Author's note: Sorry about the delay in getting this episode out. First there was the World Cup, then came exams� you know how it could be. Hopefully 403 won�t be long.
Acknowledgements: Can I thank the makers of British Queer as Folk? Because I love them to bits and they saved 402 from total oblivion. So, go them. Also Leah for telling me about Freshers� flu, and Good Mark for the shoe-taping idea.
Click here to see the photo-note Josh sends to Faye.
Part 1
Teaser
Rawley Academy and New Rawley. On the surface, the two seemed docile enough in each other's presence. The sleepy small town cuddling up at the foot of the sweeping school grounds, each its own little world.
On the surface.
Rawley Boys' Academy, dorms
Will Krudski walked briskly up the wide stairs of the dormitory, nodding at a couple of classmates as they passed with book bags in tow. It was the start of another school day for Summer Session at Rawley, and he was running late after crew practice.
Still, he liked the pace nowadays. It was busy, but not unmanageable, and the vigour with which the days scurried by made him feel alive. He hurried down the corridor, heading for his room.
*Will's voiceover begins*
'Life is good. It's not often that I get to say this, because it always seems to throw at me some sort of imbalance, some sort of conflict that I must perpetually sort out or run the risk of being pulled under. Being the token Townie in a bunch of spoilt rich kids, getting caught up in tangled love triangles, working myself until a point of collapse� It's like being in a soap opera.'
He paused in front of his room and smiled to himself.
*Will's voiceover continues*
'But everything is good right now. Peaceful. I like that.'
He opened the door, and the first thing he noticed was that a bunch of bags and suitcases were strewn carelessly around the room. A tangle of clothing and belongings lay on the bed previously unoccupied, signalling the arrival of a new roommate. He pushed the door open further, and froze as he saw the black-clad figure that stood before the window.
The boy stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a stance that seemed almost regal. The morning sun flecked his blond hair with pale gold, casting onto the floor behind him a distinct dark shadow. His eyes were slightly narrowed as he surveyed the grounds below with what seemed equal parts appreciation and distaste.
" I can't believe it," the words escaped Will before he had time to process what was happening.
Ryder Forrest turned at the sound of Will's voice. His calm grey-blue eyes focused on the dumbfounded boy in the doorway, and a corner of his lips lifted in an amused smirk that Will knew only too well.
The tone of Ryder�s voice made the greeting sound like a death sentence. At least to Will's ears.
" Hullo, roomie."
Part 2
Rawley Academy
Faye Archer was sitting under the oak tree in the centre of campus, looking at a note that Scout Calhoun was reading over her shoulder. He leaned back against the tree, arms wrapped around her waist in a comfortable embrace. She shifted a little, stretched and settled back, reclining against him in a catlike fashion. He kissed the top of her head quickly, and she smiled without turning around.
" Hey," Jake Pratt and Hamilton Fleming sauntered past, hands not enjoined but close enough to brush against each other as they walked. " What's up?" asked Jake.
Scout and Faye looked up, shielding their eyes against the sun, " Hey guys." Faye smiled, " Josh sent us a photo, wanna see?"
" Sure." Jake replied, flopping down next to her friends. " I don't have class for another hour."
" I have." Hamilton made a face, " I'll catch up later." The others waved him off, and he planted a quick kiss on Jake's forehead before leaving.
Jake turned back to Faye with a smile, " So, how is Josh?"
Faye handed her the glossy print, accompanied by the note, which was written in Josh's neat, slanted handwriting. A mutual friend of theirs who had enrolled last semester, he had chosen not to attend Summer Session but rather to spend time working with his band in Boston.
Jake read halfway down the note and burst out laughing, " Marilyn-Manson lookalike? Scary."
Scout and Faye laughed, but before they could reply, a disgruntled voice suddenly spoke up, " You know what's scary?"
Everyone jumped in surprise and turned to see Will, who had walked up without anyone noticing, and was now leaning against the oak, arms folded across his chest and expression rather murderous.
" You?" Faye answered his question, " Sneaking up on people like that?"
Will didn't even crack a smile, " No. What's scary is your brother."
Faye looked bemused, and Will continued, voice stony, " Yes, your brother. Fresh back from England, and - dare I say it? - even more of a jerk-off than he was before. Do you know what else is scary?"
Jake chuckled at her friend�s melodramatics, " Should we even ask?"
" Having to share a room with him," Will's voice was getting louder and louder, " for a whole year."
" You're kidding." Scout's jaw dropped, " You have to room with Ryder?"
" The one and only." Will sat down with a thud and buried his face in his hands, fighting the overwhelming urge to wail out loud, " Would anyone mind terribly if I killed him?"
Faye tried to convert her smirk into a sympathetic look and jumped to her feet, " You know, I have a funny feeling he probably would? I better go visit."
" Bye," chorused Scout and Jake. Will just grunted, " It's just my luck, isn't it? Just when things are starting to go smoothly, for once�"
" You know, we would try and offer consolation," Scout mused, " but there's really nothing to say."
Will lifted his head and glared at his friends, " Thanks guys, I feel a whole lot better."
" Great!" Scout skirted easily around the sarcasm part, " Then you can tell us about this party we keep hearing about."
" Yeah," Jake perked up, " I heard something about that. What's happening?"
Will was only too happy to be momentarily distracted from the disaster that had suddenly become of his life, " I don't know, guys� it's sort of a Townie deal."
" So we're not invited?" Jake asked, " I thought everyone is. All the guys in my philosophy class were talking about going."
" The guys here know about it?" Will looked surprised, " Don't tell me a couple hundred people from Rawley are going to crash."
" Looks like." Scout grimaced, " I can't see it ending decently. You better warn whoever's throwing the party, I don't think they know what they've got themselves in for."
" It'll be all right, wouldn't it?" Jake didn't get why it was such a big deal, " What's wrong with some mingling?"
Both Scout and Will glanced at her. Being somewhat an outsider to the feudal tendencies of the Townies and Rawley guys, Jake really didn�t have any clue how bad it could get. " It's not pretty when the two sides meet," Scout advised, " believe me."
* * *
The gas station
" So it's just going to be the kids from Edmund?" Bella asked Luke, a classmate of hers and the unfortunate soul who happened to be the one throwing the party. Of course, he did not at this moment know that he was an unfortunate soul, which ironically constituted part of the reason why he was one.
Luke was pumping up his bicycle tires, " Yeah. A few strays from Rawley will probably slip in though."
" Strays?" Bella laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear.
He looked up and smiled, " I don't want it to get too out of hand. Should be okay if everyone keeps quiet about it."
" In other words, you don't want the entire population of Rawley Academy to show up at your door." she grinned.
He shrugged, " Something like that."
* * *
Rawley Academy, boys' dorms
Faye followed Ryder down the steps of the boys� dormitories, tilting her head and scrutinising him carefully. He wore sleek black sunglasses that obscured his eyes completely, and the scowl he wore like an identity badge was even more pronounced than usual.
" Stop staring at me," he demanded without turning in her direction. Reaching behind his ear, he took down the cigarette that was perched there, rummaging in his pocket for a light.
" You seem changed," she commented, and took the cigarette deftly out of his hands, " I'll take that."
He caught her wrist in a surprisingly hard grip and plucked it away from her fingers, " No can do, sis."
" Ow!" She exclaimed, more out of surprise than pain, " What's up with you, Ryder?"
He lit the cigarette and took a long drag before answering, striding purposefully down to the student parking lot. " Nothing."
She hurried to match his pace, " I guess spending time with father didn't do good for your nicer side."
He snorted, " There's a nicer side to me? Funny, I hadn't noticed."
" That response just proves my point," she said.
He came to a stop next to a brand new black Porsche and turned to look at her, " Or maybe you're just getting soft, ever think about that?"
She didn't reply, and instead gave a low whistle, " New car?"
" New car." He affirmed, turning off the alarm and sliding gracefully into the driver�s seat.
" Must have cost father a fortune." She said, looking at him slyly.
" Like yours," he shot back as she got in on the passenger side, " and everything else we happen to own. What's your point?"
She was taken aback, " It was just a comment, Ryder."
His expression softened for a moment, " Yeah, I know. I'm�� It looked as though he was beginning to apologise when his voice changed entirely, �What are you looking at?"
Faye turned at this abrupt change of tone, and saw that he was glaring at Jake and Hamilton, who happened to be walking past. " Nice to see you too, Ryder." Hamilton retorted, sarcasm thick in his voice.
" Wish I could say the same," Ryder shot back. Gesturing at Jake and Hamilton's joined hands, he sneered, " What are you, walking billboards for fags now?"
" Ryder!" Faye exclaimed. Hamilton stopped, anger colouring his eyes a brighter blue and he took a step toward the car. However, Jake tugged on his arm and held him back. " He's just trying to stir up trouble," she said in a low voice, shooting a dirty look at Ryder, " come on, let's just go."
" That's right," Ryder raised his voice as Hamilton let himself be dragged away, " why don't you go running to mummy and daddy�"
" Ryder! That's enough!" Faye clamped a hand down on his arm, " What's gotten into you?"
He barely glanced at her as he started the engine, " I'm sick of seeing those queers walking around like they owned the bloody place."
" Stop using that word," she cautioned sharply, " you've only just made up with Josh, do you really want to�"
" Well, Josh isn't here, is he?" he replied, shifting the gear into reverse. " Let's go."
The Porsche sent up a spray of gravel as he swerved out of the parking lot, narrowly missing a couple of freshmen walking this way.
* * *
Rawley Boys' Academy, common room
" So how are things with you and Bella?" Scout asked Will, half concentrating on the conversation and half on the video game that they were playing. Not being roommates any longer, they found it harder and harder to keep up with what the other was up to.
Will shrugged, " The usual."
Scout killed off the last of Will�s spaceships with ease, setting his controller down to the triumphant sounds of electronic destruction, " I see."
" It's just�" Will toyed with his controller and tried to explain, " � peaceful. Nothing to say."
" Will Krudski, having nothing to say about a relationship, " joked Scout, " the world must be coming to an end."
Will glanced at him and frowned. " I like it," he said defensively, " it's good not having to worry about this relationship every second of the day."
" I didn't think you were." Scout pointed out, " How often do you see her nowadays?"
" What's this, the third degree?" Will glanced at him, " Why are you so interested in me and Bella all of a sudden?"
" Oh, no reason." Scout shrugged, and a minute later added, " I was talking to her the other day."
" And?" Will raised an eyebrow.
" I don't know," Scout shrugged again, " I don't want to intrude, but�"
" You always do?" Will said irritably, and Scout looked at him in surprise. Will sighed, " Sorry, dude, that was out of line."
" It's all right," Scout said, albeit doubtfully. " I was talking to her and she mentioned you two haven't seen each other much lately."
Will was quiet for a moment. " What would you say if I told you� our relationship isn't really what it used to be?"
" You mean, like you two have�" Scout raised an eyebrow that shaped a question unspoken. Will blinked, " No, that's not what I meant. I mean� we've just grown sort of�"
" Yeah?" Scout prompted.
Will sighed, " Blas�. I don't think either of us care that much any more."
" That's departing from the Will and Bella I knew half a year ago." Scout chose his words carefully, alluding to the uncomfortable period last winter when the couple had gotten together despite hurting both Sean and himself in the process.
Of course �hurting� wasn�t exactly the word that he would have chosen. True, Will and Bella didn�t intentionally try to create any of the pain that bled into those endless cold winter days, but he wasn�t merely �hurt� by them, either.
Will looked away, " Yeah."
Scout wanted to say something. A lot of things, actually. But just as he started to speak, Finn walked into the room and demanded, " Krudski."
Will snapped to attention, " What's up, Finn?"
" Your Summer Book," Finn reminded him, " how is it going?"
Will nodded, " It's fine. Actually, I was wondering if you knew anyone who'd be good at illustrations? You know, cartoons, caricatures, that sort of thing. We thought it would be nice to have inserts."
" You could try asking my friend Maria," Scout piped up, " I introduced you guys last week, remember? She used to draw these awesome cartoons when we were kids, if you�re lucky she might still be into them now."
" There you go," Finn smiled, " Glad to see you're on top of this, Will."
Part 3
The diner
" You're not eating much, " Faye looked up at Ryder, who was sitting opposite from her, yet another cigarette dangling from his lips. She wondered how he could pull off looking so blithely ignorant of the huge 'no smoking' sign right next to their booth.
" Neither are you," he replied, watching her pick at her fries.
She pushed her tray away and sneezed into her napkin, " I think I'm coming down with something."
" Yeah?" He said disinterestedly, eyeing the waitress at the counter.
" Everyone's getting sick in the dorms," she explained, " Freshers� flu. Everyone moves in and brings their diseases with them."
" I know how it goes, Faye," he yawned, " Boarding schools aren�t exactly new to either of us, you know."
She shrugged, a little annoyed that he didn�t seem to care at all. " Well, at any rate I think I�ve caught it."
" Probably." He agreed, stubbing his cigarette out on the Formica counter.
* * *
Rawley Academy
Last period, sociology. Both good things, usually, but for Jake the lesson was growing increasingly taxing. She was trying to listen to the analysis of class and socio-economics that Mr Gilbert was in the process of explaining, yet Hamilton�s angry ranting right next to her ear was providing to be too big a distraction.
" Where does Ryder get off doing that?" Hamilton fumed quietly, entirely ignoring the teacher's narrative, " It's bad enough knowing he's back, but I can't believe�"
" Shh," Jake interrupted under her breath, " I know you're mad, but don't let him get to you."
" You don't get it, Jake," he gritted his teeth and tried to restrain his voice to a whisper, " I had to put up with him for two years before I even started at this school, and he's just taking things further and further. I don't think I could�"
Mr Gilbert cleared his throat loudly, interrupting Hamilton's furious narrative. " Mr Fleming," he narrowed his eyes, " care to answer the question I just posed?"
" Ah," Hamilton stammered, glancing down at his textbook, which lay unopened on the desk, " um�" he coughed, and looked up meekly, " what question might that be, sir?"
" What are the crucial differences between a Marxist and a Weberian analysis of class?" Mr Gilbert's voice was filled with the sort of placid smugness whenever he caught a student off his guard. The fact that it was the Dean's son just made it even more satisfying.
Hamilton blinked, then blinked again. " Um�"
Mr Gilbert's gaze travelled up to the ceiling as he shook his head in overstated exasperation, " is it too much to ask for your attention in one single 50-minute period?"
Hamilton sighed, " No."
" So long as we're clear." The teacher replied crisply, and turned to Jake, " Care to answer my question instead, Mr Pratt?
" Uh," Jake began, throwing a sympathetic glance in Hamilton's direction, " Marx based everything on economics and divided classes only according to production, and Weber, he um� added all the other concepts."
Mr Gilbert scratched his chin thoughtfully, " Say a bit more."
Jake ran a hand through her hair, " Um� like, Weber was saying how people didn't only get stratified according to how much they earned but also how their status were. So some people could be really high on the social scale, even when they're really poor�"
At the back of the classroom, Kyle Stratten gave an indiscreet snigger. One of their classmates who ran with the distinctly less nice crowd at Rawley, he was notorious for his attitude toward anyone who didn't match his personal scale of wealth and social standing. Smirking, he coughed loudly, which somehow turned mid-cough into a very distinct word �Parker�.
Hamilton and Jake, together with everyone else in the class, felt compelled to glance at Ryan Parker who was sitting up near the front of the classroom. A few people sniggered, and he sank lower in his seat without turning around. The tips of his ears were red.
" Mr Stratten!" Mr Gilbert cautioned sharply. Kyle shrugged, feigning innocence. The teacher sighed and turned back to Jake, " Please continue."
Jake didn�t know what was happening, but she knew it couldn�t have been anything good where Kyle was involved. Therefore she couldn't resist shooting a dirty look at him before resuming her answer, " Weber basically gave his model of society all these options of how they got stratified, while Marx just went, 'okay, you're poor so you belong here, and you're rich so you belong there'."
" Broadly speaking," Mr Gilbert nodded, " that's more or less correct. However, Mr Pratt neglected to mention one important aspect of Marx's fundamental theory�"
Hamilton tuned out. Glancing at Ryan again, he noted that the other boy had his eyes lowered, his expression set stiff and emotionless.
* * *
The gas station
Sean McGrail stopped at the gas station on his way home. Due to a failing grade last semester, he was forced to go to Edmund High's summer programme in order to make up his credits. Having to attend full-time school and the consequent lack of sports made, in his opinion, possibly the worst summer ever, so it was no surprise that he was always a little grumpy these days. " Hey, Bella?" he called, walking into the shop and tossing his backpack on the couch.
Bella emerged from the kitchen, holding half a sandwich. " Hey," she mumbled through a mouthful of bread and chicken salad, " want something to eat?"
He declined with a smile, " Just thought I'd drop by and see if you're going to Luke's party tonight."
" Of course," she swallowed and answered, " Will's picking me up later. You�re going, right?"
" Wouldn�t miss it," he picked up his bag again, " I'll see you guys there."
" See ya," she waved as he let himself out.
* * *
Rawley Academy
After the last bell, Hamilton followed Ryan out of the classroom along with the torrent of classmates. � Hey, Ryan, wait up!� He called, running to catch up with the other boy, who was walking away quickly, heading up the stairs.
Ryan turned, a scowl on his face, � What do you�� he began to say, but paused when he saw that it was Hamilton. � Oh, hey.� He acknowledged, � Sorry, I thought you were� you know, one of Stratten�s guys.�
Hamilton smiled sympathetically, � Looks like they�ve been giving you a hard time.�
Ryan returned a small smile, � Looks like.�
Jake had come up behind Hamilton while they talked. � Uh, Ryan,� she said hesitantly, � what was that about, back in class?� Ryan glanced at her, and she held up a hand, � Hey, if you�re not comfortable talking about it, we�ll back off��
� We�re just, um, worried.� Hamilton finished. � It sounded like��
Ryan shrugged, � Hey, I thought everyone knew by now.�
Jake raised an eyebrow at Hamilton, who shrugged back in clear indication that he hadn�t heard anything. � What�s going on, Ryan?� she prompted gently.
Ryan looked away, � I�m� I�m leaving Rawley.�
� Really?� Jake and Hamilton demanded in unison, � Why?�
Ryan kicked the stair banister, gently, as though he was long done being angry and was simply going through the motions for motion�s sake. � My dad�s company sort of went under and they can�t really�� he chuckled suddenly, � I don�t know why I�m even embarrassed to say this, I�ve said it enough times. They can�t afford to keep me enrolled anymore.�
� That�s terrible!� Hamilton exclaimed, � I�m so sorry.�
� Yeah, me too,� said Jake, � We had no idea.�
Ryan shrugged again. � It�s okay. It�s business, you know? Things like this happen.�
� Well,� Hamilton said slowly, not sure how to give consolation for something like this, � If there�s anything we could do��
� Thanks.� Ryan smiled and shook his head. � Look, guys, I�ve got to go pack, so��
Jake and Hamilton nodded, watching him make his way back up the stairs.
* * *
Faye and Paige's room
It was late afternoon, the time for most Rawley kids to go out after the school day and leave the grounds for a while, but Faye had stayed behind. She lay on her bed, one arm thrown across her eyes and looked like she was trying to sleep.
Scout poked his head around the door without knocking, " Hey."
Faye removed the arm over her eyes and lifted her head a little, squinting against the golden sunlight that filtered in through the window, " Oh, hey."
He walked in, closing the door behind him. " What are you doing?"
" Trying to take a nap," she yawned, " I don't feel that well."
" I know what would make you better," he had a mischievous glint in his eye as he sat down next to her, brushing tendrils of hair away from her face.
She smiled and watched him through half-closed eyes, " Yeah?"
" Yeah�" he reached down and brushed his lips against hers, running a hand up her side. She kissed him back halfheartedly, then shifted, " Scout�"
" I locked the door," he murmured, burying his face in the hollow of her neck, " And I saw Paige going out earlier, so she won't be back for�"
" It's not that," she put a hand against his chest and forced a little distance between them.
He grinned with insistence, fingers tracing over the smooth curved dip of her waist, " Faye�"
" Not now, Scout," she sighed, pushing him away. Sitting up, she grimaced at the sudden rush of blood to her head, and ran both hands through her hair. He moved away, annoyed.
" I just don't�" she looked at him, " feel up to it, okay?"
He stood up, jamming his hands in his pockets, " Yeah, sure."
" Scout�" she started to say, but he stepped back and held his hand up as if to silence her, " Whatever, I got stuff to do anyway."
" I didn't mean to�" she hurried to say, " look, I think I might be coming down with something."
" You don't have to make excuses," he tossed back, opening the door, " I'll see you later."
" Wait, Scout�" she pressed a hand to her forehead, looking pained. He had already let himself out.
* * *
Rawley Academy, computer workroom
Will had been recruiting staff for the Summer Book, and had already assigned jobs to everyone who wanted to help out. He was (obviously, at least in his own opinion) the editor and organiser of the whole thing, and he made sure everyone stuck to a solid work schedule.
Compiling a Summer Book turned out to be harder than he had anticipated - he was aware that it was going to be a lot of work, sure, but he didn�t realise that he had to oversee every little detail. Still, a fair amount of students had turned up, interested in the idea, and he had his fair share of writers, sub-editors and technical support at hand. The ones that he was missing most were artists. Hamilton had naturally offered to be the official photographer and Will gladly assigned him the job of walking around and capturing The Spirit of Summer Session, whatever that may turn out to be; but he still needed illustrations. He doubted that many people would enjoy a Summer Book that in all respects resembled a novel.
Rhythmic tapping on the door startled him out of his reverie, and he looked up to see Maria Ishizuka standing at the entrance to the computer suite. A family friend of Scout's, she had come to Summer Session to test the school before she enrolled for the year, as was the case with most Rawley students.
Will had wondered if it was some deliberate act of rebellion on Maria's behalf, being the daughter of the Japanese ambassador and all, to look as punky as she could get away with. Her short black hair was shot through with blue streaks, and she usually made it stand up in little spikes. In the week between now and the start of Summer Session, she had added a nose ring and industrial piercing to the ones she already sported on her eyebrow and labret. Her ripped jeans and oversized concert T-shirts made a refreshing change, if nothing else, to the sea of Prada clad Rawley girls. " Hey," she grinned, " Scout said you wanted to talk to me?"
" Hi, come on in," he swung around on his swivel chair, feeling distinctly white-bread in his button-down shirt and khakis as Maria walked in, flung herself down on a nearby seat and proceeded to examine her scruffy black sneakers, " Damn, I need to tape my shoe back up again."
He laughed, confused, " What?"
She lifted her foot to reveal a gaping hole at the back of her shoe, with a bit of duct tape hanging limply off it, " The tape's come undone."
He chuckled, " A Rawley kid taping up her shoe? Is this some rebel thing?"
" No," she grinned, " it's a money thing. I have no money to buy a new pair."
The expression on his face must have been pretty disbelieving, because she laughed out loud, " You don't believe me?"
" Well, it's hard to, considering you're enrolled at Rawley Academy," he pointed out, " and you're not a charity case like yours truly, which - even then - just might explains the shoe taping."
" I just don't like using money that I haven't earned," she shrugged, looking around and picking up a Sellotape dispenser off the desk, " Mind if I borrow this?"
" Go ahead," he nodded. Intrigued, he watched as she expertly tugged off a long string of tape and started winding it around her shoe, trying to piece it back together, " you're telling me you don't get an allowance from your parents?"
" Nope." She kicked the desk leg experimentally and smiled when the tape held, ignoring the computer screen that flickered angrily in protest. " Sorted for another day!" she proclaimed, settling back in her chair, " actually, I'm starting work tomorrow at that burger place in town � what is it called again?"
" Friendly's," Will supplied, " you're working at the diner?"
She clicked her fingers, " That's the one. Anyway we better get on topic before we spin too far off tangent with shoe-taping and waitressing. I hear you need a cartoonist for your year-summer-book-memoir-keepsake-book-thing?"
" You said �book� twice," he laughed, " yeah, do you think you could help out?"
Part 4
The gas station
It was getting to that stage at night where dusk was starting to seep into the horizon, attempting to bring darkness down to the long summer day. The party at Luke's place should have started and Bella should have been there already, but as it were, Will still hadn't come by to pick her up, and she was still waiting impatiently in the living room, fidgeting with her new halter top. Fighting the urge to check her watch again, she could not help the sense of deja vu that kept on sweeping over her every few minutes or so. She had lost count of how many times he had done this to her over the past semester.
Grace Banks thundered down the stairs, flipping her hair forward then tossing it back again, trying to give a little extra body to the shiny auburn tresses. " Will's not here yet?" She asked without waiting for an answer, " well, I guess I'll see you two at the party." She smirked, " �if he manages to show up at all."
" He's just running late." Bella said feebly, watching her sister run out the door.
" Uh huh," Grace replied, not in the least bit concerned, " whatever. Well, have fun waiting."
Bella set her jaw, not too pleased with how the evening was turning out. She had tried calling Will at the dorms but to no avail. " Wait," she said suddenly, " I'm coming with you. Is it all right if I catch a ride?"
" Sure," Grace stopped in the doorway, " but what about Will?"
" He can make his own way there," Bella said, grabbing her bag from the shop counter, " Let's go."
* * *
Rawley Academy
" Oh my god, these are fantastic!" Will exclaimed, looking over Maria's shoulder. The two of them had gotten to discussing ideas for caricatures in the summer book, and she was showing him a few sketches that she'd made of staff, among them Mrs Fleming, Mr Gilbert the cranky social sciences teacher, and a particularly astute one of an insane-looking Finn hurling volume upon volume of English literature at a group of cowering freshmen. He leaned forward and pointed to the one of Finn, " Can we use this one in the book?"
" Sure," she pulled it out of her sketchbook, " But I was thinking you wanted some drawn to your specifics, instead of just using pre-made?"
His eyes lit up, " I'll be so grateful if you could do that."
" Sure," she shrugged, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, " It's not like I ever go to classes anyway."
He laughed, " Thanks. Listen, I do have a few ideas�"
" You know, I would stay around to talk the specs over," she interrupted, standing up, " But I'm afraid I gotta run. I hear there's this huge party happening in town tonight."
" Oh my god!" Will sat bolt upright as he caught a glimpse of the wall clock, " The party! Bella's going to kill me!"
* * *
New Rawley
Luke's house was situated at the non-Rawley Academy - a.k.a. more run-own - end of the town, and what the area lacked in prospective buyer charm, it more than made up for with its notorious party reputation - to the teens of the town, at least. It was early in the evening, Edmund High kids only starting to mill around.
" Looks low-key," Bella commented as she got out of the car. She was starting to regret grabbing a ride with Grace's rowdy friends, and was only too glad that the town was small enough for the car trip to be a short one.
" Wait and see, baby," sneered Rick, Grace's boy du jour. One hand around Grace's waist, he swaggered up the steps to Luke's house. The other kids followed, with Bella trailing behind. She hesitated at the door: despite her annoyance at perpetually waiting around for Will, she wondered if simply taking off was such a good idea.
Shrugging, she decided not to worry about it. He was bound to turn up sooner or later. " Bella!" Someone called from behind, and she half-turned, expecting to see him.
It was in fact Scout, who bounded up the porch steps and came to a stop by her side, " Hey, where's Will?"
" I don't know," she replied, " I didn't come with him."
He looked surprised, " Had a fight or something?"
" Not exactly," she smiled, " I just� never mind. What about you? Where's Faye?"
" I don't know.� His expression clouded over, � We're a little� tense at the moment. I think it�s my fault, but�" he shrugged again, as though he could communicate with his shoulders what he could not do with words.
She furrowed her brows and was about to ask more when he grinned at her, " Let's not talk about relationship troubles, okay? Real or imagined. We're at a party, let's just go and have a good time."
" Amen to that." she laughed, allowing him to lead her inside.
* * *
The gas station
Will let his bike skid into the gas station, his heart sinking as he saw that the entire house was dark. Experimentally, he walked up and tried the door. It was locked. " Bella?" He called to the upstairs window, and there was no answer.
" Damn," he swore, checking his watch. She must have left already, and he didn't blame her.
* * *
The party
The song on the stereo had just been switched to Muse�s �Citizen Erased�, and instead of complaining about the sheer un-dance-ability of the song, people were thrashing around enthusiastically to the distorted opening riffage, a clear indication that the general population were getting tipsy enough to appreciate just about anything in any circumstance - so long as it guaranteed a good time.
Jake wove through the crowd and grabbed herself a drink from the beer keg, waving at Bella from across the room, who was talking to Scout by the window. Jake briefly wondered where Will or Faye were, but the thoughts were just as soon taken out of her head when she felt a familiar embrace from behind. She smiled as Hamilton rested his chin on her shoulder, murmuring, " Hey."
" Hey yourself," she laughed, " What's this?"
" I missed you," he smiled that trademark lazy smile into her shoulder.
" I only went to get a drink," she protested, grinning.
He kissed her cheek softly, " Well, you took too long."
Not far away, Ryder reclined in the couch and narrowed his eyes at Jake and Hamilton across the room. Those two just perpetually got on his nerves - he wasn't even sure why anymore, their mere presence just seemed to provoke something nasty in him. They were so out that it was too hard to even make wisecracks about it, which made him feel just a little too powerless for his liking. He jabbed his cigarette butt into the couch armrest and relaxed somewhat when he heard the familiar sizzling and sharp smell of burning polyester.
--�Break me in, teach us to cheat / and to lie and cover up what shouldn�t be shared / And the truth�s unwinding / scraping away at my mind / Please stop asking me to describe��
" Ryder," the Townie chick next to him whined, " you aren't even listening to me."
He blinked and turned back to her. What was her name again? She'd told him, earlier in the evening, when he sidled up and asked, but he didn't listen then and sure wasn't going to recall now.
" Ryder," she whined again, tossing her long brown hair over her bare shoulders.
" That's my name luv, don't wear it out." He eyed the flimsy lace top that she was wearing, the straps at the back looked as though they'd undo themselves rather easily. Maybe if he gave them a hand�
--�For one moment / I wish you�d hold your stage with no feelings at all / Open minded, I�m sure I used to be so free��
� Hi Katrina,� someone passing acknowledged the Townie, who waved back. So that was her name. He had a vague recollection that she had some sort of scene with his sister a while ago, the start of last semester or something, he couldn�t quite remember and didn�t feel compelled to, either.
" You've been staring at those gay guys more than you've been looking at me." Her tone was that of a dejected girlfriend.
He found that rather funny, that a girl whose name he didn�t even bother to learn would sound so accusatory. Her next words, though, wiped the smirk from his face. " Maybe there's something you're not telling me?"
" Watch your mouth, love." His voice took on a sharp edge, but only for a moment. Then he sneered again, knowing that he sounded insincere but also knowing that she wouldn�t be one to care. " I'd much rather spend time with you."
" I bet you do." Something glinted in her eyes. " So I guess you heard the story about those two over there."
He glanced back at Jake and Hamilton, " What do you mean? That they�re queer?"
� Hello? A little obvious.� She rolled her eyes, �I mean that thing with the guy in that band." She examined her nails, " I'm not too clear on the details, but I never thought the gay ones could get around so much in this town�"
Something shot through him, cold and charged, like adrenaline�or fear. He kept his expression neutral and lit up a cigarette, � What thing with what guy?�
--�Self expressed, exhausting for all / to see and to be / what you want and what you need / And the truth�s unwinding / scraping away at my mind / Please stop asking me to describe��
" Oh, I only heard the Dean's son was doing it with him behind the other guy's back." She informed him, then grimaced, " I didn't mean that in a literal way. But you know, it was the gay one who goes to Rawley?" she informed him, shrugging and clearly not too fussed, " The one in the band Amnesia who played a while ago? The one that looks like a girl?"
Ryder swallowed. The coldness inside him expanded quickly, and it felt like ice water being sent flowing through his arteries with every heartbeat. He tried to ignore it. " Josh was� sleeping with Hamilton?" He asked, finding it hard to form words. Raising the cigarette to his lips, he inhaled deeply and for the first time in ages, felt as though he might end up choking.
--�For one moment / I wish you�d hold your stage with no feelings at all / Open minded, I�m sure I used to be so free��
" Probably," the girl raised an eyebrow, not happy that Ryder was still more interested in the gay guys, " yeah, whatever." She smiled suggestively at him, sidling closer, � But let�s not talk about them anymore��
He barely heard her. In fact, all the sounds in the room seem to have suddenly gone dead, save for the music that pierced through his consciousness like a shard of glass, the singer�s gorgeous, agile voice sounding too much like Josh for any comfort.
Sitting there, on that couch, surrounded by people, he suddenly felt miles away from anything and everyone. He reached for his drink and tried to keep his hands from shaking. He didn�t want to ask himself why they were trembling in the first place, for fear of what he would find, the thoughts he kept dark and hidden inside.
--�Wash me away, clean your body of me / Erase all the memories, they�ll only bring us pain / and I�ve seen all I�ll ever need��
* * *
" Bella, hey, Bella!" Will called, pushing through a throng of people to get to Bella and Scout, who were engaged in animated conversation. They stood next to the window, Styrofoam cups full of beer in hand but mostly untouched. " Sorry I didn't show up on time," he apologised, " summer book stuff."
� It's cool.� Bella shrugged, and he couldn�t work out if she was purposefully not looking at him. " Hope you didn't mind me leaving,� she continued, � since I figured you would get here eventually."
Will nodded, and smiled at his best friend, " Hey. What did I miss?"
" Not much," Scout said, looking around, � yet.�
" I'm glad not many Rawley guys showed up," Bella said, " Luke was worried a bunch of Rawley kids were going to crash. His parents were already on his case, if too many people show up and the place gets trashed, there's going to be hell to pay."
Will and Scout looked at each other and winced; Bella was about to ask why when suddenly the roar of car engines broke over the sounds of the party, nothing less than a dozen sets of headlights swerved across the front of the house and swept the interior, making everyone's heads turn.
" What the�" Luke exclaimed, pushing through the crowd. Out on the street, car doors slammed and suddenly the street was filled with chatter. It sounded as though an army had arrived.
--�Ah, yeah / I feel just like a local god when I�m with the boys / we do what we want / Yeah we do what we want��
" God, I think the whole of Rawley is here." Scout murmured, craning his neck to peer out the window. Out on the porch, the thuds of feet echoed and people suddenly started gushing through the doors, led by Kyle Stratten, who looked rather off his face already. " LET'S PARTY!" He hollered, and the kids behind him streamed in. Crates were hauled along with them and broken open, revealing a generous store of spirits. Car doors kept on slamming outside, and there seemed no end to the swarm of Rawley kids that were still pouring in through the front door. A crash was heard out back and Luke swore out loud, darting through the kitchen and towards the back door.
--�I feel so stupid, happy and numb / Stupid, happy and numb��
� Looks like they cleaned up a liquor store,� Bella turned back to Will, not knowing if she should be amused at the Rawley kids� antics, or be horrified at the prospect of what was coming.
� Or five.� Scout shook his head, gazing at Luke, who was being shoved back into the lounge by another crowd that started surging through the back door. � Poor bastard.�
--�I feel just like a local god when I�m with the boys / We do what we want, we do what we want / I feel just like a local god when I�m with the boys / We do what we want, YEAH WE DO WHAT WE WANT��
Part 5
The party
Radiohead's 'Idioteque' was playing on the stereo, and someone had turned it up to a volume that nobody should be able to stand. Nobody, except teenagers, of course. The party raged on, as parties do, those who could not fit into Luke's house spilling onto the streets, everyone fuelled by the new supply of alcohol that the Rawley kids had managed to turn up with.
And for that reason the Townies hadn't objected much to the Rawley gang's appearance here, although some guys from Edmund High, bleary-eyed and heavy-footed, were beginning to look put off by the unashamed displays the Rawley guys made of getting with any Townie girl they could get their hands on. It was a riotous display of power, money and boyish competitiveness, everyone knew it, and everyone played their part.
Scout had given up trying to talk to Will and Bella, who were standing merely inches away, packed in by the people pushing in on them on all sides. The entire house shifted and breathed, interaction between individuals all but vanquished in favour of a collective feeling of claustrophobic fervour.
The lights were dim but Scout could just see the vague forms of Jake and Hamilton over in the corner, the two dancing a little away from the rest of the people, as though they were the only ones that ever mattered. Then the crowd parted slightly and he was alarmed to see Ryder approaching them, a smirk on his face and a dangerous glaze over his eyes.
Ryder was at his best (or worst, depending on whose side you were on) when sober, working his cutting wit over his pathetic victims who couldn�t get a word in edgewise; but Ryder, even a drunk one, should not be a force easily reckoned with. Scout contemplated coming to his friends' aid, but the bodies crushing in on him moved again, and he was pressed away.
He craned his neck and tried to see over the heads of the people, cursing - not for the first time - the fact that his parents, despite their remarkable physical stature, had somehow forgotten to give their son something of a decent height. Then someone jostled him from behind, a careless elbow pressing into the small of his back, and he turned angrily, Jake and Hamilton forgotten for the moment.
It was Maria, who had exchanged her rhinestone-and-stainless-steel piercings in favour of neon balls that glowed in the dark, and she grinned in acknowledgement. " Awesome party!" She yelled, and he worked the words out not from the sound of her voice buried under the layers of bass drum, synthesizer and wailing vocals, but from the shape that her lips made. He smiled back, and watched in vague amusement (or alarm? He couldn't really tell in the stuffy heat, the very air tasting of spilt vodka and beer) as she pushed past him and went straight up to Will, and by the looks of it, asked him to dance.
Will looked caught out. Bella looked disgruntled. And the crowd surged yet again and they too, moved further than Scout's vision could fathom. He shrugged in resigned stupor, and tried to enjoy the nightmarish ambience.
* * *
On the other side of the room, a fight was brewing. Granted many fights were brewing all over the place at the moment, but this one between Ryder and Hamilton, both angry and both very drunk, seemed the most imminent of all.
" Fucking queers!" Ryder shouted, although he knew his voice couldn't carry so far as to be heard by anyone. It was enough, Hamilton knew nothing nice could have come out of Ryder's mouth anyway, so he lunged forward with a right hook, catching the other boy firmly on the jaw. Ryder stumbled back, and within seconds sprang back with an uppercut, which Hamilton tried to duck but failed to get away in time, Ryder's fist making contact just to the side of his temple.
It was easy enough to contribute the fight to the alcohol, or the atmosphere, or the animosity the two had always shared; but in a way it was more than that. The hostility in the entire party had weighed down ever since the Rawley guys arrived with their rich boy swaggers and crates of alcohol, the rift between Townie and Rawley kids becoming wider and more eminent, hardly anything needed to prompt it along.
Ryder had lost Katrina in the crowd sometime ago, and sought solace in the arms and lips of more than a couple of girls, Rawley and Townie alike. But her words hung in the air and crowded up his thoughts, more than his foggy mind could handle to process, and more than a few drunken kisses could eliminate.
Josh� and Hamilton? Together? Sleeping together? That thought stirred him in ways that he could not accept, prickling away like poisoned needles in his brain, and coldness rushed through his bloodstream, chilling everything in its path.
Colder was the void in his chest, a feeling that was hard, and icy, and not quite human. He abandoned his girls to seek out Hamilton, found him dancing with Jake, and started shouting abuse because he found nothing else to do that would soothe the pricking sensation in the back of his eyeballs. He did not want to understand why. It was easy enough to blame everything on what he was drinking, the bittersweet aftertaste of straight whiskey, warm beer, vodka and cherry coke.
" Why don't you just leave us alone?" Hamilton raged, swinging at him again. The two of them were too drunk to avoid the other's punches, so it was just as well that they couldn't really throw them either. The wall of people around them parted just enough to open a clearing, and Hamilton pushed Jake back, not wanting her to get hurt in the affray. She was less than impressed by the act, looked ready to push her way between the two of them and would have done so too, if not for the couple of guys on the edge of the clearing that held her back. Ryder gritted his teeth and came back with another punch, well-aimed but lacking in muscle. Girls were beginning to scream and guys were beginning to look excited, as though they wanted a piece of the action themselves. They probably did, the darkly enticing hints of power struggles running through everybody like electric current.
" What's going on?" Sean hollered as he fought his way through the crowd. The Townies stepped aside with some tinge of respect, because he was one of those guys who either started fights or stopped them, and whose decision no one argued much with. In that instant Hamilton knocked Ryder back, and the blond boy careened towards Sean, losing his footing.
Sean's eyes widened, and he caught Ryder on reflex but let go immediately as though he had been stung. Ryder too broke free of his grasp as soon as he could stand upright, and the two glared at each other, Hamilton momentarily forgotten. " What the hell, McGrail?" Ryder snarled.
The onlookers would have thought it very strange that Ryder would have a bone to pick with Sean, seeing it was the other boy who had steadied him against a dangerous fall, not to mention that they were solid friends a few months ago. But Sean was no less hostile as he spat out, " What do you think you're doing, Forrest?" Their gazes locked again before breaking apart hurriedly, the confusion in them concealed by the much simpler mask of anger and mutual hatred.
They did not ever talk about what happened between them, months ago, in that cool spring night out in the green lawns of Rawley Academy, nor did they ever want to acknowledge that it really happened. But it did, and maybe enmity was the only way they could find to deal with it. This having registered, Sean suddenly found his fist speeding toward Ryder's face, and make contact with the unmistakable crunch of bone upon bone.
The onlookers gasped as though they too felt the pain, and Ryder looked up from where he fell, fury tinting his eyes a stormy shade of grey. Without another word he launched himself at Sean, his usual demeanour shattered as another Ryder seemed to take over, one that was ferocious, savage, and for once totally out of control.
" What's going on?" demanded Luke, pushing past the crowd and at once jostled to one side by the blur of fists that was Ryder and Sean. He was flanked by a team of Edmund high guys, and their collective expressions darkened as though they were all one person. Behind them, a wave of Rawley kids pressed up, Kyle Stratten once more at the fore. They too, were driven by equal parts curiosity and hunger for something more exciting than this. The thick undertow of animosity passed through the crowd, delicious with anticipation and the primal instinct for the blood of the other.
Who was The Other? No one but some other teenagers that inhabited the same town. But they were too different.
It was too much, then. The fight they see before them had somehow manifested itself into the struggle between Rawley and the Townies, broken to the surface once more like it had done generation and generation before. It was a never-ending cycle, this one of intolerance and the fight to dominate such a small space in which they all occupied. Sooner or later, something was bound to snap, upsetting the delicate balance between the two worlds. The room still vibrated with heavy bass, the synthesizer-driven Radiohead song sounded like hell on earth, which was strangely appropriate, given the circumstances.
The party erupted. In a heartbeat, the people turned on themselves and sought out the closest person who wasn't on their side. All the anger that had been simmering beneath the surface had burst forth like an unstoppable tide, and everyone wanted in on the action. It wasn't just a fight anymore, it was a war.
* * *
Hamilton and Scout's room
" Okay, what the hell was that all about?" Jake demanded, returning from raiding the common room first-aid kit, armed with a couple of ice packs and a handful of Band-Aids.
" How should I know?" Hamilton grumbled, rubbing a sore shoulder where someone landed a solid punch. " Ryder started the whole thing."
Scout accepted one of the ice packs and gingerly applied it to his right cheek, on which a nasty bruise was forming. " He didn't really start it. It just kinda got� out of control."
" It's the Townie thing," Will was ever the analytic one. He sat back on Scout�s desk chair, " look, you can't honestly expect everyone to get on when we share this tiny living space. The fight was going to break out sooner or later, we just didn't know who was going to, you know, start the whole thing."
The party, not surprisingly, punched itself out much faster than it could have done with either alcohol or sex, leaving a trail of bruised kids and even more bruised egos in its wake. Most Rawley kids dispersed, heading back to the dorms to lick their wounds in familiar surroundings. It was just as well that the fight ended as quickly as it did, for police intervention really wouldn't have been pretty, considering just how many prominent politicians' offspring were present.
" Yeah, ironically enough, the fight that started everything didn't even involve any Townies." Jake said, shooting an accusing look at Hamilton.
He was indignant, " Hey, Ryder started it."
" What is Ryder's problem, anyway?" Will wondered, " I know he's a jerk but god, was he mental tonight or what?"
* * *
Faye and Paige's room
" I wasn't mental." Ryder said defensively, flinching as Faye pressed ice to his black eye and instructed him to hold it there. " Drunk is a better term."
" Drunk," Faye said crisply, surveying her brother, " doesn't cover it." Among other scratches and bruises, he also sported two extraordinarily symmetrical black eyes, which made him look like a panda bear. A blond, British panda bear. She told him so and he gave her a Very Dirty Look.
" Was it my fault Kyle Stratten and his cronies were just looking for a fight and the Townies gave them one?" he scoffed, " I got out as soon as I could."
She didn't reply until she had treated all the cuts and bruises that she could, and sat down on the edge of her bed. Watching him evenly, she smoothed the bedspread beneath her fingers and timed her response.
" Why did you do it?" Her gaze was cool and appraising.
He glanced at her quickly, then looked away, " I don't know what you mean."
" Come off it." Her voice held a cautionary note, " I'm your sister, remember? I know you don't do this. You don't fight, it's not your style."
" So?" He was petulant.
" So, it means something must have happened to make you go off like that." she said, and rolled her eyes when she saw that he was about to protest yet again, " Oh, for god's sake, Ryder! You know it's not like you to go and get punched up, and especially not you to start the fights."
He resisted the temptation to look sheepish, pressing his lips into a thin, set line.
" Fine, don't tell me," she sighed dramatically, " It's not like I don't know anyway."
He coolly raised an eyebrow, " Really."
" Really." Faye mimicked his tone. " There aren't much things that get you riled up like that, but off the top of my head, I can certainly think of one."
He was silent. Part of him wanted to ask, just out of curiosity; but the other part of him didn't want to hear what she had to say.
In case she was right.
" You don't get on with Hamilton," she said slowly, " but you never got so pissed off at him that you felt compelled to do something about it."
He looked away.
" Oh, I know you had your moments," she mused, " but you never hated him enough to have this sort of�" she looked back at him, " you're just not one for personal confrontation. When you want something done, you get other people to do it for you."
He exhaled, looking out the window. The night was dense and liquid, a sprinkling of stars dusting the otherwise blank canvas of dark sky.
" So I'm guessing," she said carefully, and knowing that she was touching on all those tender truths that he didn't want exposed. " You heard the rumours about Hamilton and Josh."
His posture stiffened upon reflex, but he tried to look nonchalant and tried to act as though he was smothering a careless laugh. However, one knowing look from her, and he faltered.
" I just�" he swallowed, " � worry about Josh, that's all."
She watched him, knowing that he too, understood that worry wasn't the only thing that prompted him to do what he did tonight. But she saw that he wasn't going to probe further into his own mind, and she didn't press on.
Instead she just said quietly, " It's not true, you know."
He turned in her direction, and for a moment the placid mask slipped, revealing the surprised innocence within. " Really?" he demanded, still trying not to sound as though he cared.
She nodded, " I know for sure."
And then the mask was back, his features were hardened again, his demeanour unconcerned. " Whatever."
She watched him with a little smile. " Josh says hi, by the way."
His nod was the only form of acknowledgement as he stared out the window.
" And he's coming back," she continued, " for the Cotillion."
Ryder's gaze dropped, just a little. There was certain introspect upon hearing this, and he tentatively allowed his thoughts to process themselves, just to see where they would lead. His irises were misty blue in the light, and it looked as though someone could for once look into his eyes, and find something there.
But almost immediately they regained their blank stare, and it was like shutters being closed over whatever that he had left exposed, for a moment too long.
* * *
Luke's house
" Dude, that was classic." Sean groaned, lying back in Luke's couch. The house looked like a tornado had hit it after nuclear war struck. Nothing was left intact, and wallpaper was literally peeling off the walls.
" I hope you mean 'classic' as in a World War Two sort of way." Bella said doubtfully, looking in the freezer. " Should be ready by now," she decided, pulling out some more cans of beer - chilled extra quickly for the express purpose of treating black eyes - and tossing them to the two guys on the couch.
After everyone cleared out, she and Sean stayed behind in some effort to help clear up the aftermath - granted, they haven't actually started the 'clearing up' part yet. Luke looked so gutted that he was almost amused, as you would if a few hundred kids started a brawl in your house and left it in tatters. There was nothing left to do but laugh.
" Classic like it's going to go down in New Rawley history." Luke wasn't being entirely sarcastic, " nothing else ever happens in this dump anyway."
" This dump, my friend," Sean looked at him sideways, " is all we've got."
" Now you're starting to sound like Will." Bella smiled.
" Where is Will, anyway?" Luke asked, glancing around and expecting Will to still be hanging around. � I thought he would stay behind.�
� Well, he is the type�� Bella began, and trailed off.
" But he, uh," Sean tried to look indifferent and failed, " went back with his Rawley friends."
They looked at each other, falling into silence.
Part 6
The Gas Station
Bella ran outside to grab a wrench that she had left lying by the gas pumps, squinting against the late morning sunlight. She had got in late after helping Luke clean up last night, and the world seemed just a little too bright for her tired perceptions.
She paused as she picked up the wrench, catching sight of the blue-haired Asian girl who was working behind the counter at the diner. She was the one that asked Will to dance amidst all the chaos last night, and Bella hadn't seen her around town before.
" Hey," Will's voice interrupted her scrutiny, " What are you up to?"
She turned around, feeling almost guilty even though she wasn�t sure why she would be, " Hi."
He glanced in the direction of Friendly�s, " Hey, Maria's working. I forgot she got a job at the diner."
" Who's Maria?" Bella asked, leading the way back into the shop. Will followed her, " A friend of Scout's. She's helping me with the Summer Book."
" Oh." She nodded and put the wrench back in her tool case.
" Anyway, uh," he continued, rubbing a hand over his eyes and yawning, " Um, I feel kinda bad about leaving you guys last night."
She turned to face him, saying nothing.
" It's just," he said, looking away from her searching gaze, " I feel like I always have to choose now. Between Rawley, the guys, where I should go and who I should stay with� you know?"
" You chose to go back with them last night," she said simply, looking down, " so I guess you've already made your decision."
He looked at her, agitated, " It's not that simple, Bella."
" Maybe it is." She answered, walking towards the window and away from him. The overhanging roof of the gas station blocked the sun from illuminating the interior of the shop, so her eyes were not touched by light but rather darkened by shadow.
" The choices you make and the moments they come in," she said quietly, " they don't have to be big ones. Sometimes, things just happen and you don't even notice that you've chosen."
" I don't�" he took a step toward her, " I don't see why I can't be a Townie who goes to Rawley. What does it change? Why would it change who I am?"
She smiled ruefully, turning back to look at him, " It does, Will. Social construction and all that, we just got taught it in school. You're supposed to be the scholar here, remember?"
He held her gaze, and she saw his blue eyes lose their keen light as the realisation slowly sank in. There was truth in what she had said, no matter how much he wanted to deny it.
" I've got to go," he said suddenly, snapping his gaze downward, " I gotta�"
" Think about it," she finished for him, with a small, wistful smile, " I know."
He came toward her, his lips finding hers in a brief kiss. She closed her eyes, felt the desolation emanating from him, and wondered if either of them had any more to give to each other.
* * *
Rawley Academy
The grounds were crowded, considering it was the weekend and everyone usually had somewhere better to go than hang out at the school and sit in the sunshine. But as it were, most people got tangled up some way or another in the fray last night, and as a result hanging out at the school and sitting in the sunshine was pretty much all anyone could manage.
Jake and Hamilton found Ryan reclining outside on the lawn, watching a nearby game of football. He sat up as they came closer, acknowledging them with a small nod, " Hey."
" Hi," the couple chorused, taking their seats next to him. " What are you up to?" Jake asked.
Ryan smiled, shrugging, " Not much. Trying to avoid Kyle and his gang, mostly."
Hamilton exchanged a look with Jake. " Don't care about what he says, man," he advised, " they're all just a bunch of�"
" Losers living on daddy's money," Jake finished when Hamilton seemed a little lost for suitable description.
Ryan smiled, " So was I, actually."
" But you're not like them," she told him.
" Where do you draw the distinction?" Ryan sighed. " Look, I appreciate you guys coming to talk to me, trying to cheer me up and all that, I really do. But there's nothing you can do. There's nothing anyone could do."
Jake lowered her eyes to the ground, " Yeah, I guess you're right."
" Don�t worry about it," Ryan smiled, first at her, then at Hamilton, �I�m trying not to.�
� What are your plans?� Hamilton asked.
� First I�ll go home,� Ryan answered, glancing over his shoulder at the ball game, a little wistful, � My dad�s got some property on the West Coast that we can still hold on to, so I guess we�ll eventually go there and make a living. Public schools should be interesting, at least.� He grinned, � Would you believe I�ve never been to a co-ed school, never mind a public one? Could be fun.�
� Could be,� Jake agreed. Slowly, she asked, � When are you leaving? We�ll miss you.�
" Tomorrow,� he answered, � and I'll be all right. Well, I'm thinking of it as a chance to get out of here and away from�" he looked up at the dormitories towering over the grounds, shrugging, " Well, I can put some distance between me and all the Kyle Strattens of this world."
*Ivy�s �Undertow� starts to play*
Hamilton and Jake chuckled quietly. " Yeah." Hamilton agreed.
Ryan smiled at them, " Silver lining, people. I'm actually kinda looking forward to it. There is a life outside of Rawley. Sometimes we forget."
--�Standing, by yourself / high on the hills above the ocean / This is where you'd come / to walk with your friends��
* * *
Scout and Hamilton's room
--�You can't fight the undertow / not when you're all alone / You can't fight the undertow / how long till you let go?�
Faye poked her head around the door, " Hey."
Scout looked up from his seat on the windowsill, " Hey."
" So," she stepped into the room, resisting a small grimace as she saw the bruise that he sported on the side of his mouth. " I heard about the� thing� last night."
" Yeah," he managed a small smile, " it was pretty intense. Weird, but�" he laughed quietly, leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid. She walked over and he shifted so that she could sit down next to him.
Taking his hand, she touched the bruise gently, " How did that happen?"
" I don't know," he grinned, " got caught on somebody's fist."
She couldn't help a small chuckle, " You know, I'm kinda disappointed I missed it. Must have been quite a show."
" Yeah, about that." He looked down and took her other hand, " Look, I'm sorry I was so�" he shrugged, " you know, yesterday."
She traced his fingers with the side of her thumb, " It's okay."
" No, it's not okay," he sighed, " you were sick and I wasn't even thinking about you at all. I was too wrapped up in myself to notice how bad you looked�"
" Thanks!" She exclaimed, laughing.
He groaned, leaning back against the window, " Maybe I should just stop talking."
" Maybe you should." She agreed with a smile, and kissed him softly. " You're forgiven," she murmured against his lips, " everyone's entitled to a few mistakes."
* * *
Rawley Academy
--�Take it one step back / trying to pull yourself together / No matter what you say / Nothing you do / Can hold by the forces of youth forever��
Will paused at the wrought-iron main gates of the school, and looked in. Not simply that sort of passing glance as he usually hurried from town back to school or vice versa, but as though he was a new entrant once again. He looked at Rawley Academy, and tried to see it as it were.
The grounds stretched away from him in a blur of lush green and slate grey, while not far in the distance he could see the elegant buildings, dormitories and halls with their royal blue banners hanging over the grey stone exterior. The lake glimmered in his peripheral vision and he could see his classmates lounging around its perimeters.
A year ago, it was a foreign world that he was thrown into headlong; but now, it was his world.
He exhaled, stuck his hands in his pockets, and headed towards the dorms. Home.
--�You can't fight the undertow /not when you're all alone / You can't fight the undertow / how long till you let go?�
*Will's voiceover starts*
�I should have learned that I shouldn�t accept everything at face value. There are hidden depths under the surface of anything we find in life, running like a perpetual undertow beneath calm exteriors. Although unseen and for the most part unnoticed, this undertow is in all of us, desires and thoughts that pull us into ourselves, influencing and shaping us in more ways than we could ever discern.�
He headed up the dormitory stairs, traipsed along the halls with the golden wood panelling and the plush carpets, and wondered if he really did become one of them - one of the Rawley guys. A year ago he would have killed to fit in, and now� well, now he did, and in it he felt neither pleasure or pride.
Pausing in front of his room, he pushed open the door warily.
Ryder was sitting on the windowsill, smoking. Carefully flicking ash out the window, he looked as though he was deliberately trying not to think too hard.
Will sighed with resignation and walked in, sticking his hands in his pockets. " Look, if we're going to start rooming together, we've got to set down some ground rules."
Ryder raised an eyebrow. But before he could launch into one of his quips, Will crossed his arms and quickly jumped in, " I don't like you, and you don't like me. But we're stuck with each other, so we might as well make this as un-hell-like as possible."
Ryder still looked insolent, but he spread his hands and shrugged, " All right, I'm listening."
" Okay." Will set his jaw and nodded curtly, closing the door behind him. Silently and firmly, he resolved to himself that he wouldn't let Ryder - or anything else - spoil this summer.
--�You can't fight the undertow / not when you're all alone / You can't fight the undertow / How long till you let go? / How long till you let go?�
