SCHOOL OF LOVE

A/N: Warning! Abortion subject developed. So sorry for the delay! Thanks Ghostwriterand Queen of Shadowsfor the reviews! I'm really glad you're still loving this story and I hope this chapter won't disappoint you! In this chapter, you find out about Wendy's decision and Scott starts on telling Shelby about Elaine…

RATING: T (just to be sure)

CHARACTERS: Shelby, Scott, Wendy, Luke, Jill, Brian.

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 SEVENTEEN
A Week & Five days later – Monday

"Do you think it's going to hurt?" Wendy anxiously asked her two friends, as they were sitting in the car, Jill driving. They were going to the clinic for Wendy to have her abortion. Shelby had tried to make her change her opinion but she had refused discussing it with her again so she had given up the idea. She knew that Shelby wasn't satisfied by her decision but it wasn't her life after all.

"I don't know I never had one before." Shelby answered sarcastically. She couldn't help but being mad at her bestfriend. She could understand though…she knew that finding herself pregnant at 16 might be hard to accept. According to her, Wendy was actually in a denial state.

"Jill, I'm glad you're here too. Thanks." Wendy added, not taking account of Shelby's answer. All she needed was comfort and Shelby wasn't providing it at the moment.

"It's okay, I'm your friend, and I'm here for you, whatever happens." Jill reassured her, putting her hand over hers to give her some support.

"And about school…what am I gonna tell them?" She then asked, not really caring about school but more about what would she find as an excuse if it went to her parents' ears that she had skipped class again.

"Don't worry about it, we'll find something…So, uh how are you feeling? Are you still sure you wanna do it?" Jill asked and Shelby looked at her with concern through the driving mirror.

"Yeah, it's the only way." Wendy answered and pulled out her cell phone, sending a message to Luke for him to take her homework.

"Okay." Then the small talk was done. Neither girl did know what she could tell Wendy because they knew it was a hard decision to take and that they couldn't understand what she was feeling. Jill kept her eyes on the road while Wendy looked through the window at the buildings surrounding them. They were going to go in a specialized clinic and of course, not in the city but outside, in a small town where they were sure they wouldn't see anyone they knew. Wendy unconsciously brought a hand to her stomach and began rubbing it. She couldn't help but wonder if she had made the right decision. Of course, she tried to tell herself…it was the only solution. She knew she wouldn't be able to take care of a baby, even if it was hers. Besides, she had projects for her future: graduating, and then going to college to do a Drama and Theatre School, graduating from there, doing castings and appearing in TV shows first, then being in a big movie with famous co-stars and then maybe, but really maybe marrying a man and having his kids… But this baby, it would always be a scar… And her parents, family, friends, and even strangers…what would they think of it? She already knew the answer: they would just think of her as a slut. She noticed the car had stopped and looked to the side to see they were in a parking lot. This was it, the death of her child. At least, she knew she could rely on Shelby and Jill and that comforted a little. She got out of the car, not looking behind to see if her friends followed her… She didn't want Jill to know about her being pregnant. If she had told her, it was because she was of age. When she had scheduled an appointment, they had said that it was obligatory to be accompanied by an adult…to proceed to the abortion. She felt Shelby take a hold of her hand and tried to smile at her but was unsuccessful. It was too hard, but she could do it, couldn't she?

A Week Later - Monday

"So, I was thinking we could go see a movie since we're done?" Luke Turner told his newfound friend when she and he had just finished working on an English paper together in the school library. She closed her books and smiled softly at him. She nodded 'yes' and went to put the books to their places.

"I like working with you Luke. You're nice and really smart, and you don't make fun of me when I don't know something." She stated as she pulled her coat back and ranged her things in her schoolbag. They both got up and glanced at each other.

"Thank you." He said smiling shyly and looked up when he felt eyes on him. He met Brian's cold glare and shivered. "Can I ask you something?" He said shyly as he didn't want to be indiscreet about her private life. He wanted to know but knew she might be slightly reluctant into answering his question.

"Sure." She shrugged and followed him outside, feeling Brian's eyes on her as she walked by. She knew he was hurt by the whole break-up but he had been the one refusing to give their relationship a second chance after all…she wasn't the one to blame at all in the story.

"What's the deal with Brian Livingston and you?" He asked and she stopped walking, looking up into his green beautiful eyes. She smiled sadly, brushing her arm against his body side. He blushed slightly, noticing she had done it on purpose.

"Nothing. We happened to go out together but I broke up and he didn't take it very well." She said simply, not too loud in case Scott or one of his friends would overhear and repeat it to him. It wasn't necessary anyway, it was the past…and she didn't want envenoming things between Brian and her.

"Oh… so you're single?" He asked hopefully and she giggled a little, smiling gently at him with a small smirk playing on her red lips. She brought a hand to his face and tenderly caressed his face. He leaned against her hand and smiled in delight, closing his eyes, taking her soft touch in.

"Completely." She finally whispered and dropped her hand to his side, lacing their fingers together for the first time. "C'mon, let's go filling our stomachs."

"Um…so what can you tell me about yourself? I mean, we've known each other for years but really never connected before." She asked and he smiled a little, putting his cup of cocoa on the table after savoring it. He loved cocoa; it was a drink he could have all day without feeling sick.

"Well uh, I don't know. What do you wanna know?" He hesitantly asked, keeping his eyes on his cup.

"What is your greatest fear?"

"Okay, that's a really strange question to get to know someone…" He started and gave out a small chuckle. She took a sip of her coffee and looked up at him.

"I know, but I think it's the better way. It's by asking something personal like this one that I'll be able to discover you better." She explained with a nice smile and he couldn't help but smiling back.

"Okay, well, as interesting as it is, I don't really know." He said then placed his elbows on the table, and his head on his palms, looking at her expectantly.

"You don't have the slightest idea?" She questioned interested by where it would lead them. He shrugged and looked back at her sheepishly.

"Yeah, maybe to end my life alone." He finally said and she couldn't help but give away a little laugh. That was so cliché…but she found it really true too…it was so sad seeing old people alone, it made her feel depressed…

"Oh…"

"I know that sounds kinda cliché, uh?"

"Why do you say that?" She asked him and he simply shrugged in response. He brought his cup to his lips and drank the cocoa. "I find it really interesting. And I guess we have a common point. I hate being alone too." She admitted softly and he nodded, watching her plating with her spoon. She was nervous; maybe this idea of knowing each other was making her feel too vulnerable.

"Okay, so what is yours then?"

"That my bestfriend marries my brother. I know, kinda unexpected…" She said with a chuckle and he frowned a little, not sure he knew who she was talking about…Shelby or Jill?

"It's Shelby…I mean, your bestfriend?" He questioned and she acquiesced, taking a sip of her soda. "Why don't you want them together?" He then added and she shrugged, rolling her eyes a little.

"Because I know they would be perfect for each other."

"Okay, that's even more confusing…" He said and they both shared a quiet laugh.

"Don't get me wrong, I want them to be happy, but just not with each other…it's kinda selfish but I want each one for myself."

"You're afraid you'd lose them if they were together? That they could just go without you and be fine with it, and not missing you?" He tentatively tried to examine the situation and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Exactly." She said a bit surprised he would guess that well…even she didn't know how she was feeling before he told her and that was right…she didn't want to lose any of them and would be very jealous if something happened.

"And what if they do hook up? Will you try to keep them apart?"

"I'm not sure…can we pass to another question?" She said feeling slightly exposed and he nodded, understanding it was still a tough subject.

"Sure…go on."

"Okay, tell me about your ex-girlfriend you had… like her name, what she loves doing and I don't know…anything you want." She requested and he gave her a small smile…if she knew he had broken up only a few days ago because of his feelings for her, she would flip out for sure…he had to be very careful with her, and not revealing to much with her, at least not for the moment.

"You think you're gonna close in on me this way? By hearing me talking about an old relationship?" He still asked but knew she wouldn't leave him until he did talk about it.

"You'd be surprised." She grinned at him and he smiled sweetly, taking a hold of her hand and slowly rubbing it with his thumb.

"How does it go with Luke?" Shelby asked as they both walked through the corridor to go to their lockers. This was the end of a long day for Shelby but not for Wendy who had skipped half of her classes of the afternoon to hang out with her new 'friend'.

"Pretty good…I like the relationship we have…it's slow and I really get to know him." She said with a smile. She wasn't even thinking of having sex…not that she didn't want him, but she wanted their time to be very special and different than their first spoiled one.

"That's great!" Shelby exclaimed and Wendy laughed at her enthusiastic behavior. She was really glad she approved.

"Yeah, I never talked that much with a boy, he's incredible! He doesn't even want the sex yet!" She added with a small smile.

"Fantastic."

"Yeah, that's it fantastic…he's so sweet…" She said slightly moaning and Shelby made a funny face as if to say 'Aw…how cute!'

"But what about Brian?" She asked her with an aggravated tone and Wendy frowned because she didn't know what she was talking about. Things were dead between her and Brian, so why would her bestfriend bring him up.

"What about him?"

"I don't know…but it's kinda creepy. I saw him today and he was totally ogling you. I think you should try talking to him to make him understand you don't want to be with him anymore." Shelby explained, and Wendy nodded, as she had noticed his strange behavior too.

"Yeah I know but I don't want to…I saw him this morning, he was clearly checking me out and I swear, it makes me very uncomfortable. I'm afraid he's going to scare Luke off."

"You want me to try reasoning him?" Shelby asked and Wendy's eyes widened. She really was the best friend of the world.

"You'd do that?" She asked quietly, slightly excited inside and looked like she was about to jump up and down. Shelby wasn't the kind of girl to do that usually, I mean, talking to someone at someone's place. She didn't like being the transmitter.

"Yeah…" Shelby replied with a lack of enthusiasm audible in her voice but Wendy made pretence of not noticing it.

"Thank you so much!" She said slightly relieved. "Why not now?" She nudged her as she saw him walk by. He was alone so she could try something. At the same time, she wasn't so sure talking to him in the school corridors would be a good thing…it might make him more embarrassed than something else.

"I'm not sure right here is the good place."

"Why not? Look, I can't let him jeopardize my relationship with Luke, I'll go, just stay behind." Wendy ordered and walked towards her ex-boyfriend in slow motion. Shelby watched her walk away with a frown, knowing that she was acting too hastily. The girl was way too impulsive to deal with things right now… "Hi Brian." She greeted hesitantly and looked behind her back to be sure Shelby was still waiting.

"Hey…" He muttered and locked back his locker.

"Okay, look, I know the break-up was hard for you, but you really need to move on…"

"Wendy, maybe it's easy for you because you weren't feeling anything but…" He began and she realized he was starting to be very emotional and didn't want anyone too hear them talking.

"Okay, c'mon, we'll be better in private." She took him by the arm and earned a strange look from Shelby as she led him to the janitor's closet. Thank god, people were all outside as the weather was particularly balmy. Wendy closed the door behind her and pressed herself against the wall. "Talk to me…" She invited and he cleared his throat.

"I still love you."

"I know…but I'm not ready for a relationship, I need time." She said gently and he snickered at her with a dark twinkle in his eyes.

"What about what is happening with Turner?" He said and she shook her head, not bothering to tell him the truth. After all, it wasn't his business at all.

"He's only a friend, I swear. I wouldn't jump into another relationship this quick." She lied through her teeth and Brian's eyes met hers again and she felt her heart aching in pain at the sadness irradiating from him.

"Okay…so this is really the end?" He silently asked and she almost didn't hear his last word. She nodded slowly and thought about giving him a last present…he had been so good to her.

"Yes. You wanna have a last kiss? I mean a break-up kiss?"

"Yeah, I mean, maybe it will be a nice way ending our love romance." He said with a sarcastic smile and she giggled a little, biting her bottom lip softly. The light flickered and Brian stepped closer, covering her body with his. He tentatively pressed his lips against hers and she quickly pulled him into a passionate kiss, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as he held onto her firmly. It was only a kiss…a goodbye kiss.

Later in the Evening

Shelby held her hair as she kept throwing up her lunch. Wendy finally relaxed against the bathtub side and ran a hand through her hair. She wiped her face and mouth and let out a sigh. "What's wrong with me? Why am I puking like there isn't any tomorrow?" She asked her bestfriend slightly frustrated and Shelby shrugged, handing her a clean towel.

"I don't know…maybe something you ate?" She suggested and Wendy giggled a little, rethinking of something that might have been the real reason of her state. She wiped her mouth and followed Shelby outside the bathroom.

"Maybe the alcohol I drank this morning?" She said with a grin as they entered Shelby's bedroom. Shelby closed the door and turned to look at her sternly.

"Seriously Wendy, I thought you had stopped that sort of things? You know this isn't good for your well being." She scolded at her, and Wendy looked at her sheepishly, then her face went blank.

"I don't care about my well being Shel…I just need to forget." She finally said with a bitter voice and Shelby nodded, putting her hand on her shoulder to provide her some comfort.

"And you think that drinking will help you?" Shelby placed her hands on each shoulder, facing her closely. "You need to take better care of yourself." She said, then brought her hands to her cheeks and wiped away the fresh tears.

"I know…I just…feel like…crap." Wendy wept and Shelby bit her lip, trying to contain her own tears. She didn't want to cry in front of her, she needed to be strong for them both, and for her bestfriend's sake.

"It will be better, with time." She tried and Wendy began crying, jerking away from her touch.

"It's easy for you to say that!" She snapped and Shelby shook her head, standing where she was, not daring to approach her again.

"No, it's not, I know you have a hard time dealing with everything but you need to be strong, like you've always been." She said and Wendy completely broke down, looking at Shelby helplessly.

"But I can't anymore." Wendy cried and Shelby pulled her into her arms, running her hands up and down on her back. Wendy didn't resist and placed her head on her bestfriend's shoulder, and closed her eyes, letting the tears streaming from her eyes. It was too much; she couldn't possibly continue doing that to herself…she was too tired, too depressive to fight anymore. And she was mad at Shelby and Jill. How could they let her do that to her baby? They should have try talking her into abandoning the idea… and here she was, regretting her choice…

Wednesday

"I think that's a nice feeling being with you in a bed, together…" Shelby smiled as she laid her head against his muscular sweet smelling chest. They were both in his bed, and would stay this way all night…Susan knew Shelby was staying over for the night but hadn't said a thing. It didn't really matter though, since Wendy was staying at Donna's for a girls' night with all the popular cheerleaders. Shelby hadn't been invited but really didn't mind as she wasn't friend with them. Plus she had a night with Scott, which wasn't negligible.

"You know, it's been almost four months we're going out…"

"Yeah, and it feels nice sleeping with you, I mean, without having sex." She answered and he chuckled at her uneasiness.

"Are you afraid of having sex?" He suddenly said and she turned her head slightly to look over at him. They smiled at each other, and she cleared her throat before answering.

"A little, I think it's kinda normal. I read first time often hurts." She replied and Scott tightened his grip, caressing her arms with his fingers. She muffled her body in his and felt his hands crossing behind her back.

"You know I wouldn't harm you on purpose…"

"Of course. Plus, an interesting fact is that you're kinda experienced domain…might be a good thing for me." She said and even though he didn't appreciate her comment about his experience, he pulled it aside…well, he tried at least before Elaine came into his mind, like she often did…

"Um… you knew I had news of Elaine?"

"You're talking about your ex step-mom while we're talking about sex? How sick…" She made a face and he ignored her, continuing talking about the woman.

"Ya… she had an accident and she's now kinda paralyzed and realized her mistakes or something like that. She wants me to forgive her." He said blankly and Shelby noticed something was wrong. She pulled herself on her elbows, each on each side of his body and eyed him closely.

"Forgive her? Why would you have to forgive her?" Scott ignored her question and kissed her lips softly. "Scott! Forgive her what?" She asked gently but he didn't answer. She pulled away but he kissed her again, now becoming almost aggressive with his gestures. His fingers almost dig in her skin and he rolled on top of her, pulling her shirt up. "Scott, stop!" She said squirming under him. He stopped as he went out of his trance and closed his eyes almost crying.

"You don't want me? That's it?" He almost yelled and a panic stricken Shelby got out of bed, quivering. She sat on his desk chair and watched him from afar, too shaken to sit close to him.

"Scott, I don't understand…what's wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry… okay? You better leave." He said harshly. He was so ashamed she had to see him acting this way; he knew this wasn't him…

"Scott…" She said gently after a moment of silence. She didn't know what to say to him, she didn't even know what was wrong.

"Please Shel…I promise we'll talk later." He said, now calmer and she knew she could approach him without fearing any other outburst. She sat by the edge of the bedside and took his hand in hers. They looked into each other's eyes for what seemed an eternity, until she spoke up.

"Scott, just talk to me, what is it? What's wrong with you? What did Elaine do?" She asked softly and Scott closed his eyes, lying back down.

"Please, don't hurt me." He said as he started to allow the tears coming out of his eyes.

"I'm not gonna hurt you, Scott." She gently said, rubbing slow circles on his back. He began crying and she laid her head on his back, closing her eyes. "I promise you." She whispered the last words and he began relaxing at her touch.

Shelby woke up her head still positioned on his back and noticed he was softly snoring. It was almost six. It had taken him time to finally doze off last night but sleep had finally overcome him, which was a pretty good sight. She decided to stay where she was. She was afraid of what would happen as soon as he would wake up. Last night had been hard on both of them, for apparently various reasons… She would never admit it to him, but he had scared her last night, when he had tried forcing himself on her…his behaviour had been so aggressive, disconcerting and unpredictable. Why did Elaine bring so much anger, hatred in him? What could she have possibly done to him for him to be so vulnerable? She closed her eyes, inhaling the peppery scent of his skin and breathed softly by the nostrils, making his grey t-shirt making slight waves. She loved him so much she didn't know if she could accept that he couldn't tell her what was bothering him…she had to make him trusting her more, letting her in. He said that he loved her, but did he really? Was their love that real for him too? She didn't know if she really was in love with him yet…she loved his presence, the way he made her feel, his sweetness, and almost everything about him, but she couldn't be sure. People often say that love makes us blind…she wasn't blind with him. She knew he had defaults, his moods and found out that he was sometimes unbearable for his family or friends circle. Was he a good son, a good brother, a good friend, a good boyfriend? How would she know? He was the first guy she had been attracted to. She had always had a soft spot for him, ever since she had seen him the first time Wendy bought her to her house. She was only a child by then…but the feeling she had had the first time their eyes had met…it was incredible. But again, was it real between them? She didn't know the answer but the fact that she was asking herself…there were maybe so many doubts… He was her first serious boyfriend…but what about him? Was she for him what he signified for her? Her train of thoughts were interrupted by a soft movement coming from the form half-lying under her body. "Hi." She whispered hoarsely and Scott smiled sadly at her. He knew they had a talk to have but didn't want to begin something this important right now…he thought there were chances Shelby wouldn't be able to deal with all his issues.

"Hey…" He only answered after a pause and Shelby's hair fell over her face, hiding her forehead and a part of her visage from him. He brought a stiffened arm to her cheek and pulled the strand of hair out, placing it behind her ear. She leaned against his chest and closed her eyes for a second, not knowing how she should start…she just didn't want to blurt a question out of the blue, then again, she didn't know how it could be otherwise…

"What happened last night?" She finally asked after gathering all of her courage. She knew she hadn't done very soft but really couldn't have done better. This was way too important to be distorted. Scott sighed, looking down at his hands. He was so afraid of losing her…not only because he loved her…but also because she was his constancy, his appeasement. Shelby's fingers grazed over his chin and slowly lifted it up, for his eyes to meet hers.

"I'm sorry; I know I should have told you before…" He began and stopped after a few words. He didn't know how to say the truth to her…how can you tell your girlfriend you weren't strong enough to stop a woman? That even if you could have hit her very badly, you just didn't because you were too scared of her words and threats. Because she told you no one would ever believe you? Telling his parents had already been so hard and painful…but he had felt relief after, he had believed that his life would go better. But it had been a whole commensurately massive lie. It hadn't been better at all, it hadn't been worse… But what if Shelby couldn't pass this, what if it was too hard for her to understand? He just couldn't lose her…not now, not ever…

"Tell me what?" She asked gently rubbing her hands up and down his arms in comfort. He looked on the verge of tears and she knew it was a big thing he was going to tell her…she was afraid she wouldn't know how to deal with it once she'd knew but promised herself she'd do the most she could…

"Shel, I…it's difficult, okay?" She closed the small distance between them and kissed him on the lips in a slow, tentative kiss. She pulled away, smiling a little.

"That's okay, take all the time you need." She said sweetly and he sat up on front of her on the bed, legs crossed and lifted his eyes to look at her. He opened his mouth and his tongue loosened suddenly as he realized she wouldn't judge him.

Next chapter:

More Scott/Shelby discussion

Wendy/Brian/Luke encounter

Maybe a peck into Jess/Walt relationship on rocks

Please Review! I really need some feedback!

Linkie.