She Could Be That Girl,

I'm Not That Boy

A/N: This one IS indeed different than the last chapter with the same name (Chapter 4, I believe). But the lyrics repeat, so... Anyway, it's a lot like the other one, but more action! By which I mean dialogue, no killing or anything :/

Well, school is officially out for me, so today I went out for food with friends, then had a good cry! Yup. It's true folks, I like school. Am I crazy, yes. Is that a bad thing, no. Well, it depends on who you are... Anyways!

And now, I proudly present, Chapter 9 (really it's 8, if you're not counting the chapter with the lyrics, and I never do. Anyways, I digress.)

This one is sort of random and doesn't really connect to the lyrics until the end, but it has Cecily in it, and I'm proud of myself for actually putting her in as an active character!

This takes place between Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess, before the wedding (saying that makes me so sad... My poor Will...)

Will stared out the window mournfully, watching the rain drops slide down the pane. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against the cold glass. Below his window, Tessa and Jem scurried up the Institute steps, laughing, hands clasped, smiling. They disappeared from his line of vision and Will closed his eyes, willing the dull pain and soreness behind his eyes to go away.

Wearily, he sunk to the floor and leaned back against the bed. Something jabbed him hard in the hip and he looked down to discover that it was the corner of a book. Without even having to turn over the book, he knew what it would be.

Typical.

It was like the cosmos just liked tormenting him...

A Tale of Two Cities.

A sharp knock sounded at the door. Will jumped, dropping the book. "William?" Will groaned silently, wishing Cecily would just leave him alone.

"Are you alright, Will?" His heart twinged. How long had it been since she'd last called him Will? Since she'd said his name at all? Too long... "Will?" Her voice was quieter now, softer. "Everyone's worried about you. I keep thinking you'll have to come out eventually to eat or something, but Charlotte tells me that's not necessarily completely true." There was a hint of a smile in her voice now.

Will tried to remember how long it had been since he'd accepted the food they kept persistently putting outside his door... And couldn't.

"Hmmm," was all he said.

The door knob jiggled, but he had locked the door.

"Will, please." The trace of a smile was gone.

With an inward sigh, Will got off the floor. Reluctantly, he trudged to the door and unlocked it. It swung open to reveal Cecily standing in the doorway looking worried.

She held out a hand and Will took it.

In silence, they walked down the hallway, then down the stairs. When the front doors of the Institute opened and Tessa and Jem stumbled inside, drenched and red-faced, Will couldn't help but wonder bitterly what they had been doing on the front steps all that time... He flinched when Tessa's eyes met his and looked away quickly, feeling Cecily's inquisitive glance. When he and Cecily reached the hall to the Library, she stopped, stepping in front of him and looking him in the eye.

"Oh," she said quietly, "Oh, I see."

He thought he knew what she was talking about, and he was not proven wrong.

"She's 'the Girl', isn't she?" Cecily asked him, sympathetically.

"I'm not 'the Boy' though," muttered will.

"Well obviously not," scoffed Cecily. "They're engaged!" Before Will could say "Thank you for reminding me, I'd almost forgotten" in a sarcastic tone, she continued. "Just don't let her break your heart, Will."

Will smiled sadly and whispered an answer just loud enough for her to hear before he strode into the Library,

"Too late."

A/N: Sniffle, poor Will. Did ya notice my Mortal Instruments reference? Heeheehee! (The really weird thing is that the dictionary on OpenOffice suggested that instead of "heeheehee" I meant "headcheese". What the hell is headcheese? And why would I be typing it? Again, I digress.)

Till next time, people. :D