"Were you eavesdropping again, Mr. Nosy McDumb-Tie?" Lainey asked, exasperatedly, the words crossing her lips before she realized how idiotic she sounded.

"Ouch, that was harsh," CB said, looking down at his rather obnoxious tie. "You don't like Ren and Stimpy?" He laughed. "They're a hoot!"

"No, I don't. I'm an actual adult," she answered. "And you need to stop listening in on my private conversations with students."

"Well, this is the one time I'm glad I did." He placed his hands on the edge of her desk and leaned forward. "What were you thinking telling that girl she could have sex with her boyfriend?"

"I didn't," Lainey said. "I just told her to make sure she was ready first."

"That's the same thing, Lainey!" CB threw up his hands. "Who knows? She might decide she's ready next week or tomorrow or five minutes from now!"

"Well, at least I told her to wrap it up, right?" Lainey chuckled, making a gesture with her hands to emphasize her point.

"Lainey, you can't go around telling sixteen-year-old girls to have sex!" He yelled at her. "Claudia's way too young!"

"What should I have told her then?" She stood up and walked around the desk to meet him. "Don't even kiss him? 'Cause I'm pretty sure she's already done that or worse."

"You should've just said, 'don't have sex!'" CB got right up in her face. "She was practically begging you to tell her NO!"

"Well, I'm sorry I'm not Mr. Brown, the Superteacher!" Lainey inched her body closer to his. "I got all flustered and didn't know what to say!"

Fuming, they stared each other down for several seconds before CB finally broke eye contact.

"Look, Lainey," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I know you thought what you said was right at the time, but can't you see my side of things… just this once?"

"Yeah, I guess so." Lainey sighed and backed away from him. "And I'm sorry for insulting you and your tie… even if it is the stupidest one yet."

"I'm choosing to ignore that outrageously insincere apology and focus on Claudia right now," CB replied, obviously irritated. "Lainey, there are so many things for kids to worry about nowadays that we didn't have back when we were in high school… AIDS being one of them."

"I know," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're right… as always."

"Thank you." CB let out an exhale in relief and pressed his hands together as if in prayer. "Just please fix this before Claudia does something she'll regret for the rest of her life."

"Can you please do it for me?" Lainey asked, her face forming a hopeful expression.

"No, Lainey, she came to you for advice," he said and walked toward her office door to take his leave. "Besides, I'm a guy. I doubt she wants to hear it from me."

"Okay, fine," she finally relented. "I'll talk to her after class tomorrow."

"Good," CB called to her as he crossed the threshold. "Let's just hope it won't be too late." He gave her a quick smile.

Lainey watched him go and ran both hands through her blond locks. She sighed, still feeling the warmth in her cheeks and neck from earlier.

Why was this whole situation with Claudia bothering her so much? And why did CB always have to call her out on everything she did wrong as a teacher?

Because he's my best friend and he cares… a lot, Lainey thought. It was becoming rather annoying how much he cared. She wondered briefly if it had anything to do with his little crush he'd had on her a few months ago, but she quickly shook away those thoughts. She knew he was dating now, and besides, she was still with Barry. She and CB were nothing more than friends, and that was that.

Figuring she should prepare for her afternoon rehearsals (she still had show choir and band practice to attend to), Lainey twisted her hair into an updo and headed out of her office. She vowed to find Claudia first thing that next morning and set things straight. She cared too much about her student and the relationship they'd developed over the past few months to let her momentary lapse in judgment lay it all to waste.

~.~

"Hey, it's almost seven, you guys. I guess we should call it a night." Lainey stood in front of her beginner band students that same evening. "Excellent work today! I think we're almost ready to perform 'Yankee Doodle' at the spring festival next week… if we're lucky." She mumbled the last three words under her breath, but offered her pupils a hopeful smile.

After her students had finished putting away their instruments and exited the room, Lainey sank down on the bench in front of her piano, completely exhausted. She leaned forward and laid her head against the keys, causing them to scream back in ultimate protest.

"Sounds like you're out of practice, Lewis!" CB's voice startled her, and she jerked her head up straight.

"Damn it, CB!" Lainey screeched at him, annoyed.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you, Sleeping Beauty," he apologized, bending down to pick up a folded sheet of paper off the carpeted floor.

"Really? You think I'm a beauty?" Lainey asked, a little rattled by what he'd said - and also by her thoughts she'd carefully tucked away earlier that day.

"Well… no, I mean, yeah, I mean… what is this?" He seemed rather caught off guard by her question, redirecting his attention to the note in his right hand. "It says 'To: Claudia, From: Jared.'"

"Let me see that!" Lainey stood up from her perch on the piano bench, disregarding CB's obvious embarrassment, and yanked the letter right out of his hand.

"Okay, that was rude."

Ignoring him, Lainey unfolded the letter and quickly read the scribbled handwriting, her eyes widening with each word. Her heart sank in her chest.

"Oh, crap!" She exclaimed and handed him back the note. "Claudia's meeting her boyfriend downtown tonight!"

"No way!" CB grabbed the letter and read it as well as if making sure she wasn't mistaken. "See, this is why I told you it might be too late!"

"I've gotta get to that abandoned house on Sullivan Street and drag her out of there!" Lainey rushed over to her desk and grabbed her shoulder bag, plundering through its contents for her car keys.

"No, Lainey." CB placed a hand over hers to stop her frantic movements. "Let's call her parents and let them handle it from here."

"CB, I can't," Lainey said, looking up at him with tear-stained eyes. "This is all my fault and Claudia trusted me. I can't let her mother find out. They've gotten so close over the past few months. I can't let anything come between them again."

CB sighed and closed his eyes.

"Okay," he whispered, opening his eyes. "But will you please let me drive you downtown? I don't want anything to happen to you either. Besides, you're exhausted and in no shape for driving right now."

"Thanks, CB. You're such an amazing friend." She reached up and cupped his left cheek with her right hand, but, realizing what she was doing, swiftly moved her hand away.

"Always." He smiled down at her, a slight blush rushing into his cheeks and ears.

Lainey mirrored his smile, noting momentarily how adorable he was when he blushed, and the two friends raced outside to CB's car. She hoped with all her heart she wasn't too late.

~.~

Do you think they'll be too late? Will this whole experience draw CB & Lainey closer together? Let me know what you thought. Thank you for sticking around! ~ Dazzy xxoo