No new notes awaited him Monday morning. Nor after lunch period, but North remained hopeful. Enough so that after the last bell rang he immediately made his way to the student parking lot. Weaving through halls filled with other students desperate to get home, North followed the stream of people down and into the back parking lot. It took him a while to locate the shining gold car which evaded him nights before, parked crookedly under a wide branched oak tree, windshield flooded with brown leaves. Brushing off the bench beside the tree, North hugged his knees and waited for Charlie to show up.

When nearly an hour went by and Charlie still hadn't strolled up to his car, North grew worried. He checked his watch then glanced around the near empty lot until his eyes clapped on a familiar truck.

"Why the hell is Terry still here?" He mused, getting to his feet. Striding over the truck North cupped a hand over his eyes and glared inside, gaze lingering on Terry's backpack idling on the back seat. If Terry was still on campus that only meant one thing. "Waterpolo practice."

He cast his mind back to Friday night, how Terry had called Charlie Gables, a name he said was better than the one his old team gave him. Stepping away from the glass North turned away from the car and started across the parking lot. Cutting through the plush grass covering the school grounds, he all but sprinted towards the natatorium which sat at the back of the school. The building's doors clattered shut behind him, much louder than he expected. Mildly embarrassed by the dramatics, North was somewhat grateful an empty pool greeted him as his face glowed red.

Faint voices echoed throughout the room, echoing against the high ceiling and open space, all coming from the changing rooms around the corner. North strained to make out Terry's laughter, walking alongside the pool and taking a seat on one of the few benches not drenched in water. Dropping his elbows onto his knees, North let out a slow breath that broke off into a soft chuckle. It was finally happening. He was going to talk to Duck, to Charlie, in person for the first time, and he was going to apologize for the giant mess of things he'd made. 

When a door snapping shut broke through his thoughts, North snapped his gaze up just in time to see Terry and a few other guys he didn't know making their way from the changing rooms. Catching sight of his seated friend, Terry leisurely strolled over to North, duffel bag noisy slapping his thigh with each step as it dangled on the edge of his shoulder.

"North, what're you doing here? Need a ride home or something?" He questioned, pushing back damp black hair as he peered curiously at his friend. Waving the others off, Terry dropped down beside him, unshouldering his bag before hunching over to tie his frayed laces.

Darting his gaze past Terry's crouched form, North bit back a smile as Charlie exited the changing room, head down and ears covered by bulky headphones.

"No, I'm good," He said, turning to face Terry when the other boy straightened. "Was hoping to talk to Charlie for a minute."

"Going straight to the team leader, huh? Finally decided to join a sport North?" Terry smirked, punching his friend's shoulder lightly. "Might be a little late for that, though I heard the lawn bowling club still has a free spot on their team."

"Hilarious," North said, startling Terry when he suddenly jumped to his feet in alarm. He hadn't even heard the doors shut behind Charlie when he left. "Shit. I gotta go."

"Yeah, sure, leave after nearly giving me a heart attack," Terry grumbled, rubbing his chest as he reclaimed his duffel. When North didn't bother replying, busy walking as fast as he safely could on slick tiles, Terry cupped his mouth to shout after him. "You sure you don't need a ride home?"

No response followed as the second the last word left Terry's mouth, the glass doors had shuddered closed behind his friend.