Sup guys...sorry this one took so long. Thanks so much for all your reviews, because I wouldn't of had any motivation to finish this without them. I decided to get this one out while I'm trying not to burst into a tantrum over tonight's Glee. -_-" Blaine= forever gay.
Anyways...enjoy. :)

- Veg

Things with Vera are actually starting to get...awkward. She seems to be focusing a lot less on me (which I obviously take into offense) and more on her work and her...boyfriend.

Ugh. David. I can't even begin to fathom all of the hatred I have for that guy, and I barely even know him. Vera doesn't even seem happy with him- she's selectively happy with him. He picks fights with her, treats her rudely and manipulates her, but she tells me there's "something about him" that keeps her around. What in the world could possibly keep her around that? It's ridiculous. He's so paranoid and clingy and is wholeheartedly convinces Vera's gonna leave him or some garbage like that. Unfortunately, neither of them realize that she should.

Part of me is dying to tell Vera... just about everything that's been on my mind. David's a jerk, and I'm pretty sure I'm aware of what's going on between the two. I may be kind of…stupid, but I'm not that stupid. I know there has to be something behind the bruises and the broken arm, and the fact that her boyfriend's a complete ass definitely can't be just some coincidence. But, then again, the other part is yelling at me to stay out of it and mind my own business. I really like Vera- whether it's as a friend or not- and I don't want her to, well, hate me or anything. I mean, she got pretty defensive yesterday the second I brought up the subject of her relationship and the last thing I want is for her to be upset with me. I'm just worried about her. I never really expected for some crappy, forced volunteer job to bring me to someone whom I care so much for now. It's actually kind of…weird.

"You're in love with her," Carlos would always tell me. Carlos is an idiot. I need to stop going to him for advice.

"Just…ask her out already. A boyfriend's never stopped you before," Kendall simply suggested, like it's actually that easy. Believe me, I wish it was.

"You're really dumb, you know that?" was all Logan really ever had to say. Thanks, I know that now.

And, of course, there's the oh-so helpful two cents Brooklyn felt it necessary to add in via call from New York: "Just keep it in your pants for now, okay?" Yeah, I'll try.

Vera sat at her desk, textbook in her lap, trying to finish her homework. Normally, I'd just be babbling away about some nonsense I'm surprised she actually listens to, but I didn't even think to do so today. Nothing really seems…right. "You alright?" I ask her, just out of habit; even though I know the answer she's going to give me already.

"Yeah," she quietly replies, although I know she's probably mentally screaming, "No, not at all."

"A lot of work or something?" is my lousy attempt at keeping our conversation going. She just nods in reply. "Any plans for this weekend?"

"No," she says with a sigh. "None other than the fact that I'm stuck here all night tonight."

"All night?" I ask, sounding a little more suspicious than I intended to.

"Yeah, no one else was able to stay tonight, so," she lets out another loud sigh and slams her book shut. "Zach and I got stuck with the job."

"And you stay…all night?" I probably look like an idiot, repeating myself the way I am now, but it was kind of hard to believe…being stuck here all night. That sounds kind of awful. She nods in reply, and I just give her this dumbfounded, blank stare.

"What, do you think we're just gonna leave a building full of stray animals by themselves at night?" She asks me, laughing a bit. "I mean, it's actually a lot more fun than it sounds, especially when you're spending most of your Friday nights alone like Zach and me."

"You don't go out with your boyfriend or anything?" I suddenly blurt out, and by the look she shot me, I can tell I shouldn't have.

"No," she's quick to reply. "He's always…busy." Well, I guess that's better for you, then.

As if right on cue to avoid an awkward silence between the two of us, Zach suddenly decides to make a dramatic burst through the door behind Vera, causing her to nearly jump out of her seat. "Uh, hey-" I open my mouth the greet him, but he abruptly puts a hand in front of my face, which I take as a sign to stop talking.

"Shh!" He cuts me off. "Don't talk." Alright then… He then takes the initiative to sit himself up on the desk, completely obstructing his friend's work space.

"Do you need something?" Vera asks, hinting a bit of intolerance.

"Yeah," he tells her with a smile. "A girl talk." I refrain from bursting out in laughter at that one while Vera just innocently giggles.

"What is it now?" She asks, leaning back in her chair a bit.

"Well…remember that guy I was telling you about? The one from the mall?" Vera then proceeds to roll her eyes as she nods. I took it that it meant he had already given her more than a spiel about said topic.

"What about him?" She puts her feet up on her desk, and I catch myself subconsciously smiling at her. Vera gives me a weird look in return, but I can't help it. Those little habits she has are just so…cute.

"Oh, nothing," Zach replies with a mischievous smile. "He's only taking me out to dinner and the MOCA tonight." Vera just laughs at him in return.

"You hate museums," she reminds him. "And…really don't appreciate art." Huh, sounds kind of like me. Zach shakes his head and flicks his wrist at her.

"Not important right now," he tells her. "But, uh… I probably won't be back until later, so, uh…" He gives her this innocent, hopeful smile and Vera lets out a frustrated sigh.

"So, what you're trying to say is that you're leaving me here alone tonight." He pouts his lips and shows his friend a guilty, "I'm sorry"-type look, but she just shakes her head, signaling for him to cut it out. "Alright, fine. I'll find someone else…"

"You're the best, V," he says with a big smile before leaving to return tending to the furry little demons.

"So, what are you gonna do now?" I ask Vera, and she just shrugs.

"I guess I'll find someone."

"Do you…" I hesitate before continuing, but then quickly blurt out the rest of my question. "-want me to stay with you?" She actually looks a little shocked that I asked.

"U-uh, n-no, no…" She quickly looks away from me and down at her feet. "I-I mean…you don't have to do that. I should be okay."

"Come on," I reply, trying to work my charm on her even more, which probably makes her uncomfortable. "You shouldn't stay here by yourself. Let me come in tonight. I don't have anything important to do, anyways." At least, I don't think I do. I actually think I had a date with…that one girl. Uh, whatever her name is…

"Um, James, you really don't have to-"

"I want to, Vera," I cut her off. "And I'll see you tonight."

"So…you're spending the night…at the animal shelter?" Kendall slowly asks me, clearly confused with the information he was given.

"Uh, yeah," I plainly reply like it's nothing. "Well, until 6 tomorrow morning when someone else is coming in."

"You say that like you'll actually be able to stay up until 6," Logan snorts. "Especially in a place full of animals that scare the hell out of you."

"Let me guess- Vera's gonna be there," Carlos mocks me and I just stay quiet for once. I've had enough of them bothering me for today. "I knew it. That's why you're doing this."

"I just can't do something nice for once?" I try and defend myself, and they all just laugh at me.

"No," all of my friends scoff at the same time.

"Alright, fine." I say with a sigh.

"Maybe tonight will finally be the night you'll tell Vera you're weirdly obsessed with her?" Carlos teases me, and I attempt to glare a hole through his skin.

"Boyfriend," I remind him.

"Who's a jerk," Logan lightly adds in, shrugging his shoulders. "You probably worry about her more than he does." At that moment, I'm ready to open my big mouth and blurt out something I probably should and shouldn't at the same time. I have a reason to worry about her. David's more of a jerk than anyone else must realize.

"But I'm not obsessed with her."

"But you like her," he reminds me. "For real. Not like the girls you make out with for a day then trash 24 hours later." I do my best to attempt to ignore him. This is all starting to get to the point where my friends sound like a bunch of squealing middle school girls.

"Yeah, well…" I reply, glancing in the mirror to quickly run my comb through my hair. "I've gotta go." Actually, I don't, but I also don't feel like being pestered anymore. Of course, by the time I get in my car and pull out of the parking lot, I can't help but realize I'd be arriving at least an hour early.

I think showing up at the shelter earlier than planned actually turned out to be a good thing. When I pulled into the parking lot, I immediately noticed Vera and David by the back entrance. David looked angry, and Vera looked like a combination of terrified and on the verge of tears as she crouched down up against the concrete wall. Of course, the second I got out of my car, Vera popped straight up and complete silence fell among us. "Everything okay here?" I asked the two as I walked toward them, and they both looked as if they were completely forcing the smiles on their faces.

I glance up at the clock on the wall as I subconsciously tap my fingers on the arm of my chair- it's exactly 8 o'clock. It's been a few hours since that moment passed, and that's all that's been on my mind. I really want to say something to Vera now. I've got to do something, because I might be the only one seeing this. Everyone else may think everything is fine with her, because that's probably what they hear, but there's a real problem. A bad one. A dangerous one. One she's too scared to tell anyone about.

I look up at Vera in her usual spot, typing away on her computer, and smile at her, mainly because I don't know what else to do at this point. It's completely silent except for the clicking sounds of the keyboard. "What're you working on?" I ask, just to fill the slightly uncomfortable silence.

"This research paper that has to be e-mailed to my teacher before midnight," she says with a sigh, stopping a moment to rest her chin on the palm of her hand.

"I see you're having an exciting night," I joke, making her giggle.

"I'm almost done," she quietly replies.

After a few more moments of silence, I want to say something else, but am immediately cut off when the two of us notice a loud whimpering sound coming from the back. Vera immediately jumps out of her seat, and I follow behind her, a bit nervous. "Aw, it was just Toby," she explains after she turns the light on back by the dog cages, keeping the room as dim as possible for the sake of the sleeping animals. She opens up one of the top cages and reaches up to pull out the tiniest whimpering puppy I've ever seen. She looks up at me as she cradles the little brown furball with her arm that isn't stuck in a cast. "He's just a baby- only a few weeks. His mom died after he was born." She pouts and stares down at the dog before closing the cage without putting him back inside. "I'll keep him out for a while. I don't think he likes the dark, or at least being alone."

Vera insisted on keeping the puppy in her lap as she finished her paper and I sat as comfortable as I could on the couch, flipping through the channels repeatedly on the TV that hung high up in the back corner of the room. Of course, there's obviously nothing on regular cable television on a Saturday night, so the news stayed on. I guess it's better than sitting in silence. "Finally," Vera lets out a relieved sigh before closing her laptop and smiles to herself, and then down at the half-asleep dog in her lap. She ruffles the top of his head and he immediately sits up to look up at her. When she leans down to kiss the top of his head, I resist my urge to cringe in slight horror. As I've stated before- pretty girls shouldn't kiss furry fleabags. Of course, when the dog stretches upward to slobber on her cheek…well, that's when I can't help but wince a bit, and of course, Vera notices.

"James Diamond," she lightly says with her sweet smile. "Are you trying to say that you've never let a dog kiss you before?"

"That's not a kiss, Vera," I blurt out. "That's just…blech." I make myself shudder to add dramatic effect, and she just laughs at me.

I take a moment to just…stare at her. Her pale cheeks transform into a light shade of pink as her wide-open grey eyes stare up at me.

We moved slow, but it all flew by so fast. Before I knew it, our faces were moving closer and closer towards each other, her face ended up in between my hands, and our lips gently pressed together.