SCHOOL OF LOVE

A/N: Not planning on stopping that story soon… I actually have it planned until chapter 55…and not finished… I have too much fun writing it! Thanks for the reviews poolidge366, Ghostwriter, ShalBrenfan and Queen of Shadows, and also everyone who's reading this story and lmove it!

RATING: T (just to be sure)

CHARACTERS: Shelby, Wendy, Luke, Scott, Brian, Brooke, Susan, Alice

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 TWENTY ONE

The Day After- Tuesday

"Hey guess what Shel?" Wendy exclaimed cheerfully, clutching on Luke's hand as they walked into her bedroom. Actually she was almost running, forcing him to do so too. Luke's face broke into a smile at his girlfriend's perkiness and Shelby rolled her eyes, looking over their shoulders to see if Scott was trailing behind. When she saw no spiked hair and those blue eyes you could lose yourself into at her door, she looked back at her bestfriend and hid her anxiousness.

"Hi to you too." She muttered and Wendy rolled her eyes at her.

"Yeah, yeah." She said annoyed and kissed her bestfriend's cheek, receiving a small smirk from her boyfriend. She shook her head and offered Shelby a million dollar smile.

"Okay, why are you so…excited?"

"Maybe because I found this great site on the internet where we can buy awesome shoes for a good price!" She almost yelled and Shelby couldn't help but smile a little.

"I knew this had something to do with clothes or superficial things like that." Shelby teased her and Wendy pocked Luke's sides as he let out a laugh. Shelby was totally right…never in a million years Wendy would go so agitated about something like a school good grade, like the others, Shelby and Luke included, would.

"Okay…so I was just surfing on the net seeing what I could do next year and woops, I click on the banner and find myself on (a/n, it's a real site name), I couldn't believe it! They had some many shoes and I couldn't miss the occasion of buying boots for the winter…so I bought two pairs."

"I'm glad to see you found what you were going to do next year, really." Shelby sarcastically answered and Luke opened his mouth to add something.

"You should have seen her, I'm sure people outside heard her yelling after the pc because it was too long!"

"Oh shut up Luke! I didn't yell because of that…"

"Yeah right…you okay Shel?"

"Yeah, I was just wondering if you knew where Scott was." She started and Wendy furrowed her eyebrows silently wincing at her future bestfriend's reaction. She would feel sad and hurt. "He didn't call me back yesterday."

"Yeah, that was to be expected after yesterday…He's mad Shel…I told them yesterday and you should have seen his reaction…he seemed so angry and not only at me, but just at everyone even mom and Harmony. And this morning he went to school earlier and I had to take the bus."

"So, he knows?" Shelby asked anxiously and Wendy nodded slowly. She was sad Shelby had to suffer her mistakes too…it wasn't fair to her.

"Everything."

"And…he blames me?"

"He said you should have told him, and that he thought your relationship was based on trust." She added and Shelby ran a hand through her hair, breathing sharply, trying to keep the tears from falling. She wouldn't allow them to see her tears, she just wouldn't show them she was that desperate for love…she wasn't weak either. "I'm sorry…maybe you should try to call him?" She suggested and Shelby shook her head. Firstly because she had already done and he hadn't answered and secondly because if she would try again, she couldn't do it while Wendy and Luke were there with her. She knew they would talk about personal things and she couldn't let her bestfriend hear about those things.

"No, I'll try again tonight…or I'll wait for a call when he's ready. I don't want him to feel I'm trying to save our relationship because I'm not the one who should."

"You're right Shel, I told him you didn't do anything wrong and were just being a friend to me."

"And what did he say?"

"Again that thing about trusting each other, that it was too big to be hidden, you know the kind?"

"Yeah, I guess…so apart from your shopping online, what happened at school today?"

"Uh, let me think…ah yeah, Brooke broke up with Steve Kinsley and he got pretty mad he got ditched that quickly so he threatened her to get back to her. And uh, Rachel got mad because the coach suspended her from the next game because she got bad grades…so she even needs a tutor…and guess who it's going to be?"

"I don't know…"

"Me." Luke answered sternly and Wendy giggled a little, ruffling his hair teasingly. He pulled back a little and chuckled at her fake enthusiasm. He perfectly knew she was mad because she hated Rachel and knowing that he got to spend an hour twice a week with her was almost unbearable.

"So I told him that he better not even touch her hand because if he does, it's the end between us. That girl is a bitch and I really need to be careful." Wendy said narrowing her eyes at him, hoping he had clearly understood that she would not forgive any closeness, even if it was just from Rachel's part.

"You're right. Last year, she tried with Ben for almost half a year and she finally had him." Shelby added and Luke laughed at them a little. It seemed that they had totally forgotten that he was there and were carrying a chicks' conversation.

"Ben was so horny that he would have taken any girl." Wendy pointed out and Shelby agreed with her, putting her book to the side as it was entering her back.

"I was wondering what it was…" She said with a sigh and Wendy offered her a small nod.

"Isn't it one of Scott's books?"

"Yeah, he loaned some of his to me so I wouldn't get too bored."

"Are they even cool?" Wendy asked with a look of almost disgust and Shelby couldn't help but chuckle.

"Actually, this one is pretty good…but the other that I read at the hospital…it was awful, even worse because the story actually happened in a hospital. I'm sure he didn't even look at the pile he gave me." She said with an upset face. Wendy knew she was hurt Scott didn't want to talk to her because of what had happened to her and felt remorseful.

"Ah yeah, I remember that day…he was folding in his bookshelf and took the first books he found because we were late." She answered and Shelby nodded, her mouth traced in a thin line.

"Uh Wendy…could we talk in private for two minutes? Sorry Luke, I'm not trying to ditch you or anything…it's just there are things you're not aware of…" She bit her lip softly and Luke nodded with a small understanding smile.

"It's okay…I'll wait for you in the car Wendy…don't be too long." He said then gave a quick hug to Shelby and kissed Wendy's cheek as he walked by. "Take care Shel."

"Thanks." She whispered and Wendy sat back at the edge of the bed.

"Is it about Scott?"

"More about what happened yesterday…"

"Okay…well, dad and Scott completely ignore me now…I told them and Scott completely lost it while dad tried to be understanding but didn't succeed. So Scott blames you and Jill, but all above you for not telling him since you were close to each other." She said looking down at the red plaid blanket she had offered her bestfriend for her 16 years old last year. She touched it with the point of her fingers and looked up at Shelby.

"I don't know what I should do…how is he going to forgive me?" She stopped with a lost look in her eyes. "I mean, I reproached him of not being open to me and not letting me in…our whole relationship was supposedly based on trust and I lied to him since the very beginning by not telling you were with Brian." She finished and Wendy bit her lip with an air of bewilderment

"You know it wasn't your place to tell…and I don't think he's only mad because of that." She answered quietly and Shelby eyed her, confused.

"What? What could it be?"

"Well, he's mad because you didn't realize that I needed help…and that we took care of everything without telling the family." Wendy replied and Shelby nodded, biting the inside of her cheek and looking down at the book she still had in her hands. She opened it and watched Scott's written initials. She traced them with her finger and closed her eyes.

"Do you think he's going to pardon me one day?"

"I think he loves you and will pass over this crisis, yes he will forgive you, just let him think about it." Wendy replied and Shelby knew that even if her bestfriend was used to be blunt, she was trying to comfort and reassure her.

"Thanks Wendy." She said with a small smile and Wendy took her hand in hers, in a gesture of comfort.

"I'll try to talk to him tonight but I don't promise you anything."

The Day After- Wednesday

"Scott, can we talk please?" Brian muttered as he crossed his ex-bestfriend in a corridor during lunch.

"I don't think I have anything to say to the guy who fucked my sister behind my back and never even tried to tell me something about it before he was cowardly dumped." Scott said and couldn't help but roll his eyes as Brian looked back at him with pain in his eyes. He couldn't believe the guy was actually acting as the victim when really, he wasn't at all. He had had fun with his little sister, corrupting her and abusing of her candor.

"Okay, listen I know you're mad, but I think you're taking things too seriously." At that, Scott's head shot up and he took Brian by the shoulder, throwing him against the lockers and holding him by the neck. They both knew that they were at equal strength but that Brian wouldn't start anything.

"You listen: you don't know half of the things that happened because of you so I'd advice you to shut your big mouth about it." He said harshly still keeping his voice low so anyone could hear what they were saying. "How could you even do that to an innocent girl like her?"

"We're not going on that thing again. I already told you she wasn't the sweet girl you thought she was." Brian muttered and Scott seriously thought he was kidding him. It enraged him even more and he wondered if he could hold onto his anger for long. He squeezed his ex-bestfriend's neck and watched as a small crowd surrounded them. Weren't they all supposed to be taking their lunches?

"And you all, don't you have better to do that watching us? Please somebody get a life and leave us!" Scott yelled and Brian couldn't help but chuckle a little. He wasn't making fun of him, but he just thought his reaction was funny seeing that he was always the first to see a fight usually.

"And you, I don't want to ever hear of you again." He said harshly to Brian who just couldn't believe he was talking to him this way.

"I don't really care what you want or not Barringer. Life doesn't involve around you only." He replied with a smirk, knowing he had stuck a nerve. Scott loosened his squeezing around his neck and threw his fist plumb in the middle of his face that resulted with Brian sliding on the floor; hand on his already bleeding nose. He just couldn't believe he had dared doing this to him just because of a small comment. He decided he wasn't going to let him leave like this and got back on his feet, attacking him from behind. Scott turned around and interrupted him by grabbing his wrist before he could hit him. They both glared at each other and Brian was about to say something nasty to him when he heard a voice whispering.

"I can't believe it; I just can't believe you two…" Scott turned to glare at his sister and met her tearful eyes. He could tell she was shaken by the events of those last months but couldn't help but being mad at her. He let Brian go and left, but not without glaring at Wendy when she approached Brian. She narrowed her eyes back at him and touched Brian's nose with a finger while Luke just stood where he was, puzzled. "Can you help me Luke?" She asked with a small voice and Luke swallowed hard but went over them. "Place you arm under his and walk with him to the infirmary."

"Okay."

"Thanks, I really appreciate." Wendy thanked him and touched his hand as he walked to Brian's side.

"I know." He only replied and supported Brian on his shoulder, walking him in direction of the infirmary, hoping it would be open even if it was almost lunchtime. When they arrived in front, there was a small notice telling them the nurse wasn't there today. Wendy cursed under her breath and Brian couldn't help but chuckle at his bad luck. "Maybe we could see if the principal has a first aid kit or something?" Luke proposed only to receive a glare from Brian, which he responded with the same animosity.

"I think we should try the coach." Wendy said with a sigh and Brian rolled his eyes as he saw the exchange between her and Luke. He knew he shouldn't be, but he was jealous to death.

"You mean his father, right?" Brian asked sarcastically and Luke narrowed his eyes at his stupidity. "Sorry, that was just so tempting!" He added and Wendy shook her head, wishing to be anywhere but there at the moment. Why did she have to save everyone?

A few minutes later, she couldn't take having the two boys in the same and decided it would be better if Luke left them alone. She knew he wouldn't react well at the idea but she didn't have the choice. There was too much tension between them. "Um Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you…um, could you just go see if the nurse got back while I'm cleaning his neck?" She asked gently and knew she didn't give him the choice. He nodded and had a lump in his throat by the thought of leaving them alone but he couldn't make a scene and he perfectly was aware of that.

"Okay, I won't be long." He said and glared at Brian, who rolled his eyes at his silent threat.

"Thanks." She replied noticing the animosity in the two boys' looks. She knew she shouldn't have brought Luke in the story…just as much as she shouldn't have taken care of her ex-boyfriend. But she couldn't help but feel something strong for Brian. She didn't know if it was lust or just liking but it was different in such a manner than what she felt for Luke that she could tell she was lost. She looked over and Brian as he placed his hands on her hips and brought her closer to him as she finished disinfecting his small wound. "No Brian." She whispered firmly and he dropped his hands to his side immediately.

"I'm sorry, for what happened…if I hadn't told him about us…" He said quietly and she nodded with a sigh. She wasn't mad at him even if things were hectic. She felt slightly relieved it wasn't a secret anymore in fact.

"It's okay…what's done is done."

"But still…I lost everything: his friendship, yours and Shelby's, and seriously I think I deserve what I get. I shouldn't have gotten with you in the first place." He muttered and Wendy looked down at him. He was handsome, and she couldn't help but feel sorry she had to hurt him that bad… It was right, he had lost everything and she had got all. Her bestfriend was still there, as for Luke, and her other friends. Even her mother and sister were on her side, backing her.

"It's not your fault if we fell for each other." She said gently, running a hand through his hair and he sighed, and looked up at her with a heartbroken gaze. She knew she had hurt him badly, and she could never forgive herself for that.

"I…I'm feeling like I will never go past our relationship." He said and she shook her head, swallowing slightly.

"Of course you will Brian, it just takes some time." She tried to comfort him but he closed his eyes, shaking his head in denial.

"I love you Wendy."

"I know…" She answered with such sadness that he thought she was feeling the same as he was. He leaned forward and kissed her lips gently, tasting the sweet perfume of her strawberry flavoured lip-gloss.

Shelby sighed again. Scott's cell wasn't even accepting her messages anymore. She closed her own and threw it on her bed, really mad and frustrated that he didn't even want to hear he explanations. She sat on her bed tiredly and unpredictably started crying. The tears freely ran to her cheeks down to her neck and she didn't even wipe them away. She couldn't explain it but she just couldn't stop herself. Scott was the first guy she really loved and she knew deep inside that he was feeling the same. He was just confused and probably needed time. She decided she was going to let him that time of reflection and then he'll see…

Scott watched as Brooke walked by with her crowd and offered her a small smile. She smiled back and continued walking, swaying her hips suggestively and Scott bit his bottom lip, faking excitement. His football players of friends grinned at him and one of then slapped him on the shoulder, encouraging him. He felt his cell phone vibrating inside his schoolbag but ignored it; he knew who it was… He cut it off as soon as he saw the caller id and walked out with the other guys, looking at people arrogantly like he owned the school. Daisy Lipenowski and Ezra Friedkin glared at him and turned their backs to him. He couldn't help but feel disappointed by his own behavior with them. Just because they were friends with Shelby didn't mean he had to take his anger on them… There were only three people who really deserved what they got: Shelby, Wendy and Brian… one already down was Brian, Shelby, he didn't even want to deal with her because it hurt too much…and Wendy…he knew he wouldn't be able to hold onto his rage against her too long because she was family…and innocent compared to the two others…

"Brian…" Wendy mumbled against his lips as he pulled her into a second kiss. She didn't feel sparks like she did with Luke but it felt too good to stop. She knew she was probably going to hurt him again, once she'd tell him it was a mistake but was too caught in the moment to care. He was hurt and needed comfort and she was there for him. Luke didn't need her in his life; he was independent, carefree, and had a life beside her. It seemed that Brian didn't have that. He was always alone when Scott or she wasn't with him. Always a loner and that feeling he was in pain, even when he was smiling. She had known for long that he was wearing a mask but just couldn't see through. Only Scott did, and he would never tell her a thing about it. Brian moaned a little and she pulled back and gazed into his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't…" He started but she stopped him, placing her hand over his mouth with a teasing smile. He looked at her deeply and smiled, leaning against her palm. "You're so beautiful." He added and she couldn't help but blush softly.

"Brian…I have those feelings for you…"

"What kind of feelings?" He asked and knew they weren't platonic by her answer to his kisses. They were full of desire, passionate, maybe even love… She shuddered against his skin and breathed softly, withdrawing herself away from him.

"Brian, you have to understand I'm with Luke now…I can't do that to him, he's just too…"

"Too what? Too perfect, too nice, too what every girl wants?"

"No, I know I love him, and he waited for me for so long."

"Tell me his kisses make you weak on your knees." He urged her and she nodded slowly, at least she had the answer to his question.

"They do Brian. Every simple touch from him makes me feel alive, complete and loved." She admitted and Brian shook his head in denial. All his mind could be screaming was 'She's lying to you man, she just can't erase everything that happened between you two in a few weeks!'

"So what's missing that you have to be with me. Enlighten me please, because I'm really lost." He asked then and she shrugged as she was just as lost as he was.

"I don't know. I feel like I can't choose. When I'm with him, I'm feeling like something's missing but then I'm with you and it's another thing missing." She tried to explain and he couldn't help but knit his brows.

"You know you can't have both."

"I know Brian, I know." She whispered with a sigh and turned her head as she heard someone's steps coming closer. She stepped back even more and Luke entered the classroom with the nurse Stevens by his side. She walked to his side and took his hand while narrowing her eyes at Brian to prevent him from even saying or suggesting anything.

Next Tuesday

"Hey Susan, I didn't know you were supposed to come!" Alice exclaimed as she saw her friend already sitting at a table, chatting with Mrs Lipenowski. "Hi…………" Mrs Lipenowski nodded her head with a small smile and turned to talk with another woman.

"What? You thought Martin would interrupt his precious working time to go to his children's school?" Susan answered with bitterness and Alice looked at her, slightly taken aback by her tone. Susan was always so cheerful and contented that it was kinda surprising to see her in this state. She looked exhausted and slightly moody. Of course, Alice could understand that she had some issues at home with Wendy.

"Sorry, it wasn't what I was meaning. Shelby told me that since you were one employee short, things were hectic at the shop." Alice apologized and Susan sighed, knowing she shouldn't have responded like she did. She shouldn't attack her friend because everything wasn't right.

"Oh, yeah, sorry I had to take my bad day on you…"

"It's okay. So how are things going with Martin?" Alice asked as she sat down and rubbed her tummy softly. She wasn't sure yet, but she thought she was pregnant. She still hadn't told anyone but maybe in a few months…

"Not good…we don't make any progress but it's not worse either. I'm not sure I still want to try that make up thing. It would work if he tried to do it on his side too, but he's not making any effort." Susan complained and ran a hand through her hair, eyeing Alice as she kept rubbing her stomach.

"I'm sorry." She said with sympathy and Susan smiled a little at her. You could see large bags under her eyes and tiredness on her whole face but she still had those dimples that illuminated her face.

"No, it's okay! I mean, I'm not that sad. I have my three children with me and they're all great. It's just we're facing a sort of crisis and Martin acts like he doesn't even care. You see?"

"I think that's a men's thing. Walt is always doing the same, Shelby's and Jess's father was doing it too. They're not good at dealing in times of conflict or crisis." Alice said with a small roll of eyes and Susan acquiesced softly.

"I guess your right, but he could try at least."

"Yes, you're probably right. So, is that crisis the reason why Scott hasn't called Shelby in days?" Alice asked reproachful and Susan looked at her with a sigh, as she knew the reason why he hadn't call his girlfriend.

"Oh, you don't know?"

"Know? What am I supposed to know?"

"Scott broke up with her because she didn't tell him Wendy was pregnant and believe me I'm not happy with this and neither are the girls." She said and sighed. Wendy was unceasingly trying to get him call or go see Shelby and Harmony always slid unpleasant comments about how he was a jackass since Shelby wasn't there to stop him anymore. And Susan…well she thought he was less moody and more opened when he was with her.

"I'm sorry Susan but your son isn't completely wrong. Shelby should have told someone." Alice said and Susan sighed again. She seemed to do that too much since a small time. She couldn't deal with everything and she was though. And it was hard, and she knew it wouldn't last definitively. She wouldn't be able to do so…between Scott and Wendy…

"That's the thing! He's not mad at her because she didn't tell someone, but because she didn't tell him. It's always about him, just like his father." Susan said with frustration and Alice nodded slightly. She noticed that the main teacher of their daughters entering and thought it might be nice to hear what he had to say. After all, she had come for the reunion, not to hear her friend's complains.

Next Chapter:

Shelby's return to school and Scott's coldness,

Argument Shelby/Wendy,

Scott/Brooke,

Shelby/Luke comforting

Please R&R! And have fun reading that story…

Much love. Linkie