A/N- Welcome to the latest installment of FTLOS. I apologize for the horrifyingly long delay. Not only did writer's block sit in front of me for weeks and weeks, but then, when I almost had this chap done my computer spazzed. It totally destroyed, dumped, whatever it did to the file and I was forced to completely rebuild the entire chapter. Ugh. Anywho... I hope it's worth the wait.

"Mercy killing should be legal."

Caesar does not bother asking why, since Paul threatens someone's life several times a week, usually for touching his precious hair. "Who?"

"Justin."

"Right, should've guessed. Hey, did ya ever find out who wrote all that crap on your Bug?"

"Hence the current topic."

"Ah."

"Know any assassins for hire?"

"No, but I could ask my sister."

Paul looks at his friend dubiously. "Your sister?"

"Didn't I ever tell you? She works at the American Embassy in Venezuela."

"Perfect. Let me know what she says. As long as they can't trace 'em back to me, I'm so down with blowing him off the face of the Earth."

"They are kinda expensive though. You got a few hundred G's to spend like that?"

The hairdresser pouts. "No."

"Well you can just do it yourself. Steal a car and run him over with him. Or build a homemade bomb and wire his locker to explode. The science wing has arsenic."

"Great ideas. Do you know how to steal a car?"

"Not really."

"How do I build a bomb to go off when he opens his locker?"

"Uh, I'm sure I saw something like that on Youtube."

"OK. Possibility. Arsenic is too girly. Any other good ideas?"

The lacrosse player raises an eyebrow. "Arsenic is too girly. For you, too girly? Are you kidding me?"

"Shut up."

Caesar chuckles deep in his throat. He stops abruptly as the target of their plan enters the room. "Why is it that the only class we share, we gotta endure it with him?" He moans.

Justin stops and slaps his hands together. He puts on a brilliant smile, his eyes dark with intended mischief. "Hi, guys. Having a great morning?"

"What do you want?"

"That's no way to treat an old friend." The blonde sticks his lower lip out.

Caesar snorts and Paul remains angrily silent. "We were never friends. The closest we come now is me wanting to tie you to Kevin Starkey's truck and go off-roading through Kessler's pass."

"Oh, aren't you a cranky puss. Anyway, I just came to tell you that the cat is out of the bag."

"The hell are you babbling about, Peachfuzz?"

The annoying nickname earns him a glare which he smirks back at. "Viola. Everyone knows about The Tranny Adventures of Viola the Whore."

Paul starts, but is restrained by his dark friend. "I assume you had something to do with that?" He spits out instead.

"Just like the beautiful artwork on your car."

At this Caesar grabs a fist full of Justin's polo and pull him dangerously close to his face. "You are such a fuck bag, Peachfuzz. What the hell did Vi ever see in you?"

"My good looks and big dick." He throws back, his large grin never faltering. "O look, our teacher." Caesar reluctantly releases Viola's ex. "Why good morning, Mister Patel. Nice tie. Red is definitely your color."

Mr. Patel returns the greeting perfunctorily, not ready to deal with Justin first thing in the morning. He heads directly to his desk, sits, and brings his coffee to his lips. His attention is immediately taken by the class over-achiever, concerned about her latest test score.

"By the way, Paul."

The icy glare would deter anyone smarter.

Justin leans closer to whisper. "Just when did Viola go dyke?" Paul growls, his hands clench the sturdy Psychology book tightly. "It would have been nice to know before I dirtied my cock with her sinful cunt juices. I mean, come on. A guy could've warned me. I've got my reput . . ." His mouth closes abruptly as Paul's book crashed into his jaw and snapped his neck backward. The furious teen knocks his desk and chair to the side and he throws himself at his enemy.

"I'm gonna tear your balls off and feed them to you." He screams his war cry.

Together, they crash to the floor, Paul already hauling his arm back to strike. His blow lands heavily, a loud crunching sound pronounces Justin's nose breaking.

He howls in pain. "Ow, that fucking hurts. Get off me, you dirty homo!"

The hairdresser continues to wail on him while the teacher and students stare in stunned silence. A student in the hall sees the carnage of Justin's face and screams. Caesar breaks from the trance of watching the usually gentle stylist beating the shit out Justin again. He reaches his friend and pulls him off. As enjoyable as seeing Justin smeared across the floor would be, he had to save his friend from a homicide charge.

Caesar forces him down into a chair. "Calm down, man." Paul's look is rebellious, but Caesar stares him down. "You destroyed his face. That should satisfy you. Viola will be proud. His nose will remind him not to fuck with us any more."

With Paul's weight no longer holding him down, the soccer captain scrambles to his feet. Caesar turns around in time to catch him by his throat and slam him into the nearby wall. While holding the other teen a few inches off the ground, his face starts to turn purple with lack of oxygen. He briefly considers finishing the job. Mr. Patel seems to have found his voice and calls his student's name loudly.

"Caesar. I don't like him either, but let him go."

"If I can't kill him, you can't either."

The lacrosse player lowers Justin back to the floor just as Cornwall security appears in the doorway. He lets go and turns away to see Paul back on his feet, barely containing himself.

Justin regains his breath and stupidly opens his mouth again. "Did anyone bother telling Viola that her girlfriend's mom is a leader in the Cure the Gay Gene Foundation? Dumb bitch'll probably be the first they try their experimental drug on."

Viola's best friend screams ferally and launches himself at his antagonist again. His friend manages to grab his collar, but it doesn't even slow him and the fabric tears easily. Paul and Justin exchange a few blows before wrestling to the ground where the two guards and Caesar try to pull them apart. Justin holds on to Paul's hair with one hand while clawing at his eyes with another. He roars in pain when Paul's teeth close on his fingers, drawing blood. The pain startles him enough to release his hold and he is hauled up quickly.

Mr. Patel hollers his orders. "Get him out of here. Leave the other to Caesar. I'll send him to the office shortly."

The guards drag the screaming Justin from the room. Caesar holds Paul in a full body lock, forcing him to calm down. When he feels Paul's muscles relax, he lets go. The two get to their feet and the class bursts into applause. Paul looks confused until Caesar smacks him on the back, laughing. "Justin zero, Paul two."

"Hells yea!" He pumps his fist into the air and winces, quickly cradling it against his chest. "Owwie. It really hurts. Why's it so much worse this time?"

"Cuz last time he was drunk and could barely defend himself. You mostly just sat on his chest and slapped him."

"I punched him."

"Yea, but not multiple times in his face."

"Oh. Yea, guess you're right."

"If you two are done counting your trophies, do me a favor and get to the principal's office?"

"Yes, sir." They both respond.

"Oh, and avoid trying to kill Justin again, eh?"

Paul rubs the back of head with his uninjured hand. "I'll try."

Caesar claps him on the shoulder and steers him out the door. "Let's go, hero."

Viola looks at herself in the mirror for the thousandth time this morning. Girls' uniform, makeup, and long hair are a far cry from what she has gotten used to over the last month. Taking a deep breath, she steels herself for leaving the locker room. Outside, she looks around. She smiles slightly, seeing Olivia climbing the steps to the main building.

That girl is my hero. Seriously, a lifesaver, still doing my makeup like this. Not to mention amazing, strong, and beautiful. Her Biology notes totally rock too. Class, darn I should've asked her what her normal schedule is. If we share any classes, at least I could've looked forward to sharing them with a friend. Wait, can I consider her a friend? For that matter, what does she think of me, and all this anyway? Stupid me, I forgot to ask how she felt. I was too worried about the rest of today to really talk to her the entire time she was doing my makeup. Wow, I can't believe she actually did my eyes too. Next time the girls and I go out, I'm hiring her as our cosmetologist.

Caught up in her musings, she jumps at the sudden sensation of hot breath on her neck.

"Eunice! That freaks me out, you gotta stop."

The girl ignores her outburst and asks, "What are you doing here, Viola?"

"Me? What about you?"

"I followed you."

Viola blinks, not quite sure how to respond to the blunt honesty.

"You want to know why?"

The twin nods dumbly.

"I saw Olivia leave her dorm and head to locker rooms. When I saw you head that direction, my curiosity got the better of me. I decided to follow you and see what you and Olivia were doing. Are you two dating?"

Viola chokes, "Excuse me?"

"You're not into her like that?"

"Didn't you hear me tell Duke how I feel about him? The track team was there, you must've heard the whole thing."

"I did."

"So why would you ask me if I was dating Liv?"

"Because she has this huge crush on you."

"She had a crush on the fake Sebastian. Not me." Viola hastily corrects.

Eunice regards the taller girl until Viola begins to fidget. She finally responds. "Is there a difference?"

So.. SO?? What'd you think of the of the chapter I had to write twice and was therefore really short?