Author's Note: Twice in a day! What can I say? It was just one of those weekends. Anyway, enjoy. A few mysteries are solved this chapter, one that was merely hinted at in the initial summary. But enjoy this chapter, and keep those reviews coming!

I disclaim

Chapter 10: The best year of their lives

Julie sat on the steps of the freshman girls' dorm hopefully on the first day of school with two plain coffees she'd run to cafeteria and gotten in to go cups. She smoothed her hair behind her as it was being held off her face with a black headband she'd picked up in Rome. She smoothed her blazer, an addition to the uniform for seniors, and rapped her finger nails against the steps. She wanted so badly for him to come. She'd forgive everything, let go of all her own crap if he'd just come and drink coffee with her, and tell her every thing would be OK and kiss her, right here where they'd first met, where she'd first noticed how when he got nervous he got more and more puppy like, both in appearance and demeanor. The first time she'd looked into his brown eyes and understood that boys didn't have to be these vague friends who felt more like brothers, that they could be something else.

"Julie," She looked up hopefully and sighed, "Hey." Brad walked over.

"Hey," She said quietly.

"I'm guessing I wasn't who you were hoping for," He said. She nodded. "A little taller, broodier."

"You match him on the brooding," She shrugged. He laughed. "You know AA defines insanity as doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results." He looked at her. "Apparently we're crazy Brad."

"No," He said, "I was crazy. I've broken the pattern."

"Oh right your little ballerina," She poked him in the shoulder. "How'd it go with her?"

"We're just friends," He shrugged, "You know, now, because that was one of our rules." She nodded. "I miss her though. She had the best laugh. She reminded me of you a little bit, but you know a brunette, and actually a girl."

"She wouldn't have sex with you either huh?" She smiled. He laughed.

"Oh I missed you," He hugged her. She hugged him closely. "Scottie says hi."

"How is he?" She sighed, "I was really hoping to see him this summer."

"He's good," He nodded, "The book gets published in a few months. Logan's in love with his editor, it's all very sordid." She laughed. "You'll come to New York for the release right?"

"Of course," Julie nodded. "I probably won't have a date, but I'll be there."

"You'll be my date," He shrugged, "Obviously. Gabrielle will probably have some impossibly good looking New York money boyfriend," She laughed, "Probably a Nichol actually."

Jimmy took a deep breath sitting behind the wheel of his car. Julie's email from almost a month before had been haunting him. Did she really want to meet on the steps of the freshman dorm and have coffee with him? It seemed so stupid and yet made perfect sense. Where they first met, it was the perfect place to start over. But he was skeptical. Tammy had been avoiding him since they'd gotten back from Italy and even when he had cornered her, she'd merely said, "There was this thing with Paulo, but it ended badly, I wouldn't bring it up if I were you." Now he was desperate to bring it up, because he just wanted to tell her that everything was going to be fine. They could make up, and be together again. Everything would be fine. Better than fine, it would be better than before things had gotten bad. It was senior year, theoretically the best year of their life, and their last chance at this. He took a deep breath and walked across campus. He rounded the corner, the same one that he'd speeded around three years ago and changed his entire life and then he saw it. Julie was sitting there, sipping a coffee, but she was most definitely not alone. She was laughing and hugging and being generally far too touchy feely with Brad Vanderbilt. He frowned and walked away. He did not need this.

"Hey little brother," Tammy said bouncing up to him.

"I've told you not to call me that," He shook his head and they walked towards the main school. "It doesn't even make sense since we're the same age."

"Whatever," She shrugged, "I'm three weeks older than you and you have to deal with that."

"You seem excessively perky," He looked at her. "Did your big fancy gallery check come?"

"It did." She smiled holding it up and waving it, "Check out how cool I am! Some idiot actually paid seven hundred dollars for the scared girl." He nodded. "And speaking of scared girls," She looked at him.

"Smooth subject change sis," He raised his eyebrows. "I didn't go."

"Chicken," She mumbled shaking her head but knowing she'd never change his mind. "So who's getting out of dinner to watch the little poo machine tonight?"

"That would be her darling father," Jimmy said. "Lucky son of a bitch breaks a condom and he's the favorite son again."

"I think your dad might like Tommy better than both of you," Tammy shrugged. Jimmy laughed. "I have to go meet Fulton for breakfast. Are you sure you're OK?"

"I am fine," He nodded, "Go, eat muffins with your boyfriend and be disgustingly adorable, I'll see you tonight."

"OK," She laughed, skipping off. He shook his head.

"Hey," Ellie bounced over.

"Look at you," He shook his head, "In the red sweater all captainy. Cass is soo proud by the way, she wouldn't shut up about it."

"Yeah, well, she was the last junior who got captain so it's a pretty big deal," She stuck out her tongue. "Did you go?"

"Went," He nodded, "She was with Brad."

"Come on," She groaned, "You know they're just friends."

"Yeah, well they looked a little too friendly for me to stick my neck out again," He shook his head.

"Chicken," She said.

"Hey," He said, "Have you seen Portman?"

"Touché," She sighed, "I did, actually and I ducked behind a pillar."

"Ah hah," He smiled, "Now who's the chicken?" She rolled her eyes, "Have you heard from your mom?"

"Yeah," She nodded, "Promises is beautiful, we should come out to visit her for a weekend, blah blah blah," She shrugged, "Maybe the touchy feely hug yourself crap will work, I hear that's what west coast rehab is like, and she's never tried it before." He hugged her. "I miss her though."

"Of course you do," He nodded. "If you need anything, I'm here, remember?"

Julie sighed drumming her pen against her notebook. She was still disappointed that Jimmy hadn't shown, but that just meant she had to throw herself into school. AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Italian, AP everything, that was her senior year. If she wanted Dartmouth she needed it. If she wanted USC she didn't, but it wouldn't hurt. She was miserable though. She heard Jimmy sigh settling in behind her and glanced behind, trying to hide her face with her hair.

"Hey there," She stopped and looked at who had sat in the seat next to her, "Isn't this fun?" Nick Parson was smirking at her from the seat.

"What are you doing here?" She froze.

"The parents decided that senior year home schooling wouldn't suit the college admissions process," Nick said, she looked around, "There are no other empty seats. I was surprised this one was open. Where's James?"

"Jimmy and I broke up," She said, he nodded, "But you knew that."

"Good to know you're available," He teased. "How's Tammy doing?"

"If you so much as look at Tammy I will take your dick off," She hissed.

"I guess there's no point in trying to convince you that I've changed?" He asked. "The Eden Hall administration seems to think that I have. And that nice little settlement that you got should keep you in hockey gear for the rest of your life, so you're fine."

"People don't change," Julie shook her head, she looked behind her. "You are who you are."

"Brad!" Angela squealed and ran over and hugged him. Tommy followed after him.

"Hey Angie," Brad smiled. "Hey Tom," They high fived. "What's going on?"

"We expected you to come visit at least once this summer," Tommy said hugging Angela from behind. "But I guess you were a little busy."

"Heh," Brad laughed awkwardly and scratched behind his head. "Yeah, uh, Gabrielle was great, maybe you guys can meet her sometime."

"Hey," Elena walked over cautiously.

"Hey," Brad nodded.

"Um," Angela said, trying in her way to come up with some way to diffuse the situation. "Lena, you're going to teach me for tryouts tomorrow right?"

"Angie, you're going to be a cheerleader?" Brad said, he looked at Tommy who shrugged, "Is this another ploy to get Tommy to have sex with you?"

"OK," Elena said, "That's enough," Brad stuck his tongue out at her, "Mature, Bradley."

"I can't believe they let him in," Fulton shook his head walking past. Portman was next to him. "Tommy, have you seen your sister?"

"Not since we left the house this morning," Tommy shook his head, "What's happening?"

"That a-hole Parsons," Portman said, looking right at Elena's eyes, now about the size of plates, "He goes to school here now."

"What?" Elena said, "But how?"

"We're not sure," Fulton said, "Don't worry," He looked at the little blonde sympathetically, "He's not staying long."

"Whatever you're doing," Tommy looked at Fulton. "I want in."

"I knew you would," Fulton said, "I just gotta find Jimmy too." Tommy nodded. Portman growled. "I know you don't trust him man, but he'll want to help."

"Whatever," Portman whispered, "You look cute in red Lena." Brad's face flushed and he formed a fist involuntarily. What was this? He was supposed to be over her. "You got a problem Vanderbilt?"

"No problem," Brad shook his head, he came up with a lie quickly, "But I want in too, I promised Scottie I'd look after Julie."

"Luis will want in," Tommy reminded them, "For Olivia."

"Right," Fulton nodded, "I'll get back to you when we figure something out."

"Alright man," Tommy nodded. "Just keep me in the loop." Fulton nodded and walked away. Portman stayed behind.

"We should get to class," Angela said, tugging both Brad and Tommy away.

"I meant it," Portman smiled, "You do look really cute."

"I thought you were into brunettes these days," She whispered. He laughed lightly. "What do you want Dean?"

"You," He shrugged. "I miss you."

"That's your problem," She said and turned around and walked away. She had to walk away.

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