This is my entery for Fabes999's contest.

Alfie Lewis has a secret. He never told anyone about, not even Jerome, his best friend, or his girlfriend, Amber Millington. But what happens when Fabian finds out?

Alfie's Secret: Chapter 1

Alfie's POV

I was walking to school with my girlfriend, Amber, also known as the most amazing girl in the world. We were holding hands and talking.

"That's so funny!" she laughed after I told her a joke. I laughed with her. When she calmed down, she said, "Okay, seriously, do you have any secrets to tell me? Because, I'm not gonna tell anyone. I never tell a secret."

"N...no, Ambs, I've told you everything," I stuttered. I did have one secret I haven't told her, but I've never told anyone that. Not even Jerome.

"Are you sure? You don't seem very sure," Amber said. She gave me a suspicious look.

"I'm positive," I said, avoiding her eyes. We were at the school now. Nina saved me from being questioned more when we passed her in the hall and Amber went to talk to her.

"Hey, mate," I said as I came up to Fabian in the hallway.

"Hey, Alfie," he responded. I quickened my pace to catch up with him.

"Quick question; Is there anymore of this...mystery stuff happening, or is it all over?" I asked.

"I think Nina wants to have a Sibuna meeting to discuss that," he said, not looking at me.

"You okay, mate?" I asked.

"Yeah, fine," he said. Just then, Mick caught up with us.

"Hey, guys," he said.

"Hey," Fabian and I said in unison.

"Mick, do you know what's wrong with Fabian?" I asked Mick.

Mick glanced at Fabian. "Oh, that?" he asked, pointing to Fabian's face. "He wants to ask Nina out, but gets scared or interupted every time he tries. Fabian's cheeks turned a bit pink.

"No, I'm don't. I'm not trying to," Fabian said, still avoiding eye contact.

"Yes. you do," Mick said. Suddenly, the bell rang. Saved by the bell, I thought.

I sat next to Jerome, who was at our usual table, early. Weird. He was staring off into space.

"Jerome," I said. His eyes shifted from nowhere to me.

"What?" he asked, some edge in his voice.

"What are you doing here so early?" I asked, sitting next to him.

"Just felt like it," he said, turning away from me.

"You okay, mate?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine," he said sacastically.

"Okay, dude, what's..." I was interupted my Mr. Winkler.

"Morning, guys!" Mr. Winkler said happily.

"Morning," we all moaned.

"Today we will..." that was when I zoned out and set sail into the sea of my mind. Jerome was upset about something, and it's either me or because of me; or both.

Then, I had a thought. We could pass notes. Wouldn't be as effective with paper though, but it was worth a shot.

I wrote, what's wrong? and slid the paper over to Jerome. He picked up the paper and read. Then he wrote something. He slid it back over to me. Nothing, he had written.

I decided it would be easier to talk to him in person, with my voice. So I waited.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, the bell rang. We all stood up and gathered our things. Jerome was the first one out of the room, then a few people from other houses. I quickly followed after Jerome, but was stopped by Amber.

"Beau, where are you going in such a hurry?" she asked.

"Jerome's been acting strange," I told her. "I want to find out what's going on." I pulled away from Amber, feeling like a jerk in the process, and tried to find Jerome in the sea of students. No Jerome. No Jerome anywhere.

I decided to go back to the house and look for him. I went straight to our room and opened the door. No Jerome.

I knocked on the bathroom door. No Jerome.

I had no idea where he was. Next class would start soon, and I still needed my books. If he's not in class, I'll make up an excuse and go find him, I thought and headed back to the school.

When Alfie walked into class, there was Jerome, sitting in the same table in the back, an empty chair next to him.

Now it seems like Jerome has a secret. But is that all an illusion? To make you confused? Hmmm...

Please review.

*~apples~*