A/N: This chapter was hard to write, I re-wrote it so many times. This chapter takes place during Season 3, episodes 7 8. So I recommend you watch the previous episodes as well as those. Otherwise, it might not make sense.

Disclaimer: I do not own Heartbreak High or any of the characters mentioned.

Chapter Ten: Jodie

Rivers POV:

There seemed to be a silent understanding between, Peter and Jodie. He hadn't expected it or even been aware of it happening but suddenly, Jodie, along with Steve had become his best friend. Both of them had been there for him during the worst few months of his life, where he had been heartbroken over Sam and now that Jodie was going through her own Heartbreak with Matt so soon after losing Nick, Rivers felt it was his job to be there and pick up the pieces. Matt had stood Jodie up to go to the water tower so, Rivers had gone to dinner with her and took her to watch 'Deadman Running'.

"Thanks Rivers" Jodie said, as he drove them both home.

"What for?" Peter asked, turning to look at her. Her eyes were red and puffy but she had a big smile on her face.

"Taking me out, I needed that" Jodie said.

"Well I couldn't let you miss out just because Matt didn't show up" Rivers admitted. He had wanted to protect, Jodie from the pain he knew she was feeling. It hadn't been that long ago since he felt the same way. Feeling let down by someone he loved, he knew their situations were very different but that didn't stop him from wanting to cheer her up.

"I really appreciate that" Jodie said.

"What are you going to do now?" Rivers wandered, thinking he might already know the answer. It was as if they had this bond, where they could sense each other's feelings.

"I think I need to break up with him" Jodie said sadly. Peter nodded in understanding. "It's like we have nothing in common and Matt just doesn't care. Things were good at the start, you know but now we've just kind of fizzled out" Jodie added.

"I know how you feel" Peter said, thinking about how he still felt about, Sam. Peter parked the car inside the warehouse and turned to Jodie. She smiled at him and leaned back in her seat.

"Come on Jodie, let's see if Steve is home" Peter said. Offering her his hand. She giggled.

"He's probably somewhere flirting with Danielle" She said.

The next day, Peter had been the one feeling low when he learned that the new tool of a teacher, Mr Bell had moved in with Sam. Sam had snapped at him when he had said something and he hadn't felt like sticking around to hear her rescue plan. Peter found Jodie alone in the music room writing a song.

"Sam?" Jodie asked after taking one look at him, he nodded and sat down beside her.

"Mr Bell's moved in" He explained.

"It doesn't mean anything, Rivers. It's obvious she's not over you" Jodie said.

"Matt turned up last night" Jodie sighed, Peter held her hand and gave it a small squeeze.

"He'd have been stupid not to" Peter said. "So what happened?" Peter asked concerned.

"Its like he can't see what I can" Jodie said, her eyes were still red from crying. "You know maybe I was stupid for thinking that I was ready to be with someone again, when Nick died the idea of being with someone else felt alien but Matt talked me round and I thought why not" Jodie added.

"But now?" Peter asked.

"But now it's like I've woken up and Matt and I just aren't right anymore" Jodie sighed. "This can't be normal though, how am I still upset over the idea of breaking up?" Jodie asked.

"I thought we covered this yesterday, you can't explain emotions" Peter joked. He stood up and gestured for the door. "Come on let's get lunch" He said, she stood up and hugged him.

"You know, you're quite a decent human being when you wanna be" Jodie joked, Peter cracked a smile and winked

"Don't tell anyone, I wouldn't want my reputation to be ruined" Peter said, Jodie rolled her eyes.

Sam's POV:

Sam had been hesitant about letting Andrew move into the flat with her, she needed help with the rent but so far Andrew seemed pompous and arrogant. They also didn't seem to agree on anything, their differing opinions had lead to so many heated discussions at work and she couldn't see a way for them if they had to share the same flat. He'd gotten into her bad books pretty quickly during the trial exams, she had tried to advise him after she'd found a sleeping and panicked Danielle in her classroom but he had ignored her advice and Danielle had left the science exam in a panic, resulting in a car accident. Then there had been the trouble with Rivers during the school play and Andrew had been very set in his ways, not wanting to listen to a word she'd said.

She'd been worried about him when he'd not returned home and the next morning she'd learned he was at the water tower. Andrew had surprised her in a way, he'd done something dangerous to help his students so she'd gone to save him. She rode them home on her motorbike and told him to get ready for work but she hadn't expected him to kiss her. He'd kissed her so suddenly and unexpected that she didn't really have time to react, the instant the kiss stopped she turned for the door telling him to hurry up.

What had he been thinking? Had she done something to make him think she was into him?

Andrew's kiss was awkward and left her feeling uneasy, Sam could see that the intent behind it was because he was feeling accomplished and excited about what he'd done at the water tower and despite the fact that she hadn't wanted the kiss, Sam couldn't help but feel guilty for not stopping it straight away. Sam thought about Rivers and the way their kisses had always been full of passion and longing for more, she missed that, she missed him but nothing had changed between them. She was still Peter's teacher and as much as she wanted to give into her feelings, she didn't want to risk her future at Hartley High.

There was something special about Hartley High, she'd worked at other schools but none of them could compare to Hartley.

Over the next few days, things had become strained between her and Andrew and Peter seemed to be putting less effort into his work. She'd guessed at first it was because he'd found out about Andrew moving in. There was definitely something going on with Peter but when she'd offered to talk about it he'd surprised her and said no. She went home that day feeling defeated.

The next day as Sam took the roll, she was disappointed to see that Peter and Steve were both absent from school.

Rivers POV:

Jodie was covering for him and Steve whilst Peter went looking for his dad, Peter had been surprised when he'd seen him in the back of one of Steve's photos the night before. His dad was supposed to be on the run somewhere on the other side of the country. When Peter had sent Steve back to Danielle, his dad had appeared.

Peter spent the day with his dad, he was happy to finally see him after all this time but he could tell that his dad wasn't telling him the truth about his situation. He was worried that his dad would get caught on a job with his newfound roommate, who really just seemed like a dodgy bloke.

Sam looked concerned when she saw him, he couldn't help but tell her everything about his dad's situation. Sam's advice made sense, she had said that the best chance his dad had of getting medical attention and not getting caught would be if he turned himself in. He had tried to convince his dad of this but, Norm Rivers was stubborn. Peter had to turn him in himself, he didn't like it but he went to the police station to take Sam's advice.