Lori Fitzgerald is perched on her bed Sunday night in her favorite pair of Kermit pajamas. She is studying for Finals at the end of the week, obviously trying very hard to remain calm and collected this year. She's a little behind due to the drama at the dance the previous night, but looks absolutely focused.

So focused in fact she doesn't glance up when her roommate Hannah Frost comes dancing into the room, humming to herself. She is still in her now wrinkled Formal dress and her up-do is lop-sided and askew, but none of this seems to bother her.

"I'd ask where you were all day today, but I have a feeling I know the answer," Lori says a little angry without looking up. Hannah immediately stops and folds her arms.

"Lori, can you drop the bile for one second?" She walks over and leans on her bedpost. "I want to tell you something really important."

She still is engrossed in her studies. "I'm not interested."

"Come on," Hannah whines, waving a hand in front of her face. "It's our last week together. Let's put at least one true roommate moment on the books."

Lori sighs after a moment and looks up. "Fine. What is it?"

She starts giggling. "Kenny and I went all the way!" Lori's look of indifference switches to one of absolute horror.

"It's been less than a month! You didn't!" she says, disbelieving- pleading for it to be a lie. Hannah climbs up on her bed, still glowing.

"I did," she tells her. "And… honestly, I'm not sure what to make of it. It was so overwhelming," she admits, the glow fading a bit as it all seems to finally be hitting her.

Lori just looks her before speaking, choosing her words very carefully. "Hannah, you can't take that back. There's nothing- I just hope you won't regret this."

Hannah leaps off the bed as Lori reaches for her, angry once again. "Why would I? I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him."

"But-"

She narrows her eyes. "I said a roommate moment. Not a roommate fight- we've had plenty of those."

Lori looks at her, obviously not wanting to ruin this. She turns back to her book, sighing in defeat. "Sure, whatever. We'll deal- I'm here for you. And now you should really get to studying. Finals start Wednesday, you know."

Hannah just shakes her head, starting for the door. "I'll be fine. I'm going to get something to eat- maybe drive to get pancakes. I'm famished. Do you want to come?"

Lori taps her book, obviously worried but holding it in to not upset her anymore. "Duty calls." Hannah nods and exits, allowing Lori to finally let out a long and loud sigh. She just looks around before a small smile appears as she stares at Hannah's laptop on her desk and something comes to her. She runs over to it and starts looking through the software on her bookcase.

XXX

So follow me down

(Lori stands with the book)
Where to?
Outta this town

(Charlie examines his map)
With you
Girl, you're movin way

(Hannah is typing away at her computer)
Too slow

So follow me down

(Michael grabs the first aid kit from a cabinet)
Which way?
Down, down, down

(Ben looks at his phone and sighs, adjusting his tie)
I'll show you around
Okay
There's a place we gotta go

(The Disney Encyclopedia begins to glow. Lori sighs)

Follow me, follow me

(Lori, Hannah, Ben, Michael, and Charlie are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces)
Fa la la la la

Follow me, follow me

Fa la la la la

(Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground)

Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

Episode Twenty/Season 2 Finale: Hellfire

XXX

The next afternoon, Lori is casually looking through some History books on the library shelves to help her with some studying. She examines a copy of Singapore Burning before placing it back, shaking her head. She then notices something on the higher levels and scales the new library ladder.

She doesn't notice Ben Prescott just watching her from a table nearby. A Business book is open under a lamp, but he just watches her as she almost falls off the ladder but quickly catches herself, smiling triumphantly. He sighs in admiration of her, making a decision as he rises and starts for her.

Suddenly, her backpack starts rumbling on the ground. She drops down and picks it up, looking every which way desperately for somewhere to run. But the place is crowded with nowhere to really go. As she starts to panic, Ben presses her up against the bookcase- backpack between them- shielding her and the glow that emits a moment later from the book. As it fades, they both stare at each other for a long moment.

"Thanks," she mutters, finally. She looks around, realizing how close they are. "Umm…"

He realizes it too. "Sorry." He pulls away and adjusts his tie absently. "It was the only thing I could think of."

"No. It's fine," she stutters, blushing and talking a little too fast. "Thank you. I should- I should call the others. We need to figure this out right away what with Rachel and Finals and I certainly don't want to leave a character on campus all summer."

"No," Ben agrees quickly, taking another step back. "Well, I'll look around the rest of the library and meet you back here."

She nods, pulling out her phone. "Sounds good." He walks away and she runs a hand through her hair. "Well, that was painful," she mutters to herself as she starts her text.

XXX

Hannah stands next to fellow Companion Michael Harms as he uses his key to unlock the gym. He holds the door open for her and the two enter, scanning with their flashlights in silence for a while.

He clears his throat, working up the nerve. "So how goes studying for Finals?" he asks, trying hard to seem casual and not upset about her ditching him.

She doesn't catch on and merely shrugs. "Alright. I'm not worried. I feel better than I have in a long while."

"Kenny's really doing wonders then," he tries supportively, but his bitterness comes through and she looks at him.

"I know Lori's been spouting off stuff, but he is a good guy who loves me," she defends. "And being loved makes me happier than I imagined."

"Then that's all I want for you," he admits. She smiles and turns back to keep scanning.

"I appreciate that." They head down the stairs and start looking around the basement. "Have you ever had a girlfriend?"

He scoffs. "I'm not very good with girls," he admits. Hannah gives him a disbelieving look. "I once asked a girl to a dance and she bailed last minute for the 'stomach flu' so I didn't go."

"She wasn't really sick?" Hannah guesses.

"Not according to Facebook. She went to the dance with another guy- the quarterback of course. Told me Monday she only said yes because she didn't want to hurt my feeling right then and there. After that I just buried myself in my books and never tried again."

"What was her name?"

Michael laughs to himself. "The best part and I swear it's true… I don't remember." Hannah laughs at this too. "I was hoping she'd be my first kiss and yet here I am infinitely glad to say I've never been kissed yet."

"Really?" He looks down, embarrassed. She pats him on the arm. "I wasn't either until this year with Tyler. And now with Kenny I've gone further than that."

"Hopefully not too far," Michael hopes. She stops and he turns back, taking in her expression. "It's been like a month," he defends. "You're not some kind of… you slept with him," he realizes suddenly, dropping his flashlight.

Hannah looks pissed as she glares at him. "Yes. I did. This weekend. So I guess I am some kind of slut, because that's what you were going to say right." He picks up his flashlight awkwardly. "I need you to be my friend, not judge my relationship. Because I love him and know it was right. So screw you!" He just looks at her for a long moment. "This is the part where you apologize, Michael Harms," she adds pointedly.

He shakes his head. "I'm sorry. But I'm sort of dealing with a shattered pedestal here. It's just the Hannah Frost I always pictured was never easy." The words are out a second before he realizes what he's said. She instantly slaps him, sending him reeling. She turns and he desperately runs in front of her. "I'm so-"

"I hate you." She storms off up the stairs and he runs after her.

"Hannah, I just-"he begs, but she keeps going.

"No. I'm never speaking to you again. Leave me alone!" She takes off across the parking lot and into the preserve. He hangs back, knowing he can't catch her. He hits the gym wall as he lets out a cry of frustration.

XXX

Ben enters the art building using his keys with Lori and his step-brother and her best friend Charlie Prescott following. The place is empty and eerily dark, even with their flashlights. "I'll take upstairs," he decides. Charlie grabs his arm.

"I don't know if we should split up," he worries.

Lori nods. "He has a point. This place is creepy at night."

Ben shrugs the hand off. "I'll be careful," he tells them, putting a hand to his heart. "I'll scream or make a racket. It's fine." He heads up the stairs two at a time and into a green room for the theater department. He starts walking through when he hears a noise and twirls around to see someone in the darkest corner of the room where the kitchenette is. He creeps closer, cautious, and sees they are praying.

"God have mercy on me," a deep voice chants. "I thank you for granting me this second chance. Your pardon gives me hope of being a better man and leader. Thank you. Amen."

Ben takes another step. "Hello?" he asks kindly. The man whirls around and Ben recognizes its Judge Frollo. He immediately starts to back up, knowing he's out of his league. "I'm sorry for bothering you. Please, carry on." Frollo rises and points a knife at him from the dishes next to the sink on the counter.

"If you so much as make a noise I will finish you where you stand," he growls. Ben nods and Frollo looks him up and down, taking him in. "From the looks of it, you are either a Gypsy or some sort of heathen." He grabs Ben's flashlight from his hand and examines it, knife still pointed. "Or perhaps involved in witchcraft judging by the fire you command. "

Ben works up his confidence. "Listen, Lori Fitzgerald is downstairs with the book," he threatens, growing calmer as fear can be clearly seen in Frollo's eyes. "I know that you know what that means. She'll send you back. If you want your second chance you can't hurt me."

Frollo regains his composure and moves the knife closer to Ben. "Are you sure about that? Perhaps I gut you and then run off to the local church for sanctuary."

Ben tries to keep the upper hand, wholly confident in the girl downstairs. "Like I said, she's downstairs. You won't get past her."

"Ah, your eyes betray you," Frollo notes. "You lust after this Lori."

"No. That's disgusting!" he argues. "I love her. She and I are going to end up together."

"Is there a difference?" Frollo asks sincerely.

Ben glares at him. "Of course there is!" They hear footsteps from where Ben came from.

"Ben! Ben!" Charlie's voice shouts.

Ben turns back. "You need to make up your mind soon," he says smugly, only to be taken off guard when Frollo puts the knife closer to his throat.

"I have been to Hell and back. And I have seen many men there with the look in their eyes that you have. I will leave you to take her and you will. The question remains if it will be out of this lust that will force the issue or perhaps this love you speak of." He pulls his knife away, dropping it to the carpeted floor and glaring intensely at a very disturbed and frightened Ben. "If there is any difference." Ben stands frozen as he takes off in the other direction, vanishing down a staircase as Lori and Charlie enter from the opposite way.

"Hey, everything okay?" she asks, seeing how white he is.

"We thought we heard voices." Charlie adds, worried as well.

He shakes his head clear and gives a smile. "I'm fine. It's fine. No one here. Anything downstairs?"

"We just found a blonde girl in sweats that broke in to work on her project," Charlie admits. "She was so engrossed I don't think she even noticed us."

Ben shrugs. "Then let's get going. Hopefully Michael and Hannah had better luck." They start down the stairs.

"Where's your flashlight?" Charlie asks, realizing what's out of place.

He takes a moment before recovering with another shrug. "Oh, I dropped it and broke it. I threw it out up there." They head out the door into the warm May air and he takes Lori's hand. She instantly pulls it away and he looks frustrated as she walks ahead with Charlie.

XXX

Tuesday morning the group all sits at breakfast, tensions obviously very high as everyone is stressed and not eating. Hannah is glaring at an uncomfortable Michael, Ben just keeps glancing at Lori, Lori has her mind in a million places at once, and Charlie is wondering why nobody's talking to one another.

Lori finally begins, having made a decision. "Alright, I know tonight's tricky." Everyone looks at her. "I've only got History tomorrow so I'm good. You can come or you can't. I understand and it's fine. We'll make it work."

"I'm busy," Hannah says instantly.

"With studying or getting down," Michael adds. Everyone freezes and he is sent back-pedaling yet again. "That just came out. I swear I didn't-"

Hannah doesn't even look at him. "Have a great day everyone." She leaves and he puts his head on the table, sighing loudly.

"What was that?" Lori questions.

He hits his head on the table before looking up. "That was my slight jealousy manifesting itself into a monster. Oh, that was really bad. I kind of hate myself," he groans.

"I kind of want to hit you and it wasn't even about me," Ben admits. Michael rises, obviously still kicking himself.

"I'm in. I'll see you there." He leaves muttering to himself.

Ben watches him go before turning to the two. "I'm out. Just… be careful." She nods and he hands her his keys. "Just in case." He exits as well.

"I just have History tomorrow too. I'll be there," Charlie informs her. She gives him a smile. "Who do you think it is?"

Lori shrugs. "I don't know. We searched everywhere. Keep an ear out for anything today. We need to find them and fix this before break." He nod and they rise, leaving as well with full trays. They don't notice Rachel Ellis the next table over, her back to them. She smiles.

XXX

That night, Lori unlocks the library with Michael and Charlie behind her. They all have their flashlights ready and she has the book tucked under her arm. "Like I said, I heard some talking about a weird guy people saw in here today," Charlie tells her as they enter.

"It's as good a clue as any. We spent two hours in the preserve." They enter the actual library and look at the rows upon rows of shelves. "Split up so we can cover more ground," she advises. "We need to get this done.

The trio split up into various aisles, Lori heading down one and peeking around the corner when she reaches the end. There is suddenly a loud thud behind her and she twirls wildly only to see book on the floor. She sighs in relief and stoops to pick it up, pausing when she sees it's Singapore Burning.

This puts off guard for long enough that suddenly someone starts choking her from behind with a flashlight. She sputters and starts kicking as she is hoisted to her feet, dropping both books. Her kicks knock more books off shelves, but she quickly loses breath and is overpowered. They shove her against a shelf and drop the flashlight, locking both hands behind her back.

"Let go of me!" she shouts, struggling again now that she has some breath in her. She starts to scream but a hand clamps over her mouth.

"I must say… "A voice coos, causing her to turn her head and see Frollo, "I find women's presentation in this world appalling." Her eyes widen in fear as a hand touches her leg below her shorts. She tries to shake free so he pushes her more forcefully into the shelf. "But also very appealing," he whispers in her ear. He pauses to sniff her hair and she is officially panicking, thrashing wildly.

"Why must God do this to me yet again?" he says almost to himself. "And especially you- the one who will be my downfall. You will perish, but first-"He forcefully turns her and before she can react kisses her. She hits him but it seems to be no use. He is however knocked off his feet when a heavy book hits him, sending them both to the floor. She instantly scrambles to her feet.

"Leave her alone, you perverted creep!" They both turn to see Rachel holding the book from off the floor. She looks at Frollo for a minute and realization dawns, her sudden confidence drying up. "Oh my God." She looks at the Disney Encyclopedia in her arms, putting it together. "Oh my God!"

Lori starts for her. "What- "Frollo desperately grabs Lori's arm, nearly pulling her down again. Rachel throws another book, hitting him in the face and giving him a bloody nose.

"I said leave her alone," she shouts, but with far less conviction. She stares at the book, looks at Lori, and then smiles. "She's not who you're looking for!"

"What do you mean?" he growls, rising as Lori tries to pull her arm free.

"Ra-"she begins but Rachel is quick to cut her off.

"I'm Lori Fitzgerald and you're an old hypocrite," Rachel asserts. "I've seen the movie. You're a villain and I'm going to magic you back… I think." Lori just stares at her wide-eyed as Frollo lets her arm go.

"You will do no such thing," they say in unison.

Rachel shrugs. "You're going to have to catch me then." She takes off at a run and he follows, throwing Lori against the shelf. She watches them head up the stairs as Charlie and Michael run to her from around the other side.

"We heard shouting," Charlie says concerned, helping her to her feet. "Are you okay?"

Lori waves a hand as his concern. "Fine." She hands him her key. "I need you to run back as fast as you can and get the sword. As fast as you can," she emphasizes. He nods, completely understanding, and takes off out of the library. She turns to Michael and heads for the stairs. "Come on."

"Wait a second, Lores," he halts, bending down to pick something up.

She turns, flustered. "Doctor, we don't have it. It's Frollo. Rachel-"

"Isn't this Ben's?" He shows her the flashlight. Lori looks at it a long moment, her face unreadable.

"He lied to me," she says finally. "Oh, I'm going to kill him."

"Now what was that about Frollo and Rachel?" Michael asks. Lori wastes no time in taking off.

"Follow me. They went this way!" They take off up the stairs and hear a shout from above them.

"That was from the roof?" Michael asks. Lori nods.

"I know the way." They head up another stairway in a back corner.

"I don't want even know what trouble you guys got into before I was here." She gives a laugh and they arrive at the roof only to halt. Frollo is dangling a struggling Rachel by her shirt over the edge of the building. The book is still in her hand as she struggles, though obviously terrified.

"Stop!" Lori shouts, gaining both of their attention. "Let her go! She's not the one you want!"

Frollo smirks and raises her higher. "You're not going to fool me again wench! I will deal with your sorcery once I'm done with her." He turns back to Rachel who manages a brave glare at him. "The fall should drop you straight into the fires of Hell where you belong."

Michael takes a tentative step forward, just as desperate as Lori. "Just… please… we can help you. We'll take you wherever you want to go," he promises, pleading. "Just don't drop her. You don't want another death on your immortal soul."

"You lie," Frollo sneers in contempt before starting to release her.

Lori tackles him to the ground. "No!" He lets Rachel go and Lori reaches for her, but he pulls her back by her hair. Rachel does however manage to grab the edge of the building and clings to it desperately as Lori and Frollo struggle. Michael runs over and manages to help pull her up, taking the book from her.

"Are you alright, Rach?" he asks, his attention already turning to where Lori is kicking Frollo.

"They're Disney characters!" is the only answer she can muster, still trying to grasp everything. Lori breaks free and runs to grab the book from Michael but is yanked back. Frollo towers over her as she struggles flat on her back.

"Lores!" Michael shouts as he rushes over with the book, only to be shoved aside by Frollo and nearly fall of the ledge himself.

Frollo regards her coldly. "So it is you."

"Get off her!" a voice shouts. He looks up and sees Charlie charging towards him with the sword. But as he goes to swing it at him it vanishes from his hands in a puff of smoke. They both freeze at the situation and this gives Lori the opportunity to break free and run for Michael. Frollo catches her again and holds her up in the air choking her with both hands. "Lori!" he shouts, rushing for his best friend. Rachel manages to grab him and hold him back.

"No! You'll knock them both off," she observes, pointing to how Frollo is on the very edge of the building.

Frollo watches as Lori begins to sputter. "Imagine how I will be celebrated. The villain who has slain our only obstacle."

She glares at him. "You know… "She sputters, desperately trying to breathe, "Every villain has fed me that line." It is then in a puff of smoke that the sword is suddenly in her hand beside her. She clenches it and smirks at Frollo. "And yet here I still am."

She runs the sword up through his stomach, causing him to release her. Lori catches her breath and pulls the sword out. Frollo just clenches his stomach in shock before falling off the roof and landing with a sickening thud on the pavement below. She backs up- absently examining the blood on her hoodie- as the others run up to her concerned.

"Are you okay?" Michael asks, gently taking the sword from her clenched hand.

"Yeah," she nods, a little out of it. "Can you open the book? I don't want to get blood on it again." He nods, not quite buying it, and opens to a glowing poem. "God have mercy on you Kyrie Eleison" They see him vanish below them in a burst of darkness, leaving the blood behind on the stones. She takes a deep breath before stepping back. "We'll have to make sure Hannah pulls this footage."

"Lori, we'll worry about that later," Charlie assures her. "Right now are you alright?" She looks at the sword before nodding, confident and at peace.

"I did the right thing," she assures them and herself.

Charlie looks at the sword too. "How come it vanished when-?"

She ruffles his hair. "I guess I have to be the one who actually uses it. I suppose it's a perk that comes with the job." She finally turns to Rachel, crossing her arms. "What were you thinking?!" she begins in her lecturing tone.

Rachel looks at her, dumbfounded. "Excuse me?! I saved you! In the shelves he was about to… I couldn't let that happen." She falters and takes a deep breath. "And despite being hung off a ledge, I'd do it again," she admits honestly.

"Thank you," Lori says sincerely. She nods. "But why were you here?"

"I was following you," she admits. "I brought a camera and everything." She pulls it from her bag.

"You could've had a lot of photos in the past fifteen minutes," Michael probes. She fiddles with it in her hands.

"At what cost though?" she asks, locking eyes with them before settling on Lori. "Unlike you, I think before I act. I weigh consequences. He could have mistaken any girl for you," she begins. Lori looks down. "He could've dropped anyone from up here. You've made it a bit without incident but how long do you think it's going to last? You need to be stopped."

"Taking a picture won't do that," Lori warns her.

"It will if you don't come to your senses." She starts away before turning back to the group. "Think about it. This can be really easy."

"Somehow I don't think easy is in my cards anymore," Lori admits, almost sad.

Michael can see this conversation has no end in sight. "That's enough. We're obviously at an impasse here." He puts his coat around Lori's shoulders. "Let's get you changed and to bed. We all have tests in the morning." They trio head out, passing Rachel.

Rachel remains on the rooftop, watching as the three of them emerge from the library and walk along the path into the darkness. She looks down at her camera before throwing it over the ledge to the ground as well, turning to leave herself.

XXX

The next morning, Lori opens her door to find Ben. She gives smile and steps out, closing the door behind her. He takes in the bruises that have now formed around her neck. "Hey," she says sadly.

He takes it in a few moments more before pulling her in for a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay," he mutters into her hair.

"Get off me," she rebukes, pushing him away. As he looks at her confused she drops his flashlight into his hands. "Frollo had this," she says in her iciest tone. He stares at it, uncomfortable. "I don't reckon he pulled it out of some trash can."

"I can explain."

She shakes her head, disappointed. "You lied to me. And that isn't a very charming quality." She reaches for the doorknob. He looks up at her, done with her attitude.

"Well, that's okay," he fires back. "Because we're going to end up together. I know it."

Her eyes narrow even further as she starts to turn the knob. "I wouldn't bet on it at this point in time," she hisses.

"Aurora told me so," he says smugly. This causes her to freeze. "In the future, Giselle gets me together with my true love. So you can do whatever you want, but you are going to be mine eventually."

He moves closer, backing her up against the door. He then roughly kisses her in a way eerily similar to Frollo last night. She tries to pull away, but he makes it deeper. She then physically tries to push him off as Michael and Charlie come up the hallway, both freezing.

"Ben?!" Charlie shouts as she finally succeeds and the two pull apart. "Ben's the guy you like," he realizes, clearly betrayed.

She turns to him, still a little afraid of what has just occurred. "Charlie, it isn't-"He runs off down the hallway and into the stairwell. "Now look what you've done! "She shouts at Ben, confused and angry.

Ben looks at her sheepishly, seeing that she's almost scared of him. "I know. I didn't-"She backs away as he takes a step closer.

Michael takes control and steps between the two of them. "I think it's best you leave. Prescott." Ben nods and heads down the hallway. Once he's gone, Lori starts to break down in sobs. Michael immediately pulls her in for the hug and she cries into him. "It's alright," he soothes. "We'll fix this."

"That wasn't love, Doctor," she cries.

He gives her a gentle squeeze. "I know. It'll be okay."

XXX

Charlie opens his door about an hour later to find Michael. It's clear he's been crying. "She sent you and I don't want to hear it," he says, starting to close the door.

Michael stops it. "She's on her desk staring off into space. Wherever she goes, you're the only one who can follow her." He still regards him coldly, causing Michael to sigh. "Charlie that obviously wasn't a mutual kiss and she's really upset and needs her best friend."

His resolve weakens a little, but his hurt starts to shine through more. "Why didn't she tell me?"

"That's for the two of you to discuss. I just know that every step she has been overly aware of your feelings and tried to do what was best for you. She wouldn't jeopardize what you two have and you know that. You are her best friend."

"Then why'd it have to be Ben? Of all the guys-"

Michael shakes his head. "You know you can't control stuff like that."

Something he said clicks in Charlie's head and he gets angry. "Ben forced himself on her? He forced himself on my best friend?!"

Michael nods. "Trust me. We're going to have a long talk."

Charlie steps out, shutting the door behind him. "I'll leave that to you then. I don't even want to see him right now- let alone deal with him," he says venomously.

"He's still you brother," Michael tries to remind him.

"Hence why I haven't hit him yet."

XXX

Only a few minutes later, Lori is sitting on top of her desk staring off into space. Charlie enters through the unlocked door and with a nod at a worried Hannah joins her. Hannah wordlessly exits as the two sit for a while.

"It's been a rough morning," Lori admits, wiping threatening tears from her eyes. He puts his head on her shoulder.

"I know. We've got two hours until the History final. Take your time."

"Charlie, I know he's your… I never meant to-"

"Let's just… not," Charlie seems to ask. "Maybe someday, but not today."

She nods. "Okay."

They sit for another long moment before he speaks up again. "Jeremy Stevens."

This catches her completely off guard. "Huh?"

"I don't know why but I'm pretty sure he's the one who sent you the book," he begins. "There are all these articles from local papers about him going on this dig- even an interview. But when Hannah and I found stuff on the dig- which took forever- his name is nowhere to be seen. And we couldn't quite find what they are looking for."

"So if he left me the book where did he go? Why didn't he stick around to let me punch him in the face?"

He pats her arm. "This is the sad part. Just… he got off a flight from here- I'm assuming after he dropped off the book- and was… killed in the airport."

She takes a moment to process this. "He's dead?"

He nods. "Something's going on that's much bigger than you and this book. The dig leader… she's been missing since July. They haven't found a trace of her."

Lori rises, her mind whirling. "Maybe Rachel's right. I can't keep endangering everyone and everything for a handful of life lessons. I just… I have some things to think about this summer. A lot of things."

He stands beside her. "Well, I'll be just a Skype away. And I'll keep seeing what I can find. But when that computer comes back up we need the "place he promised to meet you"."

Lori thinks on this for a minute. "I can't remember off the top of my head but I'll look around my old journals and such." They stand in comfortable silence before she gains her composure through a breath. "I'm going to miss you," she says, clearly meaning something else.

He hugs her, wordlessly accepting her silent apology. "Me too."

XXX

That Saturday morning, Lori and Hannah are finishing their packing, Finals over and done. There is a knock at the door and Hannah answers, obliviously letting Ben in with no clue to the past week's drama. She walks over to Lori, who is glaring at him.

"I'm going out with Kenny for a bit after I take care of burying this again." She grabs the cleaned once again sword from beside the desk and heads for the door, but pauses. "If you're gone by the time I get back…"

Lori walks up to her and extends her hand. "It's been fun."

Hannah shakes it. "Sure." She punches Ben in the arm as a good-bye and exits. Lori packs the book into her suitcase as Ben just watches her.

"I thought once I got here the right thing to say would just come to me. I'm thinking now it's not happening."

Lori doesn't look up, but her fury is palpable. "There's nothing you can say. You lied to me. You let him go. He almost killed Rachel!"

He takes her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "He almost killed you too. And I'm so sorry. He cornered me and just started saying all these things about lust and love. And I listened."

She pulls free, her tone showing no sign of letting up. "That would have been okay. I would have understood… or at least tried to. He's a villain. Of course he played some sort of mind game. What I cannot and will not accept is having a Companion who lies to me and puts everyone at risk. He could've grabbed Charlie just as easy as Rachel or Michael might have really been hurt helping me."

"Lori-"

"And that's what I'm really pissed about. But I am also hurt," she chokes, tears swimming in her eyes. She forces them back. "For me a guy has to be worth it. You have to be willing to go the distance- God I'm quoting the movies now. Anyway, I'm starting to re-evaluate if you are."

"I just got frustrated and I'm sorry. It was supposed to be sweepingly romantic, but I get it. It was lust instead of love. I will keep my distance and give you space," he promises.

She nods, accepting this. "Good. Then I don't want to talk to you all summer."

"That seems extreme," he falters. "There's no need to be secretive. Charlie knows now."

Lori crosses her arms. "You almost cost me my relationship with my best friend and forced yourself on me. You threatened me with some sort of destiny you got from a Disney princess. You can give me three months. Now… I think it's best you leave."

Ben realizes his defeat and puts his hands up. "Alright. I'm sorry, truly." He heads for the door.

"I don't care what Aurora said Giselle did," Lori calls after him. "The only one who controls who I end up with is me." He leaves looking down and she looks at the book. "You may have the rest of my life wrapped around your finger, but you don't get that part," she tells it, serious.

XXX

About an hour later, Lori stands at the curb outside her dorm when her dad pulls up. He climbs out and hugs her tight before putting the couple of boxes she has in the back.

"The rest is all squared away in storage," Lori informs him.

"You ready to head back across the border?" She sees Michael and Charlie emerge from the freshman dorm and suddenly looks sad.

"One minute." Her dad watches curiously as she runs to them and hugs each of them for a long moment. She nods at something Charlie says and hugs him again. Her dad climbs into the car and she climbs into the passenger's seat a moment later- giving him a weak smile.

"Friends of yours?"

"Yeah." Her phone vibrates and she sees it's Ben. She hits Ignore and turns back to her dad as he turns out of Trinity and onto the main road. "Really good friends actually who I'm actually going to miss."

"Well, it won't be that long," he soothes her. "You don't bond very easily. You guys must have been through a lot to warrant that good-bye."

She leans back in her seat. "You have no idea," she says with her characteristic smirk as they head onto the interstate. "No idea."

XXX

Well, Season 2 is a wrap everyone. And I wouldn't leave you hanging like this. So I will officially announce the renewal not just for Season 3 but for Season 4 as well, both being twenty episodes as this was. Each will focus on a semester of the next school year. Yes, we are at the very least going to go all the way through Lori's sophomore year and who knows after that. Now the trailer will be up May 26th and the first episode will debut June 2nd (enough time for me to finish class and Finals).Thank you all so much for your support.