A/N: I don't own the Wrestlers. Not even in this younger form. :P

A/N: The chapter titles are going to be alternating between the lyrics of song the fic's named for (Patsy Cline's Walkin' After Midnight) and more modern song lyrics. Chapter 1's title is the first line of the song the fic's named for. The titles that come from this song should be in order. This chapter is named for a line from Sum41's In Too Deep. The lyrics in the modern song chapters will be from random spots in the songs. There's going to be a pattern to the naming, even if the modern songs change. When it's a modern song, I'll indicate the artist and song in the notes. Hopefully, that makes sense. :P

Walkin' After Midnight

Chapter 2: We're Running In Circles Again

Jeff had sixth period science with Shannon and Phil. He wasn't particularly surprised when Shannon arrived, looking slightly more banged up than he had at lunch. "How'd it go?"

Shannon smirked. "Same as it always does. Orton's face had a mysterious run in with the floor again."

Jeff shook his head. "That guy's got to learn eventually."

"He's a jock," Shannon said. "One who seems to trip a lot. Those faceplants into the concrete can't be good for his GPA. Maybe if he'd watch where he's going now and then…"

"Sure," Jeff muttered. He was doodling on a sheet of paper while they waited for the bell to ring.

"He's not even listening to me," Shannon complained to Phil.

"So what else is new?" Phil asked, as he snatched the paper from under the pencil.

"Hey!" Jeff protested.

"What is it?" Shannon asked, stealing the paper from Phil.

"I don't know," Jeff said, frowning at the lines on the page. "I meant to draw the trees down by the pond."

Shannon snorted and flipped the paper over so it was upside down. "Sure, I can see that… if I'm drunk or something."

Phil said, "You know how much it bothers me when you talk about that."

"Shut up, Phil," Shannon said pleasantly, baring his teeth at his friend in something that was more a snarl than a smile. "I don't care about your damned straightedge nonsense right now, okay?" He dropped the paper on the table and slid it back to Jeff.

"Whatever," Jeff said, putting his pencil back to the page as his friends glowered at one another. "I'm not drawing it for you."

"Yeah? Then who are you drawing it for, Hardy?" Shannon asked.

"I don't know yet," Jeff muttered. He glanced up at Shannon and grinned mischievously. "Maybe I'll write a love poem on the back and give it to Kelly and say it's from you."

"Right," Shannon said. "And then Orton will have half the football team, trying to kick my ass."

"You're always up for a good fight, right?" Jeff asked.

"Are you and Phyllis going to help me?" Shannon asked, nudging Phil.

Phil said, "I told you not to call me that!"

"God, why do we hang out with you?" Shannon asked. "You're such a girl, Phil."

"Because you think his sister's hot?" Jeff volunteered.

Shannon rolled his eyes. "Right. That's why."

Phil pouted. "My sister is not hot."

"I know," Shannon said. "So it must be some other reason."

"It's because you're all losers," the girl in front of them volunteered. "And no one else will hang out with you."

"Shut up, Maria," Shannon said, smiling at her. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

Jeff smirked and went back to his drawing. "It's probably because we've been doing it for so long that it'd be weird if he didn't hang out with us."

"That sounds closer to the truth," Shannon said. He snatched Phil's notebook and opened it up.

"Hey!" Phil said, reaching for the notebook. "Come on, Shannon!"

"What's with all the goofy symbols?" Shannon asked.

"That's the Periodic Table, you idiot."

"Really? What element is SE?"

Phil took back the notebook. "It's Selenium, see?" He frowned. "Uh, you were on the wrong page. This isn't the Periodic Table, it's my art project."

Shannon snickered. "And here we thought SE meant straight edge. I'm so glad you cleared that up for us."

"Speak for yourself, man," Jeff said. "I'm still confused."

"It's the new Selenium movement, Jeff," Shannon said seriously. "No other element will do, because Selenium is better than you."

"Ha ha," Phil said. "You're so funny."

"Besides, isn't straight edge sXe?" Jeff asked. He glanced up at Phil, who nodded. "So it's not the Selenium movement. It's…" Jeff paused and looked over Phil's notes. "It's the Sulfur Xenon movement."

"Yeah, that sounds MUCH less nerdy," Shannon said.

Phil closed the notebook and glared at it. "Stupid Periodic Table."

Just then, their science teacher arrived in the room. "Everyone, take out a piece of paper. We're having a pop quiz."

Jeff sighed and slipped his drawing into his notebook. "Terrific."

%

"Do you want to come over later?" Phil asked Jeff as they headed to their lockers.

"Maybe," Jeff said. "I kind of want to go to the pond, though, and get some pictures."

Phil made a face. "I swear, that's all you ever want to do anymore."

"You can come down, if you want."

"It's no fun, hanging around the pond," Phil said. "All you want to do is take pictures, and then go home and paint them. Come on, Jeff. Live a little. Don't spend the whole day by the pond and end the night shut up in your room like a crazy person. I think the paint fumes are probably rotting your brain."

"For your information, I paint with the window open," Jeff said.

"Except when you forget," Shannon added, pushing his way into the conversation.

"That was once!" Jeff protested. "Twice, tops."

"More like every other time," Shannon said. "But whatever. Come on, Philly, we can all go to the pond and you and I will throw rocks at Jeff until he decides to leave."

Jeff said, "you can't just throw rocks at people until they do what you want them to, Shannon."

"Sure I can't," Shannon said. "Although there's a big pile of rocks down by the pond that's willing to prove you wrong, Jeff."

"You're a homicidal maniac, do you know that?" Jeff muttered.

"Yep!" Shannon said cheerfully. "We'll see you down by the pond later."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Jeff sighed.

%

Matt's car was in his usual spot, but for once, his brother wasn't waiting for him. Jeff leaned against the car, an older Mustang with a dull black paint job. Jeff had offered to help repaint it, but Matt was attached to the car the way it was. He watched the front of the school, wondering where Matt could be. He normally had football practice, but that didn't keep him from meeting Jeff right after school and taking him home. On the few occasions where Matt couldn't take him home, they'd made other arrangements before school let out. But by now, the bus was gone, and so were Jeff's friends. Sighing, Jeff dug out his cell phone. He seldom used it, since Phil and Shannon were his only friends, and they were usually hanging out together. He scrolled through the small contact list and dialed Matt's number.

"What?" Matt demanded, after just two rings.

"Uh, are you going to take me home?"

Matt was quiet for a long moment. Then, "Didn't you check your messages?"

"No?"

Matt sighed. "I've got something else to do right now. Get Shannon to take you home."

"Dude, Shannon left like ten minutes ago."

"Well, then call him!" Matt snapped. "I have to go, Jeff. Coach is looking at me."

"Yeah, okay," Jeff said, and just before his brother hung up, he heard something that sounded like another voice on Matt's end, and it was distinctly female.

With a frown, he dialed Shannon's number. "Yeah?" Shannon said. Music was blaring in the background.

"Hey, Shan!" Jeff said loudly. "I need a favor!"

"Turn it down already!" Shannon yelled. The music went from insanely loud to almost soft. "What kinda favor?"

"Matt abandoned me. I'm stuck at school."

"Wow, that sucks."

"Yeah, um. Can you come and get me?"

"Sure, sure." Shannon paused. "But we're not going to the pond tonight."

Jeff groaned. "Come on, Shannon. I need a couple more shots…"

"No," Shannon said. "You don't. You can live through the weekend without dragging us out to the pond tonight. Just pretend like it doesn't exist or something."

"How can I pretend it doesn't exist? I'm working on a painting of it."

"And a creepy drawing of trees that don't look like trees," Shannon added. Phil said something in the background. "And Phil thinks you're way too obsessed. That damned pond is all you ever talk about any more. Remember when we used to hang out and listen to music and actually do things that didn't involve that sinkhole?"

"Not really," Jeff admitted.

"Man, what has gotten into you lately?" Shannon grumbled.

"Are you going to come and get me or not?"

"No pond."

Jeff sighed. "Fine, no pond."

"Good. You want to walk around to the side lot?"

"Uh, yeah. I can meet you over there. How long do you think you'll be?"

"Dude," Shannon said, "we've been over here this whole time."

Jeff grumbled, "You're such an ass." Nevertheless, he started walking toward the side lot.

"Whatever. Hey, why did Matt abandon you, anyway?"

"Practice, he said."

"He's not out on the field," Shannon said.

"What?" Jeff asked.

"He was out there," Shannon said. "But I saw him leave with some girl."

Jeff frowned. "What girl?"

"Dunno, but they took off in her car." Phil said something, and Shannon said, "Phil thinks it's that Eve chick. He got a better look than I did."

"Eve? Why the hell would he be going somewhere with Eve? Isn't she seeing Swagger?"

"That's what I asked, but Phil said they broke up a couple days ago. Philly's a good little gossip, isn't he? Maybe that's why we let him hang out with us."

Jeff could hear Phil protesting. "So why are the two of you hanging around the parking lot after school, anyway?"

Shannon laughed. "Who else were you gonna call? No way was I going to waste the gas to come back and pick your ass up when you found out that Matt couldn't take you home."

"Good point," Jeff muttered. He sighed and shut the phone, since he could see the car now. Phil got out and waved at him before moving to the back. "I should start just catching rides with you guys," he said, when he got into the car. "It'd be less of a hassle."

"Except one of us would have to come in and wake your ass up every morning," Shannon said.

"And make sure you got up," Phil added. "The way I see it, Matt's the only reason you come to school right now. If he quit dragging you out of bed every morning, you'd end up needing to be homeschooled."

"I'd just paint," Jeff said.

"Yeah, see? Best that you ride with Matt in the mornings," Phil said.

"He's a total crank lately," Jeff said.

Shannon rolled his eyes. "What do you mean lately? He's always a total crank. That guy has no idea how to have fun. He couldn't let loose if his life depended on it. He eats, breathes and sleeps boring shit. Sports. Whatever. And then he goes and leaves you at the school like that, with no idea? Total tool."

"Hey!" Jeff said. "That's my brother you're talking about."

"And? You called him a tool yesterday," Shannon pointed out.

Phil snickered. "And the day before that."

"Yeah, okay, Matt can be a tool." Jeff paused. "So about the pond…"

"No way," Shannon said. "You're coming to my house. I've got this epic idea for the dirt track and I need you two clowns to help me make it work."

Phil chose that moment to pop out the CD, allowing the radio to play for a brief moment. He already had another CD sliding in when Jeff picked up on the tune. "Hey, what song was that?"

"What?" Phil asked.

"The one on the radio."

"Don't know." Phil hit the button to change the CD to radio, and they heard a half dozen notes before the song changed again. Phil wrinkled his nose. "Dude, Shannon. Why is your radio tuned to country?"

Shannon said, "It shouldn't be."

"Well, it is!" Phil said.

Jeff had tuned them out. Despite the fact that the radio was on a station he wouldn't be caught dead listening to, the few notes he'd heard of the song had a haunting quality, like he'd heard them somewhere before…