Yay, finally a long chapter! =D

Okay, so this is a direct continuation of "Chapter Six: Monday, Monday..." (lol, I couldn't come up with a good title for this chapter, Chapter Seven). I think this chapter is also touching and ends with a bit of a cliffhanger as well, though not as much so as the last chapter. In fact, this chapter isn't supposed to end with a cliffhanger, though it seems that something happens to Kayley and she magically disappears into thin air. She doesn't. She's perfectly safe. I just wanted to clarify that since I found it could be read the other way. xD Okay, so I probably gave enough of the chapter away by now. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!~ :) Special thanks to VickyVicarious and Emilie for such quick reviews on Chapter Six!

[Oh, and PS: For those of you readers who have followed me from My Monochrome Existence on the Yuna-and-Stefie account, you may recognize the little scene presented here. Yes, I realize it is awfully similar to what happened between Dimitri and the football jock Chris, only the "discussion" started for a different reason—though I know both fights were to defend the girl—and Anya jumped into it as well (lol). Kayley's a bit too feminine for that! "Zach fell to the floor with a thud. Kayley's hand flew to her mouth. This was getting out of control." That's where Anya would have pounced on the dude (rofl)! Okay, sorry to hold you up. Enjoy! :D]

Chapter Seven: Be Good to Me

Tuesday began the same as Monday, both silently feuding teens awkwardly finding ways to get by in their situation.

In the English classroom Kayley occupied her time with her textbook until the professor appeared, and Jim sauntered right down the aisle to his own seat and dreamed of spending the weekend at the Mullaly Skate Park. Yet the weekend was so far away.

At lunch they sat and ate, not acknowledging the other's presence. Except when Kayley once again failed to open her soda can. Sighing, she looked to the left and held her can out to the right, toward Jim. Jim took the can, snapped the tab, and gave the can back. And she proceeded to drink her soda.

Zach glared at them from the cafeteria doorway. His eyes were glued to Kayley, the angelic girl who chose to befriend Jim, the scum of the earth. But she wouldn't be with Jim for long, he assured himself. Hands in his pockets, Zach swaggered over to her table. "Hello," he greeted in a nauseatingly syrupy voice.

Kayley looked up and, though startled, pleasantly said, "Oh, hullo."

Jim, also startled, and a bit surprised at this guy's evident disregard and disrespect for Kayley's original answer, studied him with suspicious eyes.

"Listen," Zach said, running a hand through his blond mop of hair, "I know you said no. I just want you to know that I really like you and—"

"Again," Kayley said, trying to get this over with quickly and painlessly, "I think you're very sweet, but I'm just not interested. I'm oh-so sorry." Kayley, in an attempt to emphasize her message, returned her attention to her soda and fuji apple.

Zach's nostrils flared. "Look," he spoke a bit more forcefully, planting his palms on the table and glaring at her.

Kayley, trying not to cause a scene, swigged her Shasta Grape soda, and Jim gulped down some Red Bull as if Zach wasn't going to interrupt their lives any longer.

"I don't know what the deal is."

Kayley swallowed. "I don't want to go out with you," she repeated sternly.

"Why?" he bellowed.

Kayley smiled in disbelief. "I don't want to," she croaked. Unfortunately for Kayley, in her shock her response came out sounding somewhat like a question. And both Zach and Jim caught it, to her great dismay.

Zach took it as an incentive to keep going. "Give me a reason."

It was obvious to Jim that Kayley, the sweet girl that she was, was going to need some help from someone who could be a bit more forceful. "Look man," Jim interjected for her, "she said no. That should be good enough for you. Now buzz off." Jim followed up with a gulp of Red Bull. Head hanging, Kayley followed Jim's lead and sipped her grape soda.

Zach sneered at Jim. "Oh, I see." His eyes swung to Kayley. "It's because of your boyfriend here, huh?"

Jim gagged mid-swallow and Kayley involuntarily spit her grape soda. "Eww, no," Kayley replied in disgust.

Zach leered at them both. "Let me tell you about my boy Hawkins here, sweetheart," he growled. "He's been threatened with being suspended or even expelled, and that's not all. He's done some stuff." He ticked them off on his fingers. "Damage of property. Multiple city violations. Harassment of a police officer. Disregard for the law."

Kayley's eyes widened and she shot an inquisitive glance at Jim, who was staring down at the table.

"One more mark against his record and bam!" He loudly clapped his hands together. "Hello Juvenile Hall."

Shocked, Kayley sat there, quiet as a tomb.

Having recovered his bearings, Jim was stock-still. He wanted to smash Zach's nose, but Zach was right. If he did that, he'd be thrown in Juvenile Hall. There was nothing he could do but sit there like an idiot and let this moron continue verbally thrashing him.

"Well," Kayley finally murmured, "that certainly didn't help out Jim's case, but it didn't help you out any either. It just shows that you're a bitter, hateful person." She looked up in challenge.

Jim's eyes flew to Kayley in silent respect. No one—excluding his mother—had stood up for him before. And the person she was challenging was not one many would even be brave enough to look in the eyes.

Zach's face fell. "So you're stickin' with him?" he asked in disbelief.

Kayley stood and leveled her eyes with his. "I'm not 'sticking' with anybody. But you have proved to me you're not worth my time or effort. Now, good day!" she spat hotly. By this time the whole cafeteria was watching, but Kayley didn't care anymore. She continued to stand her ground, willing him away.

For a moment it appeared Zach was going to cave in. But then he did the unexpected. He shoved Kayley.

Jim clinched his teeth, protectiveness coming over him.

"Listen, Princess, I was trying to help you, but you're just too blind to see a hero when you need one. If I was a snake I woulda bit ya!"

Jim jumped up from his chair.

Kayley's face was crimson as she quipped, "First off, I'm not a princess. Secondly... Of all the conceited, arrogant, egotistical, sexist, dastardly—" Kayley trailed off, letting her sentence hang as Jim placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her back.

Glaring daggers at Zach, Jim pronounced, "Listen, pal, she told you to get lost, so why don't you just shove off yourself." Jim pushed Zach none to gently with the word "shove."

Retaliating, Zach charged Jim. Jim was luckily too quick for Zach. Dodging him, he stepped to the side and stuck out his foot, causing Zach to fall to the floor with a thud.

Kayley's hand flew to her mouth. This was getting out of control.

Next Jim tackled him, sitting on his back and pulling Zach's hands behind him so that he couldn't thrash out.

Jim looked up and saw Kayley, who was watching him in wonderment and admiration. She wanted to hug him. But Jim literally had his hands full and his attention returned to Zach, who was trying to roll over and push Jim off of him. Jim planted a foot on his neck, pressing his head to the ground. Jim looked up again and smiled in triumph. Kayley cracked a smile, but victory soon ended when the principal yanked the two boys to their feet.

"Mason! Hawkins!" he roared, "My office, now!"

The two boys, still struggling against one another, were dragged to the principal's office. Without hesitation, Kayley followed suit.

O~o~O

Kayley impatiently sat outside the office, listening to a lot of yelling, insults, and even some profanities (mind you, all profanities were from Zach's foul mouth, and for each he received punishment). Kayley cringed a few times as Jim and Zach argued. Jim stood by his word that he was defending Kayley, and Zach claimed that Jim wasn't defending anyone at all; Jim was just out to be a beast and beat him up for simply asking Kayley out. How was he to know that Kayley and Jim were a couple? Kayley rolled her eyes. "For the last time, eww! We are not a couple." She told herself.

Finally Zach was permitted to leave the office, being told he would have detention. He threw open the door and marched right past Kayley without a word or glance, for which she was grateful. She saw him limp, and a faint smile crossed her face. "Good, he deserves it."

As Jim shuffled through the door, though, she became angry. From one look at his crestfallen expression she could tell he had been expelled. Jumping up, she commanded, "Jim, wait for me. Wait right here. I'm going to have a talk with the principal."

Kayley walked past him and pushed open the office door. "Hi," she said meekly, "I'm Kayley Evans, and I was a prime witness to the fight. I just wanted to say—"

The principal scoffed. "Prime witness? You were the reason for the fight," he spat unkindly.

"Sir, please listen. Zachary Mason was getting physical with me when I turned him down. Jim simply jumped in my place to defend me," she said, her voice pleading.

The principal's eyes lit. "That's what Mr. Hawkins claimed. Of course, it was his word against Mason's, and given Hawkins' history..."

"Please don't expel him. I'll feel absolutely terrible if he gets expelled for acting in my defense," Kayley begged, tears forming in her eyes.

Kayley honestly deserved to win an Oscar for her performance. Collapsing sideways into a stuffed chair and flinging an arm across her face, she wept, "My poor, fragile heart wouldn't be able to take it!" She jolted upright in her overstuffed seat. "Please, I beg of you!" she cried, clasping her hands together. The principal stared at her with hard eyes.

"Dear me, I'm feeling quite faint," she announced in a weary voice.

"Miss Evans," he said in an exasperated tone, "please hold the hysterics. We've had enough drama today as it is." Exhausted, he removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I'll see what I can do," he muttered in a yielding tone.

Kayley stood abruptly, again clasping her hands together. "Oh thank you, sir, thank you!"

Kayley practically skipped out of the room. Closing the door behind her, she grinned at Jim like the cat who swallowed the canary. "He wants to see you."

Jim stared at the girl in utter bewilderment, and true to Kayley's word, the principal poked his head out the door. "Mr. Hawkins, get in here," he demanded gruffly, yet with the slightest hint of resignation in his voice.

Jim shot another look at Kayley, who nodded her head encouragingly.

O~o~O

As Jim stood to leave he promised, "It will never happen again."

"I hope so."

Jim reached for the doorknob.

"That girl is a miracle worker. If I were you, I'd give her a big thank you." It was true. Whatever she had done had kept him from being expelled and from breaking his mother's heart. A thank you was the least she deserved.

Jim, head hung low, slightly pivoted toward the principal and, smiling to himself, turned the knob. "Yes sir."

Jim was excited. He wanted to share with somebody—Kayley—the good news. He was so jubilant he might even give her a high five. But when Jim exited the office, Kayley was long gone.