Chapter 37.

It had been two weeks since Pogue and Verity came clean to Tyler, and they had been exhausting for everyone; Verity steered clear of the group during school and made herself socialise with a group of girls from her art class (she dreaded it but actually found herself having fun) and moved in to the Pope manor. Pogue avoided Verity outside of shared classes during the day and made sure they spent at least four evenings a week with each other and helped her and her family move their belongings to their new home. Tyler still stayed part of the group, but avoided conversation with Pogue. He and Verity shared a few classes together, but he sat as far away from her as possible. Verity said hello whenever she passed him, but he ignored her. She couldn't blame him for being frosty after all, but she wasn't going to be rude.

"Do you want to go to Nicky's with me Friday night?" Pogue asked, helping Verity put the last of her photographs up on her bedroom wall.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" She looked sceptical; she wanted more than anything to be out with Pogue and be seen with him, for everyone to know they were together after keeping their relationship a secret.

"I think it's time we started to be seen doing stuff together apart from sharing class. I hate staying away from you. It's killing me." Pogue hooked the last of the photographs on to the nail and looked at Verity.

"I know you're right, but Nicky's seems like a pretty big deal to everyone around here. Let's have lunch together in the cafeteria tomorrow?" She smiled, baby steps were going to be the key here.

"Lunch sounds good. Just you and me or…..?"

"Just you and me; let everyone get used to seeing us. Before people talk too much." Pogue let out a small laugh.

"They're already talking. It's funny actually."

"I hear a lot of rumours about me and Aaron still."

"It'll be nice to give them something real to talk about." Pogue pulled Verity in for a hug and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "It'll work out. Tyler will come around eventually. I know Caleb and Reid are still pissed, but they get it."

"I don't think he'll ever forgive me. And that's something I deserve and have to live with."

"He'll forgive you. It's just going to take time. We still don't have a conversation, if it weren't for the fact we share friends then I know he wouldn't have anything to do with me at all."

"I still feel so bad-"

"I do too. But you're what I wanted, and I'm what you wanted. It would've been worse if we kept it a secret and he thought you broke up with him for no reason."

"Does he know we're seeing each other? Did you tell him?"

"He probably guessed. I think the fact we're here whenever we're alone and I still hang out with the boys maybe made it look like we had cooled it."

"We'll just have to wait for the throwback tomorrow then."

"I guess. Shall we see if your folks need a hand with anything?"

"That sounds like plan, I know my dad has no patience with placing things on shelves." Verity smiled. "Race you to the kitchen." She tagged Pogue, turned on her heel and ran through the door and down the corridor.

"Better run quicker than that!" He called as he ran after her, smiling at her care-free laughter.

The following morning seemed to go by so quickly; too quickly for Verity's liking. She knew there would be some sort of fallout from going to lunch with Pogue, but she was still nervous in wait of it all.

Walking to the cafeteria doors she smiled as she saw him waiting for her at the door. He held out his hand for her and once she placed her hand in his, he gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Ready?" He asked, looking just as nervous as she was.

"Ready." She nodded. There was no going back now, and as they walked in to the room and toward the lunch line, a few people noticed they were hand-in-hand. They lined up for their food, put their lunches on their trays and sat next to each other at a table by the window. Noting that some of their fellow students were looking their way, Pogue placed a quick and gentle kiss on Verity's lips and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Well this isn't so painful." She smiled as she took a bite of her pasta.

"I knew it" came a hushed voiced.

"lucky bitch." Spoke another.

"She broke up with Tyler and got with his best friend?" One girl said.

"Skank" Spat another.

"Lucky bastard, those guys get all the luck." It was the guys turn to add their thoughts now.

"Maybe I spoke too soon." Verity added and went back to her meal.

"Give it a few days. People always need someone to hate on." Pogue reassured her as he went about eating his own meal.

The pair exchanged small talk and made plans to go to Nicky's that Friday; Verity's parents had found her a car- not the BMW she had hoped for, but a cute little Volkswagen Beetle with a soft top that she adored. She was on a learners permit and aiming to take her test after the semester broke up for winter vacation, so it was up to Pogue to drive them to Nicky's in it; something he wasn't sure he was all too pleased with, given his reputation as a biker boy. Which Verity found amusing and would tease him about relentlessly.

"You ready to go?" He asked her when she pushed her plate away.

"Sure. I have to get to the library and study with Lana and Nia before our art history test this afternoon." She stood up and piled her plate on top of his.

"I don't envy you. I'm glad I dropped art, not my favourite subject." Pogue grabbed the tray and they walked together to deposit it at the tray stack and he put his arm around her shoulders. Verity wrapped an arm around his waist and they walked out of the cafeteria and down the hall toward the library. On their way there, they saw Tyler at the lockers, he shot them both a glare and slammed his locker shut and walked away. Verity sighed and Pogue stiffened. Had they really made the right decision after all?

Verity sat a large desk with all the texts books she and her newfound friends would need (when they eventually got there, that it) and waited for them. She got out her phone and text them both to say she was here and replied to her e-mails from Trudy. She was lost in thought when a hand slammed down on the desk in front of her, causing her to jump. She looked up and saw a furious Tyler in front of her, leaning in toward her.

"I never realised how spiteful you could be Verity." His voice angry.

"I don't know what you expected Tyler-" She began. He shook his head and pulled out a seat beside her.

"I thought you would have more courtesy than to flaunt it around like that." He whispered, knowing that if he wasn't careful, the ever watchful librarian would be sternly requesting he leave.

"We couldn't sneak around Tyler, that would've been worse. We wanted to tell you but you've been avoiding us. Even Pogue tried to talk to you but you'd walk away. We're both so sorry Tyler. You don't ever have to forgive me, but please forgive Pogue; he's your oldest friend."

"I just don't understand why you went out with me in the first place. I know you two had something from the start, I just don't know why you would lie to yourselves and then to me about it." He looked hurt now, and so lost. Verity sighed and placed her hand gently on his and gave it a light and reassuring squeeze. A gesture she had seen her friends use in the past when trying to escape the fallout of a scandal, much like this one. Tyler didn't move his hand away, but looked down at their hands and then in to her eyes.

"Have you been seeing each other a lot since you broke up with me, or is today the first time?" He asked. Verity swallowed a lump in her throat.

"We've been seeing each other in the evenings." Her voice came out as a whisper.

"Have you been sleeping together?" The look on her face told him everything he needed to know, but he needed to hear the words.

"Tyler-" She began.

"Have you been sleeping with my best friend Verity?" His voice stern and as hard as steel. She nodded.

"Yes." She whispered.

Tyler snatched his hand away and walked out of the library as fast as his heavy legs and broken heart could carry him.