Caboose and Tucker did go to Vinnie's; they just never went inside. They stayed outside in the car for a while.

"Do you think this could be part of the problem?"

"I know it is." Caboose sighed heavily. "I know the way I've been acting has effected him. Not just in school. What is the most painful is I know how to fix it. I just can't tell him. It still hurts too much."

"I could—"

"And I don't want you or Allison to tell him either."

"He should know before Scott shows up."

Caboose moaned. "I really don't want to see him. I don't want James to see him and I cringe at the thought of Scott telling him." A pause. "I don't know what to do."

Tucker sighed. "What else is there?"

"He's gay."

"Is this a problem? You are."

"I don't want to lose him like I lost…"

"All the more reason to tell him about it. About him."

"I'm afraid he will either way. Oh God I can't lose him."

Tucker reached out and rubbed Caboose's back, soothingly. "Everything will work out."

Allison leaned back in the car. She was looking for a loophole. She knew that Caboose wanted James to know. She could not tell James. Neither could Tucker. They could not tell someone else but no one else knew. No one…

Wait.

That wasn't true. Someone else did know.

But how could Allison get them to talk?

And then a light went off in her head. She knew what she could do. It wouldn't be breaking her work to Caboose either.

Allison enjoyed the ride back home.

James wasn't sure what to do; the phone was ringing and he knew who it was. It was Jessy. She was calling because he hadn't shown up yesterday. He had blown off their date to hang out with Allison and Tucker. He didn't know if he had done it on purpose or not. He felt he had become more and more distant from her and he was sure she noticed it too.

beep!

"James. I know you are there. Pick up. … Fine. Just sit there. Just listen. I'm sorry James but I'm sick of this. We've been together for what? Two years? Most couples our age would have already moved on. You know that Kyle and Stacy are getting married?" James heard her sigh. "No. I don't think you would know. You haven't been paying attention to anything lately. Well they are getting married. They don't have a date yet but I'm going. I don't think you would go. No. You'd stay at home. What happened, James? We were good together. You were doing great in school. You were an honors student. You were on the top. What changed? You know what? I don't care. You have one chance. I think I'm being generous. You don't really deserve another chance. I love you James. No matter how much you have changed, that fact hasn't."

click!

James sat there by himself on his bed for a while. One more chance? To do what? Allison was right; he didn't love her. What should he do? Should he take that chance and make it up to her or just blow her off? Cut the line? Try going for someone else.

Here he paused. But a guy? Am I really gay? Can I be? What would Dad say if I brought home a boy?

Just then Caboose came in. He was holding a few letters in his hand. "These just came. For you."

James took them and waited until his father left. He then turned his attention to the letters. The top one was a letter from his school.

"We are concerned with your performance. You used to be the top of all your classes and were ready to advanced to the next level of schooling. We would like to meet with you to talk…"

He didn't care.

Next one.

"Allison?"

It was. It was from Allison.

Wasting no time he ripped it open. She had never sent him anything before. This had to be big.

"James, I would like to tell you about your family. As I said before, I cannot tell you. I can't break that promise. I have found a loophole. Here it is: Go up to your attic. There you should find two large metal chests. One will say MJC. The other LLC. Look in the one marked LLC. There will be a lock on each. This is easy to get rid of. Enter your birth date into it. That should do it. You will know what you are looking for when you find it..

Allison.

PS. His name is Franz."