Author's Note: Whoops I'm a day late in updating! But guess what, it's my last test tomorrow and then SUMMER! WOOOOHOOO! That's right. Summer. Time to party and chill and write and travel and do all the things I couldn't do with school in the way. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I'm really appreciating the support! Gahh you guys make this whole writing thing a lot funner than normal! PM me for questions and keep reviewing!

BEFORE YOU START READING THIS CHAPTER, I have to say first that this is like a Part 1, of what's going on. I just didn't want this to get too lengthy (which it is! Longest chapter yet hah) Part 2 coming up soon! Okay you guys enjoy! - lostconcoctions

PS: If any of you are into Ace Attorney, I was the biggest fan back in the sixth grade, and I definitely think we should be friends because I've reconnected my love for it.

Five: Different Kind of Love

In California, dyeing my hair brought unimaginable changes when I got back to school the Monday after my party. People started to look at me different, talk to me, be nicer to me, though it only made me even more closed off from getting close to people. Though I met more people, or attended more parties, I tried to stay close with my circle of friends.

Another thing that changed was my relationship with my mom. It was never the greatest, since we never saw eye to eye the way Bridgette and her did, but suddenly cutting my hair and dying it black seemed to be a symbol of defiance to her, and she didn't like that. Everything I said or did suddenly seemed the complete opposite of what she wanted me to do. Then, there was my boyfriend back then.

I met Riley at a club. He was older than me and was a regular, while I was inside because of thick make up and a fake ID. Mason and I enjoyed these little escapades, though we always did them in secret. It was even harder to keep it that way since I was starting to be invited to parties, and know more people, not just Bridgette. We didn't necessarily like clubbing or anything like that, we just liked the thrill of being somewhere we shouldn't be.

Mason had disappeared onto the dance floor while I lingered by the bar, not even touching an ounce of alcohol when Riley approached me. He sized me up while I did the same to him. He was much taller than me, even in my heels, had his ears pierced, platinum blond hair with some tattoos scattered around his arms and Veritas across his chest. He wore slim jeans, boat shoes, a dark collared shirt and a brown jacket on top. His style seemed out of place in the club, but the look on his face told me he wasn't.

"I have to say, you're too cute to smoke, missy." He said, eyeing me.

"It's Skylar." I said, exhaling smoke downwards as I introduced myself. I never really smoked; it was only when I was with Riley that I got into it. I only had a cigarette that night to look like I belonged. "I'm here with someone, and I'm old enough to know what to do."

Though my exterior stayed cool, my heart was racing in my chest. Where was Mason? Oh God, oh God, oh God. This had never happened to me before. I mean sure, guys would try to dance with me and pick me up, but here someone was actually trying to talk to me.

"Riley." He said, and it sounded like a growl in his throat, "And I think you should ditch this 'someone'."

"Now why would I do that?"

"Because," Riley said, his icy blue eyes cooling my whole system, "if I was with you, I wouldn't let you out of my sight. You don't need to have a good eye to know when you see something pretty."

"So why don't you go look for something pretty to stare at?" I countered.

"Already looking at her."

Riley knew I was underage, turns out he knew from the moment he saw me, but he seized the opportunity anyway. It wasn't like he was that old. He just turned 21 and I was already halfway being sixteen. He got my number and left, then called me when I got home. I didn't answer the first time, but he didn't give up. On the third day, I finally decided to pick up the phone since this guy was so damn persistent. We talked and he made me laugh harder than I did in days. And he called every night, and even when I would turn him down to go out with him, he wouldn't give up. Then I finally said yes to a first date, then a second, then a third.

It was different with Riley. I fell in love like how a tidal wave hits sand. All by surprise, washing out my whole being. He drove a red Mustang, and would pick me up at night to go to places in San Diego I had never even heard of, or thought existed. He would climb my roof and bring his Jack Daniel's, watched the stars with me when I couldn't sleep. I met new friends, discovered new music, tried new things, and found myself, all of this with Riley. I felt like before I had met him, I was just someone lost and wandering.

Word about Riley started to spread. The jocks finally quit pestering me about going out with them, girls stopped trying to set me up, and even Georgina, the queen bitch of the school, couldn't tease me about my boyfriend because no one could find something wrong about him.

He smoked? That's awesome, they would say. He had tattoos? That's badass. He's in a band? He's someone you had to know. He's an older guy? You don't mess with him.

When I finally introduced him to my parents, even my dad wasn't so sure about the idea. He figured that it was just a phase though, saying I wasn't really in love, but when I tried convincing him, he finally gave me a chance to let Riley prove himself. My mom was solid as a rock. She didn't like him. She wouldn't budge. She thought he was everything wrong and immoral.

Tattoos violate your body as a temple of God, she said.

Tattoos are a form of expression that you can't silence, he said.

Music is a waste of time that gets you nowhere in life, she said.

Music is a way of life. Music saves lives, he said.

There was an endless list of things she didn't like about Riley and she grounded me from seeing him again. That didn't stop us though. Riley and I found ways to see each other, either late at night or sometimes at school, or when I'd be at a friend's house doing homework, we'd be out eating burgers at the diner. Birthday party? We were at the beach. Any excuse, you name it, we've used it. I loved him so much. Riley changed me, and I knew I changed him somehow too. Though after him, I changed myself, and I wasn't sure how to ever go back.

My mom wasn't here now, but a part of me wished she was. I wanted her to see what a different person I am, how I knew how to handle and take care of myself without being programmed to do what she wanted.

But then she would've said something bad about my friends, and I wouldn't be able to take any more of that. She can pretend to be the "cool" mom, but I know she'll never go down without a word.

A little over a week passed, I tried my best to avoid both Castiel and Nathaniel, my "friends"—definitely my mom would have some comments on them; I already heard her voice telling me that boys shouldn't have red hair, and wow I should definitely try and be more like Nathaniel—Castiel, I was used to leaving alone for a day, maybe two, but this long was different. I almost felt…Lonely? I would never have admitted that out loud, but I did. Okay, I wouldn't go as far as saying I missed Castiel, but I missed the company. But it was probably just because less of him meant a lot less Lysander too, so that was understandable. Nathaniel though, while I tried my best to distance myself, it seemed like he doubled his efforts to see me. He didn't pull anything again like he did in the Students Council Room, but he'd be persistent in asking when else I would need more tutoring, or if I wanted to hang out after class. I didn't actually need any of it; my grades were doing just fine, more than fine, but Nathaniel seemed adamant about helping me out anyway, so I just let him.

As I walked into Sweet Amoris for the last weekday, my mind already wandering to Mason—he called every few days to tell me what was going on, and he promised he would today—and I was excited just as I normally was. I missed him, and all I really wanted right now was to be lying on my stomach on his makeshift couch + bed, playing Halo, while he sat on the floor, burying bullets into my player's torso as I did to his skull, I ducked straight down the hall, down the stairwell, to my locker. Barely anyone was in school yet, and I tried to keep a low profile this week, going as far as pulling my hood over my head as I roamed the halls. Bridgette though, seemed not so good at taking the hint.

"Skye! Wait up!" she huffed behind me, catching up to me as I deposited books into my locker.

I groaned, but couldn't blame her. I should've given her a heads up on what happened with Nate, but I couldn't bring myself to even talk about it. It probably didn't mean anything anyway, so what was the point in bringing something that was pretty much nothing into a conversation?

"Keep your voice down." I said, pulling my gray Padres hoodie off over my head and stuffing it into my locker.

"What's wrong?" Bridgette whispered. She wore a lilac dress today, something our mom bought her on one of their many shopping trips, while I took with me my dad's hoodie. We both loved watching the Padres games back in San Diego, and I remember borrowing it from him one day. He forgot to get it back before he left us, so I took it with me to Wesgrove.

"Nothing," I said. It wasn't lying. Something just wasn't…right. "I'm just not feeling so good today. Head hurts."

"Oh God Skye, please don't tell me you're high." Bridgette frowned.

""No!" I hissed. "What the hell, Bridgette?"

"Don't lie to me!" Bridgette rolled my eyes, exasperated, "I know you did it!"

"You just heard that from your friends, didn't you? Who told you, huh? Danny? Kyle? Which one?" I was starting to get pissed off. Bridgette never talked to me about anything like this, and now she decides to suddenly start caring?

"Everyone!" Bridgette yelled. "You never tell me anything and you expect me to always defend you, or lie to my friends and cover for you, but I never know the truth!" Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence and I felt a pain in my chest. It was true, I didn't tell my sister much. But that was only because Bridgette never seemed to mind what I did.

"You never asked." I replied coolly. "You don't ask me, you don't act like you care, you just listen to rumors and you go with them, you—"

"I'm your sister, Skye!" Bridgette threw her hands in the air, eyes big, curls bouncing with her movements, "I care. I always care. You—"

"Exactly, you're my sister and you assume all these things! That's your problem, you always judge and assume and you listen way too much to what other people say!"

"Maybe if you trusted me a bit more then I'd understand you! If you told me anything yourself then I wouldn't have to listen to other people! Because you know what Skye, one day, no one's going to believe anything you say because it's not like you tell the truth to anyone anyway!"

"Hey guys…!"

Oh no.

I didn't even notice the door burst open.

When my head snapped to the side to see who it was, Nathaniel was already making his way downstairs, looking blue in the face.

"Morning Nate." Bridgette said, still red from confronting me, breathing heavily.

"Hey there, Bridgette…" Nathaniel sounded out of breath. "Skye, you too."

"Hi." I replied, looking at his limp form as he staggered down the stairs.

"Why are you…sweating?" Bridgette asked him.

"Oh? Me? Um, well, actually I just wanted to ask. You didn't see test papers anywhere did you?"

"T-Test papers?" Bridgette stammered. "They give those out already?"

"No!" Nathaniel gushed. "That's why I have to find them. They're gone, stolen. The keys are missing too."

"Holy crap…" I muttered, my mind suddenly exploding with thoughts of Amber. I kind of just pinpointed her because there was definitely something wrong with that girl.

"Who could've done it?" Bridge asked both Nate and I.

"I don't know, but if you two try and find out, it would be a massive help."

Then Nathaniel spun on his heel and exited the stairwell.

"Oh thank God," I sighed in relief.

"What? Why?" Bridgette asked, looking at me suspiciously.

"I thought he would come over and… Oh nothing." I shook my head nervously, recalling how he kissed my forehead a couple of days ago. I shuddered at the thought. But then maybe I was wrong. Maybe Nathaniel was just touchy. Or maybe he was just lonely, or neglected, or sad, or was just experimenting—I don't know. I didn't want to think about it. I wanted to confront him so bad.

I jogged up the stairs and into the hallway. It was still full; no one really followed the bell here, and students were chatting around by the lockers. I meant to just go and drink from the water fountain, when I ran into Lysander.

"Skye," he breathed, smiling at me with a distant look in his colorful eyes.

"Hey Lys," I smiled back, doing my best not to stare again. I felt like embracing him and squeezing the life out of him, but I stopped myself. He wasn't the type, or at least, not yet. Not being around him for a while actually made me feel so alone. Instead of a hug though, Lysander reached out and offered his hand to me, pulling me beside him and walking around the halls.

"Where are we going?" I asked him, matching his steps as he held me by the hip. He was in a white dress shirt today, with a navy blue button down vest that matched his slacks, and a royal blue ascot to top it off. His boots were his regular black ones, though they looked extra worn-out today. His outfit made me feel sloppy and underdressed. Usually, I looked better I swear.

"I'm walking you to class."

"I have Literature and the room's the other way." I said, frowning.

"Oh right, I forgot to mention that I already gave in our assignment, and our excuse slip."

Assignment? Excuse slip? What wait? Class hasn't even started.

"Oh God—" I gasped, "The assignment. Lys, I am so sorry. I forgot it was due, and I swear I just forgot and—"

"Don't worry about it," Lysander cut me off, "like you said, we're human. We forget."

"I'll make it up to you." I promised. "The next assignment's all mine. That is, if you're still willing to be my partner."

"I think it's already a given that you are my literature partner, seeing we have all those classes together."

I blushed; suddenly shy. Lysander and I always worked together, seeing that we both have a love for literature and words. This was the first time I let him down. The halls had started to clear and suddenly we were alone.

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

"You'll see."

My first guess was the roof, where Castiel had taken me on my first day. I shuddered, just thinking of the fight I had gotten into with him. I hadn't been up there since then, and I wondered if Lysander would make it better for me. Lysander brought me to the same door that lead to the roof, and unlocked it with his own duplicate key, leading me up the narrow staircase, though instead of going straight up, he took a sudden right into a dark hallway that could barely fit two people. He held my hand as I walked behind him until he finally pushed a door open.

Sunlight hit me right in the eyes, making me raise a hand up to my face. I let myself adjust for a few seconds before scanning the surroundings. It looked like a small, secluded garden—sort of. Potted plants, different types of flowers, shrubs, decorated the area, and I had no idea where we were. There was a ledge that acted as a balcony, and a ladder that hung over it towards the ground floor. I guessed that we were somewhere at the back of the school, since I couldn't see much but some concrete a bit far off, which I guessed was the courtyard.

"Lys…where are we?" I asked, still new to this place.

"No one knows about this," Lysander said instead of answering me, "I go here for my thoughts, and my thoughts alone. Castiel and I both share the rooftop though. It's become a kind of special place for us. Here though, I write songs without the bothering cigarette smoke or the sound of cars down below."

"Lys," I chuckled, squeezing his hand. For someone who was pretty efficient at the guitar, his fingertips were soft like a child's. "You still haven't told me. Where are we?"

"Oh, hmm, apologies. This is actually the fire exit, as you can see the ladder there. But there aren't many fires in a school, so it's come to be a secret place for me. And well, now you too if you want to make it."

"You put all these plants here?" I asked, pulling Lysander along as I ran my fingers through the petals of the flowers; sunflowers, carnations, lilies, daisies, pansies.

"No, I suspect it was Jade, but he doesn't come around regularly. I do water them though."

"Am I the first person you've brought here?" I asked.

"Yes, Skylar. You ask a lot of questions."

"You made a friend out of a curious person, while you say so little."

"It's just the way I am, and there's nothing extraordinary to know." Lysander smiled. He leaned his back against the ledge and turned to me.

"I think you're pretty extraordinary." I raised my shoulders, looking off over the ledge.

His silver hair whipped around in the breeze, while it sent goose bumps down my arms. Really shouldn't have left that hoodie in my locker. Lysander took his coat off and draped it over my shoulders. I slid my arms into the sleeves. Huh, Lysander was actually pretty built, judging from the size of the sleeves and how they fit his arms perfectly.

"What do you do here, Lys?" I asked out of curiosity again.

"I mainly write. Songs, poems, or practice vocal stuff."

"Can I read something you wrote?" I asked timidly. "Unless you don't—"

"No, it's fine. Though this is private stuff." Lysander cut me off, pulling out a small leather-bound notebook from his pocket. He flipped to the last page he wrote on and handed it to me, and I took it shyly though my eyes were just as curious.

On cold nights I'm left wondering

How you could've been

I want to reach into your mind

Though to pry feels like a sin

Your eyes are like deep waters

With the way they seem so dark

I find they pull me slowly

With nothing but a spark

I want you to show me

Your mind though it gets dim

So that I can finally stop and see

Will I sink or will I swim

But

Then a bunch of words were scribbled out until they undecipherable. I read it more times than I should, hanging onto his words. I wondered who it was about. A girl maybe? A girl I knew? Or was it someone distant, someone only Lys did. Then again, possibly it wasn't anyone at all.

"That…That's beautiful." I breathed, my eyes scanning the words once more. "Lys, you're really good."

"It's not finished." Lysander said, taking the notebook as I returned it to him. "I've been meaning to but I seem to be at a loss for words whenever I think about it."

"Well I can't wait to see the finished product." I winked my awkward wink. I managed to make Lysander laugh for a while.

"Do you write?" He asked me, pocketing the notebook.

"Oh, nothing like poetry, and nothing compared to yours. I used to write stories though."

"Used to? Why did you stop?"

I twisted my lip and bit at it, thinking about my mom.

"Well, my mom never liked it when I wrote. She thought it was a waste of time since I couldn't make a living out of it. Barely anyone makes money writing books unless you were amazing. She thinks the same with music."

"But she bought you the guitar."

"That was my dad." I said, sighing. "I miss him."

Lysander nodded in understanding. We were silent for a while. It was comfortable, but it felt even better when we were talking.

"Why did you bring me here? I mean, me. Why me?" I asked Lysander shyly.

"Because you're different." Lysander said, honesty evident in his voice and his gaze, and I could already tell he was about to launch into a whole explanation by how he hesitated. "You're interesting, and eccentric, and I've never come across someone like you. Though we've spent a reasonable amount of time together, I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface of getting to know you. But I want to, and I will, if you let me. First step, show you something about me and here it is."

I was speechless that he even found me remotely different, or that I stood out to him. I was nothing special, even I knew that, but here Lysander was saying otherwise, like he saw something that I didn't. I was weird, I was into weird things, I was outspoken, I thought differently, I was embarrassing. I was almost tempted to ask if he was talking about my sister. Bridgette was special. Bridgette was perfect. Bridgette was amazing. That's all I ever knew, but I knew that was just my mind not believing anything great anyone could say about me. It wasn't Lysander's fault or anything that I thought like that, I was just so used to it.

"Well," I said finally, clearing my throat, "it's a paradox, if you know what I mean. To get to know someone, you have to give yourself too. To take, you have to give."

"Why do I feel like I've read an essay about that?" Lysander smirked. "An essay whose title seems to be escaping my mind right now, but I'll definitely be incessantly looking it up later to remember."

"'Love In Other Words', Harper Lee." I noted.

"Oh you think this is 'love'?" Lysander teased, and it was a new side of him I've never seen.

"Admit it, Lys, you totally love me." I teased him back. "You loooove me."

"You're horrible." Lysander rolled his eyes, brushing his knuckles under his chin like he always did. "You can't love a person you don't know very well."

"What about love at first sight?"

"I think you're going to have to walk by again, because I don't feel it."

We both broke into a peal of laughter.

"Alright, alright, enough of that aside." Lysander said, catching his breath. "I feel like I haven't seen you in a year. What's going on?"

"It's a week." I said nonchalantly, acting like it didn't matter much to me that I haven't seen him.

"It's not because of what happened with Castiel, is it? He does miss you, you know."

"Ha! Funny. You're funny, Lys."

"I'm serious! He won't say it, but you know there's something off. You've become a permanent presence between us."

"You don't know that."

"I know him better than you think." Lysander said.

"It's not all about Castiel. It's about me too, you know. I don't like fighting all the time. It wears me out."

"I think you two just need to talk."

"Yeah, probably." I agreed, though inside I knew I dreaded even looking at Castiel. "Nate's in big trouble, have you heard?"

"Yes, Peggy's been ambushing everyone over it." Lysander said, sighing. "Do you know anything?"

"No, but I've been looking for the keys to the teacher's lounge since—"

"Oh you mean these keys?" Lysander asked, pulling out another set from his back pocket. He jingled them in front of my eyes.

"How many do you have?" I asked, wide eyed.

"Just the two. You look disturbed, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." I shook my head. "It's just—could someone else have gotten a hold of those? Because paper's they were—"

"Stolen, I know. And just to save you the trouble of wondering, no I did not steal the papers, and yes, possibly someone else had a hold of these keys. I found them by the water fountain, just seconds before I found you."

"I wasn't going to say you stole them, Lys." I laughed, still nervous. I didn't know why, but this investigation really had my blood pumping. I could never turn down a mystery. "I was going to tell you to keep your eyes open."

"They're wide open." Lysander said, then actually widened his eyes for me too see. I laughed again, but this time my laughter subsided and ended with me just staring again into the odd pigmentation.

"You're staring." Lysander blushed, but didn't look away.

"They're beautiful, I'm sorry." I said, suddenly embarrassed.

"Most would call it odd, abnormal even." Lysander said.

"Did you hear any of those words from me? Nope. Don't think so. I have an eye for beautiful things. Heterochromia iridium, isn't it?"

"You really are something, aren't you?"

"You tell me." I said.

"Is that all? A week is a pretty long time, that couldn't have been the only thing going on with you."

"Well… there's this other thing bothering me, but never mind, it's nothing."

"Alright, don't tell me." Lysander sighed, giving me a mischievous sideways glance.

"Fine, ugh, it's just weird. Nathaniel, he's really touchy. I don't know."

"Has he tried anything on you?" Lysander asked, his face suddenly full of concern.

"No, well, not really. I mean when I see him he gives me these hugs, and the day after we fought at my place, he kissed me on the forehead and that was just…awkward. I've been trying to avoid him."

"Maybe he's interested in you." Lysander commented.

"Oh, no. Don't even go there, Lys."

"I'm just voicing out the possibilities." He said, opening his palms upward. "Possibly, he just regards you as a close friend, or a best friend. Possibly because you've been eating lunch with him everyday since you ditched Castiel and I, thank you very much."

"Sorry…hey he's not my best friend!" I said, frowning at the thought and feeling guilty at the same time.

"That's because you've got one right here." Lysander smirked.

"Oh shut it." I rolled my eyes. "You should meet Mason, I think you'll really like him."

"Who is this 'Mason'?"

"My best friend from back home." I answered, my eyes clouding at the thought of him. "You two would get along. He likes to sing too."

"If he's anything like you then we'd have no problem."

"Oh, he's pretty much my other half." I said, grinning. "Wait—what time is it? Lys, we have to get back to class!"

"You actually want to get back to class? I see changes in you, already." Lysander joked, swinging the door open and letting me walk ahead of him. We weaved around the dark corridor and finally burst out back into the empty hall of the school.

"Come and eat with us again?" He said.

I nodded, feeling better and more welcome than I had in days.

"I'll see you there." I promised, then sprinted off to my next class before the bell rang.

Recess came, and I was just eager to talk to my sister about the keys Lysander had given me. The second my class ended, I went over to the Laboratory and waited for her to come out, grabbing her wrist once I spotted her curls.

"Watch it! This bracelet's new!" Bridgette hissed, rubbing her wrist, which now held bead marks thanks to me.

"I can't believe you even have time for shopping." I shook my head. "Or is that all you do with Amber and her minions?"

"It's not all we do." Bridgette said, fixing the gold band with blue beads on it. "Anyway, what do you want? I might forget to go grab my books again."

"I found the keys." I whispered, "but don't say anything."

"Where!" Bridgette squealed a little too loudly, then covered her mouth.

"Lys had them…" I said softly.

"Skye… You're not thinking…"

"Of course not." I shook my head again. "Lysander wouldn't need to take test papers. He's…Lysander."

"I wasn't going to say that." Bridgette said, "I know Lysander wouldn't need them… but…"

"Castiel?" I finished for her. "I know; that crossed my mind too."

"You do know he steals keys all the time, right?" Bridgette added, raising an eyebrow at me.

"You only know that because I told you." I huffed, annoyed at her comment. "But I know. To get up to the roof, to get down to the stairwell at night... But I don't think he would. Believe it or not, Cas's grades are way better than you'd think they'd be."

"Are you saying he's out of the question?" Bridgette asked me.

"No." I said. No one was out of the question, really. There wasn't any evidence to begin with. "But I do have another one in—I should get to class."

"Who!" Bridgette pressed, this time taking my arm. Today she decided to wear her heels, towering over me like I was a kid.

"You're not really the person I should be saying anything to." I said with pursed her lips.

"S-Skye!" Bridgette gasped, letting go of my arm. "You don't…you don't think it's me, do you? I'd never—I swear—"

"No! I was going to say Amber!" I cut in before she could say more. "Relax, Bridge."

"Oh." Bridgette peeped. "Wait, why Amber? You're just putting her in because you hate her, aren't you?"

"No," I said feebly, rubbing the back of my neck, "Well, that's not the only reason."

"Skye." Bridgette deadpanned, shaking her head disappointedly. "I know she's a bitch and all, but really?"

"I have my theories." I countered, feeling bad that it seemed like I was being judgmental. "I've been thinking about it all morning. Okay, she had to be pissed off or something. Think about it."

"She's pissed about a lot of things, I would know." Bridgette said, shrugging. Tell me, Bridgette, tell me. "Whatever, I have to get to class. I'll talk to you later."

"Try and figure this out, will you?" I said, and for good measure, "I know you wanna help Nate."

"Kill yourself." Bridgette rolled her eyes, before we both laughed shoved each other and went our separate ways.

As I spun around though, I bumped into Nathaniel, just the person I wanted to see.

"Nate!"

"Skye!"

"I need to talk to you!"

"I need to talk to you too!"

We both blinked at each other then laughed awkwardly. I noticed that he wasn't as tall as I thought he was when I first met him.

"Students' Council Room?" Nathaniel suggested. I nodded as I followed in behind him.

"So what is it you want to talk about?" He asked, shutting the door behind him.

"Well—"

"Wait, I just have to get this off my chest." Nathaniel cut in, combing his hair out of his face, "I'm sorry for…how do you say this…coming off too strong the last time we were here alone. I shouldn't have taken advantage of you being vulnerable, and I just want to apologize. I don't want to give off the wrong message."

"Oh," I sighed in relief, "Nate thank God, because I only see you as a—"

"Friend." Nathaniel finished, nodding his head. "I know. I could tell by the way you've been avoiding me, and how you're quiet at lunch. I hope both you and Castiel settle your differences soon."

"You only see me as a friend too though, right?" I asked him cautiously, narrowing my eyes. I just wanted to be sure, and clear the air.

"Yes. You and I, we're just friends. I just got carried away with the moment." Nathaniel said, blushing. "Sorry."

"It's fine." I added quickly. I felt a whole load lift right off my shoulders, and now I finally felt like I could talk to Nathaniel normally again without thinking back to… never mind. "But there is something else I wanted to talk to you about."

"What is it then?" Nathaniel asked, straightening the pens in his pocket. "Anything on the current case, hopefully?"

"I have the stolen keys." I said.

Suddenly, Nathaniel's eyes widened in shock.

"H-How? Where? Oh—Skylar, I can't thank you enough—" Before I knew it, I was being squeezed by Nathaniel in a tight hug, my arms stuck to my sides. "Really, I thought my position as a—"

"N-Nate, um, getting carried away again," I muffled into his shoulder.

"What? Oh, God, sorry. I just—thank you. Really, my whole reputation is on the line here. I could get expelled."

"Problem's not solved yet though, we still don't know where the papers are, or who did it." I said, straightening my gray t-shirt when Nathaniel finally let me go.

"Go into the Teacher's Lounge." He said softly, sounding more like he was talking to himself than me. "That's it. That's what you have to do. Look inside the lounge and check for clues."

"Nate! Are you trying to get me expelled?" I gaped. What a guy. What a President.

"Please Skye, I know it's a huge favor to ask but I can't think of another way." Nate looked at me with his warm golden puppy eyes and I didn't know how to refuse. I had never seen him so on-edge and desperate. After a few seconds of turning the idea around in my head, I finally sighed in defeat.

"Fine. But I'm not doing it alone."

"Who do you have in mind to be your accomplice, then?" Nathaniel chirped happily, obviously pleased with himself.

"Nate, please don't make this seem more like a crime than it already is." I said, exasperated already. My conscience was so not in the right place anymore. "Bridgette? I don't know."

"Perfect." Nathaniel clapped his hands together. "I'll meet you two after lunch, and get you inside. The lounge is normally empty, since all the teachers are in class."

"Got it." I sighed, still feeling guilty.

Bridgette and I at it again. As they always said in our old school, 'trouble's just around the corner when you put the Whitman twins together'.

Author's Notes: REVIEWS REVIEWS REVIEWS! AHHHH! Please, I seriously love em! I answer all questions through PM or leave a review and I'll reply! Thank you so much for the support and stay updated! I love you guys!

Check out One Thing On My Mind, my other story which is parallel to this one, for Bridgette's point of view! I suggest you guys read the chapter's side by side if you want a full glimpse on what's going on :-) thank you!

- lostconcoctions

(oh wow you look gorgeous today, that review box looks pretty empty though... why don't you fill it up?)