When I came to, I was back in Chris's apartment, sprawled out on his couch. Green orbs entered my vision as I cracked my eyes open. A bit surprised, I jerked back.

"Morning Holly!" Jeremy chirped. "You've been out for awhile."

"Where's Chris?" I looked around the blond who began pouting and saw Chris in the recliner, looking tired. "What time is it?" I asked him.

"You don't care about me anymore huh," Jeremy sighed as Chris said, "A little after midnight."

I opted to ignore Jeremy. "Where's Isaac?"

Chris's lips curved down the slightest bit. "I brought him home."

"Oh." Then everything that was said earlier came rushing back to me. My eyes widened and my pulse jumped. "The gang— it's re-forming? But... Shawn is—"

"We're not getting involved," Chris said firmly.

"That's what you said last time!"

He shook his head. "It's different this time. Whoever this new guy is— we don't have any past relations. There was something between Shawn and myself and that's why I was dragged back in. But this time there isn't."

His words did little to ease my worry. Last time he didn't want to get involved either and he still had been dragged back into it. And Isaac had said that if the gang really did reform they'd be going after the one on top— which was still Chris. "He said you're still on top," I reminded Chris, eyes wide. "How are you still on top? Because you're the one who sent Shawn to jail? Is this never going to end?"

"No, Holly, it's over," Chris responded calmly.

"Apparently it's not," I said, trying to keep my voice even. This wasn't fair. We had been through enough already. Shawn was in jail. It should've been the end of it! I could feel my eyes starting to burn and I quickly looked at the floor.

"Holly," Chris started softly. "Look at me." He waited until I reluctantly turned my gaze to him before speaking. "We won't be involved anymore. I won't let that happen again."

I could feel my eyes start to water. "But Isaac said—"

Chris shook his head. "Forget about what Isaac said. Those are only rumors. We're done. I'm done. No more fighting, I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," I responded quietly.

His mouth formed a smooth line. "Why don't you believe me?"

"Because when has our life ever been easy?"

A pained expression crossed his face and I immediately felt guilty. After a second he stood up from the recliner and came to sit next to me on the couch. He threw an arm over my shoulder and pulled me close to him. I put my head on his chest and closed my eyes. "I'm sorry," I apologized. He shouldn't have had to show that expression anymore.

"You didn't say anything wrong," he assured me. "And you're right. It hasn't been easy for us. That's why I don't want to get involved with the gang again. To protect you, to protect our friends, and to protect our future."

"You forgot to protect yourself," I mumbled into his chest.

He pulled away a little so that I had to look up at him. "What? You're not going to be my knight in shining armor anymore?"

"Chris," I said, frowning at his attempt to change the subject. "I know that you don't want to get involved again, but you didn't think twice about helping Isaac yesterday."

"That was a one time thing—"

"So you're saying if you happened to see him getting the crap beat out of him you wouldn't do anything?"

Chris frowned at me. "That's a double-edged question, Holly. What do you want me to say? No? Yes?"

"I already know the answer," I told him, chewing on my bottom lip. "I know you would help him out. That's why I don't want you to make any promises. We don't know what's going to happen—"

"Exactly, Holly. We don't know. So stop being so worried," Chris interjected, flicking me in the forehead. "Besides, you know how strong I am."

I gave him a flat look, which caused him to chuckle. Deciding to let the conversation drop I leaned back into him. "Maybe everyone will be too scared of you to try anything."

"I bet they'd be scared of you, too," Jeremy spoke up, startling me.

I turned my head to look at him accusingly. "You scared me! I forgot you were here!"

He puffed out his cheeks defiantly. "Well, if you and Chris didn't go off into your own little world when you're together, maybe that wouldn't happen."

"Why do you think they'd be scared of Holly?" Chris asked, cocking his head to the side. "She's really not that intimidating."

"Hey!"

"But she did help you take down Shawn," Jeremy told him. "That's pretty impressive seeing as how there was negative five girls in the old gang."

I raised an eyebrow. "Negative five girls? There were no girls in the gang? Why's that?"

"It's not like we turned anyone down," Chris told me, stretching out his legs. "No girls wanted to join. Simple as that."

"Yeah, that's not too surprisingly," I said, grimacing. "I'm surprised it had as many members as it did. Gangs are kind of... I don't know.  Drug-related usually. Unless..."

Chris pursed his lips at me. "Do I look like some kind of drug dealer?"

"It would explain how you have to much money."

"I inherited it from my parents."

"Or did you sell heroin..."

"Holly, don't make me tickle you."

My eyes widened and I immediately shook my head, holding my hands up defensively. "I'm just kidding! Just kidding!"

Jeremy watched the exchange with an amused expression. "If only Casey was that easy to control..."

Chris simpered for a moment. "Makes things easier."

"You're a jerk," I muttered.

"I know," he replied with a grin.

"Speaking of Casey," I started, turning back to Jeremy, a frown slipping onto my face. "How's it going?"

Jeremy's face fell a little and he shrugged. "Okay."

"That doesn't look like an 'okay' face, Jeremy."

He shook his head, plastering a stupid grin on his face. "It's probably nothing."

I pursed my lips at him. "Don't give me that fake smile."

"It's not—"

"What's going on, Jeremy?" Chris cut in, earning the blonde's attention. "It's alright to talk to us. You've had our back, so we'll have yours."

Jeremy's eyes lit up. "Chris! I knew it! You do care!"

Chris rolled his eyes. "You have point-five seconds before I don't care anymore."

"How cruel."

"Did you guys have a fight?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. Casey hadn't mentioned any fights with him. Or any problems at all. Usually I'd hear all about it if she'd gotten into a spat with anyone. But she always had nothing but praise for him.

Jeremy shook his head. "No, she hasn't done anything. It's just... I kinda feel like she's hiding something from me. Kind of."

"Do you think she's cheating on you?" Chris asked.

 Just as I opened my mouth to say she would never cheat on him, Jeremy loud out a short bark of laughter. "No way! She'd never cheat on me."

I smiled at that. He must trust her a lot.

"Have you seen me?" Jeremy continued, causing my smile to drop. Upon seeing my reaction he grinned. "I'm kidding. I know she wouldn't cheat on me. She doesn't even lie to me. There's just something off."

"You have no idea what it is?" I inquired.

He shook his head. "Nope, not a clue. But I can feel it, you know? I can't tell if it's bad or good. But sometimes I catch her giving me these sad looks."

Chris tapped his fingers on his knee. "Hmm."

"I'm trying not to worry about it too much," Jeremy continued, trying to sound off hand. "But, I don't know, I love her and all..." he trailed off, his cheeks turning pink.

I put a hand to my mouth. "Jeremy, you're so cute."

"Thanks!" he responded immediately.

"That's not... never mind, actually. Maybe you're just thinking into this too much. I don't think Casey would ever keep anything too bad away from you. Maybe she's afraid of what you'll think about something."

Jeremy shrugged. "Maybe."

"Remember what you told me— you have to have confidence in yourself."

"Oh, he does," Chris muttered and I elbowed him sharply.

Jeremy waved his hand at me. "Yeah, I know. And I wouldn't have a problem asking her about what it is. But I know she'll tell me on her own eventually and I'll give her the time she needs."

"And I can do some digging for you too, don't forget," I told him. "I am her best friend, after all."

"You're my best friend, too," he responded with a silly grin.

I couldn't help returning the smile. "Thanks, Jeremy. You're my best friend too."

"We're his only friends," Chris interjected, because that's how his and Jeremy's messed up relationship worked. But I finally figured out they were far enough into their friendship where they'd reached the point of not having to be nice to each other to still be best friends.

"I'd rather have a handful of close friends than a bunch of acquaintances any day," Jeremy said happily. "And even if Topher doesn't show it, I know he loves me."

Chris grumbled under his breath, but didn't deny it. I ruffled his hair. "I think you guys love each other very much."

"Love is a strong word," Chris said.

"Do you desire me then?" Jeremy asked, batting his eyelashes. Instead of responding, Chris chucked the remote at Jeremy, who dodged it easily. The blonde pouted. "Rude."

"Are you leaving now?"

"Nah, I thought I'd just chill here with you and Holly. Maybe have a three way—"

Chris pointed at the door. "Get out."

"What? I was going to say three way battleship game," Jeremy said innocently, but I could see the corners of his lips twitching.

I rolled my eyes at him. "You're gross."

"And you guys are no fun," he shot back, sticking his tongue out.

"Mature," Chris commented.

"Not all of us are old men."

"I'm two years older than you!"

"Sometimes three."

Chris opened his mouth to reply, but closed it a few seconds later, shaking his head. "It's hard to argue with idiots."

Jeremy grinned at him. "That's why we get along so well!"

"You just agreed that you were an idiot," I pointed out.

"A smart idiot," he said confidently.

I smiled at him. "Always so positive."

"I try," he responded with a shrug. "I'm going to head out now. Uhh, thanks."

"For what?"

"Letting me know you're there for me," he muttered, suddenly intently focused on the carpet.

I glanced at Chris, who smiled slightly. "Don't get all sappy on me," he said.

Jeremy laughed and straightened up. "I won't. It's just nice to hear sometimes."

"Yeah, it is," I agreed, grinning at him. "Drive safe."

"I will, see you Monday, probably."

"Probably earlier than that," Chris said. "You can't seem to stay away."

Jeremy nodded. "That's true. Bye guys."

"Bye," Chris and I chorused as he opened the door to the hallway. As soon as he was gone I turned to Chris and gave him a silly smile. "You love him, don't you?"

"I'll never admit it," he responded solemnly.

"You're so cute," I said, pinching his cheeks.

He gently slapped my hand away. "Don't call me cute. You know I prefer handsome and sexy."

"Sexy is new."

"Are you trying to say I'm not sexy?"

"That's not... I mean..." I felt my cheeks heat up a little at the intense questioning look he was giving me. "Er... yeah, you are," I finally admitted.

He smirked. "Knew it."

"Jerk."

He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. "I guess you're right. We can't just have an easy life, huh?"

I put my head on his chest, sighing a little. "Seems not."

"I wish I hadn't ever joined the gang."

"I don't."

He pulled back a bit, frowning. "You don't?"

"We wouldn't have met," I said.

"Yeah, but—"

"But nothing. We'll handle things the way we always do— together."

He pursed his lips. "Let's try not to get involved though. If Isaac wants to mess around with the few idiots who think they can get the gang back together, let him. It's not our problem."

"Isaac doesn't look like a fighter. I don't get it."

"I think you'd have to be in the gang to understand it," Chris responded, closing his eyes. "It makes you feel powerful, to be a part of something like that. It's addictive. But it's not worth it. Isaac should have learned this already."

"I think gangs are stupid."

This made Chris laugh. "Like an average person should."

"Are you trying to subtly say you're not the average person?"

"You caught me. I'm quite above-average."

"That's why you're teaching biology at a high school level, not college level, right?"

"I could teach a college class," he responded. "I... oh."

"What?"

"I could teach a college class."

I stared at him. "What?"

He grinned at me. "It'd be more money."

"What?"

"No more high school girls. I could be your teacher again..."

"What?!"

Chris laughed. "I'm just kidding, Holly. I'll leave you alone to your own college life. You don't need old me hanging around."

"You got the old part right."

He flicked my forehead. "Hey, watch it."

"Don't you like teaching high schoolers?"

"I liked teaching you."

"I think you kissed me more than taught me."

"Probably," he responded offhandedly, "but yeah, I do. I might switch to being a professor after I have enough experience as a teacher. I don't know."

I smiled at him. He caught me after a moment and raised an eyebrow. "I love you." I told him.

"I love you too."

"Ex-gangster turned amazing high school teacher. Our life really should be a novel."

"I'd never read it," he said, making a face. "Too romance-y. You'd probably like it."

I nodded. "Probably."

He yawned, sitting up straighter on the couch. "Okay, let's put in a movie to fall asleep to."

"Like our usual Friday nights?" I asked with a smile.

He nodded, grinning back at me. "Yep. Even if it's a bit of a late start."

"Whoever falls asleep last has to make breakfast, in the morning," I declared.

"You always fall asleep first."

"Yep."

He laughed, the rare, full-out gorgeous laugh. "Sounds like a deal, Holly."

_____________

Sorry it took forever to get this up guys! I've been super busy and have major writer's block. I know what I want to do with this but.... I just don't feel like writing. You get it? I'm hoping I get over it soon though! I have great ideas. I just need to get to them!!