Ah, well, here it is... I'm afraid the guys haven't quite arrived at their happy-end yet. But enjoy anyway. Thanks for the reviews :)

6

Scip's Hideout

"Catarina!"

Staring ahead at the blackboard, Hornet pretended not to hear.

"OY! Catarina!"

Liza shot her a look, but Hornet still did not react.

"Hooorneeet!"

With an exasperated sigh, Hornet turned in her seat around to the boy behind her.

"What?" she snapped.

The boy, Ricardo, grinned smugly.

"The guy you were walking with yesterday, you know, on San Marco?"

"What about him?" Hornet growled.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

Hornet rolled her eyes.

"What's it to you?"

"He can get arrested, you know? Sex with a minor…"

Hornet was about to slap him as the door to the classroom opened.

Her teacher beckoned to her, a strained expression on his face.

"Hornet, would you come with me, please?"

With a deep sigh, Hornet rose from her seat, straightening her skirt. She tried hard not to hear Ricardo singing "Arreeeested, arreeeeeeested!" behind her as she closed the door.

"What is it?" she managed to ask, but her teacher merely waved her along.

"Follow me, please."

Hardly keeping control of herself, Hornet walked with him to the Headmaster's office where she was ushered inside.

"What is it?" she asked again, but the Headmaster, a guy around fifty whose hair was getting thin, merely pointed to the chair across from his desk.

"Please, sit."

Hornet sat down pointedly.

"Well, Catarina, I'm afraid we've been hearing some disconcerting rumours."

"What rumours?" She was finding it harder to keep her temper with every moment that passed.

"Well, rumours that… well," he blushed, "you have started a relationship with a man."

Hornet snorted. "Would you rather I started a relationship with a woman?"

"No, Catarina, please don't misunderstand me."

Her teacher nodded vigorously at this.

"No, rumours that you started a relationship with someone much older than you."

Hornet stared at him.

"Well, you see, there is a point when we have to inform the authorities… child protection…"

With a sigh, Hornet brushed off her skirt.

"I am perfectly able to take care of myself," she stated.

"Now, Hornet, we don't doubt that—" her teacher began, but Hornet cut him short.

"I am not in a relationship with someone much older than me. My boyfriend is sixteen, and I'd say that's a perfectly acceptable age. Wouldn't you agree?"

Without waiting for a reply, she rose from her seat.

"And, for the love of all that is holy, don't believe the things Ricardo spreads around. Good day."

Hornet smiled brightly at the pair of them and closed the office door behind her.

The swing squeaked gently as a chilly breeze swept across the courtyard. Hornet was sitting on the slide of the children's playground, staring at her knees. She didn't look up as the recess bell rang and the kids spilled outside, talking excitedly, or as Liza made her way towards her.

"Hey, you okay?" she asked carefully as she sat down next to Hornet.

Hornet shook her head.

"Listen, don't worry about Ricardo, he's an idiot."

Hornet sighed, wiping across her eyes with the back of her hand.

"It's not just that. Everybody acts like it's a crime that we like each other. We're not even doing anything. Just kissing. We've been together for what, a week? And Ida and Victor are ragging on me, and then the others here, and now the teachers…"

"Do you really like him? I mean, really."

Hornet sniffed. "Yeah, I really like him."

"And him? What about him?"

Hornet shrugged.

"I don't know… yeah. Yeah, he likes me. A lot. We've known each other for so long, I think I can tell he isn't playing around. No."

She shook her head enthusiastically.

Liza put her arm gently around Hornet's shoulder.

"How old is he? Really?"

Hornet blinked away tears.

"Closer to me than to thirty, I promise!"

She jumped as the bell rang again.

Liza squeezed her shoulder with a sympathetic smile.

"So, you up for algebra?"

But Hornet just shook her head.

"I'm gonna go home. If I see Ricardo one more time today I won't be able to control myself anymore and strangle him."

"Point taken," Liza grinned.

She rose and brushed off her jeans, stopping to stare at Hornet with a frown on her face.

"If you want my advice, tell him. If you think he can handle it, tell him what everyone's saying, or he'll start wondering if you're cross."

Hornet forced a smile.

"Thanks, Liza. See ya tomorrow."

Scipio was completely lost in thought. He had turned on the radio and was humming to the tune of some second-rate love song as he flipped a pancake in the air.

"Don't be scared, you better be prepared, go on and kiss the girl…" he sang softly as the pancake landed neatly on top of the others.

"Okay, nine straight flips, old record!" he told himself, "now, just one more, and then…"

He moved the pan around experimentally and, with a "Hupp!" threw the layer of dough into the air.

The doorbell rang.

Taken completely by surprise, he turned around and the pancake landed on the floor in front of his feet with a wet sound.

"Aw, shucks," he muttered, dropping the pan onto the table as he headed for the door.

"Hornet!"

Hornet squeezed past him.

"Hey Scip."

Scip glanced at his watch as he followed her into the kitchen.

"What on earth are you doing here? It's hardly noon. What about school?"

Not bothering to answer him, Hornet stared at the pancake in the middle of the kitchen floor.

"What exactly have you been doing?"

"Making pancakes," Scip grinned. "Want one?"

Hornet slumped into a kitchen chair, burying her face in her hands.

"I hate everybody, and everybody hates me," she stated.

Sensing that this was not the usual banter, Scip turned of the stove and the radio and dumped the pan into the sink before sitting down across from her.

"What's all this about?" he inquired.

"Well, it seems that everyone has decided I can't take care of myself," she replied bitterly, "apparently I'm stupid and have to be watched like a hawk because, good heavens, I'm dating a monster."

"Oh," Scip said, sounding concerned, "This is about the age thing, isn't it?"

"Yeah. My principal talked to me today. My principal. The only thing he's interested in is the short skirts his secretary is wearing. My teacher's alright though, he'd probably believe me if it weren't for the rest of those idiots."

She swore loudly as she slammed her fist onto the table.

With a sigh, Scip rose. He was so tall he nearly bumped his head against the lamp.

Grabbing Hornet under her arms, he lifted her up easily and swung her around so she could wrap her arms around his neck.

"Now, I'm gonna teach you something I learned when I was still living with my dad, okay?"

Hornet nodded.

"Okay. Now, you need pancakes," he handed them to her and she took the plate with one hand, "some syrup," he put the bottle into his pocket, "a blanket," he added as he clamped it under his arm, "and a balcony."

He led her outside and bent down so she could slide down from his back.

He grinned at her.

"I know you can do this, because you're my little pick-pocket. The roof's not very steep, but be careful anyway. And stop behind the chimney, it's the best spot."

He boosted her onto the tiles and watched carefully as she scrambled across the roof, supporting herself with her hands. Even though he had done it dozens of times, he couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief as she was securely seated behind the chimney and gave him the thumbs-up. Somehow they managed to get blanket, pancakes, syrup and Scip behind the chimney where he spread the cloth on the tiles.

"Now, this view," he explained as Hornet snuggled down next to him, "is something you just don't get from your every-day balcony."

He spread some syrup on a pan-cake and rolled it up before biting off one end.

"And you did this when you lived with your dad?"

Scip nodded.

"Constantly."

It seemed like a whole other life now.

"What a lucky coincidence your apartment is the top one, then."

Scip grinned as he gave her a light kiss.

"Who said it was a coincidence?"

Hornet giggled as she unlocked her front door, pushing away the hand Scip was trying to wrap around her waist.

"Stop, Scip, or I won't let you come with me after all."

Scip pouted.

"After I've come here all this way?"

"Yes!"

She grew serious as he took her hands, slowly kissing her hair, her forehead, her lips.

"Scip…" she whispered, but he just shook his head.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me, Hornet. And I've been so blind for so long."

They broke apart as the kitchen door opened.

Seeing the look on Ida's face, Hornet sighed.

"More bad news?"

Ida nodded.

"Hornet, Scipio, I'm so glad you're here."

Hornet shot Scip a worried glance, licking her suddenly dry lips.

"What's wrong, Ida?"

Ida sighed, and as she raised her head Hornet could see the tears in her eyes.

"Bo's gone."