Before I say anything, I have a BIG mistake to announce. In Chapter three, it is supposed to be taking place TWO WEEKS later, not TWO DAYS. I realize this is a huge difference and might have thrown some of you off, but luckily I caught my mistake. Okay, I realize that the last chapter sort of freaked everyone out haha. But don't worry, I have a plan. I want their relationship to be tested before they can finally commit. Basically, I think I know what I'm doing here so trust me :) This chapter will bring a lot of it together. I might edit it a little later, but I am pretty sure it's final. Reviews are appreciated, as always. Thanks for your reading and support!

Chapter four.

Tracy paced the living room, checking the clock for the third time. It hadn't changed.

4:50.

He had ten minutes to get to her house. But wasn't it polite for a potential boyfriend to show up a few minutes early? Her parents, having finally dropped out of the daze the other night's happiness had put them in, had insisted on a dinner meeting, so as to check if Link was "proper material." At the time, Tracy had assured them that he was.

But lately, she hadn't been too sure what her parents would think. He had been acting strange…and she couldn't quite put her finger on what the problem was. The past few days had brought many new developments, and yet it still felt like only yesterday that he was sitting beside her, promising her the world. She understood the pressure he was facing…the rejection in school – she was going through the exact same thing. But weren't they supposed to handle it together? She sighed, dropping down onto the couch. Rumors were spreading more and more each day, and they kept on becoming more unbelievable as time wore on. Her popularity as a society member on Corny Collins had dropped once everyone at school started to believe she ruthlessly stole Link away from Amber, but she knew that in time, people would understand what the two of them shared and forget the rumors.

For always and forever.

She trusted him, but was getting tired of having to second guess his feelings. If he wanted her to share everything with him, then she wanted the same in return…she quickly pushed back her anxiety, knowing that it would do no good to worry without talking to him first.

"And now…after all that's been going on…if he is LATE!" She muttered under her breath.

The doorbell rang and Tracy sighed in relief, running to the front.

"Thank goodness you're here!" she cried as he walked in, holding one bouquet of fresh roses and another of lilies. "Here you go" he said, handing her one with a somewhat plastered-on smile.

"Link, we need to talk immediately." she said with determination.

"Mr. Larkin! So nice to have you here tonight!" Tracy's mom bustled to the entryway.

"It's a pleasure to be here, ma'am. You look lovely tonight." Link replied, handing her the second bouquet.

"Oh well aren't they just beautiful!" she beamed. "I'll go put these in some fresh water. Dinner will be ready in a half an hour; you just make yourself at home."

Link's smile faded as Tracy's mom exited. "You wanted to talk?"

"C'mon." Tracy led Link up to her room, taking a seat on the bed. He slowly joined her.

"What's wrong, Trace?" he asked, staring at the floor.

"No. That's what I should be asking you!" Tracy turned to him and began letting out all of the worries she'd been holding back the past few days. "You don't tell me what's going on! Ever since we went back to school, you've become more and more distant! Is it the rumors? They get to me too, Link, but I know that this is what's right. You and me. Doesn't it feel right to you too? Do you even care anymore? You promised me that I could trust you! You told me that we were in this together! Do you remember that? I need you now more than ever, and I feel like I'm facing all of this alone. Why aren't you keeping your promises to me? Slipping notes in my lockers to explain why you're skipping school…answering my questions with one word sentences…never bothering to call me back. What's WRONG with you Link? You…you promised." She stood up and walked to the window, willing herself not to cry.

She felt him place his hand hesitantly on her arm.

"What's going on, Link?" she whispered.

"I don't know if I can do this to you, Tracy." Link took her hand and turned her around, holding her face in his hands. "People are hurting you. And it's because of me. I…I didn't know what to do. Because…because I am selfish. I want you to stay with me, and I never want to let you go. But Trace…I can't see you getting talked about like this anymore. It…it hurts me too much to see you in pain."

Tracy watched in shock as his eyes started to fill with tears. He quickly turned away. "You have such an amazing gift to give the world." he continued on in a whisper. "And I thought…I thought that I might be holding you back and that if I stayed away more...I wanted people to love you, to take you seriously. You are so amazing, and beautiful, and…" he stopped.

Tracy walked over to Link. He gripped her dresser so hard she thought the wood would break off any second. His face was twisted in pain, eyes shut tight as a few stray tears escaped and rolled down his cheeks. "You're…you're crying." She said softly. This was not the Link Larkin she knew…the boy who's smooth talking and charming smile could woo any girl. He was just…a boy. And there was something about that realization that relieved her more than she could have ever imagined.

"Link…" She hugged him tightly. "I don't care about people loving me…they'll figure out the truth in time. What I care about is you. You loving me." She murmured in a whisper, nervously realizing the intensity of her statement. "You're the most important thing in my world." She felt his chest heaving with held back sobs and held on even tighter. He put his arms around her, and they collapsed to the floor, embracing for what seemed like hours. Finally, he pulled away.

"Tracy." He said softly, looking into her eyes. "I do love you. I love you…so…much."

"I love you too." She said quietly.

"But…but I can't protect you enough from…from all of this. People are being…so…cruel." His face darkened, and she turned his gaze back to her.

"I don't care. When you're there, I can't even hear the cruelty. I can only see you smiling at me. I just need you with me…and then it doesn't matter. But you have to tell me what's going on…you can't leave me in the dark all alone. Okay?" she said, wiping his face.

He looked at her deeply. "Are…are you sure this is what you want?" he asked quietly.

"Yes."

"Okay."

Edna Turnblad walked up the stairs to the end of the hall, frustrated after having to yell twice for Tracy and Mr. Larkin to come down for dinner. She peered inside Tracy's room prepared to announce the meal, but stopped. The two were sitting on the window seat, curled up in one another's arms peacefully. Slowly closing the door, she walked away and went to the kitchen, putting the dishes away to be heated later.

"Dinner's going to be a little postponed, Wilbur." she said as her husband watched in confusion.

"I think our Tracy's found love."