High School…a teen's best friend. Yeah Right.

By Risty Maskell and silver15

Disclaimer: We own nothing but our own characters. If you don't like it, well, stuff you.

Summery: Come on, you have to read the rest of the story!

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For the next few days, things went okay. Jamie was still in the infirmary, so me; Legolas and Billee spent all our free time in there. Billee still seemed mildly depressed but he was still functioning okay. Gimli still made the occasional remark, but nothing we couldn't handle.

Something was bugging me however, and I mentioned it one afternoon while me and Billee were telling Jamie how lucky she was for not having to sit in boring classes.

"Guys" I said slowly. "I've been thinking a lot about what Jamie said that day…" I broke off and shook my head, not wanting to remember all the details. Jamie looked puzzled.

"What did I say?" she asked.

"You showed me that photo," I told her. "The one of all of us, you know from last year. You asked what had happened to those good times"

A silence fell over the room. Finally Billee spoke.

"I remember that photo," he said softly. "They were good times back then. Just the three of us, Jake and Baz. I think about them sometimes"

"What happened to them?" I said softly. "Everything is changing. We aren't the people we used to be"

"That's the problem," Billee said with a shrug. "I mean Jamie's gone all soppy over Frodo" he broke off as Jamie hit him. "I've made friends with Legolas," he continued after a moment. "I mean it's not just the five of us any more"

"I know" I kicked the bedpost softly. It's a bad habit. "I remember when we all used to go riding together and you used to pull all those stupid stunts" Billee gave me a small smile. I knew damn well that he was thinking about riding. He loves horses more than anything does Billee

"That's another way you've changed" Jamie said softly. "You used to act really tough and no one would mess with you. Now, you spend most of your life hanging around with girls"

"I guess that was my dad's doing" Billee glanced down at the bed covers. "We used to have major fights, back in the old days. Now it isn't like that any more. Now he hits and I accept. And in some strange way, it makes me feel like I'm less of a man so to speak"

"That's stupid" Jamie said with a laugh. "I don't understand why all males are like that. Always feeling like they have to fight to prove how tough they are. I'm glad you aren't like that, Billee"

"So am I?" I said honestly. "I don't know what we'd do without you sometimes. Most guys wouldn't be seen dead hanging out with two girls"

"Yeah but there was Baz and Jake too," Billee said with a smirk. "Oh, the things we used to do. Do you remember that time when I said Galadriel was cute and…"

"And Baz wrote it on a note and passed it all round the class" Jamie said with a shriek of laughter. "Then she demanded to see what we were all laughing about…"

"That was so embarrassing" Billee said, although he couldn't stop himself from smiling. "She just read it and looked at me kind of strangely. She's never said anything though. I hope she's forgotten about it now"

"Probably" I said reassuringly. "I'm pretty sure that she gets most of the male teachers and students after her. Now what happened with Elrond was a different matter"

"Yeah" Jaime agreed, snickering. "I am really surprised that you can still face him after that"

"That was Jake and Baz again," Billee said. "Those two really enjoy embarrassing people. And that was a good one"

"It was indeed," I agreed. I can actually see the funny side now. "I was going to kill them at the time"

"You scribble 'I love Elrond' all over your maths book" Billee remembered. "Jake and Baz take it to his office and put it on his desk. And I had to go and get it for you"

"Tell us what happened again" Jamie begged. "What did Elrond say?"

"I went into his office" Billee said, trying to keep a straight face. "He looked up and held it out to me. I said thank you and grabbed it off him. As I ran out, he goes, 'Tell her I'm very flattered'. I felt like saying something really bad then"

"Like what?"

"Well, I bet he don't get many offers" Billee shrugged. "But I didn't say it"

We looked at each other for a second then all started laughing loudly. It's been a long time since any of us laughed that much. Especially Jamie.

We didn't notice Elrond come in until Billee looked up and saw him standing in the doorway.

"Hey sir" he said immediately. "Seen any maths books lately?"

I kicked him off the bed and he landed hard on the floor. That was enough to set us all off again. Elrond stood there and looked at us like we were all mad. Finally we all managed to calm down.

"Well" Elrond said with a smile. "I'm glad to see you three looking so happy. That's a sight I don't often see"

"We were just talking about old times," I said, trying my very hardest not to start giggling. "About last year. The stuff we did to each other"

"I remember well. Jamie, how are you feeling?"

"Better sir. A lot better"

"That's good. Emma how's your arm?"

"It still hurts," I said with a shrug. "But it does feel a lot better. I'm used to it anyway"

"Yes, I know" Elrond gave a sigh. He knows that I still do it, but he won't say anything because he knows I'm just going to deny it. He only attempts to talk to me if one of my friends goes to him about it, but even then he never gets anywhere.

When Elrond had gone, Legolas came to fetch us for dinner. While Billee went off with him, I hung back. I needed to talk to Jamie alone.

"Jamie" I said quietly. "I know I promised not to lie to you again and I won't, but you have to promise me something in return"

"What?"

"I'll tell you now Jamie, that sometimes I just have to cut myself. It's my way of coping…"

"Billee gave you the knife didn't he?"

"Yes" I said honestly. "He didn't want to and he didn't want to keep it from you, but I made him and I'm sorry. Jamie, if you see that I've cut myself again, please don't tell anyone. Please, promise me that"