For the next few days, all Nate could think about was Linda. He told himself that it wasn't fair to do what he was doing to her, but there was a part of him that found comfort in being around her. Her smile was consoling, her pink cheeks and cheerful expression lifted him up and those eyes……

So, when the next week came around, he found himself calling up her house.

"Hello?" Linda answered.

"Yeah. Hey, Linda. It's Nate."

"Hi, Nate!" Linda responded cheerfully. "What's up?"

"This is a little short notice, but I was wondering if you wanted to do something with me." Nate shifted uncomfortably in his chair as a small voice in the back of his head continued to warn him that this was not a good idea.

"Sure. And this time, you choose." Linda giggled.

"Ok. Maybe…..a movie?"

"Sounds great! Which one?"

"Let's get to the mall at say, 7:00 and see what's playing when."

"Ok. You want me to pay?"

"No," Nate said, before she was done talking. "Of course I'll pay. Have a great day, Linda."

"Wait!" Linda cried, just before Nate hung up.

"What is it?" Nate asked, full of concern.

"Was there a specific day in there somewhere? I mean, I can be ready every night at 7:00 if you want, but…."

Nate felt his whole body turn crimson.

"Oh. Uh, yeah. Tonight?"

Linda giggled.

"Tonight. At 7:00. See ya'!"

Nate slammed the phone down on the hook and fell back onto the couch, sighing.

"Could you be more of an idiot!" he yelled at himself.

"Is this a bad time?" a familiar voice came from beside the couch. Nate looked up to see Jason standing there; his straight, dark hair falling over his large sun-glasses, a smile on his face.

"Jason!" Nate cried, hopping up and hugging him.

"I feel so appreciated," Jason said, chuckling. "Not even the massage therapists treated me like that."

Nate looked at Jason quizzically.

"Massage therapists?"

"Yeah. Manager took me to this awesome massage place. One word: Wow. Anyway. What's up?"

"I got that girlfriend you suggested," Nate said, sitting back down on the large couch.

"I see," Jason said, placing his baggage on the table and hopping onto the couch next to Nate. "She nice?"

"She's great." Nate sighed and looked down. Jason rapped an arm consolingly around Nate.

"Still not over that thing that was depressing you?" he asked. Nate shook his head. "You know, I could help you out more if I knew what was going on," Jason hinted. Nate looked up at him.

"Promise you won't, like, laugh or get mad at me or anything?"

"Nah. I probably will. But you can tell me anyway," Jason said, chuckling. Nate stared sternly at him. "Fine. Fine. You win. Just tell me! I'm dying here!"

"Ok. I'm….I think I….I'm in love with Mitchie."

To Nate's astonishment, Jason nodded.

"Yup."

"Wait just a darn minute here," Nate said, confused. "You….know?"

"Nate, when Shane had amnesia, you were all over that girl. Every time you called me. 'Mitchie this,' 'Mitchie that.' I was almost sick of her name for a small period of time."

Nate looked away.

"Oh," was all he could say.

"Anyway. I bet your problem is now," Jason continued. "That you want to go out with this new girl, but you're afraid that a) your love for Mitchie is going to get in the way, or b) that it's not fair for this girl because she loves you and you don't entirely love her. Am I correct?"

"How do you know these thing!?" Nate shouted at him.

"I'm not as dumb as I seem," Jason said, shrugging. "The wonderful thing about people thinking you're an idiot is that they don't pay attention to you. People tell me stuff that, had I seemed more…normal….they might have been more wary to tell me. That; and I use my brain. I see and hear all sorts of things and I always take it in."

Nate looked over at him. He knew he'd think differently about Jason from now on. He had always treated Jason like the stupid, clown of the group. Now, he would give Jason the respect that he now knew Jason deserved.

Suddenly, from somewhere in the house, a clock rang out the time. It was 6:45.

"Crap!" Nate cried, jumping up. "I've got to get over to Linda's house!"

Jason smiled as Nate grabbed his 'disguise' and headed out the door.

"Bring me back a birdhouse!"

Alright. Now, another chapter that may have seemed a little….I don't know, needless. But, it has it's place. You'll see. You're just supposed to be "getting to know the characters better" I guess. Thank you for reading and please REVIEW!!

OH! (READ THIS!!) The next chapter will be coming just after this one (like, at the same time….) and it's a huge cliffhanger and (I think) much more interesting. Ok. Just wanted to let you know that. Hope this story isn't too boring!!