A/N: WOW!! Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed my first chapter!! I was so excited and very surprised to see those reviews! I've written three other stories, which have yet to get a single review, and my first chapter of this story already got some reviews and has only been published for a couple days! Thank you all so much! And, as promised, the reviews do make me update faster so, here is the next chapter! Enjoy!!

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"How far are you willing to go to win this election?"

I could hear his voice for the rest of the day echoing that question. When he first asked it, I'd bit back my initial reply, which was as far as he forced me to go. Instead, I just stared at him for a minute, then muttered under my breath the reply I knew he wanted, "As far as I have to."

I wish I hadn't said that now; now that I know what his plan is. I wish I had backed out of it, and told him to run for the stupid office. Of course he wouldn't have let me; he would've said that he doesn't have the 'advantage' I have, though I wouldn't call it an advantage at all.

So, this is his checklist for the election:

1.) Convince Luke that I made a mistake by not giving him a chance (Which, I should have given him a chance, just not in the sense I'm suppose to convince him of…)

2.) See that Luke and Noah break up (Jonathan said that I need to convince Luke to break up with Noah for me…..this will not be fun….)

3.) Get Luke to drop out of the election by convincing him that I'm all for gay rights (Because apparently, he's going to think I'm gay or bi or something.)

4.) Dump Luke (Because Jonathan thinks that Luke will assume we are dating by this point…..)

5.) Gag and hang myself (Yeah, this one was my own addition, but I don't think Jonathan will argue much; he'll be second to be president if something happens to me; and Luke will probably be the one tightening the rope around my neck…)

I guess it shouldn't bother me, (except for the pretending to be gay or bi or something part) because Luke and I aren't friends anymore, right? We haven't been friends for a while now. Even now we're just basically acquaintances, having an unspoken agreement to be polite to each other in public no matter how much we'd like to throttle each other.

But still. He was my best friend for a long time. He was the only real best friend I ever had actually. Jonathan sort of assumed the role in college, but it's just that: a role to be played, until real life sets in, then I'm on my own again. But it doesn't matter. Because Luke is the competition, right? Right. And Jonathan knows what he's talking about to get me into office. I don't want to this was, but there's no doubt that Luke could snatch the victory from me, so I have to do it this way if I want to win.

After forcing me to ramble on for at least an hour, describing ever last detail of mine and Luke's friendship, and another hour about what happened at Raven Lake and afterwards, Jonathan handed me a stack of flashcards with things I could use to get back on Luke's good side. Admittedly, some of them are smart and witty, but I discarded most of them for one reason: I won't lie to him. No matter if he's gay or whatever, he was still my best friend, and he saved my life after I treated him horribly. So I won't lie to him…I guess this is where being a good politician comes in handy, or at least being quick on my feet.

It was around six o'clock, and I had just gotten out of another 'Team Davis' meeting as they had come to be called, and was heading over to Al's for a bite to eat. And of all times to see, him, it was then. Luke and his boyfriend were standing at the counter. I slipped back outside and stood a bit in the shadows, looking through the window at them.

I saw Noah saying something to Luke, and then leaned down to kiss him. Luke just smiled, saying something back to him, then turned back to the counter while Noah walked outside. I pushed myself against the wall, hoping he wouldn't see me. Luck was with me apparently, because he walked right by without noticing me.

I waited for a minute, then slipped into the diner to see Luke leaning on the counter, apparently waiting for something. I swallowed hard and forced a smile to my face, "Hey Luke!"

He turned, and I could tell his smile was forced as well, "Hey Kevin."

"I, uh saw Noah leaving just now," I said, immediately reprimanding myself for it in my sad attempt to find a topic of conversation. His boyfriend was not the topic I needed to talk with him about right now.

"Yeah," Luke said, turning around, "He was just going back to work. I'm getting some food to take back for Ethan and the girls."

I just nodded, not quite sure what to say. Finally deciding to hit a topic that would be useful, I said, "Hey, man, it's been weird, I mean us not hanging out anymore."

Luke nodded a bit, "Yeah, the weekends aren't the same without a game of basketball or trying to drown each other in the pond out at the farm," he said with a slight laugh, becoming a bit more comfortable.

I had to smile a bit, I guess because when he talked like that, it really felt like I had my best friend back; before I found out he was gay; before I found out he was in love with me; before he saved my life. He was just Luke, my best friend again, "So hey, why don't we hang out sometime? I haven't played basketball in a while, but I think I can still take you."

His smile faltered just a bit and I saw his eyes dart to the door behind me, "I don't know," he said slowly, and I knew he was wondering what his boyfriend would say about it.

I just hit him lightly on the shoulder, "Come on, man. We'll just play a quick game for old times sake? How about tomorrow around three?"

Luke shrugged a bit, a slight smile on his lips and looked down at the ground, "Well, I don't have a class then, and Noah will be working til at least seven," he was talking so quietly I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or himself, but he finally looked up and smiled, "Sure, why not? We'll play at my mom's house. We never took down the goal out there."

"You're not living there anymore?" I asked, now genuinely curious.

He just shook his head, "I'm staying out at the farm with my grandma. Aaron and Noah are staying out there too," he added the last part as an afterthought, though I didn't question any more about Noah staying there with him. I don't even want to think about the implications there.

"Here you are, dear, sorry about the wait," Luke spun around as the lady behind the counter addressed him and handed him a brown paper bag and a drink.

"Thanks," he muttered to her, then turned back to me, "Alright, then I guess I'll see you tomorrow," he said, sounding a bit uncertain as though he couldn't believe this was happening. Honestly, I can't believe it either. This is completely insane. I really need to fire Jonathan as my campaign director…..

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A/N: Like it? Hate it? Please tell me! You know the drill: just clickie on the little button and leave me a nice review!! They really do make me update faster! I wasn't planning on updating this for another week or so til I saw how many reviews my last chapter got! So I'm not joking when I say this: If you want updates faster, leave me reviews!! Positive or negative, I want to hear it!