SCHOOL OF LOVE

A/N: Hey, thanks to ShalBrenfan, Ghostwriter and Melms213 for their kind reviews! Sorry, I don't have the time to answer personally...got tons of things to do!

RATING: T (just to be sure)

CHARACTERS: Shelby, Jess, Scott, Susan, Wendy, Brian, Harmony

SUMMARY: AU. Shelby, Wendy, Scott and the others are all in high school. Walt still exists, but is slightly different in comparison with the show. Elaine happened but is now out of the picture.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the original characters. The others are completely made up, unless my subconscious worked on things I saw on TV or something…

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

A Week Before Christmas - Thursday

"So, baby sister, what do you want for Christmas?" Shelby asked from her spot next to Jess's bedroom door. She closed the door and Jess sighed.

"Are you talking to me?" Jess said harshly turning on her stomach, and keeping reading her magazine. Shelby looked at her slightly surprised by her aggressively and walked to her.

"C'mon Jess, stop ignoring me! If you wanna talk about it, do it, but just stop acting like I'm not here. Besides, I'm not even responsible of what happened." She replied and sat at the edge of the bed, looking down at her expectantly. Jess closed her book and rolled over, crossing her hands behind her head.

"You should have told me." She stated and her big sister nodded.

"I know, and I'm truly sorry. But I just thought you were too young to know about it." Shelby answered and lied down next to her on her back. Tears threatened to escape from Jess's eyes and Shelby smiled sadly, bringing a hand to her cheeks and wiping them softly.

"I'm so confused." Jess sniffed and Shelby handed her a tissue. She blew her nose and then sat up on her bed, leaning against the headboard. "I always thought Walt was the good guy, that he was our savior, you know since dad abandoned us… I was so wrong." She said bitterly and Shelby sighed, looking up at her with sorrow in her eyes.

"He isn't that bad…I truly think he wants to heal." She answered and Jess shook her head, not believing her sister was defending the man who had almost abused her.

"But how can you even stand in the same room as him? Even I have difficulties!" She exclaimed and Shelby shrugged thinking.

"It's not that easy, believe me. But, I know his intentions towards me were crazy and that he didn't control anything." She finally answered and Jess sighed again.

"But that's so sick! I don't even know if I can forgive him!" She replied and Shelby bit her bottom lip, not knowing what to say. Jess had every right to feel that way…after all, she had idealized him and the truth had hit her very hard.

"I did. I forgave him after a while…and even if I have troubles trusting him, I know he wouldn't do anything bad on purpose. God! He works so hard to change!" Shelby said and Jess swallowed hard.

"Do you know if he did more? I mean, not to you obviously…but to other children?" She questioned and frowned as she saw Shelby's change of face expression. "He did, right?"

"Yeah…" Shelby whispered and Jess looked sadly into her eyes.

"Was he punished for what he did to them?"

"No, the children's families never filed a complaint against him." Shelby answered, sitting next to her and taking her hand in hers in comfort.

"God, I'm so disappointed in our family! I thought everything was perfect, I lived in dreamland…it's so hard to hear things like those about my father!" She exploded and Shelby put her hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her.

"I know."

"I'm sorry that I've been mad at you…it wasn't your fault at all." Jess apologized and her sister nodded softly, accepting her pleas.

"It's okay. Are you going to talk to the parents about it?" She asked and Jess shook her head, positive that she didn't want to, not now in any case.

"No…I don't want to." She said with a reluctant and maybe slightly disgusted tone.

"Okay, if you ever need to talk, don't be reluctant about coming to me, okay?"

"Yeah, except if you're with Scott with doors locked."

"Wh-what?" Shelby stuttered and Jess let out a small laugh.

"I know about you two."

"You do? Who told you?"

"You just did." Jess answered with a grin and Shelby laughed nervously. They were in the shit…if Jess knew…who wouldn't?

Saturday

Scott walked behind her mother as she was cooking at the stove. He smiled devilishly and surprised her with wrapping his arms around her and tickling her sides. Susan gave out a small squeal and he laughed at her. "Sorry, that was just so tempting…"

"Scott, I almost dropped the pan!" She complained but couldn't help but smiling as she met his eyes.

"Smells good, what is it?"

"Neapolitan spaghetti. I'm gonna put it in the fridge and we'll eat it tonight." She said and he licked his lips from anticipation. It was only 11 am but he was already hungry even if he had eaten a snack twenty minutes before.

"Can I taste?"

"No! You wait, just like everyone else! How was your day?" She asked with a laugh and he smiled nonchalantly with a shrug.

"Fine…Shelby's a good student."

"Ah yeah, I had totally forgotten about her driving private lessons with the great driver Scott Barringer." She teased him and he looked up at her slightly offended.

"I'm good at driving." He said stubbornly and she smiled at him.

"Of course you are." She replied with a smirk and he smiled at her as sitting on the counter next to the stove. "Okay, who do you think I am to believe you are fooling me?" She asked and he frowned slightly at her feedback. She put the spoon in the sink and put her hands on her hips, waiting for his answer.

"What?" He asked with a frown. What was she talking about? Did she know about his little 'incident' with the car?

"Did you really think you were going to fool me for long with your sneaking around and your secret dates?" She asked and he relaxed slightly while she smiled nicely.

"What are you talking about?" He asked with a funny voice, knowing they were caught…

"Does the name Shelby ring to your bell?" She questioned him and he looked at anything but her, biting his bottom lip softly.

"Mom, we're just friends." He said sternly and she chuckled at his obviousness.

"Yeah, friends my ass! Don't you think I didn't see the way you looked at her, or the way you talk about her?" She exclaimed with a grin and Scott blushed, shrugging a little.

"Okay, so maybe I do like her, but that doesn't mean it's a mutual feeling." He tried but kinda broke into a smile when he met his mother's teasing eyes.

"You and I both know it is. Stop hiding the obvious." She retorted and he just looked at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Mom, don't say anything." He now almost begged and she nodded, but not without giving him an advice.

"You know I won't. But I think you should tell your sister about it…" She recommended and he acquiesced, knowing perfectly that she was right. He just didn't want to do it without Shelby being okay with this.

"I know…but I promised Shelby she'd be the one to tell." He told her and she titled her head to the side curiously.

"Why that?"

"She's her bestfriend and that means something to her." He rolled his eyes a little and Susan chuckled. He really was a guy… couldn't understand the bond between the two bestfriends.

"Okay…so I hope you're being careful, uh?" She asked after a small moment of silence and his head shot up at the question. What did she mean by asking him about being careful?

"What?"

"You know? I mean with the sex and everything?"

"Mom…" Scott said and his cheeks couldn't go any redder. "It's so embarrassing." He muttered, his face hidden in his hands and Susan chuckled, running a hand through his hair.

"Excuse me but how do you think your father and I made you?"

"Mom, please, the picture…" He whined and again, his mother laughed slightly at his embarrassment. It was funny how they had always been open about it in the family but that the Barringer men were still having some difficulties with talking about it like it was a bid taboo when it really wasn't.

"Well, anyway, embarrassing or not, be careful with all of this… Shelby's younger than you and believe it or not, a year of difference counts at your age."

"I know and don't worry; I know how to use a condom." He grumbled and she tapped his head softly.

"Good for you… but I don't think you've quite understood what I'm trying to say. Shelby is very different from the girls you're used to date. She's sensitive and you better not hurt her." Susan warned and Scott nodded, climbing off the counter and walking to the fridge.

"I already know that." He said and took a coke. "You want one?" He asked for the sake of asking. Susan shook her head and continued the topic.

"And you should not push her into doing things she's not ready to do." She added and Scott put his bottle slightly offended by his mother presumptions.

"I'm not! God, don't you have any faith in me?" He shrieked and she shrugged at him, knowing that he knew the answer.

"I do have faith in everything you do, except when it concerns relationships with your girlfriends."

"Mom…Shel and I, we're fine." He said and Susan interrupted before he could have said something else if he intended to.

"For the moment yes."

"We didn't even make love yet." He said and watched strangely his mother who was staring back at him with a weird look. It was the first time she seemed surprised since the beginning of their little chat.

"Do you realize what you just said?"

"What?"

"It's the first time I hear you talking about lovemaking and not sex." She said with a smile and sat in front of him, taking his hand in hers. She knew Elaine had hurt him like no one had before and that his life had been like hell for the short period the woman had been molesting him. She also knew he was still hurt and needed time to learn again to love himself and the others…and apparently he was slowly beginning to, and she was very proud of the efforts he had accomplished over two years.

"I really do love her mom." He whispered and she nodded, happy for him but still a little worried. Shelby didn't know in what mess she had embarked herself. Her son was great but had issues.

"Okay."

"If I didn't sleep with her it's because we're both not ready." He added and she smirked a little.

"You aren't ready?"

"Mom, can I admit something to you?" He asked and she nodded of course. She was there for him, always and forever and he needed to know that. She would stand up for him, whatever happened in his life.

"Of course."

"I'm terrorized I'll do something wrong or that I won't be any good…and I'm afraid to hurt her…" He muttered and avoided her eyes.

"Why that? It's not like it's your first time?" She asked gently, lifting his chin a little so their eyes could meet.

"It's just…I want it to be so perfect! But…it's all this story with Elaine…I just can't…move on for the moment."

"It's okay, it's logical it takes time to heal." She replied reassuringly and he shook his head softly. She couldn't know about it…what if it took ten years?

"What if I'm never ready?" His voice broke and he felt a tear escaping from his eyes. He wiped it away quickly, not feeling like crying in front of his mother over again. He had done it already enough in the past and didn't understand that he had still tears left over what he felt about Elaine.

"You'll be, just give it time, and maybe talking about it would do better?" She suggested and he shook his head.

"No, I already told you that the shrink wasn't for me."

"I'm not talking about that…I think you should talk to Shelby about it." She suggested but he refused completely.

"She wouldn't understand."

"Scott…" She began but he cut her off, getting up and scrapped the soda. She followed him with her eyes and waited for an answer. He sat back down in front of her and just shook his head 'no'.

"No mom, I don't want her to know for the moment."

"But you know you'll have to tell her, right?" She asked taking his hand in hers again, hoping he wouldn't pull back.

"Yeah…I know, and I'll do it if I feel the need to do so, I promise." He said and rubbed his mother's hand.

Later in the Day

Wendy took a breath and finally knocked on the white door. She waited for a few seconds, thinking of running away before it was too late but she heard footsteps coming closer and knew she was screwed. She chewed her nails nervously and looked down at her feet. The door opened and she saw his bare feet on the floor. She looked up and met his tired eyes expectantly looking back at her. "Hi." She said shakily and he nodded his head, coldly glancing at her. "Can I come in?" She asked and he looked at her harshly.

"I don't know…depends on what you want?" He said with a bitter tone and she shivered as she met his eyes again. He looked so mad that she wasn't sure she should have come, after all.

"I'd like to talk about us." She admitted and he laughed bitterly at her.

"So, there is an 'us' now?" He replied and she sighed at his remark.

"Brian please…can we talk?" Brian sighed but signalled her she could enter by sliding to the side. He closed the door behind her and led her to his bedroom, where they could have some privacy without being interrupted by his father. "I'm sorry."

"Okay?" He looked at her slightly curious about what she was going to say next. She waited for an answer or a gesture but nothing came.

"I decided to give you a second chance."

"Excuse me? Did you just say that I deserved a second chance?" He said offended she thought he had done something wrong in their relationship when really; he had done nothing except pleasing her.

"What's wrong with you? I thought that it was what you wanted?" She said and he scoffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Why would I have a second chance? I'm not the one who spoiled our relationship, am I? And if anyone should decide if the other deserves a second chance, it's certainly not you." He yelled and she looked at her with pain in her eyes.

"I guess we're done then, right?" She said sharply and he nodded, opening the door for her. He wouldn't even accompany her to the door, she knew the way out.

"Yeah definitively." He muttered and she shook her head, realizing he had dumped her and that it hurt.

"Great." She answered with chillness and ran downstairs, her vision blurred with tears, almost crashing into Mrs Livingston as she made her way to the front door.

"What happened with Wendy? I just saw her storm out of the house in fury and I think she didn't even acknowledge me." Shelby asked casually as she entered the Barringers house with a small smile playing on her lips as she saw her boyfriend wearing her favourite sweatshirt. He looked just handsome with his messy hair and his look like he had just woken up.

"I dunno. She just got mad for anything…I guess she woke up on the bad side of the bed." He said, running a hand through his hair. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips to greet her. She moaned against his lips and pulled away looking around and guessing that everybody was out.

"Yeah probably…so is anyone home?" She asked with a seductive smirk.

"Only you and me. Harm is out shopping with some girl friends, Wendy, well, I think she went to see Jill, my dad is at his office and my mom went back at the shop…"

"Great. Want to watch some DVD?" She asked and he pouted slightly.

"Well, I'll be completely honest: I want to take advantage of being alone with you, for once." He whispered in her ear and began kissing her neck.

"Okay, so, maybe we should just go up to your room?" He shook his head and took her hand in his, softly stroking it.

"Good idea…C'mon here." He said softly, leading her upstairs, to his room. Once there, he closed the door and backed her up against the wall, hugging her tightly.

"So I was thinking of something…" She began then gave him a peck. "I re-thought of what you asked me the other day…about New Years Eve. And I want to spend this special time with you too." She said sweetly and a huge smile appeared on his face.

"That's…awesome." He exclaimed and she grinned at him.

"Cool. And I also want something else." She kissed him a little longer, readjusting herself in his arms.

"What do you want?"

"I wanna tell Wendy…it's being too hard to lie to her about us…I want her to know that I'm in love with the greatest guy I know and that he makes me so happy…" She said softly and started running her hands through his hair, messing it even more. "I want her to know that you're so not the boy she told me about… you know which one? The guy who only thinks about having a girl in his bed." They both grinned at Wendy's view of him and Scott began running his fingers up and down her back. "And I want her to be happy for us, and accept our relationship."

"I want that too." He admitted and she sighed happily, almost bouncing.

"Fantastic…" Another kiss sealed the deal. "We'll tell her just after Christmas, if that's okay with you?"

"As you want…as long as you're sure about it?" He said, as he walked them to the bed. He lied down and pulled her with him, so she rested on top.

"I am. Are you?"

"Of course." They kissed again and Scott's fingers began exploring her skin under her shirt, but only the lower part of her back.

"God, your fingers are so cold!" She said laughing as he tickled her without purpose.

"Sorry." He said with a small grin. "I didn't know you were that ticklish…" He added and she shot him a look, hoping he would go on that perilous ground.

"Do you remember your first kiss?" She asked and he nodded, slightly frowning at her question.

"Uh, uh. Why?" He really hoped she wasn't going to ask him about his old girlfriends because they had been quite numerous that he wouldn't even remember each one.

"Nothing, I was just remembering mine…it was with a cute blonde boy named Scott Barringer." She said with a bright smile and he raised an eyebrow, slightly sitting it holding himself on his elbows.

"What? What are you talking about? Don't tell me I was your first? I mean, what about Lex?" She sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down. They lied next to each other on the bed, glancing at the ceiling.

"Scott, I wasn't talking about now…but before, when we were younger!" She said laughing and Scott looked down at her astonished. He didn't even remember about a kiss between them before the kiss that had happened two months ago… unless…

"Really?"

"I was eleven, you were twelve. You took my face between your hands and laid a big kiss on my lips. I was too shocked to even say anything. You made me promise not to tell anyone, especially not Wendy…and you left me alone behind your house, by the swimming pool." She pouted at the memory of being left just after her first kiss; she had been really heartbroken by his impulsive and quite disturbing gesture.

"I did?" He teased her and she didn't even notice the smirk he had on his face.

"You don't remember? You even told me you were doing this because it was your dare!" She said slightly obfuscated, rolling over on him and looking down at him expectantly.

"I…okay, I remember I was just kidding…yeah, god that kiss! I dreamed of you nights and nights after…" He said with a chuckle and she smiled appreciatively.

"Not too kinky dreams, uh?"

"I was twelve! What do you think?" He asked with a laugh. Of course they were, what did she expect? At twelve, he was very horny, like the other boys of his age…wanting to discover more about women's anatomy and sex.

"They were? Uh, just yuck!" She said with a smirk and shoved him slightly on the chest.

"Sorry… So I was your first, uh?" He asked with big interest. He was particularly flattered by this, she could tell by his pleased smile.

"Um, well, if you do count it as a real kiss… my first real one was two years after, but with Tony Frank, you remember him?" He shook his head, he had absolutely no idea who the guy was and really didn't care.

"That's not really nice…are you now gonna talk about your exes, because I don't think I'm gonna like it…" He said with a pout and she laughed, leaning down and kissing him softly.

"No, I was just thinking of how you were my first real love…and how I wanted to make it up to you…with sex." She said with a deep husky voice that gave him goose bumps.

"That's funny you're talking about it right now…my mother spoke with me about it this morning." He recalled and she frowned slightly. She knew how his mother was open when it came to talk about sex but why would she talk to him about it now, when he was supposed to be celibate?

"She did?"

"Yeah, and she knows about us…don't ask me how, but she does."

"Jess knows too. But I know she wouldn't tell anyone. Do you think your mom will tell everybody else? I mean, she already did it once, while we weren't even going out and she had told Wendy…" She said slightly anxious.

"No, she knows since the beginning and she never said a thing."

"Good… So?" She said thinking of something as she looked up at Scott's wall where a postcard of last Christmas holidays was hung.

"What?"

"What are you offering me for Christmas?" She asked very curious but knowing perfectly he wouldn't tell her.

"Surprise. I can't tell."

"Ok…then I won't tell you what's yours…" She said without any insistence.

"Deal." He said and grinned, capturing her lips in a sweet lingering kiss. He wrapped her tightly in his arms and she deepened the kiss, moaning inside his mouth.

"Scott? Scott, where are you?" They both pulled away as soon as they heard the voice of the girl and Shelby wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve, rolling over.

"Shit Harmony." Scott cursed under his breath and they both jumped off the bed in a hurry. "I'm in my room!" He yelled back with calm and Shelby nervously straightened her shirt the better she could.

"I thought she was at the mall with her friends?" Shelby questioned in a hushed voice and he shrugged.

"She supposedly was…" He muttered and they both exited the room quickly.

"Okay, you wanna play some basketball? One on one?" Harmony asked from the bottom of the stairs as she spotted him. Shelby walked behind him and smiled at the younger girl.

"Actually Shelby's here…you two against me?" Scott said coolly as he felt his girlfriend standing behind him.

"Cool, but you know we'll kick your butt, right?" Harmony answered, winking at Shelby, who smiled softly in response.

"Oh, I'd love to be kicked by two gorgeous girls!" Scott said with a seductive smile and Shelby blushed slightly. Harmony looked up at them with a knowing smile and nodded to herself, rolling her eyes at their obviousness.

"Shut up Scott, c'mon Lovebirds." She said with a smirk and Scott turned to Shelby with a 'do you think she knows too?' and this one nodded. They both went downstairs while Harmony walked outside. She re-entered the room and winked at them. "By the way, nice lip-gloss Scott!" And then she re-exited the house with a giggle. Shelby laughed a little too and Scott ran a hand through his hair, slightly embarrassed they had been caught…one person more to know…one person less to tell.

Next Chapter:

Christmas time at the Barringer and Merrick Houses

Susan/Shelby friendship

Scott/Shelby stuff…

Wendy/Harmony

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