Walking into school on that Friday morning was, I felt at the moment, quite possibly, the most nerve wracking thing I had ever been made to do. The decision I was forced to make weighed heavily on my mind even after I had made it clear to myself. All there was left to do was to get through the next few hours without getting sick. Even still, I felt the urge to run to the bathroom whenever I thought about what I was going to face, feeling nauseous.

"Hey, Norah, wait up!"

As I turned around, I saw Peter slowly jogging my way. I smiled in relief of seeing a friendly face for at least a little while. Even if I couldn't tell him, or anyone else, about what was going on, it would be something to distract me.

"You want to try catching your breath?" I teased.

"Here," he said and handed me a sheet of neon green paper from his book bag as he did what I suggested.

"What's this?"

"Just read it."

The paper, which was a flyer, nearly blinded me as it was so bright. The dark lettering, which described an audition of sorts, toned down the striking color. In my confusion, I finally registered what the paper was saying. Excitedly, I read the details once more.

"This is great," I told him, remembering Jane's promise to get me in touch with some musicians after finding out my musical tendencies. "How did you find out about this?"

"Well," he explained while we walked down the hall, his mouth turned up into a grin. "Ever since I opened 'Above The Dot', there's been local bands dying to play there and get promoted, so I thought why not have a wall for posters? So, I saw this one and remembered what Jane had mentioned one day at practice."

"Thank you. I'll definitely check this out."

Though the prospect lifted my spirits, I still couldn't shake the worry that flooded me. I could only hope that I wouldn't have to say anything to Peter or that he would even notice at all.

No such luck.

A few more steps down the hall and we made it to a bench and sat down. I could feel his eyes searching my face, but not at all in the same way another certain person usually did so.

"Are you okay? I thought you'd be psyched about this." Concern was apparent in his voice.

I nodded and smiled to the best of my ability.

"Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind." My answer was honest, but not the truth. I wish I could have just spilled it all right then. I might have felt better.

"Want to lighten your load?"

His smile was warm and inviting. I could no longer resist. I had to let a little of my frustration out, if only as cryptic as was possible. I then turned to face Peter and rested my elbow on the back of the bench, attempting to relax.

"Um," I began brilliantly. "I sort of need advice for a friend."

"Alright, I'm listening."

Was I seriously considering doing the whole metaphorical friend routine? I inwardly laughed at how ridiculous I felt, but knew it might be the only thing that could give me a bit of peace.

Thankfully, Peter sat there attentively and his interest was not at all sarcastic or contrived. How I wished I could have Jane to talk to. I supposed he would have to do as a substitute.

"So, this friend of mine -- you wouldn't know her, she lives in the States – sort of met this guy. The problem is not only does he have a girlfriend, but he's promising to dump said girlfriend for her and she has no idea what to do. I'm just wondering…what you would do in that situation. If you were my friend I mean?"

I was surprised at how I was able to keep the façade going so fluidly. Maybe I would get my much needed advice after all and without a hitch.

Peter titled his head in thought, and then repositioned himself on the bench. I glanced at the clock while he gathered his answer together. Only five minutes left until class. I suddenly felt sick.

"If it was me," he began, then paused. "If I was your friend, I would make sure I really knew the guy first because after all, he could just be looking to get some and wouldn't dump his current girlfriend anyway."

"But for instance," I added cautiously. "What if the guy really swore that he cared about her and that their relationship wouldn't be hidden anymore?"

"Well, you know the old saying 'actions speak louder than words' ?"

"Sure."

"I would tell your friend to make the guy show her he's really being serious and to wait until he actually dumps the other girl before she makes any sort of move. She'll be better off in the end."

"Huh. Sounds like you have some experience in this area," I teased as I took in his advice. It was actually really true and good.

Peter blushed ever so slightly. I couldn't help but to let a little laugh escape my lips.

"Nah, not really. I'm just good at avoiding broken hearts. Well, sometimes."

I sensed a little pain in his expression. I'd heard some things about his past girlfriends and such, but no real specifics.

The morning bell rang and I took a deep, but shaky breath. Peter's advice for what 'my friend' should do put a whole new light on what might happen within the next class period.

"See you at lunch?" We both rose from the bench and began to join the growing sea of students which filled the hallway. I nodded and turned to the right as Peter went left.

The time that I spent waiting in the classroom was pure torture. I needed to get this over with and fast. It felt like an eternity until I saw a head of purposely messy reddish-brown hair enter into the room. Declan threw a conspicuous grin in my direction once he came nearer to his desk.

"Good news or bad news?" he whispered after setting his bag down.

I rolled my eyes, hoping he would notice.

"Depends," I vaguely answered.

"Well, that does help me much. Want to elaborate, Johansson?"

While ignoring Declan's jibes, I wrote a hasty and messy note which included instructions for what he needed to do. Within the note he would find that he should wait for at least two minutes after I left the classroom until he could follow me. I wanted no one to suspect we were meeting up, no sort of attention drawn. The last thing I needed was more complications.

When the bell finally rang, I breathed a sigh of relief. The entire class time, for me, was filled with juggling the work that Ms. Gartner handed out, finishing the note, and miraculously getting it to Declan with no one noticing. As soon as I could, I grabbed my bag and made a beeline for the door. My escape, of course, was not left unnoted by Declan who gave me a wink before I fled.

In a matter of minutes I reached the hallway which was now infamous in my mind. There was still a shiver in the pit of my abdomen when I thought about Declan kissing me. I supposed the fact that it wrong added to the thrill of it all. I was new to this sort of thing, sneaking around. Guiltily I found that I secretly wanted more. As I leaned against the exact spot where I had the day before, it was almost like reliving it. And soon enough, the last thing to complete the scene it walked calmly down the hallway to where I was.

I envied how cool and collected Declan Coyne could be and then here was I, sweating bullets, knowing that even the slight possibility of this getting out was detrimental to my future here. Even my friends, especially Jane, just might write me off if it did.

"Listen," I began. "I know that you have your opinion on how this thing should go, but I have one too and it just might work."

He nodded and with a gesture of his hand, let me know I wasn't walking on egg shells and that I could proceed.

"From what you said, I think that the best thing for everyone with the least about of casualties is for us to be out in the open about this…eventually."

Declan cocked an eyebrow and donned a grin before my stressing on the condition of what would happen. Then, he just looked like a little kid whose toy was snatched from him. I smiled to myself. The ball was back in my court.

"So…" He walked closer to my side of the hallway. I wished harder than ever that he wasn't going to touch me. I just might lose all control that I currently had if he did so. I hated that he had such an effect on me.

"You're saying that we need to wait? Until when?" he asked softly. His voice, for once, was neither conniving nor upbraiding. Concern flooded his countenance and I couldn't stop from feeling as though he were genuine in his efforts.

I shrugged. "I'm not exactly sure, but…just as long as it takes you to be single again," I said warily, not sure how he might take my plan.

He nodded, taking in everything. "So as soon as I'm free, I'm yours?" The brilliant smile he flashed nearly stunned me into silence. I gave a slightly duller smile back.

"Not exactly," I explained carefully but quickly as I glanced at my watch, noticing there was only three minutes left. "I'm suggesting that for you to show me you really, truly mean that you care about me that once you break up with Holly J. – which you're going to do in the kindest way possible – we wait for at the least two weeks before doing anything public. If you're willing to wait, then I'll know I can trust your motives."

I searched his face for any sort of doubt. Surprisingly, I found none. Maybe everything would work out after all.

"I am willing to wait, honest," he said and put a hand to my cheek. The skin there seemed to come alive under his touch. "And I'll do everything possible to break it to Holly J. as gently, take her to a nice place and everything."

In my happiness that things were going according to plan, there was also a vein of guilt which ran through. As I stood there, I realized that I might be the cause of a broken heart of a girl I didn't really even know. But I also told myself that it was possible it might not make a difference to her; because really, if what Declan told me was true, they weren't even serious. I wanted so badly to believe that.

"When?" I inquired

"Tomorrow night, I promise. Tonight is tryouts for the play so I don't think I should try to double up on plans if I want to do this properly."

I nodded my head and gave his idea a good once over, but there were still more things to be concerned about other than time.

"Alright, but what are you going to tell her, what's your reason for breaking up?"

A slight wince fell like a shadow over his face. I suppose he hadn't thought that far.

"Well, I guess I could stick to the old 'it's not you, it's me', but that would only make her suspicious…"

"Right."

"Saying that I don't want a girlfriend right now would be a lie, even though it's not like it would be the first time. So…I guess I'll just have to come up with some lame excuse, like I'm not good enough for her or something. You got any better ideas?"

The hand which once held my cheek now held some of my hair which fell well below my shoulders. Declan twisted it between his fingers as if it were completely fascinating. Somehow, to me, the small action was as charming as anything, but tastefully intimate. Each moment I spent near him allowed me to find the little things, like this, more wonderful than the more noticeable gestures. I could see myself falling for him completely so easy.

"I think that you should be completely honest with her. Tell her that you're interested in someone else and that you wanted to end things the right way before anything progressed," I offered.

We both smiled on the point that things had already gone farther than they were supposed to. I suddenly felt different, no longer afraid, but instead rather calm and somewhat empowered. My guilt slowly dissolved into excitement. It still resided in my mind, but was now on the backburner. I could little by little allow myself to enjoy what was happening right in front of me. The most handsome guy I'd ever met wanted me and I could finally let that fact sink in.

"Sounds perfect," he mused.

No sooner did Declan begin to unexpectedly lean forward as to bring his mouth close to mine did the minute bell's sound reverberate through the narrow hallway. I started at the sound as did he. We laughed at how easily we had lost track of the time. I gave him a motion with my hand to wait a moment before leaving, just as the day before, and then flashed a smile once I walked into the main walkway towards the Theatre room.

The rest of that day I spent the hours with a free mind and a heart which now secretly belonged to Declan Coyne. It wasn't until later on that I would realize the consequences of my actions were far more than I ever would have expected.

It's a little early in the game to be screaming 'writer's block!', but I would deeply appreciate a few more reviews just to see what everyone's thinking. I've got ideas as to where I should go with the story, but a little more direction and criticism would be nice. Many thanks.