighed. "These events are essential for making connections, and without connections, good luck getting into any significant position."

"If I don't want a significant position, can I go back home?" Chris replied.

"No! You need to keep me company! Do you know how boring these things can get?!?" Beth protested.

Abigail sighed. "I just do not understand you people. I enjoy Balls!"

David smirked. "Indeed you do, dear. But I can't say they're to my taste."

Chris looked between David and Abigail, getting an idea of where Beth's phrasing issues came from. "Okay, so, how long do these things last then?"

"Three, four hours?" David estimated.

"And all that is just people standing around and talking?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Essentially." David nodded.

Chris nodded. "So, long, boring, and mandatory… welp, that kills my political ambitions."

David chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you get used to it."

"That sounds like Stockholm syndrome." Chris retorted.

"No, it's adaptation." David corrected with a grin.

After a few more minutes of chatting, it was time for them to head to the Ball. They all climbed into the limo, which drove off towards the Emerald Pavilion. "Wow…" Chris muttered as he stepped out of the limo to see the largest, fanciest building he'd ever seen.

"Don't just stand there like a bumpkin! Come on, let's head inside!" Beth grabbed his hand, pulling him inside.

"To be fair, I am a bumpkin." Chris pointed out.

"Yes, but you can't act like one." Beth retorted.

Chris sighed. "Of course not. This is becoming a pretty high maintenance favor."

Beth rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I'll make it up to you. Come on, let's go!"

"Have fun you two!" Abigail encouraged them as they left.

"If you can." David muttered after.

Beth dragged Chris inside, making a beeline for the buffet. "The one redeeming factor of these things is that the food is amazing!" She explained, grabbing them plates.

Chris eyed the long line of finger food, slightly skeptical, before taking the nearest one and popping one in his mouth. "Mmm! This is good!" Chris exclaimed, grabbing more and piling it on his plate.

"Told you!" Beth smirked, piling her own plate high, before they headed towards a high table to place their food as they ate and talked.

"Beth, is that you?" A voice asked as they were chatting.

Beth turned to see the new arrival, putting on a polite smile. "Katerina, how good to see you!" She exclaimed with a cheerfulness that didn't reach her eyes.

Katerina walked over, giving Beth a short hug. "Oh, I feel like it's been ages since we last saw each other! How have you been? How was your Trial?"

"I've been well. As for the Trial, well, as you can see, I survived-" She paused as Chris coughed pointedly, shooting him a glare before continuing. "-despite a few minor hiccups due to unexpected events. It was an illuminating experience."

"Ah, illuminating! What an excellent way to describe the Trial! Yes, you really see how terrible it can be for those poor low-tiers. If even we have to be careful, what must they go through? I shudder at the thought!" Katerina replied in a sympathetic tone of voice.

"I'm not sure if shuddering is the right reaction. Depression, heartbreak, pissing yourself in fear, those might be good reactions." Chris commented blandly.

Beth let out a short laugh, before covering her mouth, while Katerina turned to Chris, raising an eyebrow. "Beth, I don't believe you've introduced me to your… charming friend here."

Beth grinned, hooking Chris's arm with her own. "This is Chris. He's a new friend I made in the Maze."

Katerina's eyebrows rose. "A friend, you say? How interesting." She looked Chris up and down, before turning back to Beth. "Well, I must continue to make my rounds. Please, give my regards to Daniel when you see him." She commented with a smirk, before rushing off.

Beth watched her go, gritting her teeth slightly. "Bitch." She growled under her breath.

"I take it you two aren't on the best terms?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

Beth sighed. "No, she's not terrible. She's just a gossip and a busybody. If there's a chance to cause drama, she's going to jump on it."

"Now see, to me, that does sound terrible." Chris pointed out.

"Well, other people around here will just decide to beat you if they don't like you, so comparatively, she's not so bad. Plus, it isn't personal with her. She's just bored and seeking entertainment." Beth explained.

"Wait, they'll beat you?!? What is this, middle school?" Chris asked incredulously.

Beth shrugged. "They have power, and they aren't afraid to use it. Every high-tier is valuable enough that the City will look the other way, as long as they don't go too far. The stronger you are, the more leeway you have."

Chris frowned. "That's some bullshit."

Beth sighed. "You see why I wanted you to come right? They're all like this. The best you get is benign dickishness. Everyone is entitled and snobby, thinking they're above everyone else."

"Well, you know what they say. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Chris sighed, before pausing and turning to Beth. "How did you avoid it?"

Beth smiled nostalgically. "My dad. See, we have the same ability, but when he started out, he was a low-tier. He barely survived his Trial by the skin of his teeth. After that, he joined the military, hoping to get stronger, and learned how to actually use his ability, working his way up until he reached the level of a high-tier! He's always taught me to respect the weak, because you never know what they could be capable of, if you just gave them a chance."

"Huh… neat." Chris nodded appreciatively.

Beth rolled her eyes. "You have the worst responses sometimes."

Chris shrugged helplessly. "I can't help it. It's who I am."

"Beth, it's about time you headed back to get ready." Abigail announced as she walked over with David.

Chris raised an eyebrow at Beth. "Ready for what?"

Beth groaned. "It's this stupid ceremony where all the new 'adults' share a dance. They pair us off and make us flaunt ourselves in front of everyone. It's stupid."

"It isn't flaunting, it's announcing to the world that you're officially an adult to be taken seriously!" Abigail protested.

Beth sighed, before turning back to Chris. "Sorry, I have to go. I'll be back as soon as possible." She assured him, before walking off with Abigail.

David watched them go, before turning to Chris with a grin. "Well then, since you're here, let me introduce you to a few of my colleagues." He offered, taking Chris by the shoulder and leading him off.

"Is this that networking thing you mentioned before?" Chris asked skeptically.

"Indeed it is. Don't worry, I'm not trying to push you into any sort of position, but it never hurts to know the higher ups." David commented.

David led Chris to a sitting area, where he saw a familiar face. "Chris, this is Samuel Williams, the head of the Defense Force." David introduced the two. "Samuel, this is-"

"Chris, yes, we've met previously." Samuel interrupted, shaking Chris's hand with a grin. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon. You haven't had any issues since your return, have you?"

Chris shook his head. "No, everything has been fine. Just getting ready to join the Scouts and all that."

"Joining the Scouts?" Samuel raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? The Defense Force could use someone with your abilities. The storage space alone… plus, in the defense force, we have more regular hours. You'd be able to-"

"Samuel! Could you not try to poach my new recruit right in front of me?" David elbowed him in the side, shaking his head incredulously.

"What? I need to take any chance I can get! I don't have a daughter to pull a honey pot on him for me." Samuel shot back with a grin.

"How dare you imply-" David began, before the woman who'd been waiting nearby interjected.

"Gentlemen, we are dignified military officials! Stop acting like children!" She chastised them, before turning to Chris, looking him over with an evaluating gaze. "I'm Belinda Montero, the head of the Vanguard." She introduced herself, extending her hand.

Chris was about to shake her hand when he paused as he heard her last name, his expression twisting slightly. "Montero? Like, the Family Montero?"

Belinda grinned proudly, not noticing Chris's change in expression. "Indeed. My Family's roots in the Vanguard go back for generations."

"Hm. Nice to meet you." Chris finally shook her hand stiffly, a cold expression on his face.

David's eyes narrowed as he noticed Chris's shift in attitude. "Yes, well, you two, make sure you remember this boy! I'm sure he'll go on to do great things in the future! Come along, Chris." He took Chris by the shoulder again, leading him off. Once they'd gotten a good distance away, he stopped, turning to Chris with a frown. "What was that back there? Do you have a problem with the Monteros?"

Chris hesitated slightly. "Well… it's more like they have a problem with me. Though, yes, their problem does give me a problem with them."

David raised an eyebrow at him. "Would you care to elaborate?"

Chris sighed. "One of my earliest memories is of an older couple looking at me with expressions of severe disgust as they refused to take me in after my parents died. Apparently someone without an ability wasn't worthy of their affection, even if he was their grandson. Of course, they'd already essentially disowned their daughter just because she married someone 'beneath' her, so I suppose no one should have been surprised." Chris paused, frowning. "You know, I get the Trial. I see its necessity. But how can you just give up on someone before you even know? How can you feel disgust for someone just because they're weak? What kind of person can even think that way? Not one I want to be involved with, that's for sure."

David placed a heavy hand on Chris's shoulder, looking at him with a concerned expression. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. But please, don't hold it against Belinda. That may not even have been the main branch of the family. Sometimes the offshoots are more arrogant than the core."

Chris nodded. "I know. I'm not dumb enough to hold someone accountable for someone else's mistakes. I'm just… not quite ready to be too friendly with a Montero. Not until I know them better."

David patted him on the shoulder. "I understand. Come, I have a few more people you should meet."

David took Chris around, introducing him to the command structure of the Scouts. The most interesting individual was the person in charge of creating and ranking the missions the squads would undertake. There was a systematic evaluation of how potentially dangerous a mission could be, which helped the squads decide whether they should take it or not. The base level missions were the patrol missions, which were ranked based on the level the squad would be patrolling. Next were the scouting missions, which were ranked the same as patrolling one level higher than the level the mission was on. Finally, there were the elimination missions, which were ranked based on the number of enemies, their strength, the territory they occupied, and many other factors that were learned through the scouting process. The conversation gave Chris an idea of what his time in the Scouts would really look like.

"Ahem. Ladies and Gentlemen! Please, turn your attention to the floor as we prepare to welcome the young men and women for their first appearance as adult members of society!" A voice announced over a speaker system, interrupting the latest conversation David had pulled Chris into.

David and Chris shared a look. "Well? Shall we head over?" David asked.

"I suppose we should." Chris sighed, causing David to chuckle. They joined the rest of the crowd as they stood around the dance floor, waiting for the new adults to make their appearance. Abigail managed to find them, hooking her arm with David's, waiting excitedly for the event to begin.

Not much later, music began to play, and pairs of dancing teenagers began to glide onto the dance floor, spinning elegantly as they spread out. "Ooh, there's Beth!" Abigail pointed out as Beth appeared, dancing with a handsome young man with a polite, but dead eyed smile on her face.

"She seems to be enjoying herself." Chris commented sarcastically, grinning slightly.

"Oh, no, they paired her with Daniel." David groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Chris frowned as he heard that name for a second time. "Is that a problem?" He asked, wondering what the big deal was.

David sighed. "Daniel is Belinda's son, and he and Beth have known each other since they were little, due to the various work and social events we both were required to attend. Over the years, Daniel has become very possessive of Beth, which, obviously, Beth does not appreciate. I protect her from him as much as possible, but Belinda supports the match, so there's only so much I can do." He glanced at Chris. "This may cause you issues at some point."

"Oh, joy. I assume he's a high-tier as well?" Chris asked.

"Of course." David chuckled. "Only high-tiers can cultivate such a high level of entitlement."

Chris sighed. "Perfect."

They continued to watch the young adults dance for another few minutes, before they simultaneously came to a stop, turning and bowing to the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we officially welcome you to adulthood!" The announcer exclaimed, and everyone clapped. The music began again, some of the pairs continuing to dance, some grabbing new partners, and others dispersing into the crowd to greet family and friends.

Beth was about to head over to Chris and her parents, when Daniel grabbed her arm. "One more dance?" He offered with a light grin.

Beth took her arm back with a flat glare. "No thank you. I'm going to say hello to my parents." She replied, beginning to walk off.

Daniel caught up, reaching out and gripping her wrist again. "How about later?"

"I'm sorry, I have a friend I promised to accompany tonight. I'll have to talk to him before I promise anything." Beth brushed him off as politely as possible, taking her arm back again and pushing into the crowd.

Daniel paused, frowning, remembering what Katerina had mentioned to him. "A friend, huh? Well, we'll see how this friend matches up." He sneered, before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

"Beth, congratulations!" Abigail announced as Beth returned, pulling her into a hug.

"Mom, it's just a stupid ceremony." Beth rolled her eyes.

Abigail sighed. "Beth, it's a tradition. It's part of our culture!"

"Well our culture is dumb." Beth retorted.

"I don't know. In my culture, adulthood seems to revolve more around alcohol and sex, so in comparison, this is actually pretty decent." Chris interjected.

"Alcohol and sex?" Beth asked in a mix of confusion and incredulity.

"Yup. If you want to be a 'man' you have to drink lots of beer, and have lots of sex. The more you can do either of those, the more of a man you are." Chris explained with a shrug. "It's a bit different for girls, but it seems to revolve around how much of a bitch you can be while still getting guys to chase after you."

Beth paused. "It's still a stupid ceremony." She muttered under her breath.

David chuckled. "Alright, alright. I believe it's time for me to take my lovely wife for a dance. Will you two be joining us?"

Beth turned to Chris with a slightly expectant look, as if she wanted to dance but didn't want to push him if he didn't want to. Chris hesitated, before sighing. "I wouldn't mind dancing, but I only know the basic steps. Like, the one two three and maybe a spin every now and then."

Beth snorted. "No one here is any sort of expert dancer. Doing something like that would be more disruptive than anything."

Chris looked over the dancefloor, noticing that most of the dancers were keeping it pretty simple. "Well, then sure, we could dance." He nodded.

"Are you sure? You don't have to. We could just go wander the garden if you'd like." Beth offered.

Chris paused. "There's a garden?"

"Yeah, it's great! It has flowers, bushes, trees, a little pond, everything! You want to see it?" Beth asked.

"Sure, but why don't we dance for a few songs first. Then we can go see the garden." Chris replied, grinning slightly.

Beth flushed slightly. "That- that could work." She nodded.

Chris held out his hand. "Shall we?"

Beth nodded, taking his hand, and they stepped out onto the dancefloor. They started out slowly, Chris struggling a bit as he got used to dancing again. He hadn't danced since his freshman year of high school, and the only reason he danced them was because one of his school's classes was ballroom dance. Thankfully, dancing wasn't terribly complicated, so he quickly adjusted to the rhythm, following the music along with Beth.

"Uh, Chris? What are you doing?" Beth asked halfway through the first song.

Chris looked down at her, frowning. "What do you mean?"

"You're very pointedly staring over my head, with a blank expression." Beth pointed out.

Chris blinked a few times, before cocking his head. "Is that a problem?"

"Is- yes! What, do you plan on ignoring me the entire time we're dancing?!?" Beth asked incredulously.

"No? How can I ignore you when we're dancing?" Chris frowned. "I mean, I have to pay attention to how you move, your pace, all that. If I was ignoring you, I think we'd trip."

"Okay, but why aren't you looking at me?!?" Beth continued.

Chris paused, before shrugging. "I dunno. It's just how I'm used to dancing with people. Should I be?"

Beth sighed in exasperation. "Chris, if you act like that, people will think you're completely disinterested. Like you don't actually have any interest in dancing with them."

Chris frowned. "That… explains a lot." He muttered, changing his focus so he was actually looking at Beth as they danced. "It feels weird to just stare at someone for minutes on end." He commented a moment later.

"That's why people usually talk while they dance." Beth rolled her eyes.

"Really? I've never talked while I danced." Chris frowned.

Beth gave him a weird look. "You've never talked while you danced? Like, ever?"

Chris shook his head. "Nope. I usually just… dance. I thought that was the point."

"So, you don't look at them, you don't talk, and you just silently dance with them?" Beth asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "Those are some real serial killer vibes right there."

Chris frowned. "Again, that explains a lot…"

Beth shook her head, smiling lightly. "You are simultaneously like the best and the worst guy I know."

Chris cocked his head. "How so?"

"It's just… you have all this wisdom and maturity to you, that makes you great. You know how to treat people, you know what the right thing to do is, and you don't get caught up in your own opinions, which is all amazing. But you also have this… disinterest towards everything, like you only do anything because you're supposed to, and you just seem to miss certain things. It's- it's like you're a robot or something, who only knows what he's been told." Beth explained.

"I wouldn't say I'm disinterested, I just… Well, a lot of things are equally interesting to me. Books, games, parties, hanging out with friends, all these are about the same for me, so it doesn't make sense to get excited about a party when I'd have just as much fun staying at home and reading a book or watching TV." Chris explained. "If I do it, I'm happy, but if I don't do it, I'm also happy… does that make sense?"

"So… it's like, if everything is special, nothing is?" Beth asked.

Chris paused, before nodding. "I guess you could look at it that way."

"That's kind of a bummer, you know? People like to be special." Beth pointed out.

Chris sighed. "I know, but it isn't like I can change how I am, right? I mean, I could pretend but that's just going to stress me out and it won't actually be genuine, so is it really better?"

"I guess not…" Beth muttered, frowning as she seemed to get lost in thought.

Chris watched her for a bit, before sighing. "If it helps, I do enjoy hanging out with you more than most other people. I may not be the best at showing it, but you have quickly become someone I value having in my life."

Beth looked up at him with a weird look, before smiling lightly. "That does help. Thank you." They continued to dance for a bit in silence, before Beth stopped them. "Come on, let's go to the garden now." She insisted, dragging him off the dancefloor. She led him towards the other side of the building, leading him into a large, dimly lit garden full of pristine walking paths. A few couples wound their way through the greenery, and small groups had taken a few grassy plots for themselves. "Isn't it beautiful?" Beth asked as they arrived, smiling brightly as she looked around. "Come on, I'll show you my favorite spot!" She continued to drag Chris along, deeper into the garden, until they reached a small pond. Beth stepped off the path, wandering over to a large weeping willow, parting the leaves to reveal a large, empty area. She dragged Chris inside before sitting under the trunk and sighing. "Isn't it nice? It's like a little, secret base."

Chris sat down next to her, looking around. The willow was leaning over the pond, creating a little, private pool, and the leaves were just far enough apart to let in enough light to see, while still keeping everything secluded. "This is pretty nice. Very private."

"Yeah… this is where I come whenever I want to get away from it all." Beth sighed, picking up a stick and playing with the water. "Here, I can just take a break and enjoy the peace of the garden. I don't have to worry about how I look, how I act, anything. I can just come here and be."

Chris frowned. "Do you really need to worry about all that?"

Beth shook her head. "You don't understand the games these people play. Any little mistake can make life exponentially more difficult. It's a struggle just to remain innocuous, let alone impress people. Everything that gets done around here uses connections and in order to use those connections, they need to have a good impression of you. It's just so tiring having to make sure I'm not offending anyone just by saying my opinion."

Chris sighed. "The more I hear about this stuff, the more I want absolutely no part of it."

Beth grinned, leaning over to hug his arm. "Thank you for coming anyway. I know this isn't your ideal night, but I've enjoyed your company."

Chris shrugged. "Eh, how many nights are ideal? Besides, this was an… interesting experience. It's a part of the City I've never seen or interacted with before. Even if it isn't my cup of tea, it's at least something new, which is fun in and of itself."

The two spent a few moments sitting under the tree, quietly enjoying each other's company, when their ears perked up as they heard a group of footsteps heading their way. They listened, waiting for them to pass, but instead of continuing along the path, the footsteps turned towards them, heading towards the willow. Chris frowned, standing to his feet, quickly followed by Beth, when the leaves parted and Daniel stepped inside.

"I thought I'd find you here." He sneered, looking them over. "I'm not interrupting, am I? Have you two already finished your little tryst?"

Beth flushed while Chris frowned. He turned to Beth. "What's a tryst?"

"Pounding." She whispered back.

"Ah. Oh." Chris nodded before pausing as he realized. He turned back to Daniel. "Dude, not that we did anything, but I'm pretty sure that's none of your business."

"Who are you to tell me what my business is!?!" Daniel growled, gritting his teeth. "I don't know why Beth is putting up with low-tier trash like you, but once I'm done with you, she'll know how far beneath us you really are."

"Daniel, enou-" Beth began angrily, before Chris held up his hand, silencing her.

"Your mother is Belinda, right? Which makes you a Montero." Chris asked suddenly.

Daniel smiled proudly. "Yes, I am Daniel Montero of the Montero family. But I'm sorry, it is much too late to regret your actions." He continued, his eyes beginning to glow.

"One moment." Chris held up a finger, opening a portal between them and dragging Beth in with him, before closing it.

Daniel froze, eyes widening. "You coward!" He roared angrily, thinking Chris had somehow escaped. He'd brought friends to surround the willow, just in case the eyesore had tried to run, but instead he used a portal? Daniel was about to stomp away angrily, when the portal opened again.

"I just need to get changed. Hold on for a sec." Chris explained, before closing it again, leaving Daniel standing there dumbfounded.

"Are you really going to fight him?" Beth asked nervously inside the Immortal World.

"Sure, why not? I mean, yeah, he'll kick my ass, but I might get to punch him in his annoying face, which would absolutely be worth it." Chris explained as he took off his suit, neatly hanging it up as he did. "I mean, what's he going to do, kill me? I spent half of last night dying! I'm kinda over it. Besides, we might as well get this over with. I can't imagine this Daniel will just let it go if we hide in here until he leaves."

Beth sighed. "I guess."

Chris paused as he was about to take his pants off. "Do you mind waiting outside for a second? Or would you really like to actually have a tryst so we can really justify this fight." He joked.

Beth flushed, before turning and rushing out the door. "You're so gross!" She exclaimed as she went, causing Chris to chuckle.

He quickly finished getting changed, putting on some gym shorts and an old t-shirt. "Alright, let's do this." He announced, calling Beth back in. "You want to watch or wait in here?"

"I'll wait in here." Beth replied. "I don't need to see you get your ass kicked. Or lasered in this case."

"Fair enough." Chris shrugged, opening the portal and stepping out. "Okay, you ready?" He asked Daniel, who was giving him a weird look.

"Where's Beth?" He asked.

"She's waiting inside. Not real interested in seeing me get my ass kicked." Chris shrugged.

Daniel paused again. "So… you know I'm going to beat you?"

"Obviously? But so? No big deal. Hell, I might get stronger from this." Chris replied.

Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am so confused."

"Look, are we going to do this or should I go?" Chris asked.

"I- you- can we just… hold off for a second?" Daniel rubbed his temple. "So, Beth knows you can't beat me, and… she doesn't care?"

"Uh, no. Honestly, not sure what you thought that was going to get you. I mean, do you think she's stupid? She knows how strong you are, and she knows how strong I am. I mean, I have practically zero combat ability." Chris raised an eyebrow at him.

"Then why is she with you!?!" Daniel asked incredulously.

Chris shook his head. "Well… first off, we aren't technically together. We're just friends. Though, I was told that if I still think of her as someone I might want to date, I should actually ask her out tonight… but that's later. Secondly-"

"Wait! You're going to ask Beth out?!?" Daniel exclaimed.

"Probably? But that isn't the point. The second-" Chris continued.

"I'm going to kill you!" Daniels yelled, his eyes glowing, beams of light shooting towards Chris, smashing into his chest, sending him flying backwards.

Chris groaned in pain as he sat up, looking down at his bloody, burned chest. "Dude, I thought you said you'd kill me." He complained.

Daniel kicked him over and stomped on his chest. "Stop. Saying. Weird. Shit!" He yelled.

"Just. Kill. Me. Already!" Chris yelled back.

"Fuck!" Daniel exclaimed, pulling at his hair. "What is wrong with you!?!"

"Ugh, fine, I'll do it myself." Chris grumbled, opening a portal and grabbing a knife he'd stashed in his Immortal World. "I'll be back." He groaned, before stabbing himself in the head, and his body disappeared. Chris appeared in the other world, completely naked. He glanced at Beth. "I honestly forgot about this part."

"Put your clothes on!" Beth screeched, covering her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah." Chris sighed, grabbing another pair of shorts and pulling them on before opening the portal. "Heading out again. Maybe wait in the other room, huh?" Beth rolled her eyes, walking to the other room. Chris chuckled as he headed out, seeing the stunned Daniel. "Alright, so, as I was saying, the second point-"

"You- you're not dead?!?" Daniel stammered in shock.

Chris sighed. "Are you ever going to let me finish?"

"Are you ever going to stop being weird!?!" Daniel retorted.

"Uh, dude, are you done yet?" One of the guys who was guarding the perimeter stuck his head through the leaves. "We're kinda missing the party. I left Valerie waiting at the buffet."

"No! Yes! Fuck!" Daniel exclaimed in frustration.

"You can probably go. I'm not running and he doesn't need your help to fight me." Chris let the guy know.

"Uh… thanks man." The guy replied hesitantly, before turning to go.

"No problem." Chris waved as he left, before turning back to Daniel. "So, anyways, as I was saying, the second point-"

"Would you stop! I don't care! What is wrong with you! You just died! You killed yourself!" Daniel exclaimed.

"Well, you left me injured. What else was I supposed to do?" Chris shrugged. "And I thought you liked Beth? Shouldn't you want to know why she likes to hang out with me?"

"No, I don't! She should just like to be with me! I don't care why she likes to be with you!" Daniel retorted, obviously a little on edge.

"Okay, see, this is why she doesn't like you." Chris commented.

"I will kill you." Daniel growled.

"I'd appreciate it if you actually followed through. If you just injure me again, I'll be pissed." Chris replied.

Daniel frowned. "I don't know how to threaten you."

"You don't have to threaten me, you know." Chris pointed out.

"But you're pissing me off!" Daniel roared.

"Well, that's a different issue. Honestly, you really shouldn't be getting this angry over a girl not being interested. That's like a major issue. Like, abusive guys do that. Frankly, I don't think people should get that worked up over really anything, but that's besides the point." Chris retorted.

"Would you stop preaching at me!" Daniel exclaimed.

"Uh… sure?" Chris shrugged. He looked around, before picking up his old clothes and his knife, throwing them back into the Immortal World. "So… we done here? You want to kill me again?"

Daniel groaned. "No. Yes. I don't know." He paused, glaring at Chris, before sighing. "I'm going to go."

"Kay. Have fun." Chris waved goodbye, opening the portal and heading back to the Immortal World. "Ugh, now I have to put my suit back on."

"Don't bother. We should just go." Beth sighed, walking in, looking depressed.

Chris raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you sure? We could still dance some more. Plus that buffet is really delicious…"

"Chris, my childhood friend just decided to fight you because he thought we were together! He killed you!" Beth retorted in an aggravated tone.

"Actually, I killed myself. He just gave me a big burn wound on my chest." Chris explained. "Painful as hell, but not deadly."

"Still, he assaulted you! Do you really want to keep spending time around people like that, pretending to be friends while they stare daggers at you?" Beth asked.

Chris shrugged. "Eh, not really, but I like spending time with you. Plus, if we leave early, it might cause problems for you, and I don't want to be the reason you get in trouble."

Beth frowned. "That almost sounded sweet. If you didn't deliver it like you were giving me directions to a restaurant."

Chris shrugged again. "I honestly don't know how to say it in any other way."