Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hartley arrived at Len and Lisa's apartment at the same time Digger did. Inside, Evan was already there (of course) and, surprisingly, so was Lisa.

"Hello boys," She nodded at the two of them. "I figured since I'm in this waist-deep anyways, that I might as well sign on as James' official image consultant. At the very least, it will get him out of those damned orange striped pants."

Hartley was no expert on fashion, but he did have to agree they were pretty hideous. Len was already seated at his kitchen table, doing some maintenance on a pair of ice skates. Probably Lisa's, Hartley figured.

"So where is the boy of the hour?"

"Good question, Hartley." He turned around to see Ms. Darkholme standing there. It was the real Ms. Darkholme, her actual appearance, with blue skin and fire red hair setting off her amber-colored eyes. It was rare that she let down her guard enough to show her true self, Hartley had learned. "James should have been here a half an hour ago. Evan?"

Evan looked up from one of his pocket mirrors.

"Told ya I'd say somethin' if I saw him, an' I will." Evan rubbed his nose and went back to mirror-gazing.

"Well, we can at least get started without him. James may be the mouthpiece, but this campaign involves all of you. It is a statement. It says to Frost and her cohorts that they cannot take the students here and expect them to shut up and behave the way she wants them to. It challenges the status quo and tells everyone who is REALLY in charge here. And that, my boys, is us. The 'villains.'"

Hartley thought about earlier in the day with Cassandra in the fine arts building. How it had felt when she thanked him for saving her life. Then he thought about he had felt when he'd incited three dozen people into a streetwide riot two nights earlier. The thrill, the possible danger of being caught. Of getting hurt.

THAT was what he wanted to feel again. He joined the rest of the people at the table and tented his fingers. Ms Darkholme stood at the head and smiled at the gathering.

"Now, gentlemen, and lady...How do we get James Jesse elected?"

Meanwhile....

Outside of Danielle Baptiste's dorm room, there was the sound of small rocks hitting her window.

Cassie sighs..

"Chris what do you want from me? You say I'm distant.. how so? I think you just blow things out of proportion.."

"Now who's the one being distant.. I feel like you have this whole other life that you keep me away from. Like you don't want me to be part of your life. If that's the case Chris just let me know right now.."

Cassie put on a strong front but inside she felt as though her heart was being twisted and pulled.. first she has a fight with Dani and then this.

" Fury?! As in professor Nick Fury?! What've you been telling him?!"

Cassie stares at Chris...

Cassie wasn't sure how she felt about that so she sighed..

" Okay... so now what"

Cassie looked at him her eyes were almost begging hris to kiss her and tell her that everything was okay. But somehow she doubted that would happen.

" Well you better start believing it because I don't intend on going anywhere."

Cassie then embraced Chris and kissed him on the lips passionately.

Cassie looks down at the crowd and then over at Chris..

" What do you say we go somewhere else?"

Cassie picks up Chris and starts flying towards..

"I mean we've been dating but yet we never really got to go out on a date?"

**one of whom is Cassie's big brother Achilles who raises an eyebrow at the public display of affection**