Yay! I finished another chapter! I'm really getting good at this now. I have a few more badass ideas before I wrap up the story, so stay tuned! I'd like to thank all my lovely readers for their support and kindness; guys, keep reviewing! It makes me really happy! I was really depressed after breaking up my fave couple, so…

The story's not over yet though. Prepare for more of France's problems, a new pupil and maybe some more break-ups? Love ya!

x Rachel

Monday. No.

West woke up in the morning and broke down my door when I refused to come out. He picked me up, slung me over his shoulder and walked me to the car, yelling. He dropped me down on the passenger seat and got in to drive.

"I don't want to go in, West!" I hollered.

"No," he said simply. "You can't sit in the house and cry, and yes, I know you vere crying, all day. You've got to come in, put on a brave face, and show Roderich you don't care."

"But I do care," I whimpered.

"Zen don't let him see zat," West replied.

It was a nightmare. If I hung out with Francis, it would just confirm Roderich's belief that I was in love with him. And if I ignored Francis, I would lose my best friend. Maybe I could just avoid Roderich all day and hang out with Yao instead. Yao would understand, and maybe she'd even have some advice for me.

We arrived at school, and I headed up to my registration class. I opened the door, and everyone turned to look at me. I decided to do what my bruder had told me, and just pretend I didn't care, even though I was dying inside. I strode in, smiling, and took my seat at the back of class, inbetween Antonio and Francis. The class turned back to face the front again, and Antonio and Francis began to talk to me.

"Amigo, you okay?"

"Please Gil, I'm so sorry."

"No," I said, facing Francis. "I was an idiot, not you. I guess I'll just have to be brave, right? I mean, it's the awesome me! I'll be fine." I chuckled half-heartedly, knowing I'd never be fine again.

Francis reached out and hugged me tightly. I pushed him off, knowing that I would cry if they were nice to me. "No, please," I whispered, and he nodded.

The bell rang, and we walked out of class, off to maths. Mr Swenson smiled at us all as we walked through the door, and I couldn't bring myself to smile back. I sat for the entire lesson staring into space miserably, and when Mr Swenson called out my name I didn't even respond.

"Gillian!"

"Oh! Sorry sir, I wasn't listening."

"Uh-huh. Gillian, could I see you after class, please?"

When the bell went, I dragged myself up to Mr Swenson's desk. "Yes sir?" I asked, monotone.

"Gil, what's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"I'm just- I'm a bit down, that's all," I mumbled.

"Tell me," he said, and I did, recounting every single part of the night I could remember. I couldn't quite finish the end, I was crying so hard by that point, and Mr Swenson put an arm around me and handed me a tissue.

"Now, what do you think you have to do now?" he asked me, smiling sympathetically.

"Give up?" I suggested.

"No!" he cried. "You have to find Roderich and make him listen. If he listens, and still doesn't forgive you, then you should move on. But I know Roderich, and I think he just got the wrong end of the stick. You need to apologise, tell him the truth, and then leave him to decide what to do."

I thought about it. This was good advice.

"Yeah, I will, Mr Swenson," I said, smiling properly for the first time in three days. Mr Swenson chuckled, and patted me on the back. "That's more like the Gillian Beilschmidt I know," he said, sending me out. I ran across the corridor to where Roderich was coming out of art class. He spotted me and turned, and I was reminded of the dance three days ago. I wasn't losing him again.

"Roderich," I shouted, running after him. He turned around as I reached him, stony-faced and silent.

"I don't want to hear it Gil, don't you get it?" he said angrily. "I don't want to."

"Well, tough," I said, my voice wavering slightly, but still determined. "You're going to listen to me, and then you can do whatever you want. Please," I said, quieter now. "Just grant me this." He said nothing, but nodded.

"Sasha turned up while Francis and I were talking, and she started to taunt Francis, saying that he must be the worst kisser in school if he couldn't even keep Sophie. And I got mad, and I told her that was stupid, that he wasn't the worst, and she said, well, would you kiss him? I said nothing, because the truth is, I wouldn't kiss Francis, and she just laughed, and said to Francis, see? Even your best friend wouldn't kiss you." I stopped here, to see what Roderich's reaction. He was still silent, his face as unreadable as ever. The corridor was deserted at this point, except two prefects who were watching the whole scene. I didn't care.

"And then I got so mad at her, that I did it. I kissed him, just to show her. And… while I was kissing him, I thought to myself, 'this is rubbish compared to Roderich', and then suddenly I realised what the hell I was doing and I pulled away. But you'd seen everything. When you left I collapsed on the steps, and Antonio and Lovi and West and Feli all came out to see me, but I couldn't think of anything but you. I miss you, Roderich. Nothing's the same without you. I can't even walk into the main room of our house, because I cry every time I see the piano, thinking about you. I know I messed up, Roderich, but I still love you. I don't want to lose you."

Roderich's face softened a little.

"You promise that's the truth?"

"Yes."

"And that if I asked Francis, he'd say the same thing?"

"Yes."

"Good. Because… I missed you too, Gil. I just got so angry at you when I saw you kissing him. He is a lot better looking than me, and you have known him a lot longer than me, and I just feel left out sometimes, when I see you two together," he said quietly, looking at me.

"Roderich, you have no idea what you're talking about. You're definitely the most gorgeous guy I know, although that might have something to do with the fact that I knew Francis when he still picked his nose." Roderich laughed, and I smiled. "So… you forgive me?"

"Yes," he said, pulling me into a hug, leaning his forehead against mine. "Only, promise me you'll never do anything like that again."

"Don't worry," I smiled. "I won't."

And with that, he leaned forward and kissed me. The prefects both cheered in the background, and I could hear a passing-by Arthur yell, 'Get a room!', but I couldn't care less. I was here, in Roderich's arms, and everything was okay again.

And it felt awesome.

Yay! Gil and Roderich 4 EVER!

Review, please! This is basically the last chance for ideas to submit, so if you have any requests for pairings/characters you'd like to see, tell me now!