GUYS? ARE YOU STILL THERE! …phew…there you are…

Can I just say that I am so sorry I haven't updated? I know that doesn't make up for it, but I'm really sorry! Please resist the temptation to throw possibly sharp objects at me. K, thanks!

I had some serious crap to take care of, but now school is out! No home work, waaaaay less drama, practically no boys ( ! ), my play is over !

(yes, I was Alice in my school's production of Alice in wonderland. Go to you tube and look up, "Alice in wonderland staunton river" and you'll see me in all of my ditzy glory (start with the 2011 one))

So now that you're good and ready to read my story… (4 months will do that to you… Sorry again!)

Feast your eyes! (trying something new with POV)

CPOV

"Now, you're not gonna run on me are you?"

She whimpered. "…no…" it was barely a whisper, but it made a small smile stretch across his face. He finished lifting her shirt over her shoulders to reveal two perfect globes covered in intricate, pure white lace. How could something so beautiful be on earth?

Her perfectly tempting nipples were just visible and begging for attention, he ran a thumb slowly across one to raise it to a tight peak. She arched into his palm, letting a small moan escape her lips. Heat raced to his groin, suppressing a moan her continued his pursuit.

His other hand descended down slowly enjoying her silky skin. He paused to brush the sensitive skin above her jeans, she trembled under his touch. God, he wanted her. before he unbuttoned them he whispered "you're beautiful". she dug her fingers into his shoulders in response. He'd never wanted anything more.

The zipper was down, now. He played with the matching lace underwear. She writhed under his touch. He took away his hands to look up at her face. It was laced with hunger, her eyes opened. They were burning with desire, "More" she begged. Oh there would be more, a lot more… he slowly returned to stroking her soft flesh. He lowered his head to kiss her succulent neck.

"please.." her breath was uneven and he loved that he could do that to her. His fingers began to descend onto her velvety smoothness as he re-claimed her mouth with his. He pinched her tightly peaked nipple and she breathed a long moan into his mouth. His fingers crept even lower, blood rushing to the member in his jeans.

"since you asked nicely" he teased her. He was so close. She tightened in anticipation as his fingers almost brushed her ready and waiting core. "almost there…"

"COHEN! If you do not get up right this second you will be late! … Unfashionably late!" if his damn mother had any worse timing she would have walked in on them actually doing the deed instead of just ending a perfect, beautiful dream. He was fuming. Growling he pulled himself out of bed and pulled on clothes. That dream was the most wonderful thing he'd experienced in a while, just the possibility of it coming true gave Cohen a new jolt of life.

He got into his car and shot out of the drive. "here I come." he whispered through lips that were pulled into a small smile filled with anticipation.

(A/N: that was pretty damn hot, if I do say so myself.)

OPOV (omniscient)

"there seems to be an odd number. Willow, can you manage to work by yourself?" the teacher inquired. She sure as hell could! First, Redfern's a no show then she gets to do an independent study? Maybe she shouldn't switch out of this class after all. For someone who was trying to get her to …what was the phrase…"run in the right direction" he didn't seem too involved in the trafficking process.

Slightly relieved and somewhat…disappointed she pulled out her book and began scanning the pages for topics. Now that things were beginning to go her way why was she so unhappy? crap… Here we go, thinking again. Being alone definitely wasn't a good idea, too much going on her head…and heart. She refocused on her project and tried to forget about him.

The door swung open and none other than Cohen Redfern sauntered in with a triumphant grin. Willow's head, along with every other girl's, flew up to see him, but Willow wasn't happy to see him. The room had gotten less gloomy with him there and…DAMMIT. She groaned internally with frustration. Couldn't she just catch one break? Just once?

Cohen scanned the room. The teacher spoke, "Cohen has arrived! It looks like you don't have to work alone after all, Willow. How fortunate." he finished with enthusiasm. Behold the beautiful Willow sat scowling up at him. The situation could not be more perfect. Cohen went and occupied the vacant seat next to her.

She was trying to burn a hole in between his eyes, but he just smiled at her and said, "how's it going?" that just pissed her off to no end.

"how is it GOING?" she replied incredulously. She took a deep breath to calm down. "oh, it's going alright." Cohen seemed very unsatisfied with that answer and that made her smile. She refocused on her book determined to ignore the bane of her existence.

"we're partners, you know. You can't ignore me."

Willow didn't even move as she responded "I am YOUR partner. YOU are NOT MINE."

Cohen smiled at her childish response, "you know," he leaned closer to whisper in her ear, "that doesn't even make sense." she stiffened but was determined to not react. She brushed him off and Cohen let out an exasperated breath. She couldn't ignore them, they HAD to work together.

Cohen swung his desk around so the front of her desk was touching his. He could smell her hair from here…maybe this wasn't the best idea. " you go that right." she said under her breath, something Cohen might have missed with out his heightened vampiric senses. His stomach tightened, he hadn't imagined it. She did read his mind. He reached out and took her hand. Electric shocks shot down his hand, Willow looked up in alarm obviously feeling them too. They weren't painful, you just couldn't ignore them.

"you can try to ignore me" Cohen whispered leaning forward, "but you can't ignore this." he slowly ran a thumb across the back of her hand, she watched the movement with fascination. When she finally looked up she looked afraid.

"that-I don't- I-" frustrated, she tried to remove her hand, of course Cohen could not allow that. She had to face this. Willow tried again, clearing here throat "what-does it mean? or...I don't even know of that's the right question to ask." she looked defeated and lost. Cohen felt the urge to wrap her in his arms and make her world right.

"I'm not sure what this means either." he said slowly. He wasn't quite lying, there were still other possibilities (lies) . He continued " all I know is that, we can't ignore this. I know you're not fond of me and you know I am fond of you." he paused, they didn't break eye contact, "you should at least give me a shot, I'm not a terrible person... Actually," it was his turn to look shy, " I feel like I could start being a one woman kind of guy…if I had the right girl. Willow." she looked shocked, then suspicious, but Cohen's face was sincere. She looked thoughtful.

"I-I'm not willing to get hurt. Honestly it wouldn't be fair to you because…I-I don't open up easily.." she looked back up and saw his eyed were shinning with hope.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Willow. Honestly, you're the one that comes across as the heart breaker." he had a smile on his face now, "as for opening up, that all comes with time." she looked like she was nervous and Cohen didn't want to scare her away, they were making progress! " even if you're not considering.." but the bell cut him off.

The entire class filed out and Willow moved to get up, Cohen stood up and blocked her path starting again, "I know you don't want to get hurt and I understand that, but isn't it better to take a risk than never know?" Willow looked stumped with that one, he had her undivided attention, "even if you're not considering a relationship or feelings or whatever it is you have reservations about, just do one thing."

She nodded, entranced by his display of feelings, Cohen took a step forward and whispered across her lips, "just give me a second chance." he pressed his lips quickly against hers. By the time she opened her eyes he was gone and she was alone and more confused than ever.

How was she supposed to know if he wasn't just talking crap, telling her what she wanted to hear?

I was honest, Willow. Everything I said was true, I've never meant anything more. Just a chance, please.

Willow jumped. That was Cohen's voice! … Cohen isn't here though. She looked around, but had the nagging feeling no one had spoken words. She had felt them form in her mind. That scared her, but what was worse was that she new it was Cohen somehow using telepathy, or however he did it.

But worse still, she knew the words were sincere, she didn't know how she…just did. And that was scarier than how she had heard them in the first place.

WPOV

" Sam! I need to talk with you," Willow dropped all of her stuff and plopped into her seat, flustered, " I just talked to…" but when she stopped to look at Sam, he wasn't paying her any attention. "Sam?"

"Can't talk Willow, sorry." he focused back on the teacher and ignored her the rest of class. Willow was really hurt, he was supposed to be her friend. Sure there had been some compromising things happening between them, but being friends was what they had decided, right? The bell rang at the end of class and she stood up, she reached out for Sam. He turned towards her completely unemotional.

" I'm sorry if anything I did hurt you. I was very inconsiderate, but please talk to me. I need my friend." she pleaded with a small meek smile.

Sam ran a frustrated hand through his hair, "Willow, I'm not hurt or mad at you, I just need time. You could say I'm having…family issues."

" Sam, whatever you need I'm here. I can talk or listen or… or anything." she gave him a hopeful smile before he turned and left. She was relieved he wasn't mad, but still worried for her friend's well being. He had been acting strangely, but there was nothing she could do. She needed to talk to Lorraine. And fast. She swept out of the room to find her.

Thirty minutes later Lorraine and Willow were in the back of the local diner sipping hot chocolate (the house specialty) and talking about Willows problems.

"All I can tell you," Lorraine said after hearing everything, "is that Sam will be Sam. He'll act funny, but he'll come around. He always does. As for Cohen…" Lorraine shook her head, "this all seems very out of character for him, but if he was as sincere as you say he is…then I'd have to believe him. The only thing worse than getting hurt is always wondering about what could have been."

Willow knew she was right, Cohen had even said those very things to her. Man, maybe it was time to take a chance. After all her dad had just informed her they were going to be stationed here for at least another 15 months, and if she wanted to stay after that, since she'd be 18, she could. Everything was falling into place. This time she didn't have an excuse. What was so wrong with just giving him a chance? It didn't even have to go anywhere. Just…one more chance.

"you know what, Lorraine…I think I will give it a shot. Or him a shot. Well…" she didn't want to get ahead of herself, "actually, I'm just going to give him a second chance and see where it goes."

Lorraine beamed at Willow. "that is the perfect solution! … but what about Sam?"

"I'll just have to let him come around. I've already talked to him and he knows I'm here. I can't do much else." Lorraine conceded and they paid for their hot chocolate and left.

On the way back Lorraine started cracking up. "what is so funny, Lorraine" Willow was a little surprised at her friends outburst.

"you," gasp, "have to," tears rolled down her face, "go to" she took a deep breath, "TUTORING!" she wailed and dissolved once more into laughter. Immediately Willow's mood soured. Then something occurred to her.

" No, I don't." Lorraine stopped laughing. "Since I have decided I'm not completely avoiding Cohen I don't need to drop the class…which means I don't need to be in some stupid enrichment class!" Willow felt triumphant! But Lorraine just shook her head.

" You do realize this isn't an optional thing, just because you changed your mind doesn't mean you don't have to go to tutoring. It's a trial run that you have to attend to full term. That means a full six weeks." Willow looked crushed, so Lorraine hurried on "but I'm sure once your tutor sees that you don't really need help you can just use the time like a study hall period." Willow was really starting to get annoyed.

They pulled into Lorraine's parking spot. Fourth block was going to start in less than five minutes. "you know what? I'm going to go to my tutor today and straighten out this whole mess." her spirits were starting to lift, "I'm sure who ever it is will understand the obvious mistake." Willow hopped out of the car and began heading for her assigned classroom. Maybe things really would start to work out at school, everything else had. It was almost too good to be true.

Too bad for Willow she didn't know her tutor was Cohen and he was waiting for her anxiously. How will she react to him as her tutor? How can she give him a second chance? How can she trust him?

Ahhhhhh, teen angst isn't it great? Well there you have it! Another chapter for fighting fate. Please please please review! I haven't posted anything new in so long, I need your feed back! : )