A/N: Ok so how was the last chapter? Now you sort of now who James is since he appeared a bit more in the last chapter. Ok now onto 3!

Chapter 3: My Heart In Two

Marshall, Lucas, and Josie sat outside in the early evening. It was finally Saturday, which meant no classes. Marshall had been working all day to avoid Corrine. Of course, he knew he couldn't avoid this forever but he just didn't want to confront it head on. The three were playing a game of hearts but the usual group was lacking in two members: Corrine and Vaughn.

Lucas gave a frustrated sigh as he, once again, lost another game of hearts.

"Good thing there wasn't a bet riding on that one," said Josie with a smirk. Lucas just glared at her and Marshall gave a small chuckle.

"So I'm glad Corrine finally found someone. James seems like a nice guy and he really is sweet and cares about Corrine. At least according to her," said Josie as she shuffled the deck.

Lucas raised an eyebrow as he gave her a questioning glance.

"Are you sure it isn't some short term relationship that will end up done and over with by next week? I mean she just met the guy like two days ago. Doesn't sound like Corrine to have her head off in Lala Land and falling head over heels for him," said Lucas.

Josie just rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Lucas, you just had to go into a longwinded argument about this. It doesn't matter, it's Corrine's personal life."

Marshall remained quiet throughout their little conversation. Lucas gave Josie another glare as she dealt the cards out. Different thoughts reeled about in Marshall's mind as he absentmindedly picked up his cards.

So are they dating now? She hardly knows the guy! So she practically dumps me and goes off to make out with some pretty boy jock who shows up out of nowhere? This does not sound like Corrine.

He knew he was making a lot of rash accusations about Corrine but right now his temper was about to flare. Josie tilted her head as she gave Marshall a questioning look. Lucas nudged Marshall.

"Hey Marshall, it's your turn. Hellooo?" Lucas said as he waved his hand in front of Marshall's face. Marshall quickly shook his head to clear his mind before looking at Josie and Lucas, blinking a few times.

"Oh, what…? Sorry. Guess I just dazed off…"

Lucas raised an eyebrow at Marshall before continuing on with the game. Vaughn hovered in the shadows of the open doorway watching the trio. For the star quarterback, his courage was pretty much lacking at the moment. And all because of a pretty girl and his competition for her attention and heart.

"Come on, Vaughn. It's just Josie, Marshall, and Lucas," he said to himself. He sucked it up and walked over, sitting next to Josie and across from Lucas. Josie gave a surprised smile.

"Hey, Vaughn. Where were you?" asked Josie.

"Oh, just about," replied Vaughn. He nodded and gave a small smile towards Marshall. His eyes slightly narrowed, as did Lucas' when they met.

"Randall."

"Pearson."

Josie closed her eyes in frustration and reopened them.

"Can you guys just try and act like friends? Because if not, I'm leaving."

Lucas crossed his arms across his chest and scowled.

"He started it," mumbled Lucas. Underneath his breath he added.

"He shouldn't have tried to sway you from your true feelings."

Unfortunately, Vaughn heard him and stood up glaring down at Lucas.

"You say something, Randall?"

Josie couldn't handle it. She got up and stormed off towards the dorms. Both Lucas and Vaughn called after her.

"Wait, Josie!"

Josie just brushed off their plea with a flick of her hand as she stormed into the school building. Lucas glared at Vaughn.

"You idiot! Look what you did!"

"Me? I didn't do anything! It was you!"

The two walked off after Josie arguing angrily. Marshall just shook his head, a smile playing upon his lips. It seemed the Josie love triangle was still going strong.

"What's so funny?"

This snapped him out of his reverie. He looked up and saw Corrine sitting opposite him.

"Oh nothing. Just Lucas and Vaughn having another go at it again. So I suppose you found some time off from your boyfriend?" in a stiff tone. Corrine shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she tried to say something. She looked up and was greeted by a cold gaze from Marshall. Hurt flickered in her eyes for but a moment before it disappeared and was replaced by coldness to match Marshall's.

"Marshall, please don't do this! You don't understand! Please don't be mad!" pleaded Corrine.

Marshall got up abruptly and glared down at Corrine.

"Mad? Who said I was mad?" retorted Marshall, sarcasm dripping off every word. He stalked off towards his room. He heard Corrine call out from behind.

"Marshall!"

Marshall ignored her and instead stalked off to his room.

Marshall stormed up to his room still fuming.

So this is how it feels to have your heart torn in two.

He opened the door t his room and slammed it shut behind him. He felt relieved that Lucas wasn't anywhere in the room. He walked over to his keyboard set up in his corner of the room. He brushed his fingers against it but instantly recoiled as they neared a Magnet 360 sticker.

He remembered the day of auditions for the band and the whole crazy elements mishap. He remembered how Corrine had been so supportive and had even helped with a new "look." He sat down behind the keyboard and turned it on. He gave an irritated sigh as he shut his eyes tightly hoping for everything to go black, but instead there was a vivid mental picture of Corrine.

"Why is she doing this to me?" he whispered angrily to no one in particular. His fingers made their ways to the keys and began playing a beautiful melody. He was playing 'Reflections' and unbeknownst to him someone stood outside the door.

Corrine had her ear near the door of Marshall's room. She heard the oh-so-familiar song and realized that Marshall must have written it because no else could have possibly known about it. She hurriedly walked away towards her own room. Once inside she closed the door and started pacing.

"So, I guess both Marshall and his mirror opposite wrote that song…"

As she trailed off she remembered Marshall's, or to be more correct, his mirror opposite's kiss. Did her Marshall really like her as much as she perceived his opposite to? Or was he just being overbearing and somewhat jealous?

"If they're opposites, does that mean that they have the exact same thoughts and feelings?"

Corrine shook her head as she sat down on her bed. For someone with a supposed 172 IQ, she didn't feel very brilliant at the moment.

"Oh I don't know," she said with bitterness in her voice. She buried her head in her pillow trying to make the guilt go away.

­­­­

Marshall abruptly stopped as someone knocked on the door. He had been so engrossed in relieving all his stress and emotions in his music.

"Come in," he said.

The door opened and in stepped Lucas. He dropped his books on his bed before turning to face Marshall. He casually crossed his arms across his chest as he nodded slightly.

"Sounded good, Marshall. Did you know you had a flock of Blake Holsey students with their ears pressed up against the door?"

Marshall gave a small smile and chuckle.

"Really? That many?"

Lucas smirked.

"Of course. Whenever the great Marshall Wheeler performs and shares his musical talents with the world, the world always stops to listen."

Marshall gave a genuine laugh. Marshall suddenly went quiet and Lucas must have noticed.

"What's up, Marshall? You've been really quiet these past few days."

When Marshall didn't respond Lucas gave a sigh and looked at him.

"Would this by any chance have anything to do with James…and Corrine?"

Marshall slowly looked up, slightly embarrassed. Was he this easy to read? Marshall ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated.

"I-I don't' know, Lucas. I mean, is it that obvious?" Lucas pulled up the computer chair and sat down resting his elbows on his knees.

"Well, do you want me to be frank about it or beat around the bush?"

Marshall shrugged knowing either way he'd get hit with the blunt truth.

"Well it is slightly obvious when either you or Corrine storm off in a mad rage."

Marshall smirked at this.

"Just like you, Vaughn, and Josie, huh?"

Lucas just glared at him.

"Back to what I was saying. If you two don't make up and apologize soon, there won't be any of your friendship left to salvage. Look, I know you really like Corrine, and even though she's seeing James, I think she still likes you too."

Marshall rolled his eyes and glared at Lucas angrily.

"So she is going out with Moore?"

Lucas stood up and clapped him on the back.

"Yeah, and if you don't hurry it up, it's most likely going to stay that way."

Lucas took out his homework, letting Marshall reflect on his advice.

So what do I do? I know Corrine won't accept my apology after the way I've been acting. And I think she's serious about James. God what do I do?

Marshall decided, after some intense internal debating, to go talk it out with Corrine. And make everything right. Marshall stood up and walked across to the door. As he turn the doorknob and opened the door, he heard Lucas.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

As Marshall stepped out the door and into the hall he called back,

"To sort some things out."

He closed the door and walked down the hall to the very end of the hall to Josie and Corrine's room. The door was cracked open a bit and he cautiously peered in. He looked around and saw that neither Josie nor Corrine were anywhere in sight. He was half expecting one of the two to jump out and yell surprise but that obviously was not going to happen.

Marshall quietly opened the door to allow himself in and looked around once more.

"Hello?" he asked hesitantly. He turned towards the bathroom door in their room. He could hear the shower running and someone singing. …Was it…was it Corrine? Marshall walked over and leaned with his back against the wall next to the door.

He wasn't quite sure if he was hearing correctly or not but soon his assumption was confirmed.

"She's singing 'Reflections'…"

His voice trailed off as he closed his eyes and listened.

"You're all about joy

But that's not who you are.

There's sadness in your heart

Hidden deep inside.

I gave you my song,

My laughter, my life.

But you dimmed my radiance.

Your tears turn day to night…"

The shower turned off as Corrine softly hummed the rest of the song, but it was still audible for Marshall. After a few minutes the door opened and Corrine stepped into her room. She gave a surprised yelp to see Marshall standing there, eyes closed. Marshall snapped back to reality and looked back and forth.

"What…? What's going on?"

"I should be asking you that, Marshall Wheeler."

Corrine stood in front of him, hands on hips with a look that said I'm-waiting-for-an-explanation-right-now. She was wrapped up in a light blue terry bathrobe.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Corrine. I didn't mean to surprise you. I-I just…Uh, Corrine. Just out of curiosity, where'd you learn that song from?"

Corrine blushed slightly before trying to fabricate a lie to cover up the mirror incident.

"I, uh heard you playing it in your room earlier today. You just kept playing it for almost two hours and so I guess I it just sort of stuck in my head…" she muttered without confidence. Marshall eyed her suspiciously.

"That still doesn't explain how you know the lyrics. I played the melody but I didn't sing."

Corrine threw her hands in the air knowing that she could no longer avoid it. She sat down on her bed fiddling with the tie around the waist of her bathrobe.

"…Why didn't you ever tell me that you could sing like that? I mean…that was amazing! I never would have known you have the voice of an angel," he said in amazement and sincerity. Corrine blushed once more.

"Well, do you still want to know how I know 'Reflections'?"

Marshall nodded as he sat down next to her. Corrine took a deep breath.

"Ok. Well, do you remember that day your band held an audition for a female singer? And how I wanted to try out but you said something along the lines of 'you can't be our singer while you hold the highest GPA in the school'?"

At this Marshall shamefully lowered his head as color slowly rose to his cheeks. Corrine continued on.

"Well, my self-esteem started to take a plummet and I just couldn't do it. So I went and practiced in front of this mirror to try and boost my confidence. But suddenly, somehow, I went through the mirror and landed in this other place. A completely different world. You, Josie, Vaughn, Lucas, Professor Z, Durst, and even Victor were there. But only…different."

Marshall shook his head in disbelief.

"Different? What do you mean different?" Marshall asked.

Corrine looked up at Marshall.

"Well…completely opposite of who you are here. Blake Holsey was some Fine Arts Academy and all of you were just…completely opposite. I mean Josie was girly and pink, Vaughn was a bookworm, and Lucas was cool although he seemed like he was high. Professor Z talked in riddles, which freaked me out a bit. And you…"

Corrine stopped wondering how to word this. Marshall watched Corrine, waiting for her to go on.

"And me what? What, Corrine?"

Her gaze concentrated on the hem of her bathrobe.

"You were like…I don't know. You were laid back and had an I-don't-care-about-anything kind of attitude. You were wearing this black sleeveless shirt and had gel and stuff in your hair. And I even think you had a bit of eyeliner or something like that on as well."

Marshall looked intrigued.

"So, what happened next?"

"Well I had to explain to them about the whole freaky mirror thing. Then you, Z, and everyone else helped me get in touch with my creative side so that Victor wouldn't kick me out. But then the mirror fell and smashed into so many pieces. I was crushed knowing that that was my only way home. But we managed to build another one and they helped me back here."

Marshall nodded his head slowly as he took in the events. He looked up and met Corrine's gaze.

"Wow," was all he could manage to say.

"That must have been one heck of an experience," he said.

Corrine nodded but soon began to fidget with the sleeve of her bathrobe again. Marshall watched her sensing there was more.

"Corrine, is there anything else that happened?"

She stopped as she took another deep breath.

"Ok, there was," she spoke quietly. "Remember how I told you about your mirror counterpart? Well, he seemed to take a strong liking to me after I arrived. And well, I guess I liked him too. But I guess that was because, technically, he is you."

At this Marshall gave a small smile.

"Well right before I left we…"

Marshall looked at her questioningly.

"You what?"

"…We kissed," she said slightly embarrassed. Marshall had a slightly surprised look on his face.

"You what…? We-we what? I mean, he what?"

At this Corrine fought to suppress a small laugh as she watched Marshall stutter.

"Is it that unbelievable?" Marshall shrugged.

"I don't know…maybe…not?"

"Whoever knew the great Marshall Wheeler was such a great kisser?" she teased. At this Marshall blushed slightly.

"Well, I guess that's all of my story. So what did you come here for? It wasn't just about the song was it?"

Marshall looked up and met her gaze.

"No, there's more. I just…I just wanted to say that I'm fine with you and James dating. Lucas talked some sense into me and made me realize that I can't go around mad at you forever. It's really…cool that you found someone perfect for you. And…as much as it pains me to say this, I know there's no hope for anything more than a friendship between us. That chance was a while ago and, well, I missed it."

Corrine smiled.

"Thanks, Marshall. That…means a lot to me."

Marshall gave a strained smile as he stood up.

"Thanks, Corrine," he said as he hugged her. Corrine felt warm and safe in his arms but it was over all too soon. Marshall walked out the door softly. Although Marshall had left feeling slightly better, Corrine couldn't help but feel worse as she watched him leave.

…there's no hope for anything more than a friendship between us…

She turned her gaze to the wall as a few unchecked tears slid down her cheek.

Marshall…if only you knew…

A/N: Oooo! A cliffhanger and maybe a bit of foreshadowing? Who knows! La! Anyways I made this chapter extra long just because I feel like I've been a bad author holding out on the few people who actually read my story. Please rate and review! It is MUCH appreciated! Next chapter coming soon!