I immediately spotted Zach as I entered the cafeteria, and looking at his face I was surprised to find it unharmed.

"Oh, Zack, you're ok! But how?"

"By luck," Magenta answered for him, "not thanks to that beast you like so much," she continued.

"Ssh, he's right over there," Zach nodded towards Warren who, though he was sitting not so far away, looked completely embedded in the page he was reading.

"Oh, chill. He can't hear me from there."

"Funny fact about beasts: they do have considerable good hearing," Warren's husky voice took us by surprise.

"Good. So hear this: you're helping us with the flag," Magenta informed while walking in his direction.

"I am?" he asked incredulously.

"Tell him, Layla"

"He is?"

"After school." She continued.

"As much fun as it would be to watch a bunch of sidekicks attempt the flag, I can't after school."

"Yeah, he works after school." I explained.

"But I can help during free period."

Did I hear alright. "Would you do that?" I asked him in disbelief as I walked to him and he nodded, "You're awesome!" I exclaimed putting my arms around his neck. He stiffened at the sudden contact, and I immediately knew I was making him uncomfortable. I was just about to apologise and move back when I felt his arms around my waist and his body against mine as he came to a standing position. In any other case, I would've been taken aback but his sudden change in mood, but being as it was, I could only revel in the heat of his body and the strength of his arms. I knew I had to be right: his arms were made for holding like this. And he was holding me! I wanted to know why he had changed his mind so suddenly, I wanted to know if he was enjoying this as much as I was. I could feel his hair tickle my neck and his hot breath on my skin as his lips moved towards my ear.

"I just thought you should know" he whispered so close to my skin that it made me shiver, "Stronghold's looking." He finished.

"Oh." I muttered, failing to disguise my disappointment. He retreated his head just enough to look at my face and I saw in his eyes a confused expression. He then let go of me to resume his sitting position. I sat next to him, while Zach and Magenta took the sit in front of us. They made a gesture for Ethan to come join us, but it went unnoticed. He just stood there, his eyes fixed on the other direction and we all followed his gaze.

"It's against all rules, I tell you," we heard Will tell Gwen indignantly. They were sitting at a table not so far away.

"Pss, Ethan!" I called him and he turned to us.

"That's weird," he said as he came to sit with us. "Every time Will catches me looking he picks up the Greenpeace subject."

"What Greenpeace subject?"

"That's what I don't know. You've known him longer than me, but I don't think he was this interested in the environment before."

"It's code word for us," Warren said without so much as taking his eyes from the words he'd gone back to.

"Us?" Ethan asked.

Warren was visibly annoyed, but he decided to explain himself.

"Not you," he said as he snapped his book closed. "Us." He continued, swinging the hand with the closed book between him and me. He must've thought we still needed more specification because he added, "Layla and me."

"How do you know?" I asked and he arched his eyebrows in a 'seriously?' gesture before saying,

"First of all, green," he said, looking up and down my body covered in green fabric. I felt myself blush at his close inspection and he half smiled, "peace," he finished, pointing to himself with his thumbs. "Plus, he's always going on and on about how against this society is. I almost took pity on him and said Greenpeace is not a society but an organisation, but why add to his confusion, right? So, I guess this means your plan is working. You'll have him back as soon as you ditch me."

"When?"

"I was thinking after Homecoming, but that's up to you. Just let me know, ok?"
I nodded. He leaned closer to me and almost whispered, "Is he looking?"

My eyes travelled to his mouth of their own accord. I couldn't tear my gaze to check for the information he was asking and I just nodded. He put one hand on my knee and the other around my back and I leaned forward. His lips caught mine and I put my palms on his chest sliding them upwards and around his neck. I felt his hand on my knee moving up my leg to my thigh and then around my waist leaving a heated path all the way. His other hand travelled upwards to the nape of my neck tilting my head slightly. I moved closer to him until my breasts were flushed against his chest and our legs were touching. He let out a guttural moan and I whimpered his name at the loss of his lips on mine.
"Bet that got his attention," he said without bothering to turn around for confirmation and I sadly remembered the reason we were doing this for. Warren stood up, his bag on one hand while he offered me his free one, "Come," he said and I took it, "let's get you to class."

We walked through the corridor in utter silence. My brain attacked me with a thousand questions I couldn't answer. My body itched in places I didn't know they existed and I had a not so slight sensation this wasn't over. I looked down to where our hands were intertwined and wondered how it had ever been possible to have them separated. It looked to me as if they'd always been attached to each other and I wished they could be like this forever. I wondered what he'd think if I told him. Maybe he already knew what I was thinking. What else did he know? Could he read it in my face how I was battling with my emotions? Did he know what he was doing to me? What if I told him I wanted to kiss him again, and again, and again? Would he acquiesce? Would he blow me off? Would he feel betrayed if I told him I never bothered to check if Will was looking?

We stopped near my classroom and he let go of my hand. He brushed my knitted eyebrows with his thumb and I gave him a faint smile.

"You ok?" He asked, sincerely concerned and I just shook my head. He brought his hand to my chin and tilted my face upwards, "Look at me," he softly demanded and I sighed, gaining time and courage to meet his eyes. Those eyes. The world could fall apart and I wouldn't freak as long as I was looking into those eyes. Everything that was good in the world, he had it in his eyes. I sighed deeply before daring to speak,

"I can't lie anymore, Warren."

He nodded understandingly. "Technically, you're not lying, just letting him think something that's not. But I can see where you're going. I was kinda wondering how much you could take of all this deceiving your best friend and all."

"I'm not talking about Will."

"You said you couldn't lie anymore."

"To you."

His eyes widened, not offended but clearly intrigued, "When did you like to me?"

"A moment ago, for example. I let you think Will was looking when you kissed me, but the truth is, I didn't know that he was."

"I'm sure he was looking afterwards. Him and everyone else," he chuckled, "I've been here long enough to know display like that doesn't go unnoticed, so you don't need to worry about that."

"That's not-"

"Look, if this is too much for you, we can slow down. Or stop altogether. I'll stop kissing you and-"

"Please, don't!" I cut him off. He looked more intently at me, obviously confused and I felt the need to clarify, "I mean, you must have a good reason for doing it."

"No reason is good enough for making you uncomfortable. We can find another way to get to Stronghold. I'm sure there are many." He smiled slyly and the bell rang. "Go to class, we can talk later, ok?" He turned around and I felt a tingly sensation, insistent enough to make me stop him.

"Warren, wait!" I called him and he stopped, his eyes wide, when he saw me running to him.

"What's up?" He asked and before I lost the courage, I hurried to stand on my tip toes and kiss him. It seemed that Warren Peace was never taken by surprise when it came to kissing. He responded immediately, his arms around my waist, and his body pressed against mine. I let go of his lips reluctantly when the second bell rang.