A/n: Ok, ok chapter 4 I can't really say much more without giving away the plot and I'm bursting to get writing so nyi.

Chapter 4: Truth and Rumour

The weather was getting hotter and as temperatures rose so did tempers more so the girls than the boys. It seems the heat was making everyone a little crazy. Corrine had accused Marshall of being the 'enemy' after catching him talking with Vaughn, Josie had insisted it didn't matter and she wasn't bothered but Corrine had screamed and argued with him for hours. Or more like she's nagged and he'd just nodded and agreed with whatever she said.

Josie was becoming paranoid and not without good cause. Every corner she turned Madison was there whispering and shooting her death glares. It made Josie extremely uncomfortable. Also Josie never went anywhere alone nowadays for fear of being cornered. Is it called Paranoia when people really are after you?

"I'm dying!" Josie moaned laying on the sofa in the almost empty common room. Marshall laughed.

"It's not that hot." He reasoned, he himself had opened most of his shirt buttons though. Lucas was loosening his tie and argued with Marshall

"Speak for yourself!"

"Well YOU didn't have to wear a tracksuit." Marshall added pointedly to Josie ignoring Lucas.

"Oh yeah? What I was supposed to wear a strap top perlease I've gained weight people would think I'm fat!"

"Josie! You're going to have to tell the school one day." Josie glared absently at Corrine before laying her head back down and stating

"It's too hot to argue."

She unzipped her tracksuit and lay it on the back of her chair. Her t-shirt showed most of her belly which now had a prominent bump. Not enough to outright say 'I'm pregnant' but to make you think she's had one too many cream rolls. Corrine smiled as Josie's hand found it's way subconsciously to her stomach.

"Have you thought more about names?"

"Umm" she muttered vaguely. Corrine wasn't sure if that was a yes or a no. The heat had made her drowsy.

"I liked... Yawn Jackie." She muttered. Marshall had pointed that one out as one he'd like. It was one Vaughn had written.

"Oh, er... Jackie Pearson or Jackie Trent?"

"I don't know stop asking me hard questions it's too hot to think." She muttered.

"Ok. Vaughn doesn't seem to want to crack we're gonna have to go for gold if we want the dirt on Trent." Madison said to the cheerleaders. It was much too hot for practice so they were sitting on the football field watching the players.

"How come Josie doesn't have to wear uniform?" Madison demanded loudly

"Because she doesn't." Z said abashed by her comment. He tried to continue his class but Madison interrupted again.

"It's favouritism. If SHE doesn't have to we don't have to." She removed her school top to reveal a low cut T-shirt. Z looked puzzled. All the cheerleaders had done the same seemingly having decided to do so previously.

"Why are you making things difficult?" Lucas asked bravely.

"If she doesn't have to explain then neither do we!" Exclaimed Tara. Josie pulled a face at her but quickly put her head down and continued to work or pretend to work at any rate.

"Detention all of you."

"That INCLUDES Trent then!" snapped Madison.

"Josie had a legitimate excuse albeit a bit unorthodox." Josie glared at Z thinking 'you say anything else I'll kill you' he nodded at her to show he'd got her message.

"Well we know she has the teachers on her side." Muttered Madison in success. The only problem was that now she had to spend a whole evening in detention.

"Thanks Miss Durst." Principle Durst had just been giving her a briefing explaining that the teachers had now been informed etcetera. As she walked out of her office she bumped into Victor Pearson. She bent down and gathered her books which had scattered on impact. She tried to avoid his eyes.

"Watch where you're going!" he snapped. Josie glared. That had most certainly been his fault. "It's just one mistake after another with you isn't it Miss Trent?" he asked loathingly. Josie remembered what Z had said about staying on Victors good side.

"It's not a mistake... an accident perhaps but she is not a mistake."

"If I had my way Miss Trent all THREE of you would be expelled." Josie frowned that was harsh. On his own son. It didn't quite click Vaughn may not have told him and he may not know. Victor was on his way into the office when Josie spoke again.

"Listen what happened between you and Sarah was a LONG time ago. You've taken it out on Vaughn for 16 years, There's no reason to take it out on us!" Victor looked enraged as if she had dared to speak of Sarah like that. Josie strode off pleased by the effect of her words on Victor. He could badmouth her all he wanted but when he dissed Vaughn and the baby that was going over board.

"What's the matter?"

"Victor freakin' Pearson!" she fumed.

"Uh oh Josie you didn't..."

"I gave him a piece of my mind that's what I did."

"Josie you'll get yourself expelled!" Corrine wailed.

"I don't bloody care. He called Jackie a mistake! And insulted Vaughn saying he should have us all expelled."

"Well... at least Victor knows Vaughn's the dad now right? No secrets." Josie fell asleep only half listening to Corrine's 'spur you on' statements.

"Corrine Baxter and Marshall Wheeler." Called Professor Ottoman. Corrine and Marshall nodded. "You two will be studying Othello." He said. Corrine rolled her eyes

"Isn't that the one where everyone dies?" she hissed.

"Yeah I think so."

"Lucas Randall and..." Josie crossed her finger she didn't want to work with anyone she didn't know. "Kirsty Robertson." Kirsty was a blonde girl whose hair and eyes were very pale and her thin eyebrows gave her a permanent surprised look. Josie sighed as the teacher announced the two would be studying Hamlet. Lucas shot her a 'sorry' under his breath as he collected his book and walked out.

"Josie Trent and Vaughn Pearson." Josie sighed. The good news was it wasn't Madison The bad news was it was Vaughn. "You will be studying Romeo and Juliet." Josie rolled her eyes. 'typical we get the romancy one' even thought most of Shakespeare's work was romance. Josie grabbed the book and wandered down to the library she was vaguely aware Vaughn stayed a few feet behind her. Corrine waved sympathetically at her when she noticed her partner. Lucas had evidently chosen to work in his room.

"Ok so what do I know about Romeo and Juliet?" she muttered to herself as she grabbed a pen and paper.

"They were in love." Vaughn suggested. Josie raised her head.

"My grade depends on this so whatever's happened between us is forgotten while we work, kay?"

"Oh yes I can forget something like this so easily." he said sarcastically but nothing more was said on the subject.

"They were what... 13 or something right?"

"Yeah I think so."

"They both killed themselves for love..." she said. "Man were they losers." Vaughn cast her a puzzled glance she rolled her eyes. "Like you know true love at thirteen!"

"You might do." He said. She rolled her eyes.

"Trent?" asked a voice. She had ventured out of the library on her own after Vaughn insisted that as she'd done most of the work he'd finish off. It was Madison and her little gang. "So I know your secret." She said. "What're you going to do about it?" Her voice was harsh.

"Nothing." She said unsure of wether she was bluffing. "Now let me pass or I'll knock you through the wall."

"Well the whole schools going to find out my garbled version from Kirsty that she got from Lucas unless you tell me your side of the story." Oh sh... Kirsty was a cheerleader! Josie had forgotten that.

"What's there to explain?" she asked shifting her weight from foot to foot. She was feeling extremely cramped here as more and more people were gathering.

"Oh an AWFUL lot."

"Perlease!" Josie said "You don't know." She added confidently. "You're BLUFFING to make me spill. There is no secret Madison. Kirsty's told you nothing coz even if there was a secret, which there's not! He wouldn't tell you anything." Madison thought fast. Trent was not going to make her look stupid. Vicious rumours were her speciality.

"Josie's up the duff!" chanted Madison. Everyone stared at her. The cheerleaders joined in and even some of the other students.

"Ok, enough is enough leave her alone NOW!" Said a voice. Josie was staring determinedly at the wall. "Ok, We all know now, MOVE!" The voice continued. Oh god he had to confirm it didn't he? Josie turned her back against the crowd and stared at the wall she couldn't face their accusing eyes. A hand appeared on her shoulder and steered her from the crowd to her room.

"You ok?"

"Do I look ok!" she demanded facing Vaughn with Fire in her eyes. Vaughn nodded and said.

"Ok. How did they find out?" he asked as she sat down.

"Apparently Lucas told Kirsty."

"Lucas wouldn't do that!" he protested.

"Yeah well. He did didn't he." Vaughn looked thoughtful.

"Well... I think she made it up. She needed the dirt on you and when she didn't get it she started a rumour."

"Yeah well they know now." She muttered.

"Hey no more secrets then eh?" He hinted.

"Hmm..." she said. He took this as a 'please leave now' but didn't follow up her request. She glared as if testing him. She removed her tracksuit top to reveal her stomach. On show again.

"Is... is the baby ok?" he asked nervously.

"Fine." She said icily. Vaughn sighed he was getting nowhere.

"Night then?" she didn't answer. WOMEN!

"Hey dad?"

"Yes Vaughn?" Victor asked rearranging his papers.

"I need to talk to you..."

"Is it important... I'm very busy at the moment."

"Yeah well you're always busy." Vaughn muttered. His father heard him but pretended he hadn't done so. Instead he continued packing his briefcase. "It's about girls." Victor dropped his suitcase making a mess of his papers.

"Well me and this girl we..."

"Don't tell me... you're in 'love' trust me Vaughn, You're not." Victor said in his usual cold manner.

"You don't know that." Vaughn muttered awkwardly.

"Who?"

"What?" Vaughn asked ataken back by this statement. His dad was never usually that straight forward.

"You heard me who?"

"She's done something.... I don't quite understand why she's telling people but...I think I...I think I love Josie Trent." Victor looked straight at his sons eyes. They were almost identical to his own apart from the fact Vaughn's were full of a warmth which Victor hadn't possessed for many years.

"I shouldn't say this but as I am on the board of trustees I have been informed... Josie Trent is having a baby Vaughn... she's already spoken for." Vaughn hadn't expected that at all. Of course! Of course his dad would know. Man he was so thick sometimes.

"Dad... Me and Josie used to date." He started. He decided to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. See if his dad could help any. Victor sighed.

"I have to go now." And he left. Just when Vaughn had worked up the courage! Typical.

Josie went to class the next day in a strap top and baggy knee lengths. Now that everyone knew it was no secret. Still.

"You're Josie Trent aren't you?" asked a young boy. He looked to only be in his first year at Blake Holsey.

"What? Oh yeah... yeah I am." She said distractedly sweeping her hair from her eyes.

"Well I wanted to tell you I don't believe all the rumours... That you're you know..."

"Well you heard it from me kid... it's true."

"You what?" The boy looked alarmed.

"Big deal."

"It IS a big deal you know what they're saying about you? They're saying you're a... well...."

"Listen I don't care if they say I'm a whatever... it doesn't really bother me. I did what I did for love.... Too bad he didn't." Vaughn had overheard her speech and looked tempted to have a go but got dragged off by the crowd.

"Josie?" The boy asked. Josie had not been aware he was still following her and was almost scared out of her skin. "My brother'll beat this guy up if you want." He was blushing. It was then Josie realised... the kid had a crush on her. She smiled

"No thanks... I can deal with it." She said and slid into class.

"Josie Trent's Pregnant." Chanted Madison.

"Oh Wow... Trent Pregnant.... Bet it took you all night to think up that one." Josie snapped. Lucas made to sit next to her but she stood up and crossed the room sitting on her own. Lucas looked puzzled. He saw Kirsty smirking at him. Man she was annoying all she had talked about last night was Josie. Of course he had told her nothing.

"Well the pituitary gland is responsible for most adolescent misbehaviour." Started Z but Madison interrupted before he could get any further.

"Like getting yourself pregnant!" Madison said out loud to her friend. Josie had had enough.

"Look Madison... nobody thinks your dumb jokes are funny..." Marshall said before Josie could over react as she tended to do an awful lot.

"Yeah it's none of your business." Corrine added.

"Lord knows how you found out!" Lucas said "But it's still Josie's problem... not your ammo!" Josie was shocked. So Lucas hadn't told. She had iced him and... and he was still sticking up for her. Z coughed to try regain the classes attention but it was useless.

"Well she's a silly little slut..."

"Deten..." Started Z but Vaughn cut him off.

"She's NOT a slut." He said angrily. Josie who was sat near him hissed for him to be quiet but he wouldn't have it. He was very protective over Josie despite her protests.

"Of course... but that's the reason you broke up... she was bedding someone else."

"That's a lie!" Josie said angrily speaking for the first time. She would have nobody tell her that. Vaughn stopped speaking. He didn't want to take sides but.... He didn't understand why Josie kept saying it.

"Well... we all have our fun Josie but you're the one stupid enough to get herself..."

"She didn't do it herself!" Lucas hissed clenching his fists on the table.

"And I suppose you're the father Randall.... What a surprise..." The bell rang before Lucas could deny it. Josie slammed her head onto the desk. OWCH.

"Ugh this sucks." Josie complained.

"Oh grow up Trent..." snapped Madison. Josie just rolled her eyes. She knew Madison was only bitter at being in detention during cheerleading practice.

"Why don't you... go and meddle in someone else's business."

"Should've expected that from you Lucas." She said in a sickly sweet voice. Corrine just grabbed Josie's arm and steered her away.

"Corrine I..." she began to sway. "I don't feel so good."

"That's normal... lie down for a minute." Josie didn't want to lie down. Corrine and Marshall held her down to the bed she just laughed.

"Guys I'm not a kid who's late for bed come on gerroff." She protested.

"When you feel better." Marshall said. Josie rolled her eyes and surveyed the room. Clothes cluttered the floor, CD's all over the place, A lipstick tube with no lid, bits of food, whatever you can name it was there. She slid out of her friends grasps and ignoring the dizziness she began to pick up her stuff.

"Oh no, she must be ill, she's cleaning."

"I hear you lose brain cells." Marshall whispered. She threw a discarded pillow at him.

"Bed... Washing machine...washing machine...bed... bin." She began to sort her junk into piles.

"Your friend's weird."

"My friend! She's yours too."

"Whatever, let's leave her to spring clean in peace." Marshall said helping her up. They left Josie to tidy. Josie never usually tidied.

"Hey Marshall..." Vaughn called. Corrine glanced at Marshall worriedly.

"Oh hey Vaughn..."

"Oh hi Corrine..."

"Excuse me." She said coldly.

"Forget her she's just...a bit emotional."

"Yeah... whatever. Listen, it's about Madison...what she's saying." Vaughn needed to get it off his chest and the only one that was talking to him at the moment was Marshall.

"Forget her. So what if she thinks Josie's a..." he didn't want to say it incase someone heard him. "anyway... so what if she thinks Lucas is the dad and you're not..."

"That's just it Marshall..." Marshall looked confused. "I'm not." Marshall's eyes widened. "All we did was kiss..."

"She's positive you're..." he started.

"I can't be... there's 100 no doubt Marshall. I am not the dad."

"Why didn't you say so?" he asked sitting down.

"Because she thinks I am..." he said looking hurt. Marshall kneaded his temples.

"You're definitely 100 sure?"

"No doubt about it. But if I'm not who is?" Marshall was wondering that himself. Josie had seemed so sure. The only reason he could see that she would possibly lie was because she was scared, but who was she scared of? Marshall bit his lip and looked up at Vaughn, there was a frightened sincerity in his eyes.

"Two options, either she seriously doesn't know you're not.... Or..."

"Or she's fibbing, she wouldn't...."

"Unless... maybe she was you know... taken 'advantage' of." That would make sense. Vaughn almost didn't want to believe it but.... It made sense.

Josie stared at the woman and shook her head.

"Ok... who are you and why're you in my room?"

"That's not relevant..."

"I think it is..." she said. She brushed a few crumbs off her sheets.

"Josie I don't have much time here at the moment, sooner or later someone's going to discover I'm missing... and then I am so dead."

"Remove your glasses."

"Pardon?"

"Remove your glasses." She repeated. "I thought you were the woman I rescued from the labs. But you're not. You're much younger and your hair is lighter." The woman smiled and removed her glasses.

"Correct. Now as I was saying. It's about Vaughn..."

"What about him?" Josie asked airily.

"Josie I know you still like him if you didn't I wouldn't be here talking with you about him ." Josie rolled her eyes. Her deep chocolate eyes. The woman had eyes a bit lighter than hers. They were Vaughn's eyes, they possessed a lot of warmth... a happy spark that Josie's could never possess.

"As I was saying... he is about to by my calculations..." she checked her watch "or maybe he already has done... he's about to make a revelation. He is right on one part and wrong on another. You MUST fight for the truth Josie... if not...your future is at stake. I have been gone too long..."

"You can't go... where are you going to? Why do you keep appearing?"

"To make sure everything goes right here. If it goes wrong...well." She bit her lip and put her glasses back on. "I must go." She went into Z's office and Josie saw flashing lights. She came through the wormhole! That explained a lot. But what revelation had Vaughn made?

A/n: ok ok it took forever I know I had it written but was just too lazy to upload it I mean er... distracted...yeah I just became an aunt for the fifth time and have been told it's about to be six times over....