"Adena?" Cameron knocked hesitantly on her door.

"Come in!" She called in a sing-song voice.

"Erm…hey," he said awkwardly, shuffling in.

"Hi!" She chirped, emerging from her closet and making her way towards him. Cameron took a step back, almost subconsciously.

"Uh, hey…look, I think we should maybe…talk…" he stuttered out.

"Sure," she sat on her bed, facing him, "what about?"

He sighed, "Look, Adena, I'm really sorry if I gave you the wrong idea. And, I mean, it's not that I didn't have fun with you at the dance, because I did, but…it's just…you're one of my best friends…"

Adena's face fell, "Oh…so, you're…what? I mean, are we…"

He sighed resignedly, "I'm really sorry, Adena. I just…don't really see you that way. I mean, we tried it and the date was great, but there's just no…"

"Chemistry," Adena finished for him sadly. He answered with a nod and a small shrug. "Okay," she nodded, staring at the ground, "well, um thanks for coming by and, ah, clearing things up. But I've got a lot of homework, so…"

"Adena, are you sure you're -,"

"Fine," she said quickly, standing up and making her way to her desk. "See you later, Cameron."

He nodded slowly, "Okay," and cast her one more glance before leaving the room.

"So, you two are gonna go into town?" Tanis asked, sorting through her friend's closet.

"Mmm hmm," Cody answered from her position on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

"And do what?"

"I dunno, whatever we want. Grab some lunch."

"Gee, that's helpful," Tanis rolled her eyes, still flipping through shirts.

"You know," Cody propped herself up on her elbows, "you don't have to pick an outfit for me. I'm sure I'll do fine on my own."

"Cody! Come on! This is your first date with Nate!" After a pause, she giggled, "Hey, rhymes…"

"Wasn't the dance our first date?"

"Well, okay, but this is the first date alone. Just you two. Not in a gym full of students," Tanis explained. She pulled a red tank top out and handed it to Cody, "Here. Try this." Cody sighed, but did as she was told and headed into the bathroom to change.

"So, how's Squib with all of this?" Tanis called, now moving to her dresser.

"Um, actually, pretty good, I think. At least, he hasn't said anything," Cody called back.

"Really? Wow, I expected, like, the whole works. Screaming, smashing things, death threats…Hey, do you wanna wear pants or a skirt?"

"Pants. It's getting cold out. And I know what you mean, but he seems…cool with it," Cody emerged from the bathroom, "How's this?"

"Oh, great!" Tanis said enthusiastically. She handed her friend a pair of jeans, "Okay, put these on. I'm gonna find you a jacket…" Cody rolled her eyes and returned to the bathroom. "So, how are you with all of this?"

"Me?" Cody asked. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

"Well, I mean, you and Squib dated for, like, six months. Not to mention, you liked him for a year before that. It doesn't bug you that he doesn't care?" Tanis asked.

"I don't think it's that he doesn't care," Cody re-emerged, "it's just that he's being…mature about it."

"Well, that's good. Maybe we can finally get through a card game peacefully. You know, those two grind their teeth a lot- it was kind of annoying me," Tanis handed Cody a jean jacket.

"Yeah," Cody chuckled, "I know." She slipped on the jacket, smoothing it out, and turned to her friend, "Good?"

"Perfect."

"So, you had the talk?"

"Yes," Cameron threw himself onto his bed.

"And?" Squib prodded.

"And what?"

"How'd it go?"

"It…went."

"Ouch."

"Well, I mean, she seemed really calm and stuff. But it was obvious she wasn't totally okay. I just hope she doesn't hate me…"

"Hey, this is Adena we're talking about," Squib reminded him, "She'll mope around for two days and by next Wednesday, she'll be chasing guys again. She'll be fine."

Cameron chuckled, sitting up, "Yeah, you're right. So, Cody and Nate?" Cameron watched his friend tense up.

"What about them?"

"Don't they have their big date today?"

"Yes."

"You okay, man?"

Squib sighed, "No, but…" he shrugged, "What am I supposed to do?"

"I still don't get why you hate Nate," Cameron paused and then laughed lightly, "Hey, rhymes…"

"He just doesn't seem like a good guy, okay? I mean, he was kicked out of all his old schools. And before you say anything," Squib cut Cameron off when he opened his mouth, "Yes, I know, I was expelled, too. But that's different. I mean, I snuck out and smuggled in chocolate bars."

"And what did Nate do?" Cameron asked.

"That's just the thing. I don't know! No one does! No one knows anything about that guy, except Cody, apparently. So…" Squib shrugged, "I guess I'm just gonna have to…trust her judgment."

"Wow, man, you're being very…mature," Cameron told him.

"I know," Squib responded, "It's kinda creeping me out…"

"So, let's hear it," Tanis said as she and Cody sat on her couch.

"What?" Cody asked, genuinely confused.

"You and Nate. Details."

Cody rolled her eyes, and then shrugged, "There's nothing to tell, really…"

"You mean, you two haven't kissed yet?"

"Nope."

"Huh…wow…"

"What do you mean, 'wow'?"

"Well," Tanis explained, "I just assumed you two had…what with all the time you guys spend locked up in that office."

"Yes, Tanis," Cody said sarcastically, "that's what we do in there. We lock ourselves in Bates' office and make out."

"Shut up," Tanis laughed and threw a pillow at her. Cody was about to respond when the doorbell rang.

"Oh, let me get it!" Tanis exclaimed, jumping off the couch. Before Cody could object, she had opened the door.

"Uh, hey…Tanis…" Nate said, confused.

"Hello, Nate," she said, letting him in. "Why don't you sit down for a moment?" She gestured to where Cody was seated on the sofa. Nate looked puzzled, but did as he was told.

"Um.," he leaned over to Cody, "What's she-,"

"Just let her get it out of her system," Cody told him.

"Now," Tanis stood before the two. "I want you," she nodded toward Cody, "to have your phone on at all times. I will be calling periodically to make sure you two are okay. As in, not doing anything that…would be frowned upon," Cody rolled her eyes, but nodded. "You," Tanis turned to Nate, who jumped in surprise at her sharp tone, "are to have her home to later than nine, you understand? And if you try something funny, I will hear about it. Got it?" Nate nodded quickly. "Good," Tanis smiled brightly at her friends, "Now, you two crazy kids have fun," she held the door open as Cody and Nate made a quick exit.

"Adena?" Tanis called, entering their room. She saw her friend sprawled out on her bed, "You okay?"

"Fine," Adena sighed, sitting up.

"Really? Because you look…not okay."

"It's over," Adena sighed, and promptly fell back onto the bed, "apparently we're just friends. I got the message wrong."

It took Tanis a moment to understand what she was talking about, "What do you…Oh. Cameron?"

Adena nodded and spoke softly, "Yeah…"

"I'm…sorry," Tanis said, genuinely sympathetic, as she sat beside her friend.

"Yeah, well…"Adena shrugged, apparently at a loss for words.

"You wanna go…I dunno…hit or something? Cards? A movie? Something to make you feel better?" Tanis offered.

Adena sat up after a moment, "Well…We still have A Walk to Remember out…"

Tanis rolled her eyes, "Just this once. And only because you're sad, got it?" Adena nodded, managing a smile.

Cody and Nate made their way up her porch, still talking quietly and chuckling, at 8:54. Tanis had, thankfully, not called once.

"So," Nate said, "moment of truth. You have fun?"

"Yes," Cody giggled back honestly, "did you?"

"Of course," Nate smirked playfully. The two began to lean in when…

"Hey, h- OH!" The two sprung apart at Adena's words. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"Adena? Why are you in my house?" Cody asked, blushing.

"Well, the boys were watching TV in the Open, and we wanted to watch a movie, so…" she trailed off, "And then I heard a noise on the porch, so I came to investigate! I didn't even think of it being you two! I am so sorry!" Adena was, if possible, blushing even harder than the two flustered teenagers in front of her.

"It's, uh, it's fine Adena," Cody chuckled, "I should get in anyways. It's," she checked her watch, "8:58. I've got two minutes until Tanis comes out here to kick his ass," she pointed to Nate. "So, um…" she stumbled awkwardly over her words, "goodnight, I guess…"

"Yeah, goodnight," Nate said. Cody quickly headed into the house, followed by Adena who had time to mouth one more 'sorry'.

"Hey Tanis," Cody dropped her purse on the hall table and turned to face the girl sitting on her couch, "Hey….Rick…" she said, surprised.

"Hey, Cody," he waved, not looking away from the screen. Cody shrugged and sat beside him on the couch.

"A Walk to Remember?" She asked.

"Adena's choice," Tanis told her.

"And you agreed to this?"

"I'll explain later."

"I'm so sorry," Adena said again, sitting beside her friend.

"Yeah, we heard you're little spectacle out on the porch," Rick chuckled, "Way to salt her game, Adena."

"Rick," Adena spoke suspiciously, "have you been into my OC DVD's again?"

Rick said nothing and reached for the popcorn.

This chapter had about ten different titles. Originally it was 'Lyla', because that came on the radio and suddenly I had the urge to write. Then it was 'Bigger Than my Body', then 'Shakin'', then 'Soul Meets Body', and pretty much every other song that came on the radio. But I put on my OC playlist and finally decided on Imogen Heap's 'Goodnight and Go' because at least it sorta kind fits the end. A bit.

I'm going through OC withdrawal. Know what'll make me feel better?

Reviews.