Okay, firstly, thanks so much for all of the kind words and reviews! I really had no idea this would be so well-received. So yay for you guys:-D

Now that that's out of the way, a few things. Okay, I love Daisy and Frieda and Sharon. Their roles in this may seem pointless now, but they get more important as stuff goes on. Um...I absolutely suck at writing action sequences. Hence why the one in here is...pretty lame. Which I apologize for. And yes, Richie is fluent in Japanese in this story. If he can memorize insane mathematical things, it would stand to reason he could learn a language in a day too...at least I think so, anyways. sheepish grin

Also, spot the in-joke about Richie and Virgil's voice actors.

Now back to the story!

Chapter Two: The first week of April, senior year

In every high school senior's life, one set of days becomes more nerve-wracking than every other. No, it's not finals week, or the days up to and including the Prom, or even the week of graduation.

It is actually the very first week of April. Also known as the week the colleges write back to their applicants with either a yay or nay.

Daisy Watkins smiled as she looked at the packets from various schools on top of her books. Back in December, her and Frieda had made a promise to wait until they had heard back from all of their schools and open the envelopes together.

Today was that day.

"Daisy! Daisy you're finally here!" Frieda came running up, a huge grin on her face. "Are you ready?"

Daisy grinned back. "Yup, they're all here. Let's go out to the courtyard…it's less crowded."

"Good call!" The two girls quickly ran outside, all excited smiles and giggles. They sat in the shade of one of the trees on the quad, Frieda quickly arming herself with her sunglasses. "Okay, let the records show that I have in my hands I've got Georgetown, Metropolis, Dakota and Gotham."

"And I've got Metropolis, Caltech, Dakota, and Columbia." Daisy looked at her options. "Well…let's do Dakota and Metropolis first, then the ones we have that don't match up."

"Kay!" They tore into the envelopes. "I was accepted to both!"

"Me too!" They hugged each other. "Okay…now the others…"

"Right." Frieda opened her Georgetown and NYU envelopes. "Let's see…well, Georgetown is a no…" She frowned.

"MIT's a no for me, too." Daisy brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Well, I didn't really want to go to Massachusetts anyways."

"Yeah, it's so cold. And Georgetown's in DC which is the cesspool on the Potomac for God's sake." Frieda looked at the other letter. "But I did get into NYU! How about you?"

"I got in…" Daisy dropped the paper in disbelief. "I got into Caltech."

"No way!" Frieda snatched the paper. "Daisy, that's your first choice! I'm so happy for you!"

"Yeah, I can't believe it." She really couldn't. Sure her SATs and her grades were good, but this was Caltech. After MIT said no, she was sure that she wouldn't be accepted.

"Well, don't just sit there like a statue! Are you going to go?"

"I think so. I have to talk it over with my folks but yeah I'm pretty sure I will." The shock was giving way to unbridled joy. She was going to Pasadena! California! "Hey, do you think the boys have heard back from their schools?"

Frieda nodded. "Yeah, I think Virgil said something about it." Her smile faded somewhat. "As for Richie, who knows? He's been really tight-lipped about this whole thing."

Daisy sighed. "Yeah he has. I've bugged him about it like seventy times!"

"I think he's just playing things by ear. You know, maybe he doesn't want to say anything if he doesn't know for sure what's going on. Plus, he's got Simon now, and if he applied anywhere far off...well, that kinda complicates things."

"Yeah, I guess." Daisy brushed some stray hair out of her eyes. "They're pretty serious, then?"

Frieda sipped her latte. She couldn't function in the morning without her Starbucks. "Mmhm. It's been like a month almost since they became official."

"Since who became official?" Virgil dropped his bag next to the girls, a box of doughnuts under one arm. He'd never admit it, but he was just as bad as Daisy and Frieda were with gossip. Richie often commented that the three of them were as bad as a sewing circle.

"Richie and Simon," Daisy answered after a moment.

"Oh. Them." Virgil was very interested in the box suddenly. "Entenmann's Apple Crumb Cake doughnuts? They are awesome."

"Thanks!" Daisy grabbed one of the sweets, offering the box to Frieda.

"None for me thanks; Dr. Atkins would never approve." Frieda went back to her coffee. "Where is the Boy-Toy Wonder this morning?"

Virgil shrugged. "He'll be here. Something about running an errand before school."

"Cool." The girls shared a look. "So that's something about him and Simon isn't it?"

Virgil leaned up against the tree. Whenever he thought about or saw Richie and that guy together, he got this weird cold-and-sick feeling in his stomach. He always wrote it off as his distaste for the brunette.

He was also getting really good at writing off that part of him that always tried to say Uh-uh, sorry but that's not quite it. So he found it a lot easier to just not think about it at all and go on about his business.

"Yeah, it's something all right." The girls shared another look. And speak of the devil…

"Hey guys!" Richie ran up, dropping his messenger bag and plopping next to Daisy. "Dude, are these Apple Crumb Cake? They're my favorite!"

Virgil's face changed from slightly frowning to bright. "Yeah, I know. That's why I got them. Well…that and they are awesome."

"True, true." Richie cheerfully grabbed two of the sugary cakes. "It's a bit early in the day for scandal. So what's with the holding court on the quad this morning?"

"Daisy and I were just going through the colleges we got accepted at." Frieda took one last sip of her drink. "You guys hear back yet?"

"Yeah. I got into mine although I think I'm gonna go to Dakota. That way I can live at home and save up for grad school." Virgil looked at Richie, who was frozen with a doughnut hanging out of his mouth. "What about you, bro'?"

Richie swallowed and pulled the doughnut out of his mouth. "I, uh...got into all of mine. Including...um...including Caltech."

Daisy's eyes widened. "You applied? And you got in! That's so great...I'd love to have someone I actually know there!" She gave Richie a huge hug, knocking the glasses off of his face.

"Uh, thanks."

"Caltech?" Virgil gave Richie a sideways glance. "You never said anything about Caltech." Okay this officially sucked.

"Well, I really didn't think I'd get in. I mean, it's Caltech."

"Does Simon know about this?" Virgil asked in what was almost a casual tone.

The blond blinked. "Of course not...I mean, my parents know but they sort-of had to. I even kinda forgot I applied..." Richie trailed off. His reasoning sounded half-baked even to himself.

There was a stretch of awkward silence.

Frieda suddenly stood up, grabbing her bookbag. "Uh...hey look at the time, Daisy and I need to get to class."

"We do? I mean, there's a few minutes before the bell..." Daisy looked up at Frieda, shielding her eyes from the sun.

"Yes. Yes, we do." She grabbed Daisy, lifting her off the ground so quickly that she yelped. "Later, guys!" Daisy and Frieda waved as they ran off to their respective Spanish and English Lit classes, leaving the boys alone.

"One day she'll learn how to be subtle. One day." Virgil shook his head. "So Richie Foley, if that indeed is your real name, what else do I not know about exactly? Any illegal panda smuggling? Have you been in any porn flicks? You a pirate?"

"V, come on. It's not like I'm keeping stuff from you." At Virgil's withering stare, he quickly backpedaled. "Okay so I've kept like two big things from you recently. I can see how that'd bug you."

Virgil couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You know, I wasn't talking in code at the club when I said I don't want you feeling like you can't tell me something. You know where you go to school is your call." He honestly meant the words and yet he couldn't stop that dumb voice from pointing out he really wanted Richie to stay in Dakota.

"I know. But...somethings you just have to figure out and do on your own, you know?" Richie shrugged. "Part of that growing up bullshit or whatever."

"Ah yes, the ever-elusive growing up." Virgil closed the doughnut box. "What would we do without it?"

"Maintain our sanity?" The boys snickered. Just then, the bell rang. Grudgingly, they got their things together and began to head to their classes.

"We doing the movie thing tonight?" Richie asked as they stopped by Virgil's door.

"Yeah, but Frieda can't make it. Daisy's gonna get the tickets online, so we'll just meet at the theatre around 9:00."

"Okay, cool. I'll text Simon and tell him what the deal is. Later days!" Virgil watched him run off to his class.

"Yeah. See you."

-----

The rest of the day passed in a blur and before Virgil knew it, he sitting at his kitchen table, deep in thought. His Latin book was open in front of him, but he was staring straight at the wall.

It had occurred to him during fifth period when Richie had asked Daisy to get Simon a ticket for the movie that his problem might stem from jealousy and insecurity.

He was probably jealous of Simon because lately Richie and Virgil did school things and they did Static and Gear things, but there wasn't a whole lot of Richie and Virgil things. It's not like they hadn't been through something similar before, when Daisy first came to their school. It's not like Richie didn't get mad over that. And he wasn't really used to sharing Richie, so that's what it could be.

Or he could just be jealous of the fact that Richie had someone and he didn't. He had always told himself that he didn't have time for a relationship, but obviously that wasn't true if Richie was managing it. So he could be jealous because Richie had not only found someone, but had found the time to make it work.

Although it wasn't like Simon was replacing him or anything. Dating and being best friends were totally unrelated so it shouldn't even matter.

Although, his attitude about everything did make more sense if he used jealousy as his motivation. But there was that dumb little voice again telling him he had the right emotion but the wrong reason.

But why else would he be jealous? The answer was right there...he could practically taste it.

"Don't you have a desk somewhere in that disaster you call a room?"

Oh joy. Sharon was home.

"I dunno…you got a muzzle for that humongous trap of yours?"

Taking the seat next to him, Sharon rolled her eyes. "Wow, how amazing. A dog joke. One would think that in nearly eighteen years on Earth, Virgil Ovid Hawkins could have come up with a new routine."

"Okay, one, you know the rule about my middle name. And two, I'm actually not in the mood for verbal sparring today. So, sis, if you don't mind, I'd like to go back to my homework now."

She idly started playing with the ends of one of her pigtails. "Why are you doing your homework at six on a Friday night? Shouldn't you be out with Richie helping old ladies cross the street or cats out of trees or something?"

"He's with Simon." Suddenly his homework was really interesting.

"Oh right, his boyfriend. They've been spending a lot of time together haven't they?" Virgil pulled his book up, covering his face. Verb conjugations sure were fascinating. "Virgil?"

"Yup. Lot of time."

Sharon stopped playing with her hair, her full attention gathered by the irritable boy in front of her. "Pisses you off, doesn't it?"

"No." He dropped the book and sighed. "Yes. It pisses me off a lot. Richie and I never hang out anymore, I hate Simon, and the whole thing just sucks."

She raised an eyebrow. "Have you told him this?"

"Dude, I'm not going to tell him I hate his boyfriend. That's an argument I'm really not prepared to have."

Sharon just shook her head. "Dumbass, I was asking if you've told Richie that you miss hanging out with him?"

"Oh." Virgil ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "Not really. I guess I should."

"Well, yeah. Otherwise how else is he going to know that there's a problem?" She went to the drawer where menus and other odds and ends were kept. "Daddy's working late tonight and I am not in the mood to either cook or put up with your crap. You want pizza or Chinese for dinner?"

"Chinese. We had pizza the other night." Virgil pulled out his Shock Vox, trying to decide if he wanted to use the emergency pager or just make a normal call. He buzzed Richie's 'Vox using the normal ring, not wanting to risk making his partner angry. It rang a couple times.

Then it rang a few more.

Then it rang five more.

After fourteen rings, Virgil turned his 'Vox off, a concerned look on his face. "That's weird."

"What is?" Sharon was currently debating the merits of Kung Pao chicken versus Moo Goo Gai Pan. Moo Goo Gai Pan was currently in the lead.

"He didn't answer his phone. He always answers his phone."

"Well, yeah, of course he didn't. He's probably busy right now." It was definitely a Moo Goo Gai Pan night. "You want your usual?"

"Yeah. Busy? Busy doing what?" He put the communicator down on the table, cradling his head in one hand.

"Virgil, I know it hurts but just try to think for a second. You said he's with his boyfriend, right? So they're probably not really paying attention to phones right now or anything else for that matter. Because they're busy."

That cold sick feeling was back. "You think they're…" He blinked a few times. "No way."

She just shrugged. "Two seventeen year olds that are dating spending time alone together before meeting up with their friends? Uh yeah, it's pretty much a given." She grabbed the phone to place the order, leaving Virgil to stare at his Shock Vox once more.

-----

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Uh, Richie?"

"Mmhm?"

"Is that your phone?"

Richie pulled far enough away from his boyfriend to look him in the eye. Raising an eyebrow, he said "Why, actually Simon, that's my…"

Simon cut him off with a snort. "The ringing, you asshole. Is that your phone ringing?"

"Oh. That. Yeah, probably." He grabbed his hoodie off the floor by Simon's bed where it had landed and pulled the Shock Vox out of the left pocket. He then deftly turned the ringer volume down. "Much better. So…where were we?"

It was the dark-haired boy's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you have seen who that was?"

Richie shrugged. "Probably just Virgil. He's pretty much the only one that calls me."

"Right." Simon sat back against his headboard with a thoughtful look on his face, causing Richie to frown.

"What?"

"What 'what'?"

"What's with that look? That's the Simon Walker-Martin look of 'Something's on my mind but I don't know how to bring it up.' So what gives?"

"…Virgil gives, I guess." He bit his lower lip. "I don't think he likes me very much."

Richie just smiled and shook his head, brushing some hair off the other boy's forehead. "Don't be paranoid. Of course he likes you. I mean, why wouldn't he?"

"Dunno. It's just a vibe I get from him. Like he's nice enough to me, don't get me wrong. It just seems forced somehow. Like he's just being nice to placate you or something."

"Nah. Trust me, Virgil doesn't really do placating. He's pretty blatant when he doesn't like someone. And by 'pretty' I mean 'as subtle as a brick in the face,' of course."

"Of course." Simon couldn't help but smile at that. "I guess I'm just being stupid. I mean…he's your best friend so of course I want him to like me. I guess I just think he feels like I stole you from him or something."

"You can't steal something that comes along willingly. Besides, even if V doesn't like you…well, I happen to be kind-of fond of you." Richie moved so he was straddling Simon's lap, a slight grin on his face. "And that's all that really matters." They kissed. "Isn't it?"

"Mmm. Indeed." They kissed again, quickly going back to where they had been when they were interrupted. They paused only to throw Simon's shirt on the floor next to the sweatshirt.

"Parents?" The blond gasped as his boyfriend starting running his tongue down his neck, nipping at his Adam's apple.

"Not home until after the movie," Simon murmured. "So we don't have to worry about being quiet. Unlike last time when someone forgot to use his inside voice."

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?" They shifted so that instead of sitting, they were now laying across the bed. Simon had rolled them so he was lying on top of Richie, mouth not moving from his neck.

"Not really." He rolled his hips and Richie gasped a second time. "Although, I have to admit that I think it's hot that you're so noisy." He sucked on the other boy's right ear, making him moan.

Somehow Richie managed to ask, "You…do?" while Simon started unzipping his pants.

"Yeah. It lets me know that what I'm doing is working." He smiled as he slid his hand Richie's boxers, stroking him.

"In that case..." Richie . "Let's see just how loud I can get."

Simon smirked and slid down the blond's body. And apparently, Richie could get very loud indeed.

-----

The movie theater was crowded, as it was opening weekend for a pre-summer blockbuster. It was definitely a good thing that Daisy had in fact purchased the tickets in advance that afternoon.

Especially considering that Richie and Simon were running late.

Virgil checked his watch for the tenth time in two minutes. "Where are they?"

Daisy just shrugged. "I dunno. They said they were coming."

"I'll bet they are," he mumbled.

Daisy started to ask what he meant when the pair of boys ran up with matching grins on their faces.

"Sorry we're late. We...lost track of time." Virgil tried very hard not to scowl; Simon didn't look or sound very sorry. Neither did Richie as he blushingly elbowed him in the ribs.

"Dude…"

"It's cool." Daisy just smiled. "Here're the tickets. Come on, the previews are about to start!" The group all ran inside and to their theatre, which of course was packed.

"Shit…I don't see anywhere to sit." Richie was staring around the theatre, frowning as he surveyed the lack of seats.

"What about up there?" Simon pointed to the very back of the theater. "There're two seats together, and then two seats together a little further down. I mean, we won't all be together but…"

"Sounds good to me." Daisy started to climb the stairs to the first pair of seats. "Virgil and I will take the seats over here…you guys

get the ones on the other end."

Virgil started to open his mouth to protest but Richie had already started running with Simon to make sure the other seats didn't get taken. Shaking his head, he followed Daisy up the stairs.

-----

If someone had asked him later if he had liked the movie, Virgil wouldn't have been able to give an answer.

That was, of course, due to the fact that he had barely seen any of it. He had been too busy watching Richie and Simon.

They had held hands like every other couple in the theatre, albeit in a more discreet fashion. Sometimes during scenes with cheesy dialogue, they'd whisper in each other's ears and laugh quietly.

They looked very comfortable and happy.

And the cold, sick feeling was pretty much signing a long-term lease in his stomach. He knew he shouldn't stare at them. That if watching them was bothering him so much (why did it do that anyways?) he should pay attention to the movie or talk to Daisy.

And yet he couldn't bring himself to look away. At least until he felt the painful pinch in his arm.

"Virgil, watch the movie already. You're driving me nuts with your constant neck craning. They're fine," Daisy whispered.

"Sorry," he muttered while rubbing his arm. He did keep his eyes on the screen for the rest of the night, but he wasn't watching the movie.

-----

"The part with the car chase was awesome!" Daisy exclaimed as they left the theatre. "I've never seen one involving a turbo-prop and a houseboat before!"

"Don't forget the explosions. I love me some explosions." Richie added.

"Well who doesn't? I mean, really."

"Yeah, but didn't that remind you of Bad Boys II? Like, the whole thing just seemed sort-of lifted out of it…" Simon shook his head. "Don't get me wrong, it was great, but there was an overwhelming feeling of deja boom."

"Deja boom?"

"Yes, the sensation that you have seen stuff blow up before." Daisy and Richie groaned at the bad joke. "Sorry, that was lame."

The blond smiled. "Yes. Yes it was." He took his boyfriend's hand. "Don't let it happen again."

"Yes, dear. Hey Virgil, what part did you like?"

Virgil was walking slightly ahead of the other three, not really paying attention. "Huh? Oh, um the end I guess."

The trio blinked at Virgil's back. After a moment, Richie leaned in and whispered to his boyfriend, who just nodded and let go of his hand. He and Daisy picked up where they left off, arguing over the originality of cinematic action sequences.

"Heya sport." Virgil started as he was nudged suddenly by a smiling Richie.

"Oh. Hey Richie." Determined to mope, he just shoved his hands into his pockets.

"You okay? You're kinda quiet, especially considering how much ass we just watched Will Smith kick."

"Yeah, I just…have some stuff on my mind, that's all." Stuff like you, he wanted to say but didn't.

"I hear that. It's been a busy week."

"Yeah, with so much going on lately, I've barely had time to stop. I guess I'm just tired." Absently, he ran a hand through his dreads. "Any clue what you're going to do about school yet?"

"Not really. I wasn't expecting to, you know, have options." There was a pause. "Plus there are…other complications."

"Like your boy?" Okay, mouth? You really need to wait on the brain before opening and letting words come out.

"Well yeah, but more like going so far away from everything I know. Being that far away from my folks…dude, California might as well be another planet or something. And my friends aren't out there...well okay Daisy would be, but she's not you, you know."

Virgil shrugged. "Yeah, I guess it'd be weird to have to fight…play chess without a partner or whatever."

The blond rolled his eyes and stopped walking. "You know what I mean. Like, yeah okay the…chess...thing will be a problem. But I'm more concerned about just missing my best friend."

Virgil finally looked up, a smile on his face. "For real?"

"Realer than real."

"I'll miss you too," Virgil couldn't help blurting out. He ducked his head to hide the embarassed look on his face. "I mean, if you go."

"Well, that's good. I'd hate to be in a one-sided relationship." Richie grinned. "Although, right now it's not looking good for the West Coast. I mean, they eat sushi there. Like all the time. Yech."

"Bro, what are you talking about? Sushi's good." He was playfully shoved by the blond, who was grinning.

"You would think so. You with your freaky sardine thing." Virgil shoved him back.

"No more freaky than pineapple pizza."

And then suddenly, ninjas attacked.

About five men in solid black seemingly dropped out of the sky as the nearby First National bank exploded. More men in black snuck out of the building as the citizens of Dakota errupted into panic.

Richie and Virgil stared with their mouths hanging open in shock. Daisy and Simon weren't doing a lot better.

"What the shit is this?" Simon asked no one in particular. "I mean...Bang Babies are one thing but this is just random."

"Yeah. We should find out what they're up to," Virgil mumbled. He noticed Richie giving him a look. "I mean...uh...shouldn't Static and Gear be here by now?"

At that moment, another explosion from the nearby subway station shook the ground, causing the masses to spin into an even greater panic. People were running everywhere and screaming at the top of their lungs.

Without looking to each other, Virgil and Richie 'allowed' the crowd to seperate them from the others, running into a nearby alley to change.

"Think Simon and Daisy are okay?" Richie asked as he pulled on his gloves.

Virgil froze in the middle of putting on his mask. "Sure."

The blond wasn't convinced. "Well, remind me to call him anyways after this to make sure." He powered on his skates and took to the sky.

Static unfolded his disc. "Call Simon to make sure." He then took off after his partner.

Gear had captured several of the ninjas using binding Zap Caps. The remaining group were now attacking him with shuriken.

"Now what good are a bunch of metal thingies going to do against someone who can freeze 'em in mid-air?" Static "caught" the projectiles with his powers, quickly turning sending them back the way they came. All but two of the ninjas were pinned to the wall with their own weapons. "Feh. I'm gonna need you all to do better."

The head ninja rolled his eyes and said something rude in Japanese. At least, the electric metahuman assumed it was rude by his partner's reaction.

"Dude, you don't even know his sister!"

"He insulted my sister?" That just wasn't right.

"Among other things." Gear shook his head in disbelief.

The ninja barked something else. Gear glared at him.

"You can not possibly kiss your mother with that mouth." The ninja shrugged, then threw more bombs at the pair. Static and Gear dodged them easily, with the latter throwing one final set of Zap Caps at the same time, ensnaring the last of the criminals.

"Well...glad that's over with." Static brushed his dreads out of his eyes. "Way to kick ass and take names, by the way."

"Eh. I've been eating...my Wheaties?" A sudden creaking noise interrupted his train of thought. "What the...?" They looked up to see a billboard hanging from one of its corners, obviously very badly damaged from the battle. The last bracket holding it gave way and it started to come down where they were hovering. "Watch out!"

Gear slammed into him, knocking him off his disc and rolling them out of the way. Static landed on his back with Gear on top of him, their limbs tangled together. He went to complain about the rough landing when he looked up and into his partner's eyes.

Into those really concerned, kind, and sweet eyes that he knew were a bright sky blue under the visor.

His heart pounded in his chest.

"Static?"

He couldn't move, couldn't breathe, and couldn't look away.

Oh crap.

"Dude, what's wrong? Did you hit your head?" A fretful hand was placed in his hair, checking for bumps and bruises.

He silently shook his head.

It took everything he had to not lean into the touch.

Crap.

Gear shifted so that instead of laying over the other hero, he was kneeling in front of him. "Bro' come on...talk to me, what's wrong?"

He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out.

"Static? You're scaring me."

"I'm...I'm okay."

He really wasn't.

Gear looked relieved. "Dude, don't do that. For a second I thought something was seriously wrong with you." He sighed and then smiled. "Sorry the landing wasn't more gentle; it must've really shook you up."

Static nodded. He was shaken up all right, but not because of the landing.

After weeks of being confused, Virgil Hawkins finally understood why he hated his boyfriend so much and why he was so worried about Richie leaving. The jealousy, the insecurity...it all made sense, much to his chagrin.

He had the hots for his best friend.

-----

If it were a snake, it would have bit you.

­-----