I decided against walking to school. Not after what happened last time. No-way was I going to be put in that position again. I drummed my fingers on the car door impatiently. Sleepy was taking forever. I rolled my eyes as he did a pathetic attempt at feinting sickness. You could so tell he didn't want to go back to college. He gingerly hopped down the steps and hobbled forwards. The whole time he had a tissue held to his nose; as if he feared that it'd suddenly decide to drop off.

"Come on Sick Note." I teased, as he shot me a venomous look from the spot where he'd landed. Doc followed behind him looking extremely happy about returning to his beloved Library. He hurried forward to the door I was waiting at and looked annoyed.

"Hurry up! We're going to be late for school if you don't hurry!" I stared in shock as the words spilled out of his mouth. He has to be the first child in the universe to say that. He must have seen my expression, since he blushed beneath his freckles. Sleepy didn't look too amused by the outburst either.

"You're lucky I even agreed to take to school. I've still got a fever you know." he grumbled as he reached into his pockets to search for the keys.

"That isn't necessarily true." Doc said in his usual text book manner. "For the statistical evidence to support that claim, would have to include you agreeing to give us transportation to our place of work. You never agreed to that claim. Mum had to force you."

His face crumpled up in annoyance. You could see how hard he was trying to understand what his little bro had just said. I just lent against the car tiredly. It was actually quite fun to be a spectator in an Ackerman family row. Especially when it had absolutely nothing to do with me or my ghost buddies.

Doc wasn't going to let it go that easy either. Instead he said with considerable ease:

"You aren't even truly ill." To which Sleepy swore and took another blow into his tissue. I almost laughed.

"How do you know?" he retorted badly. Doc always knows.

"Your temperature when measured with a scientifically proven thermometer was less than that of an unhealthy man, of your height and weight. You are therefore……." I placed a hand over his mouth to stop the over flowing information coming out. I didn't have time for this. I had to see Jesse to explain it all to him. And in order to do that I had to get to school. Now.

"Look. I'm sure you're going through hell right now Sleepy. I really do. And my heart bleeds for you. You deserve to have today off. But right now, I have to get to school on time. So stop the fake sniffles and get in the god damn car!" I yelled angrily. I wasn't actually that angry, but I felt that I needed to get my point across.

"Who pushed you out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Sleepy drawled. I gave him a playful hit in the arm and grabbed the keys.

"Get in." I commanded as the door flung open. They scrambled in as I took my place in the passengers seat, praying that Jesse would hear me out. But what if he didn't? What if he told me to get lost?

Or even worse. He'd 'just want to be friends'. And even though that's what we are- or were anyway –before, I still had a feeling that maybe………………………..

Stop thinking about it, I told myself angrily. I knew if I started thinking about it again, I might even back out of talking to him completely. I could feel moistness on my clammy hands. I was so nervous. And it wasn't even my fault. Paul is so dead.