Would Life Ever Be the Same

Chapter 2

A/N: So, here is chapter two. Thanks for all the great reviews. Let's get started, and see where this chapter takes us.

Markko moved over to where Langston and Starr were standing. He knew that this could be bad. She needed someone to catch her. He took Langston's hand in his. Finally, Langston spoke.

"Dr. Lord, it's okay. I completely understand. Mrs., Manning changed her mind about fostering me." Langston could feel the tears and knew she needed to stop them. She could not let anyone see her like this, not even Markko. "I'm just going to go back to the group home. It's not that bad."

Dorian Lord had spent the better part of two hours since Blair left town with Marty Saybrooke to go chase Todd and John McBain in the fight to find his little boy, and finally came up with a solution. She was not sure that this was the road that she wanted to take, but she had promised this child that she was a Cramer Woman. All Cramer women stick together. "Langston, Blair still wants to be your foster mother. Todd called and you don't know Starr's father too well, but he does not take no for an answer.

Cole Thornhart finally interjected his two sense, "You have no idea."

Dorian had to laugh out loud at that. She had to admit that if she was Starr's boyfriend, Cole she would have said more than that. It had taken her awhile, but she had realized how good he was for her niece. She felt like it was time to tell Langston her plan. "I want to be your foster mother. There will be no arguments. I have already spoken to Mrs. Woodrow. That dreadful woman would not listen to reason about me wanting you under the roof tonight, but she is going to take this to her supervisor tomorrow morning."

Langston was glad that Dr. Lord had offered. Though she had called her a bitch at the time, and was so rude, she was really happy that Dr. Lord had this idea. She liked Starr's mom, but living with her dad made her very nervous. "Thank you. When do you think this will happen?"

"Well, if that dreadful woman would get off her butt and do her job, then hopefully within a day or too. She said that if all the channels were cleared that it would be maybe by the first of the month.

Starr Shrieked, "Lang, that is only three days. We will be just like sisters" She reached out and hugged her best friend. She was hoping that her mom would be Langston's foster mother, but her aunt would be just as good. She does live here too. "Aunt Dorian, would you be Langston's permanent foster mother, or just until my mom gets back?"

"Well, that is up to Langston. Blair really wants to foster you, so I imagine that she is going to try to switch it over when she returns, if that is okay."

Langston felt like it was time to declare what she truly wanted. "I would love nothing more than for you to foster me. I can tell that you and Mrs. Manning really want to help me. I appreciate it. It has been a long time since I felt safe with an adult. I feel safe with you and Mrs. Manning. Maybe it will make me not miss my parents so much, but I just can not forget them." Langston knew that she should stop but her instinctive defensive nature got the best of her. She defensively declared, " I know that you are trying to help, but know that neither of you will ever be my mother."

Dorian stopped her, "Langston, I don't want to replace your mother, and neither does Blair. We both just want to help you. You should never forget your parents. Blair spent years in fostering and she is a lot like you. She is defensive, but has a strong heart. You have something that Blair did not, though."

Langston started to drop her defense to ask, "What is that?"

"Well, you have three very strong Cramer women in your corner. There is no bigger force to be reckoned with than a Cramer woman. Cole, Markko, why don't you two go pick up some burgers from Rodi's?"

Knowing that is was, Cole asked, "Are you trying to get us out of the room?"

"Yes, I am."

Markko got up and interjected, "Let's go Thornhart. I do not think I can take much more of this Cramer women power."

"Right"

Markko walked over to Langston. He stroked her hair and said, "Babe, I'll be back. You going to be okay?"

"Sure. Markko…." Langston wanted to tell Markko how much she loved him and thanks for supporting here. Well, here goes nothing, she thought. "You're a Freak."

Markko kissed her lips softly, "I love you too, freak."

With that, the boys left the room.

Starr spoke up next. "You know what else you have Langston? You have me and Cole who love you. You are the best friend that we could have. You also have Markko. He loves you so much."

"I just wish that one day I could tell him how deep I love him and how much he means to me."

Dorian suddenly felt like the two girls needed a best friend's moment. "Well girls, I have some things to take care of. I will be back later this evening."

Starr said, "Ok, Thanks for everything, Aunt Dorian."

Langston knew she owed Starr's aunt so much. "Dr. Lord, thank you."

"Langston, call me Dorian. You are very welcome. It will be a new experience for both of us." She held her arms out, and Langston hugged her. With that, she left. She needed to go shopping and go talk to Clint. She had not spent any time with him since this whole thing started

---

Markko tried to find something on XM that both he and Cole would like, which was really unlikely. Cole liked normal rock and he was more of a hip-hop kind of guy. He thought about how much he had changed. A year ago, his life was so different. He crunked to his next class, and headed up his own posse of as Langston would call them, freaks. Now days, his heart was so lovesick and he did not even remember the last time he hung with the boys. He used to make fun of jock types like Cole, but Cole was his boy and he had his back no matter what.

Cole broke the silence, "So, you actually listen to this stuff?"

"Yeah, it's great. Besides, Langston does not like it when I listen to it. She hates it."

"I know how you feel. Starr hates the music I listen to. She likes love songs. Don't get me wrong. Some of them are okay. But, arguing with Starr never gets me anywhere."

Markko laughed in agreement, "Dude, I know how that is. But, haven't you and Starr ever been into fighting?"

"No!"

"It's hot. Some of our best times making out have been after a fight. I'm talking about average fights though, not the serious stuff like Langston has been dealing with."

"Yeah, I know. When I lost my dad, it was so hard, and it is like I told Starr, all of my friends turned their backs on me since they did not know how to talk to me.

Markko looked at Cole in disbelief. "Seriously? That sucks man."

"Don't I know it? I'm glad though. I never would have wanted to leave San Diego if I had nothing to lose."

"Seriously, dude you should try picking a fight with Starr. When we get back, walk in and be like, "Woman, you're a freak, you know that?"

"How about you say that to Starr and see where it goes?"

They left that conversation at that as they pulled up to Rodi's

---

Starr and Langston were in the kitchen, making a cake. Starr decided that she knew there was something on Langston's mind. "What are you thinking about? You worried about Mrs. Woodrow?"

"Yeah, but that's not what I am thinking about right now. Right now, Markko is on my mind,"

Starr laughed at that. "Surprise, Surprise."

"I love him so much. I don't know when that happened. He can be so irritating, but other times, he can be so great. He kisses great."

"So, what's the problem?"

Langston went on, " He said that he wants to spend more time alone? What does he mean by that? I don't know if I am ready to take that step. But, there are times when he kisses me that I don't want him to stop?"

"Are you saying that you and Markko are ready to have sex?"

"I don't know. I am scared to sleep with Markko!"

Starr looked at her confusingly, "You're scared of Markko?"

"No, I am scared at being bad at sex. I know Markko has slept with other girls."

"How do you know that?"

"You remember Markko when we started doing the musical."

"Langston, that does not mean he was a player. Look how sweet he is."

"He is sweet. You know, we almost had sex once!"

Starr could not believe that Langston had not told her that before. "When? Where?"

Langston knew it was now or never. "Do you really want to know?"

"Spit it out."

"In this house."

Starr could have passed out from shock. "What?!?!"

"It was the night we played strip poker when we were making sundaes. How else do you think we were covered in chocolate syrup and ice along with the floor?"

"You nearly had sex on my kitchen floor?"

"No, were just making out. We were going to go take a shower, then find a bedroom to have sex in………………… "

"Ok, all grossness aside, and there is plenty. Why didn't you?"

"It was actually Markko who stopped it. He wanted me, I know he did. But, he knew I was doing it because at the time, he thought I was being neglected and I wanted a connection with someone. He was right. That is why I was doing it. It was that night that he told me that he would stay and that I did not have to have sex with him to keep him hanging around. He was right. It was then that I knew that I wanted to be with him."

"Not counting the fact that you two were bumping and grinding two feet from where I am standing, that is so sweet!"

"I just don't know if I am ready. I don't want to be bad at it."

---

Markko and Cole were driving back from Rodi's when they tried finding a station they could both agree on. They stopped on just a hits station, and Markko heard the words I am Bringing Sexy Back. He cracked up.

Cole looked at him strangely, " I didn't know you liked Justin Timberlake!"

"I don't! It's just when we were rehearsing the musical and Langston and me were arguing over me changing a line, I told her that it's better that I was bringing the sexy back. She told me to keep it."

"So, just curious, have you two brought the sexy back?"

"A gentleman never kisses and tells. But, since we are buds, I could use someone to talk to about this. I am thinking about taking that next step with Langston. I just do not know if she is into it or not. How did you know when the time was right?"

"Starr and I still have not had sex."

"You're kidding"

"No. I just don't want to push her about it. We had a bad experience with the whole steroid thing and then Britney the bitch from hell starting the whole thing with our parents finding us at Llantano Mountain. I just don't want to push."

"I don't either. I just want to spend some time alone with my girlfriend. I hope that she does not think that it is because of sex."

"But, I thought that you two had sex in the kitchen the night we played Poker."

No. It wasn't the right time. She was into it and so was I , but she was doing it for other reasons"

"Yeah. Ok, enough male bonding. We sound like a bunch of chicks"

Markko turned up the music, as they pulled up to La Boulaie.

--

:Langston could not stop thinking about Markko wanting to be alone with her. "Starr, what if I want to be with him completely?"

Before Starr could answer, the back door opened to the boys with burgers in hand. Starr walked over and gave Cole a lingering kiss.

Cole pulled away and decided to try Markko's idea. "So freak, you miss me?"

Want to see what happens next? Let me know what you think! Preview of chapter three: Will Langston and Markko decide to take the next step? Will Langston finally leave the group home? What will Starr think of Cole's comment?