SCHOOL OF LOVE

A/N: Thanks to Melms213 and Ghostwriter for their reviews of the last chapter. Here's more, enjoy!

RATING: T (just to be sure)

CHARACTERS: Shelby, Susan, Scott, Wendy, Harmony, Martin

SUMMARY: AU. Shelby, Wendy, Scott, Brian 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 FOURTEEN
The Day Before Christmas' Eve - Saturday

"Okay, so what if you only come tomorrow in the morning? Like this, you'll have all the afternoon to help your mother with your diner?" Susan suggested and Shelby nodded with a small smile before climbing on the pair of steps to put some books in order. She turned around and put her hands on her hips.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay all alone? I mean, it's obvious a lot of people are gonna come at the last minute to find something to offer their relatives." She stated and climbed off; straightening her skirt once her feet touched the parquet floor. Susan looked up at her with a knowing smile and shook her head.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Besides, Scott is supposed to come give me a hand all day." She said and waited for Shelby's reaction.

"Cool." Shelby replied with a bright smile and Susan laughed softly.

"Shelby, you know I know about you two, right?" Susan questioned her and Shelby's eyes grew big even if she already knew about it. She just didn't think Susan would want to talk to her about it.

"Yeah, Scott told me you've had known since the very beginning." She answered her and Susan nodded, remembering the day when she had found them kissing in Scott's bedroom.

"That's great. I want you to know I'm happy for you two, you really seem comfortable with each other." Susan answered and Shelby stopped moving and turned to face her.

"I really love your son, Susan." Shelby admitted and Susan nodded at her, a small smile playing on her lips.

"And it's mutual, apparently."

"Yes." Shelby said with a small voice. It wasn't because Susan intimidated her; it was just because she was Scott's mother.

"You know that if something goes wrong with you two, I'll still be your friend and won't hold it against you." Susan said and Shelby smiled at her happily.

"Thanks. I really hope that nothing will go that way."

"So do I. Are you going to talk to Wendy about it, though?" Susan asked with curiosity and Shelby looked up at her slightly taken aback by her question.

"Yeah, but I prefer waiting after the end of the Holiday. She is already stressed enough right now, with the gifts to find for everybody and all." She answered after a slight pause.

"Okay, if I can give you one advice…"

"Yeah?"

"Do it soon." Susan said firmly and Shelby acquiesced quickly.

"I will thanks."

"So, about tomorrow?" Susan finally asked, returning to their first topic.

"Okay, but I could stay a part of the afternoon if it's necessary. Mom won't need me before 4 pm. So really…plus I have to give Scott his present." She said mysteriously and Susan raised an eyebrow. "And no, I won't tell you!"

"Why don't you come the day after tomorrow at home instead? Like that you could give Wendy her present at the same time?" Susan offered and Shelby shrugged not sure it was the best idea.

"Well, I don't want her to know that I offer something to her brother."

"Ah okay, well, I'm sure we'll manage something to keep her from finding about it…"

"You'd do that? Help us into lying to your daughter?"

"If it makes you feel better…"

"That's naughty Susan." She said with a laugh and Susan chuckled slightly.

Christmas' Eve- Sunday

"Hey baby, I missed you." Scott greeted her and leaned over the counter to give her a quick kiss that she gratefully accepted. "Where's my mom?" He asked and she titled her head to the side.

"In the backroom. You're late." She stated and he nodded, slightly pouting.

"I know…I had a hard time waking up from my dream about you…" He said with a sexy whisper and she bit her bottom lip, as he was driving her crazy.

"What kind of dream?"

"You wouldn't want to know…" He trailed off and leaned seductively over the counter, ready to give her another kiss.

"What wouldn't she want to know? What did you do again honey?" Susan asked and Scott blushed uncomfortably while Shelby grinned at him. He ran a hand through his hair and looked up, meeting his mother's eyes.

"Hi mom, sorry I'm late."

"As usual…so I hope you brought us croissants at least?"

"Sorry, I forgot…" He said with a sorry face expression but couldn't help but laughing as he lifted his hand and showed her the bag that contained everything they needed for a breakfast. "Kidding! I also brought us three coffees." He said proud of himself.

"Great. You know, I think your mother raised you pretty well." Shelby teased him and Susan gave him a slight kiss on the cheek, marking it with her lipstick. She rubbed it softly and Scott jerked away from her, slightly embarrassed she had to do that in front of his girlfriend. Little things did he know both Shelby and Susan knew she had done it on purpose.

"Okay, Scott, Shelby, today is a big day…" Susan began and Scott couldn't help but cut her off.

"Yeah we know, every year at the same period, Santa Claus offers us some good things because we were as good as gold…"

"Scott, that was very funny." Susan said sarcastically and Scott rolled his eyes at her.

"Yeah, the joke of the day actually." Shelby piped up and Susan let out a laugh at her sarcasm.

"Okay, so what I was saying was that a lot of customers are gonna be here, and really, any of you two really know how they are aggressive and annoying seeing as they have no time." Susan continued and wrapped an arm around each of them, bringing them closer to her chest. "In other terms, I hate this day, and you're gonna too. Now, only one advice… Shelby, any idea?"

"Remain civil?" Shelby tried and Susan nodded enthusiastically, giving her a small kiss on the head.

"Good one, but also, Scott?" She asked her son and he playfully rubbed his chin, thinking.

"Um…let me guess… stay calm, not freaking out?"

"Good one, you really are my child!" She ruffled his hair and he stiffened, hating that she was touching his hair today because he had taken time to do his spikes. He pulled back and Susan's arms loosened from around Shelby too. She went to take the breakfast bag and pulled a croissant out. Shelby met Scott's eyes and smirked at him. "Okay, enough with those longing looks you two! Oh and please, avoid any close contact once the shop is open. I have a reputation to hold and my bookshop isn't a brothel." She added with good humour and Scott rolled his eyes at her. He stepped closer to his girlfriend and pulled a strand out of her face. "Well, we still have five minutes to lose before I open so enjoy your breakfast instead of eating up each other." She urged and noticed her warning hadn't been heard. Scott closed the small gasp between them, ignoring his mother's stare. He placed a hand on her cheek and kissed her softly, being well aware they were giving a show. "Oh, please, stop before I can't eat anymore!" Shelby broke it off, slightly embarrassed and Scott sighed, putting his head on her shoulder, pouting.

"What? We were just bringing you the evidence of our love for each other!" He retorted and Susan rolled her eyes.

"Another PDA like this one with my employee, and you're out of my store Scott." She warned and he smiled sweetly at her, winking at Shelby.

"I love you too mom, don't be so jealous." He said and kissed her cheek while Shelby sat down on a chair and took a sip of her smoking coffee.

"Oh god…" Wendy muttered as she heard music playing loud. She turned around and put her head under the pillow, holding the duvet close to her tiny body. They music's sound rose again and from then she knew her sister was doing it on purpose. She knew it wasn't Scott because he was already helping their mother at the shop and her parents had their room downstairs, and besides, they didn't listen to that sort of music. She didn't know what time it was but frankly didn't care. It was Christmas' Eve tonight and if she got up right now, she would be tired tonight and couldn't stay up very long after midnight. At the Barringer's house, it was a tradition to play parlor and board games until early in the morning of Christmas' Day and she hated to abandon and by the fact, lose. She lightened her watch under the duvet and saw it was already noon. She sighed and pulled the duvet off of her body and sat up, realizing she didn't have the choice because Harmony wouldn't stop anyway. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her arms and legs, yawning at the same time. She finally got up and went to see her face in her big looking-glass. She hadn't cleansed yesterday before she went to be so she had mascara and eyeliner all around her eyes. She let out a breath and ran a hand through her hair, trying to give some form to it but nothing would do better. She decided a shower could wait and went to find her purse, taking her cell phone from it and lighted it to call Shelby and possibly know if she had something scheduled today. She kinda wanted to go to the mall to see if she 'needed' clothes but really didn't have the heart of going alone. She dialed her bestfriend's number and this one answered right off. "Hi Bestfriend." She greeted cheerfully and heard Shelby giggling softly.

"Hi to you too. What are you doing?"

"Just got up."

"Late night?" She teased and Wendy chuckled.

"Not really…I was just not feeling well and I even threw up once."

"I hope you didn't catch a disease. I heard there was a gastric flu virus right now." Shelby warned and couldn't help but grin into the phone.

"Yeah I know…but I'm feeling better this morning."

"Good." Shelby simply answered as Wendy heard a male voice talking in the back.

"Who's with you if it's not indiscreet?"

"Your mom and brother. We're eating at the shop, things are completely crazy today." Shelby explained; glad to have a cover up to see her boyfriend.

"Oh…so you're working this afternoon too?" She asked, hopefully whishing she wouldn't.

"Yeah, that wasn't planned but we don't have a choice…but if you don't know what to do, your mom says you can come giving us a hand. You wouldn't be too much, believe me."

"No thanks, I have tons of things to do."

"Like what for example?"

"Shopping for tonight's appearance." Wendy said as it was logical. She always used to do her last shopping for Christmas at the very last time and found out that the clothes were even more in bigger sales.

"I see." Shelby snorted and Wendy narrowed her eyes at her statement even if she knew she couldn't see her.

"Okay…so you sure you can't find some time for your bestfriend?"

"Yes, sorry. But I see you tomorrow anyway…your mom told me I could come giving you your gift in the afternoon." She said and Wendy smiled excitedly into the phone.

"Oh great, I can't wait to see what it is! Oh but that means I have to wrap yours!" She answered with a squeal and heard Shelby laughing again.

"Yeah, not like last year, uh?"

"Promise. Look, I have to take my lunch and then get ready for the day. I'll try calling you before the evening with the family begins, okay?"

"Sure. Enjoy your meal then!"

"Thanks you too, bye, oh and kiss my mom and bro for me."

"K, I'll do it. Bye." They both hung up and Wendy put her cell on her desk before wrapping herself in a robe and going downstairs, and too the kitchen to prepare herself something to eat. Harmony appeared a few moments later, as Wendy had almost eaten her plate of chili. She looked up at her little sister with a glare.

"What?"

"You found it funny, uh? Waking me up with your stupid music for stone-deaf."

"I love that music and you needed to get up. Dad wants us to go buy a few things for tonight."

"Like?"

"Like table napkins, a new Christmas's tablecloth, and another packet of pastas, and of course my outfit for tonight."

"Okay. But how are we supposed to go without a car?"

"He's gonna drop us on his way to mom's shop." Harmony replied and Wendy frowned, not really getting why her father was going to go to her mother's shop.

"Why he's going to mom's shop? He doesn't even read except his dossiers and his sports' magazine." Wendy said with a touch of sarcasm and Harmony rolled her eyes, thinking it was not nice mocking their own father. She took an apple that was in the fruits basket and bit into it.

"He only said he wanted to give her some help." She said while chewing at the same time.

"Shelby told me it was completely crazy this morning." Wendy acquiesced with a nod of head and got up from her chair, placing her plate into the dishwasher. She briefly washed her hands and wiped them on the kitchen towel.

"Yeah, she needs extra people and dad proposed to help…" Harmony answered, eyeing her as she drank the rest of her water.

"Okay, I'm gonna take a quick shower and we're off." Wendy stated and quickly disappeared from the room. Harmony heard her feet hitting loudly the floor as she climbed the stairs and laughed to herself.

"Perfect." Harmony replied contently and went to the living room, to watch TV while her sister was getting ready. She well known it was going to take some time…as usual.

Christmas' Eve at Barringer's house

"I'm beat, I'm gonna go to bed." Scott announced with a yawn and Susan nodded understanding. Almost every member of the Boyd and Barringer families was already gone home or to the guest bedroom for Susan's parents. They had played a good part of the night after having opened the gifts at midnight sharp. Scott, Wendy and Harmony had each received a check of $200 from their grandparents and lots of chocolate. Martin and Alice had also teamed up and offered Scott a laptop knowing he wanted one for his next year for the college. So Wendy was quite happy because she was going to inherit of his only one year old pc he had on his desk. Wendy had had a gift token of $200 valid in the whole mall and a fake fur coat with matching boots she wanted for so long. And least but not last Harmony who they had offered a movie camera they knew she would use judiciously. The three children were ecstatic. But the parents weren't forgotten. Susan had received a check of $1000 from her parents, a perfume from her son, a new easel from her two daughters and an old books collection from Martin. Also, Martin had had a toilet set from Wendy, a black disc collection from Harmony and a wrist watch from Scott.

"Thanks for your help today at the shop. That was really nice of you." Susan thanked him again and he winked discreetly at her, showing her it hadn't been a big deal, especially since Shelby had been there too. He couldn't wait to talk to her and see how her Christmas's Eve had happened.

"I didn't have any other things to do." Scott answered with a shrug. He kissed everyone goodnight and then walked to the sofa. He bent down and kissed Harmony's cheek softly. His little sister had dozed off on the sofa after they had played at chess together. He had won but she had been good though. "Do you want me to carry her upstairs?" He then asked and Susan shrugged.

"As you want…your father can do it if not." Susan suggested and Martin acquiesced with a smile.

"No, I'm fine." He paused and stretched before placing an arm around his sister's waist and the other around her knees. He carefully lifted her limp body and walked to the stairs in slow motion. She unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck and put her head against his chest and he smiled to himself at how cute she looked. He climbed the stairs and opened her bedroom door with his elbow. He laid her on her bed and took off her shoes, pants and let her be in her shirt and panties. He pulled some strands of hair out of her forehead and kissed it softly. "Goodnight, baby sister." He whispered and closed the door as quietly as possible. He went to his own room and checked his cell to see if there were any messages left from his girlfriend and was surprised when he saw she had just sent one four minutes before. It was very late but she was obviously still up. He bit his bottom lip, weighing the pros and the con and decided to call her back. He dialed the number and waited patiently, lying on his bed, fixing the ceiling. "Hi, Merry Christmas Sweetie."

"Hi baby. Merry Christmas to you too." She answered and he smiled hearing her sweet voice.

"Yeah…just wanted to hear your voice before falling asleep." He heard her breathing and continued. "So, how was your night?"

"Good, mom did too much food again and I feel like I'm going to explode, but aside from that, it was fine."

"So what did Santa got you?"

"Lots of cool things. Oh, I got a guitar, I'm so happy about it! And my grandmother offered me something you might really love too…" She trailed off mysteriously and Scott chuckled silently.

"What?" He asked with a smile and she giggled into the phone.

"A very sexy baby doll nightie, it's really cute."

"Do you have it on, right now?"

"No…I save it for you to see."

"Let me slaver…what color?" He said and licked his lips in anticipation.

"Pink." She responded with a laugh and he couldn't help but frown a little.

"Pink?" He repeated and her laugh faded away.

"What?" She asked containing a giggle.

"Nothing, I didn't know you liked that color, that's all." He answered with honesty and she began laughing again.

"As a matter of fact, I usually don't…but that nightie is really beautiful that even pink is cute." She explained and he shut his eyes, trying to picture her in this thing.

"God, I want to see you right now…" He whined and she agreed silently.

"I'm coming tom- no today, at 2 pm…is that okay?"

"No but I don't have a choice…" He pouted and she giggled a little.

"I love you." She whispered in the phone and he smiled unconsciously.

"I love you too. Goodnight."

"Night baby." She said then hung up. He did too and sighed, undressing himself, and slipped into his pajamas pants. He slid under the cover and fell asleep almost immediately, as soon as his eyes shut down.

Please R&R! Next Chapter will probably be updated on 07/06/06, meaning thursday.

Linkie.