I'd like to thank germanfanfictioner, nigelbtrlover24, DeniseDEMD, annabellex2, winterschild11, Charlie-Rose94 and Sir RCCS all for taking the extra time to review. It means so much to me. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 6: Decisions

Cooper was standing outside his English class. He knew he had to go in, but Jace was in there. He wasn't ready for this. Maybe he could text Mina and ask her to take notes for him. That way he wouldn't have to face Jace yet.

Cooper turned around to walk away and froze.

"Cooper?"

Jace was standing there. He had a bag slung over shoulder and a folder in his other hand. He was looking at Cooper and he had a slight hurt look in his eyes.

"Jace," Cooper said. His heart as racing and he wanted to say something, anything. The words caught in his throat. He didn't know what to say.

"Class is about to start you better get in there before Professor Dunham locks the doors," Jace said walking past him and into the room.

Cooper hung his head and took a deep breath. He walked into the class room and saw Mina already sitting there. She waved him over to a spot next to her. She smiled, but stopped when she caught his expression. Cooper slid into his seat.

"What's wrong? You looked like someone just kicked a puppy in front of you?" Mina asked.

"Nothing," Cooper replied. "Kicked a puppy?" He asked confused. Mina only shrugged.

"It's something, I'm not dumb," Mina said.

"I'll tell you later," Cooper said silently begging Mina to shut up. Mina took a hint and ran a finger over her lips signaling they were zipped.

Cooper pulled his notebook out. Jace and Professor Dunham were talking up front. Cooper couldn't take his eyes off Jace. Jace didn't want anything to do with Cooper. He could tell with the way Jace had talked to him. It had hurt to see the hurt in Jace's eyes.

As the hour dragged on Cooper debated over talking to Jace or just letting him go. There wasn't really anything between them. They had barely talked outside of class. Then there was this strong attraction Cooper felt. Every time Cooper saw Jace his heart raced and he got tongue tied. Afterwards he usually felt guilty. Last night had been different. He hadn't a really felt guilty.

Before Cooper knew it class was over. People were packing up and leaving. Mina was already to go. Cooper packed his stuff up and started for the door. Mina was chatting mindlessly. He stopped at the front of the room. He looked at Jace who was packing his stuff up.

"Mina go ahead I'll catch up," Cooper said slowly. Mina glanced at him and saw where he was looking. She smiled and left the room. Once everyone was gone Cooper approached Jace.

"That was an awesome lecture today," Cooper said casually.

"Class is over," Jace said sharply.

"I don't know why you're so upset, at least this time I didn't crash into you this time," Cooper said with a smile. He leaned on the desk, biting his lip nervously.

"What do you want Cooper, I'm busy," Jace said.

"I wanted to apologize for last night," Cooper said getting straight to the point.

"I've got things to do rather than waste my time on kids who don't know what they want freshie," Jace spat.

"Look things have been complicated for me. I just wanted to apologize. I have so much going on right now, but last night was something I wanted, I just got scared," Cooper admitted, "If you're interested here's my number," he said grabbing a blank sticky note and writing his cell number down. He set it on the desk and left.

"So?" Mina asked once she spotted him. They started towards the quad.

"It's not what you think," Cooper said as his cell phone buzzed. He held a hand up to Mina as he pulled it out of his pocket. He looked at the number and saw a number he didn't know. He smiled as he answered.

"Does it make me seem to desperate if I call right away?"

Cooper turned and saw Jace standing in the doorway behind him. Cooper grinned.

"A little, but I wasn't so subtle was I?" Cooper asked. Mina gestures towards the quad and Cooper waved her off. She left with a grin. She knew who he was talking to.

"You reeked of desperation freshie, I'm pitying you," Jace teased.

"I'm not that desperate. I have options," Cooper joked, "you however seem to be the best option," he added.

"Nice save," Jace said.

"Is there a reason you called Jace?" Cooper asked coyly.

"Would you like to go on a date with me?" Jace asked.

"I'd love to, I have to go but call me or text me later and we can set something up, and I promise I won't run away again," Cooper said with a smile.

"Deal," Jace said. They hung up. Cooper stood there a moment before waving to Jace. Jace waved back and Cooper turned and headed to the quad. Mina was sitting with Damien chatting. She jumped up once she spotted Cooper.

"How'd it go?" Mina asked.

"I have a date," Cooper said proudly.

"With who?" Damien asked confused.

"Jace, our English TA," Mina said, "he's totally delicious," she added.

"You're still seventeen and he's gay," Cooper said turning to Mina.

"That doesn't mean I can't look," Mina said defensively.

"So what about..." Damien trailed off.

"Adam?" Cooper asked. He sighed and looked up to the sky for a moment gathering his thoughts. "I still care about him, but I can't waste my time pining over him not knowing if he's coming back tomorrow or a year from now," he said.

"Ok then," Damien said slowly.

"It's my life Day and I am allowed to be happy. Adam left and even if he does come back I don't know if I would want to see him," Cooper said turning and walking away from Damien and Mina.

He hated that Damien made him feel guilty for wanting to move on. He shouldn't have to feel that way. Moving on was a part of life. Adam left, and he was allowed. No one was gonna make him feel guilty about this. Cooper was an adult and could make his own decisions. Adam had made his decision and now Cooper made his.

-We Are-

"Ok would you rather have green skin for the rest of your life or onion breath for three months," Kyle asked looking to his friends.

"Onion breath, at least it would go away after three months," Lucas said. Caleb nodded his head in agreement.

"Green skin, then I could defy gravity and become wicked," Miles said causing the other three to laugh.

"You are such a nerd," Kyle said shaking his head.

"Whatever I'm awesome and so is Wicked. It's the best musical of all time," Miles said.

"Ok would you rather be bald for the rest of your life or pink hair for a year?" Lucas asked.

"Bald?" Kyle asked reaching up to touch his hair. He shook his head horrified at the thought. "Pink hair, I could probably pull that off," he said.

"I agree no way would I want to be bald," Caleb said.

"Being bald would be so much fun, I could get a wheelchair and dress up as Xavier from X-men, or Lex Luthor. Dude the possibilities are endless," Miles said excitedly.

"Miles you've picked the worst option for everything and somehow liked it," Lucas said.

"I'm a complex person Bro, the less you try to understand me the better," Miles said.

"He's right I stopped questioning him a long time ago," Kyle said.

The bell rang and the four jumped up gathering their things.

"About time, let's go," Kyle said as he all but ran from the room.

"Where are you so eager to go?" Caleb asked.

"None of your business, Miles I text you later," Kyle said as he took off.

Kyle ran down the hallway leaving the guys behind. He pulled his cell phone out and started texting Jared. He glanced up but it was too late he crashed into someone. He started to apologize but froze when he saw who it was.

"Lilly I am so sorry," Kyle said jumping up. He moved to help her up.

"I'm fine don't touch me," Lilly snapped.

"Still angry at the world I see," Kyle commented with an eye roll.

"Not the world just the jerks in it," Lilly spat.

"Look Lilly I've apologized, I don't know what else you want from me," Kyle sighed. He hated doing this dance every time they saw each other. "I'm sorry but don't love you anymore. It kills me to see you so upset and know it's because of me, but you need to move on," he said.

"I have moved on you're an ass," Lilly said.

"Oh sure seems like you moved on, whenever you're ready though I do wish we could be friends again," Kyle said.

"I don't think we can be friends," Lilly admitted. She looked up at him. Kyle saw the hurt and desperation there. "I will always want something more," she said.

"I can't give you more Lilly, I'm sorry," Kyle said. He hung his head and walked away from her. He didn't look back not wanting to see how much he had just hurt her. Hurting her was the last thing he wanted, but she couldn't accept the fact that they had broken up.

Kyle pulled his phone out and texted Jared. He kind of wanted to see the older boy today. It was their anniversary after all. They had been together for three months now.

-We Are-

Kendall tapped his foot as he waited for Kelly to get off the phone. He was waiting to hear what Icsis' manager had to say. He had sent a revised contract over and was waiting to see if it was agreed upon. Kelly hung up and turned to Kendall with a grin.

"The boys have seventeen shows with Icsis and TBA out of the twenty five US shows," Kelly said.

"We'll take it," Kendall said.

"I told them to send it over and we would sign. The boys start touring on October second," Kelly said.

"Great, I'll see what I can do and hopefully we will have a nanny for Jenny by then," Kendall said.

"I can handle the boys," Kelly said.

"I know that Kelly, but I'm their manager, I can't let them do this on their own. I discovered them, they're..." Kendall trailed off.

"Your boys?" Kelly asked. Kendall nodded his head.

"I'll be in my office, just let me know when they arrive," Kendall said. He left the lobby.

Kendall walked into his office and saw his chair facing backwards and a pair of feet up on the shelf. He wasn't in the mood for this. It was probably some cocky intern looking for him.

"Ok I am not in the mood out of my office," Kendall said annoyed.

"Now is that anyway to treat your son?"

-We Are-

"Ok what did you do this time? Why is Kendall giving us the day off," Roldy asked looking at Jared.

Jared had just gotten a call from Kelly. She had told him he and the guys didn't have to come in today. Which was odd, Jared hadn't done anything to piss Kendall off lately. At least nothing intentional.

"I don't know Ro, let's just enjoy our day off," Jared suggested.

"Jared is right, to the pool," Matt announced. Noah jumped up excitedly and grabbed Roldy's arm.

"Let's go have some fun!" Noah exclaimed.

"You guys go ahead I'm gonna stay in," Jared said walking over to the couch and grabbing his notebook.

"You ever gonna let us hear that song?" Matt asked.

"When it's done," Jared replied.

"Whatever let's go," Noah said.

"Would you like some help Jer?" Roldy asked.

"Nah, I got this, go on and have some fun and watch Matty fail at asking Sarah out again," Jared said with a smirk.

"She will say yes and she will be mine," Matt said with a small hint of annoyance.

"The day Sarah asks you out is the day Noah finally settles down with just one person," Jared said.

"Hey I've got to explore my options. If I were exclusive things would be different," Noah said pointing a finger at Jared.

"That's my point No," Jared said.

"Whatever I will get her to say yes and it will be soon," Matt said.

The three left and Jared looked over the song he had been working on. It wasn't getting very far. He didn't know why he was having so much trouble. It was like inspiration was running away from him rather than just coming to him.

Jared was so absorbed in his notebook he didn't hear the door open. He sighed as he fell back on the couch. He nearly jumped out of his skin when the couch sunk beside him. He looked over and saw a grinning blonde sitting beside him.

"You should really lock your door, who knows what could sneak in," Kyle said.

"You scared me," Jared said putting his notebook down. "What are you doing here? I told you to text me," he said.

"And I did, you didn't answer I wanted to come see you," Kyle said jutting his lower lip out a bit. "I mean we have been together for three months now," he said.

"Oh yeah that's today!" Jared said smiling at the blonde.

"Yeah, and you forgot," Kyle said pouting.

"No I just wasn't sure if it was today or tomorrow. Besides I thought I'd be working today but your dad gave us the day off for some reason," Jared said.

"Was he in a bad mood? Should I be worried?" Kyle asked quickly sitting up straighter.

"I don't know Kelly called, all she said was Kendall had something personal to take care of," Jared shrugged.

"Are we alone?" Kyle asked looking around.

"Yes the guys-" Jared started. Kyle quickly pulled the bleached blonde into a kiss. Jared forgot what he was saying. He stood up pulling Kyle with him. He started directing the blonde towards the hallway. Kyle made no protests.

They stumbled down the hallway together their lips barely parting. Kyle pushed Jared against the wall and they stayed there. Jared didn't mind as Kyle's lips descended down his neck to nip and suck.

"Kyle," Jared gasped.

"Yeah Jer," Kyle said huskily. Jared let out a small whimper and pulled the blonde closer. Kyle grinned as he felt what was bothering Jared.

"Hmm, someone is happy to see me," Kyle said reaching a hand down. Jared gasped and tried to move towards his bedroom. "How bad do you want it Jer?"

-We Are-

Leora made her way up to Lilly's bedroom. Logan had let her in. Lilly had sent her a text asking her to come over. They hadn't talked much since Leora had been a bit bitchy to her. Leora was glad she wanted to talk, she just hoped it wasn't anything bad.

Leora knocked and the door opened. Lilly quickly pulled her into her bedroom.

"Whoa Lil, where's the fire?" Leora asked.

"Be honest, am I pathetic?" Lilly asked letting go of Leora's arm as the door slipped shut.

"You can be a little nerdy at times but not pathetic," Leora said shaking her head. "Is this about...look Lilly I'm sorry for getting mad at you and saying those things. I didn't mean it," she said.

"No it's true I am letting what Kyle did get to me. I've been so scared to get back out there and..." Lilly said her voice small.

"So what your decision then? Are you gonna continue to mope around or are you gonna get back out there and show Kyle what he's missing out on?" Leora asked.

"I don't want to hurt anymore," Lilly said softly. She looked up at Leora.

"I know just what you need," Leora said smiling at her friend. She walked over to her and placed her hands on her shoulders. "You know what always makes me feel better about myself?" She asked.

"Shopping doesn't fix everything," Lilly replied with an eye roll.

"No but it helps, it's a real confidence booster to get some attention for a new outfit or even a new hair cut," Leora said. Lilly smiled and nodded her head.

"Ok Le," she said.

"Great to the mall!" Leora said jumping up and down. Lilly laughed and pushed the jumping blonde towards the door being sure to grab her purse and cell phone on the way.

-We Are-

"Peek-a-boo!"

James laughed as both girls before him giggled so hard. He was playing peek-a-boo with Jenny and Miri. They were loving it. When he waited to long to start again they'd cover their eyes and try to get him. James smiled and covered his eyes once more.

"Oh no where did Jenny and Miri go?" He asked. He moved his hands and said peek-a-boo once more. The girls both laughed so hard. James repeated he process.

"Ok play time," James said once he was tired of peek-a-boo.

James took both girls from their high chairs and headed to the living room. He set Jenny and Miri by their toy chest. He set the gate up and turned around. The girls were already playing with their toys. James walked over to the couch and sat down taking a breather for a moment.

James loved moments like this. He loved Jenny and Miri both so much. They were so adorable and growing up so quickly. Both girls were already walking and saying some words. They had the pointing thing down as well. James as just amazed at how fast they were growing up.

James looked over to Miri as she played with her toys. Jenny seemed to have other ideas. She was up at the book shelf trying to pull stuff off the shelf. James sighed and stood up. Watching two babies was a chore. He had almost forgot how fun it was.

The front door opened and James picked up Jenny. He walked to the doorway of the living room keeping Miri in sight.

"Ken is that you?"

"Yeah, you'll never guess who I found," Kendall said as he walked down the hallway. He stepped aside for James to see who had come in with him.

Ok so much has happened. Guess who's back! Cooper moved on, will it work? Kyle and Jared have been together for three months now and seem to be going strong, will it last? Lilly has decided to try and move on, can she? So many questions so little time. Lots happening and lots gonna be happening next chapter.

Always

OUTOFMYMIND