Author's Note- Y'all know the deal, if it's in the ~~swiggles~~ that means a song is playing. If it's in italics, then the characters are thinking.

Chapter 10- Lately

I can't believe he did that to me, Nicole thought. Nicole was in a very fragile state of mind. She couldn't couldn't believe what Scott said to her. That wasn't the Scott she knew. She stood in front of the boarding house, rummaging through her pockets for her keys. Getting frustrated, she ripped the door right off the handle, and ran straight to the staircase.

Lance was upstairs in his room when he heard the noise. Half sleep, he came downstairs, scratching his head, confused by the noise. Before he reached the middle of the staircase, he noticed Nicole at the bottom, with her head down, hands over her face, sniffling. He stood over her, and asked playfully, "If I sit next to you, are you gonna flip out on me like you did Claudette?"
"Shut up, Lance. I'm not in the mood today." She answered back, pissed.
"What's wrong with you?" He sat down next to her.
"Fuckin' Summers." She raised her head, her eyes had turned a fiery, bright red.
"Damn! He must have really pissed you off."
"Yeah, he was all over that bitch Je...Je...Ooh! I'm so mad, I can't even say her name!" She was so angry that she punched a hole through the wall.
Lance, afraid to ask. "What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it." She said putting her head back down.
Lance put his arm around her shoulders trying to comfort her. "You know what?"
Nicole lifted her head back up, widened her eyes, and wiped away her tears. "What?"
"You didn't need him. I mean what could he do for you anyway? Besides bitch about you stealin' for Mags and beatin' his ass at everything."
Nicole smiled, "You what? You're right. I mean what was I thinking?"
Lance smiled back her, but before he could say anything comforting, Nicole dropped her head again, sinking down to her knees, and started crying again.
"Lance, what did I do wrong?" She asked, her voice muffled by her hands and knees. "Was it my fault that he had to find out like that? I mean, I really liked him. We had so much fun together. And we were happy. Why did he have to end it like that?"
"No, No, No. Nicole, it wasn't you're fault. Summers is a dick. Besides any guy that doesn't want you has mental issues."
"But then Claudette would be right. He used me as a crutch to get to Gray. I hate it when that little wench is right. I'm the only one who should be right."
"Nic, don't beat yourself about it. You're much better off without him anyway. Any guy would be happy to have you as his girlfriend."
Nicole sat up and wiped her tears; she managed to form a smirk on her face. "Does that include you?"
Lance blushed, "Yeah."
Nicole laughed at his facial expression.
Lance smiled, "See you're feeling better right?"
"Yeah, thank you Lance." She hugged him. "I'm glad I have you to talk to."
"Glad I could help."
Nicole started thinking about all the times she and Lance were together, and they've always had some kind of chemistry. She then looked over to him, smiling seductively at him.
"Hey Lance?"
Lance had been staring at a picture of himself, Claudette, and Nicole acting like Superman and the Wonder Twins. He as soon as the word 'Lance' slithered out of her mouth, Lance slowly turned his head in her direction with a questioning look on his face.
"Remember that message you left on my phone?"
He blushed, "Yeah. Why?"
"I think you're about to get your second chance at me..." She licked her lips.
His eyes boggled, "Say huh?!"
Nicole shook her head smiling. She gently grasped his face, she moved closer into him, and she guided herself into a soft, sexy, passionate kiss. Fireworks sparked off everywhere, Lance finally got his shot at his dream girl. Nicole found herself getting really into this kiss, she had been running her fingers though his hair. Lance pulled her hand down, moving her hands out of his hair. She pushed him backward onto the stairs, straddled him, then began licking and kissing all over his neck. He began whimpering, and softly moaning, Thank you God, he said in his mind. The more she touched him, the more he wanted to rip her clothes off right then and there. Before long, she made him reach a point where he couldn't take it anymore. He gently pushed her off top, stood up, and lead her up stairs.

As soon as they reached the top of the stairs, Nicole playfully pushed him against the left wall, and kissed him. But this time, Lance did the same, picking her up and placing her against the other wall. As hot as it had gotten in the hallway, Lance managed to carry her off to his bedroom. He carried her over to his bed, and dropped her playfully on top of it. Nicole pulled him down on top of her into another steamy kiss. Not wanting to stop the kisses but afraid that someone would walk in on them, from beneath Lance, Nicole waved her hand and his bedroom door closed, she twisted her hand and the it locked. She waved her hand again and the tv cut off, and the stereo cut on. At the time, one of Nicole's favorite songs happened to be playing, Tyrese's Lately. Hearing the sounds of the slow, sensuous music in the background, drove the two even crazier.

~~I can't imagine life without you by my side
This is love baby that I'm feeling
and I'm hoping you're feeling the same way
Things tend to slip my mind
like how you like to wine and dine baby with romantic lights
You mean a lot to me in so many ways~~

As Tyrese's lyrics and soulful, sultry voice sunk deeper into their minds, the passion and desire within the walls of that room sent them into a total abyss of pleasure.

~~Lately Have I told you I love you
Lately Have I told you you still mean the world to me
Lately Have I told you I love you
I'll be your wishing well
tell me what you want baby~~
*-*-*-*-*-**-*-*-*---*-*-**-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-**--*-*-*--*-*-*--*-*-*-*-*

Claudette had been flying all over the city, in search of Nicole, when it dawned on her to check the house. She flew rapidly over to the boarding house, and grounded herself onto the front yard. Just shortly after landing, She noticed Wanda running down the sidewalk, trying to catch up to her.

Wanda stopped in front of her breathing hard, asked Claudette, "Have you found her yet?"

Just before Claudette could answer, a pair of sneakers flew out of Lance's window, followed by Lance's helmet, Nicole's shoes, and about 3 books. Then the two looked over at the front door, and noticed it torn off the hinges.

"Well I have now." Claudette replied. Both Wanda and Claudette sprinted through the door. As the ran up the stairs, the kept hearing a thumping sound coming from Lance's room. They were thinking that Nicole had taken her frustrations out on Lance, and became even more worried.

Claudette and Wanda reached the last door in the hallway, and immediately began banging and calling out for Nicole. "NIC!" "Nicole!" "Nic, are you in there?" "Nicole, please stop, don't hurt Lance."

Nicole manage to stifle her cries and answer Claudette. "It's ok, Claude. I'm...whoa...FINE!"

Claudette and Wanda looked at each other confused. Then Claudette spoke, "Nic, are you sure you're ok? Because you ran out of..."

"...Clau...dette. Tr-Tr-Trust me. I'm FINE."

"Nicole? Are you su..." Claudette then read her sister's thoughts. She began seeing and feeling what Nicole was feeling. Claudette gasped loudly, then shook her head and came out of a state of nirvana. "Ohhhh! Ok."

Wanda looked at Claudette oddly. Claudette then told her sister, "Um...Nic. I'm meeting Rouge, Damia, Tabby and Jubes at Two Guys. If you're feeling up to it, you wanna meet us there?"

Nicole squeaked, "O....K!"

"See ya sis!"

Nicole squeaked, "Bye BYE!"

Wanda walked downstairs with Claudette, once in the living room, she asked "Ok, what the hell is goin' on up there?"

Claudette smiled, arching her right eyebrow she said, "They're 'talking'."

Wanda's eyes widened. "Are you serious?!"

Claudette raised her hand toward the stairs, "Judge for yourself." The thumping noise had gotten louder, and the two heard the faint sound of a girl moaning.

Wanda's jaw dropped, and she covered her mouth. She began squealing with disbelief, Claudette squatted down and let out the most heinous laugh she'd ever done.

"I'm shocked." Wanda stated, "I thought your sister was a prude."

"I told you guys. But, you didn't believe meh."

Wanda laughed, "Next time I'll remember too."

"Well I gotta meet the peasants for our monthly feast."

Wanda chuckled as Claudette flew out the front door back to school. She had to get the convertible that Nicole left in the spot next to Scott's car. Wanda ran up the stairs and stood in front of the occupied room. Todd had come home and noticed the door. He saw Wanda's coat lying on one of the easy chairs, and hopped upstairs. He saw Wanda in front of Lance's door, eagerly listening to something. He stood up and put one ear to the door.

"What are we listening to?" He asked Wanda.

"Just listen." Wanda replied smiling controllably.

Todd listened in. He heard the sounds of a guy and a girl moaning, light taps and rappings around the room, and thumping against the wall.

"Yo, is that Lance with a girl?" He asked eagerly.

"Yeah."

"Who?"

"Nicole."

"What?!"

Wanda nodded vigorously. Todd smiled and laughed a very airy laugh. "Way to go Lance!"

"Yeah, who would have thought?!"

"Yo, this is a real shock."

All of a sudden the house started shaking. The moans started getting louder. Wanda and Todd fell down and covered their heads, in case of falling objects. The house shook harder, and they heard Lance and Nicole project loud cries.

The house settled, Wanda and Todd stood up and brushed themselves off. Todd turned the doorknob, and it opened. He and Wanda peeked in to see, a tired Nicole, wrapped in sheets, lying on top of Lance, who too was tired. They looked around the room, and noticed a few mirrored tiles missing off the ceiling, and every small, movable object all over the floor, along with their clothes hanging out his window.

They quietly closed the door and let the tired couple, rest after they 'little' escapade.