Chapter 27B: Crashing the Magma Party, Part 2


     I was trapped. They had my arms tied. I had absolutely no choice.
It was either I give up my life as I know it, or Nathan gives up his
life completely. I couldn't believe Josh was doing it. The Josh that
kissed me, and told me he loved me... It wasn't real? He didn't really
exist? He knew how much Nathan meant to me, and he was going to kill
him.

Oh. My. God. How could this happen to me?

     Nathan looked so scared, like I was going to choose for him to die.
I was remembering him. I couldn't let him go.

      I had said no to Archie for joining Team Aqua because I wanted to
make him proud. I needed to make him proud now.

     "Fine... I guess you've got yourself a new member then," I mumbled,
looking down at the ground.

     "Huh?" asked Maxie. I think he expected me to let Nathan die. I
could never do that. 

     "I'm joining. But you better let him go," I told him, nodding to
Nathan. 

     "Jenn, no," yelled Nathan. "You can't do this to yourself!"

     "Nathan, do you remember when we were kidnapped by Taylor and I
told you I didn't want to travel with you anymore because I didn't want
to put you in any danger?"

     "Yes," he said and I could see that he was about to cry. My own
tears were blurring my vision. I knew what I had to do.

     "You told me I was worth all the danger. Do you remember that?"

     Nathan was actually crying now. And across the room, I saw Taylor,
standing there and watching us. Tears were streaming down his cheeks.
"Yes, I remember it."

     "Well, now, it's the other way around. YOU'RE worth joining this
thing. As long as you're okay."

     I stood there for a moment, silent and crying and then a voice from
across the room spoke up. "Let him go. And let her go." I turned to look
for the speaker. 

     "What are you talking about?" cried Maxie. I had no clue who he was
talking to.

     Taylor was walking towards us. "This is a good, decent girl. No
matter how much power she has, she doesn't belong in Team Magma. And he
doesn't deserve to die."

     What had happened to Taylor the last few days? He had brought me
and Nathan back together and now he was trying to save us both? He must
be on drugs.

     "Power is what we need. Half of the people we have don't belong
here, they are too cowardly to do anything. But they re powerful, and
that's why I bothered to bring them here. This girl is no different,"
Maxie said and I didn't know that people could be so evil before he
spoke.

     "Yes, she is," argued Taylor. "She's suffered a lot. Just let her
go."

     "I don't think-" started Maxie, but then the fire alarm went off.

     "Oh shit!" he yelled and he and his team besides Taylor hopped into
a nearby submarine and abandoned us.

     "We've got to get out of here! We're going to die!" I was scared. 

     "No we won't," said Taylor calmly. "You guys can come out now!" he
yelled to someone in the distance and then Sam, Zach and Vicky appeared.
"I had them pull the fire alarm to distract them from you two. I knew
what Maxie's reaction would be."

     More tears came. "I don't know how I could ever thank you," I told
him. He had saved me. And Nathan.

     Taylor wiped the tears away from his own face. "Don't think it
changes anything, Jenny. I just didn't want wimps on my team." He was
trying to act all tough, but I knew it was all an illusion now. Whether
he wanted to admit it or not, things HAD changed. Drastically.

     Nathan turned to me. "Now how about we get one of those hot fudge
sundaes I owe you?" he asked with a big smile.

     "Anytime, anywhere, any place, Nathan." I would never forget what
had happened.