Cree ran down the hallway and out of sight as fast as she could. She did not want to have to explain herself or the note Reese had left her to either of her friends, even though there really wasn't anything to tell. Jenny would be cool and not press too much, but Millie would be relentless and not let up until she knew every juicy detail.

She couldn't go out with Reese again. Last night was their third try. Three strikes and you're out, Cree thought. What was the point? It would just end up the same as all the other times. Something always happened to sabotage their dates.

Cree was beginning to think that as a couple, they were doomed. She would rather keep him as a friend then try for a relationship again. She had managed to make it to the kitchen before her two friends caught up with her.

"Hey, what gives?" Millie said.

"Nothing," Cree said. "I'm just hungry."

"Yeah, I'll bet," Millie said and then whispered in her ear, "But I don't think it's breakfast you're hungry for."

"Don't be ridiculous," Cree fumed, slapping Millie's arm on her way to the refrigerator where she hunted for something to eat.

"Butter, eggs, milk, some red stuff, orange juice, purple drink, ahh! Sunny D! I mean, bacon." She went over to the cupboard to get a bowl and a plate; then hunted frantically for a frying pan and spatula.

While Cree prepared a breakfast of French toast and bacon; Millie repeatedly tried to get her attention by yelling at top of her lungs but Cree just hummed to herself some R.E.M song she had heard on the radio the other day.

Meanwhile, Jenny laughed hysterically from atop her granite counter top perch as she watched Millie shouting to the top of her lungs, while Cree just hummed away to her imaginary headphones like she didn't exist.

Even after breakfast was cooked and she prepared to sit down and eat, Millie was still hounding Cree, who in turn was still ignoring her. Jenny just kept laughing.

"Millie," Jenny said, still laughing hysterically. "Give it up. Cree's not going to tell you anything."

"Fine," Millie said, sitting down and crossing her arms over one another. "But just you wait, Cree Bowman. I'll find out all about it soon enough. I always do."

"Okay, Millie, whatever," was Cree's only response. Soon, voices could be heard outside the door.

Cree looked up to see some of the boys coming in from their early morning basketball game. Denny was carrying the dusty ball under his arm. Millie looked appalled. She ran up next
to him, blocking his way.

"Just where do you think you're going?" she demanded.

"What?" Denny snapped back. "Can't a guy get some breakfast?"

"Sure, after you put that dirty thing away and wash you hands. Do you know how many germs are on that thing?"

"Save it for science class," Denny fired back.

He laid the ball in the corner of the kitchen between the utility closet and the supply cupboard; then went to the sink to wash his hands. Millie eyed him the whole time.

When he was finished, he looked back at her and said, "Happy now?" Millie didn't say anything but only flashed him a look of disgust.

"Huh, stupid boy," she fused, plopping back down in her chair.

"Millie," Jenny said. "Sometimes I think you need therapy."

"Not me," Millie said. "That thing is so unsanitary."

"Do you mean the ball or Denny?" Cree said, giggling.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Millie fired, stealing a piece of her bacon.

"You," Cree said, pointing to a plate on the table overflowing with a twelve-slice stack of French toast and a mountain of bacon. "And leave my bacon alone! I made plenty."

"I know, but the bacon off your plate tastes better," Millie said, stealing another bite.

"Sure does," said a voice from behind Cree. She didn't need to look back to see who it was, but when she did, her heart stopped. Black hair shoved back into a ponytail, a pair of black gym shorts, and a white t-shirt. Cree could tell he was still a little sweaty.

He must have been playing basketball with the rest of the boys. She could see his muscles through his shirt, and it only made her sweat worse than him.

God, why does he have to come in here looking so good, she thought. She tried desperately to hide her feelings, but she knew he could see right through her. Always.

"Reese, ummm... how's it going?" Her hands were shaking a bit under the table.

"I could ask you," he said, leaning his arm on her chair. "After last night..."

"I don't wanna talk about last night," she said, refusing to look at him.

"Cree, come on," he said, walking to the other side of her chair so he could look into her eyes, but she just kept turning away from him. "I just..."

"Don't say it," Cree said as she rose from her seat. He caught her by the arm as she got up.

"Please, Reese, just leave me alone." She snatched her arm back and ran out of the kitchen almost knocking Jordon down.

Millie perked up when she saw him. "Hi, Jordon," she said, walking over to him.

"Hi, Millie," he replied, moving right past her. There was a look of disappointment on her face as she went to sit back down at the table.

"Aww," Denny whispered sarcastically into Millie's ear. "Little Firecracker got burned." She shot up and slapped Denny on the arm. The way in which Denny had said Millie's nickname made her want to set him on fire.

Jenny, who was sitting next to Millie, got up and walked over to Reese. He looked so mournful. Cree had run away from him yet again.

"Sorry about that," Jenny said to Reese. "She's just..."

"I know," Reese said. "Upset. God, why'd that jerk have to ruin everything?"

"He didn't," Jenny said, giving him a bit of encouragement and flashing a smile of approval. "Just go talk to her."

Reese walked swiftly out of the kitchen to go find Cree. He walked down the long hallway and into the day room. He knew she would be there.

At this time of day, all the kids would be either outside playing or in the kitchen having breakfast. Cree preferred her solitude most of the time, but Reese wasn't about to allow that right now. He felt the need to talk to her and make her understand, not just for himself but for her, too.

He didn't exactly walk into the room quietly. Cree knew he was there, but still she didn't look up. She just sat there in the middle of the couch, looking down at the floor with her arms folded around her. He came over to her and sat down next to her.

"Cree, can we talk?" Reese asked, putting his hand on her shoulder. She jerked away, scooting down to the other end.

"There's nothing to talk about, Reese," she said, staring out the window. "We're just doomed, I guess."

"No, we're not," he said, trying to take her hand, but again she pushed him away. "We've just had some bad luck."

"Bad luck?" she said, rising from her seat. "Don't you remember the first time we tried to go out? Someone blew up the car. Thank God, no one was hurt. That should have been our first clue. Then the second time your psycho father shows up and tries to kidnap you. Now this. Don't you see that someone is trying to tell us something?"

"No, I don't," he said, getting up from the couch. "That's just an excuse. Why are you so afraid? Is it me?" She looked shocked.

"No, it's just...I wish things could be... normal." She sat down in one of the lazy-boy chairs by the TV.

"Yeah, me, too," he said, standing in front of her, "but things aren't normal. So what? That doesn't mean..."

"Yes, it does," Cree said, rising to her feet. She turned around so her back was to him. She didn't want to look at him. If she did, she would never be able to say what she needed to.

She continued, her voice now almost a whisper. "Can't you see? I'm not the right girl for you. I'm not..."

"What?" he said, standing in front of her. He turned her around and put his hand on her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.

"Tell me something, Cree. What do you feel right now?" She tried to turn away, but he wouldn't let her.

"Please, tell me." She broke away from his grasp and walked to the other side of the room. He followed her and put a hand on her shoulder. As she shuttered and turned around, she looked into his face.

"Why should I tell you when you already know? And I shouldn't..."

"Shouldn't what? Love me?" She looked at him, both surprised and scared that he had said that.

"Cree, I know you do. I feel it."

"Well it has to stop, Reese. Don't you see? I'm not good for you." A tear came to her eye. "It doesn't matter how I feel. You could never love me. How could you, after everything I've done?"
"How could I not?" Reese said, putting his hand on her arm and gently caressing her skin. She pulled away once more.

Cree didn't want him touching her and making her feel all the things she didn't want to. He could see her going inside of herself again, to that place where she would hide when the world became too real.

"When are you going to stop blaming herself for what happened in those tunnels. That wasn't your fault."

"I killed that kid," she said. She walked back over to the couch and sat down, burying her head in the armrest. Reese sat down next to her.

"Cree, you have to stop blaming yourself," he said in a attempt to comfort her. "He fell, simple as that. You didn't kill him."

"Yeah, he fell, because he was trying to get away from me," she said as the tears welled up in her eyes. She turned back towards him. "I scared him."

"It was an accident, that's all. It doesn't have anything to do with us." He took her hand. This time she didn't protest.

"Don't ever say you don't deserve me. I'm the one who doesn't deserve you."

"That's not true, and you know it," she said. She was determined to blame herself but he wasn't going to let her this time.

"I did a lot of bad things Reese, before I came here, and I don't think I'll ever be able to make up for it."

"You don't have to make up for anything," he said, cupping his hands on either side of her face. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her gently. He stepped back a little, looking at the expression on her face. She looked breathless and couldn't speak, so he spoke.

"I don't want anyone else. I want you, just the way you are." She put her arms around him and hugged him tight. He returned the gesture and put his arms tight around her waist. She broke off their embrace and looked deeply into his eyes.

"Are you sure?" Her voice was almost a whisper.

"Never been more sure of anything in my life," he said and smiled at her.

It made her smile, too. She looked so beautiful when she smiled, but she didn't do it often enough. She wiped the tears out her eyes and began to relax a little.

"Now, I'm going to ask you one more time." He gently took her hand in his and kissed it. "Would you give me the pleasure of your company this Friday night?"

She giggled at his gesture of asking so formally. "Alright," she said, still giggling.

"Really?" he said, not quite believing her.

"Yes, yes, okay," she said, laughing a little. "But do me a favor," she then added.

"What's that?" he asked, looking confused.

"Stop sneaking into my room at night," she said, slapping his arm.

"Oh, you found the rose and the card," he said, trying to look a little embarrassed. Cree saw right through it. He wasn't one bit sorry he'd done it, and actually, he looked kind of proud.

"No," she said with a hint of annoyance on her face. "Jenny and Millie found it, and you know how they are, especially Millie." Reese laughed, trying to picture the scenario. His laugh became hardy, until he could no longer control himself.

"It's not funny," she said, slapping him in the arm. He stopped long enough to see that her playful mood had changed a bit. "Now, if you can just get Jordon to suck it up and ask Millie out, maybe she'll leave me alone."

"I can't promise anything, but I'll try," he said, smiling at her.

"Alright," s he said. "I guess I can't expect miracles." She was silent for a moment, until he noticed amischievous look on her face.

"So, where you taking me?" she asked.

"That's my secret," he said, tapping his finger on her nose.

"Reese," she said, hitting him with one of the couch pillow. "Tell me."

"Oh, no," he said, tackling her onto the floor. "That's a surprise." She was now lying on the floor with Reese on top of her. She reached up to strike him, but he easily blocked her hand and pinned both of her arms to the floor. "Now, you're my prisoner."

"Oh, yeah, that strength of your ain't nothing compared to what I can do to you."

"You would use your power on me and dissolve me into vapors?" he asked, lowering his face to hers.

"Don't have to," she said, lifting her head up a little until her lips touched his. He slowly let go of her arms, and she wrapped them around him. She rolled over until she was on top of him, still kissing him. Neither of them was aware that they were not alone.

"Woah," said Millie, walking into the room. "Look who made up."

Reese and Cree quickly broke apart and stood on their feet, both of them blushing from embarrassment. Cree's hair had partially fallen out of her ponytail and her clothes were a little out of place.

Jenny walked into the room behind Millie and simply said, "Busted."

Denny came in and glided over to Reese with a sly grin. "Hey, were you guys planning on doing it in front of us, or do you want a room? There's plenty upstairs."

"Very funny, Denny," Cree fired at him but the embarrassment on her face shone through as she quickly made it to the staircase. Reese followed and stopped her after she had made it up a few steps.

"Hey, Cree," he called after her. She turned back. "Lunch?"

Cree nodded and continued her ascent up the stairs. She made it to her room where she quickly grabbed her brush and fixed her hair. Then she looked over at her desk and grabbed her books for her first class. Chemistry.

Oh, god, Cree thought. Why chemistry? She wouldn't be able to concentrate. She figured she had enough experience with chemistry today, but she couldn't just ditch.

Miss Faigon, who was also Reese's mom and her mentor, would surely notice, and she didn't want to do anything to make her angry.