Thanks to my beta Mike for helping so much.


"Is working together still allowed or do I have to ask Professor Morrison for a new second chair in the mock trial?"

Alicia answered simply with her death-stare. She watched Will look off to the side and sigh then hold up his hands to surrender. He must have realized that he was being a jerk. After a momenthe looked back with a shy grin and shook his head.

She knew he was hurt and angry with her for choosing Peter and abandoning him. That's why she didn't say anything about his behavior. Although, Alicia couldn't let it pass without a disapproving glare.

"No, we can defend the case together."

"But will you work with me as a team? Because I need a good grade on this. So, whatever it is that's going on, I need it to not affect the work."

Alicia felt a twinge of guilt even though Will's tone was too harsh. She had been avoiding him so much lately that he had become defensive, even mean. She felt bad, but Will had to grow up and deal with it.

"It won't. As long as we can be polite towards each other." She answered quickly with a stern voice. This was not fair to her!

His head dropped and he stared at the floor. She could tell he was sorry and embarrassed about how he treated her.

"Good, so when can we start? Tonight I can't, but we can meet in the library tomorrow after class."

"Plans with Pe…? Actually, I'm sorry; it's none of my business."

"Owen is coming to visit. Why don't you come with me? You said you wanted to meet Owen and I think you two would really get along."

"Oh, I don't know, I don't want to intrude. You barely see each other and now you would have to share him with me."

"No, not at all. He would like that. I'm going right over to pick him up at the bus station and then we'll go eat something. If you're not doing anything you can come with me."

Alicia was breaking her rules, but it wasn't a planned thing, it just came out. She had promised Will she would eventually introduce them. And with Will there, Owen wouldn't have the chance to ask her about her situation with him. At least, not too much. He could be a little inconvenient sometimes, but he knew when a line should not be crossed.

What Alicia hadn't counted on was their time together in the car. She should have told him to meet them at the restaurant, because that awkward silence was killing her. It made her sad too. They had never struggled to find a topic of conversation. It clearly showed how much they had drawn away from each other, or, more her from him, since it had been her decision.

"So, how's everything going?" Will finally spoke.

"Good. Everything's really good. You?"

"Uhum."

And the silence fell over them again. The only solution she could find was to drive faster and hope for no red lights.

Of course, the bus was late. So they stood out in the cold. And in silence. The only sound was the wind blowing and Alicia's shivering. Suddenly, while looking at the street for the bus, she felt something warm falling over her shoulders. Will had taken off his jacket and put it over her's. She made an attempt to take it off and give it back, but he put his very warm hands over hers to stop her motion and shook his head as to decline it.

"Thank you." She answered with a smile.

Another 15 minutes went by and she took another shot at starting a conversation.

"So, how is … I'm sorry, what's her name? The girl you are dating?"

"Were."

"Oh." Another failed attempt.

"Anyone new?" She wasn't giving up that easily.

"Nothing serious."

"Oh." All right, maybe she was. Where was Owen? This was torture. Maybe it was karma for her avoiding him. She had finally managed to push him so far away that they couldn't even make small talk. No, it didn't have anything to do with karma. That was life. People grew apart. Only this time it was her own fault and making.

Hooooooooooooonk! Thank God! It was the bus! They waited for Owen to come off the bus, but he didn't. They even asked the driver if there was still someone inside, but there wasn't. Even knowing Owen she was worried.

"Where is he? What if something happened to him? I shouldn't have let him come by himself."

"Alicia, calm down, he probably just missed his bus or had a last minute change of plans. Let's call him. There's a payphone over here."

Alicia liked that about Will. In stress situations he always maintained calm and made a plan. And as a consequence, he calmed her down.

"Okay. Let's do it."

"Hello." That was Owen's voice. Good, he was safe. Well, from the world, because she was going to kill him.

"Owen Cavanaugh! I was worried sick about you! How could you not let me know you weren't coming?"

"Oh, hey sis… I'm sorry, it was all last minute. I tried to call you. But I guess you didn't hear my message on your answering machine."

"No! I probably had already left to pick you up. And what was so urgent you had to drop everything?"

"Hmmm, well…"

"I'm listening, Owen."

"Jason, asked me to go with him to his house in the mountains and I couldn't say 'no'."

"I can't believe you ditched me again for some boyfriend of yours!"

"He's not just some boyfriend. He could be the one."

"Oh come on Owen. You just started college. And dating Jason for that matter. Fine, go have fun. We'll talk on Sunday evening after you get back. Love you."

She went over to where Will was standing, waiting for her to finish the call.

"So, everything's good?" He asked a little worried.

"Yeah, yeah. Owen's boyfriend just asked him to travel with him and he decided to go. Of course he blew me off again for some guy. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing at all."

"Well, I dragged you out here, to stand in the cold for, like forever, and you gave me your coat so you must be freezing. And Owen didn't even show up. So, I am sorry."

"No problem. It was fun." He said ironically.

She only gave him the are-you-kidding look and he laughed. Maybe it hadn't been so bad after all.

"We can still go get something to eat." What was it with her and the invitations that just keep popping out? "My treat, so you at least get a free meal out of this." She managed to cover.

"Thanks, but it's okay. I think I'll just go home. Tomorrow we have to start to prepare for our mock trial and I'm really tired."

"Good. I mean, all right, I'll just drop you off."

The ride back home was just as silent as the first one, but this time, it wasn't a heavy silence. It held a little hope. Maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe their situation wasn't so bad. Maybe there was a way back.