Boone sat down at the table with his tray, absorbed in his thoughts. He didn't notice Kate as she sat down across from him.
"I didn't know you ate breakfast at school," Kate observed loudly, making Boone jump.
Boone sighed. "Better than sitting at home where there is wedding crap everywhere."
Kate nodded in understanding. "How are you doing?"
"All right, I guess," Boone said.
"Good," Kate said. "Listen, Boone, I need to ask you for a favor."
"What is it?"
"Well," Kate hesitated. "You know Shannon?"
"My soon-to-be sister?" Boone said bitterly. "Yeah, I know her."
"She's got a few CDs of mine. Do you think you could get them back for me?" Kate asked.
"Kate- I'm not exactly on speaking terms with Shannon right now," Boone said, obviously irritated. "Why don't you just ask her?"
"I already have. She wants to keep them," Kate replied. "I wanted to use them for a project of mine."
"Fine, fine. I'll see what I can do," Boone said. Kate smiled at him.
"Thanks, Boone," Kate smiled. "I'll see you in class, 'k?"
Boone watched Kate as she got up and left the table, heading out of the cafeteria. His eyes traveled up and down her small frame before he realized what he was doing. He was checking Kate out! Boone hit himself in the head and went back to his breakfast.
-xXx-
Maggie Shephard sighed as she observed her bedroom. Her husband, Christian, had left clothes and other things lying everywhere, like usual. He always expected her to clean it up, too. And that she did.
Maggie set about sorting the dirty clothes to put in the washing machine. One pile for darks, one for lights, one for reds. With each pair of pants she stuck her hands in all the pockets to make sure there was nothing in there. She often found pens, sticks of gum, and coins.
In one such pair of pants, a pair of jeans, Maggie got a little lucky. She found a twenty dollar bill, a paper clip, a piece of paper, chapstick. The money Maggie pocketed. The paper clip and chapstick she threw into a box on the dresser. The note Maggie picked up to put in the drawer in Christian's bedside table when the writing caught her eye. It was more feminine than Christian's and much more readable, not at all the typical doctor scribble.
Maggie slowly opened the note. She wasn't sure she really wanted to know what was written there. Something told her things would be better if she didn't know. But her curiosity got the better of her. And so Maggie began to read:
Christian:
I know you said we couldn't see each other anymore, but I miss you. I know it's wrong. I know you are married. I know we both have children. Children that go to the same school. I cannot help it though. I still want you.
Please reconsider your decision. We could be more careful this time. I promise this time I'll be more careful. I'll make sure I take birth control every day.
Please, Christian, I'm begging you to take me back. I miss you.
You know I could always tell dear Theresa. I'm sure she would enjoy reading the love letters you've sent me.
Please, Christian.
I love you!
Gabrielle
Maggie's hands shook as she folded up the note and put it in the drawer. She went about her business as usual without a thought to the mysterious woman named Gabrielle.
-xXx-
"I wonder what's keeping Hurley," Libby muttered. She picked mindlessly at her salad while she scanned the crowd of people in the cafeteria in hopes of seeing Hurley.
"I don't know," Ana said. She didn't even bother to look up to help Libby look. She stared at her lunch, thinking hard.
"What's with you today?" Libby remarked to Ana, giving up her search for Hurley. "Usually you're very chatty during lunch."
"There's just been a lot of crap going on lately," Ana said.
"Oh. Hey, look! There's Hurley!" Libby said. "Where's he going?"
Ana rolled her eyes, tapping her fork impatiently against her tray. Libby could be so annoying sometimes.
"Oh, he's just going to get in line. Good," Libby said with a sigh. "Ok. Tell me about your crap. It will distract me."
"Ok. Well, there's this guy," Ana said.
Libby snorted. "Who?"
Ana sighed and ignored her question. "He's got a girlfriend, but I'm pretty sure he likes me."
"Ok, so who is it?" Libby asked again.
Ana hesitated. "Libby-"
"Hey, ladies!"
"Hurley!" Ana looked relieved that Hurley had interrupted.
"Why don't you want to tell me?" Libby asked. She completely ignored Hurley for the moment.
"So how are you today, Hurley?" Ana said, turning her attention to him instead of Libby.
"Whatever, Ana. We can try this again when you decide you still trust me," Libby said. "So how did you do on that math test, Hurley?" She turned away so that Ana would be completely excluded from the conversation.
"Fine." Ana rolled her eyes. She got up from the table and left.
-xXx-
Boone walked slowly along to street, not really paying attention to anything around him. He was headed off to the library. He wanted something new to read-and more importantly, a reason to get out of the house. Sabrina had been nagging him about who knows what- chores, probably- but it was annoying and Boone just had to leave.
He'd been feeling a little depressed, anyway, lately. His mom had someone, Shannon had someone-well, Shannon wished she had someone. Boone had very few friends, let alone a girlfriend.
But what about Kate?
What about Kate?
She'd shown signs of interest in the past. So what if she was Shannon's friend?
But she was dating that Sawyer guy. Obviously, she wasn't interested now.
But what if she was? What if Kate suddenly became interested just because he, Boone, offered her something different?
Boone walked into the library, shaking his head. These thoughts about Kate were ridiculous and he knew it. So ridiculous that he could laugh long and hard about it just because he-
"Shannon?"
Shannon and Sayid were sitting at a table nestled in the corner of the library. Their chairs were close together. They had been-kissing.
Yes! Sayid and Shannon were here, hidden away in the library, making out, when he was walking around aimlessly, thinking about his step-sister's friends. They didn't even have the decency to spring apart and be shocked to see him.
"Boone? What are you doing here?" Shannon asked. Ok, so maybe she and Sayid did look a bit surprised.
"What am I doing here? What are you doing here? I thought you were studying with a friend," Boone snapped.
"I was. We just got a bit carried away," Shannon explained calmly. "Boone-you're not going to- tell, are you? That you saw us here together?"
"Why shouldn't I?" Boone asked. He began to pace back and forth between the bookshelves.
"We're going to be related soon," Shannon said, smiling. "We should protect each other. That's what brothers and sisters do."
Boone shook his head and looked away. He knew what she was doing. She was trying to manipulate him. And damn was she good at it.
"Ahh! Fine!" Boone cried. "But give me a reason, Shannon, and I swear I'll make your life a living hell."
Shannon looked confused.
Boone rolled his eyes. "Blackmail, Shannon. Piss me off and off you go to some boarding school in Switzerland for disobeying Sabrina."
Boone turned on his heel and stormed out of the library. The night air seemed crisper somehow now. Nicer. He walked down the street, whistling a made up tune.
Really crappy chapter, but there you go.
