Jeffrey looked down at his caller ID. Seeing it was Skye, he couldn't answer fast enough. "Hello!" It took all of his self control not to yell into the phone. In the background, he could hear the noise of a party. "Skye are you at a party? You actually left your house!"

"Jeffrey, shut up this is serious, I need you to come get me." She says in a worried, rushed, whisper. "I know you're in Cameron to see Batty. All of these people are drunk, and this guy keeps touching me. I had to duck into a bathroom to make this call. Please, Jeffrey, I need you." He's taken aback, but is already reaching for his keys and his jacket.

"I'm on my way, just wait right there. I'll text you as soon as I'm there." While she relays the address, he awkwardly opening the car door and starting the engine. He drives, wildly, through the dark streets. Normally, he had music blasting through the speakers, but his car was silent. The house is lit from top to bottom with the way too loud bass blasting through the windows. He pulls out his phone and tells Skye that he's outside.

A minute later, he hears her voice yelling at someone to let go of her. Without thinking, he leaps out of the car and runs of to the porch. For second, he is distracted by Skye, her hair is messily put up in a small ponytail, and even in just a plain coat and jeans she captivates him. The hand on his arm, infuriates him. The hand belongs to a big brute, the kind that wears tank tops and backwards hats with their pants practically down to their knees. "Let go of her." Skye glares at him, silently telling him that she can handle it.

"WHy?" His words are slurred. "ShE LikEs iT." He sees the look in Skye's eyes change to fury. She stomps hard on his foot, and when the grip on her arm loosens, she turns and punches him in the nose. Jeffrey laughs.

"You little-" She starts, through gritted teeth He gently places a hand on her shoulder.

"All right, let's go." She turns around and grins.

"One more kick?" He laughs and nods. Her smile grows and she kicks the man in the crotch. He doubles over in pain, and together, they run back to the car. As soon as they're in, they start to laugh. They laugh, and laugh, his head resting in the wheel.

"Jeffrey." He looks at her.

"Yeah."

"Thanks." For just a moment, he thinks he sees something flash across her face. He shrugs.

"Don't mention it."

"No, I really mean it. I was convinced to go to that party by a friend, I should've known it would be trouble." He starts the car and begins driving back to the house.

"I get it, people get way too intense at parties." She studies her hands which are folded in her lap.

"Yeah." The stoplight colors their faces as they wait for it to change. It's a heavy silence, the kind that only forms between two people who have one thing they both want to talk about, but also want to avoid at all costs.

"I've missed you." He says, the words rushing out.

"I've missed you too, a lot actually." That dreadful silence continues.

"A lot, a lot?" He asks, a stupid grin on his face. She smiles too.

"Yeah a lot, a lot. More than I should've probably." She pauses, but he doesn't speak, he just waits. He waits until it's clear that she isn't going to elaborate.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Because, I'm willing, I'll talk about, you know 'feelings'."

"No, I do not want to talk about it." Jeffrey turned onto Gardam street, purposefully turning off the headlights, so not to wake the neighbors. "I just," She sighs, and studies her hands again. "I just want to pretend that we don't have these feelings." Jeffrey stops the car in the middle of the street, putting it in park.

"We?" He asks.

"Don't pretend you didn't know." She whispers. Jeffrey knows the smile he wears is a stupid one. Without looking, Skye does too. "Stop smiling like a dope."

"I can't. So why can't we…" He made an awkward hand gesture that she somehow understood to mean date.

"You know why, I've told you why!" She turns to face him, her voice rising. "You think I wouldn't love...a relationship?"

"You would?"

"Yes! Of course, but the risk is too high, the math shows most outcomes as unfavorable." Of course she had actually done the math.

"Okay, but you said that skiing and that was awesome." The two sat in silence. Jeffrey drove from the street into the Penderwick's driveway. He got out of the car, walked around, and opened the door for her. She stepped out, shivering slightly.

"I, um…" She leaned forward and kissed him quickly on the cheek. "Thanks." She rushed inside, her cheeks red.

Jeffrey kept standing outside, in awe of events. Maybe, just maybe, they had a chance. He'd just have to prove the math wrong.

Author's Note

Sorry for the late update. I'll try to make up for it with the next one. As always PM's and reviews make my day. Happy Reading! :)

-Avionyx