Chapter 11

"Where do you think Abby and Connor were today?" Danny asked Sarah as they sat in her room researching South Africa's school system on Wikipedia.

"I dunno; have you tried texting either of them?" She replied as she scrolled through the information. "Or were you just going to sit here and wonder all day?" Danny grinned as he pulled out his phone. "That's why I like having you around, you can do all the thinking, and I can make the jokes." He gave her a cheeky grin as he sent a rapid text to Connor asking where he was and if Abby was with him.

Sarah continued to read through the mass information on Wikipedia while Danny looked over her shoulder and pretended to read it. Truthfully, he really didn't want to do any of the senior project now. If he could have his way, he'd be doing it the week before, but Sarah insisted that they get it done early and he really didn't want to make her mad. So he contented himself with pretending to read over her shoulder. As if she could read his mind, Sarah spoke up without looking away from the screen.

"I know you're not reading anything. It's fine for now, but you're taking me to see the new Nicholas Sparks movie to reward my hard work."

"How could you possibly know I wasn't reading?" Danny asked, looking at her in amazement. "And you know I hate Nicholas Sparks."

"Simple, I'm your girlfriend, I always know. And yes, I know you hate Nicholas Sparks, that's why it's your punishment. Now, what did Connor say?" As Sarah finished speaking, Danny noticed his phone lighting up. He grabbed it with gusto and opened Connor's text.

"He says that Abby wasn't feeling well and he stayed home with her today." Danny read, "Aww, how sweet. Those two need to get together already, I'm tired of waiting."

Sarah laughed, "I'll say, they're perfect for each other, one of them just needs to make the first move."

"I'm telling Connor that." Danny said suddenly, "I'm just going to tell him to kiss her right now, no excuses."

"Danny," Sarah admonished as he hit send, "You can't just send him stuff like that."

"Why not?" Danny asked with a smirk. "I send it to him every night anyways. I even got Becker to do the same thing. We text him encouraging comments telling him to make a move every night."

Sarah laughed suddenly, "Oh good, I text Abby every night and tell her to tell Connor how she feels. It's good to know we all want what's best for them, even if they don't know it yet."

Danny's phone lit up again and as he checked the message, his jaw dropped.

"Sarah," He said weakly, "Can you read this for me to make sure I saw it right." Sarah took the phone and read the message out loud.

"I did," she read, "I did what? What did you tell him to do?" She asked Danny. Suddenly it came to her. "You told him to, but he wouldn't, but he said." She stammered incoherently. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, signaling a text. She looked and saw it was Abby. She opened it immediately to see if she would confirm Connor's text.

I told Connor he could tell Danny, so I'm telling you, even though Danny probably already told you while you were "working". Connor and I are now official. I told him I loved him and he kissed me. And before you ask, he didn't do it because Danny told him, he did it hours ago. I'll fill you in on the rest of the details tomorrow, see you then.

Sarah looked at the text in amazement, Danny's face matching hers.

"Well," Danny said finally, "I guess Becker owes me five pounds."

XXXXX

As Becker sat in Jess' overly girly room for the first time, his phone vibrated. Jess was busy checking some things in her e-mail, so Becker read the new text from Danny.

You owe me a fiver Becker read the text and immediately went over the list of ongoing bets the pair had between them.

You did not get the shop girl's number he texted back after a moment, she's in her mid-twenties and had no interest in you. Becker waited a moment before Danny texted back again.

Not that bet, Connor and Abby are official, Connor kissed her. Becker grinned to himself, it was about time for those two, they needed to be together from day one. Jess looked over at him grinning and asked, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing really," Becker replied, "Two of my friends finally got together and I just found out."

"Oh," Jess said happily, "that's so sweet. Who are they? Would I know them?"

"It's Connor Temple and Abby Maitland." Becker said casually, "Do you?"

"No." Jess replied sadly, "Are they nice?"

Becker frowned at what he thought was a weird question. "Yeah, Connor's one of the nicest guys I know. And Abby's pretty cool as well. What about your friends?"

"I don't really hang out with that many people outside of school. I really don't even hang out with that many people in school. I just like to study and have a quiet night in. At first I had friends that tried to make me go to parties, but I never had much fun. You're really the only person I talk to after school."

"You can hang out with us, if you want." Becker said impulsively, "We usually just get pizza and watch movies together on the weekends."

Jess brightened up at the prospect. "Yeah, I'd like that a lot." Becker grinned at the idea of getting to spend more time with Jess outside of school.

"Here we go," Jess said, pulling up Google on her computer. "We can start by looking at the requirements for people graduating that are the same age as we are."

Becker watched as Jess typed in 'graduation requirements for Americans born in 1997'. Becker frowned at the screen.

"Jess, we were born in '94." He said slowly, "Not '97."

"I was born in 1997." Jess replied casually. Becker did the math in his head and frowned again.

"But that would make you 14." He said incredulously. "I thought you were a senior?"

"I am a senior, I just moved up in several grades." She looked over at him and smiled, "I'm very smart." Becker looked at her astonished, he'd always assumed she just looked young for her age, now it turned out she was just young.

"I never knew that about you." Becker told her, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Jess shrugged, "It just never came up, besides, I don't like to talk about it, it intimidates some people. Me being so young and in the same year as they are, it makes me look like I think I'm better, so I don't talk about it."

They sat in silence for a moment, looking through different websites before Jess spoke up.

"And speaking of not saying anything, why haven't you told me your first name? I know Becker's your last name because all of your ROTC friends call you Becker too, and they always go by last name. So now you know I'm fourteen, what is your first name?"

Becker sighed; she was going to find out sooner or later.

"Hilary" he mumbled, looking down.

Jess looked confused, "What did you say it was?"

"Hilary." Becker responded louder, "My first name is Hilary, I don't know why my parents gave it to me, but there it is. I'm Hilary Becker."

Jess laughed, more out of surprise than anything else, but Becker was still hurt.

"Look," he said angrily, "it has one L, it's masculine."

"I know, I know," she said placating, "It's just a little funny, you know. You always act so tough, but it's because you have a girl's name."

"I don't act tough because I have a girl's name," Becker responded, getting angrier, "I am tough, end of discussion. Besides, at least I don't sit at home all the time because no one wants to spend time with me because I'm fourteen." Becker got up quickly, grabbed his bag, and left, noticing the hurt look on Jess' face as he did.

As he rushed out of the apartment, shame hit Becker like a wave. He'd just yelled at a friend for laughing at his name. Everyone laughed at his name, Danny had rolled around on the floor he was laughing so hard when he heard it. Becker turned around before he'd gotten halfway down the street.

He marched himself back into her apartment, through the hallway and into her room. She looked up in surprise at Becker's sudden intrusion.

"I'm sorry." They both said simultaneously after a moment of silence. Becker was taken aback at her apology.

"You're sorry? What are you sorry for?" He asked.

"I laughed at your name, a friend shouldn't do that." She responded sadly. Becker looked at her incredulously.

"I have a girl's name." he said, noting her look of astonishment at his admission, "It's hilarious. I shouldn't have gotten mad at you at all. I was way out of line. I'm sorry, please forgive me." Jess looked surprised at his statement.

"Of course I forgive you," she said quickly, "do you forgive me?"

"Of course," Becker replied, "You were right to laugh, it is pretty funny." He gave her a reassuring smile and she returned it eagerly.

"Good," she said finally, "because we still have work to do tonight." Becker grinned as he sat down next to her to work on their project together.

XXXXX

As Danny grabbed his bag and prepared to head home, Sarah steeled herself to ask him the question she'd been avoiding for weeks. He gave her a quick kiss and began heading out the door.

"Danny," Sarah called quickly, "there's something I wanted to ask you."

"Shoot." Danny replied, ambling casually back to her.

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" she asked in a rush. Danny grinned

"You mean like, a meet-the-parents stay for dinner?" He asked with a smile.

Sarah nodded, looking down, "I understand if you don't want to, it's fine."

Sarah looked at the floor, expecting Danny to try and get out of dinner, but to her surprise he tilted her chin up to meet his eyes.

"I would love to stay and meet your family." He said with a smile. "But won't they get mad if you're springing a dinner guest on them last minute?"

"I may have told them two weeks ago that you were coming over," Sarah admitted, "I've just been waiting for a good moment to tell you."

Danny laughed, "Well as long as you didn't wait until the day of." He joked with a grin. "Do I have time to go home and change?" Sarah nodded, cursing inwardly that she didn't think of him needing clothes for dinner and wishing she'd told him sooner so he'd be ready. Danny gave her a scrutinizing look.

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking concerned.

"I just want everything to go well tonight." She admitted, looking at him with worry.

"It will, don't worry." Danny said calmly, "Everything will be fine, I promise."

Sarah nodded as he kissed her again and began walking out of the door.

"I'll see you soon." He said as he walked. Sarah could only nod and head back inside to get ready.

AN: I'm not that great at writing other couples, but here you go. Please review and let me know what you think.