Chapter 38—An Old Flame Comes Walking Back Into Bella's Life

April 15th, 2000

Paddy's POV

I had taken all day to drive up to Minneapolis from Omaha. I had to see Bella one more time. Dean had called me a week ago to tell me that Bella was going to be the Lead in the musical. I had gotten off my grounding about 2 months ago and I had asked mom if I could go. Which she had told me immediately yes. Provided that I found a place to stay and behaved myself. I said that I will leave at 9 in the morning and be in Minneapolis by 4:30 in the afternoon. Of course, I would have to stop for gas before I left and along the way. I also wanted to pick up flowers for Bella. The musical started at 7, so there wasn't too much trouble that I could get into with Portman and Fulton in two and hours. Mom loved Portman and Fulton, but Dad could not stand them at all. He called them everything from Gang bangers to hoodlums. Dad did not know how much we had learned from each other. I met Portman outside of Black Hall.

"Hey Man, how's it going?" Portman said.

"Good, How's Senior year, going?" I asked as I gave him a bro hug.

"It's been a drag, but I am going to make it," Portman said.

"That's good," I said as I grabbed my bag and Bella's flowers.

"Yeah," Portman said.

"Damn it Dean you went way too fast," Fulton said as he caught up to Portman.

"Sorry man, what are you going to do at basic?" Portman asked.

"I don't know. Hey Paddy," Fulton said.

"Hey Fulton," I said as I gave him a bro hug.

"Come on let's go inside, I don't think that Guy and Russ have left to go and grab a bite before heading down to the theatre," Portman said.

"What time were they supposed to be there?" I asked.

"Like 5:30, So they should be going here pretty soon, We have to be there 6:30 to hand out programs and shit," Fulton said.

"Does Bella know I am here?" I asked.

"Pff.. No way," Fulton said.

"Yeah she has been too busy dealing with the show and Adam," Portman said.

"Oh, now what?" I asked.

"Well, there was a brew ha ha between Adam and the parents the other night. Nearly drove Gunnar up the wall. It was not good," Fulton said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah everything has been strained between Adam and Bella since like January. Charlie is siding with Bella of course," Portman said.

"I will bet Adam feels betrayed," I said.

"Yeah he does. It doesn't matter he's only here during the week. As soon as the final bell rings on Friday both him and Gunnar book it over to Coach and Mrs. Bombay's house," Fulton said.

"Oh, so what's up with going into the military after you're done with high school?" I asked. As we were climbing the stairs to their room.

"Yeah I leave for Ft. Benning the end of July. Mom wasn't too thrilled about me going into the Army, but once I hit her with 'they will pay for my education,' she shut up," Fulton said.

"Cool and you Dean?" I asked.

"Yeah not too many people know this yet, but I got into the Preparatory School at the Academy. So, I leave at the beginning of June for a 2-month camp out there and school starts in the beginning of August. I have to play Co-ed Soccer to keep my strength and stamina for Hockey If I were to get into the Academy. I just have to do what they say, keep my nose clean and I should be in. This is a big secret, so you can't tell Bella," Portman said.

"No sweat," I said.

"What about you, is it still Wisconsin next year?" Fulton asked as he opened the door to their room.

"Yeap that is the plan. My Dad was furious at me for not to want to go into the Academy. I had to pull the ye ole scholarship for Cross Country and that I was getting a full ride. He didn't speak to me for a month," I said.

"Oh God that had to be hard," Fulton said.

"I know it would have been easier if my dad did what yours did, take off when you were young," I said. I knew the entire story. That Portman's dad took off before his mom found out she was pregnant with him and Fulton's dad left when he was two. Left him home alone in his crib with a dirty diaper and a note that said I'm sorry, but I can't do this.

"No, you don't," Portman and Fulton both said at the same time.

"Oh," I said.

"Here is your ticket, it would probably be best if you sneaked in at the last minute, Because Bella does have a tendency to peek from behind the curtain," Fulton said as he handed my ticket.

"Same with Connie," Portman said.

"Right," I said.

I waited until 6:45 before I headed down to the theatre and I sat in the last few rows in the back, I sort of kept my head down until the curtain came up at 7:00.

Bella's POV

It was another successful show, and I was happy that it was now over. Now all I had to do was catch up in my classes, get ready to go to Prom with Charlie in 2 weeks and graduation in less than a month. Actually, it was a month until graduation, yesterday. Once I came off the stage Charlie gave me a bear hug.

"You did great Angel," Charlie said.

"As did you, Thank you Charlie," I said.

"Yeah, no Problem, Angel. You need to thank Adam too," Charlie said.

"Yeah I know, I just don't know how," I said.

"Well, we will figure it out," Charlie said.

"I know," I said. I was about to kiss Charlie when I heard.

"Ahem," from someone behind me.

I turned around and my eyes went wide.

"PADDY?" I asked, surprised.

"Hey Issy, nice job. I got these for you. I want to talk to you about your summer plans," Paddy said, showing me the flowers.

"What… What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well Portman called to tell me that you were playing Sandy in Grease, and I said to myself damn if I was going to miss this. I missed you Bella, didn't you miss me?" Paddy asked.

"Yeah," I said slowly at that point Charlie snaked his arm around my waist and held me tighter.

"Oh, I see," Paddy said and then he walked away.

"Paddy wait,' I said. I wanted to go and explain everything to Paddy, but Charlie held me tighter, 'Charlie let me go."

Paddy's POV

I felt like a fool. I didn't even get to give Bella her flowers, I ended up dumping them in the waste basket outside and then I ran back up to Portman and Fulton's room. I wondered if Bella would wait for me, but Charlie had moved back in. I wondered if that had happened when I didn't receive a reply from Bella back in September.

"Dude you look like you need a beer," Fulton said.

"No thanks," I said.

"Come on you will feel better," Portman said.

"I shouldn't have one," I said.

Fulton went into their closet and came back with three beers. He handed me one and gave one to Portman, then he and Portman both popped the top at the same time and took a sip.

"You do realize that drinking on base isn't going to happen until you're 21, right?" I asked.

"Yeah so?" Fulton said.

"So, you are under the age of 21 therefore you shouldn't be drinking," I said.

"Well look who is a goody goody two shoes," Portman said.

"You didn't look very closely at the can dude," Fulton said.

I looked at the can and realized there was a dog holding a mug of beer and then saw that it was Mugs Root Beer.

"Root Beer?" I asked.

"Yeah, this campus is so dry that they actually look in your room every week for illegal items and beer is the first thing on the list," Portman said.

"What about the partying that you all do?" I asked.

"Hey, we might supply the drinks that doesn't mean that we actually drink it," Fulton said.

"Well actually I indulge, but I make sure that I have one and done and Fulton doesn't drink at all," Portman said.

"Why?" I asked.

"My stepfather. He was a horrible drunk, I decided that I wasn't going to be like him at 7. There was a reason why I waited until I was sure that he was passed out on the couch before I showed up at anything. I was lucky that Coach Bombay took me and taught me the game of Hockey," Fulton said.

"Oh," I said as I popped the tab on the can.

"See you are going to feel better," Portman said.

"Yeah, I guess. So much for me moving back up here this summer," I said.

"Ah yeah, sorry man. I should have told you that they got engaged," Fulton said.

"For my money, they won't get married. Not now, not 5 years from now, not ever," Portman said.

A/N: And that is unfortunately the end of this story. But fear not there is more. We are about to dive into part 3 of Senior year so be on the lookout for the next story: "Senior Year: The Way Things Landslide down." The first chapter of Part 3 should be posted in two weeks, but until then I am going to give you a little sample, enjoy! And as always please read and review! Thanks a bunch!

I spent the majority of the weekend moping around, I didn't feel like doing anything, including the gobs of homework that I had to do. I frankly didn't care; I was done, and I was tried with school. I could not help it, even the threats of if you don't do your homework, you won't graduate didn't work. I was depressed.

"Yes. You know you would be excellent at getting back at my parents, for what they do to me."

His eyes raised up.

"Good at least he won't be a distraction to the people who view this picture at the club. Let's put them on the floor next to the one that is going stag."

"Un fucking believable," I said. I knew they were embarrassed, apparently it's hard for them to have a gay son. Like I could help being who I am.

"Today's category is the Top ten reasons why the teachers of Eden Hall Academy is ready to say goodbye to the class of 2000.'

"Number Ten, the end of the ceaseless quacking,"

All of us ducks and a few of those in the audience start to go "QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK."

"Number Nine, No more crashing in on ceremonies tripped with rollerblades

Number Eight, No more running salutes

Number Seven, Three words: More Fire Ants

Number Six, No need to worry about the science labs or any other classroom catching on fire.

Number Five, No more questioning regarding of makeup on a guy

Number Four, No need to worry about a flying puck coming to break a window

Number Three, No more champion of the world pillow fights

Number Two, No need to keep the liquid nitrogen locked up anymore.

And The Number One Reason why the Teachers of Eden Hall Academy is ready to say goodbye to the class of 2000. One year closer to retirement,"

The Audience started to roar with Laughter. I chuckled.

"Wait a minute, Mother to be? Mom, what is he talking about?"

"Charlie, in five and months, you are going to have a little brother or sister. I'm pregnant,"

I covered my mouth; I could not believe that I was right about her being pregnant. He meanwhile drops his water glass in lap and goes white as a ghost.

"Charlie?"

"HOW CAN THIS HAVE HAPPENED?"

"CHARLIE,"

"NO TELL ME. I THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE ANYMORE KIDS. I THOUGHT I WAS YOUR ONLY KID?"

"So did we, son. But Charlie, we love you, son,"

"YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER,"

"Já. I mean I thought she was kind of cute during the games, but I saw her 13th year photo when Gunnar came back here and holy Moley."

"G…..G….. G… G….. G….."

I had just landed in Amsterdam, Netherlands a half an hour ago. I had to turn off my cell phone when I boarded the plane. When I got to my seat I had asked the person in the seat next to me to pull the shade down so the cameras could not look in the plane at me. Luckily, he agreed after I explained that the paparazzi was in the airport terminal trying to take my picture. He asked me kind of like princess Diana. Which I told him, yeah. Convincing the flight attendant to let the shade stay down until we were heading for the runway was tricker. But she let it go as long as the guy with the window seat put the shade up after we left the gate and were heading for the runaway. While we were up in the air, my ankle swelled up. I was happy to get some ice from the flight attendant.

I was waiting in front of Gracey's school, waiting for her to get off from her shift. She had enrolled at Aveda Arts and Sciences Institute to study Cosmetology, Esthetician whatever that meant, I had no idea and Massage Therapy. She had been enrolled at the school since the end of July and said that if she did well in her classes she would graduate from school in August of 2002. Both Mom and Grandma were excited to find out that I had started to see a girl that is going to Cosmetology school. Why I had no idea until I heard from mom, "I could get my hair done for the cost of her supplies and it would help Gracey get some real-world experience."

We had been out on a couple of dates if you would call that a date. It was hard to get to know someone who was with a chaperone. Usually, her father or one of her older brothers would be along for the date. Gracey is the youngest of five kids and yet she was older than me by a couple of months. We had to start meeting after her classes for coffee or something, in order to get away from the chaperones. She said that she could not wait to be done with school and out on her own. The chaperones were around to keep us from going further than what we should be going.

"Hey sweetheart," Gracey said as she exited the building