(BTW:After they discover Rose working out) Continuing...

Trixie paced outside of the lodge in a heavy fog of ambivalence at the moment,on the one hand she had kept her promise to Teige about only dropping hints that maybe Rose was in actuality Thorn but now things were getting serious.The truth was right out there in front of Jake and he just couldn't seem to grasp it,his stubborn ego and feelings for a girl he might not truely know were blinding him.Upon further thought Trixie,herself,probabley knew more about the real Rose either way.Matter-of-factly,Jake only saw what he wanted to and although he'd paid attention to both girls,he needed to face up to what was the truth.

"What's up?"A familiar voice intruded on her perpending and a decorous Teige appeared from a few feet away with his hands shoved deep in the confines of his pockets as ifhad already knew what she was positively at that time yearning to do."Listen,"he told her cognizantly,coming up to place a hand on her shoulder and look her in the eyes."You've kept up you're end of the bargain so far..."his face flushed in subvertness."...You can tell him."

The African American Teen could only stare in perplexion at him,as he turned from her and started to make his way back into the lodge the opposite way."Hold fast,T!"she said quickly,cutting him off as he continued to move hurriedly and then stopped to listen to her,his face seemed compressed in blank fixture as she went on challengingly."I know it ain't just goin down like that.I mean...there's gotta be some kinda catch...well,isn't there?"

He gave her a hard look and replied insipidly before passing her."No,Trixie.It's yours."

She watched after him,not being able to stop him yet wanting desperately to.Even though he had kept some things from her and even though he was a bit arrogant...he made her feel different.Something special Trixie had never before known that well nor experienced.Being able to witness it was one thing but this was something she couldn't ignore.For first time in a long time,she had 'acutually' allowed herself to feel something more then just friendship with another guy.It didn't make sense but then again were crushes suppose to?No.It was more then a simple crush...these things she felt wasn't just puppy love,it was starting to feel real.

"Teige,"She heard her voice cry out hoarsely,her emotions now lodged in her throat viscidly as he paused and moved his green-eyed gaze just enough to catch her out of the corner of his eye."I...I just want to know."her words were faltering but she finally managed to swallow her pride and continue on in a strained but honest tone."Even though I was angry at you before...you-you still sacrificed an important part of you're mission for not only me but the American Dragon as well,"she composed herself some more and continued stronger,"I know you could get busted seriously but...I just wanted to-to thank you.Thank you for all that you've done so far.I know I wasn't real nice to you before either but I am really sorry."

For the first time,he faced her with a propitious smile."Who are you and what did you do to that diva girl I was falling for?"he teased her goodnaturedly,obviously trying to diminish some of the tension between them and he seemed pleased when she gave a laugh."Hey,you're only looking out for you're friends.You have a good heart..."his sentence was abruptly terminated,as she rushed up and threw herself into his arms.They stayed in a serene embrace for what seemed like an eterntity,both summoning the courage to pull way.Teige was first and he stared down into her darkhazel eyes one more time earnestly."Whatever happens...it isn't you're fault.You were only trying to help and that Jake dude needs to see that."

The idea crossed Trixie's mind then that he might try to kiss her like the night before but somehow,she didn't feel it was necessary.Why rush or force things when they were already coming naturally?Teige was a great guy,Trixie realized then.And there would never be another boy like him...but that didn't mean he had to be her only option.Where and when she decided to go for the whole dating game routine.As the two's locked vision lingered on,a sort of agreement was made,this time without words.An agreement that although they liked each other alot,things just weren't looking up for anything more advance at that moment.Finally though,with his eyes still intact with hers,he started to back away and smile.She smiled back,taking a few steps away in the opposite direction herself to go back into the lodge and meet up with Jake and Spud.Finally,they both managed to spin on their heels in unison and head back inside.But before Trixie reached the side of the building,she thought she could feel his eyes sweep her retreating back anda voice form in faint,whispered words,

"I love you."

On to the lodge...

Meeting up with Jake and Spud in the main lobby,the three of them started to go back upstairs to gather the evidence but the sight of Rose and one of her friends was quick to reach their attention.Jake adopted a look of resolution and it made Trixie all the more nervous inside.He was about to attempt it again and she was going to have to drop the bombshell.Yet,she felt that relaying 'how' she knew might make him angry at her for withholding itfor so long from him and she was dealing with enough conflicting emotions as it were.She was about to open her mouth but Jake obliviously spoke first,

"This is it,"he said with a sense of finality to his words,as he also eyed a readying Brad over at a table just about five or six feet from Rose."If I don't make my move tonight,Brad's gonna make his move and that'll be it.The girl I care about will be with that jerk of a jock."

A sort of anger stole over her as his ignorance."Jakey,seeing as you're blind as a bat."her chocolate eyes cast over to an innocent-appearing Rose sipping cocoa."Haven't you noticed anything strange about the way Rose has been actin 'round here lately?"

Jake gave her a look that inadvertantly tohim showed his refusal."No."

"Denial,party of one.You're table's ready."Spud interjected knowingly.

"Peep game,Jake."She continued on just as determinedly."The messing ski pass,the ninja body slam and the pro-wrestle biceps."her hearted thudded with the force of her exhorting tirade but she proclaimed without fear."I'm sorry,Jakey.But Rose is totally Huntsgirl and I'm not about to let you go and tell you're arch enemy that you're a Dragon."

Jake's eyes turned from Rose and narrowed onto her,a thought starting to arouse in his mind."Hey...you're pretty sure about this,aren't you?Well,maybe that's because you're hiding something.Y'know,I checked every girls room this weekened except yours...HUNTSGIRL!"

But Trixie kept her cool front up when she could tell he was just trying to pull away from her rationing and go over to Rose."OK,now you're just buggin' boyfriend."she told him,unphased by his accusing outburst."If I were her,I'd of shut you down by now.There aint no way you're goin' there..."she let her sentence trail when she saw his expression hadn't dissolved and she once again striked back veraciously."Who're you gonna trust Jake?It's either her...or us?"

He dropped his scowl but still strolled over to her."Um,yeah.Can we talk about this later?"

His abnegation caused an impulse for her to grab his arm."No we cannot talk about this la..."she gasped in surprise,when he glared back momentarily venemous at her and morphed into his Dragon arm to cause her to let go.Stunned,she abruptly complied in a tight,high-pitched voice."Alright..okay.But don't come cryin' to Mama Trixie when that she-witch cooks you up with her Hunts-stick-thinga-meh-bobby."

She watched him completely ignore her and go on in pursuit Rose,who she knew was up to no good.Trixie had been closed mouth and even though she still blamed Jake,himself,for his selfish denial over One-hundred percent logic,in a way she felt responsible too.Out of sympathey,she had let the Huntsgirl go and now she was resenting it.Look where it had gotten her,involved in something that may have never been hers to get involved with in the first place.But as the door shut behind him and Spud turned a worried expression on to her,she knew they couldn't just sit back and let the two unknowingly hurt themselves.

Upon returning to the lodge...

The three had had a bittersweet victory and were quiet all the way back.As soon as they reentered the now deserted lobby,Jake,who had been utterly silent all the way back,turned to give them both a half-smile as a small way to say thanks and without a word,started his lonely descent up the staircase.Trixie and Spud looked after his retreating form,until he had disappeared into the shadowy halls.Figuring there was not much point in catching up to him to try and cheer him up,she inhaled deeply and exhaled sharply,starting to leave as well.

"Hold fast,Trix."She heard Spud tell her all of a sudden,reaching to grasp her arm and turn her to face his questioning brown eyes."I think you knew even when we were trying to find out who the Huntsgirl was."his correct statement made her freeze in her tracks and he nodded with a smirk when he saw he was right but he went on sympathically."It must have been hard holding all that in...Heck,I don't even think 'I' could.But...you did the right thing."

For the first time ever,she couldn't think of anything to say.Her mind drew a complete blank as to how to respond to this and the only thing she could do was stare at him.Finally,he shrugged it off,told her that he would keep it between them and headed up stairs.Leaving Trixie in a heap load of thoughts.She half-expected Teige to make an uninvited appearance as he always did but he was no where to be found.So with nothing left to do,she followed.

The next day (not much longer)...

Trixie sat right behind Jake as she always had,the snow-capped Mountains and prickling winter air weren't going to last much longer.Soon Winter would turn to Spring,then onto Summer and eventually Autumn.But no matter what went on in her life,there would never be another weekend like the one she had.Not only for Jake but for her as well.Her eyes darted to watch people filling in one-at-a-timeon the bus,she hadn't known if Rose was in bed that night but she had slept under her covers with a wooden bat pressed to her chest.

"Oooh,"she shot up to prop herself on the front/backseat and pointed out toa slightly more talkative but still bummed-out Jake,advising him promptly."Here comes trouble."

Rose approached his seat,greeting him cheerfully."Hey,Jake."but she was sharp to take in notice of his unfriendly appraisal of her and instantly knowing why,added with a hint of apology."Um,sorry we didn't get a chance to hang out this weekend.Is this seat taken?"

Jake paused for the longest second and Trixie almost felt like pausing time so he wouldn't have to utter the words he was detesting to utter."Sorry,"he finally told her quietly."It is."

That's when Trixie fell back againist her seat and waited for a few seconds with her eyes sealed shut.She simply refused to see the girl's reaction at her best friend's rejection,she didn't want to be caught up in the tide of confusion and wistfulness.But finally,with her mind and soul relaxed,she willed herself to peer up and at Rose whohad tooken a seat by her brunette friend Courtney in the front.She was about to fall back again,knowing it was bad to stare,when Rose shot her a look.Her eyes were glistening,hurt and angered...at first Trixie thought Rose knew everything but on closer inspection,she saw that the girl was even more perplexed and that she probably had yet to come to the conclusion Jake was the American Dragon.But Trixie saw a bit more too,a bit more that frightened her.She saw in that one glare that Rose knew she was associated with the American Dragon and believed it firmly.So this is what it was,she was beginning to piece it together.However,before Rose could revert her gaze back around,Trixie gave her an equally penetrating look that sent a thousands chillsand shivers up her spine for being soseemingly fearlessand mouthed the words quickly.

"I'll never tell..."

And so it was,Rose knew Trixie knew the American Dragon but she didn't know if Trixie knew she was Huntsgirl,Jake had had to find out the hard way about Rose,Spud had mastered the Ski lift (sort of) and she could return to New York with a new,clean slate.Only,she tried to catch a glimpse of Teige as the Bus started to pull away,thinking he might come outside to wave or something.But she didn't see him and somehow longed to see him...just one last time.Just to tell him she loved him too,not that'd she ever tell anyone else.Maybe someday...Little did Trixie Carson know,things were not yet over for her.

To Be Continued...

LP