Hiya peoples! I'm back from vacation! And I've been working on this chapter just for you. Enjoy!

Bad Dream

Todd was walking home devastated at what he had just seen. He contemplated the day's events in his head. It was late morning and Pietro had been listening to show tunes from the moment he awoke. It might not have annoyed Lance so much if he hadn't been playing it so loudly and singing, scratch that, screaming the lyrics. Eventually Lance cracked and took the tape from Pietro smashing it onto the floor. The two yelled a while before Pietro left in a huff. While all this was happening Todd and Fred were in the living room watching TV, thinking it best not to get involved. After a couple of hours Pietro had still not returned. Lance, still angry was starting to get a little worried, though he didn't show it. Finally Lance ordered Todd to go out and look for him. Of course Todd protested; he was not Pietro's babysitter. He and Lance argued and in the end they agreed that he would go if Lance did the grocery shopping.

Todd took his time wandering around town checking Pietro's favorite hideouts. When he still could not locate him Todd asked around the small local pubs.Todd had not excpected to find Pietro had been kicked out of most of them for over indulgence or fighting. When Todd was just about to give up, one of the bartenders told him he had seen him leave with a girl not too long ago. Todd thanked the man and hurried to find him; and he did. He was walking by the alley when he heard a noise. It took him a second to realize that what he was hearing was the sound of two people kissing. He looked into the alley way and what he saw made his heart stop. It took his brain a few moments to process what he was seeing. His lips caressing her skin, his arms wrapped around her, his hands tangled in her hair. It was more than Todd could bear. His momenary shock wore off to be replaced with anger, jealousy, and anguish. He felt his chest tighten, his eyes burning, he could hear ringing in his ears.

He tore his eyes away from the revolting sight and hurried away. He couldn't believe what he saw, his beloved Serena in the arms of his best friend Pietro. He didn't just feel angry. He felt hurt, betrayed, and confused. Todd tried telling himself that maybe what he saw was just a horrible dream. Or maybe it hadn't been Serena at all. Maybe it was just a girl who looked like her. Todd had almost managed to convince himself when something caught his eye. He saw Pietro and Serena sitting under a tree kissing. Todd rubbed his eyes and looked again. They were still there. Todd shook his head, still unwilling to believe it. He turned around only to see them walking close together while holding hands.

"No..." Todd looked away and saw in a cafe window Pietro and Serena sitting across from each other sharing a soda. Todd was starting to panick. "This is just a dream," he told himself. "It has to be." But even as he said this he could still see them together. He tried desperately to get away, but everywhere he turned he saw them. He just just wanted the images to go away. He closed his eyes and leaned against a lamp post. "It's not real. It's not real," Todd muttered to himself.

"What's the matter Toad? Upset that your girlfriend found someone better?" Todd opened his eyes to see Pietro smirking at him. "Did you honestly think you meant anything to her?"

"You bastard!" Todd lunged at Pietro but he merely sped out of the way and Todd landed hard onto the pavement.

"She doesn't love you," Pietro told him. "She never did."

"No... you're wrong." Todd had pushed himself up halfway off the ground.

"Admit it Toad, she's way out of your league. You knew that from the beginning."

"But..." Todd began but Pietro cut him off.

"And let's face it. Who could ever love you?"

"Shut-up." Todd growled.

"She deserves a prince," Pietro sneered. "You're just a toad."

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Todd looked up to see that Pietro had disappeared. Todd sat there for a moment breathing heavily. Pietro's words repeated themselves over and over in his mind. He almost wanted to cry. He didn't though. Slowly all of his feelings consumed into his rage until he was no longer hurt, sad, or confused; just angry. His breathing became shallow, his blood pulsed, his muscles tightened. Slowly he pushed himself up off the ground and headed home, walking at first, then jogging, and finally bursting into full-fleged hopping with one thought burning in his mind. Hurt Pietro.

Sorry for the short chapter, but don't worry. It's gonna get better... or worse. Which ever way you look at it.