Okay, THIS is going to get a little… hairy from now on…

But hold onto your seats! It'll be all right!

I walked cautiously up to Jake's front door, knocking softly. Was it too early?

The door swung open, and there…

"Tom!" I almost yelped, then gave an encouraging smile. He frowned, then leaned back, away from the door.'

"Jake! One of your weirdo friends is here!" he turned back to me "He'll be down in a minute"

We waited "So, Tom, how's school?"

"Meh, it's ok. Look, Jade, was it? I think I'll just go up and get him for you. Come in" he led me into the lounge room, then took the stairs two at a time. His mum (mom?) walked past, all dressed up and smiling at me.

"Hello Jade. You look lovely today"

"Thankyou, ma'am. You look nice too"

"Why thankyou Jade" she smiled, then called up to Jake's dad, who came down the stairs in a hurry.

"Sorry Jade, but we've got to run. See you around, ok?"

"Yep, sure" they left, and soon Tom came down, trailing a still sleepy-looking Jake. He froze when he saw me…

And I knew. I knew it was all as real as standing here, talking to his parents and wishing I could flush my head down a toilet.

"Uh… hey Jade. What are you doing here?"

"I… uh… just came to talk to you about that project. I'm kind of lost"

Tom snorted "You must really be a geek if you're up this early"

"Not really" I rocked on my heels, my hands dug into my pockets. It's a habit when I'm bored. I quickly stopped what I was doing, looking at Tom, who was giving me funny looks.

"Whatever. Look, I gotta go to a meeting. See ya round, geek" he brushed past me, making me clench my teeth and wish I was tall enough to mess his hair or something…

He left, and I turned back to Jake.

"So. It was all real, wasn't it?"

"I… I don't know Jake. It felt goddamn real"

"Yeah"

I stood there for a minute, then blushed as I looked him straight in the eyes.

"Well, there's only one way to be sure"

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"Well, this is your great plan"

"Yep"

"Not much of a plan, I have to admit"

"Y-yep. But… you got a better one?"

"Nope"

"Well, then…"

"Um… just a sec" I took a deep breath, looking at Jake. I was so unsure of this… and I could tell Jake was too. It was dumb… but it was the only thing we had.

I was sitting on his bed, while he sat on his chair, not far from me. We had the blinds closed, and the door locked, just in case we were seen.

Every second we sat there, we just… we didn't want to do this…

I looked at him. He was a boy again. Yet those eyes never changed… so sad, so misunderstood…

"Okay, this is idiotic. How are we supposed tommmphhh" Seconds later Jake's lips were against my own. He'd practically dove over, grabbing my head in his hands, and pressing our lips together.

As I said, it wasn't much of a plan.

But it confirmed our suspicions. Maybe a little too much… maybe Jake was trying to see something that wasn't there…

Well, that was confirmed when I broke the kiss, finding I was now laying on the bed. And if you don't know where Jake was, you're a bloody moron.

Figuratively speaking.

"Okay. I think we know now" I squeaked, and he scrabbled off the bed, throwing himself back in the chair, then toppling over. My heart was pounding, and my face red as I sat up and looked at Jake, who was picking himself up from the floor.

"Um… I think we've got a small case of lust there too" he said, as red as I probably was in the face.

"I uh… think you're right" I cleared my throat, getting up and pacing the room as Jake stared at me.

"I think we shouldn't be in here right now"

"I think you're right. I'm leaving"

"Good idea"

"See you when the Yeerks attack again"

"Yeah, see ya" I practically bolted out of that room, having feelings I didn't think I was capable of feeling. It was terrifying!

Little did I know of the surprises to come.

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I felt sick as I walked down the street. Marco had just told me… over the phone… and I'd hung up on him, and started walking. I was walking to the only place I knew to go now.

Tears stung my eyes, but I forced them back. No, how could I have been so blind?

It was written all over their faces!

"Jade!" I heard someone call, and when I looked up and saw Jake fast-walking towards me. I tried to pick up my own pace, slowing down every now and then.

"Did you know?"

"I just found out"

"But did you suspect that…"

"I… I um…"

We reached each other, and just stared at one another.

"You knew, didn't you!"

"I suspected, but that's all"

"Liar"

"Jade-"

"You knew, and you didn't think to tell me before I decided to go out with him!" I slapped him on the arm, hard.

"Jade, stop it. You're not making this any easier on either of us!"

"But you knew!"

"I didn't know!" he glared at me "I mean, you think I would know that my best friend and my sort of girlfriend are secretly dating behind my back! NO!"

It was like a slap to the face. Then I saw the tears pricking his eyelids, and I felt like a total selfish bitch! How could I have been so stupid… it was probably tearing him to shreds….

"I always knew they'd probably go well together. They're both so intuitive… and I'm just the dumb jock who gets to come along for the ride…"

"Jake, you're not a…"

I saw in his eyes then… in fact his entire face changed… he became a vulnerable little boy. He was desperately fighting back tears, and when I reached out to touch him…

He collapsed, wrapping his arms around my waist and digging his face into my stomach. I heard him let out a sob.

"Fuck I hate feeling like this" came the sniffled voice, and I could feel him wetting my shirt, but I didn't care. If he needed me now… I'd be here for him. I gently ran my fingers through his hair, and I felt him relax a little.

"I'm… I'm sorry. Thanks for being such a good friend, Jade"

"No problem. You can let go whenever you feel like it. I'll be here" I said gently. He lifted his face to look at me, trying to smile but not quite pulling it off. I patted his shoulder.

"Why don't you come over for a couple of hours? My family's out of town for a couple of days cause the twins are having some special family camp or whatever"

"Really?"

"Yeah. Come over and talk. I don't know if it means much to you, but I've got chocolate chip ice-cream in the fridge, and I know how to make green tea. It's supposed to be good for you. Although… not all at the same time…"

"That sounds great" he sniffled, wiping his nose on his sleeve, then getting up as I took his hand, leading him back down the street.

There was a short silence, then…

"So, how'd you get out of the camp thing?"

"Ah, that was easy. I just explained to them about being freaked out about…"

Didn't see that one coming, now, did you?

Lots of muddling to still come! Thanks to my muse. Take a bow Midgett!

And thanks to Karone-sakura, for giving me an idea to totally screw with the plot… take a cookie! Wait a second…

Me; V, give back them damn cookies!

V; catch me first! (runs away, then runs into ANOTHER light pole!)

Me; And they say he's smart… (sigh)