room 1... 1 something. Dess couldnt remember so she flung her bag around to her front and pulled out her schedual. reading it fast she stuffed it back in. 112. she sighed but happily as she saw she was standing right in front of it. good im not lost she thought to herself as she pushed the door open and walked in. she was just on time seeing as the bell rang as the door closed. looking around she spotted a seat in the back row. it was right next to a very attractive guy... looked alot like...
"shit." she wispered to herself gasping. she covered her mouth and her eyes started to glaze over. she held herself strong, though she wanted to break down and cry. she was in a new school with a new class and that was the last impression she wanted to give them all.
composing herself a bit more she walked a bit father and sat down in the seat, next to the one and only Troy Croft. this could not be happining to her, she didnt know how to act. her heart was pounding out of her chest and she thought she was going to pass out. this was the love of her life she was sitting next to, but he had left her, and right before that he had almost died. she didnt know what to do.
a scilent tear slid from her eye as she pulled out a piece of paper and started to take notes, trying so very hard to ignore that unmistakable self centered aura he gave off, the one she had grown to love.

History...boring, right?

Yup, you're right.

Monday morning's sucked, when he had History as first period. It was really good he could actually drag himself out of bed early enough to get to school on time. He really needed to find a place closer to this damned place.

Carrying himself into the classroom, history book in his hand, Troy slid into a desk in the back row, dropping his head into his propped up hand, his eyes scanning over the black words printed on the greasy paper in his book, the notes on Napolean's life not sticking in his head.

The bell rang and Troy lifted his head to listen to the announcements, not really noticing anything happening in the room. He could hear bits of random peoples' weekends, the newest CD they had bought, who screwed who, all that jazz and spirit fingers.

Rolling his eyes and sighing a heavy sigh, he felt his eyes start to droop.

.....

Until he heard a small gasp that he knew he had heard somewhere, somewhere happy and exciting and somewhere like....his old dorm room.

Troy's head shot up as he scanned the room for something, or someone.

His eyes fell on the form at the desk next to him.

Troy's throat swelled to twice it's normal size, his heart began to beat fast, his breathing stopped, his brain died, his palms began to sweat, his muscles clenched, and his gazed stayed fixated on Odessa Smith, the girl of his dreams, the girl in his back pocket wallet.

He almost gasped himself but instead it came out in a troubled cough and wheeze, the jump forcing his still injured chest to sting dangerously.

Troy's jaw went limp as he just stared at her, wanting her to look over at him and to just talk to her and be with her and....god he missed her so much. And he wanted to explain....so very badly.

((whew...long much? lol))

Odessa couldnt do it. as much as she tried to look away her gaze was pulled towards him. she looked off to her left, trying to hide it as if she was looking out the window but it was obvious. she was full on crying now, un able to hold it in when she saw his face. her heart was racing even faster, if possible, and her palms grew sweaty. standing up shd stuffed her things in her bag and took off out of the class room dispite the fact that the bell had rung and class had started. she couldnt do it.
making it out of the room she heard the teacher yelling but she collapsed against the wall outside the door. how could he be here?! at all schools!? it didnt make any sense! Troy croft, the love of her life and the sourse of her pain sat in that room, of all places he could be.

((sry it took so long mooor))

Troy stared at Odessa, disbelief flowing all through him. She was here...in Oakland...in his first period. He almost choked on his own breathe as he literally stopped breathing, dropping his head in his hands.

He didn't know whether to be happy or sad or mad or depressed and worried. He just didn't know.

When he looked up again he could tell she was crying, full on crying. The crying that tore Troy into millions of pieces because he couldn't do anything, or at least didn't know what to do to help.

And then he watched as Odessa stood up and just ran out of the class. No one noticed, seeing as students always got up and left without warning, so this was nothing new. He wanted so much to follow her, but he also knew she would want her space, at least the Odessa he remembered would have, or at least she would have let him let her lean on him and cry.

But he didn't know about this Odessa. What was she doing in California anyway? Why was she here, of all places she could go to school?

The announcements finished and Troy closed his book as the teacher began to speak. Troy let out the breathe he had been holding for quite some time now and closed his eyes, making a final decision and standing up, grabbing his History book and stepping out of the classroom door.

As the door clicked silently behind him, his eyes wandered the hallway for the girl he was skipping class for.

He found her, slouched in a heap on the floor, tears falling down her cheeks.

Troy approached her, the heels of his shoes clicking against the stone cold floor, his jeans making that swishing noise as he walked.

About a foot away from Dess, Troy kneeled down in front of her, bowing his head down and reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder.

Odessa couldnt do it. so much had gone on with Troy that she couldnt face him. Back at Brooks she had to get used to the fact that he wasnt there any more and had convinced herself that he didnt want her, that he left because she did something wrong. him not following her out of class made it all so true. she lay there sobbing un able to move when she heard the door swing open. she didnt even bother to look up, knowing it couldnt be troy. she almost didnt want it to be troy, she couldnt do this, she couldnt take the stress their relationship brought any more. suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and all she could do was throw herself into the arms of who she now knew was troy. she didnt want to hold him, but she couldnt help it. he was the onlything that ever made her feel better, ever.

Troy was slightly taken aback by the sudden shove he received from Dess flailing herself ontop of him. He fell back, holding Dess nervously, not knowing exactly what to do. He wasn't used to holding her anymore. He wasn't used to having tears stain his shirt. He just wasn't used to Dess anymore.

And then he felt how much he had hurt her, and how much she was upset, and how much he wanted to turn back time and never have crashed that car or agreed to come to California.

He would give anything to go back to Brooks Academy.

"Shhhh, it's okay. It's okay Dess, I'm here, ssshhhhhh." Troy's low voice hushed quiet;y, cooing for Dess to calm down. His hands gripped her closer to his chest, sliding one up and down her spine, trying to sooth her.

Troy was stiff, he wasnt her zeus any more. he didnt have the same comfort to him and she could tell he wasnt comfortable holding her. Dess's stomach twisted, they had been through so much together and now he couldnt even hold her. finally though he snapped out of it and started to sooth her, it worked a little but she was so upset that it didnt help as much as she would have liked. Odessa pulled away from him again, a little bit calmer and looked at him through red blurry eyes. "why?" was all she could get out. he had hurt her more then she could express in any way.

"Why?"

Her eyes were red and blurry, cold and angry. Sad and depression-stricken.

Why.

What did that mean?

Why is he here in California?
Why did he leave BA?
Why did he crash?
Why hasn't he called?
Why did he abandon her?
Why.....?


Troy lips mouthed out 'why'. "Why......why what?"

He didn't know what to say. Her being here and him not expecting it threw him off a lot. He just didn't know what to do...or say...or anything.

"why everything." she wispered, falling backwards so her back was against the wall again. "why did you leave with out saying good bye? why didnt you call me? why are you here? why do i still love you so much troy fucking croft that it hurts?" she said sadly, crying hard again. she pulled her sweatshirt around her body tigher and cryed a little harder, it was his sweatshirt, the same one she had gone to sleep wearing the night he crashed.she pulled its hood up and let it fall over her eyes as she tucked her hands into the pockets and her legs under her body so she was almost in a ball.

Troy noticed the sweatshirt Odessa was wearing. It was his.

He closed his eyes for a second, regaining his composure again and taking in a deep breathe before speaking again.

"Because....." he looked at Dess, her body almost in a small ball, " Because I didn't want to hurt you anymore. I didn't want to see you after my crash. You were just so angry and upset and you must have felt so bad and I dunno why but I just thought you were because I thought I knew you and so I just got up and left. I just left because I didn't want to hurt you anymore. I saw you, you were so sad and just so mad at me for doing something so stupid and all I wanted was for you to stop feeling that way. Besides, my grandfather let me stay at his place for a while."

Troy didn't know if he had just made any sense what-so-ever, but that was all he had to say for that question. His brain wasn't working properly.

He bent his knees against his chest, leaning his head back to rest against the wall, his eyes on the ceiling.

Dess heard him out. it didnt make sence. his rationalizing of his actions didnt work, they didnt fit. he didnt want to hurt her any more so he left? god how big of an idiot was he? she loved him, and before the accident there was very little that hurt her, he was the best thing that happened to her, she needed him, he was her protection from everything and when he left she had nothing. when he left everything started going wrong.
"Troy..." she wispered, unable to continue untill she showed him something.

(and in the style of mooor... haha...)

she looked down at the floor for a moment before starting to sob even more, this stress wasnt good for her...
she pulled off her sweat shirt revealing a tight pink shirt which hugged her curves. she rested a hand on her bulging stomach. she wasnt that far along but it showed.
"you didnt just leave me." she wispered, pulling on the sweatshirt again and grabbing her bag she started walking down the hallway, trying hard to stop the crying.



(HAHAHA sorry... couldnt help it... it was such a perfect plot point!")

(i dont even know how to reply to this)

This time Troy didn't stop breathing, his heart didn't speed up, he didn't freak out.

Jumping to his feet, Troy couldn't help it, he ran, he ran all the way to Odessa and her puffed out tummy, her baby, THEIR baby. He caught up to her, his eyes wide, and for some reason a smile on his face.

This was the one way he could get her back. Keep her here with him, so that she wouldn't leave like he did.

Dessa's eyes were spilling out tears again. Troy lifted one hand up, both of them standing towards eachother and wiped his thumb under her eyes, smoothing out the tears.

"Dessa, you can't possibly expect me to just turn away can you? You cannot truthfully think I am just going to turn my back on you and...and our baby, can you? Truthfully?"

Troy was actually smiling. It took him a while to smile like this again...a long ass while. He didn't want her to think he was smiling for some bad reason either.

(hehe)

Dess heard Troy running down the hall. she could do this herself, she didnt need him, she didnt want him. ok that was all a lie. she needed him and wanted him more then anything. she had found out she was pregnant by herself. she bought the test herself, she waited herself and she cryed herself. no one was there to tell the news to and no one was there to tell her it was alright and that this baby was created out of the love between its parents. no one went to the doctors with her or was there to be excited with her. she sighed when he caught up to her and turned to face him.

"Dessa, you can't possibly expect me to just turn away can you? You cannot truthfully think I am just going to turn my back on you and...and our baby, can you? Truthfully?"

"Troy i dont know what to think. i dont know what to expect. i expected you to come back to me from the hospital and it to all go back to normal. for you and i to be together forever, but that didnt happen. i really dont think you would turn your back on me and the baby, but Troy i guess i still dont know you as well as i thought i did." she said sobbing some more. she couldnt stop, the tears were spilling now. she was in so much pain. she didnt know what to do. she wanted him to hug her and kiss her and tell her that he was never leaving again and that this baby was their baby and that he would for ever be there for both of them. she started walking away but stopped, turning around and looking at him. "i did the math... it was our little camping trip." she said thinking back at the memory... and her lips cracked into a slight smile throught he tears, the first smile on her face in months.

Dessa's words hit him like a brick to the chest. He was about to say something but he was interrupted by her walking away until she turned back again and told him when it had happened.

His lips went back to a little smile at Odessa's smile.

He wante dto hold her, he wanted to kiss her, he wanted to be there for her, and his child, their child, but he didn't know if he was allowed to after all he had done.

"Dess, I want to be there. For you. And for the kid. I had no idea you needed me there. Hell, I didn't even know there was a kid involved. I want to take it back, truly I do. I want to start over, but I know what you're gonna say. That that's not possible, yeah I know that. I know we can't go back. But I can be there now. I'm sorry I wasn't there before and I am so f*cking sorry I was stupid enough to leave you when I did," Troy was walking slowly closer and closer to Dess as he talked, until he was finally almost nose to nose with her, his brown eyes staring into her bluish green ones.

"And I am so sorry that I am a stupid mother f*cker," Troy said quietly, finally taking in a deep breathe and taking the plunge, letting his lips fall on Dessa's for the first time in weeks, maybe even a month or two.

Dess couldnt say anything. she was so speachless... everything was happining so fast. he wanted to be there for her. he was sorry and that was all she needed to hear. she probably shouldnt have forgiven him, but she did. she couldnt help it. when she looked into his eyes she just about died. they were her favorite place. his eyes. she could look into them forever. suddenly his lips were against hers and she didnt pull away. she hadnt kissed him in months and she had missed it but right now, the intensity of that lonliness hit her head on. she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close before she pulled away for a breath. her eyes were still blood shot but she didnt really care.
looking up at him she gave him the look. "Troy, if you leave me again, you are out of my life for good." she said seriously. she couldnt be hurt like that again.

Troy felt so relieved when Dess didn't pull away.

"I promise I won't leave again. I promise I promise I promise," he repeated over and over again, pulling Dess tightly to his chest, but then jumping as he pulled her too hard and felt his rib press against his injured lung.

Dess rested her head against his shoulder but jumped too when he did... "you still healing?" she wispered, tugging up his shirt to see his chest which was still black and blue where his broken ribs were. "come on..." she wispered, cleaning off her face with the back of her hand and taking his hand. she pulled him down the hall and out into the open air and to a bench. she sat down and looked up at him. "do you still love me Troy?" she asked softly. sure he wanted to be with her, but that didnt mean he loved her. she thought back to the first time she said those words to him. it had been after the tattoo outing. she sighed. she still loved him, even if he didnt love her back.

Troy didn't say anything as Dess inspected his chest. It actually felt nice to have someone who wasn't concerned with how much he was going to pay them to check him out. It felt really nice.

"Do you still love me Troy?" she asked softly.

Troy looked up at her, turning on the bench to face her directly.

Sure he loved her, he loved her a whole lot more than he had showed. And he was going to show it.

So, leaning down, Troy pecked her on the lips softly and said sincerely, "Yes, Dess. I love you so much."

"good." she wispered as she leaned up and kissed him on the lips again.
she wrapped her arms around him softly and leaned her head on his shoulder. she sighed and just stayed there, unable to move at all. she had dreamed this so many times and was almost expecting to wake up any moment.

Troy smiled as he rested his chin on Odessa's head. He felt so.....warm and fuzzy I guess you could say. He was in L-O-V-E...again.

*CkKcCkKcrrrrrrAAAAAAAAKKKKKKK!!!*

Thunder sudeenly clapped and rain began to pour on the two of them sitting on the bench outside.

After a couple seconds of realizing what was hitting them, droplets of water, Troy pulled Dessa to a stand looking at her and with his famous goofy frin that only she could bring out in him, Troy said, "Listen, I love this whole reunion thing...but, we need to get bak to class."

After those last couple of words, 'we need to get back to class' ran past in his head again, he knew he would be picked on my her. He never liked class.

Dess raised an eyebrow at the now soked Troy. "we need to get back to class?" she asked raising an eybrow. "did troy croft say that we need to be in class?" she laughed softly, as she wiped her face of the rain. "wow, never saw taht one coming..." she laughed seriously as she leaned up and kissed him again. "its not, we need to get back inside, how bout my dorm room? its we need to get back to class?!" she laughed again as she took his hand and started to drag him towards the hall. "ok we will go to class." she smirked. she hadnt been this happy in months.

"Hey hey hey! I was only thinking of you Dessa!" Troy sang out, making it a lot more difficult for her to drag him along.

Finally he stopped walking all-together and just pulled her back into him, his hands wrapped around her waist, snuggling his face in the crook of her neck, leaving butterfly kisses and small kisses along her skin.

((they r so cuuute))

"only thinking of me?" she laughed as he slowled down. she wasnt strong enough to drag him so she gave up and turned around. she was pulled into his arms and he softly started kissing her neck. she held him tightly as he did so. the feeling of his lips brought back so many memories, that she had, over the last few months tried very hard to forget. "if we arnt going to class lets go somewhere." she looked at him and laughed. "i missed you troy." she wispered suddenly as she kissed him on the lips again.

"Ooh! YAY! Fieldtrip!!!!!" Troy laughed and held the kiss for a few extra seconds, savoring the feeling of Dess with him.

"I missed you too." he whispered, entertwining his fingers with hers and walking out of the hallway and into the rain again, forgetting about his wet clothes.

Troy ran towards the parking lot and to his red Chevrolet Z28.

He opened the door for Odessa, watching her hands and feet before he shut the door, running around to the driver's side and jumping in, laughing at how wet he got.

"so they actually let you keep your licence?" she asked him seriously. after the accident she wasnt sure they would let him drive again but at the moment it didnt matter. the car was dry and nice and that was all she needed. she reached her hand over and took his and sighed. "So where to Croft?" she asked him softly looking at him from her curlled up position on the chair.

"They didn't mind me keeping my license. And my grandfather has his ways with the law enforcers. Besides, I have promised to all gods out there, including Zeus," Troy chuckled for a sec, "that I will not drink until I am legally allowed."

Troy flipped the car on, turning the heat on (no pun intended) and blasting the car with warm, dry air. He could smell the rain through the windows, clean and wet.

"I don't know where we could go. Truthfully, I don't get out much here," he turned to Odessa, "What do you feel like doing? I'm sure I could find out where to do it." (no pun intended)

"good ..." she said to the no drinking until he could leagally drink. the two of them drank alot actually so she was glad he had given it up. she had to give it up for the baby so now they could be sober together.
"im sure Zeus is mighty happy you stopped." she laughed at their inside joke.
The car slowly started to warm up and the wetness of her clothing wasnt making her as cold anymore. "Can we go change... i dont like being this wet." she laughed ... she didnt mind him being wet, his clothing hung to every curv of his toned chest and it was pretty sexy.

"Can we go change... i dont like being this wet."

"That's not what you've said in the past...." Troy teased, the remark just slipping through his lips like butter.

He threw his hand against his mouth, shocked at his own comment.

Turning slowly, hand still on his mouth his eyes wide, he said hurriedly, "Oh my God. Did I--Did I just say that? Oh shit my microphone is on...oh shit."

Odessa narrowed her eyes at him. "troy... yes your microphone is on!" she laughed a little. "god we arnt even officially back together or anything and the dirty comments are already flowing free." she told him seriously. it was such a troy thing to do. "come on lets go somehwere with dry clothes so i can change." she laughed. "i cant get sick." she said seriously, her hand resting on her stomach protectivly.

"No, you can't get sick." Troy snapped into a serious mood, letting go of Dessa's hand to drive and pulling out of Oakland's parking lot and onto the main road.

"Where do you live now?" he asked, looking over at Odessa curled in his passenger seat.

"im staying with my grandmother for now... but im getting a dorm as soon as i can." she said seriously looking over at him. "i cant go there... shes home..." she wispered. that woman hated her, and hated Troy even more. "we cant go there." she told him seriously. "where you staying? can we go there for now? she leaves at 5." Dess told him softly, pulling her hair into a wet and messy bun.

"Oh, yeah, sorry." Troy said, not knowing why her grandmother would hate her.

"I live in a dorm. I usually don't spend much time there. It gets really estrogen filled. I am the only guy....and it sucks," Troy said, not really letting what came out of his mouth click with his brain.

"But, I think I may have something that will fit you," he said, "Or you could take something from one of the girls. I doubt they would mind much. I haven't really met them."

"you are in a dorm of girls?" she said a little worried... they wernt together but did she really want the love of her life and the father of her child in a dorm with girls? he was known for his man whoring ways now wasnt he? she swollowed her words and nodded. trust. she would have to learn to trust him more. though it would be hard.
"Troy has wearing your clothing ever been an issue for me?" she asked looking down at herself, she was already wearing one article of it. "ill find something dont worry..." she said, closing her eyes and resting her head against the window to watch the rain.

"Odeeesssaaa," Troy started in a sing song voice, "you forget I knoooowwww yooouuuuu. First of all, there is a very snobby rich girl. Definitely not for me....at all. There is a very VERY strange girl by the name of Crystal Strife. She scares me. Not cool. Thirdly there is this chick that is a bit too dark and dreary. You have nothing to worry about if that's what's wrong with you. And I promise I didn't do or will do anything with them."

Troy shuddered at the thought. They were all worse than the last and it was just yucky to even think about having a relationship with one of them. No offense to the girls though.

"Besides, I only signed up for a dorm. The school gave me the room number and it was filled with girls. Not my fault." Troy had come to a stop in his parking space in front of the dorm building.

"And I know you don't have a problem with wearing my clothes. My dillemma is I haven't done laundry in two weeks." He laughed.

"Trrrrooooyy" she laughed immitating his voice. "thank you." she said happily when he explained the dorming situation. she was glad that he knew what she was thinking and explained he wouldnt do anything with them. it made her happy to know he still knew the way she thought. it was a connection they had that made life alot easier.

"two weeks?" she asked her mouth dropping open. "ok i know what im doing today." she laughed softly at the prospect of doing his laundry. boys. couldnt get anything done could they?!

"No! You are not doing my laundry missy!" Troy said, squinting his eyes at the thought. HE would do his laundry. "I have taken an independency pledge for myself. No more waiting for other people to help sort of thing. I have clean clothes. I'll do my laundry."

Troy looked out the window. The rain was still falling, only it was harder than before.

"Come on before the car drowns in this weather." he said, opening the door to the rushing water pounding on his body.

"ok when you run out of clean underwear ill laugh..." she smiled as he pulled up to the dorms. "ok... god im gonna get so wet." she said as she pushed the door open and ran for dear life towards the over hang. making it even wetter then before she rung out her hair and looked up at him. "troy hurry up im cold!" she said shaking a little from the cold.

Troy stood n the rain as Odessa hurried under the overhang.

"Troy hurry up I'm cold!"

Troy looked up from his gaze on the pavement, his momentary lapse of reality flying away as he took eight long strides to meet Dess under the roofing, pulling the door open and leading her to the elevator, pushing the button that marked 6 and stepping inside before facing her and chewing on the inside of his mouth, then shaking his head quickly, water droplets flying everywhere.

"hey!" Dess said as they stood facing eachother as he shook his head, sending water all over her. she was already wet so i didnt really matter... but still!
Odessa laughed a little and took his hands and held them both in hers. the elevator came to a stop at the 6th floor and she pulled him out into the hall. "ok where from here?" she asked looked down the hall and then back to him.

"Room 12" Troy said, really hoping none of the others had decided to come back to the dorm.

"If it's messy, I'm sorry." Troy said as he unlcoked the door, happy to find no one was there, but the dorm was actually clean. Like, spotles-mother-would-be-proud-clean.

"Wow," Troy let out quietly, shutting the door behind Dessa and walking around her to his room, letting the door stay open as he rummaged through his closet for another pair of clothes for Dessa.

"Boxers are all I've got besides jeans. You can't get in those though. They're too big." he called back to Dessa, his voice muffled by the almost closed closet door.