Dexter awoke to large blue eyes staring at him unblinkingly. This sight no longer surprised him though, and perhaps that thought was the scariest thing Dexter had ever experienced.

'Besides Mandark's talk with me yesterday.' Dexter thought before he could stop himself. It would not be a good day if Mandark was in his head....That's probably what the bastard had wanted to achieve by that conversation-a way to distract the redhead from his work, letting the raven menace take the lead in their rivalry. It certainly was a childish plan, something Mandark would have easily come up with.

"GOOD MORNING DEXTER!" His older sister Dee Dee screamed. Dexter flinched away before shooting daggers at her, but that was the only reaction she received as she pushed toward his bedroom door.

"Go away Dee Dee, I have important work to do." While not untrue, the impaitent words were more habit now than an actual command.

"You mean getting ready for school?" Dee Dee asked, confused.

"Yes, and getting a little more on the northeast side of the laboratory installed....And you are not to go in there, do you understand? If you have the urge, go...buy some eggs or something. Leave my things alone."

Dee Dee quickly made an "X" over her heart. "I promise Dexter, I won't touch anything that's yours." Her little brother scanned her eyes with his own, looking for any sign she would not keep her word. Apparently satisfied, Dexter nodded and shut the door, going to get dressed for school.

~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~

Going downstairs some fifteen minutes later, Dexter found a bouquet of orange roses at the center of the kitchen table. Dee Dee was admiring them with a stupid grin.

"What is this, Dee Dee?" He sighed.

She snapped to attention and seeing her brother in the kitchen doorway, squealed happily.

"Flowers!"

Another sigh. "Yes, I can see that. Who are they from?"

"Mandark."

"What? When?"

"This morning, while you were upstairs." Dee Dee sighed also, but this was a joyful gesture.

Dexter gaped disbelievingly at the roses and then at his sister. Did she not realize this was all somehow tied to a plot by an idiotic boy who refused to lose?

"Why do you think he would do that, Dee Dee?" He asked carefully. If she figured out the motive behind the beautiful gift herself, she would be less likely to burst into hysterics. But she only shrugged.

"I don't know," she confessed, "but Dexter, this is so romantic! I always knew you two deserved each other! I mean, obviously I didn't like him!" Another excited squeal escaped her lips. Now she began to speak more to herself than to her baby sibling. "Of course, there will have to be wedding arrangements and..."

Dexter was about to be sick. Married to Mandark? No, that would never happen. Mandark was too...well, the list was too long to even think about.

"Dee Dee, that will never happen."

"The baby's room will be pink, but-" the blonde girl blinked and cut herself off. "What?"

"I'm not interested in Mandark. Never have been, never will be."

Tears. "But Dexter-"

Dexter had closed his eyes, so he was unable to see his sister's reaction. "Yes, it's quite sad," he said in the clipped tones he usually used with Dee Dee. "So sad in fact, that there will be no tears shed for him on my part. Now please, I'm leaving for school now. Watch the house for Mom and Dad."

Dee Dee answered in a choked voice. "Of course Dexter, whatever you say."

Sighing, Dexter briefly embraced his sister in a hug meant to give her hurried comfort. Then he walked out the door, grabbing his school books and papers. He never really used a bag or backpack-they hurt his shoulders after everything was placed inside.

When he finally arrived at the school, the image of the flowers on the table came back to his mind. Why was Mandark so resilient to Dexter's refusal? The redhead knew he would not change his own mind. Was the other boy so pathetic that he could not see that fact? Dexter made a mental note to talk to Mandark sometime during the school day to tell him, once again, that he was not interested in him.

He entered the building and made it to his locker without incident. He breathed a sigh of relief and quickly put everything except his Biology book and a few sheets of paper inside the small space before him. Suddenly two arms placed themselves on either side of Dexter and even though they were pencil thin, they were deadly efficient in holding him in place. The genius tried to hide the shaky breath he drew.

"How did you like the flowers?" His voice crooned in Dexter's ear...this was currently the scariest thing the redhead had ever experienced.

"I hate them. Orange roses-what kind of gift was that?" Despite his efforts, a quiet laugh sounded in his ear, making him shudder with disgust...and something quite different. He was not sure what this feeling was though, so he chose not to dwell on it.

"Do you know the meaning behind orange roses?" Mandark's nearly icy breath ghosted across Dexter's right ear and neck.

"You know, I do not usually track the meaning of flowers, but somehow I know the meaning behind that particular breed. I have to ask why you did not opt for the red roses since they both mean the same thing and the red flowers are used the most often."

Another laugh, this one even quieter though they were the only ones left in the hallway. "Dexter, red roses have a romantic love behind their meaning. And while I love you, I chose orange because they signal," he paused to place a light kiss behind the shell of the redhead's ear, earning another shiver, "desire."

And Dexter abruptly found himself alone at his locker as the tardy bell rang.

~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~

Miss Garrett looked down her nose at Dexter as she handed him daily assignment.

"Being gone for two weeks on a sick leave does not excuse a tardy, Dexter." She set her lips into a hard line. Dexter sunk a little in his seat when he hoped no one was watching him, but dark blue eyes glittered with amusement. Mandark loved it when Dexter felt humiliated.

'That's why I'm going to enjoy ripping his heart apart. For once he'll be the one who lost in utter humiliation.' The raven teen thought joyously. He quickly set to work on more ways he could woo his way into the redhead's fragile love.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

A/N: I already know this chapter is pretty pathetic and I EPICALLY failed at it, but what else you think? Too fast, too slow, just right? Are the characters (namely Dee Dee) still interacting like they should? Please help me here and I promise the third chapter will be out faster.

Also, I need more ideas on how to woo an unwoo-able genius....Any help there? It would be appreciated! XD

TTFN (tata for now),

~theflawintheplan