ALWAYS AND FOREVER….

The next day, Ryan left early to prep for his classes. I dropped the kids off at school before I drove myself to work. Maddie jumped out and ran straight for her friends. They all stood in a circle and began laughing. High school sure hadn't changed much. Luke stayed behind, as if debating if he actually wanted to go.

"Go, trust me everything will be fine Luke. Pop is here and if you need anything you know where to find him."

"Yeah, I don't know why I'm so nervous. Alright. I have to go talk with Jen. So, I'll see you later dad. And thanks."

"Anytime Luke. But Jen?"

"Tell you later."

He got out of the car and strutted toward a very pretty brunette. They were soon met by a dark haired jock. As I started to leave I noticed Luke put his arm around the girls waist and as he did the other guy did as well. Their hands met and they held hands and their arms held the girl. I left confused. 'Was he gay or was he straight? He sure seemed smitten with that girl. But the hand holdng? Did he think I would see?'

Luke POV

"Hey Jen"

"Luke, how are ya?"

"Good. And how is my little guy?" I said as I rubbed her stomach.

"Would you stop that, people might start talking. And we don't know if it's a boy or not. It could be a girl."

"True. Alright, I will control my urges to talk to my baby. Jeff, hey."

"Luke, if you don't stop Mr. B is gonna find out."

"Crap, forgot that he works here. Okay, stopping."

I slid my arm around her waist and linked hands with Jeff. We walked down the hall and we dropped Jen off at her classroom as Jeff and I walked down to English. No longer hand in hand. As we turned the corner to our class, a girl came up and handed me a note.

Luke meet me after school under the bleachers. I know everything so don't skip out. –JJ

'Crap. This was all I needed.'

"Luke, what is it?" Jeff asked.

"It's nothing. Just something I need to take care of. Come on, you know Mr. B hates tardiness.

"No, come on." He said forcefully as he grabbed my arm and led me in the opposite direction. He pulled me into a hallway I've never been before and lead me up a stairwell.

"Jeff, where are we going?"

"Shhh…you'll see. Trust me. Do you trust me?"

"With my life."

At the top of the stairwell, we found a door. He opened the door and I saw that he led me to the roof. I was on the roof of the school. If that wasn't bad enough, I was skipping the class taught by my parent. But something the whole experience kept me glued to the ground and in awe of everything that was going on.

"Hey come here. Now spill. You're brooding more than usual."

"Hey, I do not brood. You need to stop watching One Tree Hill."

"Baby, will you just tell me what's on your mind? Please. I hate to think that you're keeping secrets."

"I'm sorry. There is just so much going on in my head. Can I ask you something, Jeff?"

"Anything."

"How can you deal with me and everything that's going on?"

He grabbed me close and wrapped his muscular arms around me, all the while starring into my emerald eyes.

"You mean the situation between you and Jen. At first, I was really hurt. I thought we had a good thing going but then I realized why you did what you did. It just so happens that you have consequences to deal with. Jen and I were friends before everything happened. We are still going to be friends. No matter what. I will just have to get used to having her in our lives."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Now when are you going to tell your parents about me?"

"I'm trying. It's just hard."

"Hard…your parents are gay. How can it be hard to come out to gay parents?"

"I'm scared. Okay." I said easily agitated.

"Hey. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is knowing that something is more important than fear."

"Oh, and so the next generation of English teachers rears its ugly head."

"Hey just because I want to teach doesn't mean you can make fun of me."

"You're right, and you don't have an ugly head. Come on class is almost over. We better get back."

"Luke, I want to do something first."

"What?" I said as he backed away from me and started digging in his pockets becoming more nervous with time.

"It's here somewhere." He whispered to himself, not thinkong I could hear. "Aha"

"I want to promise that I will always stand next you. I want to be with you, Luke." He said as his handed me a small velvet box. Inside was an adorable silver ring. Rather plain except for the engraving on the outside. It matched the one I always wore.

My parents bought me this ring when I was 15. It was shortly after the accident and I kept asking if we were going to stay a family. SO they bought me a ring with an engraving on the outside that said 'Always'. Now here was a great guy giving me another one. His said 'and Forever'.

"I will take this on one condition."

"Anything."

"That you wear mine." I said as I placed my ring on his finger.

"Always…" He replied.

"And Forever."

We smiled as we walked down the stairwell once again hand in hand. We got back to the man hallways five minutes before classes ended. I gave him a kiss.

"Jeff, come to my house at six. We can tell them together, okay?"

"Absolutely, not get your sexy ass to class, Bolton." He called as he winked at me.

Shivers ran up and down my spine as I walked to class. Smile permanently plastered on my face as I walked to my daily waiting spot. It was here that I would wait for Jen everyday so that we could walk to class together.

I could smell Jen before she got anywhere near me. She always wore the vanilla body spray that I bought her for her birthday. She came up behind me and covered my eyes.

"Guess who?"

"Mmmm….vanilla. Let's see, who wears vanilla? Could it be Jen?" I said while breathing in the delicious scent.

I felt myself being pulled backwards. Jen must have been leading me somewhere. I followed blindly. We went down the hall and out a set of doors.

"Jen where are we going?" I said with her hands over my eyes.

She leaned in and I noticed a new smell to her. It was a chemical smell that I knew but couldn't figure out.

"You wish it was Jen…." The person who I thought was Jen whispered in my ear.

"What?" I questioned as I processes what the person had said. She uncovered my eyes and I saw Jordan standing in front of me. We were outside near the parking lot. 'How did we get here? What was going on?'

Panic spread across my face as I started opening my mouth.

"I wouldn't open that mouth of yours if I were you. Giselle thank you for your services. Your debt is paid. Now go." I felt the girl release me and heard her run in the opposite direction.

"---" I caught myself before I could say anything.

"Get in the car, Luke."

"No" I said as I started backing up so that I could run back into the school. I turned around and looked up at two huge guys. 'Looks like I'm going for a ride.'

Jordan opened the door and I got in. Clearly panicking at this time. Today was turning into a great day and now this. I tried thinking clearly but the panic was fogging my thoughts. What was I going to do?

WHAT IS LUKE GOING TO DO????? WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN????? WHEN WILL TROY AND RYAN FIND OUT?????

LOTS OF QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED!!!!!!!