Miss Ivy leaned back in the chair and looked at me like she was about to yell at me or something.

She's never yelled at me, ever. Not even when I deserved it.

"Fine," said Miss Ivy, "I'll do this favor for you because I like Jack and Astropop, but I'm tellin' ya, you're fuckin' up, kiddo."

I would never, ever be used to Miss Ivy saying things like that.

How am I messing up, I asked, I'm trying to do the right thing here.

"And that's admirable," said Miss Ivy, "but you're part of a team now. You can't come running to me every time something doesn't go right, you and Xander need to work it out for yourselves."

Now it was my turn to get angry.

If I ever got angry, that is.

Don't forget, this team was thrust on both of us, I said, me and Xander aren't exactly gifted with the same state of mind when it comes to this business. I appreciate the kind of boost that a victory over Vox Nihili gives us, but I'd prefer to lose with honor than win without.

"That's true," said Miss Ivy, "and I hear everything you're sayin', Knox, but the big bosses want you guys in a team right now, so you've gotta work it out yourselves."

He's a child, I said.

"He's what, three years younger than you? Four?" asked Miss Ivy, "You've got a good head on your shoulders, kiddo, but you need to learn how to play well with others, too."

I raised an eyebrow. Playing well with others was never a strong suit for Miss Ivy. Nor was it something Eli ever did, or Coop, or Angry Johnny.

You said to make friends, I said, to learn who I could trust and make sure they're there to back me up - and to back them up when they need it. Well, I did that, and Lowell blindsided me and split on us, Chelle's hurt, Jack is still carrying my mask around in Baltimore, and the Wolf, probably the only person in the company that I think I could have equal parts respect and rivalry with, thinks I'm a scumbag because of my tag team partner. Things aren't exactly working out, are they?

Miss Ivy laughed, which wasn't the reaction I was expecting.

"Once you know the rules, kiddo," said Miss Ivy, "then you can break 'em. I'll do this for you on Wednesday but this is my last lesson - after reAction, you and Xander need to talk."

Miss Ivy got up and walked to the bar. A group of about five guys all checked her out at the same time while she got a refill from Rosie, and I kind of wished for one or more of them to approach her and try to talk her up, if only to see their reaction when she explains that she owns the place.

Still, she's nearly thirty five and can still turn heads. That's gotta be a source of self esteem.

I did some mental gymnastics in my head and realized that tomorrow's reAction was coming from Phoenix, and next week's was coming from Colorado Springs. There's plenty of time to have a sit down with Xander between the two.

But is there time to come here? I do my best thinking at TC's, with my hometown surroundings around, and, especially after what's about to happen this week, I think I need home field advantage.

It depends on a few things.

How will Alias and Karina react to the match.

How will Xander react to my surprise.

How does the match end?

Miss Ivy was right - it's my job to make this team work. As the senior member in the ring - we may have started at the same time but I've got a year of experience on Xander - I have to lead the way.

And like Miss Ivy said to me after my first night in the FWO, I have to set the tone.

Piece of cake, right?

Right?