AN: This chapter is more of a collection of different perspectives throughout the third day of class and a week after that when Matt meets Emily again. I hope you enjoy these and don't worry, a plot is coming; I just had to tie up these loose ends. Please review.

Chapter 7

Becker was exhausted, and his first class of the day wasn't helping him at all. He'd stayed up all night writing more poems about Jess. In fact, he'd only stopped when his alarm clock went off, meaning he had to get dressed for his run. Becker didn't understand it, when he wrote his poems, he couldn't stop thinking of nice things about her, but when they were actually together, he was completely tongue tied, only able to answer direct questions.

He had his arms on the desk, trying to keep his head up when Connor walked in.

"Hey mate," he said casually as he sat down. Becker noticed he looked almost as tired as he did. Connor looked over at him and held out the cup of coffee he'd brought in with him.

"Here, I knew you were tired yesterday, so I brought you some coffee from home to keep you awake. I'm not doing your notes every day." He grinned at Becker and shook the coffee enticingly.

"Connor, you are a godsend." Becker said gratefully as he took the coffee. Maybe I might survive today, Becker thought as he took a drink and waited for the blessed caffeine to hit his system.

XXXXX

Connor hid an inward sigh; he'd really wanted that coffee. Contrary to what he'd told Becker, Abby had made that coffee for Connor as a way of saying thank you again for saving Rex. Connor had really needed the coffee as he'd slept out in the woods again.

After school the day before, he and Abby had walked around, just talking. During that time, she'd tried to find out more about why he left his house for the night, but Connor refused to talk about it. No one knew the extent of what went on, the only people he'd ever even give hints to were Duncan and Tom; and he didn't want to tell Abby everything that was going on with his life just yet. Connor was still worried that if she found out everything about him, she wouldn't want anything to do with him anymore.

But he had told her that there was an argument and he'd left. Abby had encouraged him to talk it out with his mother, but Connor knew she didn't really understand how things were at his house. When she went back to her house, Connor told her he'd talk things out with his mother that night. He didn't. Instead, he crept into his house at two in the morning to shower and change his clothes. Even Becker would notice if he wore the same thing for three days in a row, and he was starting to smell. With the 2 am shower and worry over what he would say to his mother when he finally did see her, Connor hadn't slept much last night.

However, when Abby had asked him this morning how it had gone, Connor lied and told her everything went well and all was forgiven. He felt bad lying to Abby, but he didn't want her to know about his family yet, and he didn't want her to try and force him to talk with his mother when he wasn't ready. What did you say to someone you've lived with your whole life and barely spoken to? Connor decided he would talk to her today, immediately afterschool. He squared his shoulders and began mentally preparing himself for the afternoon.

XXXXX

It was the end of the school day and Cutter walked outside with a wide smile, enjoying the bright sunshine. Stephen had to stay afterschool to work on something, so Cutter began his walk home alone. As he walked away from the school, he saw a familiar form walking ahead of him.

Cutter sped up to talk to Jenny, tapping her on the shoulder as he walked up. She jumped at his approach and gave a little gasp. Cutter gave a short laugh.

"I didn't think I was that scary." He said with a grin. Jenny looked up at him, embarrassed.

"I was just thinking, Nick, sorry." She said, looking down. Cutter frowned at her.

"It's my fault, I should be the one to apologize, but what's wrong?"

"Nothing" she replied quickly, but Cutter just stared at her. She finally relented.

"It's just, I don't know if I can do this." She said in a rush of breath, "I thought I could, over the summer, I thought I would be able to face everyone here, but I can't. I can't stand to see the looks of pity everyone gives me, I don't want everyone's pity, I just want my sister back." As she unburdened herself to Nick, she began to cry lightly.

"It's gotten to where the only person I talk to anymore is Lester. He doesn't show any emotions as it is, I don't have to worry about him giving me pity. I just want someone to talk to, not just about Claudia, but about anything. I just want someone to treat me like I didn't lose my better half."

Cutter looked at Jenny, standing in the street crying. Sadness washed over him. In his mind, he'd done this to her, he'd forever changed her life and happiness. The least he could do was try and comfort her. Cutter moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"You want to talk? Let's talk." He said soothingly, "I'm here for you. Let's get you home." At this, Jenny looked up.

"Can we just stay out for now," she'd asked faintly, "I don't want to go back yet. Can we just walk and talk, please."

"We can do whatever you want." Cutter replied reassuringly. He let go of her and placed his arm supportively around her shoulders as they walked down the street.

XXXXX

Connor stood outside of his front door, mentally psyching himself up. You can do this, he said under his breath, you can do this. With a deep breath, Connor grabbed the door knob and opened the door, stepping inside.

He walked into the kitchen and saw his mother sitting at the kitchen table, coffee cup in hand. She looked up as Connor walked in and he set his bag down on the floor by the table. Connor pulled out his chair and sat down across from his mother.

"So," he began casually, "are you done talking, or can we try again?" His mother's eyes brightened as she sat up straighter. She looked into her son's eyes with joy, glad to have him home.

"So, how've you been?" she asked with a smile. Connor just grinned as he prepared to fill in the last nine years of his life to someone who had been living in the same house the whole time.

XXXXX

It had been a week since they'd switched notebooks and Matt had finally stopped looking for Emily Merchant. He'd panicked after not being able to find her the first day, but every day since then the fear subsided a little more. Now, he didn't care if he found her or not. He was still enthralled with the writings she'd left in her book, and Matt had spent most of his nights trying to mimic her flowing script. And then, after a week of looking, she found him.

He'd been getting his books out of his locker, preparing to go home; when he closed the locker door, there she was, looking at him. Matt jumped a little, surprised by how quietly she'd moved up one him. The hallway was completely empty by now; he'd waited in his last class for a moment, talking to the teacher. Now he was alone in the hallway with Emily.

"I have your notebook." She said calmly. Matt was slightly taken aback at her directness, but he found he kind of enjoyed it too.

"Well hi to you too." He replied calmly, "Yeah, you do. I've got yours here. Where've you been? I've been looking all over for you."

"I had something come up out of town." She replied evasively. "I'm sorry, but I wrote in your notebook, I needed something to write in and I didn't have mine. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Matt replied, "I kinda wrote in yours too. You have an amazing gift for writing." Matt was pleased to see that Emily began to blush at his compliment.

"Thank you." She said, looking at the floor, "Your writings were very good too." Matt laughed.

"I thought so too until I read yours." He admitted, "Your stories were full of description and imagery, mine had barely described fighting and dialogue. In fact, I'm actually amazed you could even read mine; sometimes I can't even tell what I wrote."

"You're too hard on yourself," she responded, "It wasn't as bad as you think, I actually enjoyed several of them. But I could still give you pointers if you want." She offered.

"Yeah," Matt replied, "Maybe over dinner." She looked taken aback at the offer and even Matt had to admit to himself that he'd surprised himself with his impulsiveness. After what seemed like a lifetime, Emily smiled at him.

"I would like that." She said simply. "I went ahead and put my number inside your book. Call me so we can set a date." She gave Matt one last smile and walked away. Matt just grinned to himself, marveling at his own stupid luck.