Title: A Twist of Fate
Author: EV
Email: EVLYN827@cs.com
Rating: PG
Category: Well, it started out as a Will/Jake...but now it's an "other" I guess.
Disclaimer: I only own the stories that live in my head. The rest is borrowed from the WB/Columbia Tri-Star Entertainment. The characters are the products of the WB. Some lines and scenes have been changed to protect the innocent. The rest is mine.
Summary: Jake arrives at Rawley a day early and meets Will instead of Hamilton.
Thanks: As always to Debi, without her and a seven-hour car ride from Maryland...this story would never have been finished.
Feedback: Loved and appreciated!!
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Authors note: "Fate" is one of my favorite topics. Have you ever imagined what would happen if you'd turned left instead of right? What if you took the elevator instead of the stairs? What if you had met someone else...at a different point in your life? Believers in fate feel that all roads lead to the place that you are truly meant to be. And, we take comfort in the fact that there are NO wrong choices in life. Some choices may lengthen your journey by leading you away from your chosen path but don't worry, eventually, you'll find your way back to the place that you were truly meant to be.
This piece of fiction contains a lot of the scenes that we all have become familiar with only this time...fate has intervened. :)

"It is good to have an end to a journey...
But it is the journey that matters in the end."
-Ursula LeGuin
Chapter I
Will tossed the last of his folded laundry into his duffle bag and zipped it shut. He dropped the bag to the floor and looked at himself in the mirror. Just one more day, he thought. One more day and then my new life starts. Rawley Academy was his ticket out. His ticket to opportunity, to success, to freedom. He collected a few personal items from his dresser and was startled to see his father's reflection in the mirror as he appeared in his bedroom doorway. He stood unshaven, his hair standing up in the back, a soiled plaid flannel shirt clinging to his massive hairy arms...looming...lurking. He carried with him a brown bottle of moral support, something he was never without these days. Will froze at first, he was never sure what to expect from his father. "Hey." He said in acknowledgment.

"What are you doing?" His father mumbled. He stepped forward but stumbled back. He was grateful to find the interior wall still in place to support him.

"Packing. I'm leaving for school tomorrow."

"Oh that's right, off to school," he slurred. " Because we're not good enough for you here are we? You're family isn't good enough for you or rich enough...smart enough..."

Will turned back to face the dresser. His past experiences had proven that it was best for him to say nothing at all then to risk further antagonizing his father.

"Leaving us, your family, your mother...imagine, leaving your mother," he mumbled.

"I'm not leaving Mom. I'm going to school on the other side of this town," Will stated.

"Well, when you fail there, like I know you will, you'd better hope the diner will take you on full time." Mr. Krudski tried once again to move from the doorway. He attempted to move toward his son but his legs were unwilling to carry him. He lost his footing a second time and landed on the edge of Will's bed dropping the bottle to the floor and spilling its contents. "Damn it!" He said and looked at Will as if he were to blame for the loss.

Will remained standing by his dresser, comfortable that he was well out of reach of his father.
"I need to finish packing." Will said, hoping that his father would take the hint and leave. He didn't.

"Why wait until tomorrow?" His father slurred. Will looked puzzled. "Why don't you just leave now? Go on, get the hell out of here...NOW!" The influx in his voice caused Will to jump.

"I can't check in there until tomorrow." Will responded.

"Well kiddo...you can check outta here tonight." Mr. Krudski leaned down to the floor and recovered the bottle. "Get the hell out of my house." He bellowed and flung the bottle slowly enough that Will had time to duck out of the way. The mirror wasn't so lucky. Glass shards fell across the bureau and onto the floor.

Will inhaled deeply attempting to compose himself. He picked up the duffle and the few things he had in his hand and left through the opened bedroom door.
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He slowly walked away from the house that he had grown up in. He didn't even glance back. Some kids would have been teary eyed and saddened at the thought of leaving home. Will, on the other hand, had a great sense of safety and relief. He wasn't saddened at the thought of leaving his Mom, she worked at the beauty shop in town and he could visit her whenever he wanted. He did, however, feel a little apprehensive about leaving her alone...in that house...with him.

He kicked at the dirt under his feet as he walked. His old, slightly ratty, sneakers had covered this path many times. Wearing a red T-shirt and faded blue jeans he didn't feel much like a Rawley Academy student. He would arrive at school tomorrow on foot...not chauffeured as many others would. It would take some time for him to adjust to being one of them. The snotty, stuck up boys from the other side of the lake. The same boys that he and Bella had spent countless evenings making fun of. Now he had to become one of them.

He headed to the shortcut through the woods not knowing why he was rushing. He had nowhere to go. The more distance he put between himself and that house improved his mood. He had left his home a number of times before and when he did, he always ran to Bella's. Bella Banks had been his best friend since they were young. She was the only person he had confided in...ever. There were things that she knew that he had never been able tell his other friends or even his own mother. Their relationship had grown and matured over the years. When Bella's mother left...Bella ran to Will. When Will's father became increasingly abusive...Will ran to Bella. They were there for each other. No matter what. No questions asked.

Will reached Charlie's Gas and Tow at about 10:30 in the morning. Saturdays were always busy in the small town and he saw Charlie, Bella's Dad, working under the hood of a dark green Chevy wagon. "Hey Charlie." He said as he approached.

Charlie looked up. "Will." He extended a grease covered hand and then pulled it back and smiled. "Sorry."

"Bella around?"

"No...she left last night. She went to the Cape for the weekend. I thought she told you."

Will remembered. "She did. I forgot. That's OK Charlie...um...I'll talk to her when she gets back." He walked backward and waved toward him. "Thanks anyway." Charlie immersed himself back into the Chevy's engine not noticing the disheartened look on Will's face as he left.

There's always the beauty shop, he thought. He could spend the night in the back after all the clients had gone for the day. He hated to worry his mother, she did what she could to alleviate the tension in their home, but even she couldn't work the miracles that were needed to make his Dad a better person. He crossed the street and headed toward Friendly's, the diner he had worked in for the last six months. Mr.Voci had been a great boss and was always really good to him, giving him extra shifts when he needed a little cash to pay for the Rawley entrance exam or the required money to cover his enrollment fee's.

"Hi Will." Mr. Voci said, "One more day, huh?"

"Yup, one more day...then back to school again. Funny, a month ago I was counting the days until school ended and now, I'm counting down the days 'til school starts. Go figure." Will smiled.

"What's with all the stuff. Are you moving in today?"

Will hesitated, he didn't want to explain that his father, who never supported any thing that he did, had just thrown him out of his own house and that now he had nowhere to go. "Umm...yeah...actually. The school is letting us move in today, if we want to. So, I'm just dropping off my stuff, less to carry tomorrow...I guess." Will smiled again as he lied. "How about a cheeseburger for the road?"

"Coming up..."

Will sat on the stool that surrounded the ice-cream counter at the diner and waited for his order. "Hey Frank." He waved to one of the regular customers. Frank was a "townie" through and through, born here...married here...working here...and most likely would die here, never seeing much past the outskirts of New Rawley. Frank stood up to leave, putting a dollar under his plate for the frazzled waitress. He walked toward Will and extended his hand. "Good luck tomorrow Will. You deserve this chance." His eyes fell upon Will and he sighed as if he was viewing himself as a boy.

"Thanks Frank." He said as he returned the handshake. "Don't worry, I'll still be around here."

"They need you here." Frank whispered as he rolled his eyes at the blonde haired waitress, watching while she attempted to balance two cups of coffee in her left hand. Moments later the sound of china crashing to the floor could be heard.

"Here you go Will." Mr. Voci said, "This one's on the house." He looked over his shoulder and watched the warm black liquid seep down the edges of the counter. "Darlene...honey, why don't you get the mop and I'll serve the coffee." He let out a frustrated exhale and Will grinned.

"Thanks." Will left the diner and headed a short distance up the street. He made himself comfortable on the bench just outside his mother's beauty shop and unwrapped the burger. As he began to eat his mother joined him.

"Hi honey. " She said as she lit a cigarette.

"Hi Mom."

"What are you doing here? What's all that?" She looked at the duffle bag and backpack on the ground. Will moved over and allowed his mother to join him on the bench.

"Just my stuff. The school called, they're letting us into the dorms today so I thought it would be a good idea to go early...you know...get used to the place, have a look around." His mother looked back at him.

"Well, I could come by after work and help you get things fixed up if you like." She offered.

"Thanks. But, I...you know, I really just want to get used to the place by myself. Why don't you just come by tomorrow like we planned? That would be better."

"If that's what you want, Will." She looked disappointed. At fifteen, her little boy was all grown up and ready to tackle the world on his own. She knew he could. She had every confidence that he would do great things with his life and Rawley Academy was just the beginning. "Dad and I will be there for orientation tomorrow. Two o'clock, right?"

"Yeah..." He answered, looking down. He hated lying to her. He hoped that only she would show up tomorrow. He expected his father to find some excuse not to come. He hoped that he would. But, Will assumed that tomorrow would allow his father one more chance to belittle him in front of a whole new group of people and that idea alone might just inspire his father's attendance.

"Susan, Mrs. Jones is ready." Annette, the receptionist, called out from the door. Will's mother stubbed out her cigarette and brushed the remaining ashes from her skirt.

"I gotta go make people look beautiful." She hugged Will. "Listen, if you change your mind...if you want me to help just call the house. OK?"

"Mom... I'll be fine, really...."

"I know you will. I'm so proud of you." She said as she hugged him.

"Mom, it's only summer session, I could be right back at Edmund High in the fall. I just keep wondering...how long it will be before I screw this up?"

"Will...you're not going to screw up," She said reassuringly. She patted his shoulder and kissed his cheek, wiping the plum colored lipstick smudge from his face with her thumb, then she turned and walked away.

Will watched his mother until she disappeared through the doors to the salon. Will scrunched up the greasy foil wrapper from the burger and tossed it into the nearby trash barrel. He picked up his duffle and slung his backpack over his shoulder. He was on his own...and had no real idea which direction he should head in.
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In need of a little physical as well as mental rest, Will seated himself under one of the old oak trees that surrounded Rawley Lake. As midday approached, the hot summer sun shone down through the branches and warmed his face. He looked at it, Rawley Academy For Boys, as it stood impressive and foreboding. He smiled as he thought of the number of times his mother had brought him to this lake. He learned to swim in this lake. He realized that he had never traveled to the other side, the Rawley side. He smiled again at how absurd that was. He was mesmerized for a moment as the sun glinted of the water temporarily blinding him. His thoughts were interrupted by the odd sounding "putt-putt-gasp" noises that came from the dirt path that led toward the school. Into his vision came a distressed motorcyclist. The shiny black bike sputtered and gasped, finally ceasing. Will watched for a minute as the frustrated rider jumped up and down on the seat striking his right foot against the starter. The bike roared as dark puffs of smoke poured from the exhaust. Again...amidst the sounds of a coughing engine the motorcycle came to a halt. The driver swung his leg over the seat and dismounted, bending down to look at the engine. Will continued to watch as the person tinkered with some of the bikes finer instrumentation. Will stood and walked toward the rider. He was aware of his lack of knowledge concerning motorcycles. He didn't even drive a car yet, but he thought maybe he could help with directions to Charlie's, if nothing else.

"Having some trouble...huh?" He said as he came closer.

"Ah...yeah." The biker nodded as if it seemed so obvious.

"Dumb question?" Will said chuckling.

"Ah...yeah." The rider repeated, smiling.

"A friend of mine has a gas station, you could take it there if you want." Will offered.

"That's Okay. But, thanks." The driver continued to push the bike further down the dirt covered road.

"Can I call someone for you...or something?" Will called out.

The bike stopped moving. Removing the dark sunglasses and her helmet, she let her long dark hair fall out from underneath. She shook out the perspiration soaked tangles and let her locks fall down over her shoulders as she played with her bangs...pulling them down over her forehead.

Will unintentionally stared. He's a she, he thought to himself. He walked toward her to catch up. As he reached his destination, he stopped. He blushed slightly...she was beautiful. "Ah...Hi again."

"Hi" She answered.

"I've gotta be honest, I don't know much about motorcycles."

"Yeah...well neither do I, at least not this one. It's kinda new. I just got it for this trip."

"Where are you heading?"

She hesitated slightly, "Um...I'm just...on my way to visit a friend...just passing through here actually.

"Really?" Will said.

"You know, maybe you can help me....um...." She looked at him inadvertently asking for his name.

"Ah...Will." He smiled.

"Okay AhWill...do you know a good motel around here? It looks like I'm spending the night."

"A motel? In New Rawley?" He snickered thinking how ironic the circumstances were." No...the closest one is in Carson and it'd be quite a walk pushing that." He looked at the bike.

"Damn." She said.

"Can you call your friend? Maybe she could come and pick you up?"

"Ah..." again she hesitated. "No...that won't work...she's kinda sick...really sick...that's why I'm visiting her." She lied, hoping this would be good practice for the multiple lies that lay ahead of her.

"Mmmm...that is a problem then." Since he had no clear plan for himself he wondered how much help he could give the lovely stranger. Giving no further thoughts to his own circumstances he thought this might be a nice distraction for the afternoon. Will grabbed at the handlebars of the motorcycle."Why don't you let me help you with that?"

"I got it." She said not wishing to relinquish her control...just yet.

"No, really. Let me help you." Will took the bike from her.

"And...where are we going?"

"Well...there's a station in town. I know the owner personally. I'm sure that he can help you and get this fixed up. You'll be on your way to your friends house by dinner."

Jake considered her options and felt the list was shortening drastically. She didn't want to let herself be seen around town...yet. Not like this...not as a girl. But, she was stranded at the moment with a bike that didn't work and no place to change or spend the night. This hadn't been part of her well thought out plan.

"I appreciate your help AhWill..."

"Will...Will Krudski." He said smiling.

"I appreciate your help Will...but I can't really take the bike into town right now." She hoped he wouldn't ask any questions but that seemed pretty unrealistic.

"It's not like you stole it or anything." He looked at her. "Did you?"

"No, I didn't steal it. It's just that...well..." She couldn't come up with an excuse quickly enough until Will provided her with one.

"Is it the money? You don't have enough money to fix it?"

Good idea, she thought. "Yeah...that's it. I just don't have it right now...so...thanks for...." She attempted to take possession of the handlebars.

"Don't worry, I know the Banks' it'll be fine. They'll help you out, fix what needs to be fixed and you can send them a check or something when you get settled."

Jake exhaled. Her plan...her well orchestrated plan. She arrives in town the day before classes start. She gets a chance to take a quick look around, find a place to stash her bike...get a haircut...change her clothes...and arrive at Rawley Academy For Boys as Jake, the boy, Pratt. Meeting a local stranger and having no transportation or place to stay was just not supposed to happen
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Jake stood leaning against a gas pump. She was grateful for the opportunity to rest. It had been a long walk from the lake to the gas station but it must have felt longer for Will, who pushed her bike the entire distance. She watched as Will and Charlie hunkered down to examine the motorcycle's engine. Jake was convinced that she probably understood the inner workings of her bike better than Will did but, it was obvious to her that he enjoyed taking the lead on her behalf. She didn't like playing the roll of the "damsel in distress" but knew it only had to last another day.

Charlie approached Jake. "Well, you have a kink in your vacuum line...that's this little piece here." He said in an unintentionally condescending way. He knew that his daughter was well versed in the inner workings of engines and transmissions, thanks to him, but she was the exception to the rule. Charlie pointed to the coil he held in his hand. "It's an easy fix. The problem is, I don't have one that'll fit your bike. I can get it, but it won't be ready until much later this afternoon. I don't usually work late on Saturday but Will says you have somewhere you need to be..so, I'll make an exception." He smiled.

"Thanks." She responded. Jake's mind swirled. Now what was she going to do. The opportunity to explore her new surroundings would come sooner than she had wanted.

"Hungry?" Will asked startling her from her thoughts.

"Um...yeah, I guess."

"We could grab a bite to eat...hang out for a bit. I can show you the sights."

"We?" She questioned.

"Well, I hate to see you wandering lost and alone...and hungry in this great big town." He chuckled.

Jake looked around. The 'big town' of New Rawley was essentially right in front of her. "Well, I would hate to get lost." She returned the smile.

Will took Jake by the arm and lead her from the station to the sidewalk. He stopped on the curb and looked both ways. When the road was clear of traffic he guided her off the curb and across the street.

"Were you ever a boy scout?" She asked looking at his hand where it was attached to her arm.

Will let go. "Sorry." He smiled.

Jake saw the sign for Friendly's and headed in that direction but Will took her arm once again.

"Nah, not there. The food's greasy and the service is terrible." He laughed inwardly, he really didn't want to run into Mr. Voci again today and have to answer more questions. "There's another place down the street...much better choice."

"Your the tour guide." She said as she followed him aimlessly. Jake stopped and looked at the marquee type sign that hung above the door to the deli. "The Chat 'N Chew?" she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"Bear with me here." He grinned

Will took Jake to the town park and they settled on a bench near the children's play area. They opened their sandwiches and began to eat. Jake hadn't realized how hungry she was until she took the first bite. "This is really good."

"The sandwich...the prefect food when you think about it." Will said holding up half of his sandwich with a pondering look on his face. "You have your bread group, your meat group, add lettuce and tomato, you have your vegetable group...with the right amount of mayonnaise you have your fats and oils group covered. Now, the trick is the beverage...add a chocolate milk and you finish up the dairy and chocolate food groups too. You've conquered the entire food pyramid."

"Is there a chocolate group?" She smiled.

"Well if there isn't...there should be." He took a bite.

The afternoon sun was warm and relaxing. Jake closed her eyes and looked upward as the rays fell upon her face. Will couldn't resist the urge to look over at her. She was beautiful. He imagined the life she led. Someone like her, this gorgeous girl with her new motorcycle, taking off to be with her sick friend in need. She obviously had a lifestyle that he was completely unfamiliar with. "So, where did you say you were from?" Will asked.

"I didn't," Will stopped, feeling uncomfortable as though her were prying into her life. "You never asked." She smiled.

Will smiled back..."So, where are you from?" He asked again.

"New York."

"Cool."

"And you?"

For a second Will wanted to lie and tell her he's never been to this town either and, like herself, he was just passing through, too. He hesitated and against his better judgment went for the truth. "I live..." He pointed past the largest tree that lined the edge of the park. "Just past those trees and a little to the left." He stared out across the manicured lawns and pictured the deceivingly welcoming look to the house he had grown up in.

"You live here...in New Rawley?" Jake's eyes opened wider. For a moment she panicked. What if she ran into Will in town someday? What would she do? What if he recognized her? This might ruin everything. "You know what? I really should be going." She tossed the rest of her sandwich into the paper bag and moved as if she had somewhere to go.

"What's up with you?" Will asked. Suddenly he felt as if he'd done something wrong...invaded her space. "You can't go anywhere without your bike."

"I know...I...I just don't want to take up any more of your time. I'm sure you have to get home or something."

"Ah...no, I'm Ok. He gently grabbed her wrist and tugged until she sat back down on the bench beside him. "What's wrong? Did I say something?"

"No." Will sat on the bench and tried not to look at her. Jake sat quietly staring at the trees. Finally Jake exhaled loudly breaking the tension. "So...is this what people do on a Saturday afternoon in New Rawley for fun?"

"Yes, we hang out in the park and watch the grass grow. It's a big deal. People travel here from all over North America just to catch a glimpse of our grass growing." He said with a completely serious look on his face.

"Really?" Jake played along.

"Really, they come from New York, Maine, North Carolina...even Massachussets just to visit our antique shop and our paint store."

"Your paint store?"

"Absolutley! They've come from as far away as Canada...just to stand in the middle of our street and take photographs."

"Yeah...right." Jake said sarcastically.

"Okay...think what you like, but they DO come."

Jake turned her face to look at him. After a moment or two she saw his mouth turn up at the corners as he tried to suppress a grin. She laughed out loud and so did he.
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The afternoon passed quickly. Will and Jake talked and laughed, having no concept of the time. They had no idea how comfortable they were becoming in each other's presence. "You're mom's an actress? That's so cool."

"I guess. I mean...most people seem to think so, I just sort of think of her as my mother. And, I'm a little jealous sometimes that for the price of a ticket the general public gets to see her more than I do." Jake stopped talking abruptly. She had felt that way for so long but had never put those feeling into actual words until just now. She looked at Will for his reaction.

"Man...that's rough."

"What about your family?"

Will stared off into the trees again. He pondered another minute about what to say and realizing that he probably would never see this girl again after tonight he decided the best thing would be to eliminate any pity she might want to bestow on him. "Well, my mother is a beauty consultant. All the women in town come to her for her expert advice on hair and make-up. And my Dad well, he's a..." Will found himself staring aimlessly at the remaining swallow of chocolate milk in his bottle. "My Dad, he works out of the house. He's in the newspaper business." Will was pleased with his quick thinking. It didn't really feel like a lie. Since his father had been laid off from his job eight months ago he mostly hung around the house in his underwear, reading the want-ads. "It's really great having him home so much. He's so involved and he's always there for me. Sometimes we just hang out in the front yard and play catch for hours" OK, now it was starting to feel like a complete farce. Will felt it best to stop before he hung himself completely.

"Wow, you're so lucky Will. I wish my mother was always around for me. Sometimes she's gone for six months at a time. She'll send me things, like that's supposed to make up for it. But...it's..." Jake was starting to feel teary. She thought she'd better stop before she spilled her guts to a complete stranger. The afternoon sun was setting and Jake checked her watch. "Oh hey, it's almost 7 o'clock. We should probably be getting back to Charlie's."

Will felt a little sad, he'd enjoyed this afternoon and hated to see it end. She reminded him of Bella in some ways. She was so easy to talk to. Of course with Bella, he had the added benefit that she knew the truth. She knew his life and accepted him as he was. This girl didn't know the real Will Krudski, and if she did, she might not be so comfortable spending time with him at all.

It was a short walk back to the gas station. Will held open the glass door that led to Charlie Banks' office. "Hey Charlie...is the motorcycle fixed?"

"Will, I've been looking for you." Charlie said. "I'm sorry if I caused a problem."

"What?" Will looked confused.

"I can't get the part until tomorrow, I'm sorry. I wanted to let you know sooner so that your friend here could make some plans. I called your house and talked to your Dad."

Will swallowed hard and felt his cheeks start to flush slightly. "You did?"

"Yeah, your Dad seemed well...a little less than happy."

"Mmmm" Will said nothing. He couldn't think of anything to say and he could feel her standing right behind him...listening. "Well, he's having a rough week I guess."

"Still no bites on a job...huh?" Charlie asked. "That must be tough on him, on all of you. Bella mentioned that your Mom's been putting in a lot of extra hours at the beauty shop."

Will's face was on fire...this couldn't possible get any worse. The door to the office slammed opened loudly and Brian Krudski entered. He reeked of alcohol as he stumbled over the threshold of the doorway. This just got worse, Will thought to himself.

"You little son-of-a bitch." Brian bellowed across the office. Will smiled thinking just how ironic that statement was. "You ran to your mother didn't you? You told her...you told her that I .."

Charlie interrupted..."Look Brian, let's calm down here, OK?"

"Stay out of this Banks! This is none of your business." Brian roared.

"Actually Brian, it is my business. You're standing inside of MY business, so if you don't mind..." As Charlie continued to argue needlessly with Brian Krudski Will saw Charlie motion to him with his hand, giving Will opportunity. Without thinking...Will grabbed Jake's hand and pulled her behind him toward the door. Will's breathing was erratic and his heart was pounding in his ears. His sense of fight or flight kicked in and he continued to run well past the grounds of the gas station and out into the evening with Jake still in tow. Will always felt safer when he was running.

Finally Jake pulled back on Will's arm and stopped them both. She panted to catch her breath. "You want to tell me what that was all about?"

Will was still breathing heavily. Jake noticed that he was trembling. "No..." he answered as he shook his head from side to side. "I don't want to tell you, but I will if I have to." Without knowing why, Jake walked closer to him and put her arms securely around him. She pulled him toward her. Will tensed at first and then slowly his tension eased and his breathing returned to normal. "Come on," he said to her. "I know a place where we can go...where we can talk." Jake smiled and followed him.

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They headed down the darkened street and scooted down the alley in between the brick buildings. "Hold on a second, where are we going?" Jake asked. Will stopped walking and turned to look at her face. She looked nervous.

"It's Ok. Really."

"Will, what happened back there? Was that your father?"

"Yeah...it was. I'm sorry you had to meet him like that."

"What did Charlie mean...no bites on a job?"

"Look, I'm sorry. I...um...I guess I lied a little, I was embarrassed, I didn't want you to know that my Dad was...well...not as great a guy as I led you to believe, that's all." Will looked down at his feet and kicked at the pebbles on the ground.

"Why would you feel like you had to lie to me?"

"I don't know I guess sometimes lying is easier...than telling the truth."

"Actually...." She smiled..."I understand that." Will looked up to meet her eyes. "Your Dad seemed...well...a little angry."

"That's putting it mildly. He was pissed and who knows why this time. It's better for me to leave when he's like that."

"Are you afraid of him? Has he ever...I mean...could he hurt you?" She asked hesitatingly, afraid that she might be asking too much, afraid of the answer.

"Not physically...not anymore. My Dad is pretty much the exact opposite of what I described. He's never been there for me...he's never helped me or encouraged me or supported me. I annoy him. I remind him that he had a chance for a different life and he blew it. I have the opportunity. I have a chance for things to be different, and I'm going to take it and make it work."

Jake stood in awe. She felt somehow drawn to this boy. She felt connected to him in someway. He was running away from the one thing that she thought she wanted so much. A family. "I don't know what to say. I'm sorry."

"Don't be...OK. I'm fine. I'm gonna be just fine. I'm probably stronger for it. When you get down this low...sometimes there's no place to go but up."

"But now where are you going to go. You can't go home can you?"

Will chuckled..."Funny you should mention that. The truth is my father tossed me out of the house this morning. I didn't have anywhere else to go so I was just hanging out at the lake. That's when I saw you."

"Fate has a strange way of intervening. Maybe I'm meant to be your guardian angel or something."

"Yeah...maybe." Will smiled.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"Come on.." Will took Jake's hand again only this time, instead of leading her...dragging her behind him...he held it...in his own and walked beside her. "The back entrance to the Glamourama is right around the corner. Did I mention that my Moms a hair dresser?"

"Sort of..." Jake chuckled. "Do you have a key or something?"

"No, but I don't usually need one."

They walked past the dumpster and stood outside the large wooden door embedded in the back of the brick building. "It's not locked?" Jake said surprised. Having come from New York she was used to seeing businesses not only locked but covered with large metal gates to help protect them from burglars and vandals.

"It's locked, but only the front door is alarmed."

"New Rawley thieves only use the front door?"

"Basically New Rawley thieves don't waste their time breaking into beauty shops." Will turned the door knob just to be sure and found it locked as he had expected. "Damn!"

"What?"

"My bag...my backpack...I left it Charlie's when we ran out of there. I need my library card to jimmy the door. Damn, I'll have to go back there and get it."

"No. You can't, it could be dangerous. Your Dad might still be there. Here..." Jake took a small change purse from her back pocket. She unzipped it and took out a plastic credit card. She looked at it first and then handed it over to Will. "Would this work?"

Will took the card from her. "Yeah..." He slipped the card into the crack between the door and the doorjamb and slid it down toward the lock. He expertly wiggled the knob with his left hand while he worked the card with the right. With relative ease the door opened. Will glanced at the card again. "Jacqueline M. Pratt.." He said out loud. "Your Mom?"

"No...that would be me."

Will finally realized that in all the time they had spent together she had never told him her name.

"You have your own credit card?" He asked, not really that surprised. Jake nodded her head seeming almost embarrassed by the wealth her mother's career provided for her. Will hesitated and looked at the card again. "You said you couldn't get your bike fixed because you didn't have the money. Right?"

Now it was Jake's turn. "I guess I sort of did." Jake now spent a moment looking at her own sneakers. "I'm sorry Will...I guess I lied to you too."

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Inside the safety of the beauty shop, both Jake and Will felt more relaxed. Will poured a pot of water through the automatic drip coffee maker and turned on the switch. "Mmmm there's cocoa and chicken soup...or tea..."

"Soup sounds good." She said. "I get the feeling you've been here before."

"Maybe once or twice. Yeah..." Will thought about the nights he'd spent alone in the back of the shop...nights when his father was on a rampage as he emptied the contents of the soup mix into two paper cups and added plastic spoons to each. He waited for the water to finish heating. "But, enough about me. What about you?"

"What would you like to know?" Jake began feeling slightly uncomfortable again.

"Everything...anything. Why did you lie about the money?"

"It wasn't about the money really. It was about me."

"I'm confused."

Jake sat silently for a moment. She could make up another lie...she had the chance. She knew that she would feel guilty but in the long run it could be better. She had worked out her plan so carefully and now things had gotten way out of hand. Will was a stranger to her. He had helped her out and he had confided some very personal things to her. The truth, she wanted to tell him the truth, she felt she owed him that. "I'm sort of taking a break...from my life. That's all really. My mother is gone...a lot. She doesn't know me anymore. She has no idea who I am, who I've become. She's in Italy right now. She has no idea what part of the world I'm even in. It really hurts Will. She just doesn't seem to notice me anymore. She's all I have and she thinks that buying me things makes up for it...but it doesn't. Right now she thinks I'm attending a boarding school in Philadelphia."

"But your not."

"Right.... I changed from that school...and went to one in Connecticut for a while. I sent her postcards and pictures from there. Let's see, that was number..." Jake counted on her fingers..."six."

"And...?"

"And nothing..."

"What?" Will looked was surprised. "So why would you keep switching?"

"Just waiting for someone to notice."

"They don't know?" Will was surprised. His own father didn't seem to care much about what he did. But, he felt sure that changing schools six times would be noticed even in the Krudski house.

"Nope...I just get inside my mom's e-mail account and send a letter as her, and her attorney wires the money wherever I say. The wonders of the digital age. So I did a little Internet research and found a school here in New Rawley that I'd like to attend."

"Edmond High?" Will asked knowing it was the only public high school in the area.

"Ah...no...not really."

"Then where?"

"I'm enrolled for the summer semester at Rawley Academy."

"Rawley Girls? You're kidding? That's a great school and you're not going to believe this...but...."

Jake cut him off..."Actually...I'm enrolled at Rawley Academy...for boys."

"But..." Will once again had a confused look on his face."But that's an all boys school...you mean Rawley Girls."

"Will...I said Rawley Academy and that is what I meant. I know this probably sounds a little weird to you but, I have a plan. I want to see if she pays any attention to the letters I send her...if she even takes the time to read them. I thought maybe she'd recognize the stationary from her alma mater. My mother went to Rawley Girls and now I'm enrolled at Rawley Academy for boys...as a boy..

Will was dead silent. "You're kidding..."

"Do I look like I'm kidding?"

"How?"

"Well...my well thought out plan was to get here early, get my hair cut, change clothes and become a Rawley guy. How tough could it be?"

Will looked at Jake. He looked at her long shiny dark hair as it curled neatly on her shoulders. Her cheeks were still flushed pink and there was just a hint of color in her lips. He couldn't help but take notice of her well filled out tank top...her denim shorts, frayed at the edges and her long tanned legs. How could she ever pass for a boy?

"I didn't plan on having problems with my bike. I didn't plan on not finding a place to stay. I didn't plan on meeting you." Will handed her a warm cup of soup and she mindlessly stirred the liquid. "I guess my plan is, well, not as worked out as I first thought".

"OK. You want to go to Rawley. You want to cut your hair and you want to pretend to be a boy. Am I getting this right?"

"That was the plan." She said blowing into the cup and taking a quick sip.

Will looked around the salon. "Well, Miss Pratt, I just might be able to help you." He smiled.

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"Oh my God!" Jake exhaled, "I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Jake sat in the chair, draped in a plastic cape, wet ringlets of hair plastering the floor...her hands still covering her face. "What was I thinking?"

"Would you relax...hair dressing is in my blood." He smiled as he glanced over the top of her head and to the mirror in back of her. "You don't strike me as the nervous type Jacqueline."

"But it's my hair. I expected to go to a professional, to a stylist at a reputable salon, to someone who knows what they're doing."

"You wound me..." He smiled as he pressed one hand over his heart. "Look, here's Boy tip number one...guys don't go to a stylist or to a salon to have their hair cut. We go to the barber on a Saturday morning and wait in line reading old issues of Sports Illustrated and Biker Weekly. Now, do you want to see this or not?" Will spun the swiveling chair around slowly to face the mirror...

Jake opened her fingers a crack and let one eye peer between them. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and slowly pulled one hand down from her face and then the other. Her lips parted slightly and Will held his breath and watched her as she took note of her new look. "Oh my God..." she said easily.

"You hate it?"

"No, it's good..." She pulled at her dampened bangs out of habit and tousled them over her left eye. "You did it...you really did it."

"And you were worried..." Will exhaled himself, relaxed now that he hadn't botched the job entirely.

Will unsnapped the cape and tossed it onto the chair beside them. He leaned down with his cheek beside hers and looked into the mirror along with her. "Not bad. If I do say so myself."

"It's perfect...thank you." She turned her face to the left and gently kissed him on the cheek. Will watched as his reflection blushed.

"You're welcome" He said as he stood up straight. Jake got up out of the chair and checked her new look in the large oval mirror. She stood sideways and attempted to look at the back of her head. Will picked up a hand mirror and adjusted it so she could see. Jake pulled at the tank top she was wearing...adjusting it slightly over her hips and smoothing out the wrinkles.

"Boy tip number two...guys never do that." He said.

"Right..." She sighed.

Will put his hands on her shoulders..."Relax a little...kinda slouch..." Jake did as he directed. "Good... Now...just let your arms go limp...and let them swing a little...bend your knees...that's it...now just walk.."

Jake followed his directions and looked like a chimpanzee as she sashayed around the salon. "Like this...?"

"On second thought...forget everything I just said...just walk normal." He laughed and Jake joined in with a slightly high pitched giggle. "Have you thought about your voice?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well...lowering it a little."

Jake put her hand over her mouth and cleared her throat. "Like this?" She said in a voice slightly lower than her own.

"Not bad...can you go lower...like this?" Will said as he lowered his own voice in example.

"Like this?" A deep baritone sound came from Jake's mouth.

"No. Let's just pretend that you're a late bloomer and your voice hasn't changed yet." He chuckled. "Now, what about clothes?"

"My stuff is all with your stuff...still at Charlie's I guess."

"I'll head over there first thing in the morning and pick up your bags." Will checked his watch. "It's after midnight. We should get some sleep. You must be beat after that ride today.

"Yeah...kinda." She said yawning at the suggestion.

Will pulled a small sofa out of the waiting area. He covered the top with a small stack of clean towels and stretched out his arm to show her the way. "Not exactly the Waldorf...but it'll do." She smiled at his offering.

"The what?"

"Never mind. What about you? Where are you going to sleep?"

"I'll just stretch out under the dryer. I see old ladies sleeping under them all the time."

Jake laid down of the sofa pulling her knees up so that her long, lean body would fit. She adjusted the towels under her head. "Good night Will." She said as she closed her eyes. Will watched her. It didn't take long for her breathing to become easy and rhythmic.

Will settled himself on a reclining chair under the confines of the hooded hair dryer. He folded his arms across his chest and eagerly closed his tired eyes too. "Good night sleeping beauty..." He whispered softly. "Ah...I mean prince charming..." He smiled to himself as he gently drifted into welcomed sleep.

Jake was awoken by the early morning sunlight as it streamed into the bright and cheery beauty salon. She rubbed at the sore spot on her neck as she sat up feeling otherwise well rested. "Will?" she called out. There was no response. She noticed her back pack and travel bags sitting unattended on the floor in front of her. On top of the pile sat a white paper bag. She opened it to find a doughnut, a small carton of orange juice and a napkin. She smiled. She emptied the bag onto her lap and took a bite of the doughnut. She brought the napkin toward her mouth when she noticed the lettering.

Hi boy,
Good luck at school.
Maybe we'll bump into
each other again sometime.
Will

She tucked the napkin into the pocket of her shorts. She lifted the hem of her wrinkled tank top and wiped her mouth with it. And then she smiled.......
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