AN: Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing. I have ideas for where I want this to go, but as usual my problem is figuring out how to get there. I'll try to update a little quicker next time, but a plot bunny for another story is currently biting at me and the annoying little jerk won't leave me alone.

xxxx

This was it. I decided. Drew was right. I couldn't let Sam have the satisfaction of stealing anything from me. It was time I sucked it up and made a move. There was a new action movie premiering that night and it was all Shark had talked about for weeks, but I knew he'd used the last of his money to buy several cases of this new high performance energy drink he and King was so obsessed with. So I knew it would be the perfect chance to ask him out on a date. Dinner and a movie. I knew it was very high school cliché, but it was all I could come up with.

I looked for Shark while trying to appear as if I wasn't really looking for him. I wanted to make a move of Shark, but I also didn't want it to appear that way. I found him just where I thought I would. He was doing laps in the pool. It was beautiful the way he moved through the water. There was such fluid grace in him, such compact strength that all I could do was stop and stare.

"It's not polite to stare."

I jerked around to Lioness. There was a gentle, knowing smile on her face. I could feel myself pale as I stared at her, hoping she didn't know what I thought she knew.

"Hey guys," Shark called out.

I turned my head enough to watch him effortlessly pull himself out of the water. I watched the muscles flex and move under his skin. When I realized what I was doing and jerked around to look at Lioness again. There was a smirk on her face that confirmed my fear. She knew exactly what I didn't want her to know.

"What's up?" Shark questioned.

I didn't want to ask him out with Lioness right there. I wanted Shark to just think I was asking him as a friend to go to a movie, not that I was asking him on a date. Lioness could do or say something to clue Shark in. I was actually expecting the hateful comments to start flying, but to my surprise it didn't happen.

"Nothing much, I thought for just a minute there Hawk here was thinking about joining you," Lioness said.

"As if," I shot back. "Nothing in this world would get me in that water."

"Oh I can think of a few things," Lioness retorted with that same smirk in place. "Anyway, I think he's actually here to talk to you Shark."

I didn't think I could pale any further. "Uhhh…"

Shark snickered. I lost all courage. I started to mentally backpedal while physically doing the same thing, trying to hide my limp as I did. I think for a minute both my friends were amused, but Shark grew serious real quick. "Dude, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I retorted quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?" It's not like I'm harboring a secret crush on you or anything.

"Because you've been acting really weird lately," Shark replied. Lioness remained silent as they both waited for my retort.

"I'm fine," I insisted. I flashed what I hoped was a convincing arrogant smirk. "Nothing brings the Hawkster down."

Lioness snorted, but obviously figured out that I wasn't going to be making the move she wanted me to make while she was still there. Even if I wasn't sure whether or not she wanted me to fail or succeed in my attempt to ask Shark out…without seeming like I was asking him out. She made a quick excuse or other and sauntered out of the room. To my immense disappointment Shark watched her go and his eyes were obviously on her ass.

"Did you need something Hawk-man?" Shark asked as his blue eyes shifted back to me.

"I uh…," Oh god man, just suck it up and ask him. "I wanted to go see that action flick, Master of Swords, and thought maybe you'd like to come with me?"

"Oh dude, I would but I already told Sam I'd go to the teen night at Velocity with him," Shark replied. "You wanna come?"

And watch my brother put the moves on you? I shook my head. "Have fun." I managed to get out. I saw Shark open his mouth to say something else, but I beat a hasty retreat. I heard Shark call my name, but I had no intention of going back.

Just before I could make it to the safety of my room a small hand caught me by the wrist and pulled me to a stop. I sighed deeply and turned to face Lioness. I once more expected hateful slurs or something equally bad, but all I got was an understanding and sympathetic smile.

"It's okay Zach, you don't have to hide from me," she said kindly.

"Hide what?" I replied with my 'usual' arrogant tone. "I don't have anything to--."

"You can drop the act too. I know you're not nearly as arrogant of an ass as you'd like us to think," Lioness cut in.

I snapped my mouth shut with a click of teeth and shifted restlessly. I knew I had a choice in front of me. I could choose to continue on the safe path of pretty much being an arrogant jerk or I could let her finally see the real me. But I knew if I dropped the mask to her she would call me on it if I tried to continue wearing it in front of the others. There was the safe route or the truthful route.

"Arrogant ass, huh? I'll remember that on your birthday," I shot back.

Lioness frowned at me, golden eyes narrowing. "Why can't you drop the act? Don't you trust me?"

"Y'know, if you don't like who I am then that's your problem. I'm perfectly happy with who I am."

Lioness gave a frustrated growl and threw up her hands. "If you're going to continue acting like that then you don't deserve Ollie."

"SHHHH," I hissed at her. "Did you have to say that so loud?"

"What? Did you really think your little crush on Shark is a secret? Please, we're not as dumb as you seem to think we are," she shot back at me. Her glare softened as did her voice. "We're not as close minded as you think either."

There it was, the opening for me to finally be truthful with her. It was the only excuse I had for not telling them the truth about Sam, but…I really didn't want to get into my family problems. Most of all, I didn't want them to see how much of a mess I really was.

"Lioness, just…leave it alone, okay?" I said softly

For a moment I thought she might argue, but then she took a deep breath and nodded. Then she did something I wasn't expecting. She reached out and pulled me into a hug. For a moment I wasn't sure quite what to do, but as she continued to hold me I wrapped my arms around her and held her close. I couldn't even begin to explain how good it felt as the warmth of her support and friendship reminded me that I wasn't alone.

xxxx

I never thought Hawk would have the courage to ask me out. I put on a good front, but behind my laid back, easy going nature I was a very observant person. I learned early in life that people didn't always show their true selves to me, but by observing them when they thought I wasn't paying attention I could learn more than they would ever tell me.

I knew Hawk was hiding a painful past. His whole arrogant act was just to cover the vulnerable young man who had been hurt very badly by someone close to him. I could make a few leaps about who it was, but it wasn't my place to assume anything. I could only hope that someday I might earn his trust enough for him to tell me.

In the meantime my gut instincts were telling me to keep a very, very close eye on Sam. They do say "keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer". I had never really bought that, but something about Sam told me I would have a better chance of keeping an eye on the dude if I was in tight with him.

So, when he asked me to show him someplace to have fun I agreed. I figured I could take him out someplace where he might relax a little and maybe let something slip. If not at the very least I could just have some fun. I considered asking Axel or King to join us, to keep more eyes on Sam, but I decided against it. I didn't want Sam to have any idea that I was onto his game. People like him tend to let things slip when they think they're safe.

A few hours later Sam and I were kicked back at Velocity tossing back energy drinks and talking. He seemed to enjoy telling me embarrassing stories from Hawk's childhood. The dude couldn't have been more obvious. I think the only thing that would have made him happier was if Hawk was there to feel humiliated by it. His contempt for his brother was as easy to see as the hair on his head. And it pissed me off the way he busted on my friend as if I wouldn't be offended by it, but I played it cool and calm and went along with it. Until I couldn't take it anymore.

"Dude, for being so tight with your brother you sure do bust on him a lot," I commented.

Sam's eyes flickered with something I didn't quite catch. "Yeah, well, being his brother I'm allowed to do that."

I wanted to tell him that he wasn't allowed to do that. He was supposed to be supportive of his brother. Instead I decided to change the subject. "Y'know, all we've done is talk about Hawk, but I'm interested in you."

Something shifted in his facial expression. "Oh really?"

"Yeah dude, I can learn about Hawk from him. I want to know more about you," I replied. I wasn't sure exactly what message I was trying to send him, but it probably wasn't the same one he was getting. "Tell me something no one else knows."

"I like to paint," Sam said, leaning back in his seat. "You're the first person to know that. It's not something my father would approve of as a hobby."

"Why not?" I asked.

Sam made a face. "It has no practical value. He doesn't really approve of us doing anything that's not aimed at furthering our careers."

"Then he must not approve of Hawk much," I commented off handedly, as if the answer meant nothing to me.

Sam was quiet for a moment. I wondered if maybe there was actually some loyalty to his brother in there.

"Zach and our father have a very…complicated relationship," Sam finally said. The way he said it made me think that "complicated relationship" was not what he meant to say. "Dad isn't always the easiest person to get along with."

"Something tells me that's an understatement," I replied.

Sam smirked, but there was an emotion behind it I couldn't quite read. "I don't' know how much Zach has told you about our family. Dysfunctional might be a nice way of putting it."

I stared into my drink and let silence consume the table. Sam was being way too talkative. He was revealing more than he should have and if I were a little more naïve I might have been fooled into thinking he trusted me with the information. I wasn't naïve though and I knew that what he was "letting slip" was meant hurt Hawk in some way. I guessed that what he was telling me was meant to get me to pester Hawk for answers, maybe even get mad that my friend was keeping secrets.

"What about you? Do you have a good relationship with your father?" I asked. I wanted to pull him away from thoughts of his brother, and maybe away from his deceptive mission.

Sam's eyes flickered again, there was something in there I just couldn't quite read. "I have…well…I have a relationship with him."

Hmmm…so Sam was willing to spout anything and everything about Hawk, but he wanted to keep himself a secret. But somehow I sensed there was something a little more to Sam than what he was showing me and possibly even his brother. Whether he meant to or not I could hear the contempt he had for his brother in his voice anytime he started talking about Hawk. And there was something like…well I wasn't exactly sure what the emotion was that flashed in his eyes anytime he started talking about their father. It all gave me a feeling that something big was actually going on. Maybe even bigger than Hawk knew.

"C'mon man, this place is too noisy," Sam said as he suddenly stood.

I stood and followed him out of the club. The night air was warm with just enough of a breeze to stir the air, but not enough to be cold. We walked a ways down the street and toward the nearby park.

"I don't know if I should be hurt that Zach hasn't told you about his family," Sam said finally. There did seem to be genuine hurt in his voice, but my gut told me not to believe what I heard.

"I would think he'd only do that if he had a reason," I replied.

Sam nodded. "It's not my place to say anything though. Obviously Zach is ashamed of us."

I didn't say anything in reply, but internally I was pretty wound up. Sam was a terrible actor. It was obvious to me that whatever had happened and been on the family's side and not Zach's. His need to hide behind the terrible act of the arrogant jerk was proof.

"I came here in hopes that maybe I could get through to Zach. I miss how close we used to be, y'know," Sam said, breaking the silence.

"Y'know, I got the distinct impression that Hawk was pretty close to his parents when they were here for Christmas," I commented.

Sam was silent for a moment as if debating what to say to that. "Zach hasn't had contact with the family since he left when he was sixteen."

I frowned and stopped walking. That didn't jive with what I knew, or thought I knew, about Hawk. If those weren't his parents at our place on Christmas, then who were they? And why would he go out of his way to keep up a lie? It made me wonder just what my friend was hiding.

And I should have been paying more attention to Sam because suddenly he was right in front of me so close I could see myself reflected in his eyes. His eyes that were exactly like Hawk's, yet different in a way I could never put into words. I went to take a step back, but he followed and suddenly his lips were on mine. My first instinct was to shove him away, but I managed to stop myself before I actually did it. I knew I was going to hate myself for it later, but instead of shoving him away like I should have I let him pull me closer. I told myself I was doing it for Hawk and that he would understand.

He wasn't a half bad kisser either. For a moment I imagined the one kissing me was Hawk and let myself be absorbed in it. His hand slid around the nape of my neck and then up through my hair sending shivers down my spine. His other hand cupped my cheek, his thumb caressing my face. All I could do was keep reminding myself I was doing it to help Hawk. As he pulled away and looked into my eyes I wonder just how far I was going to have to go to save Hawk from whatever scheme his brother was cooking up. I knew the answer was however far it took.