A/N: I'm back, finally! I'm sorry it took so long, but here's a new chapter. I know I promised a new chapter for "The Sophomore Chronicles," but I'm sort of stuck on a concept. I know what direction I'm going in NOW, but not before this chapter was written. So, I promise again, a new Sophomore Chronicles chapter WILL be coming.

"So, what's our plan?" Adam, Charlie and Guy were holed up in one of the studies of the Maguire estate.

"Our plan for what?" Averman walked in carrying a tray of mini-pizzas.

"Averman, dude, you're ten minutes late." Guy regarded Averman with a bit of impatience. "Adam here is experiencing a crisis."

"Sorry, but Billy gave me these pizzas he made." Averman popped one in his mouth. "These freaking' rule! I love Billy!"

Averman looked around nervously as the three guys glowered at him. "What?"

"You could be a little more understanding to Adam's situation here." When Charlie put on the icy glare, it could make the most confident of people fidget. Averman was practically going to pee in his pants.

There was a highly palpable amount of tension in the room. The four guys stayed silent while Averman anxiously chewed on his pizza. Suddenly, Adam, Charlie and Guy started laughing.

"We're just messing with you, Averman." Charlie gave a good-natured chuckle. "Now give me some of that pizza."

"Seriously, what's going on? What's this big important plan that we need to discuss in a dark room that smells like 100-year-old Cuban cigar and illegitimate children?"

Guy cocked an eyebrow. "So, Adam, are we breaking up a wedding or what?"

Adam inwardly cringed. Hearing Guy voice his desire out loud in a coherent sentence sounded a lot worse than the jumbled mess of thoughts in his head. He answered timidly. "Umm, yeah, I guess that's what we're doing."

Averman glanced at Adam sympathetically. "Any ideas, Adam?"

Adam felt uneasy, having the collective gaze set on him. "I don't know. I thought I would just tell Tamsin how I feel."

Charlie, who was in the middle of his training to become a detective for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, depended on astute problem-solving skills for a living. He shook his head. "No, that's not going to work. We need to examine our choices here.

First off, the competition; what are we working against?"

"William Maguire, known affectionately by the world as 'Billy,' is the heir to an old and prestigious wine family. If that weren't enough, he's also a best-selling novelist writing under the pseudonym, Clinton Jackson. This guy has TWO personas that are universally loved. He's ridiculously good-looking, could charm the socks out of my crabby great grand-aunt Esther," Guy paused for a moment to pop a mini-pizza in his mouth, "makes a mean mini-pizza AND paid pay-per-view so I could watch tonight's match just because I mentioned that I watch boxing. This guy is an impressive force."

Averman furrowed his brow. "Face it, man; you're screwed."

Adam couldn't stand the looks of sympathy the guys were shooting him. "Come on, guys—this is all a moot point if Tamsin and I still love each other."

Charlie gave Adam a knowing look. "Well, has she given any indication that she still has any feelings for you? Tom looked happy enough to me."

As Adam was about to shake his head and admit that he, in fact, couldn't tell if Tamsin had any feelings for him, a soft knock sounded from the door. "I don't know why I'm knocking considering that it's my door, but can I talk to Adam?" Billy smiled as he opened the door. "How's it going, fellas? I hope the rooms we gave you are okay."

Guy smiled. "No, they're awesome rooms. Where's the best place to catch the boxing action tonight?"

"Definitely on the movie screen in the basement—see you there at nine?" Guy nodded enthusiastically. "And let Rebecca, the household staff manager, know what kind of food you want. We can get you anything."

Adam wanted to punch this guy in the face for being so likable. Billy looked around the room with an air of faked nostalgia. "You know, out of all the rooms in this house, this is my personal favorite. Did you know that my grand-uncle, George Francis Maguire, fathered 5 bastard children in this room?"

Averman burst out laughing as Charlie asked, "No joking?"

Billy smiled. "Oh, yeah—right on the couch you're sitting on, Charlie."

Adam watched in dismay as Guy and Averman laughed hysterically while Charlie jumped off the couch frantically. Adam didn't know what just yet, but there HAD to be something wrong with this guy. Nobody could be this perfect.

Billy nodded over to Adam. "Can we talk?"

The four guys exchanged glances. Adam thought that he saw Charlie slightly shake his head. He sighed and got up to follow Billy out of the room. Adam wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Adam followed Billy up at least 2 flights of steps. He didn't realize where they were going until Billy quietly locked the door to his bedroom.

"Sorry, but with the wedding preparations going on, the household is a circus. Long story short, I wanted to ask you a favor—but in private."

That took Adam by surprise. "What do you need?"

Billy nervously picked on a hangnail on his thumb. "I just got off the phone with my best friend, Tyler, from New Mexico. Apparently he fell down a flight of stairs and broke his leg pretty badly."

Adam nodded sympathetically. "That's too bad. What does it have to do with me?"

Billy looked at Adam hopefully. "Well the doctor told Tyler that he has to stay in bed for a couple of days—meaning that he can't come to the wedding. So, basically, I'm short a best man...And I was wondering if I could ask you."

"Wait, why would you want me as your best man? We hardly know each other." Adam sputtered the words. This was the last thing he was expecting.

"I don't really have a lot of relatives that I really like enough—and I liked you from the start. I have a feeling that we would make very good friends and we have a lot in common."

Yeah, Adam thought, we're in love with the same woman—there's a similarity for you.

"And I know that you and Thomasin were together for a long time—so maybe you'll understand the feelings I'll be going through the next few days. What do you say?" Adam looked at Billy with uncertainty.

"Come on—you get a really cool best man's gift." Billy's voice had a hint of pleading in it.

Adam cursed to himself. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Adam really liked this guy. If circumstances were different, Adam and Billy really could be friends. And looking at Billy's earnest face, Adam knew that he wouldn't say no. It was funny—it was the same feeling Adam got whenever Scooter asked him for something. Of course, Scooter did not ask Adam for much anymore—Adam missed it.

"Alright," Adam answered slowly. "I'll do it."

Billy's face broke out into a magnificent and dynamic smile. "Fantastic! You're the best."

"Do I have to do anything special?"

"First off, we'll have to get you a coordinating tuxedo for the ceremony. We can do that tomorrow—Tom is picking up her dress, so she can take you to get the tuxedo. Is that okay?"

Adam nodded, not quite realizing what exactly he was getting himself into.