YA2:02 - Too Many To Tango

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Author�s Notes: Season 2, episode 2. Revised version 2004. Read the commentary for changes to episodes 201-203 here.

Part One

Teaser

Rawley Boys' Academy stood by Rawley Lake, a mirror to Rawley Girls' Academy on the other side. Cobalt blue banners slung over the grey stone and sparkling large windows helped to ameliorate the building's imposing appearance. Fallen orange and yellow leaves littered the lawns and paths, indicating the Season of Harvest, autumn.

Everywhere the eye turned, it was impossible to miss adolescent males, running all over campus and beyond, busy with their lives and their loves and everything else. In the common room, Will Krudski sat in one of the comfortable armchairs in the corner, oblivious to the goings-on around him, scribbling furiously in his journal.

*Will's voiceover starts*

'Sometimes I wonder, what are our relationships founded on? Is it mutual similarities? Or do opposites really attract? What makes friends, enemies and loves different from a mere acquaintance? It's no secret that each of us are different, we sometimes click with others and sometimes we clash with them. Every one of us have our merits and every one of us have faults, so what is it that makes us accept some people into our hearts while fending others out from the same place?'

Will looked up from his journal when a breathless voice called out his name. A moment later, Scout Calhoun burst into the room, his face flushed. "Listen, man,� he panted as he collapsed into the chair next to Will�s. �You gotta help me out."

Will laughed at his friend's flustered state. "What's up?" he asked as he carefully capped his pen and closed his journal.

"I've come up with a great plan to spend more time with Bella and convince her to choose me over Sean," Scout said in a rush.

Will's smile froze at the mention of Bella Banks' name. "Really," he said, his voice suddenly dull.

Scout didn't notice. "Yeah! This is so perfect! Edmund High's been wanting people to tutor English lit. to their students for free, and I just happened to find out that Bella's one of the students who signed up to be tutored."

Will glanced at him, mildly surprised. "I didn't know that she was behind in English."

"She's not," Scout replied. "She just wants extra help because�"

�That's right,� Will suddenly remembered. �She's been talking about wanting to get that scholarship to Rawley Girls'."

"Needless to say,� Scout smirked, �Sean wasn't too supportive of her on that idea, which is just as well because I'm behind her one hundred percent."

Will cracked a smile, "I bet you are. But um, Scout�?�

The other boy nodded as if he knew what Will was going to say. "Yeah, I know, my English isn't stellar either." Smiling craftily, he added, "Which is why I need your help, my friend."

"Wait,� Will said slowly, �you're not�"

"That�s exactly right, mi amigo," Scout said triumphantly. "You are the key in my winning her over!"

Will stared at him, speechless.

***
Jake�s room

"Oof! Okay, that's enough," gasped Jake Pratt as she let go of one end of a single bed and it crashed down with a dull clunk. Hamilton Fleming, who was holding the other end, did the same, sending up a small cloud of dust in his wake. Sputtering, they inspected their handiwork.

"Looking good," Finn, their English teacher and live-in staff member, poked his head through the door. "Need some help, boys?"

"Nah, we're cool, thanks,� replied Hamilton as he picked up a chair and dragged it to one end of the room. Finn smiled and went on his way.

"I wouldn't mind some help," grumbled Jake, as she wiped her forehead with her sleeve. "This work is breaking my back."

"We�re nearly done," he replied as he tossed a pillow onto the bed. Straightening up, he looked around and smiled. "I can't believe I'm living in the dorms."

"I can't believe I'm living in the same room as you," she said slowly, looking around, her brows furrowed. "What was I thinking when I told you that you could move in with me?"

He raised his eyebrows, "Are you regretting it?"

"Nah," She shook her head with a smile. "It's just all this moving has made me cranky." She flopped on her bed, face down. When she spoke, her voice was muffled. "Ah, lying down is good�"

He grinned and sat down next to her, reaching out to massage her neck and shoulders.

Jake sighed contentedly under his adept hands. "Nope, no regrets,� she murmured. A moment later she turned over and smiled lazily up at him, "Hey, roomie."

"Roomie,� he echoed, leaning down to give her a small kiss. �I like that."

Part Two

*Theme song and opening credits*

Will strolled down New Rawley's Main Street, lost in thought. Distracted and weary, he hardly watched where he was going, and narrowly avoided crashing into a lamppost. "Arghh!" he exclaimed, jumping when a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

The hand belonged to Sean McGrail, his best friend from town. "Hey man," he said, "What's up?"

�Just a premature heart attack,� Will said, smiling thinly.

�Sorry,� the other boy grinned. �You were looking pretty serious over there. Anything I can help with?�

Will shook his head. �It�s nothing,� he said lightly. �What�s up?�

"Actually,� Sean looked down, shuffling his feet awkwardly. �I kinda need a favour."

�From me?� asked Will. Seeing the other boy nod, he smiled. �Sure. What�s going on?�

Sean looked embarrassed. "It's to do with Bella."

"What isn't nowadays?" Will muttered under his breath, before clearing his throat, "Uh, look, Sean�"

"Come on, man, it's a tiny favour," Sean pleaded. Will did not respond, and he added hopefully, "I just need you to go and find a sonnet for me."

"Find a�� Will quirked his eyebrow, �sonnet?"

"Yeah. I'm going to take Bella out on a date, and then if everything goes well, read her a love sonnet," Sean was looking more and more embarrassed. "I was hoping that�"

"That she'd be moved and choose you over Scout," Will finished for him, sighing.

Sean shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets. �I know it�s corny as hell, but hey, she seems to like the corny Rawley crap so� I dunno��

Will looked at him, his expression unreadable. "Sean, I can't do that."

Sean�s face fell. "Why?"

"Because�� Will stammered, �because you guys are supposed to be backing off and giving her time to think, not showering her with dates and sonnets! That's the last thing she needs right now!"

"Will,� Sean said, a look of hurt crossing his eyes. �I was just trying to�"

"God, Sean, don't you get it?� Will exploded suddenly. �This is not a stupid popularity contest! You're just going to scare her off, both of you!"

"Both of us?� Sean grabbed him by the shoulder, alarmed. �Will, do you know something about Scout that I don't?"

"That's between the two of you,� Will jerked his arm away fiercely. �Leave me out, I don't want to be a part of this!" Without another word he turned and stormed off in the direction he came from, leaving Sean staring after him, an expression of utter perplexity on his face.

***
Jake and Hamilton�s room

Hamilton walked in, closing the door behind him as he surveyed the redecorated dorm room. His 3EB poster was up on his side of the room, and his prized Fender guitar was proudly displayed at the foot of his bed. "I live here," he said, a smile stealing over his face.

Jake looked up from her laptop. �Yeah,� she said with a small chuckle. �I guess you do.�

He crossed the room in a few giant strides, jumping onto his bed with a wide grin, "My own bed in my own dorm room!" Seeing Jake raise her eyebrows, he quickly corrected himself, " I mean, our own dorm room."

"I don't know why you're so happy about moving into the dorms,� she said, turning back to the computer. �I�d stay at home any day.�

"Hmm. I have my reasons. Let's see," he pretended to give the question serious thought. "� There's you. Then there's you. And then�" He spread himself out on the bed, closed his eyes and raised his arms over his head, "� there's you."

"Stop it," she laughed, watching him stretch out luxuriously. Very quietly she stood up, and with the grace and silence of a feline, she tiptoed to his side. Then she pounced.

Hamilton shrieked a very un-manly shriek as he struggled to throw her off. "Stop it!" he gasped amidst uncontrollable laughter, "Jake, I� I mean it!"

Jake tickled him with the mercilessness that undoubtedly came with years of experienced tickling. "Say please," she chuckled.

Limbs flailing, Hamilton rolled off the bed with a loud thump, and a moment later, emerged from its side. Jake looked at him, doubled up with laughter.

"Please?" he said, his lips curving up in a slow smile.

She reached over and kissed him. As she pulled back, she said, rather seriously, "Don't try anything in the middle of the night."

"I wouldn't dream of it," he replied, the picture of insincerity.

"I mean it," she gazed at him. "No pranks, okay? You haven�t met my evil twin who comes when I haven�t had enough sleep. No inappropriate behaviour." She paused and grinned, "God, listen to me, I think I might actually be turning into Finn."

He laughed appreciatively, and as she pulled him up from the floor, they shared another brief but sweet kiss.

***
Will and Scout�s room

Will rubbed his bloodshot eyes as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. It was barely dawn, but he had been wide-awake for hours. Throwing his covers to one side, he slipped quietly out of bed, and went to stand in front of the dresser that he and Scout shared.

He stared into the mirror, and his reflection stared back, the look in its pale blue eyes startlingly haunted. He looked down at his crumpled cotton T-shirt and boxers and awarded himself a short silent laugh.

Scout groaned from the other bed, and Will quickly looked towards him. The other boy turned over, burying his face in his pillow, "Bella," he mumbled, nearly incoherent but evidently, not enough.

Will froze, his gaze travelling over Scout�s still form. The other boy gave a small snore and rolled over again, still deep asleep. Will sighed and turned back to the mirror.

His reflection seemed to hold a hint of mockery in its eyes.

He breathed out heavily and went to his bedside table, opening a drawer, rifling through his items and pulling a photograph from the very bottom.

It was the same snapshot that Bella had given him a few days earlier. She laughed out from inside the picture, with him at her side. Even their images seemed to be mocking him. Everything seemed to be mocking him lately.

"What the hell are you doing, man?" he muttered to himself, quietly, unable to tear his eyes away from her luminous smile.

"Bella," he whispered, his voice gone husky and remote, as though he wasn�t aware he said anything at all.

He hated to admit it, but the reason why he wasn't heartbroken when Caroline broke up with him was because his heart was already not hers to break.

With a quick, guilty glance at Scout�s sleeping form, he turned back to the photograph and closed his eyes, a bitter expression crossing his face. �Snap out of it,� he murmured, his lips barely moving. �God, just� just snap out of it.�

He opened his eyes, a hard veneer settling over his features. Then in one smooth movement, he tossed the photo into the wastepaper basket. Quickly slipping on a pair of jeans and grabbing his jacket, he walked out, closing the door softly behind him.

Silence filled the room, punctuated with the sound of Scout�s quiet snores.

A moment later the door opened again, and Will walked back in. He reached into the wastepaper basket and took the photo out, his hands shaking in agitation. He looked down at it, biting his lower lip angrily, and then he stuffed it back into his drawer and walked out again. The door shut behind him once more.

***

The sun was just peeking over the edge of the lake, casting a thin strip of gold across the dark ripples. Will jogged over the docks, his footsteps thudding hollowly across the wooden boards, the crisp air brushing his face with its cold fingers. He looked back toward the school and, satisfied that he was indeed alone, he cried out.

All the air in his lungs just gushed out in one incoherent yell. It was tortured and pained and the sound filled every inch of him; it vibrated in the air and was swallowed up by the lake's still waters.

When he stopped, gasping for breath, he was amazed to find that there were traces of tears on his face. He wiped them away quickly, looking around to see if anyone had suddenly materialised out of thin air and witnessed this raw display of emotion.

No one had, of course, but he quickly left the docks anyway. Some of the school's early risers would be up pretty soon. Rawley Academy was a breeding house for rumours, and he did not want a starring role in any of them. 'Krudski found yelling and crying by the lake in the morning' was good gossip material.

Aimlessly, he wandered into town. Main Street was eerily quiet; the shops hadn�t yet opened for the day. He stared at his feet as he shuffled along, travelling on autopilot through the familiar settings. "I hate you," he muttered darkly to his shoes. "You are worthless. Doesn�t friendship mean anything to you? Don't do anything. I forbid you to do anything about it. You can�t do a thing like that to Scout and Sean."

"What can�t you do to Scout and Sean?" a voice overhead suddenly asked, sounding amused.

He looked up abruptly, blood rushing to his face. Without even noticing, he had walked straight to the gas station, and Bella was standing right in front of him, bathed in the morning sunlight. For a moment he thought she glowed, bright and golden and angelic. But perhaps it was only the sun, shining from behind her, casting a gilded outline around her slender form. He was struck speechless as he took in her smile. �Um,� he stuttered, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Earth to Will," she grinned. �What�s up with you?�

�Uh, Bella,� he stammered. �Wh� what you� what are you doing here?"

"I live here," she answered matter-of-factly, tilting her head with a bemused smile.

"But it's early," he said, swallowing nervously. "Really early."

She shrugged. "I couldn't sleep. What were you talking about just before? What�s this about Scout and Sean?�

�Nothing,� he said quickly, averting his gaze. �I was just talking to myself.�

"Okay," she laughed curiously, but didn't push the issue. "Listen, we've got a lot of time before I have to run off to school, so you wanna come up and help me make breakfast?"

"That depends on if I get to eat, too," he smiled, relaxing a little.

She laughed and opened the door. "Come on."

Part Three

Jake and Hamilton�s room

The early morning sunlight peeked through the edges of the drawn curtains, its bright clarity promising yet another beautiful autumn day. Jake was curled up in her bed, fast asleep.

Click, went the camera.

Hamilton�s face appeared from its side. He squinted, and without taking his eyes off his photography subject of choice, adjusted the zoom lens. He ducked back behind the camera and smiled.

Click, click, click.

Jake stirred, opened her eyes, and immediately saw Hamilton looming over her face. �Arghh!� she shrieked as she swatted at him. She didn�t mean to do it, but it was hard to think straight when she�d just come out of a wonky dream complete with flying avocadoes to find a big black plastic object hovering uncomfortably close to her nose.

Hamilton stumbled back, surprised. �Whoa! Watch it!�

She sat up bolt right. �What the�� she stammered, pausing when she realised that the scary black thing was only the camera that Hamilton held as the pride and joy of his life. She lay back down with a groan. �What are you doing?�

�Taking pictures of you,� he replied, as he put the camera away and sat down next to her. �You look cute when you�re sleeping.�

She smiled with her eyes closed. �What time is it?�

He shrugged. �Still early.�

�I think I�ll go back to sleep,� she yawned as she turned over, sprawling out. He looked at her, grinning for a while, before he realised that she really was going back to sleep and not just pretending so that they�d spend some �cute time� together. He shrugged, starting to get up, but a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes and he turned back. Reaching over, he stroked her lightly under the chin.

Jake shifted, but did not open her eyes. He began to hum a tune softly as he traced her jaw with a finger. She shook her head, eyes still closed, and mumbled, �Stop it.�

He pouted a little and got up from the bed. Getting dressed quickly on his side of the room, he turned around and saw that her bare feet were sticking out from under the covers. A devious grin crossed his face: this was too easy.

Jake�s eyes flew open as she felt the scrabbling of cold fingers on the bottom of her feet. She kicked at them, irritated. �Cut that out!�

Hamilton stopped tickling, the smile disappearing from his face. �Geez,� he said. �What�s wrong, Jake? I�m just playing around.�

�Well, don�t,� she muttered as she rolled out of bed. �It�s annoying when I�m trying to sleep.� Walking over to her dresser, she looked into the mirror and groaned. Her hair was sticking up all over the place in an unfortunate impression of a bird�s nest.

�Bad hair day, huh?� he commented.

�Thanks for the update,� she said, the sarcasm thick in her voice.

He frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. �You�re really not a morning person, are you?�

She didn�t bother to answer, grumpily running a brush through her hair and getting dressed in record time. When she�d finished, she turned around and softened when she caught the wounded expression on his face. "I'm sorry,� she said, walking closer to him. �I didn't mean to wake up all cranky. Come on, let's go get me some coffee so I can feel human again."

He smiled and took her hand, kissing her quickly on the temple as they made their way out the door.

***
Edmund High

�Bella!� Sean skidded around a corner and caught the blonde at her locker. �Hey.�

�Hi Sean,� she replied as she picked up a few textbooks. �What�s up?�

�Wanna go out this Friday?� he asked in a rush.

She turned and gave him an exasperated look. �Sean��

�I know, I know,� he held up his hands, �backing off. But a movie and ice cream is totally innocent. It can�t hurt. I won�t try anything, I promise.�

�I don�t know,� she sighed as she closed her locker. �I just need some time alone to think.�

�Hey, no pressure,� he backed away immediately. She looked up, surprised at what seemed to be a rapid exit, but he edged back with a smile. �Just one date, please? And we'll even go to the real movie theatre, not the drive-in, so you won't think I'm trying to put the moves on you."

She had to laugh. �All right,� she said reluctantly. "But on one condition."

He grinned. �Anything.�

�Throughout the entire night,� she said, �I don�t wanna hear a single word on how you�re better than Scout Calhoun.�

�Come on,� he complained with a teasing smile. �I hate the guy, I have the right to mouth off behind his back.�

She raised a reproachful eyebrow and he shrugged, chuckling. �Okay, okay.�

�Then it�s a date,� she smiled tentatively.

A wide grin spread over his face. �I�ll talk to you later,� he said hastily as he ran off again down the corridor. She stared after him, the perplexed smile still on her face. But there was a slight furrow to her brows, a hint of regret already forming behind her gaze.

***
Rawley Academy

�Please?" wheedled Scout, swivelling around to stare at Will with giant puppy-dog eyes.

"How many times do I have to tell you? No!" Will exclaimed. "I am not going to teach you English so you can teach Bella!"

"But man," Scout pouted, "you've got to help me out. This is gonna be the one chance that I get to hang out with her without Sean breathing down my neck."

They walked across the lawn to the grove of trees by the lake, where Finn's class was to be held that day. "No!" said Will in exasperation. "It's the principle of it. You should be taking a step back, not smothering her. In any way," he added as an afterthought, thinking about Sean and his sonnet plans.

"But�� Scout whined, but Will decided that he had heard enough and strode on ahead of him. Dejected, Scout crossed his arms. �You are spending more time with Bella than Sean and me put together,� he called to the other boy�s retreating back. �Of course you�d be happy to hold up the �principle�.�

Will turned around slowly, something shadowy flickering in his pale blue eyes. �What�s that supposed to mean?� he asked.

Scout blinked. �I dunno, man, it just came out. I didn�t mean anything by it.�

Will swallowed. �Of course not,� he said weakly, forcing a smile. And as he stared at Scout he could feel hatred for himself bubbling up inside, like dark, acidic venom. Betrayal was such a dirty word, and he fought against it, he had never planned to do anything despite the wasted heart hammering away in his chest. If only he could tear the thought of her away� if only he could get rid of her image that seemed to be perpetually floating around his line of vision�

�All right, I�ll do it,� he suddenly said.

Scout blinked again. �You�ll do what?�

Will looked at him wearily, and Scout�s eyes widened as the realisation sank in. �Oh man!� he whooped, rushing up to thump the other boy enthusiastically on the back. �This is awesome! Thanks, you don�t know what it means to me.�

�So what do I have to do?� Will asked, resignedly, as they sat down next to Jake and Hamilton.

�They have a �meet the tutor� thing after school today,� Scout replied as Finn started the day�s lesson. �I�ll go and find out what�s happening.�

Will stared straight ahead, letting Finn�s voice resonate in his head, despite not being able to comprehend a word of what the teacher was saying.

Help the friend get the girl. Best thing to do. Wisest thing to do.

Just keep repeating those words, he told himself, and make yourself numb.

***
Edmund High

The school was pretty much deserted as Scout made his way down the halls of Edmund High. The afternoon sun cut a wide swath of light behind him as he ventured into a side classroom, trying to look surprised when he found Bella sitting alone at a desk. �Bella?� he asked, hiding his satisfied smirk.

"Scout?" she looked up, mystified. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm a tutor," he replied, carefully arranging his face into a mask of suitable shock. "What about you?"

"I'm getting tutored," she replied, standing up. "Uh, Scout, no offence, but I really don't think this is the best thing that could happen right now. I'll go and talk to the liaison teacher�"

"No!" he exclaimed, and hastily added, "Bella, this is just a professional tutoring session. There's no need to let our private lives disrupt that, right?"

"I don't know,� she said haltingly. �It's gonna be weird�"

�Come on,� he said, putting on his best convincing smile. Looked like it was time to turn on the Calhoun charm full blast.

***
Will and Scout�s room

The late-afternoon sunshine was pouring in through the large windows, falling onto Will�s prone form sprawled out on his bed. His face was pressed into the pillow, and he was chiding himself out loud, the words coming out rather muffled. At the end of every insult he punched the pillow emphatically, the blows coming more and more regularly as he worked himself into a self-flagellating frenzy.

"Stupid!" Punch.

"Stupid!" Punch.

"You fucking stupid idiot!" Punch, punch punch.

"Why on earth did I say yes?" he moaned, his voice stifled by the pillow.

Okay, so he wanted for this stupid love for Bella to end. Okay, so he wanted to feel like he wasn't betraying his friends. Okay, so he had to do something or he�d explode.

�God,� he muttered to himself, �this is a new low. If Sean finds out��

As of on cue, one of the guys down the hall stuck his head in the door. �Krudski,� he called. �Phone for you.�

�Thanks, Thomas,� Will said listlessly as he got up and followed the other guy down to the common room. Nodding at Thomas, who rejoined a group of guys near the television set, he picked up the phone. �Hello?�

"Will? It's Sean."

Will nearly dropped the receiver. �Uh,� he said, his throat dry. �How did you� um��

"I know that you said no before to the sonnet thing,� Sean said in a rush, �but I really can't do it myself. It�s hard enough understanding the words of a poem, let alone trying to read into them, so Will, as my best friend, I am begging you�"

"ALL RIGHT!" Will bellowed into the phone, causing the other guys to glance at him curiously. "Stop the guilt trip! I'll do it!"

Sean, on the other end, sounded surprised but pleased. "Will, I�m not even warmed up on the real guilt trip."

"Spare me,� Will groaned, rubbing his temple wearily. �I'll do it."

�Great.� Sean sounded relieved. �That�s great, man. I owe you one.�

�Yeah,� Will said in a monotone. �Yeah. Whatever.�

After he hung up, he banged his head loudly on the wall, ignoring the amused looks of everyone else in the common room.

Part Four

Rawley Academy, library

Jake was checking some books out for history when she spotted Will staring intently at the Shakespeare section of the library. "Hey," she called quietly, walking closer.

He looked up quickly, a guilty expression crossing his eyes, but he relaxed when he saw who it was. �What�s up?� he replied, sticking his hands in his pockets.

�Checking out books for English?� she smiled.

�Um, no,� he said vaguely. �Just looking.�

She nodded. "Hey, have you seen Bella recently?"

�No!� he ejected, looking nervous. �Why should I have seen her? We�re not, like, twins."

She raised an eyebrow. �Down, boy.�

He flushed, chuckling in embarrassment. �Sorry, Jake, I�m just� um, touchy today.�

�Really,� she said, mildly sarcastic. �So you haven�t seen her?�

He shook his head. She shrugged, �I�ll just drop by the gas station sometime. Haven�t caught up with her in a while.�

�Hey!� They looked up to see Hamilton joining them. �What�s happening?� he asked, flashing a bright smile at Jake.

Before Will could respond, he saw Jake�s face darken. �Is that my new coat?� she demanded.

Hamilton looked down at the coat that he was wearing. It was black, made out of butter-soft leather, and certainly very expensive-looking. �Uh, yeah��

Jake pursed her lips. �I haven�t even worn it yet!� she exclaimed, annoyed.

"Well, I was in a hurry, and it was just lying there,� he said. �I only borrowed it."

"Moving into my room doesn't automatically give you the right to just 'borrow' my clothes," she said. �You�re gonna stretch it out of shape.�

�No, I won�t,� he replied, with a slightly embarrassed look in Will�s direction.

�We�re not exactly the same size,� she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Look, I'm sorry,� he said defensively. �I just didn't think you would mind.�

�Well,� she said darkly, �I do mind when people take my clothes without asking.�

�Fine,� he snapped, taking the coat off. �Geez, calm down.�

�Don�t bother,� she said, shaking her head and stalking off with a tight little smile. �It looks better on you anyway.�

"Where are you going?" he called after her loudly, earning himself a stern glare from the librarian.

She pointed in the direction of the town. "Bella�s. See you later."

Once she had gone, Hamilton turned to Will. "Wow,� he said, his tone half amused, half humiliated. �Remind me never to borrow a girl's clothes without asking ever again."

***
Will and Scout�s room

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" Will muttered as he leafed through a thick book titled The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, "Thou art more� overused and clich� than anything else Shakespeare has ever written, so I'm going with 'no' here." He sighed, shaking his head. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

As he flicked through the book, his eyes suddenly fell on one particular page and he could feel his heart skip a painful beat as the words registered.

�� Suffering my friend for my sake to approve her / If I lose thee, my loss is my love's gain / And losing her, my friend hath found that loss / Both find each other, and I lose both twain / And both for my sake lay on me this cross�" he read, almost in a whisper. Rubbing a hand over his forehead, he groaned out loud. Was it not possible to escape reminders of this sorry predicament wherever he went? Even Shakespeare was having a word about it.

"Plath," Scout suddenly said by his side, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

Will jumped and snapped the book of sonnets shut on reflex. �What?�

"Bella's studying poetry by Sylvia Plath," Scout elaborated, looking pained. "I took a look at one of them, and all I could think of was� What?" He groaned, "I'm way out of my depth."

Will rolled his eyes, biting back an �I told you so�.

"Here, take a look," Scout shoved a piece of paper in his face.

�Black Rook in Rainy Weather,� Will read the title aloud. He smiled, �It's a clever poem.�

"You've read it?" asked Scout and, seeing Will nod, smiled with considerable relief. "Good. Teach away, buddy."

Will sighed as Scout pulled a chair up to the desk, grabbing a pen and some paper, looking at him attentively. "Well, the first thing to do with this particular poem is to look at its use of vocabulary,� he began, trying hard to brush away the melancholy that seemed to have settled over him like a fine mist. �You need to see particular words as a link throughout the entire eight stanzas�"

***
Edmund High

�And seeing that most of these lines are only half or visual rhymes, it mirrors the idea that glimpses of spiritual enlightening are very rare and short-lived," Scout finished his lecture, taking a long drink from a glass of water and looking extremely proud of himself.

Bella looked at him, a great deal of surprise in her expression. "God, Scout, I didn�t know you had this much 'English Major' in you," she said with a small chuckle. "I think Will should be worried."

"Um, right, yeah�� he chuckled weakly, discreetly sliding the sheet of notes that he was clutching out of sight.

***
Rawley Boys� Academy, dorms

Jake trudged wearily down the dormitory hall. It had been a very long day, piled with stacks of homework and assignments, and all she wanted to do now was to lie down. She returned to her room, reached up lethargically to switch the light on, and barely suppressed a shriek of horror when brightness showered upon the room.

The room looked a cross between tornado wreckage and Ground Zero. As she stared around at the piles of clothes scattered all across the floor, the books dumped in a semi-circle around Hamilton�s bed, and the stack of CDs that had fallen over in the corner, she felt like crying.

"Hamilton," she muttered darkly as she gritted her teeth and immediately set about cleaning up. "You better be thankful."

***

"Wow, it's so clean in here," Hamilton observed as he walked in the door an hour later. He was usually too preoccupied with other things to clean up after himself, and as a result, his room was always messy. He grinned at Jake: it was nice to see the difference.

She was sitting on her bed, leaning back on a pillow, looking pretty frayed around the edges. When she heard his nonchalant remark she opened her eyes and gave him the most evil stare imaginable.

�What have I done now?� he exclaimed, taken aback. She only glared at him and didn�t reply.

�What?� he demanded again, folding his arms. She pursed her lips and closed her eyes again, her expression stony.

�Fine,� he snapped. �I�ll come back when I get my diploma in mind-reading, Jake.� Walking huffily to his closet, intending to change into his pyjamas, he opened the door.

His mouth fell open, and there was a long pause before he spoke. When he did, his voice was very quiet.

"Uh,� he said. �Where are my clothes?"

The closet was completely empty.

"They were dirty so I threw them all down the laundry chute," she replied coolly.

"All of them?" he asked, still staring into the blank space where his clothes should have resided. "Every single piece of clothing I own?"

"Yeah,� she replied, her voice taking on a steely edge. �Like I said, they were all dirty."

"Laundry day's just been!� he yelled, incredulous. �What the hell am I supposed to wear for a whole week?"

"Wear my clothes!" she shouted back and stared pointedly at her coat, which he was still wearing. "You do already, don't you?" He opened his mouth angrily, but before he could utter a word she hopped off the bed and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

�ARGH!� he exclaimed, staring at the door in disbelief. �Girls!�

***
Friendly's

"Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap, to kiss the tender inward of thy hand, whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap, at the wood's boldness by thee blushing stand." Will paused and looked up from a sheet of paper, which he was holding in his hands. "How does that sound?"

"It's great," Sean replied, his tone clearly indicating that he had absolutely no clue whether the sonnet was about a girl or an elephant on stilts. "Really great. Thanks again for doing this for me, man."

"It's no problem," Will replied lightly. "Hey, are you sure you wanna� you know, read this aloud to her?"

�Yeah,� Sean said. �I know it�s not, like, a �me� thing to do. But I figured she�d appreciate it, you know? I�ve got us a date on Friday night.�

Will frowned. "Listen, man, maybe you should practise reading it a few times. You've got to put feeling into a reading." Sean looked as if he was at a loss, and Will scratched his head, trying to elaborate, "It's important to put feeling into a reading because it reflects�"

"Will, Will, " Sean interrupted. "I get the why. Just tell me how."

"How?" Will repeated, looking perplexed. "I don't know. You just do it."

Sean raised an eyebrow. �Huh.�

Will sighed and picked up the sheet of paper again. �Why don�t you listen to me and try to figure it out?�

"How oft, when thou, my music, music play'st�"

Bella�s smile flashed in front of his eyes, a brief snapshot of her hair streaming in the wind.

"� Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds�"

She blinked slowly against the summer sunlight, her lashes lifting to reveal those strangely addicting mismatched irises.

"� With thy sweet fingers, when thou gently sway'st�"

She threw her head back to let out a peal of silvery laughter, an image of a tanned throat, and of her eyes crinkling at the corners.

"� The wiry concord that mine ear confounds�"

She turned her face to his, and he could almost feel the kiss that she had so often planted on his cheek, soft like feathers, painful like a razor cut.

"I dunno how you do that, man," Sean said.

Will's eyes lost the glassiness that came over them. "What?" he asked, suddenly looking nervous.

�I can�t, you know, do it like you,� Sean said with a small frown. �The way you read it� there�s something� I can�t put my finger on it. I just can�t do it like that, man.�

�Oh,� Will said, looking down to hide the guilt in his eyes. �Well, um, I guess it comes with practice��

�Yeah,� Sean shrugged. �Maybe.�

Will glanced at his friend, biting down hard on his lower lip. Sean turned back to his burger and took a big bite, oblivious.

Part Five

Rawley Boys' Academy, library

Will, Jake and Hamilton sat at the end of a long table in the library, doing some research and busy writing papers. Well, in Will's case, he was busy writing out more notes on Sylvia Plath, so that Scout can flaunt his borrowed knowledge in front of Bella.

Hamilton shuffled through his papers, looking agitated. He glanced towards Jake, frowned, and finally asked in a monotonous voice, "You know my notes that you borrowed? Do you still have them?"

She looked up, not quite meeting his eyes. When she replied, her voice was in an equally flat tone. "Yeah, it's in my room."

He didn�t miss the way she stressed her sentence, and he narrowed his eyes. �Where?�

�Dresser cabinet,� she replied. �Second drawer down."

He got up and left without a word.

Will peered up with a sympathetic, tentative smile, "Relationship trouble?"

"Moving in troubles," she corrected him, and sighed. "I'm beginning to think that it wasn't such a good idea."

"Hang in there," he advised, and she smiled tiredly in reply.

They worked on for a few moments before Finn walked past their table. "Plath," he commented, stopping when he saw the pile of poetry anthologies by Will�s side. "Isn't that what Edmund High's 10th graders are studying at the moment?"

Will looked up with a wry smile. "Yeah, it is."

Before Finn could say anything else, a very flustered-looking Scout dashed in. "Hey Will! Oh, good, you remembered, thanks! I owe you one!" he grabbed the notes out of Will's hand and panted, "Sorry, gotta run, I'm late."

The others watched him swivel around and run out again, his sneakers skidding on the wooden floor. Finn raised an eyebrow and turned back to Will. �Do you want to tell me what is going on here, Mr. Krudski?"

�What's going on here?� Will sighed. �Only me being in over my head."

Finn looked at him thoughtfully, but Will shrugged and went back to work, avoiding eye contact. A pause, then Finn patted him on the shoulder and moved on. Will nodded, more to himself than to the teacher, his expression meditative.

Jake flipped over a few pages of her textbook and suddenly stood up, holding a sheet of notes in Hamilton�s familiar scrawl. "I thought they were in my room," she sighed. "Guess I should go find Hamilton."

***
Jake and Hamilton�s room

"Where are they?" Hamilton muttered as he went through Jake's drawer the third time. Frustrated, he yanked open the next drawer down and shuffled through the contents, the scowl on his face growing more prominent as he searched. Pulling open the third drawer, he tilted his head when his hand came up, hooked onto the strap of a black satin bra.

�No notes here,� he murmured, contemplating the bra with a crooked smile. Replacing it reluctantly, he was just about to close the drawer when a hardback journal sprung into view.

He chewed on his lower lip, his gaze darting nervously toward the dorm room door before he picked the journal up, weighing it in his hands for a couple of moments before flipping to the first page. Almost immediately, however, he snapped it shut again. Staring down at its shiny black cover, he furrowed his brows, his expression torn with curiosity and guilt.

Just as he was about to replace the diary, however, the door opened and Jake walked in, waving a handful of notes. �Hey, I�ve found the��

She stopped and stared at him, the journal still clutched firmly in his hands, the underwear drawer wide open in front of him.

"Uh� this isn't what it�" he said weakly, �I mean, I wasn�t� I�m not going to read it��

"Damn right you're not!" she exclaimed, crossing the room in three giant strides and ripping the journal from his hands. "What the hell were you thinking, going through my drawers like that? What makes you think you had the right to��

"Hey," he interrupted, growing red, "I'm sorry, all right? I was going to�"

"No, it's not all right!" she clutched the journal to her chest, her eyes blazing. "God, Hamilton, moving in is one thing, but don't expect to have every single aspect of my life laid out in front of you, for you to just pick up and go through like it's your own�"

"Wait a minute!" he cried. "I wasn't going to read your stupid journal, okay? I saw it but I was going to put it back!"

�Whatever,� she said irritably. �Just like you were going to put back my coat after you�ve worn it around all day, right?�

�God, I already said I was sorry for that!� he shouted. �How many times do I need to apologise for that, Jake? And it�s not like� what about my clothes? The laundry chute? I wasn�t going to read your journal!�

�Yeah,� she retorted sarcastically, �which was why you were holding it when I walked in!� Shaking her head, she swivelled around, still clutching her journal. �God, I can�t do this right now. I�m going out.�

Fuming, he made no move to stop her as she strode out into the hall, slamming the door as she went.

***
The diner

"This is nice," said Bella as she swung around on her stool by the counter, licking ice cream off her spoon.

"I'm glad," Sean replied simply from the next stool over. He took a bite of ice cream and smiled at her, his brown eyes twinkling.

�You know,� she grinned, "I was kinda afraid that you'd turn a simple night out into something, you know," she shrugged, a little embarrassed, �romantic.�

�Uh, yeah,� he said, his smile becoming a little rigid. �Yeah� definitely not romantic.�

�I mean,� she hurried to say, �don�t get me wrong, it�s nice spending time with you. But� I�m sort of at a good place right now, you know? I really appreciate you and Scout both taking a step back to give me some time to think.�

He gave her a wobbly little grin. She laughed, ruffling his hair playfully. �I mean, when you asked me out earlier, I had this really warped idea that you were going to go all out to prove that you're better than Scout. I know, I know,� she rolled her eyes with a small chuckle, �totally lame. But I just couldn�t shake the idea that you might, you know, take me to some candlelit dinner and, I dunno, read me a poem or something."

�Oh, yeah,� he laughed weakly, �of course not.�

�Tonight's been really fun,� she said, with another appreciative smile. �The movie, and now this. Thanks, Sean, for not making me feel pressured."

"Uh, that's great," he coughed nervously. "You know, that you don't feel pressured. Cos I didn�t, uh, want you to, you know, um�"

�Anyway,� she grinned again. �Thanks.�

He nodded, relieved that she cut off his sentence that obviously wasn�t going anywhere. She turned back to her ice cream and he sneaked a look at the piece of paper stuck in his jacket pocket, on which the sonnet was written. With a small smile and a shake of the head he stuffed his hand in the pocket, shoving the poem down deep. His heart suddenly light with relief, he picked up his own spoon and took a bite of ice cream.

She put down her spoon with a click. "It's been a really nice date,� she said, standing up. �Thanks again."

"Where are you going?" he asked, mystified.

She checked her watch and smiled apologetically. "I have to get to my tutorial. Sc� my tutor wasn't free on other nights, so we agreed to meet up tonight."

"But I thought we could spend the entire night together," he said, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice as he walked her out of Friendly's.

"I'm sorry,� she apologised, touching his arm gently. �But it's probably better that we ease into the dating thing anyway, right?"

He brightened. "So there�ll be more dates, huh?"

�We�ll see,� she laughed as they crossed the road, stopping at the door of the gas station. �Well, goodnight.� He leaned in as though he was going to kiss her, and she drew back, uncomfortable. �Sean��

�I thought you had fun tonight,� he said, stepping back with a slightly hurt expression.

"I did," she said quickly. "I really did. But� it�s just, I still need more time� you understand, don�t you?"

�Yeah, sure,� he said, trying for a nonchalant shrug and failing. �No, it�s cool. I�ll just see you later.�

She bit her lip. �Yeah. Good night.�

He smiled and gave her a half-salute. But no sooner had he started walking away than he heard Scout�s voice coming from further down the road. �Bella!� the other boy called, running from the direction of Rawley Academy. �Hey Bella! Sorry I�m late��

Sean turned back, a scowl on his face as he watched Scout jog up to the gas station, waving a bunch of papers in his hand. Before the other boy had quite reached Bella, Sean stepped in front of him. �What are you doing here?� he demanded, rather savagely.

Scout skidded to a stop. "That's so none of your business."

"Oh, I beg to differ," Sean growled.

From behind them, Bella re-emerged from the shadows. "Sean, back off," she sighed wearily. "Scout's my tutor."

Scout smirked, while Sean whirled on Bella, his eyes widening. �He�s your tutor?�

�Yeah, he is,� she said, crossing her arms over her chest. �So� just lay off, all right?�

�You signed up for tutoring on purpose!� Sean exclaimed, turning back to Scout, his eyes flashing. �Calhoun, this is beyond low!�

�You�re not exactly backing off, either!� Scout said hotly. �What are you two doing together anyway?�

�We were just�� Sean paused, stuck for words. �We�re just hanging out, all right?�

�Yeah, hanging out,� said Scout sarcastically. �As though you don�t have just one thing on your mind��

�It takes one to know one, Calhoun!� shouted Sean, his fists clenching at his side.

�Guys, back off!� cried Bella, �What the hell are you talking about?�

Neither guy responded. Instead, Sean's fist flew at Scout�s face once more, reminiscent of what had happened only a few days earlier, in the exact same spot on the street, no less. Scout staggered back before he lowered his head and charged at the other boy, sending them both sprawling, Scout�s papers flying out of his hand and fluttering to the ground around them like giant white moths.

�STOP IT!� Bella yelled, �Just stop it! Both of you!�

The guys, however, were holding each other in strangleholds and weren't really in a state to listen. �You�re acting like a couple of six year olds!� she hollered, but they merely grunted and rolled over and over, limbs thrashing wildly, each trying to pin the other to the ground. In the struggle, the sonnet fell out of Sean�s pocket, getting mixed up with all the Sylvia Plath notes.

Bella threw her hands up in defeat. �Fine!� she shouted. �FINE! Be that way! I�m leaving, by the way, if anyone�s interested!�

"Bella, you don't understand�" the guys gasped simultaneously as they fought each other off, both lying winded on the pavement, staring up at her with identical expressions of defiance. Scout�s nose was bleeding, again, and Sean was sporting a cut lip that was beginning to swell rapidly.

"I�ll decide what I do and don't understand!" she yelled. "God! Both of you need to get over yourselves and really listen to what I�m telling you! And I�m telling you both to back off!" Angrily picking up the papers scattered all over the ground, she turned to Scout and said coldly, �I don�t think I�ll need any more tutoring.�

�Bella,� he whined, but she shot him a warning look and turned away. Sean was smirking, but one icy glare from her, one that certainly eliminated any possibility of more dates in the near future, and his face fell. Together he and Scout lay on the pavement, looking simultaneously insolent and contrite.

As she straightened with all the notes in hand, Bella shook her head, an expression of disgust on her face. Just as she was about to speak, a motorcycle swerved into the gas station. �Bella,� Jake called as she pulled to a stop, looking curiously at Sean and Scout lying out on the threshold.

�Hey,� Bella said in a low voice, walking over.

�Is this, uh,� Jake said dubiously, �a good time?�

�Yeah,� Bella said shortly, turning away from the sight of the guys, now hoisting themselves slowly off the ground. �What�s up?�

"Uh� do you think I could crash here tonight?� Jake unfastened her helmet and smiled sheepishly. �I kinda don't want to go back to the dorms, and I have nowhere else to go�"

�It�s fine,� said Bella, her voice curt. �God knows I could use some girl bonding time. Why don�t you come up?�

�Okay�� said Jake slowly as she followed her friend into the gas station, throwing another confused look over her shoulder as she went. Sean and Scout stood outside, bruised and battered, gape-mouthed as Bella turned and marched off with Jake in tow, firmly closing the door behind her.

�God, you�re so pathetic,� Sean muttered.

�Wait, what was it that you said earlier?� Scout retorted. �Oh, yeah, takes one to know one.�

Sean glowered at him. Scout scowled back then turned, making his limping way toward Rawley. A moment later, Sean walked off in the other direction, gingerly touching his lip as he went.

***

"Okay, what was that all about?" asked Jake, mystified, as she followed Bella up the stairs and into the bedroom that the Banks sisters shared.

"God, I don�t even know," Bella threw all of Scout's notes down on her desk. "They tell me they�re gonna back off and leave me alone, except they both seem to think �backing off� means �sneaking around me and punching each other senseless�!�

Jake rolled her eyes. "Guys can be so thick sometimes."

"Tell me about it," Bella sighed as she dragged a sleeping bag out of her closet. "What�s going on with you? What happened at the dorms?"

�I have a feeling this is gonna be a long evening of a 'we hate all men' rant,� Jake chuckled.

�Suits me fine,� Bella shrugged. �God, I can�t believe Scout actually signed up for tutoring just so he could get close to me.�

�That�s kinda sweet,� Jake said tentatively.

�Sweet,� Bella agreed, sighing, �and extremely pathetic. God, look at all these notes� Wait,� she snatched up the papers, �that�s not even his handwriting��

�Whose is it?� Jake peered over her shoulder.

For a moment Bella didn�t answer. When she finally set the notes down, her expression was stony.

Part Six

New Rawley, Main Street

Will was up at the crack of dawn and couldn't get back to sleep. Scout had come back to the dorms fairly late last night, sporting some nasty bruises, and sullenly told him that he wasn't Bella's tutor any more. Will tried to get more details out of the other boy, but Scout remained quiet and irritable.

The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon as Will wandered into town, becoming more and more used to the morning quiet. He started heading toward Bella�s house, but stopped, contemplatively chewing his lower lip. Given his present situation, he had taken to avoiding the gas station in the last couple of days.

However, being up so early muffled his thoughts, a little, the same kind of feeling as the one that slipped over him late at night, when he sorely needed sleep and felt as though everything was faraway and insubstantial. Perhaps it was just because there wasn't anyone else around, and he felt as if this was an isolated, inexplicable time in which his secret love was able to timidly show its face before being stifled again, under the layers of his conscience, for the rest of his waking hours.

Perhaps it was his subconscious that woke him up so early each morning, because he needed to spend this time with her, when guilt did not weigh on him so heavily.

"Will!" called Bella, walking toward him from the gas station. He looked up, only mildly surprised. Despite his misgivings, his legs had still carried him to her, as though his body had a mind of its own, being drawn to her like being subjected to a magnetic pull.

"Hi," he smiled, noting how the sun's first rays bounced off her hair, forming rainbow glimmers over the golden strands. �You�re up early.�

�So are you,� she said quietly as they leaned against the gas pumps. �Have you been avoiding me?�

He could feel himself blushing. "No."

�Liar,� she said with a small smile. �I guess you�ve heard from Scout, you know, about what happened last night.�

�Actually,� he shook his head, �I�m kinda fuzzy on the details. Wanna fill me in?"

"They say that they're backing off, but they're not,� she shrugged. �That�s about what it boils down to.�

He nodded, looking down at his worn sneakers. She watched him for a moment before she spoke again, hesitantly.

"Why did you do it?"

He looked up, a flicker of nervousness crossing his face. �What?�

"Why did you help them?" she stared into his eyes.

He looked away uneasily. "What are you talking about?"

"Stop it, Will,� she sighed. �Just stop it. Why did you write out all those Sylvia Plath notes so Scout could pretend like he knew it all, and why did you write some random poem for Sean? I mean," she shook her head, twisting her hands in her lap. �I just don�t get it, Will. Is this like the thing you did for that Ryder guy in the summer? The poetry thing? Was he supposed to give it to me or read it to me or something? I just� I thought you were on my side! Why are you egging them on with this stuff?�

�I�� he muttered, avoiding her inquisitive gaze, feeling pain twist up like a cold fist inside his stomach.

�What are you trying to do?� she demanded. �Why are you helping both of them? Are you trying to pull me in two different directions? God, Will, I just� I just don�t get it! What are you playing at?�

�Look,� he swallowed with difficulty, turning away. �I can�t do this now, okay? I have to go.�

�What?� she exclaimed. �Will!�

But he had already stumbled away, not looking back, lurching past the sidewalks of Main Street, trying to escape from her, escape from his thoughts, escape from this aching black love. Bella stared after his retreating figure, speechless.

Jake joined her a moment later, handing her friend a cup of coffee and peering curiously in the direction Will disappeared off to. "Was that Will?"

Bella nodded mutely.

�What�s up with him?� Jake raised an eyebrow.

�I have no idea,� Bella replied, staring down into her cup. �Nothing makes sense.�

�About him trying to help Scout and Sean at the same time? It really doesn�t.� Jake agreed, gulping down the rest of her coffee with a grimace. �Well, I guess I should head back now. Go find Hamilton.�

Bella looked at her sympathetically. "You sure you can handle this living-together thing?"

�You know,� Jake said thoughtfully, her eyes travelling over the quiet street. �I know I�ve been complaining all night, but I think� I think him moving in wasn�t a bad idea. I was, I mean, I still am willing to give this a try.�

�Yeah?� Bella glanced at her, taking a small sip of coffee.

�I thought it was going to bring us closer together,� Jake said, her tone meditative. �And I guess I just blocked out all the potential problems cos I was so excited with the thought of him moving in.� She smiled, "But I'm sure we can work them through. I don't have to go ballistic every time he leaves clothes on the floor, I guess."

Bella grinned, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah,� Jake chuckled. �I know. I'm only gonna try being more reasonable if he starts doing the same."

�Boys,� Bella said, emphatically. �Can�t live with �em��

�Yeah,� Jake laughed out loud. �God, I know what you mean.�

***
Rawley Lake

On the end of the docks, Hamilton sat with his knees pulled up to his chest, staring vacantly across the water. The morning mist had not yet lifted, surrounding him in an indistinct white haze.

"Hamilton!" called Jake, walking onto the docks. "I've been looking everywhere. What are you�"

He gave a start at her voice and leapt up, swivelling around. �Oh my god, Jake,� he exclaimed, running forward and enveloping her in a giant hug, cutting off the rest of her sentence. �Jake, where the hell have you been?�

�Oh�� she gasped out in his vicelike embrace, �ribs� cracking��

�Sorry, sorry,� he pulled back. �God, I�ve been so worried��

Up close, she could see that dark shadows lined his eyes like ink smudges, and that his face was ashen. �What happened to you?� she demanded, �you look like hell.�

�What happened to me?� he replied, still clinging to her. �What happened to you? I�ve been worried sick all night!�

"Me?" she replied, mystified. "I was at Bella's! I stayed over."

�Oh man, Bella�s?� he hung his head. �I knew there was one place I missed. God, I can�t believe I didn�t think to check there. I was freaking out when you didn�t come back.�

"You were looking for me?" she asked, her expression softening.

"Of course was looking for you!" he exclaimed, a surge of anger welling up in his eyes. "I thought you'd gone off on your bike and had an accident or something! God! I couldn�t sleep all night!"

"Oh," she stared at him, lost for words.

He gazed at her, suddenly squeezing her into another bone-crunching hug again, "God, I�m just so relieved you�re all right,� he whispered. �I know when you're in a bad mood you go off for a ride, and I started worrying when you didn't come back after a few hours � Your bike was gone, so I was running around all the main roads and I had this horrible vision of you lying on the street��

"No, I'm all right," she hugged him back, her tone seeped with guilt.

"Look, I'm� I'm sorry about looking in your journal,� he murmured. �But I wasn't going to read it, I swear.�

She swallowed. "I believe you."

"And I'm sorry about your coat,� he said, his voice muffled as he buried his face in her shoulder. �And I'm sorry for being a pig, and I'm just� sorry in general. I�m sorry about everything. I�ll try harder in the future, I promise�"

"You don't have to do all the apologising,� she whispered. �I've been unreasonable too. The way I've acted� I shouldn't have blown up at you like that. It�s just�"

"Weird adjusting, I know," he answered for her, pulling back so he could look into her eyes again. "If you're having second thoughts about, you know, me moving in, just say so and I'll move out straight away�"

"Whoa," she whispered, ducking down and tilting her head up to look him straight in the eye. "Who said I was having second thoughts?"

He paused, a hopeful look in his eye. "You're still okay with me living there?"

�Of course,� she smiled. �I invited you, remember? We just have to work these kinks out."

His lips curved into a smile. "You know I love you, right?"

"I don't mind hearing it again,� she whispered as her lips found his. Suddenly remembering where they were, she pulled back. "Maybe we should go back inside."

"Who cares, we�re �out� anyway," he mumbled, pulling her back into his arms and drawing her into a deep kiss.

Around them, the mist upon the lake began to clear, revealing a stretch of sparkling water and a cloudless blue sky.

***
New Rawley, Main Street

Will trudged along the sidewalks, listening to the quiet thud of his sneakers striking the pavement and not paying attention to where he was going. His head was a riot of depressing thoughts and he was trying not to focus on the insanity of the situation, the turmoil that he had gotten himself into. Why was it so wrong to be in love with a girl? When did everything become so complicated?

He didn�t know how long he�d been walking, his mind reeling, before he heard voices behind him. �Will! Hey Will, wait up!�

He turned and saw Sean and Scout trotting side-by-side, trying to catch up. Stifling a sigh, he jammed his hands into his pockets and looked at them apprehensively. �Hey guys.�

"Look,� Scout said, walking up. �We kinda figured out that you were trying to help us both at the same time."

Will groaned. "I'm sorry, it was just� I couldn't take sides� It was a lot of pressure� I just got swept up in this whole thing�"

"We're not blaming you, man,� Scout said quickly. "Actually, we kinda feel really guilty about putting you on the spot like that."

"And, uh� we're sorry," said Sean. "About all the things we made you do."

"You were right, " Scout added. "You had principles and we were just too pig-headed to understand them." He didn't notice that Sean sneaked a look at him when he said 'pig-headed', clearly indicating whom he thought of. However, Scout did notice Sean's not-so-discreet snigger, and he turned and glowered. �You got a problem with that, McGrail?�

Sean shrugged innocently. �Whatever, man.�

"Thanks for the apology, guys," Will laughed, the burden in his chest lifting, if only a little. He looked at the faces of his two best friends and smiled. "Come on, let's go get lunch."

*Mundy's 'To You I Bestow' starts*

�What,� Sean said, eyeing Scout sceptically, �you, me, and him?�

�Like I�m thrilled at that prospect,� Scout retorted, rolling his eyes skyward.

�God, get over it, guys,� Will chuckled. �It�s just lunch. I�m not asking you two to marry each other.�

�Yeah, whatever,� Sean mumbled, but a small smile crept up his face. �I guess I�m kinda hungry.�

Will looked at Scout, raising an eyebrow.

�Yeah,� Scout grinned reluctantly, �I guess I am too.�

�Cool,� Will laughed, wrapping one arm around the shoulder of each friend as they walked off toward the diner in the distance.

And tomorrow I'll be dancing on my own
And I'll need a kiss for my head that's aching
And I'll be a hungry dog without a bone
Hoping my place with you is not taken

*Will's voiceover starts*

�My friends, from two different sides of the track. Neither of them are like me, or like each other, yet I'm friends with both and can�t bear to let either one go. Our relationships are just like that, different people meeting in different circumstances, getting to know each other, sharing experiences, sharing secrets. We learn to admire their good traits and accept their bad ones, because it is those traits that make up who they are.'

And together they strode down the street, each secretly pondering, each weighed down by the matters of his own heart, but still they walked together, laughing and chatting, their pain and confusion forgotten.

For the time being.

Kiss me and tell me it's not broken
Kiss me and kiss me till I'm dead
See I give you the stars from the bruised evening sky
And a crown of jewels for your head now

The End

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