Hey guys. I'm sorry for taking so long to write this. Life gets in the way, you know? Anyway, I appreciate all the feedback. I don't think I've ever written something that's gotten as much attention as this story, so thanks a lot. I recently read "Hunted" by the way, and of course it was awesome. In case you haven't read it, however, I'll try not to spoil too much, which shouldn't be a problem since everything is from Jack's perspective and he's too caught up in his own drama to worry much about what the rest of the gang is up to. With that said, on with chapter three!

--

Lunch was... awkward. I don't think there's any other way to describe it. It wasn't Zoey, the Twins, or Aphrodite that made it so uncomfortable, because I'd grown accustomed to whatever they may say or do. No, it was, of course, Freddie and Damien that caused it.

Damien switched back and forth from gazing at me in awe and shooting daggers at Freddie, while Freddie simply looked unnervingly calm. Did he really think he had it in the bag? That I would just fall into his lap that easily? Alright, so maybe I wouldn't have minded being in his lap, but that's not the point! I wasn't just going to leave my boyfriend in the dust and ride off into the sunset with Freddie like he was my knight in shining armor or something.

"Um, guys? I've got some homework to finish, so I think I'm going to head on back to the dorm," I announced to the group, fed up with squirming around in my seat.

Everyone murmured goodbyes, except for Freddie, who also stood up.

"You know, I've got some stuff to take care of too, so I think I'll go with you," he explained, sounding for all the world like a polite boy with good intentions.

I fought the urge to glare at him, instead issuing a curt nod before exiting the dining hall at pace I hadn't traveled at in quite awhile. The only problem? He was fast, faster than me, so he had absolutely no problem keeping up.

Once we were what I guessed was far enough away for him, he pinned me to the cold stone wall, toned body flush against mine, and leaned in to kiss me searingly.

My first reaction was to return the kiss, but my mind was quick to catch up with my body, so it wasn't long before I was pushing at his chest to get him off. It was moments like that when I wished I did some kind of physical activity, because he was reluctant to budge.

"Are you crazy?" I sputtered when he finally pulled back. "My boyfriend, that I'm perfectly happy with by the way, is right down the hall."

"Oh? Who was the one that was all over said boyfriend earlier, right in front of me?" Freddie raised an eyebrow. "If that's not an open invitation, I don't know what is."

"It wasn't an open invitation, y-you... pompous ass, it was a warning!" I shouted, shocking myself with my use of bad language. I'd been raised a Mormon, and while that had all kind of gone out the door the moment I told my parents I was gay, some of the values still lingered.

"I'm not stupid, Jack," Freddie smirked, shaking his head. "Yeah, you were reminding me that you and Damien are dating, but you wouldn't have felt the need to do so in such a fashion if you weren't at least a little bit tempted by me."

"I'm not tempted by you at all," I growled.

"You just kissed me back," he pointed out.

"I..." I faltered. He had me there. I could feel my eyes filling up with hot tears. How could I have let this happen? I was supposed to be in love with Damien, get married to him someday, and adopt a million kids like Brad and Angelina, not sneak around with a sexy older fledgling!

"I rest my case," Freddie folded his arms across his chest, adorned in a very flattering black v-neck shirt that would've looked better off. No, wait, what was I thinking?

The tears that had been threatening to spill finally started to trickle down my face, which was all I needed to kick me into gear. I spun on my heels and took off at full speed in the direction of my bedroom. If Freddie had any sense at all, he'd leave me to my own devices for awhile.

--

"Jack, what's wrong? You've been staring off into space a lot..." Damien asked as we sat together doing our homework later that night.

"It's nothing Damien, don't worry about it," I lied, forcing a wan smile.

"If you say so..." he drawled, either buying the lie or not wanting to push the matter any further when he could tell I wasn't going to talk. I had a feeling it was the latter, which made me feel even guiltier than before.

In my seventeen years of life, I would have never envisioned myself landed in such a position, but there I was, about to kill over from the combination of guilt and confusion swirling through my mind right then. Of course Damien wouldn't understand, he didn't have another guy besides the one he was dating attempting to get in his pants. In fact, we uh, kind of lost our virginity to each other, recently even.

--

Two days later, Freddie hadn't attempted to jump me again, but the looks he shot me in passing told me he hadn't given up yet, only that he was bidding his time. As a result, it felt as though I was weighed down by a ton of bricks. I had to talk to someone, and I knew the perfect person.

"Zoey, I need your opinion, if you wouldn't mind?" I requested as we were on our way to Literature class.

She gave me a quizzical look. "What is it, Jack? I can tell you've had something on your mind lately."

"I know this is kind of a sore spot with you and all, but remember when you were trying to balance more than one guy?" I asked hesitantly.

Zoey nodded slowly, looking thoughtful. Clearly she was trying to figure out why I'd be inquiring into such a matter when it hadn't been an issue for so long. It was perfectly understandable, I would've been slightly baffled too.

"How did you know which one was the right guy for you?" I pressed further.

"Well, obviously it wasn't easy," she cocked her head slightly. "In the end, I just went with what my heart told me. Your brain alone doesn't always know what's best for you."

I nodded, but while the advice was certainly good, it didn't really help much. It was too soon to tell much of anything, so I'd just have to wait and see how things played out.

--

That afternoon, just after classes had finished for the day, I headed up to my room to put my books away. When I got to the correct door, I paused, because upon it was a sticky note.

I pulled down the electric blue piece of paper to study it closer. In tiny Sharpie scrawl, someone had requested that I meet them by the stables in four hours. Although slightly wary, I couldn't help the jolt of excitement that spread through me. No one had ever done something like this for me.

--

As I stepped out onto the stable grounds, I could see that the sky was already starting to get lighter, but not noticeably so, unless one was paying close attention. I was so distracted that I didn't hear the person that had came up behind me until they said something.

"Jack?"

I spun around, immediately recognizing the voice.

"Gosh Freddie, you scared me!" I gasped, heart rate going too fast for me to be angry.

"Sorry," he apologized, and surprisingly enough, it sounded genuine.

I decided to get straight to the point. "So, um, why did you want me to meet you here? I assume it was you that left the note?"

"Yeah, it was me," Freddie smiled grimly. "I felt bad about what I did the other day. It was wrong of me to just throw myself at you like that."

"Is this your way of apologizing?" I couldn't help but to grin a little bit, because I got the impression Freddie normally wasn't one for admitting his mistakes in the first place, let alone attempting to make amends.

"Yeah, I guess you could say it is?" he shrugged. "I really do like you, but I went about it the wrong way."

"Well, I think I can find it my heart to forgive you," I rolled my eyes playfully at him. "You're making things really hard on me though. You're supposed to be the incredibly hot jerk while Damien's the average, but sweet guy that wins out in the end."

Freddie smirked. "Here's a piece of advice for you, things don't always turn out the same way as movies and books. This is reality you're living in, and it's pretty damn unpredictable if I do say so myself, so it's probably best you realize that."

I chewed on my bottom lip, considering what he'd said. Yeah, Damien was a great boyfriend, and we got along great, but did that mean we had to end up together and live happily ever after, much as I wanted us to... or thought I did.

"Jack?"

"Hm?" I was jerked out of my reverie.

"Everyone deserves a second chance, right?" Freddie's voice was soft, though it wasn't the low volume that had me listening carefully to each word, but the intensity.

"Sure, if they've done something redeeming to prove they can be trusted," I answered automatically. I hadn't been at the House of Night for all that long, but that much I'd learned.

"Well then, may I kiss you?"

We had somehow came close enough that our foreheads were practically touching, and I could feel his warm breath brushing across my face. My head screamed absolutely not, while my heart wanted me to accept so badly that it ached.

Without even thinking, I leaned in, and we were kissing again, only this time something felt different. His lips were softer, and I felt lightheaded enough to faint right there in his arms. It was so cliché, but amazing. Deep down, guilt was eating away at me, because while kissing Damien was nice, it didn't feel that way with him.

I pulled away again, my breath slightly shallow. Something was very wrong, indeed. A boy who had only walked into my life such a short time ago was able to trump the one I'd been dating for over a year. I couldn't help thinking that it was completely my fault that I now had two amazing guys to choose between.