Spoilers:  After cattle incident and snippets of future episodes

Disclaimer:  I own none of these characters.  They are the property of Nickelodeon.

Pairings: C/E, snippets of C/W

Chapter Sixteen

"Hey Caitlin," Will greeted Caitlin at her locker.  "I tried to call you last night.  Obviously Griffin forgot to tell you ."

Caitlin's hand stopped as she reached for her textbook.  She turned around and faced a smiling Will.  "Will," she panicked.  "Uh, yeah, sorry about that.  I kind of…well, was, uh, busy."

Quickly, she pulled her textbook off the top shelf of her locker and closed her locker door.

"Why are you acting so weird?" Will asked, furrowing his brow.

"I'm, uh…I'm not acting weird," Caitlin denied awkwardly.  "I'm just, um, happy that you're here."  Caitlin plastered a smile on her face, praying that it would be enough to get Will off her back.

"You suck at lying Caitlin.  Tell me what's going on?" he whispered intensely.

No such luck.

Caitlin rubbed the back of her neck.  She didn't know how to tell him.  Caitlin knew he was going to freak out.  As she opened her mouth, Caitlin heard the words being spoken, but it was like an out of body experience.  "Nothing.  Nothing at all."

She had lied. 

Will shook his head and walked away.  "When you're ready to tell me the truth, you know where you can find me."

Caitlin leaned back against her the aisle of lockers and hit her head on the locker door.  "What am I going to do?"

***

Eric was torn about going to school today.  He'd hopped the bus, opting out of a ride from Griffin this morning.

"Griffster, I'm running a little late, so I'll catch the bus," he lied.

"Okey dokey," Griffin agreed.

Eric had managed to avoid Caitlin all day.  He knew he was in for it the moment he awoke from the reverie of the kiss.  Eric knew he was out of line kissing her yesterday, but even though he knew it, Eric still didn't regret it.

~~~

"Eric!" Caitlin yelled from the top of the stairs outside of the school.

'Doh!  Almost made it!' Eric thought, as he stopped his escape to the bus.

He took a deep breath, ready to hear the riot act from Caitlin.  "Yeah?" he replied casually, stuffing his hands I the back pockets of his baggy jeans.

"We have to talk," Caitlin whispered conspiratorially.

Eric's eyebrows raised.  "About what?" he inquired innocently.

Caitlin rolled her eyes and shifted the weight of her backpack around, adjusting the strap.  "You know about what!" she growled.  "About yesterday…."  Her voice trailed off.

Eric shook his head, feigning amnesia. 

Always the way to go in these situations.

"Yeah, what about yesterday?"

Caitlin sighed exasperated.  "You know what about," she said through clenched teeth.  "The kiss?"

Eric knew what she'd said, but it was just above a whisper.  "What?" he replied like he was deaf in one ear.

"The kiss," she replied a little louder, looking around to see if anyone had heard.

Eric peered around, looking to see if anyone else had heard too.  The buses had been already loaded with the tired teens at the end of a day.  Eric realized that they were pretty much alone, standing in the middle of the sidewalk in front of the school.

"Oh," he said nonchalantly.  "Yeah, what about it?"

"Well," Caitlin paused.  She seemed to be short on words. 

"Well…" she repeated.  "Well, it shouldn't have happened."

Eric watched as Caitlin's eyes darted around, almost afraid to look into his.  "Look Caitlin," Eric sighed.  "I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have done it."

Caitlin rubbed her forehead and then ran her fingers through her shoulder length hair.  "Yeah," she agreed hastily.

"But I'm glad it happened," he continued to the dismay of Caitlin.

"What?" she cried.

"I'm glad it happened," Eric repeated himself.

He hadn't intended to say it, but Eric couldn't lie to Caitlin; he didn't want to.

Caitlin seemed panicked at the reply, like she was hoping she heard it wrong.  She waited until the buses pulled away before responding.  "How can you be glad that it happened?  For pete's sake, I have a boyfriend!  You and I talked about that even, yesterday?"

Eric nodded.  His stomach did somewhat of a flip-flop.  He knew that this was going to happen, but part of him hoped it wouldn't.  That she would wonder about the kiss.  Maybe even rethink the idea of dating Will.

No such luck.

"Yeah," he replied disheartened.  "Never mind then.  It was all a big mistake.  I shouldn't have kissed you and you and Will belong together.  I hope you'll be very happy."

Eric began to walk home.  He had a long way to go now that he'd missed the bus.  Griffin was still here, but after the conversation he'd just had with Caitlin, Eric didn't think he could stomach the ride home.

"Eric," she called.  "Wait.  Don't take it like that."

Eric shook his head, waved his hand dismissively and continued walking.  "Whatever," he mumbled to himself.

"Eric!" she cried.  "Come on!"

He heard the quickening footsteps behind him.  "I said wait!" Caitlin yelled huffing from the quick sprint she'd ran to his side.

"Wait for what?  Look, see!  I'm waiting," Eric spat, turning around and planting his feet.

"I…" Caitlin stuttered.  She was at a loss for words.

"I have to get home.  You made me miss the bus."

Eric turned and walked away. 

Chapter 16….how do you guys like it?  I know the show is ending now…but you can still enjoy Caitlin's Way in my Fanfic! Pls R&R!