HI! You guys must HATE me for not updating for like a YEAR! But I promise I am Back! So anyway I've been doing some clean up on the other chapters while working on these new ones so don't be alarmed if you get an alert that I redid chapter 1 or 2, it's just cosmetic details! So I have a surprise for you guys! (It's REALLY good) but before I can show you guys I need you to do the HOMEWORK that's on the bottom! So please do that!

MaJorReader619: I'm glad! I hope this makes your day too!

thisobsessioniscontagious:YES! You're right, haha! Anyway, I HATE plotholes so those had to be sealed up! The I/C scene was kinda hard to end so I decided just to leave it at that. Don't worry! G/T will have their crowning moment soon!

iAndin123:I am glad you enjoyed the scenes! Sometimes they're kinda emotionally don't worry I still enjoy I/N too!

musicaltheatergirl-dxc4eva: Thanks for all the love and understanding! Love the name by the way!

OCDbookworm: Thanks sooo much! I totally feel the same way (on the connections AND the exclamation points)

sk8inpiro21:Thanks soo much! Haha they're two of my favorite characters!

boscogirl:Thank you!

-Misty: Thanks! After rereading that I kinda fell in love with it! I love making up the Izzy lines by the way!

Angel360-Devil0: First of all GLEE! And Noah is kinda torn at the moment as you will see, he doesn't realized his feelings for Izzy quite yet! PS you are right on the Rogue thing!

Derangedpixie: Haha love the name! Yeah, you're totally on the nose on the whole Noah thing!

PurplePunkette: Thanks! I try! I wanted to open up Courtney a little bit more...

In the depths of NOTHINGNESS: Thank you! And I totally agree!

Animenut18: Thanks! D/C are my favorite too so I'll try to put that in as much as I can!

Marilynknowsbest101: Yeah, kinda failed on that one didn't I? I'm sorry to say that I/N wouldn't be appearing until later chapters!

YOURA I D 1 O T XD: You kinda scare me! :)

CamillaD: Yes you are right about Rogue! I'm really glad you like those scenes! I love how you appreciate the little humor I put in there! Glad I found another Rentheand! Haha have you seen the filmed on Broadway version?

iCharmCaster: HOW DID YOU FIND THIS STORY? I'm really glad you're enjoying it! I really want ALL the characters to sorta 'bond ' during this so Gwen is going to connect (she does in this chapter) Haha GLEE!

"Turn it off! Turn it off!"Noah hacked, "Turn the thing off!"

"What do you think I'm trying to do, asswhipe?" Duncan retorted somewhere beside him. Huh, even when he manages to screw them all over Duncan finds a way to belittle him, what a guy. Noah could hear Duncan fumbling with (or more likely kicking) the AC.

Noah felt around the hazy basement for some sort of support, to keep hm from stumbling. He had to find a way to stop the AC from spewing smoke before they all died... or something. From somewhere else in the basement the sound of Gwen and Trent struggling with their breath reminded Noah that if he didn't do something the fumes would spread, and fast.

Coming in contact with the wall, Noah had an epiphany. He used his hands to guide him to what he was looking for. Grabbing, pulling, yanking and finally the plug to the AC came lose. The air conditioner gave a last sputter of defeat before it whirred to a stop. Ahhh.

Noah sunk to the floor, in relief. Even though the hazy cloud was still at home in the basement, it was apparent that the problem had been avoided. The smoke slowly began to thin and Noah could make out the hazy shapes of the other basement occupants. Duncan was leaning against the AC, still wheezing. While, Trent and Gwen were propped against each other breathing heavily.

"What is going on down here?"

Noah could make out the shapes of Courtney as she thundered down the stairs, followed by Izzy who slid down the railing.

"He," Noah pointed an accusatory finger at Duncan," messed up the AC!"

This infuriated Courtney, "You did what? How are we suppose to keep warm now? Do you know how cold it gets at night? I can't believe I trusted you with our well being!"

"Chill Princess-" "Chill! You want me to 'chill'? We're all going to 'chill' come sundown!" Courtney was now so angry that she was literally shaking. She lunged at Duncan, Noah was pretty sure she was going to claw his eyes out and use them as yo-yos, but before she could even touch him Trent stepped in the way. "I think you may be over reacting, just a tad. Listen, Courtney, this isn't the end of the world! I bet we still have time to fix it before we freeze to death!"

"And if you don't?" Courtney huffed.

"We'll, uh, cross that bridge when we get there," Trent smiled.

Before Courtney could fit in another protest the stairs bellowed with steps.

"What happened?"

Courtney gave an exasperated sigh in Bridgette's direction before stalking off with Izzy, Gwen- and later Bridgette-in tow. She gave the boys one last warning glance before she disappeared.

That is some kind of lady, though Noah as he observed the retreating figure.

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Duncan was never one to be jealous, he couldn't recall a day where he was. But,as he watched that no good little squealer ogle princess's ass he couldn't help but feel a tinge of something in his chest. He couldn't help but punching the guy in the arm. He also couldn't help but giving him one of those Pull That Shit Again and I Will Wring Your Neck looks. But he was definitely not jealous.

TDI*tDi*TDi*tdi* tdI

Courtney led the girls upstairs and into the main office before collapsing in the first chair she could find. Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she gave a sigh. This was so stressful. Even more so than when she single handedly organized last Fall's fundraiser carnival to pay for new books.

Get it together Court, she scolded herself, you aren't going to let this rain on your parade are you?

She straightened her back, composing herself. After doing a few Fire yoga breaths, she prompted herself out of her chair. Motioning for the girls to follow her before she marched out the door determination written on her face.

She stalked over to a shelf near the back, scanned the spines until she found what she was looking for. Sliding the book off the shelf, Courtney thumbed a through a couple of pages before finding it suffice. She then proceeded to breeze down the basement stairs.

With a single "Out!" the boys evacuated the basement (not that they were doing much anyways) leaving the girls to work.

Without saying much the girls got right to work (maybe they were afraid that if they were to talk there might be conflicts, and at this time that was a luxury they couldn't afford). Even Izzy seemed so serious and focused now that she was infected by the determination emanating from Courtney.

Courtney loved to work, she loved keeping busy. She hated having her mind wander, she felt that was dangerous, not only for her, but for everyone. And right now she could really use a distraction (she felt the other girls did too, that's why they were so eager to comply) from the actual life-or-death situation they were facing at the moment.

If she were to allow her mind to wander, the 'What if's and 'Maybe's would rear their ugly heads and she wasn't sure she could cope with them. She couldn't allow herself to be consumed with these insecurities not now, not ever. Action was always better, albeit meditated action was preferred, Courtney had always thought.

So, with all the fear of distraction hanging over their heads the girls were working. Using the (few) tools they had they managed to somehow open the AC up. Often times, they were referring to the book on Air Conditioner Repair Courtney had found, their eyes like boomerangs from the book to the real thing. Pinching, poking, prodding, the girls had a slight grasp at what they were really doing, but they kept going anyway.

Silently, they worked until finally the wire to the school mainframe had been located, and cut. Now, if only they could get this thing to start up. Courtney's eyes wrinkled in concentration as she flipped through the pages in the 'How To' book. There was nothing here that might single what needed to be fixed. She sighed, passing the book onto Bridgette, who studied it carefully. Flipping from one page to another.

"It's the engine," Bridgette finally decided, muttering under her breath. Courtney normally wouldn't trust a judgment like that without seeing any proof, but right now she was kinda desperate, so she was force to take Bridgette's word for it.

The girls located the engine (it really wasn't that hard) and got to work. It was busted up pretty badly, a few of the parts had gone missing, but the girls managed to salvage the engine using some bolts Izzy carried around in her pocket (why?) and some hair ties, lipgloss and paperclips Bridgette and Courtney fished out of their bags.

As Gwen was plugging in the last wire, Courtney bit her lip in anticipation. The wire was connected, the hatch closed, and then... the slow (but still present) whir of the AC replaced the dry silence in the room. The girls let out a collective breath. They had done it! Ha, they had fixed the AC when the boys couldn't. They might have saved them all from dying (or at least from being really cold). Maybe they wouldn't die after all, Courtney decided.

TDI*tDi*TDi*tdi*tdI

Gwen waited for the rest of the girls to file out so she could have a moment of peace. Bridgette and Izzy left immediately, probably off to tell the boys of their achievement. Courtney on the other hand seemed to have the same idea as her. Gwen really hoped she would leave, soon. A few minutes past, pregnant with silence, and it was apparent neither of them would be leaving anytime soon. Gwen sighed, she was really looking forward for at least a little down time after that whole mechanic episode.

Under any other circumstance, Gwen would've refused to help the other girls (she wasn't much of a team player, per say) but the situation was pretty dire. Even though these people were crazy annoying, they were all equally screwed over, so if they died there was a great possibility she would die too, and that wasn't an appealing option. So she helped them, not the worst experience of her life but it wasn't in the top 50 either. So, thankfully, they managed (barely) to avoid freezing to death, but they were still stuck, and that, Gwen thought, might be a worse fate.

The chances of Courtney leaving were pretty slim now, so Gwen decided to start up a conversation. Albeit, it wasn't something she normally might do, but she had to have someone to talk to during this, whatever this was. Frankly, human contact may turn out to be her only anchor to humanity during this trying time.

So, Gwen spoke up, "You're pretty good at that, you know."

Courtney seemed a little startled, "At what?"

"You know," Gwen tried to explain, "Being bossy and stuff."

"Oh, thanks," Courtney responded coldy.

"Not in a bad way," Gwen tried to salvage her compliment, "you really saved all our collective asses back there. You're like a leader."

"Oh, well, thanks," this time it sounded more sincere, " I usually don't get a chance at doing that, most people tend to avoid me."

"Me too," Gwen doesn't say that sympathetically, she just states a fact.

Courtney shakes her head slowly, "No, Gwen, you tend to avoid people."

"That's not true," Gwen mumbles even though she knows it is.

Silence, yet again, falls over them.

"If I were in your position, I would not push people away like you do," Courtney informs her.

You have no idea what it's like!" Gwen defends.

"Of course I do! I spend all my spare time in the library, of course I know what it's like!"

Wow, sorry I ever said anything!"

"You aren't the only one, you know," Courtney speaks softly, after a couple of minutes, " I feel lonely too."

And with that, Courtney picks herself up, and leaves Gwen alone. Again.

TDI*tDi*TDi*tdi*tdI

It's not like Bridgette expected a Hero's Welcome or anything, but a little thank you would've been nice. Instead, when she informed the boys of their achievement all she got was a "Cool." (Geoff) and an "About time." (Duncan) while the other two were nowhere to be found. She slumped in a chair defeated, some sorta thanks for someone who saved their lives.

Bridgette stayed seated a couple of minutes while she wallowed in boredom (and in pity) she waited for Courtney (they were kinda friends, right?) but seeing as she wasn't showing up she had to find her own form of entertainment.

TDI*tDi*tdi*tdI

After being thrown out of the basement, Trent knew he needed to find something to do. Homework was out of the question, the only thing you could do on the computer was play solitaire (whatever that was) so what else was he to do in a library but read, of course.

At first, he drifted towards the magazines, but after realizing that the latest issue of Rolling Stones that they had had Vanilla Ice on the cover he decided to pass. Then, he found himself in the Biography section, and instead of reaching for The Greastest Linebacker of the Last 50 Years he grabs a John Lennon book instead.

At first, he sorta is doing that thing where you read but you really don't, but soon he's completely engrossed in the book. This guy was kinda a hero, of music, of course. Way better than Paul Whatshisname.

"You know, you and him are kinda alike but very different," he hears.

Who was that? There's no one around, Trent finds as his head bounces back and forth trying to find the person that matched the voice. Maybe, he's hearing things? Or maybe not.

Okay, darlings. Here is your homework! Whoever does it gets a pretty awesome reward so here it is!

What song (most of these are from a Broadway show so you guys probably need to look it up on good ol' Youtube) would you rather have Courtney and Trent sing in the next chapter?

A) My Junk- Spring Awakening

B) Left Behind- Spring Awakening

C) Whatsername- American Idiot

Don't do Saddness/Blue Wind- Spring Awakening

F) 21 Guns- American Idiot

(Look at all the SA! That's my new favorite show!)

So review and tell me (I'm also open to other suggestions!) I'll update soon I swear!

Snaps!

Miriam!