A Bad Night
Jai West should have been at JLA headquarters with the others, but a few things conspired to keep him from doing so. First, his tutoring session with Mitzi Storm ran /way/ over the time limit they'd set because Mitzi was having issues with Trigonometry. Jai patiently explained everything a few times and Mitzi seemed to get it, culminating in her being able to finish several of the equations on her own.

Mitzi was so thrilled at her progress that she kissed Jai out of sheer joy.

He was in no hurry to tell Traya about /that/, so when the guys said they wanted to go to Big Mack's for burgers, Jai was all for it. He figured he'd get a quick dinner in, catch up with Traya for a bit, then go home and talk to Mom about his report on the American media and its influence on society.

Once dinner was done, Jai was ready to tell Traya what happened, despite all of his friends' advice to the contrary. They all thought it was a better idea for him not talk about it, especially since they were still using Traya's name with air quotes. He really had to get her to come to the school sometime and show his friends up.

He walked down the street to an alleyway, ready to run for it when his cell phone rang. Lookign at the Caller ID, he sees Mom calling him.

"Hey, Mom. What's up?" Jai asks.
 

"Jai, I need you to come home." Linda says.

"Okay, Mom, I'll be home in like, an hour. I was just headed to HQ to see Traya and everyone before I came home--"

Linda cuts him off. "No, Jai. I need you to come home right this minute. This is important." 

"Mom, come on. I just want to go see Traya really quick, since I won't get to see her the rest of the week." he says.

"Jai, do not argue with me. Iris is on her way home right now. Please be here in two minutes." Linda says, and then hangs up.

Jai could not believe this. He thought Mom was over the whole hating-on-Traya thing, but it seemed she wasn't.

"Ugh. Might as well see what she wants." he says, putting his phone away.

A scream splits the night, just a block or two over. Jai hesitates for just a second. He could leave right now and hope Iris caught on her way in, but she was coming from California. It might be too late by the time she got here, if she even passed this way. Dad was in Chile helping with those miners.

It was up to him.

"Mom can't be mad at me for breaking up a mugging." Jai says, changing into his costume, then heading toward the sound of the screams.