in Cooper's lab, someone is making final adjustments to a ray gun, door opens, person hides, Cooper, Kevin, and I walk in

Me: Kevin, are you sure you got that mouthwash?

Kevin: For the last time...yes, I got the mouthwash.

Me: And?

Kevin: And I used it. Happy?!

Me: Yes.

Cooper: hands out goggles Ok, you're gonna need these.

everyone puts them on

Cooper: Now where did I put that ray gun?

opens closet

Cooper: Here it is!

takes out ray gun that was worked on

Kevin: How does it work?

Cooper: It drains energy from whatever it's aimed at. Usually it's for tech that gets infected, but hopefully it'll work on you.

Kevin: That isn't going to scare me any less.

Me: I hope it works better than magic because Kevin hasn't had any luck with that.

Cooper: Yeah, I don't think magic is going to help. After all, magic didn't turn you into...whatever you are.

Kevin: A monster?

Me: Kevin! You're not a monster. I walk to the side Now stand still so Cooper can shoot you.

Kevin gulps

Cooper starts up ray gun

Me: shouting over ray gun Hey Kevin!

Kevin: What?

Me: If something bad happens, should I tell Gwen?

Kevin: If you live to tell about it, yes.

ray gun crackles electricity

Me: Is that supposed to happen?

Cooper: No.

ray gun backfires, looks like it will explode

Me: Drop that thing and get out of here!

Cooper drops weapon, he and I run for the door, Kevin stays

Me: Kevin! Come on!

Kevin: I'll be fine! Just get an ambulance!

I close door, Kevin runs behind a desk, ray gun finally explodes, destroys lab

Me: reaching for a phone Don't just stand there! Go get help!

Cooper: sadly Sorry.

later ambulance and rescue crew comes, searches through rubble

Search Crew member #1: What does he look like?

Me: Uh...tall, muscular, dark hair.

Search Crew member #2: I think I found him!

the search crew spot a hand, they move rocks

Search Crew member #2: Somebody get him a stretcher!

Search Crew member #1: And some clothes!

Me: approaching What do you mean clothes?

shocked

Me: Oh.

Cooper: to himself I think that worked a little too well.

Kevin is laying unconsciously, goggles ruined, slightly less muscular, has turned back

to be continued...

Me: You OK?

Gwen looks depressed

Gwen: after a long pause No.

Me: I figured.

Segue

Me: If it makes you feel better, I gave Kevin some mouthwash.

Gwen: angry If you say that name one more time...

Segue

Me: Why didn't you tell him? You could've saved yourself some "slack."

Gwen: I didn't want him rushing me.

Me: Understandable. I'll be right back.

Segue

Me: You were kind of harsh.

Kevin: somber Don't remind me.

Me: She didn't tell you because she felt you would've rushed her.

Kevin: Does she think I'm in a hurry?

Me: No, but she has enough to worry about besides your anger. Let's think for a second: who had nothing to do with the fact that you look like this?

Kevin: Gwen?

Me: Yes. Who did?

Kevin: Ben.

Me: Exactly.

Kevin looks down

Me: What?

Kevin: Man, I feel stupid.

Me: That's called "guilt." Unfortunately, that won't be enough to convince her.

Kevin: What makes you say that?

Me: Well, the logic you used was given to you by a person who was trying to get revenge on Gwen. So, using that logic, you made her feel worse than she already was.

Kevin: I really wanna hit something right now.

Me: Your chair?

Kevin takes chair, throws it against the wall

Me: That worked.

Segue

Me: He's been kind of angry with himself.

Gwen: Well, there's a first for everything.

Me: Come on, Gwen. My dad does stuff like this all the time. I know he's a jerk, but he doesn't mean any harm. I mean, judging him by what he says doesn't make him a jerk. He's just sour because Ben messed him up.

Gwen: It was his idea.

Me: So we can agree those were both stupid things to do.

Gwen: I guess.

Segue

Gwen: Do you think I worry too much?

Me: I worry all the time. I worry about my grades, about my future, even about my dog. It's not something you should be ashamed of.

nothing

Me: You want to hit something, don't you?

Gwen: What?

Me: "Jerk-face" threw his chair against the wall. I told him that would make him feel better.

Gwen: Now that you mention it, I REALLY want to punch him in the face.

Me: Talk to him. Don't try to sympathize, just listen. He'll return the favor.

Gwen: If you say so.

To be continued...

Sorry I haven't been on for a while. School got in the way. Plus I've had too much time trying to think of a story. I've wanted to do something like that Secret of the Omnitrix movie, but about Kevin. I also wanted to do something romantic, but not too romantic. I also wanted to make a lawsuit against the guys who made the Ben 10 porn, but I didn't know how trials worked out. So, I'm sorry for the wait. I'll find the time to write something. I promise, it'll be better than the last stories.

Dear Gwen,

I've been seeing that encounter between you and Verdona. It's good that a woman feels confident about herself. But about kissing boys....how many guys have you cheated? Are there not enough girls in your high school to go around? Nothing personal, just don't admit you've kissed someone other than Kevin...in front of Kevin. Unless by kissing guys, you mean like what Taylor Swift does and sing about what it would feel like kissing them. Unless you do that, lay off the "romance" for a while.

Sincerely (works better than "Love"), Daniel