For a split second, Andie was ready to shove the impertinent stranger away, but then, their lips met, and she stopped struggling. She knew those lips. She knew that scent. She kissed him back, her hand coming up to touch his cheek. A part of her knew she probably shouldn't, but she didn't care. She pulled him closer, only now realizing how much she'd missed it. They pulled apart, looking at each other, though Andie could only see the eyes through the mask. Before she could say anything, however, he moved away from her and headed off.

"Bane, wait!" she tried to say.

But he was already gone. Andie tried to chase after him, ignoring the sounds of protest as she moved through the crowd, and ended up outside, the chilly wind whipping her face. She looked around, but there was no sign of Bane. She sighed and went back inside, where she ran into Jessica by the buffet table.

"What in the world was that?" Jessica asked. "You and that guy in blue?"

"Huh? Oh..." she said. "I don't really know..."

"Well, do you at least know who it was?" Jessica insisted.

"Bane, of course!" Andie exclaimed, sounding offended. "Do you really think I'd let anyone else kiss me like that? Or kiss them back? Gee, thanks, glad to know you think so highly of me."

"Well... with all the drama you've had thrown at you lately... I thought..."

Andie softened.

"That's getting a bit extreme, isn't it?" she chuckled.

"I suppose," Jessica agreed with a laugh, relaxing. "But seriously, I wouldn't go near Bane."

"Jess, don't start that again... we've been through all kinds of things together, we can't just shut him out..."

"You have, you said you haven't spoken to him in days!"

"I'm the one who's dating him, I think my position is a little different from yours," Andie pointed out.

"... Yeah... you're right..."

"Jess... it's already complicated enough as it is... please don't make this a reason for us to fight... okay?"

"Okay." Jessica said. "Uh, I have to go find Ben, are you okay?"

Jessica had come with Ben Willows, whom she had been dating for several weeks now, after spending three times longer pretending to hate him.

"Sure. I'll be fine. I think I'll head home soon, anyway..." Andie said.

"Oh..." Jessica said, looking disappointed. "Really?"

"Jess, I'm fine. I really appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but this isn't the way. You guys go have fun, don't mind me."

They looked at each other.

"Are you sure? It'll feel weird, having fun without you..."

"I won't die over one evening at home," Andie said, smiling more widely than was really necessary. "Just forget about me, and enjoy your night."

She leaned forwards and kissed Jessica's cheek.

"I'll see you at school," she said.

And she hurried off before Jessica could try and persuade her to stay.

Andie didn't quite know whether she preferred being all alone in her room or outside the gymnasium, so she decided to take a few minutes to herself outside in the fresh air. She closed her eyes to let it blow on her face.

"If I approach, should I expect fireballs and your eternal wrath?"

Andie glanced around. Bane was standing behind her, his mask no longer covering his face, wearing only the white shirt she had glimpsed under his suit.

"You're clear," she said, a small smile touching her lips.

He smiled back and sat down beside her.

"You look amazing," he said.

"Thanks. You look great too. Blue's a good color for you."

He smiled. They sat in silence a minute, then Andie, unable to keep herself from asking, broke it:

"What was that about, Bane? The dance... the kiss...?"

Bane bit his lip.

"I hope you're not too mad at me about that... I was trying... a..."

"A different approach, because talking didn't work?" she asked.

"... Yeah."

"How did you know it was me?"

He flushed.

"Uh... I convinced Balon to ask Adena what you'd be wearing..." he said. "Not that I needed much to know it was you."

It was Andie's turn to flush.

"I'm not mad." she said quietly. "I miss you too."

She looked at him.

"But you do realize this isn't going to be enough, don't you?"

Bane tried to hide the slight sagging of his shoulders, but she saw it.

"Look... I can't just erase how I feel about you... But I do need some time to... sort myself out."

"I know. I got what I wanted, anyway."

Andie frowned a little. Then, she understood.

"Oh. You mean me kissing you back. You know, you're lucky I recognized you, or you would be sorry you'd done that right now."

Bane smiled.

"I'm sure I would. But you wouldn't have let me kiss you, or kissed me back if a part of you didn't want it."

"No, definitely not," Andie conceded. "But it's not that simple."

"I understand that. And I never apologized for putting you in that position. I should've told you..."

"If it's any consolation," Andie said, "I would probably have done the same. And I never thanked you for saving Hannah... I know it had to have been hard to throw your secret away like that..."

"I couldn't have done anything else." he said. "I know how much she means to you, and how much her death would have affected you. Besides, I care about her, too."

Andie nodded. She hadn't even questioned that. The wind picked up at that moment, and she shivered slightly.

"I had better go... it's getting late," she said.

They both stood up.

"... Thanks for not punching me in front of the whole school..." he said.

"... You're welcome." she said, smiling slightly.

She hesitated, then kissed him lightly on the corner of the lips and hurried off.

Andie went straight to bed when she got home, claiming to have a headache to prevent her parents and sister interrogating her. She changed and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. She only woke when an annoying buzzing sound pulled her from her slumber. Looking up sleepily, she realized it was her phone. A glance at the clock told her it was nine thirty. Thinking it was something important, she took the phone to see who it was.

"... Eric?" she muttered, frowning.

She put the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Andes, I'm not waking you am I?"

"Uh.. no, it's fine," she lied.

She had slept almost ten hours, after all.

I guess I needed it more than I though... she told herself.

"Oh, good. Are you doing anything today?"

"Uh...no... why?"

"I was thinking we could spend the day procrastinating together." he said, a smile in his voice.

Andie didn't have any plans, but was a little nervous at the thought of being alone with Eric after their last few encounters.

"Just as friends, I promise," he said, guessing her thoughts. "I was even thinking Hannah could come along. I want to make it up to you."

Andie glanced outside. It was a nice day for February... And it did sound better than sitting in her room all day...

"Okay, then," she said.

"Awesome. I'll pick you up in an hour?"

"Sounds good," Andie answered. "See you then."

"Bye."

She hung up, quickly dressed and went downstairs, where Hannah was already eating her breakfast cereal. Lauren was sipping her coffee while Hank was making pancakes.

"Morning," Andie said.

"Morning, honey."

"Hey, Andie," Hannah smiled at her over her bowl.

Andie ruffled her hair as she sat down.

"Eric thought we could hang out together today, d'you want to come?" she asked.

Hannah's smile faded.

"Uh... I was going to play with Nina..." she said.

"Oh, I'm sure Eric won't mind if we bring her with us," Andie answered.

"I'll go call them," Hank offered, setting the platter of pancakes on the table before disappearing into the living room.

Hannah gulped the milk from her bowl and smiled in contentment. Andie smiled too. It seemed like Hannah's recent ordeal didn't have as much of an impact as she herself had experienced.

"Hannah, why don't you get dressed, I need to talk to your sister."

Hannah nodded, glancing from one to the other.

Andie looked at her mother who said:

"... We need to discuss something."