Sorry for the huge delay! I had exams the last two weeks, and hit a bit of writer's block. A bit of a disclaimer, Jack Scott doesn't belong to me. And another thing, I'm not very familiar with the school system in the US, so I don't know if there's a media class. But for the sake of this fic, I guess it does? Haha. HUUUUGE thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter 4: The Days Before the Homecoming Dance

Richard Cross had not made another appearance at the house since two weeks ago, and quite frankly, Jason was glad. His moods had been out of control ever since and it was starting to go back to the way he usually was.

It was the end of gym, with lunch next. Troy, Chad and Zeke were already on their way to the cafeteria. He'd told them that he would them in the cafeteria at their usual table.

But that had been about twenty-five minutes ago, and lunch was already fifteen minutes over. He vaguely heard the sound of his phone vibrating against the metal of his open locker. That would be one of his friends, or, he hoped, Kelsi. He made no move to pick it up however, still staring at the basketball jersey in his hands. The white of the '23' and 'CROSS' stared back at him, his eyes lingering on his last name. He sometimes found himself staying after practices for far longer than was necessary, just staring at his name. It was the only reminder of his father that he had.

He had been twelve when he first realized his father wasn't going to come back any time soon. Except for cards and presents on birthdays and Christmas, their family heard nothing from him until the divorce papers and the hearing that came from him when Jason was eleven.

While Sandra took back her last name, Keyes, Jason, Jen and Jonas all still kept Richard's last name. He hadn't understood then, when his mother had given him the option of taking Keyes as a last name. It was probably for the best that he never changed his name, because it would only cause questions to be asked from his peers. Besides, he didn't even think his father would come back anyway.

Growling in frustration, he flung the jersey into his locker, finally pulling his shirt on. He slammed the metal door shut after retrieving his phone, leaving the room without a look back.

"Lunch is almost over, Cross. Where have you been?"

Jason rolled his eyes, the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips, as he approached the three boys by his and Chad's lockers.

"Sorry. I was… thinking."

Chad hit his shoulder. Jason winced, rubbing the spot.

"In the locker room for almost an hour? Dude!"

"What?! You know I have a lot on my mind." Spotting a photocopy of a flier stuck onto the locker next to Chad's, he grimaced. "Like the Homecoming Dance in two days."

The three groaned. The fliers had gone up almost a week and a half ago, after the football team's victory over West High in the homecoming game. Troy and Chad had wasted no time, immediately searching out their girlfriends in order to ask them to the dance. Zeke had, after three days, successfully asked Sharpay, who said yes when he appeared at her doorstep with pink balloons and a small, decent-sized cake with 'Homecoming?' scrawled on top with pink icing. They were starting to get frustrated with Jason's shyness.

"Jason, I keep telling you," Zeke said sternly, "if you just wait around, you and Kelsi are never going to happen. Someone is going to come–"

"And sweep her off her feet. I get it." He scratched his head in frustration. "I just haven't had the time to ask her properly, okay?" It was a lie, but it was the best he could come up with. "She's always with your girlfriends," he shot Troy and Chad a glare, who looked away sheepishly, "or with Sharpay," he threw Zeke a look, "or with Martha. I never see her on her own anymore." It was another lie. He and her always met at the library together during free period on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

"That's because you're always late to school nowadays. Even Chad's earlier than you now," Troy said, who looked amused at the look on Jason's face. Half a second later, his face became serious and leaned in. "Look, J, if it's about your dad–"

"It's not," he snapped. "He hasn't been by the house again and mom doesn't talk about it. This losing sleep thing is over all these stupid assignments they keep throwing at us."

Chad and Zeke glanced at each other, looking doubtful. Troy just stared at him. The youngest sighed, running a hand through his hair. Grabbing a couple of things from his locker, he turned back towards them. He had to reassure them that it wasn't because of his father – though he knew partly it was – but merely the stress of school and basketball practices starting soon to prepare them for the season.

"Look, guys. I'm fine. Really. I just have a lot on my mind. That's all. There's no need to worry." The warning bell rang. "Well, I've got to get to class. See you guys later."

Without another word, he turned, and walked towards his Media class.

For once, Jason wasn't paying attention. Sharing this class with none of his friends, he usually did pay attention, which was probably why he was acing this class so easily. That, and he seemed to have a natural talent for it. The class covered a large range of topics, from editing, to journalism, to advertisements. Anything, really.

His mind, like it had been the past few weeks, was occupied on his father's sudden presence, and now, his absence once again. It only made him a lot more confused than he actually was. The man suddenly appears, and from what Jason could only interpret from it was that he came back to apologize, which he hadn't done. His only other conclusion was unresolved business with his mother.

His mind, however, wasn't just on the issue of his father being in his life. It was also the pressing matter of the Homecoming Dance and his dateless situation. A Wildcat, especially a basketball-playing-Wildcat at that, didn't go to school functions dateless. Although admittedly, it would have been suicide if the football jocks came without a date.

But with his dateless situation, and with only two days left until the dance, there was only possibly one person that he wanted to take: Kelsi. That much was obvious. All those times he was with her in the library, he had attempted to ask her, but nothing would come out of his mouth. His throat would suddenly close and dry up that once he almost choked on his own breath.

As Mr Simpson handed back their documentation to their small 'welcome back to school' project, Jason wasn't at all surprised to find an 'A' staring back at him.

"Excellent work as usual, Jason."

"Thanks, Mr Simpson," Jason said, grinning.

"You too, Jack," he heard, and he rolled his eyes.

Jack Scott was the person in charge of the school's morning announcements as well as head of the Wildcats Newsletter. Blue eyes, blonde hair, killer smile, he was next in line in the food chain after the jocks. Jason had a funny feeling about him, and he didn't like it and as such, didn't really like him.

It seemed like forever until the class ended. Jason hurriedly packed his things and made a beeline for the door, weaving his way through his classmates. If he was fast enough, he could get out into the hallway, hopefully find Kelsi before the warning bell went for the last class of the day, and ask her. That was if he could form the words fast enough.

"Excuse me! I'd just like to announce something!"

Jason was already feet away from the door and he grimaced in annoyance, tapping his foot on the floor as Jack Scott took his time.

"I just want to remind everyone about the dance this Saturday. The Homecoming Committee will be taking your votes for Homecoming King and Queen just before you go in…"

He rolled his eyes. 'Didn't he announce this stuff this morning?' he thought irritably. When he was sure Jack Scott had stopped talking, he practically sprinted out of the classroom. He rushed past his classmates, past Martha who had raised her hand in greeting, past Coach Bolton who just stared after him weirdly, and finally reached the corner to Kelsi's locker.

She was still there.

"Kelsi!" he all but yelled just as the bell went.

Kelsi turned around to locate the source of the shout and saw him, smiled and waved, before turning back around to hurry off to her next class.

"Wait–" he started feebly. He sighed dejectedly, kicking one of the nearby lockers lightly before he, too, rushed off to his next class.

Jason was annoyed. Even though the last bell had rung, he was told to stay back to have a talk with his Math teacher about his grades. He was only let out about half an hour later, a scowl on his face as he stormed to his locker, the halls already emptying of students. There was barely anyone left.

Checking his watch, he sighed dejectedly. Kelsi must have gone home by now. He knew she stayed for a while in the school sometimes to take advantage of the empty music room and empty halls to better concentrate on writing whatever piece she was working on. Sometimes he stayed with her, but only if she offered, and she had done so about three times already. She would be shy as she pressed on the keys and sang softly as he listened to the words she sang that seemed to come from her heart. He would compliment her, and she would blush every time, giving his arm an appreciative squeeze. Sometimes he would encourage her to sing just a tad bit louder, so that he could hear her properly. Sometimes he would just sit silently next her, smiling lazily as he watched her.

"Kelsi! Hey, Kelsi, wait up!"

His heart jumped into his throat as heard her name being called by someone around the corner. There was only two other people in the school who shared that name, but he was sure, for some reason, that this would be his Kelsi.

His Kelsi? What are you on about, Cross? She's not yours, he scolded himself.

He meant to turn around the corner when he stopped short, his eyebrows knitting together and eyes narrowing as he saw that Jack Scott was standing by Kelsi's locker. Kelsi didn't seem to care that the boy was there, although she did turn to give him a smile. From where he was, Jason could see that it was a bit forced. He could tell, by the faint lines that appeared on her forehead.

"So, um, Kelsi… you going to the Homecoming dance?"

Jason's entire body froze as he heard the words he had been meaning to say to her for days be spoken by his rival classmate. Sharply, he turned around, and pressed himself against the lockers, his ears straining to hear Kelsi's reply.

"I – yeah. Yeah, I'm going," she said politely.

"Has… anyone asked you yet?"

There was a silence. He knew no one had asked her yet. He had asked the same question this morning during their meeting in the library, although he had failed to ask her to the dance. Realizing what Jack Scott's intentions were, he mentally kicked himself, feeling disappointment run through his blood as his face flushed. Jason should have asked her when he had the chance. Why hadn't his voice worked?

It was because she was looking at you with the most innocent, cutest look you had ever seen. He cursed himself. He could remember how his throat became as dry as the desert, palms suddenly cold and clammy, and heart pounding too hard in his chest that he could barely breathe.

"Oh." It seemed as though she, too, realized where her companion was going with his simple statement. There was another pause, before she said quietly, "No, no one's asked me yet." Jason couldn't help but feel that he heard a bit of bitterness, anger and disappointment in her voice. A feeling that felt oddly like guilt swam in his stomach.

"Really? That's a… surprise. I'd have thought you'd be beating them off with a stick. I mean, you're really pretty. Not to mention great on the piano," Jack Scott said smoothly.

Jason could feel the anger and jealously rise in him, making him sick to his stomach. Without wanting to, he thought, and he knew, that Kelsi would be blushing now, face a shade of pink, and tucking a loose curl behind her ear.

"Thank you, Jack."

He gave a short chuckle, before saying, "So, um, since no one's asked you yet… would you like to go to the dance with me?"

The silence this time seemed almost deafening, and Jason squeezed his eyes shut, saying 'please don't say yes, please don't say yes' like a mantra in his head. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face and just as he slowly opened his eyes, Kelsi spoke.

"I – sure."

And just like that, it was like his world had crashed.

"Really? I thought you and Jason Cross–"

Jason straightened.

"–had something going on?"

"Jason and I, we – I'm not sure what's going on." She sounded a little disappointed, but it was gone almost immediately, this time replaced by a nonchalant, offhand voice. "But it's nothing." Something painful hit Jason's heart as he listened, crestfallen. "So, pick me up at 7?"

"Yeah, okay. I'll see you then."

Jack Scott sounded dazed, before saying his byes and walking away in the opposite direction. Kelsi, it seemed, returned to putting and taking things out of her locker.

Jason scowled. So many things filled him at once. Anger, hurt, jealousy, disappointment… It should have been him who was skipping off with a ridiculously dazed look on his face, being happy, over the moon at the reality and very notion that Kelsi had said yes to him. Except it wasn't him, and he was not happy. The feeling almost rivalled that of his father's reappearance.

There was a kind of sinking realization as Jason finally moved to leave the school. He was going to the dance alone, and the only girl he wanted to take was going with someone else.