Shock!

"No! I mean, no way!" Claud said loudly.

I shot Claud a tired and annoyed look. She sat on the edge of my bed in her Pj's, gaping at me.

"Well, it's just that, you'd had a lot to drink! You know, you might have heard incorrectly. When Logan found you, he said you were already passed out." She added, unnecessarily, in my opinion.

"Pushing aside your mistrust in my memory, Logan found me? Oh Claud… Things couldn't get any worse…" I muttered, falling back into my pillows.

I soon wished I'd never uttered those words, when my phone rang. Apart from causing my head to thump unpleasantly, the voice on the other end sent me into a panic.

"Stace? How are you?" I heard someone ask anxiously.

Logan.

"Oh, I'm, uh, okay. How are you?" I added in an almost cheery voice.

"Me? Okay, just worried about you. You had a little last night, huh?" He asked amused.

Thanks for the reminder.

"Oh, you know." I gave a short laugh, searching my brain for something to say, and coming up short.

"Well, listen. I was thinking I should come over today. You know, to sort out the final pieces of the assignment. How's eleven?"

Here? Today? I glanced at the clock, and then glanced at myself. Nine o'clock and I looked like I'd spent the night before in a gutter. Well, a garden.

"Why don't we make it one? Claud is still here… and… one would be better for me." I added hopeful I could pull something together by that time.

"No problems. I'll see you then?"

We agreed to meet, and I hung up the phone in a panic. I started to rush around, looking for something to wear, when a look from Claud stopped me in my tracks.

"And who was that? Having a visitor Stace?"

Her face was the perfect mask of sarcastic curiosity.

"Just a friend from school… working on an assignment. You know." I tried to act casual, knowing she would see through my act.

Claud frowned, as she stood.

"You aren't going to tell him are you?" she asked me.

I looked at her in disbelief.

"I would never do that to Mary Anne. Plus, I don't want to be the messenger. But I do think he should know, and I do think you should tell him." I told her, hopeful she would, for some reason, agree.

Claud looked at me in shock.

"Why should I tell her? You heard it!"

Although I tried for the next hour, I couldn't convince Claud to tell Mary Anne. I still hadn't resolved what I was going to do about the situation, but I did know I wouldn't utter a word to Logan. I had enough problems seeing him again after last night.

My issues didn't slow down time however. Logan arrived a little before one. I opened the door, knowing I wasn't looking my best, but hoping for passable. Logan didn't seem to notice however, he seemed too distracted to take in much, including my uncomfortableness.

We sat down at the same table as last time, and I opened my books. After a few minutes of Logan's silence, I couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm sorry about last night. Please don't be angry. It doesn't happen much, I swear. I guess I just… didn't want to be there." I added uncomfortably.

Logan's eyes snapped up from the table to meet mine. He seemed slightly taken aback, as if he weren't expecting an apology. His eyes probed mine, as if searching for the answer to an unasked question.

"Why… why didn't you want to be there?" He asked me gently.

His question certainly wasn't what I was expecting, but I kept the unwavering eye contact we held.

"I didn't feel like it. All those couples… so happy. Like you and Mary Anne." I answered.

As soon as I said it, I wished I hadn't. Mentioning her name made him drop his eyes. I felt the heat begin to travel up my neck as I realised I'd revealed too much.

"And uh, Shannon and Zack. Claud and Pete. You know." I added quickly.

I started to flip through my book, keeping my line of sight well and truly on the table.

After a few minutes, I felt his hand on mine. His touch was electric, and sent shivers through my body, but the gesture shocked me so much, I looked up in shock. He was looking at me again, this time more intently. He seemed to be fighting an inner battle, but as soon as my eyes refocussed on his, the battle was over.

He leant over, his hand still on mine, and very slowly pressed his lips to mine. It seemed to take forever, my heart was hammering so loudly, I could have sworn Logan could hear it. He didn't seem to notice however, and all thoughts of anything left my mind as soon as he kissed me.

Kissed me.

It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. His lips were so soft, yet so hot, they felt like they were on fire. He tasted sweet, a little minty, and I savoured it. This was what I had wanted for months. It felt so good, so right, so sweet. Why hadn't we done this sooner?

My stomach turned violently as I remembered why.

Mary Anne.