I got through my day without mishap until of course I get to the activities office where I find I am not only responsible for my usual duties but now have the lovely pleasure of stapling booklets for the school play.

This will only take me like... forever.

I should have known my parents wouldn't be adult enough not to use underhanded tactics to keep Brynn and me apart. Miss Grant looked rather apologetic when she came out to hand me another stack to fold before stapling.

"Sorry Finn, your mother said these all needed to be done today. I do have more students coming here at lunch but ..."

"I get it," I say trying unsuccessfully not to sound annoyed.

Ten minutes later my Mother shows up in the office, and smiles at me. "I've heard that you've been sneaking off during Homeroom to the yearbook office."

Direct confrontation, with the protection that things won't get out of hand because people are watching and this is her place of work. She knows I would not embarrass her. Or would I?

"The yearbook office was broken into. I've been concerned as some pages went missing. I am the editor in chief so I took it upon myself to split my responsibilities here AND there."

"Uh-huh. I'm aware of the situation but that is a recent incident," she says with the same disbelief Dad had about me wanting to have sex with Brynn in our kitchen, only this time she was correct, I have been sneaking away to see Brynn and it has been for awhile. I wasn't however going to admit that.

"Am I... still going to help crew with the sets after school?"

"I don't see why not. Unless there is a reason you would like to tell me?"

"A reason I would not participate in an extra curricular activity? No... can't say that I do."

"Well it's settled then. I have some paperwork to take care of after school so I'll take you home."

My face goes completely expressionless. "Sounds good."

"Good. See you in my office when you are done." My mom leaves to make announcements.

"Someone has gotten himself into trouble recently," Miss Grant says with a smile not even a smile more of a smirk. "Good for you," she tells me with a nudge of her elbow, just don't take it too far, but I'm happy to see you thinking for yourself for a change.

This completely shocked me. So, I wasn't the only person who saw it. Knew it was happening. I wanted to thank her but she had already moved on. I continued to staple away missing Brynn with each slam of the stapler. I know she may surmise what happened but I wish there was a way to get word to her.

"Under house arrest I see."

I couldn't believe it! She's here! "Yes, seems I have to do community service but I am allowed to join you for crew but will not be needing a ride home as Mom has got it covered."

"House arrest and then lock down. Got it."

"So, what brings you to the penitentiary?" I joke although it didn't feel that funny.

She holds up the pages for the yearbook. "I offered to give them to you once the girls were done. When you didn't show up at the office I figured you couldn't get away from here."

She sits down across from me and begins to fold booklets. I could stare at her all day. Just being around her makes me feel good again. I can't get enough.

"Thanks," I tell her.

"It was really no problem. I know you want to hold onto the pages from now on. They also got me the missing pages so I should have them completed for you in the next day or so."

"That wasn't what I was thanking you for but thanks for that too."

"What were you thanking me for?" Brynn asks her look curious.

"For knowing how much I'd want to see you. For making the time, for finding a way, even though I've gotten us into this mess. You're pretty awesome you know that?"

She flushes just a little and I desperately wish we were not on school grounds that I could kiss those cheeks, those lips... I sigh and the color to her cheeks grows deeper.

I laugh. "So, how are things going in your world?" I was curious about if she got any new letters or threats.

"Nothing of note," she says but she doesn't look at me when she says it. She just keeps folding papers.

"No, more locker letters," I press.

Her hand pauses a second. "Nope," she says but the lightness she added to her voice sounds forced.

"You would tell me if there were, right?" I hated that I had to ask. I hated thinking she doesn't trust me. It hurt.

"Mmm-hmm," was her non-committal response.

I didn't like this, not one bit. I'll have to ask the guys at lunch if they've noticed anything. I reached out and took her hand, "You know you can trust me, don't you?"

She looked at me and smiled. "I do trust you."

I smiled back. "Good."

Announcements were made and soon we had to part ways. "See you at crew!" she said, giving me a wave before heading down the stairs to the cafeteria and art room.

I couldn't stop smiling and when I turned around I nearly walked right into Jessica.

"Jesus! Jess. What the hell?!" Could she get any closer?

She tilts her head and looks down the steps. "So, how are things going with the freak?"

"Don't call her that!"

"Why ever not. Could you have picked a bigger loser to date? Seriously Finn, I just don't get what you see in her."

"It's simple Jessica. She's everything you're not. She's generous, artistic, kind, talented, beautiful inside and out and she's even a better kisser. So..."

I try to push past her but she follows. "Stop ignoring me, Finn. I will not be pushed aside like I don't matter. I love you. She's just using you for your popularity."

I stop on the landing. "You can't seriously think you're going to play this angle and get anywhere with me, do you? Because if you do, I'll have to add more intelligent to the list I just mentioned."

"Fine, you'll see. I've seen her, Finn. Always talking to that other freak. That Asian boy. Them hanging out in dark corners of the school. She's playing you. She's going to break your heart. And when she does... don't say I didn't warn you."

I frowned as I watched Jessica walk away. Asian guy? Adam? No. Brynn wouldn't be hanging out with another guy behind my back. We talked about this. Exclusive rights and all... No, Jessica is just trying to play with my head and I'm not going to let it work.

Still, it ate at me all throughout the day. At lunch, I was in a mood.

"What's your deal?" Tyler asked as I crushed my water bottle after finishing it.

"Nothing," I say a little too forcefully even to my own ears.

"Is this about Brynn again?" Tyler says rolling his eyes. "Is this girl really worth all this drama?"

"It's not Brynn. It's Jessica. She said something about Brynn and Adam and it's been eating at me ever since. I swore I would never let that girl get to me again and here I am obsessing over something she said."

"What did she say?"

"That Brynn has been meeting secretly with Adam behind my back, more or less."

"Well, I haven't seen Adam around her," Tyler said looking at the rest of the guys at the table.

"Who's Adam?" Koby asked and I noticed I got the rest of the team's attention.

"Some Asian guy Brynn knows. He's in her art class and runs stage crew."

"I don't know, Finn. Maybe you should listen to Jessica?" Mike said, pushing the food around on his plate.

I stare at him and when nothing more came I said, "Care to explain?"

"I just don't think Jessica is all bad. She didn't have to warn you, you know. She could have just sat on the information and let you get burnt."

I didn't like that what he said made sense. Revenge on me WAS Jessica's M.O.

"No, she just wants to get into my head. Make me doubt, Brynn but it's not going to work," I say forcefully, can't believe Mike is taking Jessica's side.

"Wait did you say some Asian guy?" Terrance asks.

I glare at him. "Yeah, why?"

"Well, I did see her talking to an Asian guy by her locker between glasses. I happened to have a hall pass to use the bathroom and they were alone."

"That still doesn't prove Jessica is right. Brynn knows Adam. They have classes together. It doesn't mean anything is going on."

"Who you trying to convince us or yourself?" Mike asks moodily.

I was about to give a snappy comeback but the bell rang and Mike was the first to bail.

"Don't let it get to you. If Jessica wants to mess with you, getting in your head would be just the way to do it. Don't think on it too much. I'm sure it's nothing." Tyler said.

"Yeah, you're right," I say but that stupid voice in my head just wouldn't shut up.

I may just have to address this directly and ask Brynn, but then again by doing so aren't I saying I don't trust her. Damn, why does this crap have to be so complicated?

I stew on this all day and decide I'm not going to bring it up. I'm just going to let it go. Brynn is allowed her friends and I have mine, of course, none of my friends are girls ... but I digress. The school day is done and now it's time for crew and I had a surprise I was dying to give to Brynn all day.

I walk down the aisle and the curtains are open and there seems to be an impromptu meeting happening. As I am not an official part of crew I don't think anything of not being told about it, until I hear my name being said rather loudly in a complaint.

"They took them all, Brynn and the only reason is because of Finn. Nobody has messed with crew in the 4 years you've been a part of it but you had to bring your boyfriend here and Bam! Our stuff magically disappears!"

"This has nothing to do with me dating, Finn. I'm sure there is a logical explanation," Brynn says trying it seems to keep her voice at a normal volume. I pick up my steps to find out what this is all about when I hear, Adam say, "Really like those letters you keep getting, threatening you, that you've found your locker. When are you going to wise up, Brynn? Does something serious have to happen before you wake up?"

"Woah! Woah! Woah! Simmer down! What's this about?" I ask finally joining the group.

Brynn was glaring at Adam like she wanted to tear him apart and it did not escape my attention that Adam said: "letters" that was plural with an "s" at the end. I only knew about one letter and Brynn said she hadn't gotten anymore and why does Adam know about them?

As no one spoke up, Shawna leans over and says, "All of our paintbrushes have disappeared and we can't get the work done without them."

"Oh is that all," I smile and Adam immediately turns his anger on me.

"This is no joke, Popular."

He says popular like it's a thing, a name not an adjective. "I didn't think it was. The brushes aren't stolen or taken or whatever you just said. You were right about one thing though, it was because of me they disappeared."

He points at me with this emphatic, "See!!" gesture. Like I just admitted to my own guilt somehow.

Brynn is looking at me with pleading brown eyes to fix this. I unzip my school backpack and pull the brushes out. "You see I have them right here."

Brynn smiles and Adam glares snatching the lot out of my hand. "I don't know how they do things in Basketball but around here we do not take what belongs to the school home with us. We respect school property."

"I just took them home to fix them," I defended.

"Fix them! You've ruined them!" He said looking over the brushes, trying to bend the bristles that just won't bend.

"If you'll let me explain...."

"Great we are already behind schedule. The play opens in a few days and you just destroyed all our brushes."

"If you'd just listen..."

"Listen, Ha! To you? I don't think so! Get off my stage! I want you out of here, NOW!"

"Oh for cryin' out loud," I say snatching one of the brushes back from his hand. I take it over one of the utility sinks we use to wash up and run the brush for a few seconds under hot water. I return with the brush in my hand.

"See!" I say holding it out in front of his face.

"Woah!" Shawna takes it out of my hand and examines the brush. "It's...it's like... brand new!" She exclaims with wide-eyed wonder. "I can't believe it!"

Not only were the brushes cleaned but they were no longer crazy looking with bristles pointing out in every direction. The rest of crew claimed a brush out of Adam's hand and did the same running it under the hot water. They were all practically giggling with glee.

"Whatever you do, don't screw this up!" Shawna says nudging Brynn causing her to stumble into me and I caught her in my arms.

She looks up at me with those big brown eyes of hers and smiles. "How did you do it?"

"A little trick, my art teacher taught me as a kid. A little linseed oil gets the paint out of the brush and then some white glue on the bristles. You slick it into the bristles like hair gel and wah-lah it's back into shape again. I was pretty brutal on my brushes so she'd make me stay after class and help fix them. I wanted to surprise you. Sorry," I look over Brynn's head to Adam, "I really didn't mean to cause a problem."

"Whatever!" Adam says and storms away.

"Why does he do that?" I ask Brynn who giggles and shakes her head. "Ignore him. Thank you! You've made everybody really happy."

"Everybody but Adam," I corrected.

Brynn shrugs like it doesn't matter.

"I'm never going to get on his good side am I?"

"Probably not but why are you even trying?" Brynn says, admiring her own brush which I handed to her after I washed it off.

"Well, he's your friend, right? So, I'd at least like to try and get along."

"I told you before we aren't really friends. We ...know one another... but I wouldn't exactly call us besties or anything like that."

"Then why were you hanging out with him by your locker between class today?"

Brynn's smile disappeared and her brows furrowed. I realized my mistake the moment the words left my mouth. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

"You spying on me, Finn Nash?" Brynn asked. She looked... angry.

Never being on this side of Brynn I wasn't sure exactly where to begin. "No. One of the guys from the team just happened to mention..."

"What?" She cuts me off, "What did he mention?"

"That he saw you, with Adam by your locker between classes," I conclude lamely, wishing I could just end this conversation. I just took myself from hero to zero in like point two seconds.

"Do you not trust me, Finn? Do you think I'm doing things behind your back?"

Straight and direct approach...okay. "No, but you are keeping things from me, Brynn. Even you have to admit that."

"I have to admit nothing of the sort."

"I heard Adam say letters, let- ters with an s, Brynn. You told me you hadn't gotten any more."

"And I haven't. I didn't lie to you, Finn. I had gotten letters before the one I had shown you but we weren't even a couple then so I didn't bring them up."

"You've been threatened before?"

"Yes, but don't change the subject..."

"I'm not, I just don't like the idea of someone threatening you."

Brynn sighed. "It's no big deal. What is a big deal is that you don't trust me, and think I'm a liar."

Now it was my turn to sigh. "I'm sorry, Brynn. You're right. I'm being stupid. Next time before I go accusing I'll ask you about it and not jump to my own conclusions."

Brynn grins at me and I feel my heart do a leap hoping she's no longer mad at me. "I knew one day I'd get you to agree."

Realizing what I just said, I grinned slyly. "You're right. I admit it. I'm stupid."

"Yeah, but lucky for you you're still cute," she says and leans up to kiss my cheek.

I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her close. "Does this mean I'm forgiven?"

"Yeah, but if we don't get to work, we may both get kicked off crew."

I give her a bow. "Then lead the way, mi' Lady."

She giggles. "Yeah, stupid."