A/N: Sorry it's taking me awhile to update but I kind of lost interest, got clueless as to how to continue, and then got interested. Thanks for the great reviews though.

Chapter 2

A Wandering Eye

(Layla)

It's Tuesday. Or otherwise known as the Study Day for our small group. Will, Zach, Ethan, Magenta, and now Warren come over and we just hang out and do homework. Although, now that the group has expanded a bit we all try to do homework and have fun, but mostly we just have fun, eat snacks, drink soda, and socialize. It's our day to put down those barriers of social status that separate us in school. It's a great system because we really get to learn what's new in everyone's life and we all keep in touch.

Will, Warren, and Magenta are here right now. Zach and Ethan had to stay after school for some extra credit project, they should be here soon.

I come back into the living room with extra popcorn and place it on the table. Warren and Will both reach for it before I place it down and Warren's hand brushes mine. I quickly put it down and sit on the couch. Magenta's words are really bothering me.

She elbows me in the side and I elbow her back. I'm not looking at her but I know she's smirking, somewhat triumphantly I presume. I look to Warren. This is hard, I mean before Magenta talked to me, I had really only viewed Warren as a friend. I'm not stupid, I know Warren is attractive but for some reason I could always look past that.

Maybe now I don't want to anymore.

Before I can continue further with that thought, the bell rings and I'm glad that a distraction has presented itself. I answer the door and usher Zach and Ethan in. I sit across from Magenta instead and watch as Ethan sits closely to Magenta. They talk quietly and Magenta's voice is soft and so is her face. So soft I can't even hear what they're talking about.

Magenta and Ethan had been friends way before I had even knew about them, they stuck together and balanced each other out in what they were lacking. You can tell that about them without even knowing each other for too long. Her face is etched in concern and worry for Ethan, who looks a little down. Her emotions really only come to show with Ethan.

I see her blush a little and a light snaps on in my head.

I need to talk to her.

(Magenta)

When Zach and Ethan come in my heart starts to race a little. Ethan sits close to me and I can tell he's down. He's been down all day. I worry about him, he won't tell me what's going on even though we've been friends for close to 5 years.

"Hey." I say quietly, he's sitting next to me. Close, very close. Our knees almost touch.

"Hey." He's solemn. His glasses are gone and his height has grown. He has become cuter as the years have progressed, I think I'm the only one that's noticed though.

"Come on Ethan, I know something's wrong with you, please tell me. I hate to see you down."

It's probably the most concern I show with anybody. But Ethan is special, he isn't like anyone I know. His interest and awe of the superheroes make him a little child-like, but he's smart and intelligent with thoughts of the world that make me wonder. He contradicts everything I know, but makes a point that is always right and respects my decisions anyway.

I think I see Layla looking at me from the couch so I keep my voice hushed and as low as possible. This is between me and Ethan.

"I know" He says. "I'll tell you later. I need to talk to someone anyway, it's just been hard."

His brown eyes reflect the pain he is in. It's easy for me to spot pain, I've been through so much of it. And when I was hurting, he was there for me too. He always is, always will be.

"I'll help. I'll be there." I say. He smiles as what seems genuine and I give a small smile in return. He's infectious. Captivating. He's Ethan and nobody else can make him different. But he makes me different, if only around him at least. And maybe that's special and important. Maybe that's all I should do.

(Layla)

I worry for a second. Magenta and Ethan seemed to be having a heart to heart, it's probably not my business. It's just not so often that I see a softer side to Magenta, but she's become my best friend and I can't help but wonder if there is a softer side to her and if it's only designated for Ethan.

For awhile we all thought that that role and that designation would be for Zach, they had chemistry and he seemed to present a challenge for her. Something Magenta was always looking for. But something in her told her that he heart wasn't set for Zach, he wasn't the one that would change her and make her want to be nicer, better, or just different.

Something tells me that her heart is somehow changing and calling for Ethan. And as much as it intrigues me I can't be the one that buts into her life and demands answers.

Although she certainly decided that she could do that for Warren and myself.

But Magenta and I are different. Two different kinds of cookies, if you will. We're both raisin-bran. The unpopular cookie and the one that's not chosen often or preferred, but we're healthy and sometimes preferred by the odd loner. The only difference is that I'm a soft cookie and she's a hard one. She needs some milk to soften her up.

Well, maybe in this case it might be chocolate milk. (A/N: haha, sorry, I couldn't resist, I hope I don't offend anyone, I don't mean anything bad by it)

I smile a small smile and hope that things turn out the best for Magenta. Two hearts were broken when she didn't feel anything for Zach. Zach took it bad and went into a slump, adorning a bruised heart. But he quickly became nursed back into health when a side-kick named Clarissa, who could create fragrances, came into his life.

Magenta took it bad too though, upset at how a nice boy like Zach was ruined because she couldn't feel anything for him. It was almost like she had set up a barrier that just wouldn't let herself start to like him, she could've if she wanted to. But she's scared, she might not admit it, but I know her well enough to tell that she rules with her head not her heart.

A change might be in need though.

(Will)

"So do you like her man?" I ask, looking around the room, watching Magenta and Ethan on one couch talking lightly, and Zach and Layla on the other talking animatedly.

"What? Who?" Warren asks.

"Layla. Do you like Layla? Cuz you know it doesn't matter to me if you like her or not. We're completely over."

It's true. Layla and I had ended a while ago, both coming to terms that we had just known each other too long and that friendship was the best thing.

"Why would I care? I'm not into the hippie."

He grabbed a handful of popcorn and leaned back into the couch.

"Come on Warren." I say "If you don't like her then why do you treat her differently than you treat Magenta?"

The difference in the way he acted towards them was noticeable, he had a tendency to talk to Magenta about worldly issues, political, educational and book things. He was softer and more emotional with Layla.

"I don't know, how about the fact that they're complete opposites and I can't act the same way towards them."

He's getting irritated now, you can tell he doesn't want these questions. This of course, means that I'm somehow stumbling towards the truth.

"Yeah, that's true. But the excruciating difference in how you are around them is big."

I crack my knuckles on my left hand and wait for his answer. When he doesn't give one I decide to see how far I can take this.

"You've held Layla's books before, opened the door for her. You've hugged her, gone places with her. From what I've heard you guys have had a couple of heart to hearts. You wore a tux for her, went to homecoming. You've also-"

"Damnit Stronghold! Shut up!" His arms catch fire and everyone stops. He cools down and goes into the kitchen.

We all just stare at his retreating figure until Zach says

"Layla, maybe you should follow him."

Layla nods and steps quietly into the kitchen.

Okay, even Zach knows that Warren and Layla have a thing for each other.

How is it that we all knew about this before they did?

End Chapter.

A/N: Alright, as promised I have got this chapter up and running. I've decided that I will put in two parts: Magenta/Ethan and Warren/Layla because I like the pairings. My other story currently out, the two-shot, will take more time because it's longer and I need time to figure out how to do some parts. But other than that I really want to thank my readers for the great reviews, they really do help.