Disclaimer: If I owned Degrassi, then I would have taken over Canada. Hey, does that mean I'd have Sum 41 as my willing...slaves? –twitches- I should really get to becoming dictator for that country, or something...

Author's Notes: As usual, you guys gave lovely response. You all seemed to like the last chapter, especially the Spinner/Marco-ness. You all give me too much credit, really, but thank you so much!

KinseySix: Yay! New chapter of Pretty Girl. That makes us happy! Of course you can have a Tickle-Me-Spinner doll. –cackles- Thank you for reviewing, it made me feel really special! Oh, I read your livejournal. I took the same quiz, and I got Ellie too! –smiles happily- It's sad, because I was talking to my boyfriend and my other friend –who happens to be a boy- and for some odd reason we were discussing who's closets we would live in. Me, being the idiot I am, go, "I would live in Stacey Farbers closet!" They just kind of looked at me, and I was like, "She's Ellie...you know...on Degrassi?" Blank looks. "She has pretty red hair, and she's really cool, and I have this werid obsession for her character." Blank looks, scooting away. It was sad. But I'm not alone! Someone else thinks she's great, too!

Visitor-to-the-Echoside: Craig would totally be oblivious enough to not realize he was stoned. Mr. Radditch has always been deluded. He actually thought Emma would stay out of something! Ha! Thanks for the review.

Enigmus: Sorry, their not getting together in this chapter, but there will be a revelation! Thanks for reviewing!

Fucted Up Kid: -throws out Mozzy plushie- Of course she won't hurt you! Um...I think. –nervous smile- Oh, I surprised you? Wow! Thank you for the kind review!

Bridget N: -hands Marco doll- Someone needs to invent one of those! I would buy it and name it and take it with me everywhere I meant. I mean...thank you for reviewing!

Uh...wot's the deal: Craig's always stoned, they just never show it on the series. –cough- Thank you for reviewing!

megtyped: I am awesome, aren't I? –giggles- Thanks for reviewing!

torian Princess: Marco is oblivious because if he knew that Spinner was madly in love/lust with him, then the story would just be them kissing for 15 chapters...wait...why is that bad? –shakes head as she hands out Marco doll- Thank you for the review.

Squrlie Jack: I'm glad the chapter was enjoyed. Thank you for reviewing!

RiseAgainPhoenix: -blushing- Thank you, thank you so very much. I've never known how to spell Radditch's name. Yay-ness for Spinner/Marco! Thank you a lot for reviewing. Your comment made me all happy. –smiles-

anjel919: I'm loved! Thanks! I am going to buy Jake Epstein a shirt that says "Real Men Believe In Unicorns," because of that line. The cop would need to call security because at our homecoming game, one of the so called "cops" at school kept calling for back-up and security guys to make sure we stayed on the bleachers. Honestly, no one goes to football games to watch football!

Marco: Especially since you guys lose all the time...

Thanks for the review!

Isdule07: -blinks- I take it you liked the chapter! I'm glad it amused you. It was great fun to write. Thanks for reviewing!

This chapter is a wee bit shorter than your used to, but that's only because the next chapter is like, uber important, and...things happen.

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Chapter Fourteen: Consequence

There are some incidents in your life, that no matter how trivial they are, will impact someone else in a way that could make your head spin. Then there are the other incidents that, at the time, seem incredibly vital and colossal to your life, when in the end you realize it meant nothing. And, of course, as everyone must know, there are those unique incidents that not only bring your world crashing down around you, but it makes the rest of the universe stop for a moment as well.

No matter which category, one thing is always for sure.

There will be consequences.

They are a part of life, something we've all known through our entire lives. For every action, however minute or huge in importance or meaning as it is at the time, there will be a reaction. The reaction is never certain, but you know that something will happen.

If you smile, you will either get smiled back at or be given the finger. If you jump, you will either fly or fall flat on your face. If you walk out into the middle of the street, you will either have Lady Luck on your side or you will be flattened like a pancake. If your best friend kisses you in the middle of gym, you will either be labeled a disgusting fag who will burn in Hell, or a brave, courageous young soul who has portrayed something that the rest of this world seems terrified to even acknowledge.

But, depending on the reaction you yourself gave when your best friend kissed you in the middle of the gym, the circumstances that led up to your best friend kissing you in the middle of the gym, and the reaction the principal gives to your best friend kissing you in the middle of the gym, can change both of those opinions in a split second.

When I walked into school on Wednesday morning, I had already prepared myself for the worst. For the name calling, the teasing, the words that would be slandered on my locker, even the new bruises that would be added to my body. I was ready for all of it. I'd set up my barrier and decided that I wasn't going to let one thing get to me. I was going to be strong and deal with every sneer, every punch, and every homophobic comment that was thrown my way. Spinner was ready too, because I had talked to him the previous night on the phone and we'd worked out our battle plan. We would dance around the subject as much as possible, and stay away from those whom we knew would give us trouble.

So, when I walked into the caf on Thursday morning, I didn't know that time would stop. I didn't know that the chatting and clanging of utensils against dirty lunch trays and the many other activities and sounds that are usually being carried on in the caf would desist so abruptly. When the first kid stood up and began to clap, I wasn't prepared. When the second and third kids joined him, my jaw slacked and I couldn't stop blinking. When the entire population –practically, anyway- of Degrassi was up, clapping and chanting my name, I could have swore I was dreaming.

I wasn't.

I'd gotten to school late, so the bell rang only moment after I arrived. The clapping stopped, and everyone began piling out into the hall, slapping my back and give me thumbs up as they left. I just stood, confused and apprehensive in the huge sea of people as they came by.

The only thing I could do was simply stand there, asking myself, Say, self, what in the hell is going on? To which self did not respond. Which is a good thing, Mozzy assures me. She says that talking to yourself in no way implies any sort of mental disorder, it's only if yourself answers back.

I caught up with Spinner, who seemed to be in as much shock as I did.

"What was up with that?" I had asked him unsurely. "Since when were the people of this school all members of the rainbow committee?"

He shook his head, shrugging his shoulders as he did so. "Dude, I have no idea what's going on. All I know is that I haven't had some little jerks come try to beat the shit out of me, and no one's made a move to do anything to you, so I'm not complaining." He then looked down, giving me a huge smile, and I couldn't help but be envious of his seemingly carefree attitude.

What if we had just been in the calm before the storm? What if everyone just turned on their heal and started beating on us with their chemistry books? Well, they didn't, if you're wondering, but I could have sworn they would.

I was nervous, and I guess Spinner could tell, because he kept sighing heavily every time I would look around to make sure no one was going to jump out at us. He finally just grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to my locker, dryly ordering me to hurry up and get my books and stop being such a paranoid freak.

"Aye aye, Capin'," I had murmured as I grabbed my stuff and began piling them into my arms.

It was going fine, just standing there retrieving my things, before...before they came. It was the mort horrific, terrifying thing that I had ever experienced in my life. The pain, the humiliation, the utter...creepiness of the entire thing rivals nothing that has ever happened to me. I've never been so scared in my life.

"You're Marco, right?" a seemingly innocent, curious voice had questioned from behind me.

I had turned, seeing five girls –about our age- surrounding Spinner and I. The girl who had addressed me had long blond hair which she wore in pigtails, a baby blue shirt on, and a too-short black skirt. She twirled the ends of her hair in her index finger, giving a soft smile and giggling along with the rest of her friends. Spinner and I exchanged apprehensive looks. I must have looked scared, or just tired, because Spinner moved in front of me a bit, falling into the protective role of Super Friend yet again.

"Who wants to know?" he questioned in his deepest, most intimidating voice.

They giggled, then gave a huge 'aww' in unison, before giggling more.

That was when I started to become afraid.

Smiling sweetly, a girl next to the blond, Emily I think, stepped forward, extending a container of some kind towards me. "We made these for you," she exclaimed happily. A few girls giggled again, and she turned back towards them, making a motion for them to be silent before turning back to us. "I got the recipe from my mom, and we made them just last night, so their fresh!"

As Spinner watched the girls warily, I timidly leaned forward, peeking underneath the tin foil covering to see a huge pile of chocolate chip cookies. I blinked a few times, confused, not understanding at all what type of occasion called for cookies, but rather happy. There's nothing like homemade cookies! If only I had known then, what I knew now, I would have run away screaming.

They seemed so nice, so kind, so incredibly sweet and innocent, that I didn't think it would hurt to stay and speak with them for a few minuets. Why, why must I be such an awful judge of character?

"OK...thanks," Spinner told them.

Emily smiled brightly. "No problem!"

He looked back at me, seeming a bit freaked, and tilted his head, signaling he was ready to get to class. "Thanks again girls, they look great." He turned to leave and began walking away. I turned to follow him, but Emily reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me back.

"He's so cute!" one of the girls squealed.

I stared at her before looking back at the dark haired girl who had grabbed me. "Um, I have to get to class now," I informed her gently. I looked to my side to see Spinner looking around wildly. I realized he was searching for me and waved, somehow catching his attention. He gave me a stern look and marched back over to us, reaching for my hand.

"Come on Marco, we gotta go. Quit hanging around with these girls."

"Aww, he's jealous!" the blond cooed. "That's so adorable!"

Spinner gave her an odd glance. "What do you mean jealous? I'm not jealous. I just want to make sure we get to class before getting a tardy, since I don't want another detention."

A brunette, whose name I do know, just can't remember right now, gasped a little. "You mean, they gave you detention for yesterday?"

Word gets around at Degrassi.

I nodded, discretely pulling my arm from Emily's grasp. "Yeah," I told her.

"I think that's awful," the blond said. "They shouldn't have given you a detention just for kissing your boyfriend."

"Yeah well, wait a minute...boyfriend?!" Spinner screeched. He shook his head, taking in a breath to explain the misunderstanding. "Listen girls, I think you've got this all wrong. Marco and I are-"

"So cute together!" another brunette said sweetly. "When we," she said, gesturing to the other girls, "heard what you two did yesterday, we were so shocked, but proud. I mean, it's so stupid how girls and their boyfriends are always all over each other, but you never see a couple brave enough to do something that for, everyone else, is so completely normal. I think it's really cool what you guys did, taking on the system like that." She reached out and patted the top of my head.

Emily nodded. "Exactly. You both are pioneers, and you shouldn't be ashamed of what you did."

Sighing, Spinner said, "Thanks for the support girls, but we really gotta go..."

"So, like, what exactly did you guys do?" the blond asked. "I mean, I heard you kissed, but were you like having sex in the showers?"

I gave her a horrified look, which was mirrored exactly in Spinner's own face. Emily hit her shoulder, and she responded by pouting. Emily turned to us, giving us a rueful smile.

"Sorry, she's a little bit too curious about what other activities you two do in the school gym."

Spinner began to shake his head furiously. "No, we don't do anything in the school gym. I only-"

"I can't help it!" the blond said. "It's just so romantic! It's not like I was asking them to give me details of them giving each other hand jobs in the janitors closet..."

I was about to say something when I felt a hand on my face, beginning to stroke my chin. Terrified, I looked to see the two brunettes standing much too close to me, giggling as they touched my jacket.

"Oh my God, you're boyfriend is adorable!" the first brunette exclaimed to Spinner. "Yes you are, cutey!" She ruffled my hair affectionately before starting to pinch my cheeks.

Yeah, you heard me. She dared to touch the hair.

"Hey, do you know any other gay guys?" the blond questioned.

"You just want to know so you can like, videotape them or something," the girl who was pinching me murmured.

"Hey, I'm not that much of a pervert."

It was at this time –when the brunettes were murmuring something about having the same pair of jeans as me, and were tugging at the back of them to see what size I wore- that Spinner noticed I was going through that odd attack of the rabid fan girls. I gave a pleading look as I attempted to squirm away from the girls. Quickly, his arm shot out and was instantly wrapped around my shoulder, pulling my body against his.

"Hands off," he said.

Ah, my hero.

They all stopped for a moment, giving us somewhat hurt glances. Emily straightened up, then smiled brightly before rushing forward to give us both huge hugs.

"You both are too cute!" she whispered, leaning up to kiss Spin's cheek, and then bending down –that is so not funny- to peck my cheek as well. The rest of the girls 'awwed' once again before waving, then skipping off to class.

See, I told you it was horrifying.

I've run into those girls a few more times. While each of their names have somehow evaded me, I have gained many more cookies. I swear, their like walking bakeries! And they won't stop squealing! Or pinching my cheeks -not just the ones on my face, mind you- or messing with the hair, or kissing me and telling me how cute me and Spinner's great boy love affair is.

What is wrong with them? Their nice and everything, and it's not as if I don't thoroughly enjoy the free cookies, but they scare me. I think Spinner is a little bitter, but who could blame him? When he finally gets a flock of screaming fan girls, it's only because they think he has a boyfriend.

When we got to first hour, I was still a bit weirded out by everything. I hadn't heard one comment or anything, and was seriously worried about the mental health of my fellow classmates. At first I thought Mozzy might have put some type of tolerance spell on everyone, but I've decided that that's a bit of a stretch.

As soon as we entered the classroom, all talking stopped. Mr. Simpson wasn't in there yet, which made me wonder if the display in the caf was only some sort of decoy to lure us into a false sense of security until they got us alone and tore us limb from limb.

Spin and I made our way to the few empty seats. I took a chair by Ell, still making sure to be wary of the rest of the class.

"Ellie," I whispered, relief flooding my system when people began to turn away. "Do you know what-"

She shook her head, stopping me before I went any further. "Not totally. All I know is that you and Spinner are some sort of heroes."

I gave a thoughtful look for a moment. Was it possible that the rest of the school had just, I don't know, all of a sudden become uber duber gay rights activists? I sincerely doubted it. Why was everyone acting so...creepy? I hadn't been looking forward to the hell I was sure I would be put through, but that's what I had been expecting. I'd been anticipating a full day of drama and tears and bruises and possibly blood, but so far all I'd gotten were some fan girls and chocolate chip cookies. That was far from what I'd expected.

For a second, I had a sliver of hope in the rest of the world. I thought that maybe my bashing, all the hate, the disgust and misunderstandings were some type of awful nightmare. That maybe everyone really did have an open mind, and would accept us, accept me, and I couldn't stop smiling. I could have a world where I wouldn't have to be afraid. A world where I could step outside holding Spinner's hand -I'm just using him as an example, of course- singing a show tune as loud as possible and no one would hate me for it, because they would just accept it.

Do you know how sometimes, when your young, when your still pure and innocent and you know nothing of the true horrors of life, you had those moments where you just stood outside, eyes closed, the wind blowing against you, and you were so at peace, so incredibly serene because you just knew everything was right. That's exactly how I felt in those few moments. I thought, for one fleeting, beautiful minute, that everything really would be all right.

And then it was gone.

Mr. Simpson entered the room, telling us all how he was sorry for being late, and hoped we had behaved ourselves. He then gave us the lesson, which was nothing but some type of internet word search. We were all working quietly, some of us ecstatically with our new found views of humanity and all it's glory, when some kids began getting rowdy, and Simpson had to get on to them. He stood up and walked over to their desks, waiting patiently until they noticed his presence.

"Is there a problem here?" he questioned, sounding mildly amuseed, mildly upset.

One of the kids, a so called 'punk', Brandon, just shrugged. "No. We were just having a...discussion."

"Oh really? Well, would you like to share it with the rest of the class?" There was a sort of angered joking in his tone, the ones you always hear when teachers ask you retorical questions.

But, Brandon just grinned, shrugging his shoulders. "Whatever." He stood up, and suddenly a feeling of dread began to creep into my mind. "We were just talking about how our," he stopped to motion three more people sitting around him, "new heroes, are Marco and Spinner."

Mr. Simpson blinked, a little bit confused, before tossing a glance back at both Spin and I. We too exchanged looks, and I saw something flash across his features which I wasn't sure was a good thing.

Unable to let it go -and God, how I wish he had- he continued to press on. "And why would that be? And what, prey tell, does it have to do with the assignment?"

"Well, nothing, really. But for the reason, it's simple! They single handedly got rid of Slade Avron."

At first, the comment didn't make sense, and I was just confused as to what Slade had to do with anything.

Then it hit me.

The clapping, the smiles, the new hero like treatment, wasn't because Spinner or I had the courage to come out and face the world, to be ourselves. It wasn't because the Degrassi population was suddenly accepting us for who we were. The world hadn't changed over night. They still hated us. They still wanted us gone, dead and buried.

"See, if they hadn't been the two brave, courageous souls they were yesterday, that freak would still be roaming the halls, making us all sick to our stomachs." He turned towards me, give a huge thumbs up. "Thanks dude!" he said. "If not for you and Spinner's act of school pride and selflessness, all of us guys would still be living in fear of dropping the soap."

Simpson just starred at him. I'm sure he had no idea what to do. They don't cover that in the teachers manual. A few of the kids starting shouting, cheering, more clapping, and I felt sick. They didn't think Spinner and I were heroes, they thought we were martyrs. To them, all we did was throw ourselves on the line so we could get rid of one of them. A fag who was dirtying up their precious little school.

I wasn't a child anymore. I had just been pulled straight back into reality, and I realized in that instant how much it hurt.

"All right, class, settle down," Mr. Simpson instructed, placing his hand on Brandon's shoulder and sitting him down. "This subject isn't really open for discussion at the moment. Just, get back to work."

"Can't we have like, Spinner and Marco appreciation day? I mean, after all, they did do a lot for us. Kissing another guy?" Lane shouted out from the back. "Disgusting! They really took one for the team!"

How could I have been so stupid to think that anything had changed? How could I have been so diluted to let myself believe the world was on my side? Society is never going to accept my so called "alternative lifestyle", so why should I get my hopes up? My heart sort of sank then. Not only am I one of the gays that everyone seems to hate so much, I'm also a witch. God, a gay witch? If that one ever got out...I would be burned at the stake. People never accept the unknown, and witchcraft is pretty damn unknown to people. If anyone ever found out about my powers, I was dead.

I had even less of a chance to be accepted with my powers.

I think that, for at least a second in that computer room, I kind of hated myself and everything I was. My stomach churned.

"Dude, to get rid of that sicko, I would have kissed Spinner," Max commented.

There were a few chuckles, then a small hacking sound, made by Lane. "Sick dude. What are you, gay?"

"I want you, Laney-boy!" Max, laughing hysterically while Lane continued to make more sounds of disgust.

I looked over and saw Spinner, a look on his face that I don't think I recognized. He looked sort of, I don't know, I can't explain it. It wasn't really anger, but it must have been something close. Maybe he was upset about how lightly they were taking the whole thing. He kissed me to protect me from a rapist; they though he did it so they didn't have to deal with he thought of an openly gay guy walking through the halls.

"Would you guys drop it already?" he finally said, causing most if not everyone to stop. "It was no big deal. So what if we got rid of the fagot? We're not heroes for forcing that bitch out of the school, so you can all drop it now. It's over. Let's move on."

There were a few gasps in the room, and I'm sure I saw Brandon giving him a death glare. I felt bile rising in my throat, not that I could help it. My stomach was turning so fast my head was spinning. After having that moment, that one feeling of thinking I belonged, I was accepted, being destroyed so quickly, then shoved down my throat, I didn't know how much longer I could stomach being in that class. I was just so sick, sick of everything. Sick of hoping against hope that I could tell someone I loved them without worrying if the wrong ears would hear, sick of hiding who I really was because I knew the consequences, sick of sitting in that dinky computer chair, realizing just how screwed up that kiss had made everything. It made me realize what an awful place the world really is. It made me realize that...God...it made me realize how much I want Spinner to kiss me for real, and how ridiculous that notion was.

"Oh my gosh, Spin, you just said the b word!" said Max, astonishment in his voice.

I looked up to see Spinner blinking in confusion. "What? You mean fagot?" (1)

Paige just sighed and hit him over the head with her notebook. "Idiot," she murmured underneath her breath.

"Gavin," Simpson said through clenched teeth, his voice sounding angered and astonished. "I want to see you outside, right now."

He sighed as he pushed himself out of his chair. A few kids hit him on the back playfully as he passed them by, then headed out into the hallway. I just sat in my chair, replaying the words, and realizing how completely Spinner-like the comment was. He would never really mean to offend me, not now, and I'm sure he didn't mean it to sting as much it did. But I couldn't ignore it. That's all I was. Wasn't it? Just a stupid little fag? Sure, I was different, because I was his friend, but in the end, I meant the same to him as every other homo on the planet.

Nothing.

I sat there, and I could have swore the world stopped spinning for a second. That couldn't have been right, could it? Spinner cared about me, didn't he? He was sticking by me now, and he'd come to terms. I wasn't really worthless to him, was I?

And suddenly, the Brandon's, Max's, Lanes, Slades, Emily's, and every other nameless person who hated or loved what I was didn't matter, because there was only him. Only Spinner. When it all came down to it, if he had to choose, if he had to admit how he truly felt...what would he say? Who's side would he be on? Why would he help me and protect me if he hated me? Then again, couldn't he just be putting on a front? Couldn't he just be feeling guilty for all he had put me through in the beginning? Did it...did I still disgust him? Deep down, did he really just want to shun me away forever, but couldn't, because of a heavy consciences and Paige's nagging?

I couldn't be in that classroom any longer. I stood up quickly, almost knocking the chair over, but paid it no mind as I rushed to the door. I swung it open and ran into the hallway, passing by a silent Spinner and a glaring Simpson.

"Marco, where are you going?" Simpson said and I slowed slightly, stopping only long enough to look back at him.

There was an odd look on Spinner's face, caught between anger, embarrassment, and sorrow. I don't know what was wrong with him, and for a second, I didn't care. I had just realized that he was one of the only things that mattered to me, and I might not be anything more than a burden to him.

"Bathroom," I answered.

Mr. Simpson sighed a little. "Don't you think you could have held it until I got back inside the classroom?"

I shook my head, wary of what the movement did to the pounding that had started in between my eyes. "I think I'm gonna be sick," I told him honestly.

He sighed for a moment before nodding his head. I swiftly turned and finished the jog to the bathroom. As soon as I entered, I flung myself into one of the stalls and promptly placed myself above the toilet. My hands trembled a bit, my breathing was coming faster, and I could feel hot tears stinging my eyes.

I loved him, didn't I?

No, please God, no, not him.

But if I didn't, then why did everything suddenly hurt so damn much? Why did the thought that he might not really care about me as much I thought he did make me sick? Why did the sudden image of he and Paige holding each other, smiling and laughing, make that tear roll down my cheek. Why did I find myself willing to trade body parts so that he would kiss me again?

If it wasn't love, I don't know what it was. I suddenly laughed at myself, because I felt like the stupidest person on the face of the planet. How could a few stupid comments like the ones that were just made make me realize that I was in love with my best friend? Maybe...maybe I had always been. Maybe I just kept pushing it back down, trying to ignore it. Maybe those few stupid comments just set off something inside of me, triggering things that I had always known deep down.

I've thought about it more, and I've come to the conclusion that if I don't love him, it's something that's pretty close. Something that's very disturbingly close. Too close.

I emptied the contents of my stomach, coughing and crying and hating myself for realizing something I'd most likely known for months. There was a warm feeling surrounding me, and at first I thought maybe it was some freaky side effect of witchcraft or something. I felt a strong hand rubbing my back, soothing the tense muscles there, while another hand ran through my hair, pulling back my raven locks.

"Marco, it's OK. Calm down, dude."

Hearing Spinner's voice made me cry harder, but I stopped the regurgitation fest to turn to him. His face had a look of concern on it, and his eyes seemed so crystal clear, like the river, like you could read anything from them. When I didn't see anything, any kind of emotion at all, I turned back and threw up again, sobbing a bit more. After that, I quickly put the seat down, allowing my weight to fall against Spinner's. His arms encircled me, and for a second, he held me just like that, petting my hair while I tried to calm my breathing. He eased me out of his embrace and I watched him through blotchy eyes as he stood up and flushed the toilet. He turned back to me and offered a hand, pulling me up. With one arm wrapped around my shoulder, he let me to the faucets, turning on the water and grabbing a paper towel.

The taste of bile was disgusting in my mouth and I bent down, gathering a few handfuls of water and gulping them down. Spinner handed me the towel and I washed my face off before throwing it into the trash can. The two of us just sort of starred at each other for a few moments. My eyes were still red and blotchy, and he just sighed, looking completely at a loss at what to do.

"Marco," he began, trying to say something, but there was nothing to say. Almost timidly, at least from my point of view, he reached out a hand, running his fingertips through a lock of my hair before tucking it behind my ear. I flinched away before he could do anything else. I couldn't be alone with him in that moment. I didn't want to deal with him.

"Let's just, get back to class, all right?"

He opened his mouth, then closed it, shaking his head before heading towards the door. I followed behind him slowly, lifting a hand to rub my stinging eye. The walk back to class was awkward and filled with tension, and I was kind of thankful when we made it back. No one said or did anything when returned, and we were left to take our seats in peace.

When I sat back down, a little IM was flashing at the bottom of the screen. A bit apprehensive, I clicked on it, sighing when I saw that it was Ellie's screen name.

crimsonpages41 (2): Where'd you go?

ItalianStallion (3): Bathroom. I wasn't feeling to well.

crimsonpages41: That explains why you look like Hell.

I peered over to my side, giving her what I hoped was a playful glare. Looking up to make sure Simpson didn't see me, I typed my reply softly.

ItalianStallion : Thanks Ell. Love you, too.

crimsonpages41: Spinner's stupid.

ItalianStallion : ...duh...

crimsonpages41: He didn't mean what he said.

ItalianStallion : The fagot comment? It doesn't bother me.

I was totally lying, but she didn't have to know that, even though I'm pretty sure she did. It's Ellie. I can't lie to her, even when I try. She'll always be able to see past my barriers. I'm kind of greatful for that.

crimsonpages41: He's just kind of going through a rough time. You know, with Paige and all.

ItalianStallion : What do you mean? I thought they were back together, happy and joyful as always.

She didn't answer for a long time. It got me a bit worried. I thought maybe she wasn't going to reply, but then she did.

crimsonpages41: Marco, they broke up a little over two weeks ago.

I sort of stared balnkly at the computer screen, blinking once or twice as I felt my jaw falling to the floor. I turned to look at her, an expression of disbelief on my face. I had no idea what she was talking about. Spinner had never mentioned anything to me, and I hadn't exactly talked to Paige in a while.

ItalianStallion : What?! Are you sure?! No, that's not possible.

crimsonpages41: It is so possible.

ItalianStallion : No, no, it's not. It can't be. Why would she...why would he...why would they? Are you positive? What makes you so sure?

crimsonpages41: Other than the fact that Paige told me herself?

ItalianStallion : ... Maybe she was kidding!

crimsonpages41: Trust me, she wasn't.

ItalainStalian: How do you know for certain?

crimsonpages41: Because...well...you see...she and...I mean we...

ItalainStalian: What?!

crimsonpages41: Me and Paige are kind of going out, OK?

"WHAT?!" I screamed, shooting up from the chair. The entire class turned to me, and a few people snickered in the background. I felt heat rushing to my face. I looked down to see Ellie's gaze glued to the computer screen. "I mean, um..." I trailed off a bit, unsure of how to save myself. "Wow! Has anyone else noticed how clean these floors are? They sparkle. See," I said, pointing down to the tile. "It's so, shiny." I turned to Mr. Simpson, who gave me a confused look. "Just um...just though I should point it out." I took my seat.

The IM was flashing again when I got back to looking at it.

crimsonpages41: Nice save.

ItalianStallion : You...and Paige? Are like, together? Like, together together? This is huge! Why didn't you tell me sooner? How did it happen? When? Details, details!

crimsonpages41: After my whole...you know...well I was really down. One night Paige just popped up at my house and we talked for, hours. We've been friends ever since. She and Spinner were having some problems, and she kind of...start hanging out with me more. You remember that whole locker incident with you and Spinner and Slade? Well...we didn't go to lunch. She pulled me off to the washroom, and we talked, and kind of...somehow...ended up kissing. When she invited me over that weekend she said that she loved Spinner, but they just weren't meant to be. She has her suspicions that he's in love with someone else anyhow. Anyway, we kind of, well I mean we were all alone in her house, and...well the next thing you know she's my girlfriend.

Paige and Ellie have kissed? They kissed? In the girls washroom? Spinner was in love with someone else? They were dating? Paige was Ellie's girlfriend? Who exactly did Spinner love? Why doesn't anyone tell me anything?!

As we sit here at the lunch table, Spinner gulping down hand full of hand full of brownies -walking bakerys, I swear it!- I am still asking myself these questions. Even though I was given this information two days ago, I still don't understand any of it. My mind just can't seem to grasp the idea of Paige and Ellie...Ellie and Paige...Spinner is in love with someone else? I've asked, more like begged, Ellie to give me a hint to who it was Paige suspected as Spinner's new love interest, but she won't tell me.

"Do you want one?" Emily questions, waving a brownie in front of my face. I blink as Paige leans up, whispering something in Ellie's ear which makes her blush and giggle insanely.

"No thanks," I say. I can't help but find the relationship fascinating. The way they act, it's so obviously they liked each other, but I missed it completely. Am I really that oblivious, or was it just that my preconcieved notions that they could only be interested in members of the opposite sex that kept me from seeing it?

"These are really good," Spinner says, shoving another into his mouth. "Hey, what are those?" He reaches out to grab the blonds container, but she pulls it away.

Smiling -sadistically?- she says, "These are nothing. Just some bunt cake."

His eyes lit up.

"Oh! Oh! Can I have a piece?"

I swear, Spinner would do anything for any kind of cake. He's like, obsessed with it. It's kind of creepy. He would probably sell his grandmother if he might get cake. It's sad. It's pitiful. It's disturbing.

It gives me ideas.

She shakes her head. "I'm afraid not. This is only for those true fighters of equal rights. For the people who are willing to risk everything to show what they believe in. For the-"

Spinner reaches to his side, grabbing me, causing me to yelp as I find myself suddenly situated on his lap. My entire face is red, and I make a move to stand up, but he wraps an arm firmly around my waist and holds me tightly. I squirm a little, unsure if I really want him to let me go, or if I'm just putting up the little show so the kids in the caf will think me nothing more than a victim. I feel a little guilty for the cowardous, and decide to just tell him to let me go, before I feel him whispering in my ear.

"Don't you dare move," he tells me, and I take in a little breath, hoping he's not realizing what his nearness and his warm breath on my skin does to me. "If you do, their not gonna think I'm gay anymore, and I won't get cake."

And you know what's sad? In this situation, that sentence actually makes sense.

He squeals in delight -freaky, huh? But this is cake we're talking about- as a piece of gooey cake is passed to him. He begins to happily munch on it while I sit warily in his lap. I decide that I'll just take this opportunity to enjoy myself -although, with the way my life has been going lately, this probably won't be the last time I get to sit in his lap- and I relax. For a moment I wonder if I'm hurting him or anything, but I'm not actually that heavy. Besides, bombs could be going off, and he wouldn't care, as long as he got cake.

I wonder if I mean as much to him as cake?

I wonder exactly what he's willing to do to me to get cake?

I wonder how much I'd be willing to let him do to me to get cake?

Blushing for a moment, I realize that since he is such a good friend, and does love the sugary pastry so much, I'd be willing to allow him to do a lot of things.

Consequences suck.

---

(1) I totally ripped that off the South Park movie. If you've seen it, you know what I mean. If you haven't...just don't look at me like that.

(2): Crimson because of her hair -which is so pretty and I want to play with it- with her cutting -it's a really big part of her character- pages -not so subtle refrence to Paige, wink wink- and 41 because I think everyone should have an obsession with Sum 41, and therefore put it in their e-mails.

(3): I'm sorry, but that's totally Marco's e-mail!

For anyone is confused as to why Marco just out of the blue discovered he has deep feelings for Spinner, it's because I'm trying to make this story kind of real like. I've discovered some of the most life altering things while doing stupid things. It just seems like the right moment for Marco to finally admit his affections for Spinner.

Spinner: I get to sleep with him now, right?

Marco: ...

Spinner: Right?

Marco: -smiling cheesily- Review, and find out!

Spinner: RIGHT?!