Big thanks to all the reviewers, you guys are the only reason I'm continuing this story. And since I'm still experiencing my little writer's block, this chapter will probably be very short. Apologies.

When Doves Cry
Chapter Three

I stepped out of the lunch line and looked around the cafeteria. It was easy to spot Lash in the corner, by himself again. Today he didn't even have a lunch, he was just staring out the window. I sighed heavily, before I started towards his table. He didn't look away from the window until I sat down, and when he did, the expression on his face was one of surprise mixed with confusion. I tried to ignore and not stare at the bruise on his jaw.

"Hey." I said, my best attempt at sounding casual.

"Um...hi." he said, tone uncertain. "What are you doing?"

The air in which he was holding himself was one that made it seem like he didn't even remember the night before.

"Sitting with you." I said shortly.

He opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it, and looked down at the table. I just watched him for a moment, before I looked out the window to see what he'd been so intently staring at. There wasn't anything.

"What happened when you got home last night?" I asked, keeping my tone just loud enough that he heard it.

He glanced up, his hands fidgeting on the table top. "I don't want to talk about it." he said. "At least not here."

I nodded, and looked down at my tray of food. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him throwing a look around. Apparently, he didn't really like the idea of being seen with Will Stronghold. I didn't know if I should feel insulted or not.

"Nobody's watching." I said glancing up at him. "Nobody cares. You shouldn't either."

He rolled his eyes. "What are you talking about?" he asked, that defensive tone coming to his voice.

"Lash," I said. "Why are you so dead set against being friends with me?"

He opened his mouth to speak like earlier, but a different voice seemed to materialize out of nowhere.

"Will?"

I glanced over my shoulder, it was Layla with her lunch. Majenta and Ethan were already making their way towards us as well -- I'd assume Zach was somewhere behind them. I returned my gaze to Layla's confused face, and cleared my throat.

"Hey, Layla." I said.

"What are you doing over here?" she asked, throwing an almost nervous look at Lash.

"Just...sitting." I said, my words were coming out robotically; I hated when that happened.

Majenta and Ethan had reached us, and were both watching Lash with the same look on their faces as Layla. After attempting to say something, Layla set her tray down next to mine, and proceeded to sit down. Shit.

"Well, isn't this a change of scenery?" Majenta asked, that tone she often used when she was bored, as she sat down on the other side of me.

I glanced at Lash, and mentally cursed again as I saw the look on his face. He said nothing, and didn't catch my eye as he stood up quickly. He briskly started for the door, and I jumped up, leaving my things there, and following. Layla called my name, but I ignored her, and as I was heading for the door as well, I almost ran headlong into Zach.

"Hey Will." he said brightly.

"Hey." I said dismissively, passing him.

I could feel both his and Layla's eyes burning into my retreating back as I left the cafeteria, but I paid no mind, and continued following Lash. He disappeared around a corner, and I had a pretty nice idea of where he was headed, and I quickened my pace. Sure enough, I caught him just as he was slipping into the bathroom.

"Lash." I said, throwing the door open. "What's --?"

"Don't ask me what's wrong!" he exclaimed turning to me. "It's bad enough I have you feeling sorry for me, but your god damned friends? I don't need anybody's sympathy."

"I'm not trying to give you sympathy." I said, "I just --"

I quickly stopped myself before the inevitable slid out. He raised an eyebrow, and motioned with one of his hands for me to go on.

"I'm not trying to give you sympathy." I repeated. "Or charity. And I didn't even want my 'god damned' friends to sit with me today."

He rolled his eyes, throwing his arms out at his sides. The dull thud of them hitting his body echoed, and we both fell silent.

"Look, Stronghold." he said. "I don't know what's up with you lately, but I can take care of myself."

His stubborn attitude was really getting to me; was it my fault that I cared about someone I had a crush on?

"I didn't say you couldn't." I replied, trying to keep my anger at a controllable level.

"Well you sure are acting like it." he snapped grumpily.

My anger level had now reached maximum.

"God, Lash, you're such an idiot." I spat at him. "You really want to know what's up with me?"

"Yeah." he said, equally angry, and nearing me as though ready to pound me into the wall. "I do, god damnit."

"I like you, Lash!" I exclaimed, "I have the hugest crush on you, and I don't even know why. And I don't know about you, but it was pretty obvious -- don't see how you didn't know already."

His jaw dropped slightly, and he just stared at me for a few moments. His expression was hard to read, and I tried to regulate my breathing, but now my nerves had set in.

"You're serious?" he questioned. "You...like me?"

"Yeah." I said, with an almost defeated sigh as I dropped my arms. "I do, god damnit."

His eyes searched my face for a moment, and suddenly, he reached over with both hands, grabbing my face, and pulling me towards him. The next thing I knew, our lips were touching.

I never mentioned that I liked cliffhangers, did I?