Wow, two chapters in one day, must be a record for me! Thanks again for the reviews you guys! :D

Peter never did come back. I had gone to the back of the building where the benches were, hoping to see him waiting, but instead there were a bunch of kids chatting away at the bench we had sat at the previous week. I was left deflated, heaving out a sigh of heavy disappointment. And then I was furious with myself. I shouldn't have been disappointed with him not being present; I shouldn't have felt anything about the whole thing! For God's sake, I needed to get a damn grip of myself. I couldn't believe how much I was letting him affect me, and better yet, I couldn't believe I wasn't shoving him away from my damaged life!

I spent my dinner on the roof top of a nearby building, just like I used to. Only I didn't enjoy it nearly as much. I had grown used to not going up, and when I had the last time I had had company. Damn him. I found myself actually longing for Peter to be there, only I forced that inappropriate thought deep into the back of my mind. I refused to need him. I refused to think about him. I refused to want him sitting beside me and making me engage in conversation. But all I could focus on was the burning his touch had left around my neck and legs. He would never leave me alone, even when he wasn't there in person.

I was back in school now, walking down the corridor with my head low. I was hugging my notebook to my chest and my hood up, shielding my face. People parted in my wake, somehow sensing my annoyed mood. Good, the last thing I wanted was for someone to get in my way. But of course, there was always one annoying human who just wanted to be awkward. She wasn't looking where she was going, walking backwards as she appeared from around a corner, and she strode head long into me. Her books went all over the floor, my notebook flying from my grasp.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry!" she said, and when I came to see her face I bit my tongue. The Gwen girl was gathering her books from the floor, hugging them to her chest. Numbly I went and picked up my notebook, hoping to make a hasty escape. However she beat me to it, her fingers clasping it gently into her grasp. We stood up at the same time, her smoky grey eyes boring into my own. She handed me the notebook, smiling sweetly.

"You're Claudia Thatcher, right?" I nodded stiffly. "I'm Gwen Stacy, Peter's friend." Her voice was high and sweet, making me cringe. I so badly wanted to yell at her, get away from her, anything but to have a conversation with her. But she was Peter's friend, and as much as he had annoyed me, I felt obliged to be civil with her.

"I know." I muttered, looking down at my feet.

"He talks about you a lot." she told me. "He said you're not much of a talker though." I plan to stay being not much of a talker, too.

"Um, I should get to class..."

"I'll walk you there. Have you seen Pete on your travels, though? I haven't seen him since this morning." She began to walk beside me. It was almost too much to bear! I just hoped to God that she didn't try and link her arm into mine!

"No I haven't." I said, gritting my teeth. No, instead he decided to ditch me. I hated the nagging feeling in my gut that he had lied to me about his whereabouts, which I knew he had. So where had he gone? Why had he felt the need to lie to me? How was I supposed to trust him if he was going to lie? I hated liars, they were the worst kind. Once a liar, always a liar.

"Oh, well, when you see him tell him that I can't go out this weekend with him." She told me, and I felt my heart stammer. I swallowed, trying to ignore the sudden uneasy beat in my chest, trying to make sense of it. Weakly I nodded and she flashed a million dollar smile at me. She then began to strut down the corridor, leaving me dumbstruck outside of my classroom. Wait... how did she know what class I had? God, my day just got better and better.

By the end of the day, Gwen Stacy ran into me again. I was debating with myself as to whether get the bus or walk. The last few days I had walked home with Peter, but since he wasn't here, I had to reconsider. So, joys of joys, Gwen struck her opportunity. She came bounding by my side at the stairs of the school, suddenly looking like a little school girl. I fought the urge to screw up my face in disgust.

"No need to tell Pete about the weekend, I found him at the end of fourth class." She informed. I shouldn't have cared, I really shouldn't have, but knowing that she had bumped into Peter before me in the school made my blood boil.

"Cool story." I spat, glaring at the waiting bus. Should I stay or should I go? Peter was obviously around, but maybe he had finally got it into his head that I didn't need him... I hoped he hadn't. The mere thought made my heart sink, and I hated myself for it.

"So how's your day been?" she asked, ignoring my comment.

"Fine." Not that you care.

"Did you get an assignment in English?" she then asked, throwing me off course. Had I had English today? Ah yes, I had shoved the assignment into my locker without a second thought. I had no intention in completing it. Guess what it was about? We had to write a short story about romance. Hell no! However, I nodded to answer Stacy's question just to try and shut her up. "Maybe we could work on it together."

I never caught a break!

"I've gotta go." I watched my bus leave, finalizing my decision. It was going to be a lonely walk, but this Stacy was beginning to do my nut in!

"Let me know if you change your mind!" she called, her voice beginning to fade. Thank God! I walked through the little park that was behind the school building, filled with the kids from school either meeting or passing through. It was the only route I could see nearest to me from Stacy. Rushing through and making sure she didn't follow me, I slipped through the hedge into the main street.

"Nice to see you and Gwen getting along." Peter was at my side, appearing out of nowhere. I leapt out of my skin, gawping at him with raised fists. When it finally dawned on me that it was no threat, I glared daggers at him. I stormed off, wanting nothing more than to just get home and lock myself in my room. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up!"

"I have to get home, thank you very much." I snapped, looking both ways as I crossed the road.

"Did I do something to offend you or something?" and then I froze. I'd heard that before, heard it by someone who practically ruined my life.

"What did you just say?" I asked, my voice weak.

"Nothing." He said hastily. Swallowing, I tried to let it go, moving forward again. God, I needed a distraction.

"To answer your question, I know you lied to me today." And then he was in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. I glared up at him, watching as his hazel eyes dug deep into my own with an intention I couldn't understand. He was searching for something, but what that something was was beyond me. His mouth opened and closed, searching for the right words.

"The appointment took longer than expected." He said, and there was a certain truth to his tone. But he was still lying, all the same.

"Why are you lying to me?" I asked, my voice hurt. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm not." He said stubbornly. I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever, now move, I want to get home."

"Alone?"

"Yes! Alone!" I began to storm away but his hand caught my wrist.

"I'm sorry if you think I'm lying to you." he said softly. I yanked my wrist free, shoving past him. "Wait! Why are you so upset?" he came after me. Why was I so upset? Had he actually just asked that? He was lying to my face, he ditched me for an entire day, letting his little blonde girlfriend feed on information about my life, what wasn't to be upset about? I whirled, slamming my palms into his chest.

"Tell your little girlfriend to stay away from me! Stop lying to me! And next time you go gallivanting off into the city, give me a heads up!" he then stared at me for a moment, and slowly I watched the smile creep into his face.

"You missed me." he said simply.

"Did not."

"You so did!"

"Grow up!" he put his hand on his heart.

"I'm so flattered, made my day that has!"

"Screw you." I walked away, but I immediately felt the strain loosen up between us. I let go of his little stunt, seeing that it was pointless now that he had his mind set on teasing me. He took me home, thoroughly enjoying himself at pointing out my weakness of the day. I never admitted it, of course.

By the time we got to my apartment, I had a smile of defeat on my face. He punched the air in triumph, bouncing up and down like a little kid. And I laughed, longer this time, covering my face in embarrassment.

"There's no need to be embarrassed." He said, chuckling his head off.

"Go away." I said through my hands, but there was no threat behind the words. He leaned on my doorframe, folding his arms and watching me. I dragged my hands down my face, and suddenly all jokes fell aside. His face was suddenly serious, staring at me with far too much depth. I swallowed nervously.

"What?" I asked, suddenly feeling small. His eyes glanced at the door, and I knew what was going to come out of his mouth.

"Want me to stick around?" I took an intake of breath. It was true. I had missed him today, and I wanted him to make up for the time he had left me. But I just wasn't so sure if I was ready to trust him enough to let him into my world. My damaged, torn up world. And I was scared. If I let him in, would he judge? Would he approve of the bareness, the chilly air that myself and Martha always left behind? What about my room? What would he think of my black walls, my un-kept bed, and my photos of my family that lay face down on the shelves? I didn't want him to disappear, not now. Not when I had him so close. Sighing, I made up my decision. I opened the door and slipped inside, and Peter turned to leave.

"You coming?" I asked, and the smile on his face made my insides warm up.

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