So you guys will be happy to hear that I ended up splitting this chapter in half. You will get one more chapter than planned.
Also, POV changes will be frequent a few times in this chapter. I normally dislike this, but it is necessary to get both sides correctly.
Thank you Tosh, Red, and Nina.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, songs, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 11-Queens, Heroes, but Not the One
Confidence- Teddy Geiger
Forgive me if I st-stutter
From all of the clutter in my head
Cuz I could fall asleep in those eyes
Like a water bed
Do I seem familiar, I've crossed you in hallways
a thousand times, no more camouflage
I want to be exposed, and not be afraid to fall.
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
And cannonball into the water
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
You always want what you can't have
But I've got to try
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
EPOV
Monday morning.
School.
Bella.
Wooing.
I was ready.
I knew that I'd have to be careful, though, because Bella was dating Mike still. I couldn't be a complete prick and blatantly go after her, because then not only would other people think I was a dick, there was a heavy chance that Bella would dislike me for it as well.
First, I should probably apologize to her for questioning her choice to date Mike. She didn't react favorably to my interest previously, and in hindsight, it was pretty tactless of me to do. I reacted purely out of jealousy, and I idiotically let that show through by putting Mike down. She was completely right to call me on it and question my motives. She just didn't know how spot-on she had been.
The question was, how could I go about apologizing and making her know that I really meant it, while at the same time getting her to trust me again.
I'd never really needed to apologize to anyone for something like that, so the whole concept was a little foreign to me. I supposed I could just wing it, see what came to mind when I saw her. Hm, yes, I guessed that would be the best way.
Maybe Emmett would know how to go about it. Ha! You thought Emmett would know something about apologizing to a woman?? Yeah, well, it was a shot in the dark. You never knew, he might surprise me.
I decided to talk to him about it at school. Couldn't hurt, right?
*****
When I got to school, I saw Emmett leaning against his Jeep in the parking lot, talking to Rosalie. I parked, then walked over and greeted them.
"Hey, Em, Rose. How was the rest of your weekend after the party?"
Rosalie answered first. "Hi, Edward. Sunday wasn't bad, spent it tooling around in the garage. Lunkhead here was a bit distracting, but I can't complain." She gestured at Emmett, smirking. He wiggled his eyebrows at her, causing me to roll my eyes and sigh.
"Guys, for real, I don't need the visuals. Listen, you mind if I steal Emmett for a bit? I've got some, ah, boy stuff to discuss." She raised her eyebrows at me, then shrugged and said 'sure'. I waited a few seconds to allow Emmett to ogle her as she walked away, and he finally turned to me.
"So, 'boy stuff', huh? What the hell did you get yourself into this time? Kate castrate you yet?" I punched him in the shoulder, scowling. Then I remembered that I hadn't told him what happened over the weekend yet.
"Actually, that is part of it. Kate, not the castrating. We actually broke up yesterday." Emmett's face fell a little, and he looked chagrined.
"Dude, I'm sorry, I had no idea. Do you, uh, want to talk about it or something?" He looked a little like a deer in headlights, as if he had no idea what to do or say.
"Nah, I'm okay. It was a long time coming, and we are both fine with it. Didn't even fight. Actually, she told me that she slept with someone else, a Garrett, some sophomore, and that she thought she loved him. It happened when we were on our 'break'." Then he looked pissed.
"What the fuck? She did what? And you weren't pissed?"
"I couldn't be, man." It was now or never to tell him about Bella. "I, well...I kissed Bella that same weekend. That night we watched Goonies? Yeah." I stuffed my fists in my coat pockets, grimacing slightly, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head at the news.
"You...what? Why the hell didn't you tell me about this shit earlier, man? That was like, a month ago! What happened? Wait a second, Bella started dating Mike Doucheton right after that weekend...what the fuck did you do?" And there was his stern look, arms crossed and all.
"Yeah...ah, shit. I messed up, Em. I messed up bad. I stopped the kiss and started mumbling shit about how it was wrong, it shouldn't have happened, stupid shit, really. I didn't know where my head was at. Kate and I had just agreed to a break, to think about things, not to see other people, and I just panicked. Then I overheard Alice talking to her on the phone, and it sounded like she said we'd never work out, which is why I went back to Kate. I think I might have driven her to Mike by doing that. Then I fucked up further by telling her that Mike wasn't good enough for her. Don't roll your eyes at me, dickhead, I know it was out of jealousy. I've already slapped myself around a few times. But that is what I wanted to talk to you about. I need to apologize to her, but it has to be good. I know what I want now, and I'm going to try to get it. I just have to do it the right way."
"You know what you want, huh? And what's that?" Then it was my turn to roll my eyes.
"Bella. I want Bella. I know she's with Mike, but I think she's only with him because she thinks I don't want her. At least, Alice thinks that. At this point, I'd rather believe Alice, because it is all I have to hope for."
"So you really like Bella a lot, huh?" I nodded my confirmation.
There was a long pause, and then, "Do you love her?" I completely lost my train of thought as I allowed his words to penetrate my mind.
I didn't have to think too long about it, really, though I'd never explored it before. "Yes, I do. I really think I do." And I did. I don't know when it happened, but I had fallen in love with Bella Swan.
Emmett grinned, put his arm around my shoulder, and said, "Well then, let's do this!"
We started discussing what I could do that might work, and headed into the building. I just had to make it until lunch.
*****
Somebody to Love-Queen
Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat
I'm ok, I'm alright
Ain't gonna face no defeat
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
Someday I'm gonna be free, lord!
Find me somebody to love
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
BPOV
Monday morning.
School.
Edward.
Mike.
What the hell was I going to do?
I was just not ready to face that whole new reality. My epiphany yesterday had my mind reeling. I was pulled in a thousand different directions, and nine-hundred of them resulted in Edward. It didn't matter, though, right? Right. Edward was with Kate, I was with Mike. Didn't matter.
But what if it did matter? What if there was a chance?. Would you kick Edward outta bed if he miraculously happened to appear there? Um, well, no. I suppose not. Just checking.
I rushed through my morning routine, since I had spent too much time battling with my inner monologue, and pulled into school without a minute to spare. The morning was positively wasted on me being nervous about seeing Edward for the first time since I had admitted that I loved him. I was hoping that it wouldn't drastically alter my interactions with him, especially in any obvious ways that would tip him off to my new feelings. Old feelings. Whatever.
When I walked into the lunchroom and headed to our usual table, I noticed Edward sitting in his seat next to Emmett. I took my seat at the other end, next to Alice, and pulled out my food--dry Top Ramen. Just something so tasty about the thin noodles and salty-as-hell powder sprinkled along it. Crunchy. Delicious. Heart-attack inducing.
Before I even had a chance to take my first crispy bite, I felt someone plop down on the seat next to me. Without turning my head, I slowly moved my eyes sideways to see who it was.
Edward.
Hm. He hadn't voluntarily sat by me, nor even spoken to me really, over the past month. What could he possibly want now? Stop being a bitch and find out. Hey, now. I'm just saying.
"Hey, Bella."
"Hi there, Edward. What brings you to this part of the table?" He took a moment or two to gather his bearings, it seemed, before answering.
"Well, to be honest, I owe you an apology. I, uh, well, I was wrong, before. When I first questioned you as to why you were dating Mike, I mean. I shouldn't have said a word. I want you to be happy, and if you're happy, I'm happy. I hate that we have stopped being friendly, and you haven't seemed like your usual self lately, and I'm afraid that it's my fault. I'm sorry I'm bad. I'm sorry you're blue. I'm sorry about all the things I said to you, and I know that I can't take them back." He finished talking and sat quietly, chewing on his lip a bit and looking at the table.
Wow.
He was apologizing. To be honest, I felt a warm, mushy awwwwness after what he had said, but I certainly couldn't let him know that. And actually, those last words were awfully familiar...wait a second...
"Um. Well, thank you, I think. But, did you really just use Buckcherry lyrics to apologize to me?" He looked up at me quickly, eyes widening a bit, cheeks turning a slight pink.
He ran his hand through his hair before cupping the back of his neck and laughing a little, "Ha, well, yeah, I did. Didn't think you would know the song. Well, this is embarrassing. The words fit. Sounded good." He shrugged a little, as if to validate himself. There was no way I was telling him I thought it was sweet.
I laughed, and said, "You didn't think I'd know a Buckcherry song? Really? Oh, Edward, you don't give me enough credit. I know many, many songs and artists. I bet that I could even rival your knowledge."
He laughed again before responding, "Oh I doubt that, Ms Swan. I doubt that very much."
"Oh, really? Would you care to make a little wager of it?"
"A wager? I wouldn't want to embarrass you, Swan. What kind of wager are we talking here? What is the game, and what are the stakes?"
"Hmmm. Well, I suppose the game could just be us putting out lyrics to each other, trying to stump the other person. We take turns. It can be written, texted, verbal, through our friends, whatever. Whoever is first to not know a lyric, loses. Not sure about the stakes. How about the winner just gets bragging rights?"
He shook his head, "Not enough. How about bragging rights, and a favor to be named after the game is won?" Hmmmm, tricky one.
IT'S TRICKY TO ROCK A RHYME
TO ROCK A RHYME THAT'S RIGHT ON TIME
IT'S TRICKY...
Well, well, I thought you had disappeared forever, Soundtrack. You weren't that lucky!
"I think I can agree to that. Shake on it?"
"Absolutely." He grinned as he took my hand and shook it, then quickly brought it up to kiss the back of it. I was momentarily stunned. His grin widened, and if it were any bigger, he'd resemble Jack Nicholson in Batman. I quickly looked around to see if anyone had seen him do that. Our table seemed to be preoccupied with each other, but they were quiet, which could only mean that they had been listening in on our conversation and had definitely seen the hand kiss. Um, have you forgotten about the two people that probably really wouldn't have liked that? Mike and Kate? Shit. I checked again and Mike wasn't even in the cafeteria, and Kate was completely absorbed in her friends, particularly a blondish guy sitting next to her. Huh.
"Um, Edward, what was that? You are lucky Mike isn't in here, he probably wouldn't have liked it very much. Nor would your girlfriend, if she wasn't fawning over that guy over there." I pointed in her direction, and Edward glanced over, shrugging. He didn't care??
"She's not my girlfriend, Bella. We broke up yesterday. And, Mike doesn't really concern me too much, to be honest. You are allowed to have friends, right?" He gave me another Crest-white smile, and stood up, grabbing his bag off the floor and walking backward for a few steps before turning around and heading down the hall.
Stop the presses. They broke up?
*****
EPOV
I walked away from Bella, grinning like a madman on the inside. I knew I shouldn't have done the hand-kiss move, but it was automatic. I completely did it without thinking. Her reaction, though, was priceless. And, it worked even better for me to tell her about my break-up with Kate. She led me right into it. I had been freaking out about how to tell her without having it come off as desperate.
I had to laugh at how Emmett's plan for my apology had backfired before it actually segued into something even better. The lyrics game that Bella suggested would be a perfect way to get into her psyche a little, without having it be a glaring, neon sign that said: I want you! I just had to slip in some romantic lyrics here and there, enough to make her think twice. I could bide my time...just had to invoke the spirit of Axl Rose and have a little patience.
*****
BPOV
By the time I came to from my stupor after I realized that Edward was back on the market, and I conveniently was not, I had to practically sprint through the halls to get to Biology on time. Biology...and Edward! Crap. Crap, crap, crap. I needed to get a grip. I could not show him the power he held over me. Oh, that oughta be interesting.
I slid onto my stool just as the late bell rang, trying to catch my breath. Edward greeted me, laughing a bit cockily. Hmmmmm. Time to break out the first lyric, methinks.
I pulled out a piece of notebook paper, grabbed my pen, and jotted down a quick lyric. Hopefully it would be enough to make him think a bit, and it would honestly surprise me if he got it on the first try.
Since he had apologized to me with a lyric, I would apologize to him in the same manner. I folded the paper in half and stealthily slid it over to his side of the table, not looking at him.
*****
EPOV
Bella slid a folded-over sheet of paper to me, and I quirked an eyebrow at it. I wondered what it was, then pulled it off the desk into my lap. I made sure Mr. Banner wasn't looking in our direction, then I unfolded it and read it. In her chicken-scratch scrawl was written:
And if I hurt you, then I'm sorry
Please don't think that this was easy
A slow smile crept over my face; she was starting the game already. And, it seemed perhaps she was doing some apologizing of her own? Hm. I wasn't sure if it was to be taken at face value, or maybe she had just heard the song earlier that day and it was convenient. I was going to pretend that she meant it as a means of saying sorry. But sorry for what? Please don't think that what was easy? For fuck's sake, stop over-analyzing!
I shrugged a little before writing my response and returning the paper back to her. She read it and frowned slightly. Ha! She thought she would stump me out of the gate. Oh, Bella, I told you I didn't want to embarrass you.
*****
BPOV
I read his elegant writing on the paper:
Konstantine~Something Corporate
Damn him! Foiled!
The hour passed by so quickly, I was startled when the release bell rang out. I gathered up my books, and Mike came over to say hi. He leaned over to kiss me, and I turned my face at the last second, so he ended up brushing my cheek instead. I was actually a little shocked that he went for the kiss, because he knew how I felt about PDA. I was not a touchy-feely person, so the whole hand-holding, kissing at every chance thing just wasn't up my alley. I felt bad pulling away from Mike, but it was just a bit awkward with Edward standing there.
Edward greeted Mike, "Hey, Mike. How's it going?"
Mike narrowed his eyes briefly before returning his greeting and saying he was fine. Well that was an interesting reaction. I felt the need to vacate the area, so I cut in and excused us before more tension could be layered in the air.
"Mike, what was that? Why did you act so weird with Edward?"
He sighed before responding, "Bella, I just don't don't like him. The way he looks at you...it just...I just don't like it."
I rolled my eyes before huffing, "Mike, Edward is my friend. There is nothing going on." Even though you want there to be... "Are you jealous or something?"
"What? No. I mean... no! Unless I should be?"
"No, Mike, there is no reason for you to be." Unfortunately.
I shook my head to stop the unbidden thoughts that kept arising, and gestured to Mike that we needed to get to our last classes.
"Hey, I'll talk to you later, okay?" He said sure, and squeezed my hand in goodbye. I smiled reassuringly. For him, or for you? I wasn't sure.
I walked out to my truck after school, and saw that Em, Rose, Alice, and Jasper were standing around Emmett's Jeep, talking animatedly.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" I smiled at them and waved a bit before dumping my backpack into the cab of Bertha.
"Hey MarshBella!" Emmett whisked me up into a bone-crushing hug, before I squeaked out, "Put...me...down...please!" He laughed and released me.
Edward must have walked up while I was catching my breath, because I suddenly heard him call my name.
"Oh, hey, Bella? Guess what I received in the mail today?" Errrr, should I care?
"Umm...no idea."
"Words of deep concern from my little brother." He smiled at me, and my mouth went a little slack for a second. Check for drool. Thanks. Now what in the hell was he going on about? He didn't have a little brother.
"Edward, you don't have a little...ohhhh." What a sneaky punk. He slipped in a lyric. Well, sorry to bust his bubble, but I knew that one, and knew it well.
"My Name is Jonas, Weezer." I smiled smugly at him as he nodded at me. My next attempt would have to be good. I would sleep on it. I suddenly had a feeling that the game would go on for some time, as we both apparently had far-reaching tastes in music.
I looked around to see our friends with puzzled looks on their faces. So maybe they hadn't been listening at lunch.
"What? It's a good song." I sniffed haughtily and caught Edward's eye, right before he started cracking up. That laugh was so infectious, I couldn't help but join in.
*****
It was a couple days until I came up with a good lyric to pose to Edward. It came to me at dinner, while Footloose was on TV. Kevin Bacon was doing his dance routine in the warehouse, and the song struck me. I pulled out my phone and opened up a new text.
E-
Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I would swear that there's someone, somewhere
Watching me
-B
I smiled as I put the phone back down and resumed eating my Spaghetti-Os. Imagine my surprise when the phone buzzed shortly thereafter.
Scrunching up my brow, I reached for the phone. Come ON. He was so getting teased if he knew that song so quickly. It was such a chick song! I read the response warily.
B-
I Need a Hero, Bonnie Tyler.
Nice try though ;)
-E
I slammed the phone down in frustration.I was going to have to dig deeper.
EPOV
I had to laugh at Bella, because I knew what she was doing with the Bonnie Tyler song. If I admitted to knowing it, I was a chick. If I pretended not to know it, I lost. Sorry, but not losing comes first in that scenario.
I waited until Friday to come up with a good challenge, and I was being a bit sneaky with it that time. Honestly, I didn't care if Bella knew the song; I actually figured she would. But it was a good way to get a message across. I employed the Biology note-passing technique again, as they weren't really lyrics I could say out loud without getting an odd reaction. And at least I could hide a note from Mike's suspicious eyes much easier than spoken words could be kept from his ears.
I slid the paper over to Bella and awaited her response.
*****
BPOV
A note was slid to me from Edward. I glanced at him, and grabbed it, quietly opening it up on my lap. I bent my head down a bit to read it, and I'd be lying if I said the words didn't stop my heart for a beat or two.
Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light
They were just lyrics. They were just lyrics. Repeat ad nauseam.
I took a deep breath, held it for a second, then blew it out while picking up my pen to write the song name and send it back over to Edward. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye and bit my lip before turning my attention back to the chalkboard.
*****
EPOV
Of course she knew it. I knew she would.
Halo, Beyonce
Yes, Bella, and I hope you knew they were more than just lyrics.
I looked to the side to see her face, and caught her eye in the process. I raised one side of my mouth in a half-smile, letting her know she was right, though it probably wasn't necessary. She tentatively smiled back, and her cheeks got very pink before she looked down at the lab table again. Ahhh, it seemed she may have read into it a bit. Good. That was the point.
*****
It had been a week since I had given Bella that lyric, and I was beginning to wonder if I scared her off. She hadn't taken her turn yet, and hadn't mentioned anything about it at school or at home when she was over. She didn't really act weird though, so I tried not to take it too personally.
We all said our goodbyes on Friday afternoon, promising to get together over the weekend. I was driving Alice and myself home, as it had been rainy lately and Alice didn't want to take her car out in crappy weather.
I heard her clear her throat next to me, and turned my head to glance at her before she started speaking.
"So, Edward, you gonna tell me what is going on with you and Bella? I've been trying to figure it out, but Bella won't throw me a bone. You guys have been so cryptic with some of the things you say, and Bella has been blushing more than usual at the mention of you--which is a lot, as you know. Care to share?" She folded her arms across her chest and sat back in her chair, giving me a glare.
"Ummm, well, if Bella didn't tell you, maybe she doesn't want you to know?" She let out a loud, exasperated groan, and I swear I heard a growl in there somewhere.
"Duh! That's why I'm asking you! You are my cousin. My blood. Blood doesn't keep things from each other. Come on, Edward. Please?" I knew without even looking that she was doing her Alice the Basset Hound impression. I had never been able to resist that. I stopped at the red light and let my head fall back against the headrest, letting out a sigh.
"Okay, Alice. I'll spill. But you have to promise to not share this with anyone, unless Bella tells you herself! Swear to me!" She offered her pinky, and I hooked it with my own.
"So, we are kind of playing a game. We take turns putting song lyrics out there for the other person to guess. First person to not know a song, loses." She had narrowed her eyes by that point.
"So, what's the catch? Why are you playing this game? There is no way you are doing this just for fun, especially if you won't tell anyone about it. Spill."
I looked at her innocently, and said, "I have no idea what you are talking about, Alice." She just rolled her eyes and yawned, continuing to stare at me.
She kept staring. I fiddled with the radio.
Still staring. Why was this the longest car ride ever?
Then it turned into a kind of glaring, really. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
Aha! Finally! Our driveway! I made the turn, then remembered that it was an extremely long driveway. Dammit. I took in a deep breath and blew it out sharply.
"Fine, Alice. You are right. I have an agenda. I want Bella. I love her." Well, apparently that wasn't what she was expecting to hear. Her jaw dropped practically down to her lap.
She shrieked, "SHUT UP! You've finally figured it out?! It's about damn time! Now, what is this whole thing about? Tell me everything!" I pulled up to the house and parked, shutting off the car.
"Let's get inside first, Alice. I'll tell you, I promise." She squealed and clapped her hands, bouncing up and down in the seat before flying out the door of the car. Here goes nothing.
We settled inside, taking up residence in the kitchen. I told her everything, from when we kissed, to my giant fuck-up, and how I had overheard her on the phone. She corrected me on that part, and said that Bella never said she couldn't be with me, just that she didn't think it would ever happen. I slapped myself on the forehead for that one. Such an idiot. I then continued with my confession, relating what happened with my little tirade about Mike--which I got the back of my head slapped for--and then I finished up with talking to Emmett, and how our little plan got messed up, but then salvaged when Bella suggested the game. I even told her the songs we had used so far.
"So I plan to use this game as a way to show Bella that I care, and to kind of let her know I'm there, whenever she is ready. If she is ever ready."
Alice was uncharacteristically quiet for a couple minutes, contemplating what I had said.
"Edward, did you ever stop to think that she might not want you now? I'm not saying it's true, I'm just putting it out there."
"Well, Alice, if that is true, then I will have to accept it and just be her friend. I would pine away for her the rest of my life, but I'd be a great friend if that was what she wanted. I can't stay away from her. I don't really have a choice, to be honest."
She grinned and said, "Good. Answer. Now I know that you really care, and actually deserve her."
I smiled back at her, and said, "I really do, Alice. Like I said, I love her. I want her to be happy no matter who she chooses or what she does. I'd prefer if she chose me, of course, but I can't tell her what decision to make."
"Well, I can tell you that your little game is definitely working to make her think. It explains why she's been distracted lately and gets flustered whenever you are mentioned. And that latest one, the Beyonce? Yeah, that one really threw her for a loop I think, judging by the way I remember her acting last week. Now that you've told me this stuff, everything makes sense. Honestly, this is really one of the sweetest things I've ever heard, and she'd be a damn fool not to realize that you guys are meant for each other."
My phone dinged with a text, and I pulled it out to check the screen. My heart did a little flip when I saw BELLA flashing on the screen.
I opened the text to read what she had sent:
E-
I never know what the future brings
But I know you're here with me now
-B
I smiled, and showed Alice.
"Looks like she is playing now too, huh?" I nodded at her, and did a quick text back.
B-
We'll make it through...
If You're Not the One, Daniel Bedingfield
-E
"Alice, I just might have a chance yet." I tapped my phone with my index finger, and tried to think of my next line. Since she had given me that one, I knew that she realized this game was more than that. She had to.
And if she didn't, she would soon enough.
References
Top Ramen- High-in-sodium Oriental noodles that are the cheapest lunch, ever. Ok, cheapest next to free lunch.
Jack Nicholson- Played The Joker in the original Batman. Freaky dude.
Axl Rose/Patience- Guns N Roses again, great song…lots of whistling in it.
PDA- Public Displays of Affection. Not big on it, myself.
Lyric Game songs
Sorry, Buckcherry
Konstantine, Something Corporate
My Name is Jonas, Weezer
I Need a Hero, Bonnie Tyler
Halo, Beyonce
If You're Not the One, Daniel Bedingfield
Mental Soundtrack
It's Tricky, Run DMC
A/N
Ok, so, I hope you enjoyed the first half of the wooing! Edward now knows he loves Bella, Bella is beginning to wise-up, Mike is suspicious of Edward, and Alice has as much energy as a Chihuahua on speed. What else is new?
Oh, and, if you read Bad Habit, you know that AmeryMarie and I are going to be collaborating on a new story in the future. Be forewarned though, it will be severely angsty, and extremely emotional. I had the idea, and asked her to collab with me and write Edward. I might see about coming up with a crackfic or fluffy story to write at the same time, so those of you that don't want angst will still get something from me ;). But I still hope you give it a chance! Make sure you author alert me.
Recs this week (a lot!): I Only Want You for Your Body, by fatallyobsessed (she wrote Cocktails & Dreams); A Rough Start, by ItzMegan73; Bella Undercover, by giada-marsielle; The Naked Guy Upstairs, by angrybadgergirl; …Becomes the Swan, by venomousgal and Pomme_de_terre; Not Like This, by pomme_de_terre; Detruit, by somah4. Yes, I was very busy reading the past few weeks.