Detention; it did nothing to prevent kids from doing what they already have done to get there in the first place. It just makes them sneakier when doing it. Nick was asleep, head buried in her arms. It had been a long day. Detention was almost over but it felt like forever so she had decided to sleep through the rest of it. Her eyes blinked open and she yawned. Looking up at the clock, there was one minute left. She packed up her things and waited. There were three other kids in detention with her.

"Alright, go home," the teacher said and left also. Nick walked outside and looked around, spotting Shade leaning against his car, a blue Mazda. He wore a gray shirt that was tight enough to show off his muscles and jeans. As always, he was staring at her. She did her best to ignore him and got in the car, buckling up. He got in and started the car, driving out of the parking lot. Tension was high in the car.

"How was it?" he asked, trying to make conversation.

Nick snorted. "It was detention, how do you think it was?" She stared out the window, watching the houses and trees pass by in a blur.

"Nothing interesting happened today?" he pressed, wanting her to talk. He liked the sound of her voice which made him even more tense.

"Does it really matter?" she snapped.

He shrugged. "I guess not."

The rest of the ride was in silence. When they pulled up to the house, Shade cut the engine and got out. Nick did the same. When she shut her door and turn around, Shade was standing right in front of her. She had to crane her neck to look up at him. His green eyes stared down into hers as he backed her up against the car. Her heart was in her throat, breathing becoming fast. She was shocked. What the hell did he think he was doing?

"Why are you always so bitchy?" he asked, voice low and made a shiver run up her spine. "Why can't you at least be nice to people?"

She glared at him as best she could while she was concentrating on how close he was, on the heat from his body radiating towards her. "Why, when they aren't nice to me?" she countered.

"I'm nice to you."

"You annoy me."

He smirked which she found very sexy. Whoa, sexy? Since when did that word pop into her vocabulary? "Really? Well, does this annoy you, too?" His head leaned down, lips coming closer and closer. She froze, not knowing what to do. His lips brushed hers and her eyes fluttered shut.

Shade had no idea why he was doing this but could not seem to stop himself. He pressed his lips a little harder against hers, running his hand up her arm and to her neck, long fingers cupping the back. He traced her bottom lip with his tongue. That seemed to jolt her back into reality. She pulled back with wide eyes and gaped. "That did not just happen," she said, voice breathy which pleased him.

"It did," he contradicted, with a husky tone of his own.

"Oh no," she said and threw her book bag over her shoulder, pushing past him to walk up the stairs. "Oh, no." She kept repeating that as she walked into the house and up to her room.

Shade sat down in the living room with Bill, Aaron and Larry staring at him. "What's her problem?" Bill asked, raising a brow.

Shade shrugged, trying to ignore the desire curling in his stomach. "I don't know. She didn't say much on the ride here." He was such a liar and knew it.

Nick lay on her bed, rubbing her lips with her fingers. Shade did not kiss her. She had imagined it. No, that was worse! If she had imagined it then that means she had thought about it and what it would feel like which was definitely not her. What was wrong with her? Ignore it, she told herself. It would not happen again. The butterflies in her stomach told her that no matter how much she tried to deny it, that was a lie and she knew it.

The week passed by with Nick sleeping and daydreaming through every class again. She had been avoiding Shade as much as she could. When she had told Lauren about what had happened, she had been excited for Nick. That made one of them. Saturday had arrived. Nick was dressed and ready to go in jeans and black t-shirt that said "I stopped fighting my inner demons, we're on the same side now". She stood outside with Justin, waiting for Melanie to arrive with Lauren.

"What if this is a setup?" Justin asked, still thinking Melanie was the enemy.

"We can handle it," Nick assured him and watched as a red Pontiac pulled up. Melanie honked the horn and soon, they were on their way to the party. It was held in a big two story house. Kids were everywhere and so was alcohol. The music was loud. Melanie waved at a group of kids who were smoking weed on the porch.

She looked at Justin. "You said you wanted to meet a hippie."

Justin looked at Nick and Lauren who shrugged. "Who told you that?"

"Nick. Look, there is one kid over there who is actually a hippie, bright clothes, peace sign, environment freak, all of that. I can introduce you to them, you know, if you want." She bit her bottom lip and looked away, making Justin wonder what the hell was wrong with her.

Deciding to humor her and himself, he shrugged. "Sure." Melanie looked a little surprised but recovered quickly with a smile. She grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the potheads.

Lauren smirked. "He has no idea."

"Guys never do," Nick said and walked into the house with Lauren. They grabbed a cup and went to the keg, filling their plastic cups with beer. There was a pool in the backyard that they went to sit beside. Lauren leaned back on her elbows and Nick crossed her legs. Lauren had actually led Nick out here but it was nice. Kids were swimming and talking. Lauren had picked this spot for a reason and that was to talk to Nick.

"Nick," she started slowly, "What do you think your parents would say if they could see you now?"

Nick stiffened. Why was she bringing this up? "They're dead so they can't speak."

Lauren sighed. "Do you think they would be happy?" Nick looked into the water, not saying anything. "I know you're in pain, Nick, I know it hurts. But they would want you to move on with your life and make it better. They would want you to do your best, to graduate school and get a great job, have a family. They would be hurt to see you like this. Larry feels the same. I know he can be an asshole but he does still love and care about you."

Nick finally found her voice and it was not a happy tone she used. "Why are you bringing this up?"

Lauren looked at her best friend. "Just because they're gone, doesn't mean you have to give up." Lauren stood. "I'll be right back. Eugene should be here any minute and he doesn't know where we are."

Nick nodded and said nothing. When Lauren was gone, Nick took a drink of her beer and stared into the water, thinking about everything but what came to mind most was the fact that Lauren was right. It was time to make a change.