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For the Enjoyment of the participants of the Evo-Obsessed Club's AND the Brotherhood Club's OC Tournament and all of us who read and love it as we wait for the final round

PAGE 1

Panel 1: At the Xavier mansion, a beautiful sun sets just off the cliff behind the mansion. Some time has passed since we last saw our heroes (and villains), and the New Recruits have made it home in one piece. From inside the part of the Mansion that is the AnneX, Nina talks to her friends.

NINA: (from inside AnneX) Cor blimey, I can't believe I take ONE non-perilous day to go shop in the city and all this happens!

Panel 2: Inside, Nina, Amy, and Evee walk up the staircase to the second floor of the AnneX. Nina is loaded down with shopping bags of various sizes and colors from her day in the city, but Evee and Amy are being good friends and helping her carry some as they fill her in on the day's happenings. Evee is still a spiny-multicolored-patchwork, dressed in an "Xavier Institute" sweater and jeans to cover most of it up. As they walk, Nina raises her brows to clarify her previous statement while handing Evee a shopping bag. Amy and Evee give her understanding looks.

NINA: Um, not that I would've wanted any PART of it, mind you…

AMY: No, we know, Nina. It just all feels so…OUT there, looking back on it.

EVEE: I mean, WE can hardly believe most of it happened! And stuff like that usually happens on a daily basis around here!

NINA: Well, don't bloody keep me in suspense! What happened after Kitty pulled you and Rook out of the tank?

Panel 3: Flashback to the trip back from the Aquarium: Logan is sternly lecturing the New Recruits as KITTY drives them home on the X-Bus. He towers over the kids at the front of the bus as they try to hold on for their lives and listen guiltily to their angry teacher.

LOGAN: And of all the hair-brained…BONE-headed things I've seen mutants do over my lifetime, yours wins the Kewpie doll for stupidity! I never even had THIS degree of property damage happen with the FIRST team of New Recruits! Why if I didn't have to wait for Charles, I'd put you all on chores for the rest of your LIVES!

ROGUE: (off panel) Um, excuse mah bargin' in, Logan…

Panel 4: A confused Logan turns to Rogue, who is standing just a little behind him and to the side, one arm tightly grabbing a supporting handrail and the other hand on her hip. She raises an eyebrow curiously at Logan as Kurt, beside her and slightly panicking, uses both hands and his tail to hold onto to something to survive Kitty's crazy driving and stay upright.

ROGUE: 'Specially since it looked like ya'll were on a ROLL and everything—but which rule did they BRAHKE, exactly?

LOGAN: …What?

ROGUE: Yer here railin' on 'em for breaking the rules, right? Which ones?

Panel 5: In the back row of the bus, Muno and Ava sit side by side, still dripping wet and wrapped in towels. Muno shyly speaks up as she tries to dry an unhappy looking Stanley with part of her towel. Ava loudly agrees, looking a little indignant.

MUNO: (mumble) She's…got a point, Mr. Logan.

AVA: A GREAT point, Sugah!

ROGUE: (from off panel) DON'T call me 'Sugah', hon!

PAGE 2

Panel 1: At the very front of the bus, Kitty casually turns around in the driver's seat to second Rogue in the discussion. In doing so, she runs over a Stop sign. Kurt tries to get her to pay attention but she pays him no mind.

KITTY: I mean, yeah! They really didn't DO anything against the school code!

KURT: KEETY! WATCH ZE ROAD!

KITTY: Unless it's against the rules now to like, kiss on a da—

Panel 2: In the first row of the bus, Evee blushes something horrible, and tries (unsuccessfully) to make herself disappear into her blanket, as Russ stands up from the row behind her and Rook leans into the panel from the row across from her to yell angrily at Kitty, off panel.

RUSS&ROOK: THERE WAS NO KISSING!

Panel 3: Back at the mansion, the three have only made mild stair-climbing progress when Nina stops the group almost to the top of the stairs, grinning slyly at Evelyn. Evee blushes and her new color changing powers turn her all of her spiny skin light pink. She immediately spins to Nina in shock and disbelief. Amy has to jump back a bit to avoid being hit by Evee's spinning bags.

NINA: (smiling slyly) Oh yeeeaaah! I HEARD about that!

EVEE: W-What?! HOW?? You've been here for like five minutes!

NINA: Do not question the powers of the tiny, braided girl! I have my sources.

Panel 4: Flashback to four and a half minutes ago: Viv, giddily excited and in a hospital gown, floats out the front door of the AnneX to a surprised Nina who is in the process of getting her bags out of the trunk of a taxi. Patrick, who was trying unsuccessfully to stop his girlfriend, is hanging six feet off the ground by Viv's ankle.

VIV: OH MY GOD Nina you'll NEVER believe what happened today when we went to carry out Mission: Aquarius there was a WICKED sea monster fight the tank glass exploded and almost drowned us Muno was SUPER badass AND EVEE ACTUALLY KISSED ROOK!!!

PATRICK: Viv! This ISN'T bed rest!

Panel 5: Back near the top of the stairs, Nina teasingly nudges Evee in the ribs, winking conspiratorially at her. Evee, whose skin color is now turned hot pink as her blush deepens, looks pleadingly at Nina, begging her to believe her. Amy, curious and trying to be helpful, comes to stand beside Evee as she asks what's been on her mind for a while now.

NINA: Snogging all the Seniors now, are we?

EVEE: It wasn't anything LIKE that, I promise! Ask anyone OTHER than Viv! Ask Rook!

AMY: What'd he say when you finally went to go talk to him, Evee?

PAGE 3

Panel 1: Flashback to Evee's conversation with Rook: Rook is in his bathroom, gargling exaggeratedly in the mirror and trying to rant indignantly at Evee at the same time. In the mirror's reflection, we see Evee is standing in the doorway to the bathroom, arms hugging herself self consciously as she tries to reason with him.

FX: (Rook gargling) GARGLEGARGLEGARGLE!

ROOK: Angh uff oo arl hwer jrust hoo urve hon wuat ire woantud hoo shiugest hin uh frurst pace, hon uff hiss hood urve haughpinned!

EVEE: It was all I could think of, Rook! Would you rather have DIED?

ROOK: AU HOOD URVE RAHRRED NWUAT BIN TROWED HAT UH FEEKING FRISH TUNK!!!

Panel 2: Evee's temporary color changing powers have now turned her florescent red as she buries her face in her hands, her shopping bags hanging by her elbows, and mutters the rest of what Rook told her. Nina looks mildly surprised at this, no longer teasing as much, but Amy actually looks REALLY upset to hear this as she glares up the stairs, shaking a fist full of shopping bags in the same general direction.

EVEE: (mutter) Also he said I taste like sushi.

NINA: Well! Of all the insensitive things that have come out of his mouth, that certainly takes the biscuit.

AMY: I can't believe him! That's so—! Why, I'm gonna—!

Panel 3: Evee pulls her face from her hands and Nina smiles slightly as both look to Amy curiously. Amy catches herself and blushes lightly as she glances back at her friends.

AMY: Oh, uh…I'm gonna…have Ava handle him.

NINA: Yup, that's what I was thinking too.

Panel 4: The girls resume and finish their climb up the stairs. Evee sighs as she walks and realizes she's never going to hear the end of it. Nina agrees, nodding knowingly, as she follows Evee down the hallway. Amy tries to change the subject, now looking a little nervous as they get closer to the rooms.

EVEE: *sigh* My first kiss. To a boy three years older who's batting on my same TEAM. I'm never going to live that down, am I?

NINA: Nope. Not so long as Viv is telling everyone about it, anyway.

AMY: By the way, um, am I the only one REALLY nervous to hear the details of Viv's new project?

PAGE 4

Panel 1: Their conversation is interrupted as Nina, Evee, and Amy are forced to throw themselves up against the wall and out of the way to avoid being run over by Eddie, who runs past them at full speed while holding a bottle of Crisco, a shampoo bottle, and an open bottle of some cleaning detergent. He's smirking so hugely and so unapologetically, it can ONLY mean trouble.

EDDIE: Moving, moving, MOVING!!

GIRLS: ??

Panel 2: The girls cautiously pull themselves from the wall to continue walking, trying to resume their previous conversation while still sending confused looks in the direction Eddie ran off.

EVEE: Uh…no. You're definitely not.

NINA: Viv's got a new project ALREADY? Bleeding Hell, she's quick. Who is it?

AMY: Eddie and Ava, actually. She wants to get them to admit their deep, deep, deep, deep, deep—

EVEE: Undying love for each other.

NINA: I didn't know they had deep undying love for each other...

Panel 3: The three have to dive out of the way again, this time as Ava runs past them at top speed, dripping wet from a shower and dressed only in a towel. She's spitting mad—and bleach BLONDE.

AVA: GET YER PUNK-ASS BACK HERE EDDIE SO AH CAN PROPERLY RIP OUT YER DISGUSTINGLY FLEXIBLE SPINE!!!

Panel 4: Evee bites her lip worriedly as she and Amy look off in the direction the two ran off, concerned. Nina follows their gazes calmly, looking like she finally gets it.

EVEE: Neither do they.

NINA: Ah.

Panel 5: Amy gives a small shrugs, looking hopeful at the prospect of a boyfriend and blushing lightly as the three go back to walking. She triggers Evee's memory and she raises and eyebrow at her roommate, asking what happened to the other Hoodlings.

AMY: At least Viv promised that when she finished she was going to help me talk to Tristan…

EVEE: Speaking of the Hoodlings, Amy…! Did anyone find out whatever happened to the ones you guys ran into at the Aquarium?

PAGE 5

Panel 1: Flashback to shortly after the end of the last part: Driving Lance's car, Lillith is still gleefully smirking at the road ahead of her as Mello glares ahead of him, hunched grouchily in the passenger seat since he can't be driving half-blind. In the back row, an irritable looking Zeik is glaring at Lillith, touching his bruised cheek tenderly, while holding Hershey as the dog hangs out the window happily. In the middle, Becca is complaining to no one in particular about her visit to a store earlier that week as Dru is squeezing water out of the tips of her coat.

BECCA: And then this lady is all, "Pardon moi, we don't CARRY that color of hosiery!" when CLEARLY it was in the magazine for their Spring Collection this year!

DRU: You know more than most of their employees, Beck. You should just apply for a job there.

BECCA: A JOB?! You mean like…WORK?? Why would ANYONE want to—

Panel 2: Mello finally can't hold it anymore and snaps at last, whirling on Lillith to yell at her. Lil's expression doesn't falter an inch. If anything, she actually smiles wider. Becca and Dru in the backseat jump in surprise but Zeik, confused and distracted, replies to the accusation automatically, thinking Mello is talking to him.

MELLO: Will you STOP $*@^ING LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT ALREADY?!

ZEIK: I wasn't looking at YOU, man! And I'm not into you THAT way! Talk to Rok.

Panel 3: Everyone turns to stare awkwardly at Zeik, even Mello shifts his attention from Lillith to glare and Lillith glances back at him through the rear view mirror. Zeik receives the looks with a blank expression. No text.

Panel 4: Identical panel except Zeik has finally caught on.

ZEIK: Uh…right…nevermind.

Panel 5: A close of Zeik, miffed, as he puts his chin in his hand and settles himself to looking out the same window as Hershey.

ZEIK: (mutter) And then they wonder why I talk to dead people…

Panel 6: Back to the present back at the mansion, Amy, Nina, and Evee turn the corner in the hallway, still conversing as they head to their rooms. Nina asks Evee about Russ, honestly curious. Evee presses her lips together, unsure, as she responds that Russ has been avoiding her since they got back. Amy offers her sympathy, linking one of her arms with Evee's through her sweater to show she doesn't care about her friend's skin condition.

NINA: So what DID happen with you and Russ finally? He still in a nark?

EVEE: If a 'nark' means he's avoiding me like I'm a prickly cactus—which I technically am, for now anyway—then yeah. I haven't seen him once since we got off the bus and he was still being EXTRA Russ-y.

AMY: Oh, Evee…We're so sorry it didn't work out the way it was supposed to…

PAGE 6

Panel 1: Just outside the door marked "Evee+Amy", Russ is leaning up against the wall with the creepy Xavier "Big Brother Is Watching You" painting, nervously flipping through some flashcards. Nina, Evee, and Amy are finishing the turn of the hallway and still talking in the background. They haven't noticed him yet, though they're headed his way.

EVEE: Thanks Amy, but it's okay, really. I guess I'll try something else…once Russ talks to me again. IF he talks to me again. Or…not. Y'know, I think I can grow on the idea of being 'just friends' forever too…

NINA: But—

Panel 2: The girls stop just short of Russ, who looks surprised to run into them (even though he's clearly standing outside their room) and quickly shoves his flashcards into his back pocket. The girls are equally surprised and Nina almost bumps into Evee and Amy when they come to a sudden stop.

EVEE: Oh!

RUSS: Hey! …Evelyn. Uh, can we…chat?

EVEE: Huh? Oh! Yeah, okay, that's—yeah! Sure!

Panel 3: Evee gives her friends an appreciative smile as Amy and Nina go into Amy/Evee's room, taking Evee's bags from her. Nina winks at Evee as Amy smiles back encouragingly. Both are in the process of turning invisible at the same time.

EVEE: Guys?

NINA: Don't fret, Eve.

AMY: It'll be like we're not even here!

Panel 4: The door shuts, and Evee and Russ size each other up nervously. Evee looks nervously excited. Russ just looks nervously nervous.

FX: (door) Click!

EVEE: So…?

Panel 5: Russ is looking at the floor and rubbing his neck as he talks, blushing. Evee rocks back on her heels, hands clasped behind her back, and tries to maintain her calm demeanor even as Russ confuses her.

RUSS: Listen, um, sorry about our row earlier. In the Aquarium. I know it wasn't your fault—

EVEE: No, it's okay, Russ. You were under a lot of pressure. I'm…sorry I ruined your non-perilous day. I knew that you didn't—

RUSS: That's, uh, that's okay too. Really. I should know better by now to expect anything but aggro around this place anyway…

EVEE: What?

RUSS: (mumble) Please don't kiss Rook again…

EVEE: WHAT?

Panel 6: A solo panel of Russ, now REALLY red, as he finally blurts out his question altogether in one rush.

RUSS: Wouldjawannagoteawithmesometime?

PAGE 7

Panel 1: Inside Amy and Evee's room, Viv, Muno, Lucy, and Amy kneel or stand as they bicker in hushed tones and struggle to find space on the back of the door to press their ears to hear what Russ and Evee are saying. Nina is putting down all her bags on the desk a little behind them and is rolling her eyes. Patrick sits on the bed with his legs to his chest, sharing a set of headphones buds with Stanley who is curled up on one of Patrick's knees. The two are guy bonding and pretending not to hear the girls.

EVEE: (muffled, from outside the door) Um, I don't think I want a goatee, really…?

LUCY: (whisper, confused) WHO has a goatee?

AMY: (whisper, pained) Someone's stepping on my hand!

VIV: (hiss, excited) Speak up, Hogwarts! We can't hear you!

MUNO: SHHH!

Panel 2: Outside the door, Russ nervously has pulled out his flashcards again and quickly flips through them, looking for some help. He's still blushing horribly. A confused Evee tries to stand on her tip-toes to read the cards.

RUSS: No, that's not, um…(mutter) bloody Hell.

Panel 3: Russ solo. He decides to come clean, trying to subtly toss the cards off panel. He looks extremely hesitant as he bows his head slightly and glances at her through his eyelashes, like he's expecting Evee to attack him or something similar.

RUSS: You, um…said at the Aquarium…that you liked tea, right? You…would you…want to go get some tea…? With…me? Sometime? …Ever?

Panel 4: Evee solo. Her color change has now translated her joy into a sunny orange skin pigment. The spikes she's had until now have started to disappear, however, as her face lights up hopefully, excitedly.

EVEE: You mean…like a DATE?

Panel 5: Evee solo. The spikes are almost completely gone now when Evee immediately slaps her hands over her mouth, her eyes going wide as she realizes she accidentally used the explicitly forbidden 'D' word.

FX: (Evee's hands) Slap!

Panel 6: Now she sees why Viv was so adamant about avoiding it. Russ looks at her blankly like he's just been asked to diffuse an alien bomb under pressure with kindergarten scissors.

RUSS: Um, uh, well, um, is.. is that what…uh…

Panel 7: Russ solo. He finally gets a hold of himself, and shrugs slightly as he meekly offers an alternative to her terminology. He even kind of smiles sheepishly.

RUSS: Uh, how about more like…a Platonic Evening Out of Relaxation Among Two Building Co-Residents…?

PAGE 8

Panel 1: Evee beams like she just won the lottery (which she technically did) as she finally turns back her normal color and all the cuttlefish traits vanish. Viv whoops from behind the bedroom door.

VIV: (muffled, from behind the door) Yesssss!

Panel 2: Then without warning, Evee glomps Russ excitedly. Russ was totally not expecting it and looks down at her, startled, as her embrace pins his arms to his sides.

EVEE: It's a DATE then!

Panel 3: Just as quickly, Evee turns and disappears into her room, excited, leaving a very confused Russ blankly staring at the door.

FX: (door) SLAM!

Panel 4: Russ stands in front of the door for another second, a small smile starting to creep across his face. No text.

Panel 5: But then his face morphs back into one of complete confusion as he asks the door for clarification.

RUSS: Wait…was that a 'yes' then?

Panel 6: Russ jumps back in alarm as seven voices and one chinchilla yell the answer back at him from the other side of the door. NOTE: should be one speech bubble with seven tails.

NEW RECRUITS: YES!!

STANLEY: Squee!

PAGE 9

Panel 1: Similar to page 1 panel 1, the sun sets behind the Brotherhood of Bayville Boarding House and the shoddy looking Hoodling AnneX attached to its side. Lance's jeep pulls up to the front with screeching brakes.

FX: (jeep) SCREEECH!

Panel 2: Inside on the couch, two Hoodlings (Isaac/Thriller and Rok/Razor Radar) are intently playing a video game when they hear the door swing open behind them. Rok raises an eyebrow, glancing back at the noise.

FX: (door) SLAM!

ROK: What the—?

Panel 3: Rok and Isaac pause the game and glance over the back of the couch as Mello, Lillith, Zeik, Becca, Dru, and Hershey come sloshing in through the front door looking pissed and miserable. Rok stares at them in disbelief but Isaac's just upset he was excluded from the fun.

ROK: Enjoy your SWIM? Jesus Christ, what did you guys DO?! I thought you were supposed to be doing Maximoff's Biology extra credit assignment for him!

THRILLER: You guys went SWIMMING? Aw man! How come I wasn't invited?!

Panel 4: Of the five, all except Dru stop in their tracks and slowly turn to glare hatefully at their dry housemates on the couch. Dru, catching onto the others' sentiments, doesn't stop but keeps walking to the stairs holding up a decently sized packet of papers halfheartedly. Glancing back to the others worriedly, she tells them what she plans on doing even though she knows none of them are actually listening to her.

DRU: I'm…uh, gonna go turn this in. Someone come get me when I can shower in this place in peace, kay?

Panel 5: Mello sends a deadly glare and a force field into the couch knocking it and Isaac and Rok over and flying towards the TV where two of Lil's plants have appeared and are waiting to catch the two in their mouths. Meanwhile Hershey and a miniature version of Marilyn (Imagica's monster) leap over the overturned couch for their share of vengeance. In the background, Dru sighs as she climbs the stairs.

DRU: *sigh*…I won't hold my breath.

ROK&THRILLER: ACK!

END!

:D (Big Grin) — Description
For the Enjoyment of the participants of the Evo-Obsessed Club's AND the Brotherhood Club's OC Tournament and all of us who read and love it as we wait for the final round

PAGE 1

Panel 1: At the Xavier mansion, a beautiful sun sets just off the cliff behind the mansion. Some time has passed since we last saw our heroes (and villains), and the New Recruits have made it home in one piece. From inside the part of the Mansion that is the AnneX, Nina talks to her friends.

NINA: (from inside AnneX) Cor blimey, I can't believe I take ONE non-perilous day to go shop in the city and all this happens!

Panel 2: Inside, Nina, Amy, and Evee walk up the staircase to the second floor of the AnneX. Nina is loaded down with shopping bags of various sizes and colors from her day in the city, but Evee and Amy are being good friends and helping her carry some as they fill her in on the day's happenings. Evee is still a spiny-multicolored-patchwork, dressed in an "Xavier Institute" sweater and jeans to cover most of it up. As they walk, Nina raises her brows to clarify her previous statement while handing Evee a shopping bag. Amy and Evee give her understanding looks.

NINA: Um, not that I would've wanted any PART of it, mind you…

AMY: No, we know, Nina. It just all feels so…OUT there, looking back on it.

EVEE: I mean, WE can hardly believe most of it happened! And stuff like that usually happens on a daily basis around here!

NINA: Well, don't bloody keep me in suspense! What happened after Kitty pulled you and Rook out of the tank?

Panel 3: Flashback to the trip back from the Aquarium: Logan is sternly lecturing the New Recruits as KITTY drives them home on the X-Bus. He towers over the kids at the front of the bus as they try to hold on for their lives and listen guiltily to their angry teacher.

LOGAN: And of all the hair-brained…BONE-headed things I've seen mutants do over my lifetime, yours wins the Kewpie doll for stupidity! I never even had THIS degree of property damage happen with the FIRST team of New Recruits! Why if I didn't have to wait for Charles, I'd put you all on chores for the rest of your LIVES!

ROGUE: (off panel) Um, excuse mah bargin' in, Logan…

Panel 4: A confused Logan turns to Rogue, who is standing just a little behind him and to the side, one arm tightly grabbing a supporting handrail and the other hand on her hip. She raises an eyebrow curiously at Logan as Kurt, beside her and slightly panicking, uses both hands and his tail to hold onto to something to survive Kitty's crazy driving and stay upright.

ROGUE: 'Specially since it looked like ya'll were on a ROLL and everything—but which rule did they BRAHKE, exactly?

LOGAN: …What?

ROGUE: Yer here railin' on 'em for breaking the rules, right? Which ones?

Panel 5: In the back row of the bus, Muno and Ava sit side by side, still dripping wet and wrapped in towels. Muno shyly speaks up as she tries to dry an unhappy looking Stanley with part of her towel. Ava loudly agrees, looking a little indignant.

MUNO: (mumble) She's…got a point, Mr. Logan.

AVA: A GREAT point, Sugah!

ROGUE: (from off panel) DON'T call me 'Sugah', hon!

PAGE 2

Panel 1: At the very front of the bus, Kitty casually turns around in the driver's seat to second Rogue in the discussion. In doing so, she runs over a Stop sign. Kurt tries to get her to pay attention but she pays him no mind.

KITTY: I mean, yeah! They really didn't DO anything against the school code!

KURT: KEETY! WATCH ZE ROAD!

KITTY: Unless it's against the rules now to like, kiss on a da—

Panel 2: In the first row of the bus, Evee blushes something horrible, and tries (unsuccessfully) to make herself disappear into her blanket, as Russ stands up from the row behind her and Rook leans into the panel from the row across from her to yell angrily at Kitty, off panel.

RUSS&ROOK: THERE WAS NO KISSING!

Panel 3: Back at the mansion, the three have only made mild stair-climbing progress when Nina stops the group almost to the top of the stairs, grinning slyly at Evelyn. Evee blushes and her new color changing powers turn her all of her spiny skin light pink. She immediately spins to Nina in shock and disbelief. Amy has to jump back a bit to avoid being hit by Evee's spinning bags.

NINA: (smiling slyly) Oh yeeeaaah! I HEARD about that!

EVEE: W-What?! HOW?? You've been here for like five minutes!

NINA: Do not question the powers of the tiny, braided girl! I have my sources.

Panel 4: Flashback to four and a half minutes ago: Viv, giddily excited and in a hospital gown, floats out the front door of the AnneX to a surprised Nina who is in the process of getting her bags out of the trunk of a taxi. Patrick, who was trying unsuccessfully to stop his girlfriend, is hanging six feet off the ground by Viv's ankle.

VIV: OH MY GOD Nina you'll NEVER believe what happened today when we went to carry out Mission: Aquarius there was a WICKED sea monster fight the tank glass exploded and almost drowned us Muno was SUPER badass AND EVEE ACTUALLY KISSED ROOK!!!

PATRICK: Viv! This ISN'T bed rest!

Panel 5: Back near the top of the stairs, Nina teasingly nudges Evee in the ribs, winking conspiratorially at her. Evee, whose skin color is now turned hot pink as her blush deepens, looks pleadingly at Nina, begging her to believe her. Amy, curious and trying to be helpful, comes to stand beside Evee as she asks what's been on her mind for a while now.

NINA: Snogging all the Seniors now, are we?

EVEE: It wasn't anything LIKE that, I promise! Ask anyone OTHER than Viv! Ask Rook!

AMY: What'd he say when you finally went to go talk to him, Evee?

PAGE 3

Panel 1: Flashback to Evee's conversation with Rook: Rook is in his bathroom, gargling exaggeratedly in the mirror and trying to rant indignantly at Evee at the same time. In the mirror's reflection, we see Evee is standing in the doorway to the bathroom, arms hugging herself self consciously as she tries to reason with him.

FX: (Rook gargling) GARGLEGARGLEGARGLE!

ROOK: Angh uff oo arl hwer jrust hoo urve hon wuat ire woantud hoo shiugest hin uh frurst pace, hon uff hiss hood urve haughpinned!

EVEE: It was all I could think of, Rook! Would you rather have DIED?

ROOK: AU HOOD URVE RAHRRED NWUAT BIN TROWED HAT UH FEEKING FRISH TUNK!!!

Panel 2: Evee's temporary color changing powers have now turned her florescent red as she buries her face in her hands, her shopping bags hanging by her elbows, and mutters the rest of what Rook told her. Nina looks mildly surprised at this, no longer teasing as much, but Amy actually looks REALLY upset to hear this as she glares up the stairs, shaking a fist full of shopping bags in the same general direction.

EVEE: (mutter) Also he said I taste like sushi.

NINA: Well! Of all the insensitive things that have come out of his mouth, that certainly takes the biscuit.

AMY: I can't believe him! That's so—! Why, I'm gonna—!

Panel 3: Evee pulls her face from her hands and Nina smiles slightly as both look to Amy curiously. Amy catches herself and blushes lightly as she glances back at her friends.

AMY: Oh, uh…I'm gonna…have Ava handle him.

NINA: Yup, that's what I was thinking too.

Panel 4: The girls resume and finish their climb up the stairs. Evee sighs as she walks and realizes she's never going to hear the end of it. Nina agrees, nodding knowingly, as she follows Evee down the hallway. Amy tries to change the subject, now looking a little nervous as they get closer to the rooms.

EVEE: *sigh* My first kiss. To a boy three years older who's batting on my same TEAM. I'm never going to live that down, am I?

NINA: Nope. Not so long as Viv is telling everyone about it, anyway.

AMY: By the way, um, am I the only one REALLY nervous to hear the details of Viv's new project?

PAGE 4

Panel 1: Their conversation is interrupted as Nina, Evee, and Amy are forced to throw themselves up against the wall and out of the way to avoid being run over by Eddie, who runs past them at full speed while holding a bottle of Crisco, a shampoo bottle, and an open bottle of some cleaning detergent. He's smirking so hugely and so unapologetically, it can ONLY mean trouble.

EDDIE: Moving, moving, MOVING!!

GIRLS: ??

Panel 2: The girls cautiously pull themselves from the wall to continue walking, trying to resume their previous conversation while still sending confused looks in the direction Eddie ran off.

EVEE: Uh…no. You're definitely not.

NINA: Viv's got a new project ALREADY? Bleeding Hell, she's quick. Who is it?

AMY: Eddie and Ava, actually. She wants to get them to admit their deep, deep, deep, deep, deep—

EVEE: Undying love for each other.

NINA: I didn't know they had deep undying love for each other...

Panel 3: The three have to dive out of the way again, this time as Ava runs past them at top speed, dripping wet from a shower and dressed only in a towel. She's spitting mad—and bleach BLONDE.

AVA: GET YER PUNK-ASS BACK HERE EDDIE SO AH CAN PROPERLY RIP OUT YER DISGUSTINGLY FLEXIBLE SPINE!!!

Panel 4: Evee bites her lip worriedly as she and Amy look off in the direction the two ran off, concerned. Nina follows their gazes calmly, looking like she finally gets it.

EVEE: Neither do they.

NINA: Ah.

Panel 5: Amy gives a small shrugs, looking hopeful at the prospect of a boyfriend and blushing lightly as the three go back to walking. She triggers Evee's memory and she raises and eyebrow at her roommate, asking what happened to the other Hoodlings.

AMY: At least Viv promised that when she finished she was going to help me talk to Tristan…

EVEE: Speaking of the Hoodlings, Amy…! Did anyone find out whatever happened to the ones you guys ran into at the Aquarium?

PAGE 5

Panel 1: Flashback to shortly after the end of the last part: Driving Lance's car, Lillith is still gleefully smirking at the road ahead of her as Mello glares ahead of him, hunched grouchily in the passenger seat since he can't be driving half-blind. In the back row, an irritable looking Zeik is glaring at Lillith, touching his bruised cheek tenderly, while holding Hershey as the dog hangs out the window happily. In the middle, Becca is complaining to no one in particular about her visit to a store earlier that week as Dru is squeezing water out of the tips of her coat.

BECCA: And then this lady is all, "Pardon moi, we don't CARRY that color of hosiery!" when CLEARLY it was in the magazine for their Spring Collection this year!

DRU: You know more than most of their employees, Beck. You should just apply for a job there.

BECCA: A JOB?! You mean like…WORK?? Why would ANYONE want to—

Panel 2: Mello finally can't hold it anymore and snaps at last, whirling on Lillith to yell at her. Lil's expression doesn't falter an inch. If anything, she actually smiles wider. Becca and Dru in the backseat jump in surprise but Zeik, confused and distracted, replies to the accusation automatically, thinking Mello is talking to him.

MELLO: Will you STOP $*@^ING LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT ALREADY?!

ZEIK: I wasn't looking at YOU, man! And I'm not into you THAT way! Talk to Rok.

Panel 3: Everyone turns to stare awkwardly at Zeik, even Mello shifts his attention from Lillith to glare and Lillith glances back at him through the rear view mirror. Zeik receives the looks with a blank expression. No text.

Panel 4: Identical panel except Zeik has finally caught on.

ZEIK: Uh…right…nevermind.

Panel 5: A close of Zeik, miffed, as he puts his chin in his hand and settles himself to looking out the same window as Hershey.

ZEIK: (mutter) And then they wonder why I talk to dead people…

Panel 6: Back to the present back at the mansion, Amy, Nina, and Evee turn the corner in the hallway, still conversing as they head to their rooms. Nina asks Evee about Russ, honestly curious. Evee presses her lips together, unsure, as she responds that Russ has been avoiding her since they got back. Amy offers her sympathy, linking one of her arms with Evee's through her sweater to show she doesn't care about her friend's skin condition.

NINA: So what DID happen with you and Russ finally? He still in a nark?

EVEE: If a 'nark' means he's avoiding me like I'm a prickly cactus—which I technically am, for now anyway—then yeah. I haven't seen him once since we got off the bus and he was still being EXTRA Russ-y.

AMY: Oh, Evee…We're so sorry it didn't work out the way it was supposed to…

PAGE 6

Panel 1: Just outside the door marked "Evee+Amy", Russ is leaning up against the wall with the creepy Xavier "Big Brother Is Watching You" painting, nervously flipping through some flashcards. Nina, Evee, and Amy are finishing the turn of the hallway and still talking in the background. They haven't noticed him yet, though they're headed his way.

EVEE: Thanks Amy, but it's okay, really. I guess I'll try something else…once Russ talks to me again. IF he talks to me again. Or…not. Y'know, I think I can grow on the idea of being 'just friends' forever too…

NINA: But—

Panel 2: The girls stop just short of Russ, who looks surprised to run into them (even though he's clearly standing outside their room) and quickly shoves his flashcards into his back pocket. The girls are equally surprised and Nina almost bumps into Evee and Amy when they come to a sudden stop.

EVEE: Oh!

RUSS: Hey! …Evelyn. Uh, can we…chat?

EVEE: Huh? Oh! Yeah, okay, that's—yeah! Sure!

Panel 3: Evee gives her friends an appreciative smile as Amy and Nina go into Amy/Evee's room, taking Evee's bags from her. Nina winks at Evee as Amy smiles back encouragingly. Both are in the process of turning invisible at the same time.

EVEE: Guys?

NINA: Don't fret, Eve.

AMY: It'll be like we're not even here!

Panel 4: The door shuts, and Evee and Russ size each other up nervously. Evee looks nervously excited. Russ just looks nervously nervous.

FX: (door) Click!

EVEE: So…?

Panel 5: Russ is looking at the floor and rubbing his neck as he talks, blushing. Evee rocks back on her heels, hands clasped behind her back, and tries to maintain her calm demeanor even as Russ confuses her.

RUSS: Listen, um, sorry about our row earlier. In the Aquarium. I know it wasn't your fault—

EVEE: No, it's okay, Russ. You were under a lot of pressure. I'm…sorry I ruined your non-perilous day. I knew that you didn't—

RUSS: That's, uh, that's okay too. Really. I should know better by now to expect anything but aggro around this place anyway…

EVEE: What?

RUSS: (mumble) Please don't kiss Rook again…

EVEE: WHAT?

Panel 6: A solo panel of Russ, now REALLY red, as he finally blurts out his question altogether in one rush.

RUSS: Wouldjawannagoteawithmesometime?

PAGE 7

Panel 1: Inside Amy and Evee's room, Viv, Muno, Lucy, and Amy kneel or stand as they bicker in hushed tones and struggle to find space on the back of the door to press their ears to hear what Russ and Evee are saying. Nina is putting down all her bags on the desk a little behind them and is rolling her eyes. Patrick sits on the bed with his legs to his chest, sharing a set of headphones buds with Stanley who is curled up on one of Patrick's knees. The two are guy bonding and pretending not to hear the girls.

EVEE: (muffled, from outside the door) Um, I don't think I want a goatee, really…?

LUCY: (whisper, confused) WHO has a goatee?

AMY: (whisper, pained) Someone's stepping on my hand!

VIV: (hiss, excited) Speak up, Hogwarts! We can't hear you!

MUNO: SHHH!

Panel 2: Outside the door, Russ nervously has pulled out his flashcards again and quickly flips through them, looking for some help. He's still blushing horribly. A confused Evee tries to stand on her tip-toes to read the cards.

RUSS: No, that's not, um…(mutter) bloody Hell.

Panel 3: Russ solo. He decides to come clean, trying to subtly toss the cards off panel. He looks extremely hesitant as he bows his head slightly and glances at her through his eyelashes, like he's expecting Evee to attack him or something similar.

RUSS: You, um…said at the Aquarium…that you liked tea, right? You…would you…want to go get some tea…? With…me? Sometime? …Ever?

Panel 4: Evee solo. Her color change has now translated her joy into a sunny orange skin pigment. The spikes she's had until now have started to disappear, however, as her face lights up hopefully, excitedly.

EVEE: You mean…like a DATE?

Panel 5: Evee solo. The spikes are almost completely gone now when Evee immediately slaps her hands over her mouth, her eyes going wide as she realizes she accidentally used the explicitly forbidden 'D' word.

FX: (Evee's hands) Slap!

Panel 6: Now she sees why Viv was so adamant about avoiding it. Russ looks at her blankly like he's just been asked to diffuse an alien bomb under pressure with kindergarten scissors.

RUSS: Um, uh, well, um, is.. is that what…uh…

Panel 7: Russ solo. He finally gets a hold of himself, and shrugs slightly as he meekly offers an alternative to her terminology. He even kind of smiles sheepishly.

RUSS: Uh, how about more like…a Platonic Evening Out of Relaxation Among Two Building Co-Residents…?

PAGE 8

Panel 1: Evee beams like she just won the lottery (which she technically did) as she finally turns back her normal color and all the cuttlefish traits vanish. Viv whoops from behind the bedroom door.

VIV: (muffled, from behind the door) Yesssss!

Panel 2: Then without warning, Evee glomps Russ excitedly. Russ was totally not expecting it and looks down at her, startled, as her embrace pins his arms to his sides.

EVEE: It's a DATE then!

Panel 3: Just as quickly, Evee turns and disappears into her room, excited, leaving a very confused Russ blankly staring at the door.

FX: (door) SLAM!

Panel 4: Russ stands in front of the door for another second, a small smile starting to creep across his face. No text.

Panel 5: But then his face morphs back into one of complete confusion as he asks the door for clarification.

RUSS: Wait…was that a 'yes' then?

Panel 6: Russ jumps back in alarm as seven voices and one chinchilla yell the answer back at him from the other side of the door. NOTE: should be one speech bubble with seven tails.

NEW RECRUITS: YES!!

STANLEY: Squee!

PAGE 9

Panel 1: Similar to page 1 panel 1, the sun sets behind the Brotherhood of Bayville Boarding House and the shoddy looking Hoodling AnneX attached to its side. Lance's jeep pulls up to the front with screeching brakes.

FX: (jeep) SCREEECH!

Panel 2: Inside on the couch, two Hoodlings (Isaac/Thriller and Rok/Razor Radar) are intently playing a video game when they hear the door swing open behind them. Rok raises an eyebrow, glancing back at the noise.

FX: (door) SLAM!

ROK: What the—?

Panel 3: Rok and Isaac pause the game and glance over the back of the couch as Mello, Lillith, Zeik, Becca, Dru, and Hershey come sloshing in through the front door looking pissed and miserable. Rok stares at them in disbelief but Isaac's just upset he was excluded from the fun.

ROK: Enjoy your SWIM? Jesus Christ, what did you guys DO?! I thought you were supposed to be doing Maximoff's Biology extra credit assignment for him!

THRILLER: You guys went SWIMMING? Aw man! How come I wasn't invited?!

Panel 4: Of the five, all except Dru stop in their tracks and slowly turn to glare hatefully at their dry housemates on the couch. Dru, catching onto the others' sentiments, doesn't stop but keeps walking to the stairs holding up a decently sized packet of papers halfheartedly. Glancing back to the others worriedly, she tells them what she plans on doing even though she knows none of them are actually listening to her.

DRU: I'm…uh, gonna go turn this in. Someone come get me when I can shower in this place in peace, kay?

Panel 5: Mello sends a deadly glare and a force field into the couch knocking it and Isaac and Rok over and flying towards the TV where two of Lil's plants have appeared and are waiting to catch the two in their mouths. Meanwhile Hershey and a miniature version of Marilyn (Imagica's monster) leap over the overturned couch for their share of vengeance. In the background, Dru sighs as she climbs the stairs.

DRU: *sigh*…I won't hold my breath.

ROK&THRILLER: ACK!

END!