(That evening, at dinner.)

Trudy put the dinner on the table. Smiling, she sat next to Jasper. He kissed her as she sat down.

Joy introduced conversation.

"So, what`s been going on last night? I thought I heard someone crying?"

"No, you didn`t." Trudy replied on Vera`s behalf.

Jasper and Victor looked at Trudy suspiciously.

She looked up and glanced at them.

"What? Oh, do I have something in my teeth?"

"No, darling, you don`t."

Trudy sighed in relief.

Vera shot her a 'Thank you' look, which Trudy acknowledged with a quick smile.

Nina said "So, why did it sound like somebody was talking and crying if nobody was?"

Trudy sighed inwardly. "You two were dreaming. Look, please keep this subject until later on."

Give me time to make some excuses up. Trudy felt really miserable, keeping secrets from her friends and boyfriend. She wanted to let Vera know that she was trustworthy and yet, she wanted to let Jasper know the exact same thing.

"Trudy, sweetheart, what`s wrong?"

She jumped at the whisper.

"Mm? Oh, nothing. Sorry, I was just..." She trailed off, knowing that he knew she felt bothered.

"I`ll tell you later, but you have to swear to me that you won`t tell anyone. At all."

Her voice was low, and only intended for him to hear, scarcely moving her lips.

"OK, darling. You just seem a bit quiet."

I know I do, but I feel so bad! I want to tell you, but at the same time, I don`t want to betray my friend`s trust! Trudy felt like she was split. Her friend or her boyfriend? She brought in the pudding, but she excused herself and went to her room.

She lay in her bed, tears spilling quietly down her face.

She murmured to herself "I can`t believe this. I have my friend who trusts me with her secret, but now my boyfriend wants to know and I`m caught between the two. I have to pick between them. Who`s more important?"

Trudy hid her face in her pillow, tears flooding. She sat up, then checked her mirror.

Oh, great(!) I look like I`ve been electrocuted and had soap in my eyes. What`s worse, I look like a wet raccoon, makeup dripping down my face.

Trudy got her tissues and mopped herself up. Then she rinsed her face with cold water to cool herself down, dried her face and put on her water-proof makeup.

Then she muttered "Finally, I look partially respectable again."

She changed her pillowcase and then lay on her bed, reading her new J.K. Rowling book, The Casual Vacancy. She read at least halfway through it, when there was a knock on her bedroom door.

"It`s not locked."

Her boyfriend opened the door, and held a bowl for her.

"Here, you don`t want to miss out. Vera told us everything about what Rufus did to her. She said that`s what was bothering you. Is it?"

"Yes. I didn`t want to tell in case she didn`t want me to, but I wanted to have an honest relationship with you, no secrets."

Jasper sat down and handed her the bowl.

"You know, darling, you`re not supposed to tell me your friends secrets unless they`re life-threatening. Do you know that?"

"I didn`t. But you know now, don`t you?"

"Yeah. Have you been crying?"

Rats, Trudy thought. Jasper looked at her eyes.

"Aw, sweetheart, you have. Come here, tell me what happened."

"Not much to tell. I was just worried about Vera and upset because I didn`t know what to do for the best. You know what I`m like."

He smiled at her. "Yes, adorable and perfect."

She smiled back. "Now, you know full well that`s not true."

"It is, little Trudy."

She kissed his cheek, then said "In your eyes, maybe. In my mirror, it`s a horror."

He put an arm around her and cuddled her close.

"You can`t see what everyone else sees."

"You`re the only one who sees me as a beauty."

"No, I`m not."

They kissed happily enough, their argument barely an argument. He fed her the cake, then tried to make her go to the sitting room.

"Aw, but I don`t wanna go to the sitting room. I wanna just stay here with you."

"OK, OK, my little sweetheart. We`ll stay here. Can I ask you a question?"

"Go on."

"Would you marry me?"

Trudy`s eyes widened. "Yes."

Her voice was a whisper, but a happy one.

Jasper put a gold and diamond ring on her finger, then kissed her.

When they came apart, he said "My sweet, angelic little Trudy. I love you so much."

"And I love you."

I can`t believe she`s going to be my wife. I was all set just to flirt with her, then disappear. But she captured my heart and I truly did fall in love. Jasper wanted to keep her close all the time.

(Two days later.)

All the students were in the sitting room. Amber went into the kitchen, where Trudy was preparing the dinner.

"Trudes?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"I was wondering if you were planning to go on holiday with Jasper, as you two seem really close now."

"Not until the summer holidays, then we`ll probably go camping or something like that."

Trudy got some stock cubes out of the cupboard and the ring caught the light. And Amber saw it.

"Oh my God!"

She squealed so loudly, Trudy jumped in surprise.

"Amber, sweetie, what`s wrong?"

"Is that an engagement ring?!"

Trudy went a light pink as she looked at her hand, then back and nodded.

"Oh, wow! You`re engaged!"

"Mm."

"This is huge! You and Jasper! Aw, congratulations!"

"Thanks, Amber, sweetie."

"I have got to get to work on your scrapbook! I can`t believe you`re engaged!"

"That makes two of us."

"It`s real gold. And a real diamond! Wow, he must have spent a fortune on it!"

Trudy smiled as she went back to her cooking. Jasper came in and surprised Trudy by sneaking up behind her and grabbing her arms, then kissing her cheek.

"Oh, sweetheart! You scared me!"

"Sorry, darling. You`re so little and sweet. Fancy going for a walk later on?"

"Ooh, yes, please!"

He gave her a hug, then said "You adorable little thing, Trudy."

Then Victor came in.

"Trudy Ana Rehman! What`s this nonsense I heard about you being engaged?"

Gotta go! Hope you liked it. That`s Chapter 2. Please R&R, RandomDizzy. :D