Emma hadn't talked to him since the day he stole Snake's new laptop. There's no way she could know. But hanging out with Jay and his friends was way better than with Emma and Toby. He'd helped Jay supe up his car, that's what led him to stealing Snake's computer. Jay needed cash for parts for his car, he planned on stealing Mr. Simpson's keyboard but he told Jay that would get him fifty bucks max. Sean suggested the computer. It was just a computer, what good would it do. So what? Snake has cancer, a lot of people do. It's better than having drunks for parents. Emma had been doing her environmental stuff, babysitting, taking care of Snake; she had hardly spent any time with him at all. She didn't seem to care, and her freaking out because Kendra saw us making out, that was it.
Sean was tired of getting in trouble for things he didn't so, like with the vending machine, or getting pushed to the side. Jay is cool, he's like me, but he can be a jerk sometimes. He's always on Paige's brother's case, because he's gay, and now on Marco for the same thing. That is stupid; I've tried to get him to leave off it.
Jimmy's still mad at me for whatever, it's not like he's dating Ash anymore. It's probably about the party and stealing his parents alcohol. He needs to get over himself, it's not like they'd even notice. In their penthouse with all their money.
Sean hung out with Jay all weekend, helping him put in the hatchback system. The pawned computer more than paid for it. He called Em a few times, he got the answering machine
Paige woke up suddenly. Tears streamed down her face, she sat up shaking. She looked around her dark room, then walked slowly to the bathroom. Her face was streaked with tears; she ran the cold water and splashed her face. Her hands still shaking, she returned to her room. She heard Dylan stirring in the next room, the rustle of sheets. She wanted to run to him, he'd been there for her so much before. He was probably dreaming about Marco. She smile a little, and lay down to try to sleep. The instant she closed her eyes she saw him again. Dean. She opened her eyes quickly, the red glow of her clock penetrated the darkness. The clock read three, it was getting lighter outside. Paige pulled the covers tightly around her.
In the next room Dylan heard what sounded like crying. He heard Paige's door open, then the bathroom door. He sat up, thinking about seeing what was wrong; instead he listened for the two doors again. The two doors shut softly; there was a small sound as she climbed into bed again. Dylan lay back down.
As the alarm on Paige's clock went off the next morning, she already sat, fully clothed, on her bed. She inspected her reflection in the mirror, she looked good, there was little sign she hadn't slept well. She sat next to Dylan in his car on the way to school.
"Are you okay, Paige?" She looked at him.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She replied with fake cheeriness.
"I thought I heard something last night." Paige shrugged.
"Guess not." The rest of the ride was silent. They went different ways when they got to school, Dylan to find Marco, Paige to find Spinner.
Dylan headed for Marco's locker, he was there waiting.
"Hey."
"Hey" They both smiled, that was about all they could do, it's not like they could really kiss at school.
Spin walked by them, rolled his eyes and kept going.
He walked up to Paige.
"Are your brother and Marco…?"
"Yeah, why?" Spin made a face.
"That's…uh…weird." He was going to say sick, but he changed him mind.
"Come off it Spin."
"I just said it was weird." Paige dug in her locker for a notebook.
"Maybe you should go talk to Marco. I'm sure it would make him feel better if he knew you were cool with it, I mean, if you're still friends."
"Look, I don't know if we're still friends, and I don't know if I'm cool with it. He's dating your brother! They've probably kissed." He shuddered. He was talking a little loud, causing people to look at them.
"They have Spin, a lot, but they're cute. They're happy, why ruin it?"
Because it's weird. He didn't say it though. He walked off.
"Hey Paige"
"Hey."
"I still can't believe it."
"Huh?" Hazel nodded her head toward Marco and Dylan who were walking by. Paige smiled.
------------------------------
Dylan and Marco walked off to class together, they were walking so close together that they're hand nearly touched. Marco stopped.
"Wait." Dylan stood across from him.
"What?"
"Didn't we say we were going to be public about this?"
"yeah, but in school? I mean there are the guys, and Spin, and Jay."
"So, if they don't like it they don't have to look." The bell rang, the hall emptied. Dylan and Marco kept talking.
Dylan smiled and took Marco's hand. "So, any more talks from your parents?"
"No, not really. They want me to invite you over for dinner tonight."
"Really? That should be interesting."
"What about your parents?"
"What about them?"
"How do they feel about us?" Dylan let out a breath.
"They don't like it." Marco was surprised. "They were cool with me being gay, but when they have to think about me having a sex life, they don't like it."
"Oh, mine don't like that part either. My mom almost freaked when she found out you slept over. I told her that we didn't, but she's still worried." The tardy bell rang.
Dylan smiled, remembering the other night. He put his other hand (the one not holding Marco's) to Marco's neck, and kissed him. Macro kissed back. Their lips moved across each other's and between, and their tongues met.
Mrs. Kwan was walking back to her class from the office. She was distracted by a kissing couple in the hall. Marco del Rossi and…Dylan Michaelchuk. It was a bit of a surprise, but not much. She'd heard people talking about it.
"Hey, boys." They stopped, and waited for it. "No kissing in the halls. Get to class." They had expected to be yelled at, or worse. They let go of each other, blushing. Dylan headed off to his class; Marco followed Mrs. Kwan to his. Mrs. Kwan stopped him at the door. Here we go.
"Marco, I'm glad that you and Dylan are so comfortable. It's really good. I've seen a lot of kids like you go through school hiding. Just remember in school PDA is limited to hand holding. No more kissing." She smiled and opened the door. Marco followed and sat in his seat, he ignored the whispers that came with him entering the room.
Mrs. Kwan sat at her desk and wrote a note that excused Dylan from being late, she started the class then headed to Dylan's class. At the end of class she called Marco to her desk.
"Usually, being as late as you were would result in detention. However, I'm going to excuse it this time, on account of first love." Marco blushed at that comment, surprised that she said love.
-------------------
Paige went into the restroom between classes. She heard the echoing of Dean's voice in her head. "Hey, Spirit." She shook her head trying to get rid of it.
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Marco sat in science class; he could tell that Spin was watching him.
"What is your problem Spin?"
"Nothing, I'm just thinking."
"Whatever."
"So," Spin spoke quietly, "You and Dylan, huh?"
"Yeah, so." Marco blushed.
"Are you happy? With him, I mean."
"Yeah, Spin. I am." Marco was surprised that Spinner was trying to understand.
"You really like him?" Oi, he's really going o ask me.
"Yeah I do." He didn't really answer it, but he knew Spin would ask him again.
"I mean, really. Like serious, ….love." Again with the love word again.
"I don't know Spin. You don't really want to know anyway." Spin looked hurt.
"Marco, I do, okay. I'm okay with it, well, I'm not okay with it…but it doesn't bother me. You're just avoiding answering that aren't you." He laughed
"I ….think I do. Love him."
"Hey, that's cool. The way Paige acts, I bet he feels the same."
"Boys! Stop talking."
---------------------------------
Emma sat in class looking at someone, not just someone--Chris, and not just looking--she was staring at him. Manny noticed. "Em!" She tossed a square of paper to her desk.
You like Chris, I can tell.
He's cool, you should ask him out.
His cousin is DJing a rave this weekend, he always lets Chris spin lets go to it.
Emma wrote her back.
I don't even think her likes me.
A RAVE, are you CRAZY??!!
Spike and Snake will never let me go
She tossed it over.
"He wouldn't like me anyway, I'm boring. Right?"
"Em. You aren't boring. You just need a bit of an update."
"An update?"
"A new look." Emma shook her head. "Not like mine, just something a little sexier."
"I'm not sure Manny."
"Come on, not too much. We'll go shopping after school."
"Okay, but I get a say in this too."
They walked by Sean, Emma rolled her eyes and didn't even look at him. Manny gave him a sympathetic glance.
"Emma, you can't hate him forever."
"Can't I? He stole Snake's computer, he's a jerk. I don't know why I gave him so much time."
"Anyway, back to your new look."
----------------
Paige searched her locker for a book for her next class; she caught bits and pieces of conversations going on in the hall.
[ 'can you believe they're going out….I heard they got caught kissing in the hall.'
'by who?' 'Kwan, and she just let it pass']
'are you going to the rave?'
'Bardell'
The last word made her shiver, Bardell, that's where Dean went to school. He would have graduated last year though, if it weren't for the charges. They hadn't been able to get him for much, but he got a few months in a youth detention center. She knew what they were talking about; they played Bardell at the next game. She was lost in thought and didn't notice that Ellie had approached her.
"I Talked to Marco." Paige looked up.
"Really? And?"
"And he's happy, he really likes Dylan. He said everything makes sense now."
"Good. Dylan really likes him too."
"Have you heard about Kwan?"
"I heard something about her catching someone in the hall making out."
"Yeah." Ellie raised her eyebrow to emphasize. Paige's eyes got big.
"She caught Marco and Dylan?" Ellie nodded. "Wow. I guess they are comfortable." She shut her locker and checked her watch. "So, yesterday? Your arm?"
"Oh…it was jut a scratch."
"Okay. I have to go to class. See you later." Something was up with her, I'll check the net during class. Something about warning signs, I heard something about cutting, maybe…
--------------------------------
By lunchtime everyone was so ready to get out of class. Manny had the entire weekend planned, Emma's outfit, and a little plan of her own. She was going to get Craig back. He doesn't love Ash, he wouldn't have been with me instead. She doesn't deserve him, she doesn't. She hadn't talked to him since the day after, and that was only for a second because Ash interrupted. He loves me, I know it.
Craig was really confused, he was caught between to great girls. Ash—she had made up with him, they said their I-love-you's. Manny—She wasn't a kid anymore, she definitely didn't remind him of Angie anymore, and that night. Who could he talk to about it? Sean was hanging with Jay (major jerk), Marco was dating Paige's brother, so he was a little busy, but he would work. There's always Joey, but he'd be mad, he always told Craig not to cheat on Ash. But who else is there, Spin isn't exactly the talking type. He tried to find Marco, he spotted him talking to Dylan in the Library. He didn't really want to interrupt, but he had to talk to Marco. He walked slowly up to the two boys. Marco saw him and smiled. "Hey Craig."
He tried to smile. "Marco, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Marco turned to Dylan. "I'll talk to you later." He smiled and touched Dylan's arm. He walked off with Craig. "What's up?"
"I screwed up, majorly this time."
"Did you have a fight with Ash?"
Craig raised his left eyebrow. "No, but it has something to do with her, and Manny."
Marco's mouth dropped open. "Manny? Don't tell me….Craig, you can't exactly go out with both of them. "
"I know, that's the problem. Ash is great, she's beautiful and fun, and she likes music. But Manny is cute, and hot, and …well."
"Okay, so when did this happen, this thing with Manny?"
"At Paige's party, after Ash and I had that fight, Manny and I kinda hooked up."
"Hooked up? Craig, you didn't?"
Craig leaned into the wall. "I didn't mean to, she was there and she was coming on to me, I couldn't help it."
"Craig, you and Ash haven't even gone that far yet." He thought a bit. "Wait, where?"
"In the garage."
"Oh, how romantic." He laughed a little.
Craig laughed too. "Shut up."
"So, the thing you have to do now is choose one." Marco leaned against the wall.
"Yeah, sure. How am I supposed to do that."
"Which one do you love?"
Craig play-hit his head on the wall. " I don't know, what if I love both of them?"
"It doesn't work that way man." Marco left Craig to figure it out.
Terri took the rose off of her locker, and twirled it around in her hand. The second one this week.
"Another rose?" Terri turned around to see Hazel smiling at her.
"I wish I could figure out who it is."
