KayleeAdams123: You got it! I'm a Chemistry-major-to-be! (Bet that was a bit of a surprise!) This chapter's for you!

We're now approaching the main drama of the story...

'You were incredible out there!'

Frank blushed, like he almost always did when she praised him.

'It was a team effort, really.'

Hazel jogged him lightly with her elbow.

'Great teams need great leaders, Frank. Give yourself some credit.'

He smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist.

'Well, I can't say no to you.'

She grinned up at him, and he bent to kiss her on the nose.

'Although, hopefully I won't be Archery Captain for much longer.'

She nodded.

'Michael's still sick?'

'Unfortunately, yes.'

Hazel sighed.

'It's-'

A snide voice interrupted her.

'Oh, well, look here. If it isn't Archery Captain Zhang and his middle schooler girlfriend. She's the one I told you about, father.'

Frank and Hazel turned to face the straw-haired boy.

'Octavian.'

They noticed the pot-bellied man beside him, his father, Phineas.

Gossips of the worst sort.

They seemed to know everything about everyone, and delighted in sharing all the horrible bits.

Frank drew himself up to his (rather impressive) height, and Hazel did her best to try and match him.

She spoke first, her voice somehow sounding far bolder than she felt.

'We're not interested in your words, Octavian.'

He laughed. A shiver ran up her spine. (Those dark thoughts, the ones that whispered to her about the past in her worst moments, started up.)

'Oh, really? You might not be, but your boyfriend here would like to know, I'm sure.'

Octavian grinned terrifyingly as Phineas spoke.

'Oh, yes, surely he'd want to hear the truth, girl. About what you've done.'

'What you left behind in New Orleans.'

'Or should it be who?'

Frank's hands balled into fists.

'Leave her alone! She's a good person!'

The father-son duo laughed coldly.

'Oh, wait till you hear the truth, Zhang.'

'Then we'll see if you're still so sweet on your girlfriend...'

He took two steps towards them, red seeping into his vision.

'She's a million times better than you are!'

They ran off, voices echoing behind them.

'Just you wait, Zhang, just you wait...'

Frank made to follow them. Only Hazel's hand on his arm stopped him.

Immediately, he turned to her. She was blinking back tears.

'Oh, Hazel...'

He reached out and took her hands, looking into her eyes.

'Don't listen to them. You're a good person, Hazel. An amazing person.'

Tears began to trickle down her face.

'I don't deserve you...' Her voice broke. 'I really don't...You don't know-'

'Stop that!' He scowled. 'You're great, Hazel. You really are.'

He pulled her into his arms, and they stood there, him stroking her hair, until her breathing slowed and calmed and the tears stopped.

He placed his hands firmly on her shoulders, eyes boring into hers.

'You are a great person, Hazel.'

She smiled weakly at him, but her thoughts whispered otherwise.

If only he knew.

She didn't deserve him.

She really, really didn't.

Frank was good. He always did the right thing. Always. If he knew the truth, knew what (or perhaps who) she'd left back in New Orleans, he wouldn't defend her against Octavian and Phineas. He wouldn't stand up for her, and look at her with such earnestness in his eyes and declare she was a good person. He wouldn't hold her and stroke her hair while she cried, or go with her to the zoo to visit Hannibal, or play Scrabble with her.

No, he would reject her if he knew the truth.

As kind and gentle and loyal as Frank was, as much as he cared about her now, he would not stay if he knew.

Because he was good.

And what she'd done wasn't.

She...she should tell him.

He deserved to know the truth.

She'd known that for a long, long time. Pretty much as soon as they'd met.

But Hazel couldn't. She really couldn't.

She couldn't bear to lose him.

It made her feel so guilty, so terrible, but she just couldn't tell him.

He has to know someday. You can't keep hiding it forever.

Besides, you know you won't be able to if he asked. If he actually looked you in the eye and asked, how could you do anything but tell the truth?

As she'd been doing for the last couple of months (or rather years), she pushed the thoughts away.

Frank knocked firmly on Hazel and Nico's front door.

He waited a minute, but there was no answer. No echo of footsteps down the corridor, no sound of voices.

He frowned, and walked around to the gate leading to the back yard. As he neared it, he heard familiar voices.

'Do you still miss New Orleans?'

That was Nico.

'Of course. But there still isn't anywhere I'd rather be than here, Nico.'

And that was Hazel.

Silence for a moment.

Frank knew he shouldn't eavesdrop, but this seemed to be altogether a far too private moment for him to interrupt, and he was curious...

'Do...do you miss Sammy?'

Nico's voice was more hesitant this time.

Frank's brow furrowed. Who was this Sammy? Hazel had never mentioned him.

He concentrated on hearing her reply.

'Of course I miss him! As much as I miss Mom. Probably more.'

Her voice sounded sad and wistful.

Something horrible clenched in his stomach.

Clearly, this Sammy meant an awful lot to her.

Yet, she'd never mentioned him.

Hazel was not terribly forthcoming about her past.

He'd thought that was because of how terrible it was. (And he understood that.)

But...but what if it was (at least partially) about this Sammy guy? What if he was...a past boyfriend, former flame, former love of hers? What if...what if she still loved him?

(She did miss him at least as much as she missed her mother, after all. This Sammy must really have been a special guy.)

Frank looked down, and realized his hands were clenched into fists.

She had a history with this Sammy guy.

(She might still have feelings for him. Frank really didn't like that. As possessive and primal and slightly objectifying as it was, Hazel was his, just like he was hers. Or so he thought.)

She'd never told him.

(He wasn't sure what was worse. The jealousy or the hurt.)