As Monday rolled in the very same week Paulo had already decided on breaking his promise to Sue; he was going to drop the news on David. He was already aware it wasn't the nicest thing to do since only promised her yesterday he wouldn't try to be distracted by being in a new relationship. There wasn't a doubt in his mind he was going to hear about it from her, and not too long soon after either, he suspected. But come on; the only person who'd stuck by him for years next to her was more than deserving to know that he was seeing someone again. Paulo meant well doing this. It was being wrapped in good intentions; news travelled fast in Roseville High, and they were all at the same table during lunch anyway. They were all bound to figure it out at some stage, why should they keep it a secret? If he at least spoke to him about it now rather than allowing David to figuring it out later, the freak-out wouldn't be as bad.

That was the initial worry; the freak-out. Paulo never meant any offense or ill-will towards David at the best of times, but sometimes David was just a tad unpredictable when he chose to be surprised. God help them — if David said something out loud or completely misunderstand in the cafeteria — that would just complicate things. It only made sense for Paulo to let him know early and be done with it for good. The sooner, the better - then they can all concentrate on their studies and graduate the year.

It was going to be a cinch, and if he played his cards well, hopefully Sue would see the light in his actions.

He found David on the way to school, and they talked.

He should have seen this coming. He should've. Just like how the week had started with Sue at his place, really making him open his eyes; nothing was ever as simple as it first looked.

Paulo kept a brisk walking pace alongside David as they charged their way to school. He racked at his brains. He grew flustered. He couldn't understand. He never counted on this. . .Okay, he did, he told himself — there was just a slight possibility in his mind. . .Good probability in his mind that maybe, just maybe, there was a teensy little bit of a chance David wouldn't believe him.

Grief!David wouldn't believe him! At all! No matter how many times he explained! Every time he did, David just shook his head and laughed. As if. . .As if—

This wasn't anything like what he'd predicted. It was all turning out to be like a worst-case scenario — a nightmare. He couldn't understand why David was acting the way he was today. Was it the idea? Did it really seem so far-fetched? Could David not just somehow accept it for what it was? Questions continued to plague Paulo as they entered the school grounds. It couldn't stay like this for long. The whole encounter had begun reaching a critical point where Paulo began to consider himself desperate enough to drag David off from the front doors of the school towards the back to at least talk this over once more before going inside, or worse; threaten to beat the living daylights out of him if he dared keep this attitude up. Something he'd never do in regular circumstances, but David was being loud, and David was going to do something Paulo felt both of them were going to regret if he didn't do something about it first. Paulo did his best to try and explain the story to him for the third time — from the top.

And like before, just like how the last two times went, David shifted it in a way that the conversation was no longer in Paulo's hands. It shifted into some strange nonsensical story that Paulo could only balk and refuse at — Crazier than the first two attempts; a story where the differences between the two could be only resolved in one certain fashion. It wasn't a nice one; it was vulgar — rude. Also, wrong in many ways, never mind how wrong it was that David was saying this about a friend — his own friend too. His train of thought was somewhere Paulo couldn't begin to easily comprehend. There'd be nothing good coming from David being this way. He couldn't go into the school being like this. Paulo decided; that critical point he thought about was now.

Paulo tried to reach over for David's arm, but fumbled as David shot ahead suddenly. Paulo didn't see that coming and David didn't see him try. David bolted on, laughing as he reached for the front entrance, shouting out behind him to Paulo; 'And they have a thing they call that.' He yelled back, continuing his version of Paulo's story, 'It's called. . .' He skidded through the main entrance and took a large gulp of air. Paulo felt his escaping him at that same moment, his heart sunk further as David shouted through the entrance-way:

'"Hate-fucking"!'

The words bounced off the hallway walls and echoed down the main corridor. Paulo was sure if the walls could talk, he was sure it wasn't the first time they had heard something so vulgar. But the walls weren't the only audience here today, and without a moment's delay, everyone inside turned around for just that moment to see where the words had come from; all to David with his arms stretched above his head. He gleefully looked back to a rather disgusted Paulo by the entrance, who in turn let a hand reach up for his face and sighed into it. He'd been a fraction too slow. Had he been just a few seconds faster he could have hidden himself from view behind one of the doors to escape being an accessory to this mistake of a morning, but everyone did. From in-between his fingers he watched various shared emotions from people he knew and people he didn't; some giggling from the outburst, other's embarrassed, some rolling their eyes or whispering scandalous gossip to their friends. Paulo didn't imagine the day starting out like this. All he wanted to do was tell his friend he was dating again. He really didn't want to pick up this much attention looking the way he did today.

Paulo changed his priorities; he was going to kill David. He walked up to David, rose to his full height and grabbed onto him before carefully spitting out words beneath his rage, 'What. . .the fuck. . . is wrong with you?! You can't go screaming that shit out aloud!' Paulo shouted.

'What? It's what they call it.' David smiled. 'Besides, you're making a scene.' He said. A group of girls in the year beneath them walked past that moment, each giggling as they looked on.

Embarrassed, Paulo pushed back off him. 'Don't make it to something it's not! And don't go swearing down the hallways; I don't want to get in trouble!' He huffed. He pushed past David and headed towards the direction of his locker. The panic subsided once he noticed the lack of any teachers to investigate the noise. Some relief washed over him; they could've been in deep trouble had there been any, the sort he didn't need. His locker was next to David's, he would square with him again from there.

'Aww, someone's sure touchy today.' He heard David comment as he trailed behind him.

Paulo felt something inside of him ignite at the words, but he didn't bother turning around, choosing instead to let it slide and focusing instead on his growing headache, he let a hand reach up to it and muttered a swear to himself. Nothing had been going right that morning. Hell, make it the week so far. He felt he needed a vacation from David. Even better, maybe another vacation from all his friends. His health had been in jeopardy over the last few days; mentally; between where Sue kept her feelings bottled up inside until the last second (and he supposed himself to, to an extent), and physically; when she was thrown into him, earning him a few bruises in various places, and it showed. David himself was the cause of this headache this morning. A friend since elementary school, his longest friendship yet. Also, he was an enigma. Paulo had been sure he'd have figured out David's eccentricity since then, and yet; he still hadn't. Even today, David was constantly trying to find new ways to surprise him, and in a way much like now; also finding ways to completely disappoint him at the same time: Paulo didn't know which part infuriated him more; his friend's complete insistence that he was pulling his leg, or that David had no understanding of the concept of being discrete; howling in laughter at the story Paulo told him. Really, Paulo had started to harshly consider that calling him a friend was pushing it. His attitude was not helping at all.

Paulo sighed to himself; he realised he couldn't bring himself to think like that as much as he'd try. This would inevitably become one of the many items in the list of compromises he'd make, and that would be okay; the truth was he'd calmed down in the short time from the entrance to his locker. He wasn't as annoyed as he was with David yelling out his version of the story as they walked like moments ago, particularly when he considered that people had come to expect this from David by now. It was nothing new for David to be loud. And to Paulo's own benefit; David wasn't elaborating too heavily on the context during his shouting — they could have been discussing just about anything. But Paulo still struggled to understand why he continued to act so stubborn with the news. There might've been a chance he wouldn't listen, but did he have to be so crass about it? Did he have to act like some sort of child? He supposed he should have counted for this, it never felt like David ever mentally-aged past middle-school at the best of times — that made him easier to get along with, so maybe that's all it really was. Only then could you find the boldness to yell a swear through the main hallway as an unruly senior, something Paulo supposed he had the balls to do himself.

David was a real enigma of a friend, having carried his innocence all the way through from middle-school. Though, with the 'hate-fucking' comment, you had to wonder to what extent that was, and when did it stop? He couldn't help but wonder whether David would continue to keep growing up like that. David hadn't been in a relationship either. Boy, whoever that lucky (or poor) person was, was going to be in for such a surprise.

Despite all his quirks, David was good friend where it mattered. Their friendship was a solid one that withstood the test of time. But still. . .

Paulo opened the locker and quickly grabbed the books he'd need for today. He spoke again once he felt David's presence beside him; 'I'm serious, cut all that sex shit out. It's fucking wrong to begin with. All she did was spend the night over, and all we did was talk. We didn't do anything else.' He swung the locker door closed. 'We're giving dating a try and seeing how things go from there. Seriously, dude — I really thought you'd have wanted to know. What's so hard to believe?' He asked.

David shrugged, 'Whatever you say, Partner.' he said while working in the combination of his own lock, 'It's not like I'm not interested. But you know, I'm not buying that for one simple reason.' A final twist and the lock undid itself. He turned to Paulo. 'Have you ever seen the way she glares at you from the other side of the table at lunch? She'd been doing it for years. And even then, you've always bashed your heads together — you and Sue would never work out! She's always been into Mike and now she's into. . .Cletus? You probably knocked yourself out that night and had a dream; it'd match that bruise to go along with it.' He said, extending a finger and accidentally pressing it against the massive bruise on the side Paulo's face. It moved away just as fast as Paulo's hands went to the place he poked. 'Oops! Sorry! 'Didn't mean to. But. . .what I'm saying is I've seen you two together. You both barely tolerate each other — that ship is not sailing. I'd frankly abandon all hope! Just aim a canon at that boat and be done with it.' With his piece finished, he turned back towards his locker and swung it open, quickly extending a hand to catch the bulk of his personal effects before they threatened to fall out. The same hand was all that was needed to push them back inside.

'You mean 'lock horns'.' Paulo corrected. 'And what the hell do you even mean by that? You've said something similar before, what's with these 'ship' things?'

'Wasn't it obvious? Relationships, duh! It's all just like my favourite comics!' David said, gleefully. He searched for the books he'd need for today. He found them. 'I like to pair my favourite super heroes together and hope they sail off into the sunset together! I know a few communities online who are into it for everything; TV shows, games, comics. It's universally understood around the world online and off the relationships with abrasive partners almost never work out. I mean, at first, they're great but unless they have a great sex-life. . .well, you know what tends to happen.'

Paulo's eyebrows elevated.

'It's a thing. Look it up!' David said, shrugging.

'Like hell I will. Besides; that's not how real-life works. That's just. . .fiction.'

'Sure it does. Remember Mike and Lucy'?'

Paulo's jaw dropped. 'You're kidding. . .'

'Not at all!'

'No, I'm actually weirded out you think that's okay to compare?'

'What's wrong with that? They're not here.'

'It doesn't matter, it's the fact we knew them!'

'I'm just saying those two must have been doing something on the side.'

'No dude, no! That's taking it too far. You can't compare any of that shit to what you're talking about. That's—That's just being creepy.' He sighed at the frown David returned. This really was taking a turn for the worst. This whole exercise was proving utterly futile; David was just not going to believe him. He preferred to stay in his other little world. Paulo started to consider that maybe it was for the better that he was. 'Tell you what instead; maybe you were right about earlier.' Paulo said cupping a hand to his chin. 'Maybe I did just bump my head and think it all up. Ahh. . .Forget I said anything about it earlier — what a crazy, crazy dream, right?'

David nodded. 'That's the way! And I'd say from the sounds of it you need something different from the usual, yourself.' He closed the door of the locker and span around to face him. 'Well, you'd be in luck; I have good news. I actually have two people this time, the latter being something special if the first doesn't work out.'

Paulo groaned to himself once he realised where this was all going and fell back against his locker. His hand went to his face again, and to the headache; it was growing worse. Truth be told, he had felt a slight chance this was going to be bought up again as well, even despite his hopefulness that David had found a new hobby. He chose to passively listen while David talked about who he had spoken to over the week. Paulo's complete attention was elsewhere; to a part of him being frank with himself; it wasn't the freak-out he was concerned about.

It was that David was still searching for a new partner for him.

Much like how David had tried months ago when they spoke in the library, David had made the sole decision that the only way for him to bring Paulo's spirits up again was to find someone new for him to date. Nothing bought you to your toes like a drama filled relationship. It worked in the past, and it was going to happen despite Paulo's insistence he didn't need to complicate his life with another relationship at the time. That was what true friendship was all about, after all.

Unfortunately for David, being a senior and enrolled in several honour studies himself meant he couldn't dedicate as much time as he wanted to his project, and even after school, his mommy made him study immediately upon getting home until dinner, meaning the only time he could find time was in the mornings, or in-between his classes. A slow process. But he had ploughed on, and with some luck he had found some people. But to his own dismay, Paulo would be unable to meet them; he was much too busy himself pulling his grade out of the pit he dug for it. David was sad about going through so many people and ruining so many potential friendships, but he knew deep down his best bud was only really being a little more picker this time. He'd been with a few women already — it was only natural. He'd win Paulo over eventually!

These good intentions could not be felt by Paulo, who instead felt this thing teetered on the border of being an obsessive. He'd asked David to stop long ago. There wasn't a need; he wasn't looking for another relationship, at least – until Sue showed up. But David wasn't listening to him then, or even now. How many times did he need to repeat himself? What would it take for him to get the picture?

There had been some urgency in getting David to stop. It became especially problematic a couple of weeks back when David briefly ventured into searching for candidates from the freshman year. Paulo put a stop to that as soon as he heard wind of it, it was too bad (and too desperate) of a look for his image. The urgency came when Sue had found out this had been going on, and threatened to drop tutoring him if he didn't try to intervene. Having started dating her, Paulo felt renewed with the task of having David it all completely, lest he complicate everything further.

Paulo shook his head. 'This really is far enough — Quit it, I'm serious; give it a rest already. I wasn't interested before — I'm not interested now. Just cut it out.'

'At least meet this girl first before deciding that! She's a real fine bitch! I promise! She was a little unwelcoming at first, and I couldn't stick around for too long to learn much about her. . . but she was pretty enthusiastic about getting a boyfriend! C'mon! At least give it a try.' David begged.

Paulo rolled his eyes at the crass description. He had himself to blame for this, it didn't help trying to be the cool-guy years ago to make up for shortcomings, David had continued running with that alone. 'Great, she sounds like a solid match.' He wondered if David would've picked up on the sarcasm.

'I know right?!'

Paulo sighed to himself, 'Could you please just listen to me? I said, 'no more' and I mean it! Where did you tell her to meet me? I suggest you go there instead and explain to her it was a mistake.'

'I told her to meet us here, right about time for her to show up too.'

Paulo's eyes widened, 'You WHAT? Why here?!'

'Because I knew you were going to be here. Seriously, just stick around and at least meet her. Not gonna let my hard effort go to waste with you being too busy like last time!'

'I am busy, I can't afford to get into a complicated relationship! I've told you this — listen to me! I need to go! When she gets here, you tell her it was a misunderstanding!' He turned away.

'Where are you going?'

'The bathroom!' Paulo said, only to find himself unable to. Something had kept him planted to the floor. He found a hand firmly on his shoulder; David's, an empty bottle found itself over his other.

'Just use this — if you're quick enough I can make sure nobody notices.'

Paulo stared back in disbelief before taking the bottle and tossing it into the nearest rubbish bin.

David shrugged. 'Well, I tried. You're still not going anywhere, so if you wet yourself in anticipation, you can't say I didn't warm you!' He winked, and then with an unreasonable enthusiasm; 'David's cupid service is gonna rock, baby!'

Paulo span and bat his hand off of him, 'David, for fucks sakes! I've had enough! I am already dating someone — even if you can't bring yourself to come to terms with it. It's the truth! You need to cut this the fuck—' He stopped, interrupted by an 'ahem' that originated from behind David. He couldn't see who it was, David was much too tall himself to see anything past. David heard it too, his eyes lit up. Paulo felt his heartbeat as David twisted around to greet it. It lessened once David's shoulders fell, and David's enthusiasm fell with it.

'Oh, it's just you.'

Sue took that the wrong way immediately. 'Well, good morning to you too!' She shot back.

Paulo had to think for a moment. He scoffed to himself, could he have been—. He'd been had! He couldn't believe it. He bellowed out in laughter, 'You had me going for a second there, man! You've been talking about Sue all this time? I nearly almost believed—'

David turned briefly to Paulo, his expression serious; 'What? No! It's not Sue, she isn't—' He shut up. He had an idea. 'I mean, she's practice!' He returned to Sue. 'Can you help us practice?!'

Sue squinted at him, her intuition telling her she couldn't treat that request with anything other than suspicion, 'With what?'

'We're picking up women.' David explained, he signalled behind his shoulder to Paulo. 'I found Paulo a date, and he's rusty.'

Paulo felt himself going red in the face, 'I'm not—'

'I'm not helping you with that!' Sue said, cutting in above Paulo turning a shade of pink herself. She peered out from David's side to him, 'I thought you put an end to this?!'

Paulo held his arms out to his sides, 'I thought so too! I've only heard of this just now!'

David resorted to pleading, 'Come on! Do it for me! You don't have to do anything! Just let Paulo say some wordy things to you.'

Sue was beginning to lose her temper, 'I'm not going to be used like some object to demonstrate your nonsensical idiot-activities, David!'

'I'm not going to be treating you like an object, I already told you Paulo will be doing that!'

'How is that any better?!'

'At least let him give it a go! It's for the greater good, Sue! I promise! There is a higher purpose for this!'

'I said No!'

'C'mon, Sue, just for a minute! A higher purpose! I guarantee you! All he's going to do is wrap his arms around you and tell you how good you look! You don't have to like Paulo, you just need to resist the urge to punch his lights out while he does it!'

'I—I wouldn't do that to him anyway! I'm not that sort of person anyway; I hate violence!' Sue said. 'Besides, it's not like I wouldn't. . .wouldn't—. . .Wait, no! No! You're not involving me in this!' A part of her just giving it the tiniest part of contemplation, but very short-lived.

'Come on! Think it over again, it's for a higher purpose, Sue. I promise! You might even end up liking it! I mean, it's not like anyone's ever done it to you before! Just think about it.' David begged again.

'What's THAT supposed to mean?!' Sue raged back.

Nothing was ever going to top this moment, Paulo told himself — absolutely nothing. Between David digging his own grave deeper and Sue getting very, very close to make a very possible life defining choice against her word just moments ago — This right here, was some fucking amazing sight to behold. In any other situation he would've likely stepped in to cool them both. He was Sue's boyfriend after all. But for the moment — he wasn't. He chose to continue being discrete about it. He was okay watching this. He wanted to stay here for as long as it took to see which played out first, but sighed to himself upon a stark realisation at that point in time; the situation was too ripe not to take advantage of; as much as he didn't want to miss this, if there was ever going to be a chance he could settle with David without dealing with this mystery would-be girlfriend, he'd need to abscond here and now. It was a real shame; he'd know there wouldn't be anything as magnificent like this again. But making it through the day without Sue's wrath really was seeming more important at that moment of time. And with that, he turned around and tried to tip-toe away. . .

Only that he would've gotten away with it too, hadn't Sue — none-the-wiser to the earlier events — peered from behind David at that time again and called his name. That bought David's attention to his friend's daring escape. He ran after him and managed to grab onto Paulo's arm. He turned back towards Sue. He had another brilliant idea, whether you could call it that, and he threw Paulo towards her.

'Catch!' David shouted.

Catch, she didn't. Paulo only just managed the stopping power himself needed to keep him from bowling Sue over. 'A—Are you okay?' Paulo said worryingly, barely just having managed to wrap his arms around Sue to keep her from falling onto her back.

'Owie, that—that really hurt!' Sue said, reeling from the collision.

Paulo frowned at David in further disbelief; this was starting to get way out of control. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of games were running through his friend's head. First, not believing he was dating again, then asking Sue to be his training dummy, then throwing him into her, then expecting he chat up the very same girl he— . . .

Paulo turned back to Sue whom he still cradled in his arms. He had an idea and gave it some real thought. He could use this situation; he could turn that into such a way that it dealt with both problems in one fell swoop. It could work, so long as Sue played along too. She'd be furious, but never-mind that small detail; she was pissed at him already. He was sure David would surely get the message this time.

All right, he'd do it; he reached down for that boyish charm he flaunted some months and years ago and held her closer to him. 'Y—you know, I know we usually get off on the wrong foot on most days. But, I just wanted to let you know that I'm always around to catch you whenever you need the support.' He said, winking down to Sue.

Sue blinked in surprise, 'O—Oh?' She said, feeling parts of her face become warm. 'P—Paulo what are you doing?!' She whispered.

Paulo whispered back through his teeth, 'Help me, I can't get him to give this a rest! I can't do this alone!'

'Help you? B—But we weren't supposed to-'

'Please. . .please help me. You're in the drama club, right? Just. . .just play along, say something, or do something that might make him get the picture.' He begged.

Sue scowled towards Paulo, was he really asking her to play along with this? Did he not listen to her the day before? She sighed in protest. She looked on the bright side; if it meant David would cease these games, so be it. She let a hand move to his shoulder. 'W—Well to tell you the truth, I—I may have been looking for someone with your. . .talents.' She said.

Not the words he was expecting, Paulo couldn't help the bemused smile streak across his face, he tried not to laugh. 'Come on Sue, couldn't you be a little more convincing?' He whispered back.

Something inside her became enraged by it. 'C—Convincing?!' She hissed. It was supposed to be convincing! A fairly bold thing to have come from Paulo. After all, she was the one in the drama club, not him! She seethed; she could do convincing — All she had to do was tell Paulo what he meant to her, right? She could do that. Hell, she could be really convincing with that! She was going to reciprocate him in a way neither Paulo, nor David would ever come to doubt how convincing she could be ever again! She went to speak again, but nothing left her.

Her attention drew away from Paulo and out to her side. She'd become distracted by the group of students who'd stop to watch. She felt their stares burning into her. Her throat started to feel dry and her legs started to lose their strength; she'd have fallen if Paulo hadn't been holding her up. She knew what this was, and she didn't want it to be that.

It was not hard to recognise stage-fright, particularly when you had an interest in theatre and had been a part of two productions in the school; some of the auditions just. . . broke down on stage when it came their turn to act. Never had she imagined how debilitating it was herself. All those people watching on. Strangers. Watching them. Judging — She hated it, she really hated it. Her attention drew back to Paulo; desperate for some kind of reply that would be enough to convince David that. . .maybe there was something romantic going on between the two. It sounded so simple a task.

She shook her head to herself! It couldn't be stage fright, she told herself reassuringly. It couldn't have been! The idea was almost laughable; it had to be something else! She was part of the drama club, she was the director of the play previous. Was she any different when it came to the actors? Surely it had to do with the situation itself; it was too. . . out of the blue! That's all it was! She needed to warm up first!

Sue went to say something again, and much like before; nothing. She bit her lip. A feeling inside of her became at odds with the bravado that hadn't failed her in similar situations before. A bit of a realisation that. . .maybe, she wasn't just a good actor as she believed herself to have been.

She was the shy girl, after all.

Paulo had grown worried, more-so when a tear started to form in Sue's eyes. 'S—Sue, did I hurt you? Did you need me to take you to the nurse?' He asked.

Sue shook her head, 'N—No, it's okay! I—I, j—just—' She wanted to bury her hands into her face; she couldn't take this.

'It's okay, look. Just leave it to me.' Paulo whispered.

She felt conflicted with the words; a part of her didn't want to. She hated the very idea; she was involved in this as well. It didn't make sense to leave it all to Paulo, but. . . what could she do? She struggled against herself to even do anything feeling the way she did. Though, when she looked up back at Paulo, she started to feel a little disappointed in herself; she didn't want to let him down. If it were just the two of them, she was sure she'd. . .

Her hand started moving on its own to his face and rested against his cheek. 'W—Well, I—I mean. . .' She said. She gave a heavy sigh to herself. 'Oh, what's the use? I—It's only natural since we're supporting each other. Right, love?' Sue smiled to him.

Paulo was making his damned near best to make sure he didn't accidentally drop her despite the strength leaving his arms. He'd forgotten completely how susceptible he was to this himself; he'd done this to so many of the girls in the past but only realised now it was his own kryptonite. He couldn't describe the feeling, but it was no different to how it was back the day before. He glanced back to David to see if it left its mark. If that one sentence still wasn't enough to get the hint across to him, then nothing would. Alas, he still couldn't tell; David was staring out into the space between them. It was the random whistling that shot down the hallway that bought Paulo back to Sue. He'd noticed that time she had been trying to pull herself up into his chest-tuff to escape her embarrassment. He'd decided that was as far as it could all go. He pulled her up to her feet, and set her behind him. He turned to the crowd and waved to them; 'Show's over, people, thanks for joining us! Be sure to sign up for the drama club, I hear we have an exciting play this time!' He said with a wink. They clapped as Paulo bowed towards them, before dispersing in different directions. Paulo felt a familiar presence hide itself against his back and a hand strongly holding onto his. He wanted to twist around and check in on Sue to make sure she was okay, but his attention moved to someone from the crowd who hadn't quite moved on. Instead they approached. Paulo didn't recognise them. David did. It was only then he snapped-to and went to introduce her.

'You're here!' David exclaimed loudly. 'Practice is now over! Paulo, Cynthia, Cynthia, Paulo. Work your magic, buddy!' he said, slapping Paulo on the shoulder.

Paulo was aghast, 'Seriously? After all that?! Cut the bullshit! How arrogant can you possibly—'

The young girl in front of him interrupted, 'You're Paulo?' she said, looking over him before stepping back, 'I. . .I'm pleased to meet your acquaintance.' She said, and curtsied.

Paulo turned back towards the girl and swallowed. It was her politeness that caught him off-guard, the curtsy was certainly unexpected. 'S—Same here.' Paulo said. He certainly didn't recognise them. He took the moment to quickly look her over much in the same way she had to him. She was cute, much like David described. He would've congratulated David on finding such a lovely girl if there weren't so many things wrong with the picture — one of them quite immediate; she was tiny, smaller than Amaya, smaller than Lucy. That was something altogether. He realised there was no way in hell she was in any year closer to his own. He went to ask, but he felt like he knew the answer already; 'S—Sorry, don't mind me asking; but I don't recognise you at all. Did you just change school's recently or did you—.'

'Oh, no, I moved up from middle school earlier in the year; I'm in my first year.' She said softly.

Paulo glared back towards David with a disdain. They were going to have a serious talk after this, and about a lot of things.

Cynthia beamed in his presence; 'I—I have to admit I didn't expect you to be so. . .so tall! I. . .I have to admit I was unsure about meeting a senior but once your friend spoke of you I figured—'

'Cynthia was it? I'm sorry, but this isn't what it appears to be.' Paulo cut in.

By then the young girl had noticed the one hiding behind Paulo. 'W—was I interrupting something?' She asked, pointing to the side Sue was on.

He nodded, 'See, the truth is—'

He felt the presence from his back lift off him. Sue came out to the side and smiled to the girl. 'W—We're actually a couple ourselves. Sorry, it. . .it seems there's been a misunderstanding.' She said.

David's jaw dropped. He refused to believe it. 'Sue! What are you—'

'David.' Sue said.

'What?'

'Shut. Up.' She turned back to the girl. 'I'm sorry, David gets some crazy wild ideas to bring up my boyfriend's mood; this was another one of those. Sorry; he's taken.' Sue said waving her hand. 'David doesn't know Paulo and I have been a couple for a number of weeks now, we didn't want to make a big deal out of this and kind-of kept it a secret between us. But our friend here — well, he's not the brightest of us. I hope you can forgive him.' She turned to David again, 'What are you waiting for? Aren't you going to apologise for playing with this young girl's heart?'

'I—I'm sorry.' David said obediently.

The little girl looked hurt for a short moment before bouncing back. She nodded, and smiled towards Sue and Paulo, 'I understand! I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.' She said to them.

'Not at all!' Sue replied.

Cynthia was about to turn and leave, but not before looking towards David's direction. The smile disappeared, a frown and a scowl replaced it. She pointed to him accusingly before balling that hand into a fist, and punching her other hand — concise, a threat, or a sign of something that awaited him that afternoon. She waved back to Sue and Paulo before she darting in the direction she needed to go. The three watched her leave.

Paulo felt the relief wash over him as he watched the girl disappear into the crowd of students. He had to admit for just a small moment he was taken in by her charm. Had he been any younger he'd likely have. . .Ah, well, let's just say he was happy it never was. He felt a little sorry for David and for what could have been awaiting him that afternoon. He saw Sue turn to him out of the corner of his eye. And speaking of more bullets, he said to himself turning towards her.

'So, where were we?' She asked.

He shrugged. 'Dunno, I said something about giving support, but I ended up getting it in droves instead.' He said, smiling to her. 'Thank, love.'

'Anytime. . .' Sue said, then blushing to herself; 'Hun.'

David wasn't paying attention to the two, instead choosing to sulk as he watched the young girl take the corner of the hallway. 'You know, even though I didn't get to know her first, I really tried that time. Gotta admit though, I didn't really expect Sue to use our practice to promote the drama club.'

Paulo's jaw descended. It was almost unreal that David was in classes ahead of him.

Sue beat him to it. 'What are you talking about?' She asked, 'I didn't tell him to say anything about the drama club needing more members.'

'Huh?' David said confused.

Paulo shook his head, 'Look, don't bother Sue, I'd only spent the whole morning trying to convince him and he won't listen to a single word I say. He really is far-gone.'

'It's almost insulting knowing he's in grades ahead of ours!' Sue noted.

Paulo laughed. 'I just thought the same thing! Clearly I'm not pushing myself as far as I need to! It's almost eye opening!'

David appeared hurt. 'You guys are being mean! And. . .Y—You mean that wasn't all just a play?'

'Oh my god, you're still—' He couldn't find it in him to be furious at him, the whole situation had become pitiful by this point. 'That whole thing wasn't just for show, I only said that at the end so everyone would clear out. Everything else was real!'

'Speaking of which!' Sue said, and at that precise moment thrust a fist into David's stomach. It was hard enough for Paulo to hear the wind escape from David's lungs as he collapsed onto the tiled floor. She pointed a finger at him, 'That was for earlier; you had absolutely no right to put me in that situation! If you ever involve me in these stupid ideas of yours again, we're going to be one seat short at the table!' She turned back towards Paulo, he was bemused by what just happened, until he saw her glaring at him. He felt he knew what to expect. 'You're in deep trouble too!' She said angrily.

'I know, I'm sorry. Are you okay?' Paulo asked, carrying some remorse and concern in the words.

She was still deliberating if she still had it in her to punch him like David. She couldn't do it. 'N—No, I thought I was going to die back there! I thought we had an agreement about not doing these things!'

'I know, I know! I agreed to it myself. I'm sorry! I just wanted to find a way so this idiot would get the picture and I thought that would be enough.' He explained, 'But I have to admit, I did not expect that admission at all.'

Sue appeared confused, 'What do you mean? If it wasn't the admission you meant by convincing you, what were you expecting?'

'I. . .I dunno, I was actually banking on you doing something unexpected like slamming my head into the locker.'

Sue blinked, she shook her head. 'What? No! I wouldn't do such a thing!'

'But you hit me!' David groaned.

Sue rolled her eyes, 'You deserved that! You forced me into one of your stupid games and you were being a pig-head!' She turned back to Paulo and shook her head. 'I wouldn't have. Why would you think that that's what I would've done?'

He wasn't too sure himself. He scratched his head deep in thought; 'I—I don't actually know why. Sorry, I just. . .maybe I figured that's what one of his comic book characters would've done so hopefully that would've pushed the message across.'

'I have absolutely no idea what that even means or how that comes into this, but, ignoring that for the moment. . .' Sue said before moving closer to Paulo and resting her hand on his cheek much like earlier. She studied his face. 'I'd only just noticed seeing all the bruises on your face from before, y—you're okay right? Are these the ones I gave you? They don't hurt, right? Is it painful? Should you even be at school today? O—Oh! Everything went okay yesterday after you took me home, right?'

'It's fine! We had a talk, that's all it was. As for everything else, I'll get by, right?'

Sue shook her head. 'You should look after yourself.'

'I'm okay, Sue, honest.' He crossed his heart.

'Alright.'

'Anyway, never-mind me, what about you from yesterday, how's your—.' He stopped. He was surprised he didn't notice it earlier. He felt worse for not noticing at all! He pointed a finger towards her arm. 'That; please don't tell me that's broken.'

Sue held up her left arm and showed off the cast covering most of her shoulder and elbow. 'Yep, it's busted. I went to the hospital after you took me home yesterday. Turns out there was a fracture in two places. So, they put it all in a cast.' She beamed.

Paulo couldn't believe he didn't notice it earlier, particularly when Sue was pressing into him. That was strange. But more stranger was with what he was seeing; Sue's behaviour was different for someone who had broken their arm. Breaking an arm would kind of suck! Yet, here she was with a smile from corner to corner. Anyone else would've been bummed out by it, but Sue refused to let it get her down, instead she radiated with positive energy. It was when he shifted his head and saw people looking in her direction that things had begun to click. He guessed it had to do something with the attention. 'I—I can't believe I didn't notice that earlier! I'm so sorry! S—Should you even be in today yourself?' Paulo said, feeling worried.

Sue shook her head. 'No reason to stay home. These things happen after all. The doctor said—'.

While Sue and Paulo chatted about the day before, David had stood back up and found himself mystified at what he was seeing. He couldn't believe it; the two of his best friends who he'd known had fought for such a long time. . .getting along? Did he miss something?

'—By the way, my arm's not the sorest part; I'm actually still sore all over from that night. You're going to have to be a bit gentler with me for the next couple of days.' Sue finished. She noticed David had finally stood up. Like Paulo, before, he pointed towards her cast, his mouth agape. 'What are you pointing at? My arm? I've already explained; I broke it, okay? Seriously, what's gotten into you now?'

A hand came to Paulo's head, 'Ah shit, that reminds me.' He turned to David, 'Who's that other person you were talking about? Before this shit gets out of control again.'

'There's another person?!' Sue cried. 'David!'

David snapped out of his stupor at that very moment, feeling apprehensive, maybe a little faint, like he'd seen a ghost. He turned to Sue first, 'I—I'm fine. And a—absolutely nothing!' He said with a raised voice.

Paulo and Sue looked at each other in concern.

'O. . .okay but that doesn't answer my question.' Paulo said still looking at Sue. It was when he had no response from David did he look back at him, only David had disappeared. Paulo found him running from them at a great velocity up the hall.

'I'm-late-for-class-so-I'll-see-you-two-lovebirds-later!' David called back.

'Come back, there's still time before the bell!' Paulo shouted to him.

'No, I'm pretty sure I heard it!'

Paulo bought his hands up to his mouth and yelled back at him 'But what was that thing you were talking about earlier?!'

From the other side of the hallway; 'In another lifetime maybe! And the offer was rescinded!'

'Rescinded?! What the fuck do you even mean?!' Make sense, you idiot! Get back here!' Paulo yelled, but the words reached nobody; David had already disappeared from view; taking a side-hall towards where his classroom would be. It was possible that Paulo could have given chase, hadn't his own classroom not been on the other side of the building and had Sue not attempted to stop him with an outstretched arm.

'It's fine, let him go. We all have lunch together, so we can deal with him then if it hasn't sunk in until that point.' She said lowering her arm. 'But I really think maybe he's finally come around.'

Paulo nodded.

Sue continued, 'He really didn't want to believe you at all, did he?' She said with some bemused interest in her voice. 'I know I said it before but it's amazing to know he's in classes ahead of us.'

'Well, he seems to pick and choose when he wants to notice things.'

'Ah, is that it? Would've figured after being friends with him for so long he'd be easier to read.' Sue said.

Paulo shook his head; his hand went to the headache forming when he thought about it. 'I just make guesses nowadays. I just don't know about anything to do with him anymore.' He sighed and turned towards her. 'You'd think you know a guy, right?'

Part 2 coming in a fortnight. It's already written up. I just needed a thinly veiled excuse for a buffer. The chapter after brings us back to the original draft. Work-load picking up.