a/n: aggg. another absence. the well is dry/ the brain is scorched.

but thank you for all the lovely reviews!

as per amber shine's request, another (different- similar, but more elaborate/more love-triangley) modern au;) (high school, again) enjoy.

"We're together," Kenna said. She bore a not-entirely-happy smile. She did look happy. Just not the kind of happy a girl should look when she is supposed to be announcing her current relationship.

"That's-" Mary glanced from Kenna, to Bash. Their eyes hooked for a second, and she wondered... She swallowed, nodding with a smile vaguely similar to Kenna's. "That's wonderful." She looked to Francis, junior class president, already campaigning for senior class president: her boyfriend. He was leading a lunch time activity. With the lovely senator Olivia, ineptly throwing whipped cream at him while giggling like a parrot.

"Thank you," Kenna said, with a relieved sigh. She hugged Mary, already turning in the direction of the quad. "I've got to go tell Lola and Greer."

And like that, they were alone.

Mary kneaded her well loved copy of The Fault in Our Stars in her hands.

"I- ship you two," she said. But the sensation that she had somehow been cheated throbbed in the back of her chest.

"You ship us?" A smile finally nudging at the corners of his mouth.

"Yes. And I wish you every happiness."

He rolled his eyes. Kenna was... alright. More alright than he had expected her to be. She was beautiful. She could be decent, and kind, and funny. Maybe not the sharpest crayon in the box- but he had grown to like her alright.

But, then, there was Mary...

And there would be no replacing her.

"So, I assume you two are going to Co-ed?"

He hadn't asked her yet. They would certainly be going. And she didn't need elaborate shows of flowers or painted billboards or the request spelled out in cupcakes- she wasn't that way. But it would be nice to be able to confirm plans. It was only two weeks away...

So she waited, skin coated in dried sweat, hair in a bun on top of her head. Cheer practice ran long that day- and he was still taking longer to get out than her. What could they possibly be doing in ASB for the last three-and-a-half hours? But she didn't mind being supportive.

He was her childhood crush- until she went to Our Lady of Deliverance.

"Francis!" She said, a smile breaking on her face as he came through the door of Mr. Valois's classroom. The lattice pattern of the iron bench left reddish indents on the back of her legs.

"Mary," he said, glancing up from his Student Body Affairs binder.

She frowned, just slightly, as he kept walking in the direction of their lockers.

"Francis, I was hoping today we could-" she dodged a beaten grey trash can trying to keep pace with him. "About the winter formal? It's..."

"Well of course we're going." He said, still rifling through papers. "We're a sure bet for king and queen."

"Yes but-"

"But I'm sure you can work out the details." He half kissed her cheek. "I'm- busy. And you like that sort of thing." He dipped left, down the next hallway.

"Right but-"

"But I trust you," he said, over his shoulder, with a smile. "I'll see you at lunch tomorrow."

Well, apparently she would be walking home today.

At first, he'd known Kenna as one of Mary's friends. He tolerated her.

Then, she was transferred into the period of chemistry he happened to TA for.

And he decided she was an absolute moron. When Mr. Nostradamus referred her to him for extra tutoring help, he considered the many lethal combinations he could conjure for himself, using the chemicals in the lab cabinet.

"I know you think I'm the stupidest girl at French Prep."

"Well I can't say that. I don't know every girl at French Prep."

But, when you spend so many hours with someone, it becomes difficult to despise them.

"So I was thinking," she said, meeting him after her practice and his conditioning. "Do you like this color?" She pointed to a hot fuschia fitted dress on her iPhone. "Or this one?" She flicked the screen to a fluffy light blue gown.

He smiled at her a little. Honestly, he didn't really care. But, he did want her to be happy. He wanted to want her to be happy. Her face glowed with a warm excitement that made him think this might not be so terrible after all.

"The pink," he took her hand in his. "It suits you."

She grinned, kissing his cheek.

"Alright. Then," she walked in a half-circle around him, a little awkwardly. "I'm- going to go shopping. And, I'll, see you tomorrow."

"Right." Right.

He drove his battered Ford around the back of the school. Where he saw her walking home with a duffel and a backpack, still in her athletic attire. He found himself smiling at her slight scowl. Rolling down the window, he pulled up alongside her.

"Need a ride?" He wagged his eyebrows with teasing finesse.

She glanced to the side, a small smirk at her reluctant mouth.

Bash.

She looked at the handle on the door. Francis wouldn't like it- jealous as he was. But, he shouldn't have left her to walk home by herself. And Bash had a girlfriend now and really they were just friends and it was such a long walk.

"Sure."

a/n: okay. so there will be more of this. just needed to get the set up a-goin' ;) ideas, suggestions, compliments? all are welcome. please review!

(and, as a side note, i felt weird making mary a cheerleader. but i'm using it as a part of the popularity hierarchy or whatever)