"So, he's okay?" Luna asked hesitantly.

I nodded, "He will be. He'll never repeat last week's events again, that's certain."

"Well that's a relief," Zach said. "What was it all about, anyways."

I looked over to Dylan. He shook his head before turning away.

"It's not really my place. When he's ready he'll tell you all about it, I'm sure."

They all nodded, slightly unsatisfied with my answer. We were all sitting in the bleachers so that we were far enough away that no one else would hear. We had all made it a point to keep Carson's current status as quiet as possible.

"So when's he coming back?"

I shrugged, "I still think he needs another day or two, but he's pretty set on coming back tomorrow."

Jason sighed, "Well, in the meantime, his fandom has passed around some pretty interesting rumors about his mysterious disappearance."

Of course, due to the lack of answers we have failed to provide about where Carson is, or what's happened to him, everyone has prompted their own ideas.

"What's the latest?"

"The L-Squad said something about him being discovered by a model agency," Luna said. "And they believe he's been flown to Paris for some runway show for like, Gucci or whatever, I was half-listening."

"The hockey team is convinced that he got convicted for selling drugs," Jason added. "Some were generous enough to suggest he got out on bail."

"I heard Mrs. Goldstein the English teacher say that he had gotten a girl pregnant and ran away," Zach laughed. "Which Mrs. James argued was untrue because Carson has been dating a famous actress for the past three months."

"The most probable guess, however, came from the cheerleaders," Dylan started.

"Oh yeah?" I laughed. "What did they say?"

He shrugged, "Something about how he's a vampire and due to how bright the sun has been lately, Carson has been unable to leave his house."

"God, he'll be livid when he gets back," Jason laughed.

Luna shook her head, "Are you kidding? He'll eat it up He'll love it."

"Alright, well, we should get going," Dylan said standing up. "We've gotta get to detention?"

"What did you guys do this time?" I asked.

"You don't wanna know," Jason said before any of the other boys could say anything. They all left, stomping down the bleachers in quite a positive mood considering where they were heading.

Luna and I stayed on the hill, enjoying the calmness.

"I take it you and Zach are doing better?"

She shrugged, "I guess. We're not at each other's throats anymore, so."

"Are you guys thinking about getting back together?"

She shook her head, "I don't think so. We're just talking things through."

I nodded, "Well, summer break is less than a month off. So, maybe it's for the best, and, if not, you two have all summer to figure it out."

She rested her head on my shoulder, "When did life get so hard?"

I sighed, "I don't know. Do you think it gets easier?"

She huffed, "No. But everyone says time goes by quicker the older you get. So there's always that."

"Well, as long as we've got that."

* * *

"Stop, you guys! This is so not funny!" Jason fumed as he ran around his room in panic.

Luna laughed, "Jason, you've tried on every shirt in your closet, and they all look fine. Just pick one!"

He stopped in his tracks, "Just pick one? Just. Pick. One!?!"

He unbuttoned the current shirt he had on and took another off of the hanger. "This is the first actual date I've been on in... well, a long time. And it's with a guy I actually like, and you want me to just pick one?! Do you two not understand how serious this is? You are absolutely being no help at all!"

Jason groaned as he threw off this shirt too, letting it be cast to the pile of clothes on the floor.

I hopped up from his bed and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Jason, relax. I don't think the outcome of this date is dependent on whether you wear red or purple."

I picked up a baby blue button-up dress shirt and a pair of white dress pants and handed them both to Jason.

He sighed as he took them. "I guess," he said. "I'm just nervous."

"Aw," Luna cooed. "Jason has feelings. Our baby boy's all grown up."

Jason rolled his eyes and flipped her off before finally going into the bathroom to put on the outfit I had picked for him. It was a weird turn of events; usually he was the one picking out my outfits.

"I still can't believe Jason said yes to this date. I never thought I'd see the day," Luna said.

I nodded, "I know."

"I just hope it's not another repeat of freshman year."

Freshman year, Jason had his first ever date. This Junior, Sam, had asked him out to a movie. Long story short, he got stood up. Sam backed out because he didn't want his friends to know he was gay. The next day at school when Jason went to ask Sam about it, Sam pretended not to know Jason and called him a few derogatory terms. Jason was left humiliated, and I don't think he ever really got over the fear that it might happen again.

Unfortunately for Sam, he had decided to pull that stunt during the worst of Carson's anger issues era, and received quite a brutal facial reconstruction from Carson. Safe to say, the public apology he gave Jason the next day was the dependent for him not receiving another black eye from Carson. But that didn't fix the emotional damage Sam had caused, nor the fear that it would happen again.

Anyways, we never really talk about it. Jason doesn't like to.

I shook my head, "TK's a good guy. I just hope Jason sees that and gives him a chance."

"Me too."

"Alright," Jason said, coming out of the bathroom. "How do I look?"

I smiled, "Drop dead handsome."

"He won't be able to keep his hands off of you," Luna agreed.

The doorbell sounded from downstairs.

"I think that's him," Jason said. "Bye, you two, thank you." He gave us both a hug before hurriedly running to meet TK.

We sat on his bed in silence for a few minutes.

"Did he say where they were going?"

I shrugged, "I think The Tavern."

Luna nodded her head. We sat in silence for another minute or so.

"Wanna go spy?"

I smirked, "You bet."

* * *

"Will you shut up?" I groaned at Dylan. "I can hardly hear what they're saying."

"I'm sorry, but he's being way too handsy, and in a public place too. Has he no respect at all?" Dylan responded grumpily.

"Oh please," I said rolling my eyes.

"Shh, shh," Luna said, waving her hands in the air, motioning towards the couple.

We were currently sitting in a booth at The Tavern. A booth that just so happened to be 2 behind and 1 to the left of Jason and TK.

Suddenly, our view was blocked. A man in a white shirt with a red apron tied around his waist. We all looked up at him. He looked to be in his late-twenties and was growing quote impatient with us.

"Look, are you guys going to actually order anything?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'd like a large water," Zach said, politely.

"And I'll have another helping of those breadsticks," I added, smiling.

The man rolled his eyes and sighed, but trudged off toward the kitchen.

As soon as he was gone, our eyes went back onto the couple. They were sitting on the same side of the booth, and quite close together at that. They were talking, laughing about something.

"Oh my God, oh my God, I think TK is gonna kiss him!" Luna squealed.

She was right. They were leaning in towards each other. Were being the operative word.

The two had stopped, and Jason's head snapped around, and he quickly landed his eyes on us.

"Whoops," Luna said, feigning a small laugh.

Jason started to get up from his seat, as we all frantically grabbed a menu and attempted to hide our faces behind it.

The menu I was holding was snatched out of my fingers. I stared up at Jason, giving him an innocent smile and wave.

"Hey, J. I had no idea that you were here!"

"Out. All of you. Out, now," He said sternly.

"But, Jason!" Zach argued. "We just wanted to make sure everything went okay."

"I don't care. Leave all of you."

We all groaned as we got up from the booth, making our way past a fuming Jason.

"You're no fun," I said.

"Sorry, next time I go on a date, I'll make sure there's seating for an audience."

"Perfect!" Luna cheered. "I'll bring the popcorn!" He rolled his eyes.

"Goodnight, have fun," I smiled, kissing his cheek.

Ah, young love.