Yes…this story is so fun that I'm updating it twice in one day. Guess the old "Dakota, Queen of Updates" has risen from the grave and reclaimed her place in my head. Keep the reviews coming!

And we have a winner already!!! I can't believe it myself…but congrats to Written Sparks, who guessed Ball State University! We're a medium sized university in Muncie, Indiana, and generally a fun place to be. If you're lookin' for a good college to go to for architecture, music, education, or telecommunications (David Letterman went here!), then this is the place to be!

Shoutouts

Eagle Higgins-Conlon – Yep, they talked! Well, I hope I can cater to you having no patience…how's two chapters in one day, then?

Saturday – Aw, I'm loved! You aren't a spaz. I was holding my breath while I was writing it. Just about died, too. Yeah, my old updating habits seem to be coming back, and it's kinda scary, but hey! It's all good! Keep reviewing, I love ya for it!

Thumbsucker Snitch – Oh. My. God. This is the point at which I bow to you. I LOVE all your fanfiction! You're awesome! And now, you're reviewing my story…excuse me while I have a short seizure…but hey, I love ya, girl! Thanks so much for reviewing!

Written Sparks – THE WINNER! Let's all throw confetti! Alright girl…review and disclose to us how you managed that, cause I have no clue. You must be psychic. And e-mail me with the pairing and situation for my next fanfic…I know ya don't usually read slash, but it's my specialty. Congrats!

Cynic – You're such a dork. And WOO! People, we have a convert here! I have done my duty as a slash author! And I'm writing as fast as I can, damnit…

That night I dragged Pie over to Specs and Dutchy's room, insisting that he take a break and come join in the festivities. On the way there, though, I decided it was my turn to interrogate someone and not be the one getting questioned for once.

"Pie…you know how you told me you were straight?"

"Yep."

"Straight guys usually don't comment about how another guy is hot."

He was starting to look a little nervous now. "Nope, they don't."

"So…"

He looked down at his feet. "Yeah…I'm gay. But I'm only tellin' you cause I know you won't go around tellin' everyone about it," he said, practically pleading.

After getting over the initial surprise, I finally spoke. "Aw, you can trust me. I won't tell a soul. But…why haven't you come out?"

"Well, to tell you the truth…my church gave me a whole bunch of scholarships. And they're really strict. If they knew I was gay, they might pull the scholarships. And…I need them, Snitch. I'll never make it through four years of college without that money."

I nodded. "That sucks…but I understand. I promise…not a soul."

"Thanks," he said, obviously very relieved. "So…how are things going with your latest crush?"

Damnit. And the subject was thrown right back on me.

"Well…we talked on the phone…"

"Skitts talked? Wow…"

I raised an eyebrow at him, confused. "Who's Skitts?"

"Oh, uh…guess he hasn't told you yet. He goes by Skittery. We gave him that nickname back in ninth grade."

"Why?"

"Cause he was always so skittish around people. And jittery. Kind of a mix of the two words, I guess. Skittish and jittery."

I shook my head and laughed. "And that stuck?"

"Just as much as 'Snitch' stuck with you. So…what did you guys talk about?"

"Well, I asked him if he'd tutor me in Astronomy…"

Pie looked at me wide-eyed. "And he said yes?"

"Yeah, he did."

He shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe it. He's either tryin' to break out of that shell of his, or he likes you."

I blushed. "Do you…do you know if he's gay?"

He shrugged. "Even if he is, do you think he'd tell anyone? His dad would have a heyday with that one…"

By then we had reached Studebaker West, where Dutchy and Specs had their room. I called them with my cell phone, and in just a minute Spot was opening the door for us.

"Heya Snitch. Who's your friend?"

"Um…Pie, this is Spot. Spot, this is Pie Eater."

Spot smirked. "A member of the nickname club as well, I see."

Pie nodded shyly, and we headed upstairs. I could hear Dutchy from all the way down the hall, and I rolled my eyes.

"Hey! It's Snitchykins!" Dutchy yelled as I entered the room, and I glared at Itey.

"How much chocolate did you bring him?"

"Nothin', I swear!"

Pie looked quite a bit intimidated; he'd never met Spot and Itey, and he'd only met Specs and Dutchy once.

"Itey, this is Pie. Pie, Itey."

Itey smiled. "So, what's your major?"

"Architecture," Pie answered quietly.

"Wow. How'd you find time to come here?"

"Honestly, I don't know," Pie said, and they both laughed.

Spot broke the sudden, uncomfortable silence. "So, Snitchy-boy…heard you have a new infatuation."

I could feel myself blushing already. "It's not an infatuation…"

"Then what is it?"

"Uh…he's just…well…"

Spot was grinning gleefully now. "I've heard all about it, kid."

I glared at Dutchy, and he looked at Specs, who just shrugged and ruffled Dutchy's hair. "Don't worry, you're cute. It makes up for the loud mouth."

Dutchy evidently saw this as a compliment and grinned brightly.

And so, the night continued. We ended up watching Spots favorite movie, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", Specs and Dutchy made out, Spot laughed at the movie and predicted it line for line, and Itey and Pie had short, quiet conversations and stole glances at one another when the other wasn't looking.

It was all adorable, don't get me wrong, but it made my mood a little less jovial. For one thing, I felt sorry for Pie; even if he met someone he really liked, he couldn't voice it. He'd have to resist the feelings, pretend he wasn't affected, all because his funds might get pulled.

I suddenly wasn't as jealous of him as I had been.

But most of the change in mood was because of my own situation. I wondered if there was any hope at all of getting Skittery to like me, and even if he did…would he be like Pie? Would he push it aside for the sake of family and academics? It was something I didn't even want to think about.

"Snitch? Are you okay?"

I looked up at Spot, and quickly nodded and smiled. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"Dude…this guy is really getting to you, isn't he?"

"No! I was just thinkin', is all. I'm fine."

He looked skeptical, but dropped the subject.

I was glad…I didn't want to have to explain my uncertainties to him, or anyone else.

The next morning, I had a nine thirty English class. I really didn't mind English that much; I liked to write, and essays were one of my strong points. That's why I was in the advanced freshman English class here. I couldn't wait to meet my teacher; in my high school, all the English teachers had been perfectionist assholes.

I walked into the classroom, where only a few students were sitting in the desks. I was pretty early to class, after all. But as soon as my eyes went over the second row, my heart stopped beating.

Skittery sat there, chewing thoughtfully on the end of his pen, a notebook on the desk in front of him. He hadn't noticed me yet.

I couldn't sit next to him; he'd think I was obsessed or something. But if I didn't sit next to him, I wouldn't be able to admire him, or ask him to help me with a part of my paper, or do any of that. Besides…I could just pass it off as wanting to be friends if he asked, right?

I took a deep breath, briefly wished I had a mirror to check my hair with, and then headed for the seat beside him.

He looked up and seemed surprised as I sat down next to him, and I grinned, probably looking like a total dork.

"Hey. I, uh…do you mind if I sit here?"

Oh, so smooth, Snitch. Why don't you just say 'Can I sit here for the nice view of your ass when you stand up?'?

"Sure. I mean, I don't mind," he said, a small smile crossing his face as he stuttered. He looked like he was about to say something else, but then he turned back to his paper. Evidently it was some kind of anatomy, talking about tendons and muscles and all that.

I pulled out my English folder and fiddled around with it a bit, trying to look busy. I didn't want to just sit there and watch him, as tempting as it was…I didn't want to freak him out, after all.

"Do you have any white out?" He suddenly asked, his gaze meeting mine. I stared at him for a moment, my comprehension of the English language at that moment just about as good as if he'd spoken Chinese. Which he could probably do, had he chosen to.

"I, uh…yeah, white out. No, I…wait, actually, I think I do," I said, frowning and digging into the front pocket of my backpack. Please, let there be white out…

Success. I smiled as I grabbed the white out and held it out to him, and resisted the urge to sigh in pleasure when his fingers touched mine. He used it and handed it back to me with a "Thank you," and I nodded.

"No problem. Anytime."

Say something else, Snitch. Say anything at all. Just say something, damnit all!

"So, uh…what's your major?" I asked, pretending like I didn't already know. He didn't need to know that I had my hacker friend looking him up on the school's network.

"Bio and Pre Med," he said quietly. "What about you?"

Finally, they were having a conversation. A real conversation. I could already feel my pulse racing. "I'm undecided. It's a toss up between business and law, I guess."

"Oh…that's cool. Why the indecision?"

I shrugged. "It's a family thing. You know, dad wants me in business, but I'm leaning toward law."

He chuckled, even though his expression was anything but amused. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

"How's that? I mean…if you don't mind me askin'…"

He shrugged, and then the teacher entered the room, and our attention was immediately diverted.

That could not be our English teacher. No way in hell.

She was one of those 80's movie star wanna-bes; in her 40's with a huge mess of curly blonde hair, volumized to the point of looking completely fried, make up that looked like it was put on by the truckload, and a skintight low cut black dress.

It was highly disturbing, to say the least.

"I think I'm scarred for life," I said to Skittery in a whisper.

Skittery, still wide eyed, nodded. "Me too."

Then, we just started laughing. And I can't even begin to describe how beautiful that boy was when he laughed.

The woman looked up at us, but I just gave a small wave and said, "Good morning, ma'am. How are you?"

"I'm just fine," she said, completely oblivious to the cause of our laughter. "And you?"

"Oh, I'm great. Just awesome," I said, disappointed when Skittery went back to working on his notebook.

After only a couple of minutes, most of the students were present (a small class of only 19 students) and the teacher told us to put the desks in a circle. I made sure to maneuver my desk into the circle right next to Skittery's, but it was convenient anyway, so I figured it wouldn't look like I did it on purpose. We were at the end of the circle right next to the teacher, much to my horror.

"Hello, class. My name is Miss Weyenburg," she said. "And to learn all your names, I'm going to have you play a name game."

I rolled my eyes. A name game? That was for middle schoolers, not college kids.

She quickly explained that we were going to go around the circle, and we'd say the names of everyone who went before us, and then add our own. A memory game. And she started it on the other side of the circle, which meant I had to go last.

This was what I call an "oh, shit" moment.

The first part of the game went quick, since those people didn't have to remember many names at all, but once it started getting about halfway through people started struggling. I repeated the names under my breath over and over, memorizing them through and through. Then it came to Skittery's turn.

That boy had talent. He said every single one without hesitating, all correct. He added 'Skittery' to the end instead of Isaac, and then the whole class was staring at me, waiting for me to perform the feat.

I did it. I don't know how I managed it, and I didn't go half as fast as Skitts had, but I made it without error. And as I said Skittery's name to finish up, our eyes met.

I wasn't even listening as the teacher began to try it for herself. I was too busy being lost in his intense gaze, the fact that we were both just sitting there staring not even computing in my brain. It was as if the very air around us electrified, making it impossible to breath steadily or think straight.

A loud crash caused us both to jump and look away, to where one of our classmates had dropped a textbook off her desk. I noticed people looking our way and snickering, and then I realized that she'd done it on purpose. Obviously, quite a few people had noticed that we were unable to move or think for a full twenty seconds.

I blushed and looked down at my feet as the oblivious Miss Weyenburg went on and on about the expectations of the course and Skittery listened attentively. I wanted to look at him again, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Had he noticed? Was he just as embarrassed as me? Or had he been staring just because he thought it was creepy that I was staring at him like that?

I went through the rest of the class in a confused daze, and didn't look up at him again. What had happened? I had felt something, there was no denying that. But had he felt anything? That spark, that amazing shiver, that…warm feeling?

When class was over, he was out of there faster than anyone else. I trudged out of the classroom, dazed, confused, and barely noticing the snickering and strange looks I was getting from my classmates.

Whew! Long chapter! Sorry it had to end on that note…I'll make it better, I promise!