AN: It's me... Veronica, remember? Yeah. I still exist. I know I haven't updated in, um, ever, but would you believe me if I told you I was wrongfully accused of the brutal murder of my entire family? No? I didn't think so. Yeah... The truth is, I really don't have an excuse as to why I haven't updated. I've been doing not so hot in school, and feeling like a total failure kind of puts creativeness on hold, then it was Christmas, and I had no time to write, plus the ski lodge we staying at had beyond shitty WiFi and then I just got distracted by my other stories, and the muse was refusing to cooperate. I actually abandoned this fic, but then I got trapped on a four hour car ride with nothing to do and my phone stuck on "The Heart Wants What it Wants" by Selena Gomez, so I took it as a sign.

CHAPTER 4

Tory POV

It had been two weeks since my impromptu visit with Chance, and I'd totally forgot about him. Mostly. Almost. Not really. At all.

Stupid Chance with his cryptic remarks and absurd assumptions. I mean, all that "You want someone like me" bullshit? As if. I scoff at his ridiculousness, then jump when someone clears their throat behind me.

Spinning around, my eyes flare up, and Hi jumps back in surprise. "Geez, Tor! Relax."

Shutting down my flare, I sigh and say, "Sorry, Hi. You surprised me, that's all."

"No shit, Sherlock." He flops down on my bed. "So, what's up with you lately, anyway?"

"Nothing!" I answer way too fast.

"Right."

Sighing again, I rub my eyes and say, "Really, Hi. You really just surprised me."

"Okay. That doesn't explain why you barely speak to anyone, Ben hasn't seen you in two weeks, and before I came in, you were just standing in the middle of the room and staring at the wall. And have you been sleeping? Don't take this the wrong way, but you look like cold Hell warmed over."

"First of all, is there a right way to take that? - and second of all I've just been wigged about the whole Chance/Viral thing." It was the truth. Almost.

Hi looked at me skeptically. "We found out about that ages ago. And you're only just freaking out now?"

"I was in shock," I defend lamely.

"Uh-huh."

"I was."

"I didn't disagree."

"You were going to."

"I wasn't."

"Please." I say derisively. "You most definitely were. Also, I'm... sick. I think I have the flu."

He really has this skeptical thing down. "And that's why -"

"Hi," I cut him off. "Leave it. Please."

Raising his hands in surrender, he rolled off my bed and walked towards the door. Pausing, he looked back at me and said, "You know you can talk to me, right? No judging. Nolan Ross to your Emily Thorne."

Smiling, I tell him, "I don't know who they are, but I know. There's just nothing to talk about."

Hi rolled his eyes and walked out.

Sighing, I sit in my desk chair. I feel bad about lying to Hi, but what was I supposed to say? "Hey, I went to see Chance, that guy we hate, and now I'm majorly crushing on him, even though I'm dating one of our best friends."

That'll go over well.

Glancing up, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and make a face. He's right, I look bad. Hopping in and out of the shower, I blow dry my hair and braid it. Pulling on a pair of white shorts, a black camisole and pink jacket - courtesy of Whitney - I slip my feet into black flip-flops, intent on taking Coop for a walk. Maybe down to the bunker.

Opening the front door however, I'm greeted with an unexpected - but not entirely unwelcome - surprise.

"Hello Victoria," Chance says with a grin.

AN: In case you don't know, Emily Thorne and Nolan Ross are characters in Revenge. (Great show. Watch it.)