AN: Glad to see some many people are reading this again - I'd forgotten how much I liked this story... Anyway, enjoy his next chapter! :)

Echo paused slightly and nodded before realising Rythian wouldn't see her. However, he seemed to take the silence as a confirmation as he sighed.

"School play a few years back; me and Zoey got married in it. I actually asked her what she'd do if I ever proposed in real life. She said for me to stop being silly and that me and Teep and her were already a family so it didn't matter." Rythian spoke sadly as he remembered the rehearsals and the amount of fun he had had rehearsing.

"So you like her?" Echo asked as Rythian fell silent. He hadn't told anyone his feelings for Zoey, past or present, not even Teep. He remembered Teep asking him once and Rythian denying it too quickly, the small sad smile that had appeared on Teep's face afterwards. Teep had known, even then, that Zoey would never like Rythian the way he wanted her to. That was years ago though...

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked." Echo said quietly as she took Rythian's silence as a reply. Rythian exhaled slowly.

"No, it's fine. I, um, just don't ever talk about stuff like that..." Rythian began awkwardly, trying to explain himself.

"You liked her, right? Then something changed?" Echo guessed as Rythian laughed without humour.

"How do you know these things?" He asked her in wonder as she shrugged in her hiding spot. "Dammit, Teep just got found..." He added grumpily as Hannah dragged Teep out from behind the Mushroom Fort tree trunk.

"The same way you were able to spot Alex likes me before I did; you tend to notice other people's words and behaviour in that area than your own" Echo said wisely. "So what changed?" She asked curiously.

"I did, I guess. I realised she didn't like me in the same way and just started committing more to my studies, burying myself in work and hobbies... Like the magic." He smiled as he heard Echo laugh slightly.

"Hmm... You know, sometimes it's just better to get things off your chest Rythian. Don't punish yourself for something that wasn't your fault." Echo's voice wavered slightly as Rythian realised she was giving advice which needed to be given to herself.

"You too... Have fun!" He added quickly as another shout went up, Hannah yelling happily.

"Right, winners are Kim, Echo and Chris!" Hannah shouted, Echo reluctantly staying in her hiding place for a moment longer.

"You going to be alright?" She said quietly as she pushed the barrow away from her, revealing her hiding spot as people cheered when they saw her.

"Always am." She heard Rythian mutter as she walked away, frowning slightly at the reluctant tone in Rythian's voice. Hannah ran up to her, hitting her lightly on the back.

"That was an amazing hiding spot! Although I was going easy on you of course..." She muttered, as Echo sniggered, causing another whack from Hannah.

"Right, Sips and Sjin were found first, so start counting!" Zoey yelled as she immediately ran off, everyone following suit. Echo desperately wanted to hide next to Rythian or Kim again but she knew it would seem suspicious it she kept hiding it rather igneous hiding spots; therefore she headed towards the shed, opening and closing it behind her carefully as she made her way in the dark towards the corner, crouching down. She saw a musty cover for a bike and pulled it over herself just as the door opened and shut again, two people entering quickly before closing it behind them.

Echo waited in silence for quite some time, not wanting to reveal herself in case one of the people was Alex; it was impossible to tell as neither of the people were speaking. Echo heard three people be caught before one of the voices spoke up, Echo forcing herself to be quiet.

"... So when are you going to tell them?" Hannah's voice floated out of the darkness, asking the person beside her.

"When I think Simon will be alright with it. He's dealing with enough as it is..." Lewis's voice appeared as Echo suddenly felt uncomfortable. She felt she was listening on something that was meant to be very private.

"He'd understand though; he would know nothing would change." Hannah argued as Lewis moved slightly.

"Would he though? I mean, everyone suspects it anyway, Simon included. If he was okay with it, wouldn't he have spoken to me about it?" Lewis's voice was slightly fragile and broken. Echo felt sad that this was what Lewis was like without his bold facade; worried and troubled.

"I don't know. Maybe he's giving you space?" Hannah suggested as Lewis let out a noise of frustration.

"I'm sorry Hannah... But no one is going to know we're dating until Simon is okay with it." Lewis said firmly, Hannah beginning to reply when the door suddenly banged open. Hannah and Lewis jumped apart as Sips whistled loudly.

"Found the lovebirds!" He called back to Sjin before stepping back to allow Hannah and Lewis out. "Anyone else with you?" He asked as they shook there heads as Sips followed them, leaving the door open. Echo remained where she was for a few more minutes before throwing the blanket off her, creeping to the entrance and checking no one was near her before crouching around the side of it, hiding behind the back. She let out a sigh of relief as she collapsed round the back. That had been awkward to listen to.

"You know, it's cheating to change spots..." Echo watched as Alex smiled too widely at her from where he'd been crouching behind the other end of the shed. Echo managed a small smile.

"I was inside the shed with Hannah and Lewis but they didn't see me. They were having a private conversation and I couldn't leave until they left; I'd rather be accused of cheating than admit I overheard them." Echo said quickly as Alex looked at her in concern.

"Why? What did they say?" He asked as Echo shook her head.

"No chance, they'd roast me alive if they realised I was there." She shuddered slightly when she thought of the look Hannah would give her if she knew she'd been there. Alex made his way over to Echo, sitting beside her.

"Fair enough. Speaking of roasting alive, is Hamish well and truly sorted?" Alex asked, speech slightly slurred as Echo looked at him in confusion. There was something off about him...

"Who?" She asked before realising he meant Rythian. "Oh, Hector, not Hamish..." She corrected, trying to think of a way to avoid him as a topic.

Alex looked at her, smirking a little as he gave a small sigh. "Yeah... I know..." Echo was confused as he edged closer to her, looking at her earnestly.

"Look, I'm not really one for seriousness and stuff but... I'll give it a go." Alex took a deep breath, seemingly about to say something but changing his mind, swaying slightly. "What did he say?"

Echo managed to creep slightly away from Alex as she pretended to stretch, finally noticing the smell of alcohol on his breath. "He was lovely, he apologised and I accepted. It's still difficult." Echo said slowly, convincing herself that could have happened if it had actually been Hector on the phone. Unlikely, but possible.

Alex looked at her blankly. "You forgave him? Just like that?" He asked doubtfully. Echo noticed the bottles of vodka stored behind him and realised why he had hidden by the shed each time.

Echo beamed at him. "Just like that... So, end of that conversation." She said firmly, dismayed when Alex shook his head.

"I know that didn't happen Echo. You're not like that you, you have a fire in you. It's what made you terrify Duncan and Ross into being friends again, it's what made me feel like an ass when you shouted at me... Do you really think I'm going to buy the idea that your ex rang you randomly after a few months and you just immediately forgave him?" Alex waffled on, looking straight into Echo's eyes. Echo stalled uncertainly.

"... Yes, because it's the truth." She said quietly as Alex moved closer, maintaining eye contact. She tried to edge away, reaching the end of the shed as Alex suddenly grabbed her wrist.

"They'll see you if you go any further..." He warned as Echo hesitated, her mind confused. Yes, there was some attraction to Alex, but she had Hector to think about... Well, the real Hector anyway. Plus Alex was clearly slightly intoxicated. She looked at the hedge almost directly in front of her and the open space to the side of her; either way, there wasn't a clear escape. She would have to face this one head on.

Echo shook her head as she looked away. "Alex, you're a great guy, but Hector is still technically my boyfriend. I'd... I don't want anything with you because it would be cheating and I would never do that to him." Echo thought that sounded like a reasonable argument as she managed to look up and face Alex's crushed face. It was terrible, but she needed an excuse. Alex looked at her as she continued "... I'd break up with him, it wouldn't be right, and I don't want anything with you right now. I'm sorry." She looked away awkwardly, ignoring Alex's frown as she stared at her feet.

"Well... What if you're not the one who cheats?" Alex said softly beside her as Echo mentally froze, trying to prepare an argument as she turned to him angrily.

It was in that moment that Alex quickly cupped her face and pressed his lips to hers.

AN: Okay, I admit I feel slightly evil for this cliffhanger... But... What do you think? :P leave a review or a favourite if you're enjoying it, and hope you all enjoy the cliffhanger over the weekend ;)

... Wow I really might be evil... xx