Hello! :3 I apologize for the length of this chapter - it's particularly short. I'd rather a segment feel authentic in where it starts and stops than add in for a higher word count, though.

WickedInk, Breeze, BubblefettTea, theMidgey, KenDan55, demon-angle-eyes, canamochi, QueenVamp, acherelle1, AJB66613, Fomalhaut, Mello Maddnes, AriRunner9523, MissFioLee22, Violet Butterflies, Katzunfresser, and all of you I haven't named, thank you SO much for reviewing this. Making people giddy, hysterical, and/or half insane is what motivates me. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have the enthusiasm necessary to write this.

Insert squeezyhug here.

Chapter 11

Kevin hadn't realized that he'd dozed off until his nose began to itch. Frowning, he scrubbed his face.

A prickly, fluffy feeling grazed over his nostrils once more.

Again, the redhead rubbed his nose, snorting.

When the tickling sensation appeared a third time, the athlete opened his eyes and glared. "God dammit, what the fuck."

Nazz blinked down at him, swaying in and out of the center of his vision as the hammock creaked softly.

"I fell asleep, didn't I? What the heck is that?"

The blonde released the tiny feather she was holding, letting it flutter down toward the jock's face. He blew out a puff of air and swatted it away. "Gross, Nazz. That's probably got mites and shit."

"Big deal."

Wind gusted through the yard, rustling the grass around Kevin's face and back, and he breathed in the scent of it, gaze resting on the grayish sky.

"What're you thinking about?"

He shrugged in reply as the cheerleader settled back into the hammock, the pages of her magazine rustling. "Nothing."

"You're never thinking about nothing," she murmured. "Is it the person you're into?"

"No."

"So there is someone."

"No."

Nazz was peering down at him again, now smiling. "Rolf says it's, like, a pretty big deal. How did he say it…? 'Casanova-Kevin boy has found the one who he will share his loins and his asparagus with.' Something like that."

The jock slapped a hand over his eyes. "Oh my God."

"Come on, Kev, just give me a hint."

"How do you know he didn't just mean pork loins?"

"Blonde?"

"Nazz, no-"

"Brunette."

Kevin sputtered. "I'm not - no…"

Her face fell. "Redhead. Oh my God, please don't tell me it's Sarah."

"God, no."

"Is it someone athletic?"

Making a face at the maddening barrage of questions, Kevin replied, "Not really."

"How well do we know them?"

"Well, I'd say I know them a little better than you, Nazz."

It wasn't until the athlete met the blonde's saucer-like stare that he realized he'd made a mistake. "Kevin. You're sleeping with somebody!"

He was unable to stop the grin that appeared on his face. "Not a lot of sleeping gets done, actually."

"You better not be screwing around. People don't just get over you, dude."

"Thanks."

Giving Nazz a smug look, the redhead folded his hands behind his head. The next thing he saw was a beauty magazine landing on his face.

"I'm gonna find out who it is, Kevin."

The athlete pulled the magazine off and squinted at the model stretched across the pages. "She's too skinny."

When the blonde didn't reply, he glanced up at her to see her giving him an unamused look. "Anorexia's a serious issue," he uttered, raising his eyebrows and tilting the magazine to show her the picture.

"So is you being a giant turd," she retorted, batting her long eyelashes. The wind feathered her bangs as she turned her gaze toward the space off in the distance that her companion was staring at. Her usual tone of condescension was notably absent, the shared feeling of exhausted relief at having completed finals tugging too persistently at either teen to allow for any true annoyance. Kevin breathed out slowly and let his eyes fall shut.

"All right. Fine."

Frowning, the athlete cracked an eye open. Nazz was back to lounging, her face hidden from view as she settled into a gentle swing.

"I was gonna tell you something, but if you're keeping secrets, then I'll keep mine too."

"Huh?"

The rustling of the trees filled the pause, rising in pitch as the balmy wind grew in strength and swept down across the yard.

"Nazz, come on. What were you gonna tell me?"

"Seriously, Kev, it's nothing."

"Tell me, Nazz."

"You first, dude."

Now sitting up, the redhead gave an exaggerated scowl. "So not cool."

The blonde half-shrugged, not looking up from another magazine she'd brought. Ten Sexy Summer Hairstyles That Will Make You Irresistible, it boasted in bold pink font. Nazz shoved a hand into the pocket of her shorts, not breaking the steady sway of the hammock, and extracted a peppermint to toss into her mouth.

Lying back against the earth, the athlete pulled the bill of his hat down and let his eyes drift closed.