"When Things Fall Apart"

Detention. Again, detention. Of course, Maurae had to put her original week's detention on hold for another week's detention because of the stupid prank revenge Charlie, Russ, and Fulton had pulled on the Varsity boys.

She limped back to her room from practice that afternoon, Orion's shouts and whistle blasts echoing in her ears. Collapsing face-first onto her bed, she didn't move, even when she heard voices from Carrie's side. She hadn't even bothered to check and see if the room was empty before she'd lurched in. Frankly, after day two at this hellhole they called School, she was so not in the mood to even care if Carrie had someone in the room.

She rolled over with a grunt when Carrie poked her hard in the ribs. "What?" she groaned, not even opening her eyes.

"Maurae, this is my friend Derek." Maurae moaned in irritation, but sat up and offered a smile. And found her smile genuine. Carrie's friend was quite attractive. He smiled back.

"Carrie's told me a lot about you," he said, offering his hand. Maurae shook it gingerly and glared at her roommate.

"Don't believe it all. I'm not crazy."

He laughed and reclaimed his hand. "Well, I couldn't help wanting to meet you. Since I caught up with her yesterday afternoon, it's been, "Maurae's the coolest." And "Maurae said such-and-thus this morning. Isn't that funny?" I've never seen her so enamored of anyone." Now both girls were flushed with embarrassment. "She did say you're on the hockey team. That alone intrigued me. Not many girls around here like sports, let alone like to play the most violent one there is in a high school system." Maurae laughed.

"I'm not most girls."

"I can see that," he replied. Something in his voice made Maurae flush again, which made Carrie grin.

"I thought you two might like each other. Derek's an artist."

"What media?" Maurae asked promptly, making Carrie shoot her an incredulous look. "What? My best friend back home is an artist. Pen and ink, mostly, with some watercolor and pencils." Derek looked slightly impressed.

"I'm pen and ink as well, and pencil. Paints don't like me. I end up with more paint on me than on canvas, so I steer clear. I also like to do some pottery."

"Cool," Maurae replied. "I love pottery, though I'm not good at it. At all. Somehow, I attract more clay and mud than the pottery wheel."

"I could help you out sometime, if you want," he offered. Carrie raised her eyebrows at Maurae, who ignored her and smiled slyly.

"That would be fun," she said. "I love playing around, but since nothing ever comes of it, I kind of just stopped."

"How about Monday afternoons?"

Maurae opened her mouth, but Carrie interrupted her. "She can't. She's got detention for the next two weeks and hockey practice every day."

"Thanks," Maurae said irritably. "Wednesday and Sunday are our days off, unless we have a Friday game. Then we get Saturdays off."

"Do you have practices on Saturday mornings or afternoons?" Derek persisted. Maurae hid a smile.

"So far, they're scheduled for mornings, nine to noon. After that, my time is my own, though I'm supposed to work on homework. But who ever does that?" She shrugged and laughed. "None of us ever do homework. I, myself, use the time to either read, or listen to music."

"She doesn't lie. That's all she does after practice. Doesn't even eat dinner," Carrie informed him. "Just plops down on the bed, pulls on her headphones, and pulls out a book."

"Not always," Maurae replied solemnly. "Sometimes I change and shower first."

"I forgot to tell you she has no modesty."

"And you do?"

"And how long have you two known each other?" Derek interrupted, teasing. Carrie and Maurae glanced at each other and laughed.

"Only a week. But it feels like longer." Maurae smiled, and they were interrupted by knocking. "Carrie, you're closest, you get it." Carrie made a face, but got up and opened the door. Adam's face peered around it. Finding her, he smiled sheepishly. "I thought you were banned from the JV hall forever," she commented, motioning him in. He entered and Carrie let the door shut behind him.

"I am. If anyone catches me here, I'm in trouble. So what? I had to see somebody, and you were first on the list."

"Sit. You know you're always welcome." He crossed and swung himself over the end of her bed. "Derek, this is Adam, my best friend. Not the artsy one, though; Ads is a hockey maniac too. Which reminds me... you guys are so dead in the JV-Varsity game."

"I beg to differ, but-"

"I hate to interrupt what I know is going to be a very intellectually stimulating conversation," Carrie interrupted loudly, grinning wickedly. "But don't either of you have homework?"

"Are you kidding?" they chorused. Maurae grinned.

"We have a week's worth of detention together. Besides, Adam and I have always done our homework together. It's a tradition. Of course, now the idiot's taking Spanish instead of French, so I either have to do that homework alone or with Luis." She gave a fake shudder and held out her hands palm-up, like a scale. "Alone...?" The left hand dipped. "With our resident male whore." The right hand. "Alone...with Luis..." The left hand took a dive. "I choose alone."

Adam shrugged. "Luis already speaks Spanish. You didn't expect him to take German or Latin, did you?"

"Latin, yes."

"French in the romance language, remember?"

"He's not a romantic," she retorted.

The argument would have continued, to Derek and Carrie's continued amusement, if someone else hadn't banged on the door. Adam dove for the bathroom and Maurae got up to answer the door. "Well, look who it is. King of the Varsity, come down to spend time among the little people," she drawled. Rick Riley was standing outside her door, backed by Scooter and Cole, as usual. She leaned on the door. "To what do we owe this great honor, your Highnesses?"

He smiled warmly, but Riley's brown eyes were cold. "Looking for our newest teammate. You haven't seen him today, have you?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I have." She stood her ground when the three boys attempted to push past her to search the room. "I saw him the last time I saw you," she lied with a calm, straight face. "I saw him in detention."

"I know he's in here. He can't stay away from you rejects."

"I'd watch who you're calling names on the JV hockey floor," Maurae replied. "The others have ears too, you know."

"I know he's in there with you." He shoved at the door instead of her, and Maurae took a step back. "Where is he?"

"Why don't you tell me so I can get back to the conversation I was having?" she said acidly. "I don't like you. Go away." She put one hand on his chest and pushed him backwards. Once he was far enough away from the door, she stepped back and closed it, muttering about the idiots who thought they ran the school.

"That was rude," Carrie commented.

"Everybody's rude, Carrie," Maurae explained patiently. "I just have to work at it. You can come out now. The baboons are gone."

"Baboons?" Derek asked, raising one eyebrow. Maurae smiled.

"I meant to say buffoons, but it came out baboons." She shrugged as Adam plopped himself down on her bed again. "I do that sometimes. I'm good at inventing names."

"I came by to ask you something, though," Adam interjected.

"Uh-oh. A serious question," Maurae teased.

"Nah, not really. Daniel wanted to know if you and Charlie would like to come over Friday for a movie. He's having Andrew and Rick over."

"I'm totally there."

"Fulton's invited too, but I think he and Shayne are going to hang out. I haven't asked them yet."

"They're in the study lounge right now. I'll go ask, if you'd like. I have to get my books anyway." Adam nodded.

"Thanks."

"Safer this way anyway," she teased. He grinned as she slipped out of the room. Walking down the hall, she smiled at how close she and Adam were. It was unspoken that they would cover for each other. It was also unspoken that no matter what team either of them ended up on, the other was always there to cheer without jealousy. She smiled. Adam was her rock...one of her rocks.

She pushed open the door to the study lounge and stopped short, mouth dropping open in surprise. Fulton was sitting on the couch, Shayne in his lap, and they were kissing. She gaped silently for a few moments, until Fulton pulled away from Shayne slowly and abruptly noticed her.

"Um, Ro! Hi! What's up? This isn't what it looks like...I mean...aw, shit. Um..." Maurae cut him off with a laugh.

"Poor Fulton! She's my cousin, not my child, so don't worry about it. Besides, she's her own person. And I know she likes you. That much is obvious. Besides, how could it be anything but what it looks like? You were kissing. Oh...Adam and Daniel are having a movie event on Friday at their house. You're invited. Small gathering, don't invite anyone else. Oh, and I left my books here." She picked up the offending objects and ran out of the room, almost giddy with what she'd just seen.

"You'll never guess what I just saw!" she said as she ran back into the room. Dropping her books on her bed, she leaned over and whispered it into Adam's ear, causing his blue eyes to go wide.

"No!" he exclaimed, then started to grin wolfishly. "Oh that's too funny!"

"I think it's kind of cute. They're good together. At least they have stuff in common."

"Not much, but sure they do," Adam replied vaguely, still grinning.

"Don't tease him. You know he'll rip your arm out."

"Right." Carrie shot Maurae a look, which the other girl pointedly ignored. "So, are you hungry?"

"No, not really."

"You have to eat dinner, Maurae," Adam and Carrie said simultaneously. Maurae made a face at them both, which made Derek laugh.

"I have to do no such thing. I'm not hungry. Besides, if you get caught eating with me, you'll get in trouble." Adam threw up his arms in mock-disgust.

"Fine, grumpy. Check the hallway for me." Maurae obeyed. As Adam passed her, he kissed her cheek. "See you tomorrow in detention."

"Before, we have classes together, remember?"

"How could I forget? The only Varsity-free moments of my life. When I am free to be myself." He attempted a contemplative look, but Maurae nudged him out.

"Get you gone, me love," she said. "I'll see you in the morning."

"As always. Night."

"Night." She closed the door behind him and sighed. Carrie giggled, making her turn around. "What?"

"He loves you."

"Well, duh. He's my best friend."

Now Derek laughed too. "I think Carrie means that your friend Adam is in love with you." Maurae's mouth opened and closed once, and she sighed.

"I wish I could disagree with you and sound convincing, but I can't." She sighed again.

"Well?" Carrie prompted.

"Don't 'well' me, Carrie. I don't think I love him like that. I'm only fourteen, for goodness sake!"

"So?"

"I don't love Adam like that. He's my best friend. And he'll stay my best friend. That's all!" And with that decision, she pulled her nightshirt and sleep pants out of the closet and went into the bathroom for a shower, shutting the door firmly behind her.