Told you chapter 3 would be longer. Anyway's this chapter has a little bit of fluff in it. Im thinking about raising the rating in a couple chapter's. Now. Read on! =D

Kowalski's house 7:00 AM tue.

Kowalski walked into the kitchen wearing his backpack around one had a pencil behind his ear, and could smell the aroma of pancakes cooking on the stove. His mom was sitting at the table working on a crossword in the newspaper as he walked in.

"Morning mom." Kowalski smiled and made his way over to the stove. Grabbing a plate out of the cupboard, he placed a pancake on it and poured a dob of syrup on the pancake.

"Morning Christopher. Had a nice sleep?" Kowalski sat at the table and ate a bite of his pancake. "Yah." Kowalski took another bite as he turned to the clock which read 7:02. The bus was going to be here in about fifteen minute's. Yesterday was a holiday so there was no school yesterday.

"Look's like studying Rico will have to wait till after school." After Kowalski was all done with his plate, he placed it in the sink and ran out the front door waving his mother goodbye. He meet up with Rico, Skipper, and Private who were waiting for him by the curb.

"About time Kowalski. We were starting to think you were late." Skipper was leaning againt the bus sign with his arm's crossed. "You know me Skipper. Im never late." Private turned to Kowalski who was looking down the street. "Morning K'walski. How was your night?" "Oh. Fine."

Skipper looked at Rico and noticed the bruse that was on Rico's cheek. Skipper turned and whisperd to Rico. "Your dad?" "Eh he."Rico shrugged as if he did'nt really care for the bruse at all. "C'mon Rico. If your dad does this to you, why not just leave?" "Eh." Rico turned away to look at Kowalski who was talking to Private. He could'nt make out what the two were saying, but every few second's they would share a laugh.

Everyone heard Skipper yell out. "BUS!" The three other's eyed the bus until it parked in front of them. The door opened and Skipper entered the bus first, then Private, Then Rico, and finally Kowalski. Skipper and Private both sat in one of the seats in the middle while Rico sat near the back.

Kowalski was walking down the iale. No seat's were open up front were he usually sat. So he went to the back and sat at the seat across from Rico. He usually wanted to be the first on off the bus, but today was'nt really an option.

"Hey there Rico." Kowalski set his backpack next too him. Rico looked at Kowalski who was smileing back at him. "Up front?" Rico pointed down the iale. "Hm? Oh yah. That's were I usually sit, but all the sit's are taken up there." Rico grunted. "Oh."

The bus stopped and more people got on. One in particuler was a person named Joey. His dad was from Australia while his mom was American. "He walked to the back and sat next to Rico. How's is goen mate?" He had a distinct australian accent. "Hey. Joey." Rico turned his head to Joey. "Boy golly mate. What happend?" Rico chuckled. "Dad." The two laughed.

Kowalski scratched his head. What was so funny about a bruse? He put out his hand to get Joey's attention. Joey turned his head to see Kowalski's hand in front of him. Rico rolled his eye's an put his hand to his forhead making a small grunt.

"Hi there. Name's Kowalski." Joey raised and eyebrow. "This guy a friend of your's mate?" He turned to Rico who then looked up. "Nah." Kowalski still had his hand out. Joey turned back around. "You've got a smudge on your shirt there wollaby." Kowalski looked down until he was struck in the face by Joey's wrist.

Both Rico and Joey burst out laughing. Kowwalski was rubbing his chin watching the two.

After a while the bus finnally got to school. Kowalski, Skipper, and Private got off the bus and were standing by the front door's of the school. Joey and Rico got off the bus. Rico ran over to the other three who were talking together. "Hey there Rico." Private had a polite smile.

Kowalski looked at his watch. "Im heading to Social study's. See you there Privates." Private chased after Kowalski. "Wait up K'walski!" Skipper and Rico watched the two run off. "See you 2nd period Rico." Skipper walked off pulling a book out of his backpack.

Private's locker 7:35 AM tue.

Kid's were walking through the hall's laughing and talking. Private was getting book's out of his locker while Kowalski was standing beside him writeing on his clipboard. "You done yet Private?" Private was digging through his locker. "One sec. K'walski. I know My book is in here somwhere."

"C'mon Private. Your the most cleanliness of the group. If you cant find it in your locker, you probably left it at home." Private shut his locker and turned to Kowalski. "Yah. That might be it. C'mon. Mabey I can get one in class."

Both Kowalski and Private walked to Social study's. Private sat near the window while Kowalski sat near the front of the class, close to the teacher's desk. Ofcourse. "Hello there mr. Willis." Kowalski was looking up at the teacher from his desk. "Hello there Christopher."

2nd period Science 8:36 AM tue.

Kowalski, Rico, Skipper, and Private all sat near the back of class. Luckily at the beggining of the year, they got to pick there seat's. The teacher was walking around passing out paper's to the student's. "Ok class. Today we are going to take a practice test for your final term. I prefer you act like this is the real one, because the real test will be just as hard.

Skipper turned to the other three. "Ok boy's. Pencil's ready...Rico?" Rico looked pass Private's shoulder who had already started on his. "Yah?" "you'd better pass." "k." Rico looked at Kowalski. He was starting to think wheather he should have actually studied like he was suppose to.

Kowalski turned to Rico to see Rico glaring at him. "Dont worry Rico. im sure you'll do fine. Your smarter than you think." Rico looked down at his paper. Kowalski put A hand on his back. "Dont be like that." Rico turned his vision to Kowalski's paper.

Kowalski noticed what Rico was up to. "Rico...I cant let you copy." Rico let out a small grunt as he turned his head. As much as Kowalski did'nt like cheating. he hated seeing Rico like this...but why? Kowalski cleared his mind and started to work on his assignment. Every few second's looking over at Rico's paper.

After about thirty minutes Kowalski was done with his paper. Since he was smarter than everyone else, the whole class was still about half way in on the test. Kowalski was looking around the class until he looked at Rico paper which was still blank.

Kowalski whisperd to Rico who was biteing his eraser. "Rico." Rico turned his head and whispered back. "Eh?" "Why is your paper still blank." Rico grunted out. "I dont know." The teacher stood up from his desk. "Alright everyone. Pencil's down. Please pass up your paper's.

Everyone started passing up there paper's. Rico put his pencil in his pocket as he lifted up his pencil. He grabbed the paper's behind him and was about to pass them up until Kowalski grabbed his wrist. "...Here." Kowalski was holding his test in front of Rico. Rico was suprised. "Hm?" "Hurry." Kowalski threw his test onto Rico's desk.

Rico looked down at the test and Smiled. "Owe you one... K'walski"

Lunch 12:18 PM tue.

Kowalski, Rico, and Skipper were standing in line. Private alway's brought lunch from home. "So Kowalski. Any idea of what's for lunch?" Skipper bag of chip's front the rack in front of him. Kowalski got an apple and placed in on his trey. "I believe is cheeseburger's today sir."

Kowalski, Rico, and Skipper sat at the same table as Private. Private was nibbleing on a cookie when the three sat down. "Hi guy's." Kowalski was looking at Rico who was chowing down on his food like he had never eaten before. He had two cheeseburger's. Originally he had three but he ate the whole thing in a couple bites. he had two bag of chip's, three milk's, and three apples.

Skipper noticed Rico aswell. "Rico. Dont you think you should slow down? Your gonna blow if you keep eating like that." Rico took a big bite out of his apple. "Nah."

Private stood up from his seat. "Be right back. I have to go to the restroom." Private walked off waving to the other's. After a couple minute's Kowalski also stood from his seat. "I just rememberd I let my book in Science class. Be right back." Kowalski exited the lunchroom and made his way down the hall.

As soon as Kowalski grabbed his book and left the classroom, he heard a koud bang as if somthing was rammed into a locker. "What was that?" Kowalski ran over to the locker and was shocked at what he saw.

Private was on the ground crying and his nose was bleeding. Beside him Joey was kicking Private in the side. "Next time you'd better have my money Wallaby." "PRIVATE!" Kowalski ran over and tried to hit Joey in the back, but he moved out of they way, making Kowalski trip over Private. Private looked over at Kowalski. "K'walski...?" Kowalski got up rubbing his forhead. "Private get out of here." Private sat up on his knee's. "But...K'walski." "Dont worry Private. Just go." Private quickly got up and ran off. "I'll get the other's K'walski!"

"C'mon mate. I was just having a little fun." "By beating on my friend?" Kowalski's voice started to become sterm. Joey walked toward's Kowalski. "Hey. I dont tell you how to live your life." Kowalski turned his hand into a fist and punched Joey across the face. "No one hurt's my friend!" Before Kowalski could make another blow, Joey kicked Kowalski in the knee causing him to fall to the ground.

Kowalski quickly got up again and tried to kick Joey in the chest, but Joey jumped back. Joey then ran torward's Kowalski and upper-cut'ed him in the chin. Pushing Kowalski back Joey punched Kowalski against the locker and onto the floor. Joey stomped onto Kowalski's chest causeing him to caugh up blood.

Kowalski's vision started to go blurry as Joey leaned down to him. "So. you gonna say sorry now mate?" Kowalski looked up at Joey. "No....no. Why should I? You basterd." Joey pulled somthing out of his pocket. Kowalski couldnt figure out what it was until he heard a click.

Joey was holding a pocket knife to Kowalski's neck. He could feel the cold steel against his chin. "Now. What do you want to say?" Kowalski was still silent. Joey moved the knife down to Kowalski's wrist. "I'll show you just how ticked off I can be.

Before Kowalski could React, Joey stabbed the Knife into Kowalski's Wrist, making him flinch in pulled the knife out and held it up to Kowalski's neck. "Now for your neck." "Ey!" The two heard a femilier voice from behind them.

Kowalski's eye's shot open. "Rico?" Joey turned still holding the knife to Kowalski's neck. "Rico. How's it goin mate? Want a piece of this to huh?" Rico walked over to the two with his hand's in his pocket's. Kowalski kept his eye on Rico. Rico quickly grabbed the Joey by the scruff of his shirt and threw in on his back. Grunting in pain as he hit the floor.

Before joey got up Rico pulled the pocket knife out of his hand and held it to his neck. "Leave." Joey got up and backed up. "Basterd." Joey backed up and ran down the hallway. Rico put the knife in his pocket and turned to Kowalski. Kowalski looked up at Rico who was walking toward's him.

"Rico..." Rico sat down and looked at the cut on Kowalski's arm which was bleeding pretty badly. He could see tear's welling up in Rico's eye's. "It's ok Rico... Im f...." Before Kowalski could let out his word's he was interupted by Rico who had placed his lip's againsthis own. Rico's lip' were warm and tender. Kowalski could feel his face heatin up.

After about three or four minute's, Rico pulled away. "Rico. What was that?" Rico smiled. "The test." "Th...the test?" Then Kowalski remembered. Rico looked up at Kowalski. "Dept repaid." Rico helped Kowalski up. "Thank's...Rico"

Suddenly both Private and Skipper ran up. "K'walski! Rico! Are you alright?" Private had his hand's close to his chest as he was shaking. "Yah were fine Private." Kowalski let out a small smile before he turned to Skipper.

Skipper had his arm's crossed. "So Kowalski this is all you can put up in A fight? He he." Kowalski let out a small chuckle. " Well we all know, Im not the most agile of the group." The four shared a laugh then private spoke up. "Hey. Skippa? Dont you think we should get Kowalski some help for his cut?" "Oh right." Skipper's voice became sturn. " Rico! Take Kowalski home. Me and Private will hack into the school's wireless system and excuse you two for the day."

Rico nodded his head.

HQ 1:35 PM tue.

Kowalski was sitting at the table writeing on his clip board, which was hard considering he had to write with his left hand. His right hand was wrapped in bandages. Rico was sitting at the seat across from him starring at his stab wound.

After five minutes Kowalski stopped writeing and looked up to meet Rico's gaze. The to were stareing strongly at each other. "Killf...what did that....kiss mean?" Rico shrugged. Kowalski looked down at his paper then back up to Rico. "Do...You like me?" Rico was still silent as Kowalski stood from his seat. "I...im sorry Kliff, but even if you did like me...Kipper wouldnt except it. Also Max is to young right now. What would he think of me if he found out I was gay, and...If I liked you."

Rico kept silent for a little while until he spoke. "Sorry." Kowalski walked over to Rico. "It's ok Kliff. You do understand...dont you?"..."Uh huh." Kowalski turned to exit the tree house. "Well. Right now seem's like a good time to help you study. I'll be right back Kliff." Before Kowalski could climb down the stair's of the treehouse, Rico got up and gripped Kowalski from behind.

"Kliff!" Rico was still holding onto Kowalski. "Kliff...Weve already gone through this. Kip wouldnt except it." Rico's grip started to become tighter. "KLIFF! Let go!" After a while Kowalski finnally pulled away. "I...im sorry Kliff. I'll be back in a minute."

Rico watched as Kowalski slowly clmbed down the ladder. He walked over and pulled a coke out of the cooler in the corner, then turned and sat at the desk. He clicked open the lid and took two big gulp's leaving only half the soda in the can already. He grabbed Kowalski's clip board and started to draw on it.

He knew he liked Kowalski, and Kowalski liked him in return. The only reason was Skipper. As much as he hated to admit it, Kowalski was right about Skipper. If he found out, they could be kicked out of the team. Or worse. What started the feeling's for Kowalski anyway's? Just yesterday he was thinking of him as a nerd.

Mabey it was seeing Kowalski get hurt. When he saw what happend his heart sank and all he could feel was pain. That must be it. Seeing Kowalski hurt made him awaken his true feeling's for him.

After a while Kowalski returned and was carrying couple of book's and paper's. "Im back Rico." Rico turned around in his seat and waved o Kowalski. Kowalski pulled a seat next to Rico and placed a book on the table. "Ok Rico. We'll start off with Science."

School 2:35 PM tue.

School was just now aout to end. Skipper and Private were in 8th period, both sitting in back. "Hey Skippa. Just 2 more day's till school's over. Got any plan's over the summa?" Skipper was looking out the window. " Actually. Yah." Skipper started to patt Private's head. "Im gonna be extra hard on your three." Private let out a quiet laugh. "Oh dear."

"Ok class. Ive graded all your test. Please pass them back." With that he passed the paper's back. "Oh and Kipper. Sense Christopher and Kliff went home early, Im giving you there test's to take with you." "Ok mr. Rodger."

"Woah. Rico actually passed." Skipper was flipping threw the paper's. "It's actually his had writing as well." Private looked over Skipper's shoulder as the bell rang. "You head home Private. I'll give the two there paper's. "Alright Skippa.

HQ 3:12 PM tue.

Rico was writeing on a piece of paper as Kowalski sat next to him. He was rubbing his shoulder makeing a small grunting noise. Rico looked ok at Kowalski. "Ok?" "Yah. Im fine Rico. I think I just hurt my shoulder when I was rammed into the locker." Kowalski could see Rico getting up from his seat and makeing his way over to him.

Rico gently placed a hand on either side of Kowalski's shoulder's. Slowly he began to Massage him. "Rico. We've already gone through this." Rico smiled slightly. "Just friend." Kowalski's eye's started to close. He was starting to feel more relaxed. "Alright."

Suddenly the two heard step's coming up the ladder. Rico quickly let go of Kowalski and sat back at his seat. Kowalski was still in a daze as Skipper climbed in. "Well. There you boy's are. I thought i'd find you two here"

Kowalski's eye's shot open and he was back in reality. "Oh hello there Skipper." Skipper pulled a couple paper's out of his backpack. "It seem's Rico passed the practice term." He threw both Rico's and Kowalski's test onto the desk in front of him. Kowalski then turned to Rico "Oh. Your hear that Rico? You've actually passed."

Skipper turned to face Kowalski. "But. It also seem's the whole test matched your's Kowalski." Rico and Kowalski look'ed at each other then back to Skipper. "Which mean's, either your just as smart as Kowalski Rico. Which is quite unlikly. Or Kowalski let you copy his test. Am I correct Kowalski?"

"...Yes sir."

"Kowalski. I want him to pass just as much as you, but a cheater is something that I do not approve of. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir."

"Alright. Your dismissed."

Both Kowalski and Rico picked up there backpack and placed there book's and other equipment inside. The two headed for the ladder and climbed down.

Kowalski and Rico were walking down the sidewalk. In the sky the cloud's were turning grey. The wind was blowing stronger than usual . "They look like cumules cloud's. It look's like it's going to rain soon. Pretty hard to. " Kowalski was looking up at the sky that was now going dark. "Eh." Just then Private ran up.

"Hey there K'walski. Rico. Did you get your test's from Skipper yet?" The two nodded and continued walking with Private by there side. "Ok good. Did you hear the new's? There's going to be a big storm tonight." Kowalski looked down to Private and pointed up. "Yah. We could tell."

The trio stopped in front of Kowalski's house. "See you guy's later." Kowalski ran up the porch step. "Wait!" Private called out. Kowalski turned around. "Yah? What is it Private?" Private started to kicked the ground with his heel.

"When you go off to high school...Promise you wont forget me?" Kowalski raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean Private? Were still gonna be here after school and on the weekend's." "Well. Yah, but i'll miss you guy's. Kowalski put his hand out. "Fine. Promise." Private also put his hand in. "Thank's Kowalski." The two looked at Rico who raised an eyebrow.

Kowalski shifted his head to call Rico over. Rico shrugged and put his hand in. Private lifted his head. "Ok. This pack is a promise to alway's stay as a team. No matter what happens. Agreed?" Rico and Kowalski nodded. "Good. Now if you excuse i need to get home before I get in trouble." Private ran home. Rico shook his head and turned to Kowalski.

"C'mon Rico. He's just A kid." "Eh." Kowalski opened the door to his house, but turned before he entered. "That kiss.I liked it and all but...Nevermind. How...about we jut forget it happend.

Rico kept silent for a moment. "...k."

"Also Rico. We only have two day's left until the term's. So for the next two day's we really cant slack off." Rico nodded. "Ok. night Rico." Kowalski went inside and shut the door behind him. Rico turned to head home as a couple raindrop's began to hit the ground.

How'd you like the chapter? Please review. =) All review's are allowed BTW. I actually like being flamed. It let's me know what I have to work better on.