A/N: Keep the reviews coming, I love 'em.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from
their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.– Romeo, Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II

Bella walked from the dorms to the main school building for her first class, she noticed Eddie sitting on the steps with the other guys from the hockey team, took a deep breath and hugged her books to her chest and walked over.

"Hi Eddie," she said.

"Bella," he said and stood up. "Hi."

"Can we talk?" She said.

"Sure," he nodded and they walked away. "I called, but Cassie said you were out and I figured," she looked at him and took a deep breath. "I shouldn't have shown up like I did but, I missed you and, when I was away, I did a lot of thinking and Bella," he looked at her. "I want us back,

"Eddie," she said, "I've been seeing someone." He looked at her. "I wanted to call you and tell you, but,"

"You have a boyfriend?" He said. She nodded. "Do I know him?"

"I think so," she nodded, "Um Gordon Conway?"

"Conway?" He said. "Your father's letting that happen?"

"My father has nothing to with it!" She said. He sighed. "He's a nice guy Eddie." He snorted. "He is."

"He's trash." He said.

"Why?" She said. "Because his father is the hockey coach?" He shrugged. "God, I thought you were better than that. I just wanted to tell you about me and Gordon, and say," she took a deep breath, "Eddie, I was just really hoping we could be friends again."

"We can't," he said. "I can't be your friend when I'm still in love with you."

"That's too bad," she said. "Because I miss you." She walked away. He watched her go. There was nothing he could say. He was absolutely unprepared for Bella having had moved on.

Anne stood at her locker and pinned up a few pictures from the summer. Her favorite was one of her and Hunter on The High Line. She remembered that day perfectly. Cal had taken the picture and the three of them had been walking around down town just snapping shots everywhere.

"Hey beautiful," she giggled feeling Kevin's hands slide onto her waist, and his breath on her ear.

"Hi," she whispered and turned around and kissed him.

"Mm, I missed you," he said. She smiled. "What fresh hell have you raised?"

"I've been very good," she said drawing an "X" over her heart. "Cross my heart." He laughed and kissed her. "So do have to like double with Gordon and Bella now? What's the story there?"

"I don't know," Kevin shook his head. "I worry about Gordon though." She nodded. "I don't want to talk about that though."

"What do you want to talk about?" She giggled and he kissed her again.

"I just don't get it," Hunter shook his head looking up the hallway. "What does she see in him?"

"Tall, dark, handsome," Trina shrugged, cleaning her nails. "I get it." Elisa and Hunter looked at her. "What just because I have a short cuddly boyfriend, I can't admire the aesthetic beauty of a guy like Kevin?"

"Cuddly?" Elisa laughed. "Is that your new word for Dean?"

"Dean is extremely cuddly," Trina smiled. "I mean, just last week when we were,"

"OK," Hunter said, "can we focus please?"

"On what?" Elisa mumbled. "Anne loves Kevin, not you, get over it." She closed her locker and walked away. Hunter followed after you.

"What if I had said that to you last year?" He said.

"You should have!" She sighed. "Everyone else did! Maybe I wouldn't have gotten hurt like I did." She hurried away from him and smashed into Eddie going around a corner.

"Hi Ellie," he said softly.

"Hi," she said, her face involuntarily smiling and she hugged him, her arms around his neck. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," he said and kissed her. He stopped. "Sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

"It's OK," she said. "I didn't mind." He smiled. "How was Seattle?"

"Good," he nodded. "How was waitressing?"

"I'll be groomed to take over by the time I finish high school," she grinned. He laughed. She smiled, so happy to know that she was really over him. She hadn't even felt that great when he kissed her. Well, it was nice, but not the overwhelming melty feeling she used to get every time Eddie kissed her. She certainly was perfectly happy to keep her underwear on, which she never wanted before when Eddie kissed her.

"Your Mom must be happy," he said. She nodded. "So, I guess we have to talk about it, huh?"

"I guess," she said. "We can be friends, can't we?" He looked at her and it hit him, she didn't have that adoring look in her eyes that she used to have when she was looking at him, but she was still his earnest and sweet little Ellie. He couldn't disappoint her.

"Yeah," he nodded. "I want us to be friends too." She smiled. "Do your friends get to kiss you?"

"Only sometimes," she said, "when I'm drunk and they're being very nice."

"Then I'm in," he winked and put his arm around her shoulder.

Cal walked into the arts building and collapsed in a seat in the auditorium. He'd signed up for an acting class, half because of Anne's teasing. He glanced across the aisle and saw a girl in all black doodling in a notebook.

"Hi," he smiled at her. She looked up at him with large brown eyes. Her skin was a light mocha color and her hair was shiny and black.

"Hi," she said.

"I'm Cal," he said.

"Carmen," she said. "Do you want to be an actor?" He laughed. "What's funny?"

"No, I just needed an elective and my sister teases me about being pretty enough for TV." He said. Toni frowned.

"Well, I'm going to be an actor," she said. He nodded. He knew lots of girls like this. His school in New York was crawling with them. "You look familiar."

"Have you been in the young men's department of a major retailer lately," he smiled proudly. She cocked her head to the side. "Never mind."

"Hi all," Gabrielle Germaine walked in. "Welcome to intro to acting." Cal looked around. The class was split between seniors who were there for their last elective and eager freshmen like Carmen. He was definitely out of place. "By the end of the semester you'll have put a play on, good for you. I don't know a lot about acting but they cut my budget again, so you're stuck with a ballet dancer to teach you how to act. Sorry." After class Cal got up and followed Carmen out.

"Can I help you with something?" She said.

"No, but I can probably help you," he said.

"I doubt it," she shook her head.

"You're a freshman, right?" He said. She nodded. "I'm a sophomore, I can help you find things, and stuff."

"Hey Cal," Trina said running up and hugging him. "Check out these prints from when you came to visit me this summer. You're like super hot in them."

"I somehow doubt that you'll be able to help me," Carmen said and walked away.

"No, wait," Cal said and then looked at Trina.

"What's wrong?" Trina said. "Were you working it?" He nodded. "Oh and now she thinks I'm your girlfriend! Dude that sucks! I can tell her we're cousins."

Carmen walked into Gabrielle's office where the woman was looking through papers.

"Mrs. Germaine?" She said. "I wanted to talk to you about Intro to Acting."

"I figured you might," Gabrielle smiled. "You seem the type. We're going to focus on Shakespearean, because even though the language is hard it's methods I can actually teach you. Lots of face making."

"Oh, that's fine," Carmen said. "I just, I mean, ballet acting isn't really,"

"Acting, I know," Gabrielle nodded. "You want a real teacher?" Carmen nodded. "I can put in a word for you with some coaches I know, after I see you. What's your name?"

"Carmen Mendoza," she said. "I'm from Miami and,"

"Alright Carmen," Gabrielle laughed, "you're very enthusiastic and that's good."

"Mrs. Germaine," Trina walked in. "Freshman Cal was cruising." Carmen looked at her. "Sorry, I um, wanted to talk to you about the first issue of the year."

"Sure," Gabrielle nodded. "Carmen, this is Katrina Vanderbilt, she's photo editor of the newspaper."

"We met," Carmen said. "Her boyfriend was hitting on me. It was nice to talk to you." She slunk out.

"Is Dean visiting?" Gabrielle said.

"No she saw me hugging Cal and got the wrong idea," Trina laughed. "She's an actress he said."

"An eager little one too," Gabrielle laughed. "I don't know about the first issue, take lots of pictures, maybe something will stand out."

"Sure," Trina said. "And tell the actor that Cal's my cousin not my boyfriend?" Gabrielle nodded. "I think he's got a love at first sight thing happening."

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