Yep, still not dead. Just...getting done with IB school work. UGG. I wish I could just write fanfiction all day. The plot thickens. We are half-way done with the story, which will be finished...eventually...meh. I do enjoy writing this though. A lot more than I should...hmm...

Btw, if you noticed I'm making an effort to spell Zack that way instead of 'Zach' which is how i always want to...

Remember to drop a review!

Splinter was resilient.

"It wasn't a suicide!" He insisted firmly, "I refuse to believe it!" Sophie heard him once, she wore black most days now, and shook her head.

"I know, I knew her best. But she really was unhappy, Splinter. And it wouldn't be nice to imagine this wasn't her fault, because that means someone killed her, but that's just too much to hope for. She was so broken…and I didn't notice." She said. Splinter grabbed her shoulders.

"No. Listen to me. I swear." He insisted, "It wasn't her fault!" He said, shaking. Sophie tensely picked his hands off of her.

"Oh, and you know why?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. Splinter faltered, and Zach and Bailey saw the whole idea running through his mind. Zach gave a shake of his head. Don't do it. She'll tell.

"I just…have a gut feeling." He finished lamely, and his shoulders sagged. Sophie's lips puckered like she'd just had lemon juice.

"Really now?" She huffed, walking away, "Don't mock her passing. Ass."

She stomped away, and Zach came up beside his recent best friend.

"Why would you go and say something stupid like that?" He growled, "No one will believe it wasn't her own suicide except us." He looked back at Bailey.

"I just…I need to know I'm not crazy." Splinter moaned into his hands, and his fingers pulled at the roots of his hair, "I think I'm going mad."

"Are you okay?" Bailey stood up from where she was reading hard, or attempting so, "You look really…sick."

"Yeah dude." Zack frowned, "The ghost still keeping you up?" Splinter's head snapped up, and he turned pale.

"What? When did I tell you about that?" He hissed in a low voice. Bailey and Zach exchanged looks.

"Tell me what? Splinter, really…" He said uneasily.

"About the….wait what were you referring to?" He asked.

"Ghost? You know, that it seems like he's there even though he's not. We cleaned up the blood and all, but to still know that it was there…how can you even open your closet?" Zack mused. Splinter looked half-relieved, half-disappointed.

"Oh. Yeah. It's sleep depravation." He said hastily, shaking his head, "Just making me think crazy things."

"Splinter, you feel really warm. I think you need to see the doctor." She insisted. Splinter jerked away.

"No. I'm fine. I swear. Just a little…never mind." He sighed.

"Dude. You can tell us anything. I think we've passed the barrier of being discreet." He rolled his eyes, and Splinter's wince made him wish he could take it back.

Splinter gave him a pained look, and his whole body seemed to shudder. He then angrily shook his head, and began to storm off. Bailey held Zack back. "Let him go. Maybe he has demons worse than ours?" She suggested.

"What is there possibly to tell us that would shock us more than a dead body in a closet?" He asked, throwing his hands up. Bailey looked around, worrying someone had been near.

"I-," She began, but there was a half-strangled cry from where Splinter had turned the corner. Bailey leapt up and gasped.

"Oh no!" Zack's worst fear was that Splinter's paranoia about his being next (Since he was the roommate of Camden) hadn't been all crazy talk at all. He was there a moment behind Bailey. But Splinter didn't look dead…he just looked like he had passed out.

"He's passed out." Bailey said, looking up. Zack gave an inward grin; he felt very proud of himself for deducing as much, "Why are you smiling, Zack?" Bailey huffed. Okay, so not as inward as he thought.

"I figured out he had passed out before he said it." Saying it out loud made him feel very stupid. Bailey gave him a wild look.

"We need to get him to the nurse. I think he hasn't been sleeping or eating right." She shook her head sadly.

"He screamed though!" Zack pointed out. Bailey looked around.

"There's no one here now. No wounds anywhere. And if anything is wrong, the doctor can help." She said firmly. Together, the two hoisted Splinter up and carried him the, thankfully, short distance to the infirmary.

Zack let Bailey talk. She was much better at calmly and rather scientifically shooting the doctor a couple ideas. He was already nodding in agreement.

"Tell you what, he needs some sleep. I'll let you know when he wakes up. Right away." He promised, even going as far as putting Zack's number into his phone.

Zach walked away, hands in pockets and worry floating through his head. What had he been so afraid of that he fainted? Splinter was the type of guy who (before the whole…'incident') would have gone to the scariest movies out there and considered them a comedy. He's the kind of guy who would have pointed out to a guy with a gun in his face pointers about mugging. Splinter was for sure not someone to scar easily.

Bailey paused in the hall back to the study cove. "What?" Zack asked.

"I guess I was thinking it through. I don't know…did Splinter scare easily?" She asked. Zack beamed in triumph. So it wasn't just him!

"No." Zack shook his head, "There was something there!"

"Do we know if he's afraid of anything?" Bailey asked, all detective and fact mode. Zack scoffed.

"If he is, he surly hasn't told me." He shrugged, "I mean…except Camden's undead body. But that would scare anyone in his position." He brushed it away, "Maybe it was an even bigger kid." His old self began to peek through- the side that thought everything to be fun and games and all. Bailey rolled her eyes.

"Zack." She punched him lightly, "Be real."

"Maybe he saw Bigfoot."

"On the ship?" She pointed out. Zack gave a helpless look.

"C'mon, even mythical beats gotta go on vacation as well!" He pointed out. Bailey scoffed.

"Sure." She said, and gathered her books, then frowned, "I'm really worried about Splinter." She admitted. She looked so downfallen, so small, "What if…what if he is next. He's my friend now."

"Bailey…" Zack said uneasily, a soft tone. He gulped. Bailey looked up, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Damn. He'd never been good around crying girls. Usually he just passionately kissed them. That made them not sad.

Could his kiss Bailey though? Hell no. Would he? Well…

He felt like slapping himself. This was his brother's girlfriend, and he hated her. He kept telling himself lies like that. She was still nearly crying. Crap.

"Hey." He said, taking the books from her arms, "Don't…cry." He said weakly. Bailey blubbered a bit, and clearly that hadn't been something to say. He awkwardly gave her a hug, or at least it was awkward at first. Then her small arms wrapped around him, and he relaxed. He uncertainly touched her head, patting her like a pet, shushing her. She just broke down in his arms. Defiantly now the intended reaction.

"Bailey…has Cody ever shown you the secret room?" He asked.

"Secret…room?" She echoed, "The Harry Potter one?"

"Do you want to go there? Less people to hear you cry. It's right there." He motioned with his head to only a couple doors down. Bailey attempted to pull herself together, then nodded.

"Yeah. Yes." She agreed, and slouched against Zack. He hoped no would see them go down there together. He kicked the door with his foot because he was holding Bailey a little still and they descended the steps. At the bottom, Bailey reached into the pool and rubbed some water over her face, blotting away the redness of he eyes. Then went back by Zach, who was sitting against a wall, and leaned against him.

"I'm done crying now, I think." She said soon. Zach moved his arm, which happened to be most comfortable if he set it around her. She looked at it, then nodded, saying it was okay. Maybe she just needed to feel secure.

"Thanks for telling me." He said, slightly deadpanned, but gave her a tiny smile.

"Oh, I feel like an idiot. Crying about this in front of you." She muttered, looking down.

"Bailey…I'm afraid too. I'm afraid for others I care about. No one else knows there's a killer out there." He said.

"You're afraid for Cody." She said, "I am too."

"Not just Cody!" Zack shook his head, "Woody, Splinter, London, Addison, Marcus, Reina, you-," He listed.

"Me?" She sounded surprised.

"Yeah. I mean, we're friends now…aren't we?" He asked. She was as rigid as a statue, but then relaxed back against him, "I guess so." Then she giggled.

"What?" He asked, frowning.

"I thought Maya would be at the top of the list." Zach winced internally. How could have he forgotten his own girlfriend? He lied easily.

"She I worry about most," Because he did worry about her a lot. He knew he would be devastated if she died. His heart clenched painfully. Bailey's face was unreadable.

"Of course." She agreed, but it was far-away.

"Are you okay?" He asked, and she shivered against him.

"Cody is always supposed to comfort me and all, but I can't tell him any of this. Too much of a goody two-shoes. And instead, it's you that I have to confide in."

"Have to?" Zack didn't understand why that offended him so much, "I see."

"No!" Bailey looked up, shaking her head, "I mean, if I really wanted to I could talk to Splinter too. I mean, I choose to talk to you. I could talk to no one. It's just…we really didn't like each other before."

"I know." Zack agreed, "But now…" He stumbled off, catching himself from saying something stupid.

"I know." She said, and he didn't see it coming when she took his hand. He let it go, because, she was warm and it didn't feel wrong holding her. His body spoke for words he wouldn't let himself say. Actions he didn't really know he was doing, because Zack wasn't…cute with people. Yet, he shifted so that he was leaning into her as well, and set his forehead on her head. Zach may have been imaging it, but it seemed colder, so he pulled her a little closer. She let out a happy sigh and then squeaked.

"Holy hail bails! It's been an hour! I need to study for my science test tomorrow." She said, standing up.

"And I have lots of nothing to do." He agreed jokingly, and Bailey shot him a look of laughter and just shook her head. Something had changed between them. It was undeniable and Zack felt empty when she had gotten up. They both walked up the stairs, and found the door open.

"Zack! You left the door open!" She sighed, "That's why it was cold." She gave him a hard look, "Can you be any more irresponsible."

"Hey! I closed it!" Zack bristled.

"Did you see it close?" She asked briskly.

"I closed it with my foot. Yeah, it closed." He grumbled sourly.

"Sure. You say that, but how many times have you raided Cody's mini fridge, closed it with your foot and then it re-opened or didn't close at all?" She questioned, and Zack's face grew red.

"That was only three times." He mumbled.

"And then I had to sit there and hear Cody complain and sob about his spoiled cottage cheese and melted science experiment." She finished, "Good thing most students assume this to be a broom closet or something."

They parted their separate ways, and Zack tried to get her out of his head. Dinner came next, and when they sat next to each other, it was like a shock of electricity ran through them. Gosh, that sounded cheesy. He forced himself to ignore her and focus on Maya. In the middle of dinner, his phone buzzed. Splinter was awake. By now, everyone knew of his 'slip'. They invited the others to come, but in the end it was only Bailey and Zack that either wanted to or were able to visit. He wasn't sure how being alone with her was going to pan out.

She seemed uneasy about it too, which made him feel relieved. He didn't have to explain that he didn't know what made him do what he did and that she was nice and all but-

But what? There was nothing there. Nothing at all.

"He was really sick." The doctor confirmed, "I'd say he hasn't had more than a meal a day and eight hours of sleep over the last week. We're going to keep him here another day and make sure he gets the sleep and meals he needs. Can I trust you two to make sure of it after that?" He asked. Bailey and Zack agreed.

Splinter was as itchy as a rabbit. But he relaxed when the two of them came and visited. He gulped.

"Splinter! I was so worried!" Bailey said, "You scared us!"

"I know." He said, "I haven't really had friends that ever cared before." He twiddled his thumbs, "They can promise whatever, but it's all shit. No amount of pills will keep me asleep." He said with a rough, saddened tone.

"Nightmares?" Bailey whispered. He nodded.

"Guys…I…" He looked uneasy, "I feel I need to tell you, or else I'll go insane. Please, don't laugh…and please believe me. I've been seeing things." He said. Zack and Bailey exchanged looks.

"What sorts of things?" She asked, leaning in closer. Splinter closed his eyes, and opened his mouth. When he opened his eyes though, they went wide with terror and he gave a little shriek of fear and pushed himself back as far as he could on the hospital bed.

"Him." He whispered hoarsely, eyes still wide with terror at something behind both of them. That's when Zack felt it- a unnerving feeling creeping up the back of his neck. Like a chill had whooshed through the room, or someone was watching him. All this fired in a millisecond in his mind, and without thinking, he swung his head around.

"Holy shit!" He stumbled back into some noisy equipment. Bailey covered her mouth to keep from screaming.

"You two see it too?" Splinter asked, looking between them, as if that was a comforting thought. No! It just meant they were all crazy together!

"G…gh…ghost." Bailey whispered, shaking so hard that Zack thought she'd hurt herself.

"Wait! Wait a second!" Zack had known at this part, there would be…problems.

"I'm telling you the whole story. Start to finish. Nothing left out. That's what you wanted, right?" He asked sourly.

"You can't be serious. Or your friend was being…overdramatic, correct? So that we all know?" Mr. Oslak said, turning to him, daring him to say anything else. Zack wasn't afraid; not like he'd been that day.

"No. She was right. Ghost. Half-invisible dead spirit." He clarified.

Mr. Oslak looked sour. "It was a trick of the mind, though?"

"I wish it was. Sir, I don't mean to interrupt or sound…well crazy, but that's not the only one in my story." He sighed.

"Do you think this is a joke?" He descended on Zack with a terrible force, "Are you being funny?"

"No. I swear to god, shoot me dead right now if I'm not, I am telling the truth." Zack insisted.

"Was it all in your head?" He asked after a long moment of silence.

"Honestly?" Zack asked, and Mr. Oslak nodded. Zack was quiet. He looked to his side, to something he knew none of them could see. And then he smiled.

"I hope not."

"No way." Zack hissed to himself, "No…no…no."

"You see it too!" Splinter was in a state of bliss, but one glance made him look sick again, and he quieted.

It was Camden, floating there. Zack could see through his shadowy figure, to the horrible wallpaper that was supposed to calm people, but really made Zack want to tear it down in a rage. He looked like he did more than a month ago, but almost more dead. His face was really pale, eyes slightly sunken. He had red lines on his neck from where the noose was, and the hole still bleeding slightly where the arrow was jabbed. The ghost blood dripped down, and when it hit the floor evaporated into nothing. His clothes and hair were in disarray, and one of his toes was savagely missing. He looked thinner than Zack remembered too.

"C…Camden?" Bailey whispered, bending forward. He gave a smile, but it was eerie as Zack could see the blood on his teeth, "is that you?" Camden nodded.

"You've been seeing this for a week? No wonder you can't sleep!" Zack turned to Splinter, "Is he…violent?" Zack whispered. Splinter gulped.

"No…he's just always there…watching…I can hear his blood dripping at night." He whispered, turning away.

Zack turned back to the ghost. He tisked, "Camden, I gotta tell you. That's really, really creepy."

Camden shot him a look, as if to say 'do you think I want to look like this?'

"Camden, please…can you tell us who killed you? Speak please!" She went up to him, so that the end of her sleeve was nearly touching his translucent figure. He opened his mouth helplessly, then shook his head, indicating to his hole in his throat.

"I don't think he can talk, Bailes." Zack ventured forward slowly. Camden nodded.

"Oh…" Bailey looked disappointed, "Well, can you tell us who did it?" He once again shook his head, but made the motion this time of putting on a cap and then pulling it over his head.

"Ski mask? Zack guessed and once again he was correct.

"That's okay. We're looking for him." Bailey assured, and reached out as if to touch his arm, but then drew back. Camden noticed it and gave a long sigh, frowning deeply, "But…have you seen any other ghosts?" She asked hopefully. Zack knew whom she was referring to.

Camden shrugged, and made a motion to indicate 'a few' the best he could. Bailey's eyes sparkled with hope. He already saw her thinking. If they could find Gemma, maybe she'd know who killed her. Or, she could clarify that she killed herself. Whatever was the truth?

"Then you've seen Gemma?" Camden's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He shot Splinter a glare that made it very clear he had no idea she had died.

Splinter narrowed his eyes, and gave a raspy noise. "Suicide." He used the appropriate finger bunnies surrounding his response. Camden was shaking his head wildly, and looked at Bailey. He gave a little grunt.

"It wasn't suicide?" Camden shook his head firmly. The look in his eyes was heartbroken. Maybe he had cared for her, on some scale. He started floating to a wall.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Bailey asked, following the ghost. Camden turned, and his eyes softened. He took a finger and drew with ghost blood on the wall. 'Finding Gemma'. Then, the ghost blood vanished, and he sailed through the wall. Splinter let out a loud, out of place laugh.

"He does that you see! Fucking disappears! Sometimes just evaporates into air. And then he re-pops up you know, just standing over my bed. The prick!" he was getting more worked up by the second, and let out a 'arg' of deep frustration.

The doctor stormed in. "I hope these two haven't upset you, we don't need you getting worked up!" He said sharply, looking at Zack in particular.

"Oh, no sorry. I got a paper cut." Splinter said convincingly, holding up a book that neither had realized he had before, and sucked his index finger. The doctor didn't look convinced, "It's really deep."

"Right." The doctor gave a humm, "That won't need a bandage, I hope you know. Even so, perhaps it's best you have some…quiet time." It was his subtle way of kicking the pair out. Zach was more than happy to leave. Even though he realized Camden meant no harm, he sure as hell didn't want to be around when he popped back up again.

Luckily, he only saw passing glances of Camden around Splinter, who was released two days later. Camden just silently followed, and he said he couldn't find Gemma. The sadness of his failed mission seemed heavy on his shoulders. He disappeared sometimes, and didn't show up for a while, and always tried to stay a little bit away from the three, but it seemed like he was bound somewhat to Splinter.

"I've played enough video games, and I think I got it." Zack declared, "He's waiting for you to avenge his death!"

"Likely." Splinter agreed, and nothing was said much about the subject after.

The trio was walking around the student hallways. Bailey was going because she was going on a date with Cody, Zack because he had a bone to pick with Cody (about the very clear lack of a paper from his brother that he had lost a bet and promised to do) and had previously been hanging out with Bailey and Splinter, and Splinter because he no longer liked being alone, which Bailey and Zach understood.

As they approached Cody's door, a female figure exited. Bailey ground her teeth angrily. "Reina?" She asked. Woody was with his family, so there was no way she was there for the large boy. Reina jumped, as if not expecting them there. It was a defensive jump, one that Zack knew well after sneaking around with girls. His heart went out to Bailey.

"Oh, hi, Bailey." Her voice was reasonably steady.

"So…uh…what were you doing in Cody's room?" Bailey tried to sound casual, but the accusation seeped into her voice.

"It sounds silly, but he was mending some clothes of mine." She said. Bailey rolled her eyes.

"Sure." She said. Reina turned red.

"No! Really!" She dropped her bag and pulled out a wad of clothing, "Cody's the best and he wasn't going to do it, but I really needed this stuff fixed. I have a job interview tonight, and these are my only fancy pants. You can't even see the tear anymore." She pointed to a nearly invisible seam that had been made on the crouch.

"And this bra, ugg, so embarrassing to bring it to him, but I mean it's my favorite. And this top-now that we're in such warm weather, it was the only short-sleeve blue one I had. I wasn't going to fix it, but blue is totally the in color." She rambled on. Behind them, Splinter had taken in a sharp gust of breath. She looked behind them.

"Whatta you staring at, creep?" She scowled. Zack was frozen too, looking at the garment in her hand. It was a blue Seven Seas High shirt of the same material that they had found. And it looked like the piece of evidence that Splinter no doubt had in his back pocket would have fit perfectly into the spot Cody had so carefully mended.

Reina looked at all of them, "Bailey?"

"It's fine. I uh…believe you. Sorry about that." She said. Reina gave them all a strange look, then packed up her things and left with an uneasy goodbye. Zack immediately pulled them into his room across the way.

"Reina is hiding something." He said in a big wave.

"No shit." Splinter barked out.

"She's sneaking around with Cody." He said. He didn't know why he said it, when it would only hurt Bailey. But she had to know, otherwise it would hurt more later. He didn't want her to hurt. Both of them were looking at him like he'd sprouted another head, "Look. I know that look. Maybe she was having him fix clothes, but something else is totally up."

"Yes. That she's the killer!" Splinter burst out. Zach thought about it.

"Yeah, that too." He agreed.

"Now let's not be hasty…" Bailey looked shaken.

"That was more than clear proof, Bailey. I can't…I never thought she'd be…violent…" Splinter murmured.

"Me neither." Zack agreed, but deep down, he was positive he was right about her and Cody as well. He looked at Bailey, who was staring down at the floor.

"But why?" Bailey asked, "Why kill Camden, and maybe Gemma?"

"I'm not sure. We gotta figure out her motives before we say anything. I'm sure they're hidden very well. She was so good at pretending to cry about Gemma too!" He said venomously.

"More detective work then." Zack agreed. Bailey still seemed unsure.

"If we get proper proof…" She murmured.

"What more do you need than this?" Splinter waved around the fabric, "I'm taking a piss." He announced and lumbered over to the bathroom.

"Well, I'm going to talk to Cody about my paper." Zack said, "Are you coming Bailey?"

"No...yes…I don't know. Maybe you are right…I need to think…" She said, and turned away. Damn. It had hurt her, "I refuse to believe it, though." She insisted, voice quivering.

"Okay." Zack blinked, but knew that it was more herself she was trying to convince.

Two days later, Bailey agreed to go undercover to see if she could pry anything from Reina. There was a baking contest for a huge scholarship to any school of the winner's choice, or automatic admission to a fancy-dancy cooking school. Bailey knew her skills in the kitchen were a little above average, but she was positive she would not win. She honestly, even if she was going out with Cody secretly, hoped Reina would win. The girl had a skill for culinary food.

Reina looked upset she was there. "Bailey?"

"Oh, I don't think I'll win. It will just be for fun." She assured, hoping that she'd be lucky enough to sit near Reina, who liked to talk while cooking.

As luck would have it, they were closely spaced to each other. Once the competition started, with the four-course meal vague food guidelines on the board, Reina was in no mood to talk and even unusually snappy about it.

The first course was an appetizer that just had to have fish and raspberries in it. Bailey's dish was last, and Reina scoffed at her time. Bailey took no offence- she had thought the competition would be much more relaxed. The second dish was a slightly smaller food item, with similar open-ended food instructions. For the main course, they were to make a dish that represented them. Bailey knew exactly what to make- an old family recipe. Dessert was a anything goes, so another old family recipe was taken from the depths of her memory. She felt good about the last two, but knew she had botched the first two, so therefore felt good about it all when she left.

She'd had fun, hadn't she? But she hadn't talked to Reina at all. Reina who shot her deadly looks the whole time.

The next morning, the start to her day would have been a whole lot better without a slap in the face. Literally. From Reina. Oh no…

"You have to be the best at everything, don't you!" She cried, her mascara streaking down her face and lipstick smeared, "Why couldn't you let me have this one thing!"

"I can't cook!" Bailey blubbered, "I didn't mean to-,"

"Save it! Save it you little bitch! I thought we were friends. This was the one thing that I've ever wanted in my life, but you don't get anything for nearly making it." She shoved a crumpled paper into Bailey's chest and shoved her back.

Bailey looked. How the tornado with a flying house had she gotten first place. Underneath the judge had praised her for her innovation and comfort food like cooking, showing true character. Reina had gotten second. If Bailey had never entered, even for fun, Reina would have won.

"Reina…I never meant to…" She whispered, looking up at her friend.

"Sure. Sure you didn't! You're such a fucking know-it-all, Bailey! You couldn't handle rejection if it hit you in the face! Miss Little Perfect Suck-Up. Little Miss 'I'm from Kansas poor me'. I'm sick and tired of it!" Reina stomped her heels and left, leaving Bailey with a tear-stained paper still clenched in her fingers. Bailey could never have imagined how deeply words could hurt someone.

From across the room, Zack saw the whole affair. He frowned deeply, his chest burning for Bailey. He wanted to go up and stop her crying like he had before, but everyone was here now. They would wonder. Cody beat him to it. He saw her go over, and she pushed him away. She said something angrily, and Cody looked stricken. Then he chased her and pulled her into a kiss, and said something in her ear. She collapsed in his arms.

"Zack?" Maya asked, and he turned, "You…okay?" She followed his gaze, confused, "You look upset, babe."

"I'm upset for Reina." He really was, but that wasn't even a quarter of his current pain, "She really…really wanted it. Bailey was just doing it for fun." Maya gently rubbed his shoulders.

"Reina is understandably angry. She'll come around. It think. Looks like Cody and Bailey made up. Good, right?" She prompted.

"Huh?" He asked absently.

"Aren't you happy for them?" He turned to Maya and smiled.

"Of course I am. I mean, I may dislike Bailey, but I'm happy for my brother." He lied. Maya giggled, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, come on. You don't hate her. I love Bailey. She's a great girl." She nudged him, "For your brother at least." Zack gave a long sigh.

"Fine, fine. Maybe she's not as bad as I thought."

"Aw, now that wasn't so hard to admit…was it?" She asked.

For the rest of the day, Zack walked around feeling like someone had cut his chest open and taken his heart and then smashed it into a pulp and put it back. Why did their kissing and handholding hurt him so much? Why did he want to go and grab Bailey away? She looked happy again…sort of. There were these faraway looks where he perked up, hoping she'd glance his way. But she didn't.

That night, he lay in bed, tossing and turning. Then he figured it out. He liked her. No! It was more than that…he'd fallen for her. Fuck. He fought with himself about it. It was only when dawn was peeking through the shutters that he had fallen asleep when he made a promise to himself. He had to tell her how he felt when he awoke again. That soothed him to sleep, and in that moment, he knew that it was all going to be okay.