Author's note: Not long now, people, until the finale of this story. If you want, leave some predictions on how this story is going to end. Thanks to all my supporters and at the end of my story I will leave personal responses to each of the reviewers.

I got round to finishing this because I got grounded, so at least one good thing came out of it!

Chapter 13: Tuesday Morning Shivers

[E]

Edward was looking up into the sky, his head spinning with ideas of the future. It was early in the morning, when Edward had last looked at the clock it was five, and he had been out for around five minutes now. He had a large cigar in his mouth and was lying on his back on a park bench. The blue lake beside him was shining in the morning sun and anyone else would feel refreshed, but Edward felt strange.

Only four full school days left until he had to leave and go back to X. This bothered him more than he could explain. There was only one person he could think of, Kimi Finster, and it was tearing him apart. Edward blew out some of the cigar, it was Cuban. He didn't often smoke them, but he bought them and thought he would treat himself.

"Edward?" Edward heard a call from behind some trees. After a few seconds of rustling and someone swearing loudly, Fillmore appeared out of some trees. "Edward, are you down here?"

Edward said nothing, and sunk lower into the park bench (hoping Fillmore wouldn't see him) and kept quiet. Fillmore walked over. "Hello, Edward," he said, appearing above Edward's head. Edward knew he couldn't hide, the smoke from his cigar was showing his position, but it was worth a shot.

"How did you find me?" Edward demanded, still lying on his back. "I didn't see you following."

"It's one, long road, Edward," Fillmore laughed. "I followed you earlier, and then saw your bike over there by the road," he gestured. "You were loud down the hall of the hotel, and I wondered what you were up to?"

Edward grunted something. "Anyway," he said, he held up a tube. "Want one?"

"Sure," Fillmore said, and caught it when Edward threw it. After a few seconds, Fillmore remembered what he wanted to talk about (the cigar distracted him). "So, why have you come out to a deserted lake?" he asked. "If you just wanted a cigar you could have sat outside or, knowing you, just done it in your room."

"Yep," Edward agreed.

"It's Kimi, isn't it," Fillmore said. "You've hit that point haven't you? You're actually happy with her, really happy. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen you so happy."

"Yeah," Edward growled. "Thank you, Fillmore!"

"Oh, I get it," Fillmore laughed. "You're out here because you're miserable. And do you know why you're miserable, Edward?"

"Enlighten me," Edward muttered sarcastically.

"It's because you're happy, but in a few days it will be gone again," Fillmore explained to him. "You'll lose Kimi, one of the only things that make you truly happy." Fillmore smiled broadly.

"Maybe you're right," Edward growled. "But, you don't have to look so smug about it." He stared at Fillmore, who was looking very happy indeed.

"It's good," Fillmore said, and raised his hand when Edward tried to argue.

"How on earth is it good?" Edward demanded.

"It proves something really important," Fillmore told him. "It proves something that you try so hard to hide. People do make you happy, Edward, but you hide it because you've been betrayed in the past. You didn't lose it, but you're too afraid to be made a target again, to let people know the truth so they can get close to you. You're a coward, Edward."

"Fuck you, Fillmore," Edward said. He got up as quickly as he could and made for his bike, his knee irritating him more than ever.

"Good luck, Edward," Fillmore called behind him.

Edward swung his leg over his bike, put his helmet on and drove off as quickly as possible. He was so angry with Fillmore that he had thrown his cigar into the lake. How dare he say such things? Though, inside Edward's purely rational brain, he was right. He did feel happy when he was around Kimi, which meant that he could feel it around others unless Kimi was one of a kind.

"Screw it," Edward said to himself, and turned a corner and making sure Fillmore wasn't still following him. "I'm having a breakfast." Edward had to see Kimi after school today, and he would ring her as soon as he had some food in his stomach, regardless of whether or not she was asleep.

[T]

Tommy looked into his own eyes through his mirror. It was early in the morning and he was brushing his teeth, preparing himself eagerly for the following day. He and Lil had really hit it off yesterday. He felt like he could dance, which was one of his more embarrassing urges.

Last night had gone so well that Lil had decided that they should meet up every day this week, until the piece was due. She was coming over to his on Friday, but other than that he was meeting her. He smirked to himself in the mirror and got in the shower. Not only that, but he had been up a long time chatting to her both by text and phone. He was feeling the tiredness, but he didn't care.

After about ten minutes Tommy was lying on his bed, listening to his music with his eyes shut. He had that feeling that you get when things have gone great, and you know that something great was definitely coming. He felt it in his stomach, a mixture of anxiety and happiness. Needless to say, he was feeling pretty good this morning.

Tommy pulled out his phone and rang the number he rung every morning: Chuckie's. After a few *brings, Chuckie picked up. "Hi Tommy," Chuckie said and yawned.

"Wow Chuckie," Tommy laughed. "Was it a late night or something?"

"Yeah," Chuckie admitted. "Got a console for a game on my computer and stayed up most of the night changing the game. It was great."

"Anyway," Tommy said, bringing the conversation forward before Chuckie went off on a thirty minute tangent. "Can you come pick me up please?"

"Sure," Chuckie said. "Oh, that reminds me," Tommy heard Chuckie scratching his head (he always did this when he had remembered something. "How did everything go last night?"

"What do you mean?" Tommy asked. This was the wrong thing to do, getting defensive with Chuckie just made him more suspicious. He probably knew that he (Tommy) liked Lil, a lot, because Dil had picked up on it. He wasn't entirely sure who was smarter out of the two of them but regardless it must have been close.

"You know what I mean, Tommy," Chuckie chuckled. Shit, Tommy thought, he does know. Tommy pictured Chuckie standing there with that self righteous look on his face when he knew something and bit his lip. "I mean," Chuckie continued after a second, "did you get any further with your work? I know working with Lil can be really stressful."

Chuckie was teasing him now, and being sarcastic. There was nothing Tommy hated more than a sarcastic Chuckie. "Well, I got a lot done," Tommy said, proud of not rising to the bait and basically admitting that he liked Lil. "Lil's smart, Chuckie, she is also surprisingly obsessive about staying at the top in school."

"Yeah, Phil told me," Chuckie agreed. "He rang before you, he wants to be picked up as well."

"Can you be quick please, Chuckie?" Tommy asked. "I have nothing to do and I'm bored!"

"Fine," Chuckie said. "I'll be there in five; can you ring Phil and let him know? I'm running out of credit."

"Who have you been calling?" Tommy said. Once again proud of himself for picking up on something this important and getting revenge on Chuckie for earlier.

"No one."

"Then how have you ran out of credit?" Tommy asked, raising his eyebrow, now genuinely interested due to Chuckie's secrecy.

"I'll be there in five, Tommy," Chuckie concluded. "I'll see you then."

"Bye Chuckie," Tommy said, and Chuckie hung up the phone.

That was an interesting conversation, Tommy reflected in his head as he got ready for school. Why would Chuckie be so defence about ringing someone? It had to be embarrassing or significant otherwise he wouldn't cover it up. After some thought, Tommy decided not to bring it up again, but wait and see what would happen in the next couple of weeks. Maybe what had happen would present itself. Man, he hadn't been this curious, in anything, for a long time.

Tommy looked through his phonebook. After a few *brings (more than Chuckie) Phil picked up. "Yeah?" he said down the phone.

"Hi," Tommy said. "What's up Phil, you sound down." What's wrong with everybody today? Tommy thought to himself. What with Chuckie being secretive and staying up all night and… wait a second. Tommy's thoughts were diverted suddenly. What if Chuckie had been up all night on the phone?

"Tommy?" Phil said down the phone. "Are you there?"

"Yeah, sorry Phil," Tommy said. "I was just thinking about something. Anyway, what's up? You don't sound too good."

"Nothing, man," Phil said, sounding back to normal again. "Just a little early, you know."

"Sure," Tommy said. "Anyway, Chuckie told me to tell you that he's coming to pick you up a little earlier. In about three minutes I need."

"Oh," Phil said, and Tommy heard his open his wardrobe. "Ok then. Are you getting a lift today then?"

"Yeah."

"What happened last night with Lil?" Phil asked.

Tommy stiffened. What could that possibly mean? "Why? Has she said anything?" Tommy asked, trying to sound a little guilty as possible. He was sure Phil would pick up on it and, well… Phil was very protective over his sister, like all brothers, really (his mind went back to when Chuckie thought he was dating Kimi, all those years ago).

"She just said she had a good time and got a lot of work done," Phil said (that was more or less what Tommy had said to Chuckie), "Why?"

"No reason," Tommy smiled to himself. He had gotten away with it, even though he hadn't really done anything. There was nothing wrong with texting Lil, he just didn't feel like telling Phil. Everyone was hiding something, and being suspicious at the same time. "Anyway, I have to go, I'll see you in the car."

"Yeah, see you in a bit, man," Phil said, and hung up the phone.

[P]

Phil hung up the phone and threw it over his head, smiling when he head it bounce on his bed. He was still thinking about Kimi, and even Tommy had noticed it. She didn't answer his text. Phil was waging an inner war with himself. She got it; he got the message report, so why didn't she answer?

Phil grabbed his school bag and headed downstairs and he was surprised to see that Lil wasn't in the kitchen, but her bag was hung up on the door. "Lil?" Phil called upstairs. He couldn't believe it, but Lil was still asleep. She must have been up all night doing something, but he couldn't figure out what.

A few seconds later, Phil heard a series of bumps upstairs as Lil clattered around the room. She was probably panicking about being so late. "Thanks Phil!" he heard her shout. Phil smirked, it was a good thing that the two of them were on good terms at the moment, or he would have left her. Lil had not been late to school for years, and she would freak out if she started. Their mom would as well.

Kimi didn't reply to him… this realisation pulled him back down to reality. She didn't reply to the text. Phil slumped into the chair and made up his mind. He would have to do something today, something drastic. He would have to talk to her…

End of Chapter 13

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into the characters lives. I also left a little hint for the future of Chuckie, I wonder who picked up on it.