A/N: when i was on hiatus from , i technically really wasn't... the sequel wasn't too far off my mind as i thought about the plot, different sequences and possibilities. i pretty much had it all planned out in my head before even starting to type out the first chapter. so i think it's really cute when people try to guess what's going to happen as the plot develops. ;) i'm trying to stay away from the predictable.... how boring would this be if i didn't? :) happy reading!

alwaysremember: geeez woman! as if you really expect me to go right out and tell you if they byron and char are getting together or not!!:) i'm going to agonize you and tell you to keep reading. cues to evil laugh. :)

CHAPTER THREE - Throw Away

I ran my fingers through my hair and proceeded to re-apply Cotton Candy Pink gloss to my lips as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I stopped mid-stroke of the tiny brush and frowned. What the hell was I doing?

Byron was coming over any minute to work on the Yearbook assignment and here I was, trying to get all glammed up... for what? To impress him? I scoffed at my stupidity and capped off the small rose-coloured bottle, stepping away from the mirror. I grabbed a green zip-up hoodie from my bed and wore it over a tight yellow Roxy shirt as I walked barefoot down the stairs.

"Dad," I greeted as I made it on the landing. "Business trip I presume?" At his feet were his briefcase and a small black suitcase.

"Mmhmm." He was preoccupied with his PalmPilot. "The cab should be here soon."

"Oh Dad, you should've asked me. I could've driven you. It really wouldn't have been a problem."

"Don't worry about it, sweetie. Byron should be coming over soon anyway, right?" My reply was muffled by the sound of a beeping horn. "Looks like the cab's here. You want to walk your old man out?" I smiled and with his suitcase in hand, we walked down the driveway to the awaiting yellow cab.

"So, how long are you gone for?"

"Just the weekend. Tuesday evening's the latest." He lightly kissed my forehead and slid into the back seat. "Tell your mom good-bye for me... and don't get into any trouble while I'm away." He winked mischievously and I rolled my eyes.

"Bye, Dad." I grinned and slammed the door shut. "Have a safe flight!" I called out as the cab started to drive away.

As soon as it rounded the corner, I stepped back onto the curb and walked up our lawn. I reached the front door just as Byron turned into our driveway on his bike.

My heart foolishly skipped a beat.

"Hey," he mumbled in greeting as he got off his bike.

"Hi. You, um, want to bring that out to the back?"

"Yeah, sure." I led the way as Byron walked his bike out to our back patio, the quiet clinking of the moving chain as it turned round and round, the only sound filling the awkward silence.

I pretended to occupy myself with a potted plant as he locked it up securely. The soil composition of the fern never enthralled me as much as it did right then.

"Ready?" he asked. I looked up and wiped my hands on my shorts, brushing the dirt off my fingers. I gave him a half smile and walked through the back door.

"The dining room okay?" I asked, gesturing to the notebooks and stapled sheets of highlighted paper already in a messy pile on the wide table. I was up late trying to get the Social Studies project done.

"It doesn't matter," Byron shrugged, but taking a seat at the table anyway. I moved the pile aside and took out a fresh piece of paper, taking a seat across from him. I let out a deep breath and got right down to business.

"So, did you just want to start by listing all the possible events we might have to do for the Yearbook?" I glanced up at him, waiting for an answer. He looked up and for the first time that day, our eyes met. He held my gaze in his and for that brief moment, I couldn't make myself look away... I don't know if I even wanted to.

Looking at me squarely in the eyes, he pursed his lips and gave me quick nod.

"Sounds good." He leaned forward on the table with his elbows. "I guess there's Homecoming...."

- -

Soon enough it was three o'clock and Byron had to get home to get ready for work. In the two hours we spent working, we were pretty much prepared to go face to face with Kerry The Editor, complete with a few possible layout templates and everything. It was weird, but the mood between us lifted -- how ever slowly -- and seemed to do a complete 180º.

I really don't know if it was because we mutually decided that nothing was going to get accomplished with all the awkwardness... Maybe we were ready to move on from that... Maybe I realized that I needed him more as a friend than anything else... Maybe... maybe I was just overanalyzing, like I did with everything else in my life.

"I'm going to get so pissed if Kerry totally shuts us down," Byron said, chuckling as he bent down to unlock his bike chain. "We did some good work today."

"I concur," I replied, smiling. "Just please don't forget to get everything printed. That's pretty much all we need to get done."

"Jesus! You don't trust me one bit do you, Char?" He laughed as I made a face. "You're almost as bad as Kerry." I playfully shoved him forward as he pushed his bike down the path.

"Get out of here," I called out after him.

"See ya later." Byron got on his bike and waved as he pedalled away. I grinned and waved back, feeling genuinely happy about what was happening.

But as I laid in my bed that night, the tight feeling in my chest returned.

It couldn't be that easy.... could it?

Was I ready to just throw away the whole summer – all the memories, everything I felt – only to go back to square one... to where we started? To being just friends?

...Something like that is so hard to forget.