Chapter 3: A New Semester

******Monday at Heart******

Daisy's first class was at 9am. She wasn't sure what she'd been thinking enrolling in a math class this early. Yawning, she walked out of the cafeteria sipping her coffee and headed to the math building. She thought about her date Saturday night with Leo. He was such a good guy. When Daisy had finally come clean with him about where her head and heart was at, he'd been really sweet. He hadn't tried to talk her into seeing him again. She sensed that he was tired of casually dating, so she didn't suggest they go out again. They had parted friends.

She got to her class a bit early and took a seat close to the door. Daisy didn't think statistics was going to be all that riveting, so she knew leaving as soon as the class was over would be a must. Since there was time to kill, she got out her cell phone. A voice interrupted her.

"Hi, Daisy."

Daisy looked up and saw Jazmin sit down in the seat next to her. "Hello," Daisy said warily.

"I guess we both had the bright idea to start the week with statistics," she said with a wry smile.

"Not sure what I was thinking," Daisy admitted. "It's not a good way to start the day."

"Well, I had an eight o'clock photography class, so it's not so bad for me. I try to stack the less fun classes in between ones I like," Jazmin said.

"Good idea," Daisy said. She wasn't sure what else to say to the girl who wasn't really her friend but not someone she could ignore. Finally, she said, "How are you doing?"

Jazmin smiled. "Much better. Thanks. I'm sleeping well, and I'm meeting with my therapist here on campus today. Three times a week should keep me sane," Jazmin said.

Daisy wasn't sure she was joking or not and looked uncomfortable. Jazmin laughed. "Relax. I was just teasing. My dad is really worried about me, so I scheduled sessions three days this week. I'm sure Dr. Addison will cut them back, but I wanted my parents to know I was serious about staying on top of things," Jazmin shared.

"Well, that's good," Daisy said. What else could she say? She didn't blame Jazmin for what she did, but she also knew her moment of weakness had hurt a lot of people, too. Daisy was an indirect casualty of her actions.

"So how about you? Settled into my old room?" Jazmin asked. She promised her brother that she'd make an effort with Daisy. Since they had a class together, Jazmin figured this was a good a time as any.

"Yep," Daisy said. "We're going to do some redecorating since you took your magic touch with you. Those are Mac's words."

Jazmin laughed. "I've seen Mac's websites. If she ever really focused on redecorating, I know she'd be good at it. So would Parker," she said.

"Maybe," Daisy said with a shrug. "But Mac thought of something else. She volunteered our house for her stepsister Madison to redecorate for her design class." She made a face.

"Madison Sinclair? Seriously? Madison isn't her stepsister. Just the sister of her sister," Jazmin said.

"Yeah, I know. But since the whole switched-at-birth thing is so weird, I found it simplifies things to just call her that. It'll also keep me from killing her," Daisy said. "Mac says I'm in charge."

Jazmin looked at her smug face and couldn't help but laugh. "I wish I could be there to see that show."

Daisy grinned. Their first real friendly conversation was interrupted when the professor came in and started class. Daisy wasn't sure why Jazmin was being so nice. Maybe she was so relieved that she wasn't dating Jason anymore that she was playing nice. Daisy frowned at the thought. Surely, Jazmin wasn't quite so calculating?

******Later******

Logan strolled into his Milton class and grinned to see a familiar face. "What's up?" he asked as he sat down next to Jason.

"Everything but my love life. What's up with you?" Jason asked.

"You don't seriously want me to rub in my happily-wedded bliss, do you?" Logan said with smug grin.

"No. Not all," Jason said, grimacing. Then he smiled. "But I'm glad things are going so well with you and Veronica."

"So I take it Daisy's still not ready to kiss and make up?" Logan asked.

"Well, she's ready to kiss but not make up," Jason said sourly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Logan inquired.

"She's allowed me to get close to her...you know...physically once or twice. Then she freezes me out," Jason said. "I haven't heard from her at all since your wedding." He looked glum at the thought.

"Daisy a complicated woman with a hot temper. Since I'm familiar with the type, take my advice. Don't repeat my mistakes!" Logan advised.

"What's that?"

"When Veronica and I broke up the last time freshmen year, I didn't handle it well. I spent most of my time moping, holed up in my room drinking. I blew off class and everyone. I was miserable, and she wasn't even there to see how miserable I was. I wasted a lot of time and energy. I didn't really fight for her. I basically let her go and wallowed," Logan said.

"So what should I do?"

"Stay busy. And make sure she can't forget about you. Make sure she still sees you. Out of sight is out of mind. At least when a girl can compartmentalize like my Ronnie," Logan said with a fond smile.

"I have a full load of classes and the paper. I was going to see if the coach would let me back on the basketball team, but maybe I should find something new," Jason said.

Logan shook his head. "You work harder than any rich kid I've ever met," he said in bemusement. "Don't you have, like, a business to run, too?"

Jason grinned. "Well, yeah. But Nico and Eli work more than I. Plus, we have Wallace working, too. I have a lot of energy, though," he said.

"You make me tired," Logan said, shaking his head. "You remind me too much of Veronica sometimes. She actually worked two jobs in high school while solving cases and was top of our class."

Jason laughed. Logan was a lucky man. He knew what he wanted, and he waited for Veronica. Now he had his happy ending. Jason hoped the same thing would happen with him.

*****Lunch*****

Dick met up with Mac in the cafeteria. "Hey, babe!" he said, sitting next to her. He gave her a quick kiss. "How was your class?"

Mac smiled. "Don't you mean classes? I have had two already!" she said.

"I can't believe you're taking eighteen credits this semester! That's insane! It's going to cut into my Mackie time!" Dick complained with a pout.

"My most time-consuming classes will be next year, so I will have a lighter load my last two semesters. That way I can focus on them," she said. "We'll find time to be together." She reached out and squeezed his hand. "My classes are good. How about yours?"

"It was okay. First days are so boring," Dick said with a shrug.

Mac nodded in agreement. "Very true," she said. She saw Daisy getting in line to pay for her lunch. She waved at her roommate. Daisy saw her and Dick and headed toward them.

"Hey, guys," she said when she sat down across from them.

"Hey," Dick said. "Have you convinced Mackie that she's nuts to invite Medusa into your guys' home?"

"Medusa?" Daisy asked in confused.

Mac smiled and shook her head. "We took a mythology class together last semester. He learned some things," she said dryly. "He's talking about Madison."

Daisy laughed. "Oh, right!" she said. "Mac said I get to be the boss, so I think it could be quite entertaining, don't you?" She gave him a mischievous smile.

Dick laughed at her in delight and rubbed his hands together. "This is going to be fun!" he exclaimed.

"I didn't suggest that so you guys could torture Madison and cause me more problems with my family," Mac said with a frown. "This was a friendly overture."

"Sure, Mac. Whatever you say," Dick said easily. He winked at Daisy. He took a bite of his burrito. After swallowing, he asked Daisy, "So what's the dealio with you and the Wonder Twin? I know Mackie caught you making out with him at his house in Chicago. And don't think I didn't notice you two disappearing at the bridal shower. And I know you brought Leo to the wedding, but your brother told me you were caught kissing Jason at midnight."

Daisy was unable to meet his gaze for a moment. Mac could sense her discomfort and elbowed him. "Dick, leave her alone. She's not ready to talk about Jason yet," Mac said.

Daisy looked up and gave a half smile. "No, it's okay," she said.

"Hey, guys. Care if I join you?" Duncan asked, sitting down next to Daisy.

"Of course not!" Mac said, smiling warmly at him. "How's Lily?"

"Great," Duncan said, smiling. "So what's up with you guys?"

"I was just asking Daisy Duke here what's the deal with her and the Italian Stallion," Dick said with a grin.

Daisy laughed. He came up with the most absurd nicknames. "Jason and I broke up. Obviously, there's still some residual feelings there. An attraction," she said.

"Don't lie! You love him!" Dick insisted. He made kissing noises.

"Dick!" Mac admonished.

Dick grinned. "Relax, babe. I'm just yanking her chain!" Dick said. "So are you and Leo a thing now then?"

Mac was curious about that herself. They hadn't had a chance to talk since her date Saturday night. "Leo's a good guy," she said.

"Yes, he is," Daisy agreed. "He's a real sweetheart. However, I'm thinking my New Year's resolution will be to not break anyone's heart. I told him where my head was at, and he understood. I think he's looking for a relationship."

"Poor guy. He keeps trying to date women out of his league. He dated Ronnie, you know. Back when she was in high school," Dick said with a grin.

"For like five minutes," Mac said dismissively. "Barely counts."

"He's got good taste," Daisy said loyally.

Dick looked at Duncan and asked, "What's new with you?"

"Busy already. I have my first game in another week, so we've got practice every day but Sunday," Duncan said.

"Remind us, so we can come watch," Mac said.

"So did you hear the good news?" Dick asked him.

"What's that?" Duncan asked.

"The Pisster is leaving town," Dick announced with a grin.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling him that?" Mac asked crossly.

"Sorry," he said, unapologetic. He turned back to Duncan. "He got some radio job in L.A. Wallace is NOT moving out, which totally rocks! I'm not real sure that Weevil and me would be okay if it was just the two of us!"

That comment made them all smile. Weevil and Dick were most definitely unlikely housemates.

"Is Parker okay with that?" Duncan couldn't help asking Mac.

Mac shrugged. "She seems okay. She says L.A. isn't that far away. They'll see each other every weekend."

Duncan kept his face expressionless and nodded. He tried not to focus too much on Parker and what didn't happen with her. Luckily, he had enough to keep him busy, so he wouldn't dwell on what he couldn't have.

"Good for them," he finally said.

Dick snickered and gave him a knowing look. "So maybe you and Daisy should hook up," Dick suggested with a wink.

"Excuse me?" Daisy asked icily.

"I'm just saying, you're in love with Jason. He's in love with Parker. You don't want Jason anymore, and he can't have Parker," Dick said, pointing between them. "The best way to get over someone is to get under someone new!"

"Dick!" Mac said, frowning. "That's not a healthy way to live your life. When you have real feelings for someone, it's not easy to turn them off and just hop into bed with someone else!"

"So they don't have to hop into bed. They can just hang out. If they don't want to sleep together, they can use each other as a shield," Dick said.

"Duncan is so not my type!" Daisy said with an eye roll.

Dick looked surprised. "He's not? Isn't he an over-achieving rich, heir to an extremely lucrative business, who had a sister he adored and whose father is not above using his henchman to do his dirty work?" Dick pointed. "He likes fancy restaurants. Doesn't Jason?"

Duncan laughed. "Yes, Jason and I have things in common. Jazmin remarked on it more than once, but I'm a single dad. That makes me much different. Everything I do has to be about her. Playing around with Daisy is no way for Lily's father to behave!" Duncan said, shaking his head.

Daisy gave him a look of approval. "That's the most attractive thing about you, you know. Your devotion to your daughter," Daisy said.

Dick wasn't about to give up his new scheme. "So you don't do anything for real. It doesn't matter. It's about letting them think you've moved on," he argued. Then he pointed to Duncan. "You get to make Parker jealous." He pointed to Daisy. "You get to finally convince Jason you're over him!"

Mac finally interrupted. "Okay, that's it! I think you've said enough, Dick," Mac said, getting up. "Why don't you walk me to my next class and leave them be!"

Dick immediately focused all his attention on his girlfriend. Daisy and Duncan watched them leave. They finished their lunch in companionable silence.

Outside the cafeteria, Dick threw his arm around Mac as they walked across the quad. "You really shouldn't push people like that, Dick. Jason really loves Daisy, and she loves him. She's just scared. Real love is scary and messy and sometimes painful," Mac said.

"I know, babe. I just think they can help each other. No one has to get hurt," Dick said.

"That's the thing, Dick. Someone always does," Mac said quietly. She gave him a hug goodbye before walking into her next class. She hoped that her friends could find the happiness that she found, but sometimes things didn't always work out the way you wanted.

*****The Next Day*****

Veronica was happy to discover that her afternoon criminal justice class contained both Weevil and Jason. She grinned at them and sat down in front of Weevil, who was sitting next to Jason.

"I can't believe you're in class with me, Weev. It's like a lifelong dream come true!" she teased, throwing her hands together.

"It's a good thing you're so cute 'cause you're not funny," Weevil said with a glare.

Jason laughed. "I don't know about that. I think she's pretty funny," he said.

"So exactly how many classes are you taking?" Veronica asked Weevil. She already knew the answer, but this was the first chance she'd gotten to tease him mercilessly.

"Three," he mumbled.

"I bet your grandmother is so proud her boy has turned into a bona fide college student!" Veronica said with a grin.

"I see getting married hasn't tamed that tongue of yours," Weevil said with a disgruntled look.

"My tongue has gotten lots of exercise lately, so I'm in rare form," she said with a cheeky grin.

Weevil looked uncomfortable. "Not cool, V! I don't need to know what you do with your tongue!"

Veronica laughed at him in delight. "This is going to be so much fun! I can't wait to tell Logan I have you in class with me! We can be study buddies!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Great. Just what I need. Another Type A over-achiever telling me what to do all the time," Weevil said sourly.

Jason grinned at Veronica. "Poor baby," Jason said. "Guess you'll just have to suck it up."

Weevil's torture was ended by the starting of class. After it was over, the three walked out together.

"So, are you and Jazmin all settled into your apartment?" Veronica asked Jason.

"Yes, for the most part," Jason said.

"Hey, when are you having me and my husband over for dinner?" Veronica asked. It gave her a small thrill to be able to refer to Logan as her husband. Who knew she'd be so into the whole marriage thing? Of course, she probably wouldn't if it wasn't for who she was marrying. A silly grin filled her face as she thought of him. Logan had been right. Being married did a make a difference. She felt different. Surprisingly, she liked how it felt. She liked knowing the tie between them was tangible to the world. Marriage made it real in an entirely different way.

"How about on Sunday?" Jason suggested. "Let me talk to Jazmin. Eli and I don't work, and I think she's free."

"I'm invited?" Weevil asked.

"Of course," Jason said. "We have to have you bring dessert, right?"

"How many times do I have to tell you that it's my grandmother? I don't bake!" Weevil said in annoyance.

Veronica and Jason both laughed. Veronica noticed Thea and Wallace sitting close together on a bench. She paused to watch them. Wallace had his arm around Thea as he listened to whatever she was saying. Thea was animated and smiling, using her hands as she talked. Wallace looked at her in a way Veronica had never seen him look at anyone. It struck her the way Wallace gazed at Thea.

"He really loves her," she said out loud.

Both boys looked at her in confusion. "Who are you talking about?" Weevil asked.

She pointed at the bench a few yards away. "Wallace and Thea. Look at them. Aren't they sweet?"

Jason smiled, glad that his old childhood rival had finally found a guy who really saw her. "Yes, they are. I don't think I've ever seen Thea look so attractive. It's like Wallace lights her up from within," he observed.

"That's how it should be," Veronica said, linking her arm through Weevil as they resumed their walk. "My brother has finally found his match. She's not at all who I would've picked for him—I'm not sure I knew someone like her existed—but she's so great. I didn't think he could be a better person than he already was. If he'd stuck with someone like Jackie, I'm not sure he would've been who he will be with Thea. Thea will make him be the best version of himself that he could be." She finally understood now that it wasn't about finding someone to love or someone to love you. It was about finding the right someone. Someone that would build you up and not tear you down. Someone that would challenge you and leave you better for knowing them. Logan did that for her as she did that for him. It made her incredibly happy to see Wallace with someone that did the same for him.

Jason watched them a moment before saying goodbye to his friends. He couldn't help but wonder if that was the problem with him and Daisy. Maybe they didn't do that for one another. He had felt so great when he was with her, but maybe that's not how it was for her. Maybe she didn't think Jason made her a better person. All he managed to do was hurt her. Regret filled Jason as he walked to his final class. He wasn't quite sure how he to unhurt someone. How could he be a better version of himself? How was he going to get her to forgive him? He really believed he could make her happy if she'd let him. Somehow, he didn't think she was going to easily let him back in.

******Chapter End******

I know this isn't the most exciting chapter, but I hope you enjoyed getting an update. I don't have nearly the amount of drama, angst, or tragedy for this installment. It's going to have some, but it's mostly going to be about them living their lives and staying connected. I hope you like it anyway!