I've been waiting so long to get this chapter up, one of my favorite scenes happens in it. (:

I'm going to try making updates once a week, but that might not stick for too long since exams are coming up really soon. Then I'm heading away for the first bit of summer, but I'm going to try to get as much up as I can before that happens. Also, I'm planning a few more stories to get started within this year. One of them might be another W.I.T.C.H. We'll see, but I have to finish this one first.

And also, I'm sorry if you guys get confused. There are supposed to be little breaks in between scenes, but this stupid site keeps screwing it up and taking out the breaks I put in. I'll fix it eventually, but probably not today. Way too much to do.

5-Secrets

Caleb sat in his history class copying down the set of notes on the overhead projector. He wasn't surprised when Cornelia turned in her seat to speak with him.

"I had fun on Saturday." She smiled, and surprising himself, he smiled back without having to force it.

"Yeah…it was good practice."

"You excited for practice today?"

It took Caleb a moment to clue into what she was talking about. Of course, she was talking about the play, "N-no not really. It's getting to be a drag wasting my time after school."

Cornelia shrugged her shoulders, "It's only been two days. You've got the rest of the year to go." And then she turned back to the front and began copying her notes again.

Caleb shook his head and thought about what she had said. The rest of the year committing to the play. Yeah, thanks for reminding me.

... ...

After being struck by the horrible realization that Cornelia had pointed out to him earlier, Caleb was dreading practice. When he opened the drama room door, he saw a large, round table had been moved in, and the main cast was already sitting around it. Caleb took his seat next to Hay Lin. When she started speaking, he thought she was only directing her, but then he realized she was speaking to everyone at the table.

"Today is just going to be a simple practice. We're just going to read out the script and Ms. Monty will give you all tips on your charisma."

Practice was long. Caleb felt like he was going to fall asleep several times, but when it came to his part he picked up his head and with as much charisma and emotion as he could put into it, he read out each and every line. He was glad they skipped the musical scenes, because he wasn't in the mood to let everyone know just how tone deaf he really was. When he wasn't speaking, he couldn't help but notice Cornelia, who sat at a forty five degree angle across the table from him. She too, put in incredible effort towards her role. By the end of the entire read though, Ms. Monty was giving out voice advice to everyone, starting on one end of the table to the other. When she reached him, he expected that she would tell him he gave too much emotion and caused him to look like an over actor, but that was nothing like what she said. Instead, she offered him a crooked smile and a nod, "You did fairly well. No complaints."

Caleb couldn't hide his shock. Especially when she reached Cornelia and told her to tone it down a bit. She was the one overacting.

Caleb broke into a coy smile, and he knew Hay Lin noticed because she nudged him in the side while giggling softly.

It was a flood of relief when rehearsal was actually over. He was one of the first out of the room and he rushed to his locker.

"So, what's your secret?" A voice said behind him. By its smooth tone he knew who it was instantly.

"What secret?" He asked Cornelia without turning to face her.

She came up beside his locker and leaned on the door next to it, "No former acting experience…and you're that good?" She replied and offered a smile.

Caleb stopped digging through his locker and turned to face her. He noticed for the first time that she was a little more than a head shorter than him. He liked girls that were quite a bit shorter than him…no. That was out of the question. She was Cornelia. And besides, a girl shorter than him wasn't hard to find. But still…NO. He had to start shaking these thoughts from his mind. There was no way he could be interested in Cornelia. Even if she was pretty. Okay, more than pretty. But still, even if she was a better person than he had made her out to be, he didn't want to be interested in her. Whether she was a nice person or not, they were still too different.

"I guess I like it a little better than I thought." Caleb offered a grin.

"Yeah, but you weren't that good when we were practicing on Saturday."

"No one was paying attention but you. I didn't have a reason to be good."

Cornelia mouth dropped open and she playfully punched him, only it hurt more than a joking sort of hit should. To his surprise however, she didn't have a smart remark to say in return.

"You heading home?" Caleb suddenly felt himself blurt. What was this? Was he trying to make conversation?

"Nah." Cornelia shook her head, "I have to go to cheer."

Caleb chuckled, "Cheerleading, huh? Wimp."

Cornelia stomped her foot like a five year old. This time, she definitely had a retort, "Wimp? I'd like to see you lifting someone up while they struggle to keep balanced in the middle of their bow and arrow!"

Caleb brought his eyebrows together. He was clearly confused, "I didn't understand a single term you said there."

Cornelia raised her eyebrows, "I'm not surprised. You don't look very smart." She said it in a teasing tone. Or was it a flirting tone? Caleb wasn't sure.

He wouldn't have asked, but even if he had wanted to he wouldn't have had the chance. Cornelia gave him one last smile before spinning around on her heel and starting off towards the gymnasium.

Was she flirting with me? Caleb questioned himself one more time. He shook off the thought as he slammed his locker door. He wandered down the hallways and out the front doors. It was raining lightly, so he pulled on his hood as he headed towards his banged up 1996 Toyota that needed a spray painting job. Now that school and rehearsal was over, it being only five o clock, he figured he could squeeze in a couple hours of work at the shop; to scrape up some extra cash.

... ...

Cornelia went straight up into an extended scale. She worked hard to incorporate this single-based stunt into the cheer routine and she needed to make sure today that she could pull it off. So far, everything about it was working perfectly. "Cradle ready," she said loudly and then felt herself thrust into the air. She did a full twist and landed safely in her base's arms. When Kyle set her down she spun around and threw her arms over his shoulders, "That was great!"

"Good job!" She received a pat on the back from Elyon.

Cornelia grinned, she was proud of herself. She knew she should have quit while she was ahead, but she was having an adrenaline rush from being so successful. And they needed this stunt to be perfect as soon as they possibly could. "One more time." She placed her left foot in Kyle's hands and - after she called it - was sent back into the extension. She reached for her shin and pulled it up, focusing on a single spot on the wall. As she pulled up her leg, and held her arm at a straight angle, she felt herself begin to wobble. She struggled to keep her balance and she could feel Kyle doing his best to keep her weight on her heel. She knew she should have listened to her gut. She should have quit while she was ahead. Her body leaned forward and she dropped her leg back to her side, bracing herself for the fall.

Instead of landing comfortably in someone's arms like she would have preferred, she felt five pairs of hands reaching for her back, but they weren't there quick enough, and she hit the ground with a thud.

Cornelia felt the wind knocked out of her and she couldn't breathe for a few seconds afterwards. She had had bad falls after failed stunts before, but none like this. She knew the pain of this would stick for a few days. When she felt her eyes beginning to tear up from both the shock and pain, she blinked to hold them back. She would not cry in front of people.

Instead of accepting the many hands that were reaching out to help her up she helped herself to her feet and reassured them she was fine even though she clearly wasn't. She left the gym for a drink and when she came back, she was proud to see her team working on the pyramid she had taught them last practice.

She sat out for the rest of practice except for the part where she taught them a portion of the dance routine she had come up with. At around eight forty five she wrapped up the practice and headed out with Elyon. It wasn't just raining outside; it was pouring.

"Do you have a ride?" She heard Elyon say.

Cornelia nodded her head, "I left my car at home because my mom said she was going to pick me up today."

Elyon smiled. She was one of the few people who understood just how much that probably meant to Cornelia.

"I'll see you tomorrow then." Elyon said and pulled her hood over her head before exiting through the front doors.

Cornelia stood staring out into the sheets of rain falling, waiting for her mom. She waited, and waited…and waited. It was nine fifteen now and still no sign of her. There was a sudden ringing in her pocket and she fished out her cell. One new message. It said. She opened the text and saw that it was from her mom.

Cornelia, sorry. Last minute change, I can't make it. -Mom.

Cornelia sighed and bit her bottom lip. It figured. She couldn't say she wasn't surprised. It upset her though. There was no sense calling Elyon. She was probably home by now and Cornelia didn't want to be a bother. There wasn't anyone else she could really think of to call, so she stuck with the worst option. She pulled her sweater over her head (of course, she thought. She had to pick her sports sweater which happened to have no hood) and made her way down the school's property.

She was at the end of the parking lot and already covered with rain. Fifteen more minutes of this and she'd be home. It didn't sound so bad until she actually thought about it. Fifteen minutes? She let out a deep breath that in the same instant, let out her frustration as well. She should have seen this coming. She should have known her mom would bail like she always did.

Cornelia made it halfway down the length of the sidewalk surrounding the perimeter of the school when she head her name being called. She continued to hold her jacket over her head as she turned to face the road. With the rain falling so hard she hadn't even noticed that a car had slowed down and was moving at her pace. In the drivers seat sat someone she hadn't been expecting to see.

"Do you want a ride?" Caleb asked her.

Was it just her or did he actually look concerned? Maybe her whole plan had finally begun to work. Cornelia gave him a soft smile and nodded her head. She quickly made her way to his car and pulled on the handle to let herself in

"I'm sorry, I'm soaked. You're seats are going to get wet." she apologized.

Caleb shook his head and put the car into drive. It slowly began to make its way down the street. "It's fine. There's not much more damage that can be done to this thing."

It was true. It needed a serious paintjob. One of the side mirrors was ready to fall off. The tires needed to be replaced and everything about the vehicle was becoming stiff.

"So what were you doing out here?" Caleb asked suddenly.

Cornelia leaned against her door and stared out the window as she answered, "I had cheer practice."

She heard Caleb chuckle beside her, "I meant why were you walking in the rain. Don't you have a car?"

Cornelia continued to stare out the window, "Yes, but my mom was supposed to pick me up today."

Caleb didn't seem to be paying much attention to the road, but for some reason, it didn't make Cornelia nervous one bit. She liked having his attention on her.

"And why didn't she?"

"She bailed." Cornelia replied quickly.

"What about you're friends? Couldn't they have picked you up?"

"I didn't want to be a bother. And what are you out here driving so late for anyways?"

"I just got off of work."

Cornelia suddenly went quiet. She turned back to the window and continued to stare. Or, more like, she was trying to keep her attention away from Caleb. In the midst of his questioning, she had begun to involuntarily take in every aspect of him. He had a strong jaw line, and defined muscles that she honestly didn't know how she could have missed them before. She drew in a deep breath. There was something about him that made her so comfortable. Something that made her feel she could trust him with her secrets. She knew he had to be wondering, and at the moment, he was the closest person to talk to.

"My mom isn't a very good mom." She started, and he tilted his head slightly, so he could see her. "In fact, both of my parents kind of suck." When he didn't respond, she continued, "They're both gone on business trips five days out of the week and when they are home they spend time in their offices doing more work-related stuff.

"I was excited that my mom was going to pick me up today, and I guess my expectations got the best of me when she cancelled."

Finally, Caleb said something. Until that point she hadn't even been sure he was listening, "That sucks."

"So when they're gone me and Lillian, she's my sister, are left in the care of the maid."

She saw Caleb slowly nod his head.

"I mean, what kind of parents are like that? They should know how much my sister needs them! She's only seven."

Caleb stopped the car at a red light, and turned to face her, "They don't sound like very good parents."

Cornelia shrugged her shoulders and leaned her head back onto the rest, "Let's put it this way. My sister call's our maid 'mommy.'"

There was a sudden silence between them after her last comment. Then Cornelia started up again, "Just don't tell anybody that. No one except Elyon knows."

Caleb nodded, and she knew there had been no point in telling him that; he wouldn't have told anyone anyways.

Another silence fell, this one lasting longer. They were halfway to her house by now. She didn't find it strange that Caleb knew where it was. Everyone knew where she lived. It was hard to miss the giant iron gates with the name 'Hale' shaped into them.

"My dad's an alcoholic." Caleb suddenly broke the silence.

At first, Cornelia wasn't sure what to say. Caleb saved her by beginning to speak again.

"He just got out of rehab last month. He hasn't been sober though." He fixed his eyes on the road, as if it were easier to talk when you didn't have to look someone in the eye. "He just refuses to go back."

Cornelia gave him a serious look. She liked that he was sharing something like that with her. "I noticed you guys had a tough relationship the moment I met him." She heard herself blurt.

She noticed Caleb smirk, "How'd you figure that."

"I read people well." It wasn't exactly a lie. She had noticed some tension between the two last Saturday night, but she never expected this. "But I don't understand…why are you telling me this?"

Caleb turned the wheel right and the car followed, "Because, I need you to know at least you have a family. Maybe it doesn't seem like they care about you but they do. As much of a screw-up my dad is, I know he still loves me."

Cornelia pursed her lips together.

When Caleb spoke again, she was surprised at the sudden change in conversation, "You used to be friends with Irma?"

"Yeah," Cornelia said.

"Why aren't you anymore?" Caleb asked.

Cornelia ended up drawing in yet another breath, "Why else? Like most teenage girl problems, it was a boy."

Caleb laughed lightly next to her. He had such a nice…sincerity to his laugh. Another thing Cornelia noted that she liked about him. "Let me guess, you stole him from her?"

Cornelia felt her heart drop to her stomach and a lump rise in her throat upon remembering just what had happened between her and Irma. "Actually, she stole him from me." She honestly figured she would have continued if they hadn't reached her house already. When she pushed open the door, she realized she had barely dried off; and that under her unzipped sports sweater, she was in a cotton white shirt . That was soaked. In a way Caleb wouldn't notice, she tilted her head down. Yep. You could see her striped bra though her shirt. Great, she thought. He probably thinks I'm a slut. She pulled her sweater together and yanked up the zipper, "Thanks for the ride!" She said quickly and slammed the door. She ran up to her porch and knocked.

When Jeanie, her maid, opened the door, she saw that Caleb had just begun to back out of her driveway. She felt a smile taking place onto her lips at the thought that he had waited for her to get inside to safety and warmth before actually leaving. Her thoughts drew back to her conversation with him in the car. They had shared a lot with each other, after she thought about it. Then she remembered her shirt and bra that he probably saw. That was what ruined the night. She was so afraid that he thought of her as a total tease now. But wait…did it even matter what he thought? No, not really. One part of her said. But the other part of her was screaming, YES! It does matter! Because he matters!

Cornelia tried to shake the thoughts from her head. How could this…how could she…? This was getting all too confusing, but she knew deep down which way she was leaning. She flopped down onto her bed when she reached her room and shut her eyes. It was at that moment that she realized that she had been so busy trying to make him want her, that she had begun to want him just as badly herself.

I hope you guys liked this chapter, I actually take real pride in this one!

Here's a look at chapter 6. I'm not sure of the title for it yet, so we'll have to see what it'll be called.

... ...

"Remember what you asked me on Saturday?"

Did you really mean it, when you said I was shallow…and self centered?

"Well, I think I have an answer better than what I gave you."

Cornelia had to think again, this time not taking as long. He had said I don't know.

... ...

Review please!