Again Jenny seized the opportunity to damn his blue eyes to hell. If only he hadn't distracted her she may have actually gotten around to getting an answer.

But the corner of her mouth twitched and her impatience and disagreeable humor melted away as she recalled just how thoroughly she had been distracted and how very very much she had enjoyed it.

Maybe she could call in sick today and go back to bed? The idea was so tempting. She could curl up, fall asleep, pick up right where they left off…Jenny closed her eyes and imagined the scene.

She had just lifted her lips to kiss along Julian's jaw line. Maybe she would have given him a playful nip just below his ear. If he had allowed it she would have continued kissing her way down his neck, her fingers weaving themselves through that incredibly soft frost-white hair.

But more likely than not Julian would have grown impatient and wanted his lips on hers. And so he would have guided her lips back up to meet his in a ravenous kiss that would have left her breathless and incapable of thought.

Jenny sighed and opened her eyes slowly and with a great deal of reluctance. It sounded like paradise to her. And it's not like her mom and dad would be against it. After all, she had the perfect excuse in her breakup with Tom. They would think she was simply overwrought and needed a breather.

But…

That was exactly the reason she needed to go to school today. If she didn't go and Tom told their friends about the breakup then they would all assume she was completely distraught and beside herself. And that was definitely not the impression she needed to be giving. So with a last mournful look at her bed she made her way to her dresser and selected the day's outfit.

As she felt the blacktop of the school parking lot beneath her feet she feverishly wished for a moment she had indeed called everyone and told them about the breakup. Then they would be waiting for her with hugs and expressions of sympathy and she wouldn't have to worry like she was now. It would be over. But as she breathed deeply and caught the smell of some nearby rosebushes she calmed down and amended her wish to one that was simply to have called Tom and talked with him about their strategy.

She grated her teeth together as she thought about how callous and selfish that sounded. Here she was, worrying about her feelings, her thoughts, how people would react to her, and barely giving more than a passing thought to all those things from Tom's perspective. She really needed to try and be more sympathetic. After all, the breakup was just as painful for him as it was for her.

Of course, Tom did have the luxury (if you could call it that) of being able to seek out a new romantic interest once the painful feelings associated with this breakup faded into a dull ache, she reminded herself nastily.

At least there was that light at the end of the tunnel, never mind just how long that tunnel looked now. Jenny, on the other hand, had to contend not only with getting over this breakup but also with the cessation of her relationship with Julian.

Where had that thought come from? Staring at the imposing brick building, watching her classmates as they clamored together and gossiped and laughed, Jenny was suddenly overcome with a feeling of depression. Whatever the source her mind was right—her relationship with Julian would surely have to end, unless by some miracle she actually remembered to ask him about that comment and in his answer was somehow their salvation.

But Jenny acknowledged ruefully that she didn't really see any answer he could give which would result in his transformation from dream to reality.

Her musings were interrupted when she spotted Tom and the rest of her friends making their way into the school. She quickened her pace to reach them before they went inside.

"Hey guys," she called out, giving them all a small smile when they turned to face her. Her smile faltered when she met Tom's gaze, however. He looked unbelievably tired. He must have noticed her intense scrutiny and been amused however, for suddenly his mouth managed a small grin.

"Hi Jenny," they all took turns greeting her until it was Tom's turn.

"Would you guys mind if Jenny and I caught up with you all later?" he never glanced away from Jenny's face even as he addressed the group. Their friends exchanged meaningful glances but said nothing, just left. When they were out of earshot he indicated that she should follow him to a nearby maple tree where he proceeded to sit.

"We need to talk." He announced.

"Okay," she replied as she sat down by him, careful to maintain a discreet amount of distance.

"I didn't tell them anything." He leaned his head back against the trunk, closing his eyes and sighing as he made the pronouncement.

"Oh." At first that was all Jenny could say. Casting a sideways glance at him she noted vaguely that the bark of the tree must make a rather uncomfortable pillow. Looking away she decided to focus her stare on the students who wandered from the parking lot or adjoining lawn into the school.

"You look like you didn't sleep well. Are you all right?" she finally asked in a hesitant voice.

He tilted his head towards the sound of her voice before opening his eyes. When he did he took a moment to first catalog her appearance. Jenny just let him look, refusing to say anything else for fear of repercussions.

"Rough night." He managed to answer at last. "So how do you want to handle this?"

"I wish we didn't have to say anything." She mumbled, still not looking at him until the sound of his laughter, hollow as it was, reached her ears.

"Yeah, that would make things easier," he agreed. "But we don't have that luxury. It's probably best to get it over with now rather than later."

"All right," she said, lifting herself off the ground and using the tree as leverage to balance herself. "Why don't we split it up? I'll tell Dee, Zach and Summer and you can tell Audrey and Michael."

"Your choice of groups wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you have your first class with those three and likewise for me, would it?" he teased as he too made his way into a standing position.

"Well you're right. There's no sense putting it off. Plus they'll all have the chance to interact with one another without us until lunch so they can formulate a plan for how they're going to act around us." She replied with a smile as they made their way into the school.

"You think they're going to need a plan?" Tom asked disbelief evident in his voice.

"It's bound to catch them off guard, don't you think?" she continued without waiting for an answer. "They'll probably do like we would do in the situation. They'll make a plan to feel like they have some feeling of control over what's happening."

Tom looked lost in thought for a moment.

"I guess so." He finally acknowledged.

They stopped walking when they came to the point in the hallway outside Jenny's classroom.

"Well I'll see you at lunch." Tom said, breaking the nervous tension that had suddenly sprung up between them.

"Yeah. And uh, Tom?" Jenny called out as he turned to leave.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." At his curious look she smiled and went on, "For trying to be normal with me. For handling this like you are. For everything."

Her face flushed crimson and she averted her eyes, unable to comprehend what an idiot she was being. She quickly turned and took a step towards the classroom door.

"Hey Jenny."

Tom's voice called her back and she pivoted to face him.

"Yeah?"

"Good luck." He gifted her with the first genuine smile she had seen from him in a while and she smiled back.

"You too."

Still smiling she entered the classroom with the gait of one whose destination was a firing squad instead of a rendezvous with three of their best friends. Squaring her shoulders Jenny cast a quick glance at the clock. Noting she had about a minute until the teacher would demand they take their seats for roll call Jenny decided to just come right out with her announcement. After all what she had to say was sort of like a bomb and that's what you did with bombs, you dropped them.

"Hey Dee, Zach, Summer."

The sound of Jenny's greeting caused the trio to turn and look at her. Eyeing them Jenny noticed that they looked a tad bit guilty. Probably were talking about Tom and me, she thought with an inward grimace.

"So uh, yeah. I have some news to tell you guys. Tom and I have broken up."

"What!"

Zach shot out of his seat to face Jenny, his mouth hung open in shock. His outburst was all the more unexpected because as a rule he chose never to speak in school unless spoken to. He appeared seemingly unaware of the interested stares he was receiving from his classmates.

"When did this happen?" Dee asked simultaneously along with Zach. She too rose from her seat to stand in front of Jenny.

"Are you okay?" Summer asked quietly, choosing to remain in her seat and thus avoid the now open speculation of their fellow classmates.

Jenny smiled down at Summer and chose to answer her first, taking her own seat as she did so.

"I'll be all right, thanks. It happened last night. And yes, I am serious."

The teacher chose that moment to try to regain some semblance of control and ordered everyone to take their seats.

"We'll talk about it later, okay?" Jenny whispered to her friends before turning her attention to the lesson.

Tom had been debating how to break the news all the way to his class. When he entered he nodded to those students who acknowledged him and made his way over to Audrey and Michael. The couple was deeply engaged in a conversation that Tom would almost guarantee was centered on him and Jenny.

"Hey guys." He addressed them as he slid into his seat.

Michael waved at him while Audrey peered intently at him in lieu of a greeting.

"So what's going on?"

Trust Audrey to cut right to the heart of the matter, Tom thought with a small grin.

"Well if you must know, I do have some news. Jenny and I have broken up."

"What!"

Whatever they thought he had been about to say must not have been close to the actual news Tom mused as he watched Michael react in a near-identical imitation of Zach.

"What happened?" Audrey wanted to know.

Just then their teacher asked for silence as he began to read the roll sheet.

"We'll talk later, okay?" Tom assured them as he twisted away and pretended to listen to the recitation of names.

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Disclaimer: For the thirtieth time I do not own the characters.

Author's Note: Here's the latest installment of the reviewer thank yous.

Shadow--Yes I agree. And I am moving quickly through the day to get Jenny home…or at least somewhere to take a nice long Julian-filled nap! So dry your tears and I promise to have some nice quality interaction between Julian and Jenny coming up!

pixxi--So you have a pack of Furbies at your beck and call, hmm? I admit to feeling a slight twinge of jealousy…I can't even get my dustbunnies to behave. Yes I really could see what you were talking about with those two songs, and I agree that the game's lyrics are a little hard to follow…so thanks for the link on that. Yeah, I also have to agree with you there about the whole Julian/OC thing…totally not my boat. I especially hate fics where Julian comes back and Tom beats him up or something else so OOC…I mean seriously. Ok…I'm off to work on the next chapter!

Cassi--Hey! Thanks for writing! I never doubted your existence! Yes, she did wake up too fast, I admit it. But I have to have her go to school so I can get her asleep again…although it just may be time for her to fall into that coma I had her wishing Tom into earlier. I love Grease 2 as well…I always get such a kick out of finding other ppl who have even *heard* of it, much less loved it too! As for ER fics…never have really read them although I do watch the show every now and then. And actually, I was just thinking that a couple I'd like to see together would be Drs. Chen and Kovach…so maybe I'll have to mosey on over to FF.net and see if anyone else feels that way.

Venus Smurf --Thanks so much! I'm glad I was able to surprise you with their portrayal while not upsetting you with it either! I think sometimes parents get a harder time in fics than they should…I mean it's a lot easier to write them as horrible, or even easier to never have them enter into the picture! Tom may be every *parent's* dream but we certainly know who Jenny dreams of!

Venus Smurf--Hello again! Tom's gone but not forgotten…although it's really hard to imagine how they're going to be friends and it's my own fault for trying to keep them all mature and able to be friends in the first place. As far as her mom goes I like to see parents helping their kids out. I debated about having Jenny fess up about the truth but then her mom would ship her off somewhere…although if she gets all drugged up then she's asleep a lot…okay, now I have to go remind myself why I chose not to do that! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Cat--So I hope that your coursework is going okay…midterms are a total drag. Thanks so much for your encouragement…it means so much! I am so in line to see PotC! It can't come soon enough…But thankfully I have the four disc collection of FOTR to keep me in Mr. Bloom-related viewing for a while!