He's a wimp too and can't protect me if anything happens."I sulked at her insult but didn't speak up for myself. My mom just smiledat her and said, "N...w Madison you just be good while we are gone and obeyMark. He is your older brother. He's in high school and can takeresponsibility for you"Minutes later my parents left. As soon as they were gone Madison got onthe phone with her best friend Abby. I didn't want to hear their sillygirly-girl conversation so I went into the living room to watch. The other blinked red; the Order's installation.I held back from slamming my fist into the desk's glossy finish. My eyes peered downward, spied a reflection of myself. I sighed heavily, struck a trigger near the holographic display, and turned on my heel as the image faded. War beckoned.----------------------------------------------The UV/4 Barge screamed off the ASTRID's launching bay. My troops seemed content enough about seeing some action. All eight of them were equipped with the usual. My pluse skittered franticly. in almost one fluid move, i had turned around and he had pushed me up agaist the wall with one arm behind my back. His chest was so close to me i coud feel the heat. I tilted my head up slightly to look at him. He had some faint Asian features, with his drk eyes and skin and hair. His cheek bones were defined and his lips were perfect. I briefly wondered what they would be like to kiss. I thought nothing else and pressed my lips against his, feeling the heat of. ‘Hey we are watching that?’ ‘Poof dad, it’s only noisy ads. I have an announcement to make.’ She watched the color of her father’s face darken as she said, ‘I met Bob Hill on his beach this morning…’ ‘It’s everyone’s beach, a public beach,’ snarled his father and a bunch of us are thinking about getting the name of this subdivision changed from being called Hills Farm.’ Ignoring that, Nikki continued. ‘As I said we got talking and he appeared to be so lively and interesting that I asked could I.