Disclaimer: Um. I own a few objects in my room, but when my parents get angry, apparently they aren't mine anymore. So in short, I don't own TT.

Sorry for the wait--school is such a bitch. This chapter is mostly dialogue, but it's cute. We get a smaller explanation with Michael, but don't worry, you haven't seen the last of him. The drama is just getting started.

By the way: I've got story ideas. Tell me what you think:

The first is another AU, in which Gar is a single actor whose manager(Vic)insists he needs to work on his publicity. Forced onto a dating-type show, Gar must pick one girl to date. The problem, he's falling for the director! BBRae.

That summary is a crappy one, inspired during that Flavor of Love show. xDD


"M-Michael," Rachel stammers. I frown. I'm the only one who should make Rachel stutter!

He runs his eyes over me skeptically and turns to Rachel. "Was I interrupting something?" He smiles.

My arms are itching to sock him in the jaw and whip that smug grin off his face. As Jen would say: 'I'm gonna bitch slap you all the way back to Chinatown!' Yes, you were interrupting something!

"Yes," I hiss. Rachel whimpers and closes her eyes.

"Who are you?" He asks.

"Gar Logan," I say.

His eyes widen in momentary shock. "Logan? Well, then Rachel, I believe we should get going."

"Going?" She finally looks up.

"Percy couldn't get you today, so I volunteered. I'll bring the car around." With that he left and wandered towards the parking lot.

I'm at a loss for words. Was it her boyfriend? "Rachel, who was that?"

"A family friend," she mutters.

---

What am I supposed to tell him? Gar, listen, I know you were just about to ask me out and everything, but there's this guy my dad wants me to date, so I guess we can't go out.

"Rachel dear, this is Michael."

Michael looked up at me and shot me a handsome smile. He's good looking, but he's no Gar. "Hello Michael," I replied.

"Michael's father works for me, Rachel," my father said.

"Congratulations," I mutter, already turning.

"Rachel, I want you to get to know Michael a little better. He seems like a nice boy," my mother said, catching up with me.

When hell freezes over! When pigs fly! When Jen doesn't go a day without swearing!

And yet, here I am, trying to explain why I'm getting a ride from a boy I hardly know.

"Come with me," he whispers, taking my hand.

I stare down at our entwined fingers. "What?"

"Ditch him." Oh, god. Gar's being seductive again. His lips brush my ear and my heart flutters. "I promise I'll get you home on time."

Without waiting for my reply, Gar wraps his arms around my waist and leads me around the building. We both get into the Cadillac, though differently. Gar doesn't bother to open the door, where I look around every half second to make sure no one sees. Luckily, campus had long cleared off and Michael went in the other direction.

"Have you seen Wicked Scary I?" He asks after we've been driving a good ten minutes and I've stopped turning around to see if anyone's watching.

Have I seen Wicked Scary I? Uh huh, and I've got the nightmares to prove it. I hid under my pillow for days and refused to come out of my room at night. I never turned off the lights and never let down my guard. "I can't recall."

"Well, Wicked Scary II is supposed to be better, scarier, and creepier!"

Oh, goodie. Next you'll be telling me it's in 3D.

"And it's in 3D! How cool is that?"

Help me.

---

"You know Gar, that pony movie looked pretty good. Maybe we should see that one."

"Not getting out of this one, Ravie."

"Er—Gar, my name is Rachel."

"Ah, but remember when I caught you reading Poe in drama; 'The Raven'?"

"What's your point?"

I shrug. "The name Raven fits you."

"It's still not my name."

"Fine, Rachel," I laugh. "Two for Wicked Scary II, please."

The girl at the counter winks at me as she hands me the tickets. I see Rachel stiffen. Yes!

Ha, we're not even ten minutes into the movie and she's already clutching onto my arm. Vic had been right about taking her to a horror movie—I don't care how Gothic or Emo she can be, someone has to have their weaknesses.

That's right, my pretty. Hold on all you like. If we weren't in public, this would be the part where I get on my knees and let out a seriously maniacal laughter.

---

Something moved.

Gar just laughs, and says I'm being paranoid. Paranoid my ass! I swear, something did move. The movie was roughly three hours long, and it is winter, so it's already dark; just my luck.

Not that I'm afraid, or anything.

I bury myself into Gar's arm out of pure fear. I can't see his face, but I can feel the grin radiating off it. "Wipe that grin off your face," I snap.

"I love you," He laughs.

I almost freeze. Was it that kind of joking 'I love you', that you say sometimes when you think something's funny, or—nah, the first one, I'm sure. I've known him for what, two weeks?

"'Course you do," I whisper, relaxing as he wraps his arm around me. Oh, this is so wrong.

"Um, Gar, this isn't the direction to my house or your car," I mumble, half asleep as I lean against him.

"I know," he replies.

"That's it, I'm calling those nice men with the coats now."

"Ah, good times, good times. Those rooms were so soft!" he says. Gar, you're such an idiot. But what a lovable, extremely cute idiot…

"Close your eyes."

"Mind me asking why?"

"Yes. Now close them, missy."

"And…open!"

---

Rachel opens her eyes, her violet eyes immediately filling with surprise. Who says I can't be romantic?

Next time I see Kori and Jen, I will bow down and dub myself unworthy.

Both of them told me about Rachel's favorite colors, scents, and dishes. They came with me to the mall to buy the spread, the candles, and even showed me her favorite restaurant so it didn't look like I was shopping for girly things on my own.

They'd gone ahead of us and set up the picnic table with the lavender candles and table cloth, along with her favorite kind of herbal tea and our meal of salads and tofu sandwiches (Hey, I gotta eat too!).

"Gar…"

"Don't talk," I put a finger to her lips, "just eat."

"You did all this for me?"

"No, I did it for the tooth fairy. You just beat her to it."

"Shut up," she giggles, punching my arm. Whoa, whoa, rewind and freeze! Did Rachel Roth just giggle? She must really have the hots for me.

She brings one leg over the bench, sitting across from me. She reaches for the kettle, but I beat her to it. I pour it for her, and she rolls her eyes. What, can't I be nice?

"Hungry?"

"I'd rather just sit and stare at all the food, thank you."

"Salad it is."

"How did you like P.E. today?"

"I'm gonna miss not being able to have kids, but the look on your face was worth it."

"Shut it before I dump this steaming tea on your head."

"We wouldn't want to attract a crowd, now would we?" I gesture towards other couples on the grass or having a moonlit picnic.

"You're awful."

"Am I?"

---

No, you're not. You're wonderful. Tara, eat your heart out!

"Yes. But don't worry; admitting your problem is the first step."

He doesn't say anything for a while; just leans on his hand and stares out at the nearly empty park. "I wish life was that simple."

I follow his gaze towards a young couple holding hands and kissing on a picnic blanket. He quickly turns his head away. "But then where would the adventure be?"

"There wouldn't be. People could be together freely and not have to worry about what others thought."

"We aren't talking about life anymore, are we?"

"Were we even to start with?"

He sighs. "I suppose not."

He pulls out a plastic tub and pulls off the top. I wrinkle my nose, "Why tofu?"

Gar grins. Even with a mouth full of food, it's still sexy, "Why not?"

"You're not getting all your basic food groups."

"It's just not the way I was raised."

"Fair enough," I give in.

"What did you think of the movie?"

"Sound and visual effects were nicely done, and the acting wasn't half bad."

"That scary?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You got up to refill the popcorn three times."

"What does that have anything to do with it?"

"We only ate half."

"Still doesn't prove anything."

Gar, we were having a nice conversation. Why'd you have to ruin it? "Do you think Michael will care?"

"No," I reply quickly. I let out a sigh, "Maybe."

"Will he tell your father?"

"Probably," I shake my head. And he probably will. Not only was it implied that I should date Michael, but that Michael would be his spy. He'd follow me around not during school hours and report back to my father. This meant there was a pretty good chance he'd find out.

"Then let's enjoy it while we can," he said, leaning in across the table. I put a hand at his chest, sending him back into his seat.

"Gar…"

He just shakes his head. "No, I understand."

I feel the reasoning for that cheesy pickup line 'Did it hurt when you fell down from heaven?' coming on.

---

So she rejected my kiss. That's okay, because I know I saw a hint of lust as I started to lean in.

But damn, it's driving me crazy! I just want to wrap her up and kiss her until there's no breath left in either of us. "Guess what I found out?"

She looks up from her salad. "Kori's a romantic. Listen to any song she picked," I pull out a radio and press the play button.

Was it you who spoke the words that things would happen but not to me
Oh things are gonna happen naturally
Oh taking your advice I'm looking on the bright side
And balancing the whole thing
But often times those words get tangled up in lines
And the bright lights turn to night
Until the dawn it brings
Another day to sing about the magic that was you and me

"Didn't we ice skate to that song?"

"I think so. But I'm pretty sure it was me doing most of the skating. Wanna dance?"

"Um…" She can't resist the pout! "Sure."

I get up from my seat, take her hand, and lead her a few feet away from the table.

---

"This is awkward," I mutter.

"Is it?"

Not anymore, I think. I lean my head against his chest (I'd been doing a lot of that lately) and listen to his heartbeat. That's never going to get old.

Another song was playing now, but I wasn't listening to that. Gar's heart was all the music I needed.

"I don't want to sound like a predator or a sex-crazed kid, but…?"

I stand on my tip toes and give him a graze on the lips. "That's all you'll get," I murmur before sinking back into his chest.


Awww, the fluff.

They don't get a makeout scene for a few chapters, unfortunately. They're both such teases. :)

Did anyone catch Spirited Away on CN? I'm applauding the new peeps on CN for that, and that only. -kills them for killing TT-

Anyway...review!

Sorry again for the wait.