The idea that Jackson might be Enigma kept me occupied all the way through getting home, showering, dressing in something cute but casual, (I had a potential mystery suitor to impress, after all), and making the trip to the arena. Enigma's face danced through my head, followed by both Jackson and Tristan until I wanted to wave my hands in front of my face and shoo them all away. I would've done it if I wasn't in public where people could see me yelling at my own brain and the men it was conjuring up.

Unfortunately for my psyche, both of those men were waiting for me along with our other friends when I arrived. I deliberated for a moment on whether I could shoo them away in person, but settled on that being pretty obviously insane.

I handed out hugs like candy, and gave one to Jackson somewhat awkwardly, since I'd have felt more weird leaving him out. The energy thrummed against me from inside his body. On a whim, I pushed back against it, and instantly felt him flinch. When I pulled away, he was giving me a curious look, but he said nothing.

"You guys all remember Jackson," I told the assembled group. Grace and Stu were taking it easy tonight, probably basking in the glow of their domestic bliss, so it was just three of the four stooges and Lexa. I felt a little bad for Jackson since it was him plus the old high school clique. Lexa smiled and waved, and the guys all exchanged brusque nods. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes; they'd always been such a protective group when it came to Lexa and me.

"Okay!" I continued, a touch too brightly, plastering a grin on my face, "shall we go get some seats before all the good ones are taken?"

As we filtered through the somewhat crowded corridors, a light touch on the inside of my elbow jerked me out of my brain spinout.

"You alright?" Ewan asked quietly, a little smile playing around the corners of his mouth. "You looked a little deranged back there."

"Rude!" I huffed, lightly swatting away his hand. Obviously I was becoming too transparent. "And to think I always considered you the polite one. I'm just a little nervous about Seb; you know how it is."

So maybe that was a lie through my teeth, but he didn't have to know that.

He cocked his head to the side, glancing at me from under long lashes. No glasses today. "I'm the 'polite one'?"

"Well, considering you don't say boneheaded things or make unsubtle passes at me, yes." I looked around to make sure the others hadn't heard me.

Ewan considered this. "I'll take it then, I guess."

"You say that like it's not a compliment."

He chuckled. "It makes me sound so bland. As long as you don't introduce me to anyone like, 'this is Ewan, he's the polite one.' There's got to be a better qualifier than that."

"Yes, well, I know how hard it's been for you to shed your bad boy image," I said sarcastically, elbowing him gently in the ribs.

"You have no idea," he joked, raking a hand through his hair in a pretty good bad boy imitation. It suited him, surprisingly.

"What are we talking about, guys?" Tristan broke in, slinging a heavy arm around each of our shoulders.

"How you're a prat," Ewan answered smoothly, not missing a beat.

"I can't possibly believe that," Tris countered with a lazy grin.

"Okay I'd like to qualify what I said before," I told Ewan. "You're polite to me."

"You're not a prat," he pointed out triumphantly.

"Clearly I've missed something," Tris pouted.

"Clearly," Ewan said dryly.

"Alright, you two, let's find seats," I placated, even though I smiled at our childish antics.

"Shotgun!" Tristan called.

"What would shotgun even mean in this context?" Lexa had caught up to us now, with Grant and Jackson in tow. I felt a pang of guilt that I'd abandoned Jackson, though another part of me reminded myself that he was a grown ass man and could take care of himself.

"I get to sit next to Kenna," he gave me a dazzling look.

I blinked in the face of such a look, but then something snapped, and I was mad again. Mad like the night before. Mad in the way that made me feel reckless. This time, though, I held it in and calculated my next move. It was time I forced Tristan to admit what the hell he thought he was up to with this, but I wasn't going to make a scene. I would sit and seethe until I had a chance to talk privately with him.

For now, I narrowed my eyes slightly and said, "There are no Kenna rules of shotgun and she will sit where she likes."

Feeling impetuous in my indignant rage, I grabbed both Jackson and Lexa's arms and dragged them down the row of seats on either side of me. If Jackson hadn't been there I would have grabbed Ewan, but I knew I'd feel bad for inviting Jackson and then forcing him to sit beside one of my wolfpack members with their hackles raised.

I chanced a glance at Tristan, whose expression suggested that he realised for once that he might have gone too far. Annoyingly, guilty looked good on him. Ewan, who was sitting on the other side of Tristan, happened to catch my eye and mouthed, "prat," pointing at Tristan with a dark look. I put a hand over my mouth to cover a smile.

Jackson, Lexa and I chatted comfortably while some of the other events went on. Seb was swimming two races today, one of which being the 4X4 relay at the end of the event, so we had some down time to hang out. After a little while I got thirsty and decided to get up and grab a bottle of water from the concession.

"Anyone want anything?" I asked, as I picked my way down the row of seats.

Everyone demurred except for Tristan, who stood up. "Yeah, I'll come with you."

"Okay," I answered, eyeing him suspiciously. Actually, this was probably as good a time as any to say what I wanted to, so I welcomed it.

The corridors were mercifully empty, so it wasn't long before I rounded on him.

"I'm sorry!" he yelped, before I could say anything. "I know a Kenna rage train when I see one coming, so can I please stop it before it gets to the station?"

"That depends. What are you sorry for?" Crossing my arms, I stared at him and waited.

"Shameless flirting?" He hazarded with a cheeky grin.

"And being a creep, maybe?" I shot back.

"You think so?" His face fell a little, though I was pretty sure it was a calculated look.

"What is up with you lately? Are you trying to play mind games with me? I'm not sure what you think that's going to accomplish."

"Isn't this just what we do?" His grin crept back up and he raised an eyebrow at me. "Flirt back and forth?"

"I'm not sure what gave you that impression, and you've been way more intense than usual." Leaning back against the wall with my arms still crossed, I frowned at him.

"Ever since high school, you know?" He shrugged casually.

The rage train was barrelling towards the station again. "Are you kidding me?" I exploded, "I was a silly teenager who really liked you, Tristan, and I think you always knew that. Your brand of 'flirting' would only have hurt me. Did you ever even like me at all?"

The grin was gone now, and he looked away. "I do like you. I wouldn't say the things I do if I wasn't interested, but I've never really been in any place for a relationship and I'm still not. You've always been there, though. Is it so bad to fill the space between now and then with a little flirting?"

I exhaled incredulously. "Yes, yes it is. Let me get this straight - you say you like me, but you're not interested in a relationship, and you think that lovestruck little teenager is going to be waiting around forever for you to make up your mind, and you might as well toy with me until then?"

He flinched under the ice of my stare. "It sounds douchey when you put it that way."

"That's because it is douchey, Tris. There's no other way to put it; you're an asshole. Listen carefully right now, because I'm going to tell you something important. There's a time when I might have been deep enough into puppy love and insecure enough to cling to the things you've just said in some twisted way, but that time is long, long past. It is absolutely over, and you have no chance with me. If you did, you've blown it irretrievably. We can still be friends once I've cooled off because I genuinely enjoy your friendship, but if you try any of your little mind games again, I am not above giving you a silent treatment so cold, it'll freeze your insides. Is that clear?"

Looks like rage train made it into the station, after all.

He stared at me with wide, stunned eyes as I glowered at him, but he was saved from answering by footsteps behind me.

"You guys okay? We thought we wanted a drink after all." Ewan had appeared with Jackson beside him. Ewan met my eyes curiously and I nodded very slightly at him, knowing he'd understand a little of what was going on.

"Sorry if we interrupted anything," Jackson added, placing a feather light hand against the small of my back. Even though it was subtle, it felt a little proprietary, and I was over it.

Pulling away from his touch, I said curtly, "no, we're done," with a meaningful look at Tristan, and then I stalked off down the corridor towards the concession. I was even thirstier now with all this righteous fury burning inside of me.

Jackson followed wordlessly behind me. I heard Tristan say, in a small voice, "it's clear, Kenna."

When I looked back, I saw Ewan watching Tris with a hard look, before shaking his head and walking our way too.

"Look, I don't want to pry, but are you okay?" Jackson asked once we'd made it to the stand.

I caught a glimpse of Ewan frowning out of the corner of my eye, but I wasn't sure what he was frowning at.

"Everything's fine," I smiled grimly, taking the bottles of water that the girl handed me. "We just had a conversation that we needed to have." I put a bottle each in their hands. "Seb's event is coming up so we should get back."

"Okay, well, I'm glad you're fine. I'm just going to stop in the bathroom, I'll see you guys at the seats," Jackson smiled, handing me back his bottle.

I turned back to Ewan, who seemed to understand that I didn't want to be touched. I guess that came from knowing me well. Instead, he gave me a questioning look.

"Please don't tell Seb about this. Tris is an asshole but I think I've dealt with it and I don't need Seb going all protective older brother on one of his best friends." I used my pleading eyes on him.

"Don't tell Seb what?" He kept a straight face except that his lips twitched.

That made me laugh for real. "Thanks, Hammy 1."

He grinned, then sobered a bit. "So it was that bad, huh?"

I bit my lip. "Went a bit Hammer of Thor on him. I promise you he deserves it."

Ewan chuckled. "I definitely believe you. You don't have to explain."

"I hope this doesn't screw up the group dynamic. I told him we could still be friends once I'm not so pissed off at him but I'd rather it doesn't make things awkward."

"Well I think you put the Fear in him, so it might be awkward at first but like you said, he deserves it, that dick," Ewan growled.

I raised an eyebrow in surprise at the menace in his voice. "Remind me not to piss you off."

A ghost of a smile brightened his face as he glanced at me without answering.

We got back to our seats in plenty of time for Seb's first race. Jackson showed up before it started too, and as I cheered my lungs out, I noticed him watching me with a curious expression.

"What's up?" I asked. "Am I embarrassing you?"

"No, I'm just not sure I've ever met someone so enthusiastic before," he admitted.

"Only the things that are important to me; I'm selectively enthusiastic. You won't find me screaming at a Super rally," I laughed.

"Your brother is one of those important things, huh?"

"Of course. He's my brother, and one of my best friends. Wouldn't you do the same for your brother?" I glanced at him and found that he was watching the swimmers thoughtfully.

"I guess, though he doesn't do anything interesting enough to cheer for," he shrugged, looking back at me. "My family isn't that ... demonstrative, if you like."

"Well, we're all different," I murmured, unsure of what else to say.

I leapt up and down as I saw that Seb won his race and grabbed Lexa into a tight hug. I knew she was as excited as I was. The guys whooped and shouted encouragement at Seb, and Jackson squeezed my shoulders, though I think he might have felt a bit out of place.

I spent most of the rest of the event talking to Lexa and Jackson as my mood improved after my fight with Tristan. Seb's team came in second in the relay, which was of course still reason to cheer, and it left me with a huge smile on my face.

Everyone but Lexa headed out after the last event, since she was going to come hang out and have dinner with us. We waited outside of the athletes dressing rooms for Seb to pop out and say hi. I attacked him with a hug as soon as he appeared, even though he was damp and smelled strongly of chlorine.

"Woah, we didn't win everything, you know," he laughed. Lexa offered him a shyer hug once I'd let him go, though I evilly considered bumping her so she'd have to hold on tighter.

"So what, you still killed it out there, brother dear!" I enthused. "What time will you be home for victory dinner?"

He glanced at his watch. "It's five now, huh. I still have to shower and we'll have a post race meeting so to give myself some time let's say seven? Hopefully before then, though."

"Right, sounds good. Lex and I will get things cooking and see you then. We're so proud of youuuu!" I sung out, ruffling his hair.

"Great work out there, Seb," Lexa added as sincerely as I'd ever heard her say just about anything.

"Awe, Lex. Thanks. Bye, girls!" He grinned and ducked back into the dressing rooms.

"Are you sure you didn't mean, 'great work, and also, I love you'?" I teased, nudging Lexa in the ribs once we were significantly out of earshot.

"I will stuff you into one of these lockers and leave you for the rats," she threatened darkly.

"You're so scary," I booped her nose affectionately.

"I hate your face," she grumbled.

"This face? What?" I asked, crossing my eyes goofily at her.

"All of it." Her tone was icy but she couldn't stop a smile from breaking out.

"Are you never going to do something about it?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Ugh!" She rubbed her hands over her face in frustration.

"My cold little heart would just pitter patter at domestic bliss for my brother and my best friend, you know." I made googly eyes at her.

Lexa slipped an arm around my waist and leaned her head against my shoulder. "Thanks, Kenz. I love your face more than I hate it, obviously."

"So fickle," I sighed.

"Your turn," she drew away to give me a sly look. "Did you rip Tristan a new one today or what? Things were looking pretty tense there."

"Maybe a little bit," I smiled slightly. "He had the gall to bring up high school and then basically tell me he liked me a little but not enough to do anything about it so he'd keep flirting with me until he decided he was 'ready' for a relationship."

"He didn't," she gasped. "That little twerp. Ewan looked really mad, too. Did you tell him about it?"

"I didn't tell him what he said, but I think he could infer the gist of it."

"Well, he's the gentleman of the group. And Seb, of course," she got a revoltingly dreamy look on her face, which was foreign to her usual look of sarcasm.

"Right." I snorted, thinking of the brother who used to threaten to fart on my pillow.

"Okay, and how about Jackson; what's going on with him?" She changed the topic, giving me beady eyes.

Oh nothing, just that I think he might secretly be the masked Super who I kissed the other night, even though I've never seen his face.

"I'm not really sure," I shrugged. "I bumped into him while out for a run this morning and kind of felt like I should invite him along." It was hard not to tell her the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

"He's definitely into you. You should have seen him staring daggers at Tristan when he pulled the usual." Her eyes scanned my face for a reaction. "Are you into him?"

What was the truth? I was if he was Enigma, but as Jackson? Chewing my lip thoughtfully, I said, "a little, I think. I don't know him that well. I'm not positive how I feel."

"How lukewarmishly romantic." There was that sarcastic face again. "He is pretty hot, you know, in that clean cut but sort of broodish way. Looks like a trust fund baby, but a rebellious one." Lexa had a weird knack for reading people. It was helpful in the fashion world and sometimes helpful, sometimes irritating as her friend.

"You're basically right," I conceded. "And yeah, I have eyes, but I'm still sort of feeling things out. I'll keep you updated." Sort of.

"Please do. It's been way too long, and it's not like anything interesting is happening on my end!" She sighed, slumping her shoulders.

"Maybeyoushouldfixthat," I coughed, happy to deflect attention from myself again. "You got a lozenge or something?" I patted my chest with an innocent glance at her.

She narrowed her eyes. "Lockers. Rats."

"Don't write cheques you can't cash, Shrimpy," I teased, laughing. Besides the fact that I am about the last person you'd ever be able to stuff into a locker, Lexa was about a head shorter than me.

"Determination is half the battle," she said darkly.

"That still leaves a whole fifty percent of failure," I retorted.

"I'm a gambling kind of girl." Her grin was evil.

Resisting the urge to put on a telekinetic show, I stuck my tongue out at her and jogged away.

"You know I hate running!" she called from somewhere behind me.

"Better catch up if you want to be in time for dinner!" I yelled back over my shoulder.

"Damn you, Kenna Jones!" Without even looking, I knew she'd be shaking her fist in the air dramatically.

It continued much in this vein until we reached the apartment, because we'd probably never really grow all the way up.

Uh oh, the rage train hit the station!

He kind of deserved it, didn't he?

More action on the way!