A new school week started at Roseville High and David had managed to track down Paulo in the unlikeliest of places during break; the school Library. Paulo had been there for most of the period leading into lunch, so he entertained the notion of catching up as David sat next to him. They talked for a bit about TV shows, when it came to talking about girls, as it usually did (or at least, Paulo's endeavours), Paulo clamed shut. 'I really don't want to talk about that, man. It's over as far as anyone can tell.' He told him.

'Aw, come on, is there seriously no one else?' David asked, Paulo shook his head. Rachel really was his last and he didn't really attempt to pursue anyone else. Paulo felt hurt thinking about it. David thought about Paulo's reaction, then had a realisation. 'Whoa, she doesn't even ring anymore?'

I guess we're really going there. Paulo sighed to himself. 'No, she does. Sometimes when she's not too busy with University. But it turns into a drought. She isn't on the phone for long either. I can't blame her, university must be tough.'

At Rachel's graduation, she and Paulo would break up for good. Although, it wasn't a break-up per se; they were never really going out, but it was the closest thing to a relationship he had held since Jasmine, or Tess for that matter. Rachel was good to him and stuck by his side. There were some benefits on the side too, but they both started limiting that kind of interaction as the school year ended.

They both sat at the vacant lunch area. Rachel was still in her gown, clutching her diploma. His heart sank in his chest, it really hurt. He remembered when Tess graduated as well, that hurt too back then. He knew he'd need to let go, but it was harder every time. A niggling feeling in the back of his mind didn't want to say goodbye here either. He held back tears the best he could, but the smallest prod to his heart would release it all. They had embraced, Rachel was the first one to let go.

'Well. We all knew it would come to this eventually.' Rachel said solemnly. She struggled to hold back tears herself, she didn't want to leave but opportunity called elsewhere. Paulo wouldn't keep her from that. 'You know I'm going to miss you a lot.' She told him.

He met her concern sincerely with smile, 'Yeah, same here.' the dam was breaking. He tried to keep it up. He tried to feel happy for her in the same way that he felt for Tess, but instead he started to feel conflicted and worse. He felt warm hands on each of his cheeks and blushed as Rachel lent in and kissed him quickly. They both stared into each other for a moment before both instinctively met meeting half way and locked lips. It was when Paulo moved his hand up through the inside of the graduation robe to her chest when her hand caught his, and she pulled away.

'Easy.' She told him. 'This will only make the goodbye harder...' She waited a second, '…That, and I still have a party to go to this evening and I don't want things getting messy.' She winked. They both couldn't help but laugh. She let go of his hand and hugged him again, her head felling onto his chest-tuff. 'The worst part about saying goodbye is I won't be around to see you grow up.' She gave a bit of a laugh. 'To think, years ago I never thought I would find a way to sympathise with Tessa, but I'm going to miss you.'

He made his mind up in that instant. He no longer felt conflicted. He wanted to tell her something; it was important. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He had to get this off his chest. But then his thoughts went elsewhere and opposing feelings betrayed him. He held onto her, this was fine as it was, he thought.

He walked her to Jessica's car. They embraced a final time before Madison became sick of him. Rachel didn't stop waving until he was out of sight, the same was true for Paulo.

In that moment, Jessica, Matt, Madison, and Rachel all moved on. Paulo had cried himself to sleep that night.

Paulo caught himself staring into nothingness, before realising David had walked off in the meantime. He looked around from where he sat, he certainly couldn't see him; the idea was laughable, David had such a height advantage anyone could recognize. Maybe he went to go look for a comic to read? He wondered. David didn't necessarily like to study during lunch hours. It meant more chances for stop-overs with his best bud.

Paulo begrudgingly returned attention to his English study, he grumbled at it. He started to wonder if he would ever get around to finishing the book in time. He put it off for long enough, he didn't like reading, he'd take a movie up any time he could, books were just so slow. He realised David could have helped him if he thought to ask. Oh well, maybe next time when he comes back.

When he opened the first few pages there was a feeling he was not familiar with, it was a curious feeling. He wondered what it was, was it just excitement to get the book finished as fast as possible? That felt like the right answer. He flicked through the pages, he sped-read as fast as he could. He reached chapter 3 before his fingers threw him back to the start of the book, and he…. started reading it again, much slower than before. He couldn't believe it. If he couldn't get through three of the chapters in the one hour there was not going to be a chance he could get onto this other work. He was still so far behind.

He tried to speed-read again, but his eyes betrayed him, and he started reading the book in his head, slowly as if to savour—

'I'd have thought "Beowolf" would have been more up your alley.' Sue questioned from his right. She had snuck in and stolen the seat David had previously occupied while Paulo was distracted.

Paulo replied casually, 'It would've been if I was quick enough to pick it up. These were all that were left.' He turned to face her, 'What do you want?' It came out blunt, his eyes widened a bit when he said it, he opened his mouth to try and fix it but he was too late; Sue reacted quicker.

'Trying to figure out what's going on inside of your head!' She yelled back at him before remembering where she was. She drew a few "shoosh-es" from people around her, most notably the head Librarian. Sue covered her face in embarrassment before continuing again somewhere between whispering and yelling, 'You told me you weren't dating people. Did you lie to me the other day?!'

Paulo's mouth was agape, what was going on?

'I didn't lie! I'm not dating anyone!' He matched her output, but at a lower volume level. He looked out towards the librarian, he was sure she wouldn't— oh, yes, she heard him; their eyes met and her index finger moved up to her lips. He felt his cheeks flush this time, it was his turn to be embarrassed. He looked around, their confrontation was drawing stares. No. No! No! Who's spreading rumours?!

He flipped his exercise book to the last page and hastily scrawled out a message, before passing the book to her. Why do you care? . She scowled back at him and snatched the pencil out from his hand and started writing under his question. He peered over and watched, she wrote slowly, but her handwriting was…nice, it was quite nice to watch, he wondered how many hours it took for her to write the draft of the play she did those few years ago? Hours? How about Days? Weeks? He noticed he was getting too far into it. He drove his attention elsewhere, around the library. He eyed off people staring in their direction, he didn't need rumours, he had enough problems of his own. Sue was finished when he felt the eraser of the pencil almost enter his nose. He looked down to the book and read Sue's writing, he felt his lungs inflate and snorted at the result.

He read it again; 'David came by and asked Amaya if she wanted to "ride off into the sunset with you".'

Holy shit. That's the funniest thing I've ever seen! He felt his lungs swell back up. He wanted to laugh so badly. He looked across at Sue, her reaction screamed death. Oh god. He needed this. He could get any girl in the school if he really, really tried. David starting with Amaya and Sue? The bottom rung? This was something on a whole new level altogether!

Sue grumbled in disgust as Paulo's face contorted. She stood up and turned ready to leave before Paulo's hand grabbed hers. She turned to face him but found the book shoved back into her face. She read the new line as it appeared under hers.

'I wouldn't look too deeply into it. You know how he tries to cheer me up.'

Paulo sighed in relief as Sue lowered her shoulders, her expression softened with it. She was utterly unimpressed at the response and realisation she was being made fun of by none other than David, but that was better considering her making a scene by leaving in a huff. Juvenile, huh? Paulo imagined her thinking. David had such strange way of showing affection to friends when they were feeling down.

Sue felt like she should have known better. She sat back down and rest her head on her hand. Paulo half expected that she would have gotten up and left, her curiosity sated, the mystery of the universe was discovered; she'd been had. He didn't expect her to motion again for the pencil, he provided it. She wrote something new, again, slow.

'Were you free to study on the weekend?'

He gave it some thought, wrote, and returned the book.

'I'm on shift this weekend. Might have to give it a miss.'

Did he really have to lie?

'Another time then. Sorry for earlier.'

When Paulo's eyes went up to hers, she smiled to him for a brief second and handed back the pen. As she got up to leave, she felt Paulo's hand on her left arm again keeping her from leaving. He pushed the book back into her face, grinning as he did so.

'Make David Romeo in your next play.'

Sue rolled her eyes and pulled away. The moment had longed passed. He released his grip and watched her as she made her way to the front, but he swore as she made her way through she glared at each person who had stared in her direction until she was completely out of sight.

Finally, he thought to himself; Alone.

Paulo squared with David later that afternoon. Thankfully, David had stopped after asking a few people after Amaya and Sue. Two of which were people that he didn't even know, and he doubt they'd look for him in turn either. He chose not to let it worry him. David had to abandon the entire task altogether when he attempted to serenade Abbey, whom he didn't even recognize from behind. He ran as soon as he realised and feared for his life. Abbey never forgave Paulo, he was far too arrogant. Paulo chuckled thinking back to today from his bed.

His thoughts drifted to the novel he would manage to get to chapter three by the end of the day, he could possibly get into the middle of it by the evening. Then he could start the assignment early. He reached over from where he lay over into the bag and fished for the book. Once he thought he had it, he lifted it out, but realised he grabbed the exercise book from the Library by mistake. He was about to drop it when he thought about it for a moment, and bought it over to himself, he opened the last page again where he and Sue had put down their thoughts. He read over it several times.

It was mean, his conscience rang out to him as he thought back to what he called Sue and Amaya. He didn't really take fancy to Amaya or Sue, not that he would completely shut out a chance to date one of them himself. He just…handled them differently from everyone else. They were exceptions; one was a friend. The other… tried to act almost like she was his parent. He grew repulsed at the idea; Sue being his mother. Could you imagine? But he had given thought to both he and Sue being something, once. Though it wouldn't go too far from being just a thought, Sue had a lot of qualities that were appealing to him, but she just came across as a bit of a showboat.

Still, it was nice she had tried to set up another study session with him, even after what happened at her place. He felt a tinge of regret, if he wasn't too dead-set on the idea of studying on his own completely, he might even have taken up her offer. Maybe they would have warmed up to each other. It wasn't like Lucy didn't warm up to him at all back during high school after he was such a prat in middle school, and Rachel herself gave him some leniency when he did the wrong thing in front of her.

He sighed to himself and studied the page.

'This reads a lot like a chat window.'