Hello again! Thanks to those of you that reviewed, seeing your comments motivated me to update faster! Anyway, feel free to let me know of any spelling errors or major character personality problems. This story is slightly AU, so the characters are going to be a little different than in the show. For example Jane is going to be a little more vulnerable and withdrawn at times, Billy is going to be a little mean for awhile, and Nick is going to have an interesting and hopefully unexpected side to him. With these small changes in mind, let me know if there is an action a character does that is really against their personality. I've tried to have the story use the Canon background of the episodes 1-3 and used the ideas the previews for episode 4 gave me as my storyline. I hope that cleared up any questions any of you might have. Please enjoy and review!

Love's Trials

Jane POV

I was right about my clothes being ruined. Halfway to my house one high heel lost its heel in a crack in the sidewalk and the other broke on the slippery blacktop of my driveway, sending me crashing to the ground and causing my foot to tilt at an unnatural angle. I sat there in the rain for a few minutes, my foot throbbing in time with my heart, until I was able to slowly stand up and limp the rest of the way into the house. Which brings me to now, with me sitting on the floor in a wet heap with a sprained ankle to boot.

I feel the tears burning in my eyes, and I finally let them fall. Hot tracks streaming down my face, sobs bursting from my chest, makeup running down my face… All of the pent up hurt and frustration from earlier comes out in a relentless flood. I sit there shivering and crying for a good twenty minutes before I am calm enough to stand and shakily make my way to the shower.

The hot water feels good on my skin, and it feels as though the hurt and betrayal are rolling off of my skin and down the drain. For a few blissful minutes I am calm. Too soon, though, the water starts to turn cold and I hop out and into the safety of my towel. Standing here reality begins to set in, and I feel the vice around my heart begin to tighten once more.

I take a step forward and stumble, having momentarily forgotten my injured ankle. I quickly pull on my oldest and warmest pair of pajamas and hobble into the kitchen in search of an icepack. I find it in the freezer, surprisingly where it should be for once. If living with a grown up Ben has taught me anything, it is to not be surprised to find peanut butter in the toaster or macaroni and cheese on the ceiling.

Icepack in hand, I slowly make my way into the living room where I collapse on the couch and prop my foot up with the ice on it. Just as I close my eyes and lean back, my phone vibrates. I check the caller id to find that Gray is trying to get a hold of me. I wearily press talk and put the phone up to my ear.

"Hello?" Well, I have to start somewhere.

"Jane, I need you to come in early today and pick up my shipment Louis Vuitton bags and check to make sure that every single one matches my custom orders. Do you understand?" Oh dear, she's not going to be happy with me…

"Gray, I woke up today with a light cold and as the morning went on it has gotten a lot worse. I have a fever and I feel it would be unwise for me to be around your special order bags while I might have the flu. I guess what I'm trying to say is-" I was cut off.

"-That you are calling in sick today and perhaps the rest of the week as well? Yes, Jane, you may have the rest of the week off on sick leave. Be lucky today is a Thursday, Jane, or you would be coming in, flu or not! I will expect to see you here on time on Monday." Well, that was easy.

"Thank you Gray! I-" Click! She hung up on me. Oh well, not a big surprise there. I lean my head back against the arm of the couch and before I know it I am drifting off to sleep.

I am rudely awoken some time later by Ben storming into the house.

"Jane! Jane, are you here?" His voice is not quite its usual calm, so I know he was worried.

"Right here, Ben." My voice comes out scratchy, and my head spins as I open my eyes. My vision swims for a moment before focusing in on my big brother's face as his expression morphs from worried to annoyed and then to a deeper concern as he moves over to the couch. He sits down at my side and places his hand gently upon my brow. After a moment he pulls it back with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Well, you definitely have a fever. Do you mind explaining to me how you go from being healthy as a horse when you left this morning, then skipping class, and your internship I'm assuming, and now me coming home to find you passed out on the couch with a high fever?… And is that ice on your foot?" His expression is serious, and I mentally groan. He is in 'legal guardian' mode right now. Okay, might as well get this over with now.

"Well, it started with-…"

(Flashback)

"Billy?" I call in the courtyard where we normally have lunch. He normally picks me up from my last class before lunch so we can walk together, but he wasn't there so I went on to lunch without him with the intention of meeting him there.

He was not at our table, either, and after a few minutes of waiting I go off in search of him. Turning a corner I see him pressing Lulu Pope up against a tree in a lip lock. I gasp, not believing what I'm seeing. But they continue, with gusto might I add, and so I turn around and walk quickly in the opposite direction. I heard someone that sounded suspiciously like Bill, call my name. I quickened my pace…

(End Flashback)

"…-And then Billy caught up with me and we fought. He said some very hurtful things, and told me that he and Lulu had been sneaking around for over three months and just now decided they were ready to come out as a couple. He lied to me, Ben! For three months, no less! I was so hurt and I couldn't stand to be there anymore. So, I left school and walked home. Halfway here I broke one high heel, and the other broke on the driveway and took me down with it. And that is why I've got ice on my ankle. As for my fever… I must have caught it from walking in the rain so long, even though I took a hot shower after I got home." My voice crackled towards the end, and I started coughing. Ben looked thoughtful, then smiled and ruffled my already mussed hair.

"Okay, kiddo. You're starting to act like a real teenager! I'm so proud! What are you going to do about your internship, though? And Billy?" Oh Ben, of course you would think being a teenager means skipping class… Oh boy, but what do I do about Billy? I can't face him after today. The thought of his angry, hateful expression and his equally angry and hurtful words brings tears to my eyes.

"Well, Gray gave me the rest of the week off to recover. As for Billy… Ben, I don't know what to do! He hurt me so bad! I thought he would be the very last, or almost the very last, person to say something like that to me… I can barely think about it, let alone face him!" I start crying again at this point, which only makes my headache worse. Ben looks alarmed at the tears for a moment before he scoops me up in a hug and gently rocks me back and forth.

My tears subside after awhile, and I am almost asleep as I feel Ben carry me to my room and tuck me in under the covers. He plants a light kiss on my forehead and leans down close to my ear.

"Whatever you do, Janie, know that I'll back you up one hundred percent. I may not be the best guardian for you right now, or the best big brother, but I'm here for you and I'll always love you just the same." And with that he smoothes my hair a final time and walks from the room, shutting the door behind him softly.

Well, I know that I kind of hinted Nick was going to appear in this chapter, but as it worked out he was not. But be expecting him soon, and if not the next chapter then most likely the one after it. Please review, and I hope you enjoyed!