lizzy-ness: Root canals are tools of hell for little pretty girls like me. I had my eyes closed, but basically they like suck the root out of you with a shrp drill thingy and a lot of scraping, I almost cried, but then I thought happy thoughts like Brian and Justin and Marco and Jakey and I felt better. Pete is a fashionable person, isn't he? I'm glad you liked his outfit, I actually wore that to school once, umbrella included. Yeah. I'm WEIRD.lol I thought it'd be funny if they fell off the dock while kissing, it's comically love-ish. The peppermints joke? Only I seem to get that one….I'll give you a hint. Ryan had a peppermint before he fell off the dock in his mouth! Yes, you are GANSTAR that's how I spell it now, I also consider Davey, Pimp, Socks and Rubber Ducks (thanx to Justin for talking to his rubber ducky with Brian in da show) also gangster.
Love ya, with magically furry dancing hotties on top!

Azury: Yes, my twisted mind can put thing in order, I just need to think before I do so! Yay! I'm glad you got it. Here's a cookie and a bunny! Thank you on Pete, it's my pimp, you know, the smart ass of the group. But I think you'll like Andy even better! OPPPS! SPOILER! Pete and Ryan? Mer….lol.I dunno…yeah, I do. But I won't tell! I'm glad you still like the story, it makes me happy. I'm twisted still! Ciao, missy with shiny buttons and special twisted pervyness!

Chapter 16: I'll Write a Song for You

Pete ran upstairs into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. He quickly sighed and dropped to the floor before calling out Ryan's name.

Some one pulled back the curtain," What are you doing here?" Ryan hissed.

"I kinda spilled…a little bit…you're enamored by me?" Pete stuttered out.

"Slow breaths Pete" Ryan said as he closed the curtains again.

"Marco was asking me questions…and I kind of answered one" Pete muttered

"So?" Ryan asked, pulling the soap out from the dish.

"About My Fair Fantasy…."

"What?" Ryan asked as he snatched the curtains back, only to pull them back again at Pete's bemused look.

"I didn't mean to…" Pete stammered," Besides, he's clueless anyway"

Ryan sighed," I don't want him to know yet…"

"Know what yet?" Pete asked slyly.

"You know what…"

"No, actually I don't" Pete said," Tell me"

"That…"

"What…?"

"Come here…" Ryan motioned with his fingers.

Pete got up and moved towards the shower curtains as Ryan leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"Well in that case then…" Pete murmured as he picked the soap up from Ryan's hands and dropped it on the floor." You know what they say?"

"When in Rome?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah" Pete said as he bent over to pick it up," That too…"

"Hey mom…" Jake said, running his hands through his hair nervously, he felt tears spiking his eyes," I hav- haven't heard from yo- you in a long time…"

"I know…" Angelina said slowly," I missed my little baby boy. I hope Marco's treating you well"

"Of course Mom, like the dad I never had…"

"That's nice sweetheart" Angelina said," I was wondering….if you wouldn't mind…"

"Yes?" Jake asked.

"Would…or could you lend…"

"Uh…"

"Your mommy some money?"

Jake's face fell," What?"

"My new…job, calls for a special tuition to get in…mommy's a little short on cash"

"Mom…"

"Just like 100 dollars, I'll pay you back…"

"Ma…."

"Just like old times…"

Jake took a sharp intake of breath," Like when Kyle was here…"

Jake slammed the phone down, his hands shaking and closing his eyes while reaching into his pockets, his breath already growing faster. He grabbed a pill and chewed it, not swallowed, slowly and calmed down a little bit, but not enough as he angrily smashed the lamp besides him to the floor accidentally. Hearing the crash, Marco quickened his speed to the living room and saw him sitting there. He sat down next to him and opened his arms as Jake gladly fell into them. "Well, now that you're only 1 year away from me I guess this means that I can give you this…" Marco said as he pulled something out of his pocket and gave it to Jake." What is it?"

"This right here is the first valuable thing that my dad ever gave me" Marco smiled, holding it in his hands.

"It's a ring" Jake responded.

"Yep, it was his class ring. He gave me it, said give it to someone special" Marco replied sadly," Who better than to you? You said you wanted a piece of my dad anyway, so there you go"

"I like it" Jake replied, looking at the sapphire and ruby jeweled coloring." It reminds me of Ryan's eyes"

"Yeah?" Marco asked, tilting his head to the side," It kind of does"

After marveling at the ring in silence for a little while Jake finally said "Mom called…"

"I know" Marco sighed.

"She was asking for money, at least she said happy birthday once, I just wish that she would stop being so self destructive…when Rory was here she wasn't like that" Jake said quietly.

Marco didn't know what to say so he just sighed and shook his head, he really deserves better, he thought sadly." What do you want to do for your birthday?"

"I know the perfect place…" Jake said smiling as he got up and went to the phone,

"Who are you calling?" Marco asked, confused.

"Just a friend" Jake replied happily, smiling a mile wide," I'm pretty sure this will be the best birthday I have yet"

Ryan played with the tattered ends of Marco's shirt, which fit him well as he watched Pete pace across the room." I don't know what's the problem then" He paused to rub his hands on his pants, a nervous habit that he did often before continuing his back and forth motion." You've told me the story several times and I still don't get it"

"Look, Marco just got out of a serious relationship here Pete; this isn't a one-two type punch. No one night stand Nate-Hopkins-I-Was-Just-A-Little-Bit-Drunk-But-I-Still-Probally-Would-Have-Done-Him-Anyway type thing like you so bluntly know and use all the time" Ryan snapped, making Pete stop.

"Your point?" Pete asked ruggedly.

"All I'm saying is that he's heartbroken, and when I was heartbroken last time I didn't want to hear the slightest mention of love or anything near it" Ryan replied." That's my point"

"Brilliantly put" Pete said with his natural snooty air to his voice, sitting down on the floor and looking through the pictures Ryan had painted. "These all look like…"

"Marco?" Ryan finished," I know. He was the only drawable thing here but…"He paused, getting up crossing the room. He went through his wallet and pulled out some small cut up pictures, "I did save a special one". He flicked the picture over to Pete who caught it with ease and smirked again," I remember this picture, the last day of school. Andy, me, you and Brian were all going our separate ways, Brian to be off with his dad, Andy off to his own…what did he call it again?"

"A sexual escapade. His own Renaissance" Ryan replied.

"Yeah and me and you…"

"Off to two different places" Ryan finished, looking over his shoulder at the picture. Brian stood there with his arms crossed, his middle finger angrily up while Andy practically sat on his shoulders wearing a pair of red sun glasses and a dozen roses which he threw up in the air. Pete was captured jumping up to catch one with his teeth while Ryan just stood there shaking his head but smiling also.

"Why the hell was Andy throwing those roses?" Pete asked, shuffling through the paintings again.

"You know Andy, he said it gave the picture a photographical lighting " Ryan murmured," Or some crap like that" He pulled out a painting " But more importantly here's one I did of you a long time ago, like after we first met in the locker room. Remember that time when Andy got really drunk and me, you and Brian had to drag him back into the showers to wake him up?"

"Yeah" Pete laughed," Why?"

"Here, see for yourself" Ryan said happily, handing the painting over.

Pete looked on in amusement at a picture of a drenched Pete and Brian holding Andy under the shower head, but the picture mainly focused on Pete in all his wet glory." Aww, you're such a great artist" He leaned over when Marco busted through the door, making Ryan push him away automatically and cocking his head to the side," Marci, what's wrong?"

"Heh, funny" Marco said as he angrily plopped down into Ryan's lap, and on Pete's bemused look Marco replied," He's cushiony"

"What really happened?" Ryan asked.

"Jake's keeping secrets from me again" Marco huffed out," I have to take someone to this ballroom dance type thing being held on the 7th of August and I have no one to take with me"

"What about Dy-" Pete began as Ryan shot him an assassin's look." -lan?"

Marco shut his eyes and purred silently." Oh…Pete…look what you did" Ryan sighed out as he petted Marco on the back, "Forget about Dylan"

"Yeah…sorry…listen, I met a guy once who could break anybodies heart and he did that to mines and look where I am now" Pete said reassuringly." Everything will be fine"

Marco just gurgled again" I think I need some more Capin' Crunch" He got up and moped off," And some peppermint ice cream too"

Ryan shot up," Oh my…uh…Pete, could you stay right here for a second please?"

"What's the matter?" Pete asked nervously.

"Uh…ice cream is bad for Marco" Ryan replied before running out the room," Go meet Jake, he's downstairs"

Pete mumbeled something under his breath as he watched Ryan disappear.

Ryan caught up with Marco, who stuck his head in the fridge looking for something to eat.

"Marco?" Ryan asked timidly.

He didn't reply, but instead just sniffeled. " Oh Ryan…look what I've done…"

He pulled out his hand to see a long gash across it. " I hurt…myself…" Marco whispered.

Ryan looked at him, shocked." How?"

"I don't know…" Marco trailed off. " I don't…know…"

Ryan ran over to him and grabbed him into his arms, sweeping the hair from out his face." Marco…?"

Marco's vision blurred.

"Marco…speak to me…."

Jake wandered with Pete into the room just in time to see Marco slip, along with Ryan, to the floor.

Oh...see what Dylan causes? And he's not even there! Review! Please!