From time to time, (like from the start of the story) I'll mention certain people that don't show up in comic books. Li'l Bit is one, she's found in "Somewhere Between Like And Love". Ariel first showed up in "Mall Rats", her sister Celeste in "Auld Lang Syne" and then in "Boxed Lunch." These girls are two ordinary people that happen to have mutants for friends.

Thanks go to Luba for beta-reading the whole thing, Krista letting me bounce a couple of ideas on her, Danielle for being the inspiration for Ariel (see, I do admit it!). A special thanks goes to David Hicks, who showed me that you are never too old to like comic books.... (David, if you ever read this, email me!)

The idea for this story came out of a song I first read on alt.music.christian, called "The Masterplan" (below). The idea came to me that I had two strong characters that had made a decision to be friends with people that are widely hated. What would happen when they had to face the results of making this decision? Could they follow though?