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Julie's POV

When I woke up, the world had changed and everything was different.

For one thing, Adam was here in my bed, and it was our bed now, in our apartment.

'Morning,' I whispered, resting my cheek back on his shoulder.

'Good morning.' He smiled down at me, all blue eyes and messy hair, and the world made sense again.

'What time is it?' I started to ask, just as the little alarm clock blared. I groaned. Adam drew me in tightly and rolled me up on top of him. Mmm, it was nice up here. I kissed him twice, light and quick, before wriggling down to snuggle up again. I closed my eyes, just absorbing his warmth, the feel of his chest rising and falling under my face, listening to his heartbeat. He started stroking my hair lightly, just with his fingertips.

It was heaven. I was ready to drift back to sleep.

'We're not going back to sleep,' I mumbled half-heartedly. 'We are getting up.'

''S right. Here we go.'

He didn't move an inch – if anything, his next breath was slower, more relaxed.

I made myself raise my head, meeting Adam's heavy-lidded gaze through my own sleepy haze.

'If you stay there, I will literally never leave this bed,' he warned.

'Good,' I challenged back.

'Ok, we're agreed. Let's stay here.'

'But we have to get up...'

I gathered all my determination and pushed myself up, and his arms immediately locked around my waist.

'Adam! No fair.'

He laughed, and opened his eyes. 'How are you feeling?' he asked softly.

I smiled down. 'Fine.'

'You sure?'

'I don't know. I might need some help in the shower.'

That got him out of bed, at least.

Adam's POV

We didn't have time for breakfast, which was fine, seeing as there was no food in the kitchen. I'd bought a few things to make the apartment habitable and comfortable, but groceries had kinda slipped my mind.

Who needed food, anyway? I had Julie, and we had our own bedroom. Life was amazing. I couldn't keep the smile off my face as we skated to school. I just wanted to look at her, touch her, make sure this wasn't all just a beautiful dream. I wanted to re-live last night over and over.

I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through a full day of school.

As we crossed the grass to Eden Hall, I could see Russ, Kenny and Dwayne waiting out front of the main entrance, and their conversation stopped dead at our approach.

Uh-oh.

'Julie!' Ken came running and threw his arms around her, to both of our surprise. 'Where were you?' he asked, drawing back.

'What? Oh, I was - with Adam.'

'At Charlie's? Your room was like, totally empty! And they wouldn't tell us anything! We thought you went back to Maine.'

I winced a little – we hadn't thought to tell anyone else that Julie was leaving the campus before she left.

'What? No way! We, um... actually, we kinda found our own place.'

The guys gave us a round of identical disbelieving looks.

'You what, now.'

Russ.

'How?'

Kenny.

'You mean, like... together?'

Dwayne.

Russ pretty much took it in stride. Dwayne, unsurprisingly, was somewhat confused, but surprisingly supportive. He had a little romantic streak, our Texas cowboy. And Kenny was... quiet. Not unusual for Kenny, but he wouldn't really look at me or Jules, either.

'Hey. You ok?' Julie asked him quietly as we walked her to homeroom, pausing outside the classroom door. Russ went in, with a quick 'seeya!' and the smug smirk of someone who knew something juicy first, and Dwayne slapped my shoulder and shook my hand before he headed to his own homeroom, which was... weird.

I glanced at Kenny, who did not appear to be leaving. I waited for a long moment, and decided to take the hint. I kissed Julie's cheek quickly, and she smiled. 'I'll meet you after first period,' I promised, walking away backwards, watching her for as long as I could.

Julie's POV

Kenny waited til after Adam was halfway down the hall to look at me.

'Yeah, it's fine,' he mumbled finally.

'No, what's wrong?'

He sighed, shifting his backpack over his shoulder. 'It's just – we all came here together. I thought we'd leave together, too. And when I went to your room and it was all cleared out, it was like... you'd just left us without saying goodbye.'

My heart dropped. 'Kenny, I'd never do that.'

'Yeah, but... you kinda did.'

'Kenny, I-'

'It's fine. It's fine. I'm happy for you, ok, it's just- never mind.'

He turned and walked away.

Adam's POV

It took me until lunch to realise that Jules and I were the news of the day – I had bigger things on my mind. Like the fact that the rent I'd paid, combined with the stuff I'd bought to furnish our little apartment, had wiped out most of my cash supply. I needed to find a job, today. Not only did we need the money, but I knew it was constantly on Julie's mind that she'd left the dorms without telling her dad. We had to call him at some point, and there was no way in hell I was having that conversation without a steady source of income.

Of course, thoughts of the apartment turned to thoughts of Julie. If I'd thought spending one night together would bring me some kind of peace, I'd thought wrong. I couldn't stop thinking about her, and I was dying to get some time alone again. The idea of finding an empty classroom or janitor's closet crossed my mind once or twice.

Maybe even just a quiet corner in the library, where we could huddle up and I could steal a few quick kisses to get me through the day.

It took longer than usual to get to the cafeteria – there seemed to be a lot of people eager to talk to me.

'Hey, Banks.'

'What's up, Banks?'

'Hi, Adam.'

Stares and whispers from the girls, nods and smiles from the guys, everywhere I looked. Uh – ok? I had to assume that the Eden Hall rumor mill had gotten wind of our new living situation. Well, at least we wouldn't have to tell anyone else.

I caught sight of Julie at the entrance to the cafeteria, huddled up with Connie against the wall. They were whispering intently, and I could see curious stares as the crowd passed by.

'Hey,' I greeted them, and got a relieved smile from Jules as I settled in next to her. 'Ready to go?'

'Oh, hello to you too!' Connie smacked my arm indignantly. 'We're talking here, thank you. And when exactly were you planning on telling me you were running away together?'

'What the hell?' I protested, rubbing my arm. 'I didn't kidnap her, you know. Calm down a little.'

I'd forgotten how much girls hate being told to calm down.

Connie raised her brows archly and smiled sweetly. 'So, how's the bed in the new place? Not too loud, I hope?'

'Connie!' Julie hissed furiously as I felt the blush rise in my cheeks.

Connie started to reply, but her gaze settled on someone behind me.

Somehow, I knew before I turned that it was going to be Charlie.

His gaze passed right over me, and settled on Julie.

'Hey, Jules. Got a second?'

He sounded normal, at least, if unenthusiastic.

'Uh - yeah, of course.'

'Mom wants to see you this afternoon at Mickey's. 4pm, if you can make it.'

'Really? Sure. I'll be there.' She smiled up at him, and glanced to me expectantly.

He looked back at me for a long moment, and then tapped Connie's shoulder. 'Comin'?' he asked quietly, and turned into the cafeteria without another word.

Connie looked confused. 'See you guys in there.'

Like hell – I wasn't spending lunch in the midst of a hundred gawking stares, just to be totally ignored by my so-called best friend.

'Let's get out of here,' Julie suggested softly, taking my hand.

'Great idea.'

General POV

Adam pushed open the glass door of the liquor store, his last stop for the day.

After school, he'd dropped Julie off for her meeting with Casey and started looking for work. He'd been into 29 businesses, handed out 29 resumes so far, and number 30 didn't look any more promising.

The store was pretty fancy, with elaborate displays of wine and liquor, but there was a huge pile of cartons half-blocking the entrance that he had to skirt around to enter, and the atmosphere was quiet and tense.

'-not accepting any goddamn deliveries after 3pm, so who signed off on it? Where's Alex?'

'He left.'

'Where'd he go?'

'I don't know.' The girl was in early twenties, olive skinned with a tight ponytail and heavy black eye makeup. Her voice had a slightly smug tone. 'He said he had to go. And off he went.'

'So what the- hey there!' The guy behind the counter was in his late twenties or early thirties, with short curly hair, his button-down shirt showing off a solid build. He made an obvious effort to smile as he caught sight of Adam, hovering near the wall of cartons. 'How you doing, buddy? Got some ID for me there?'

'Uh-' Adam stepped forward hesitantly. 'No, I, uh- I'm not buying. Just looking for work.'

'Oh. You got experience?'

'No, not exactly.' Adam held out his resume, trying to ignore the girl openly staring at him as the guy took it. His nametag identified him as Michael.

'Right.' Michael skimmed the single sheet of paper without enthusiasm. 'Well, thanks. Give you a call if anything turns up.'

Sure he would. Adam didn't care at this point, as long as he could escape the store as soon as possible. 'Sure. Thanks.'

Michael gave Adam a last quick scan as he turned to leave. 'You lift?'

Adam turned. 'I'm sorry?'

'You lift? All the kids lift weights now, right? You work out?' the guy mimed a few impatient bicep curls. 'C'mon, what do you press?'

Was this guy hitting on him?

'I – well, yeah, I work out. Usually twice a week.'

'Oh, really?' Michael pursed his lips in consideration, eyeing the stack of cartons blocking the entrance. 'Ok, kiddo. You're up.'

Adam stepped forward, stunned. 'Seriously?'

'No, I'm fucking joking because I'm such a fun guy. I'm giving you a trial. Right now. I want every one of those cartons checked off and cleared away before the next time I have to look at them. Get to work. Dianne here is your new best friend.'

Dianne snapped her gum and gave him a long, unimpressed stare.

'Cartons are your new best friend. I'm your superior,' she informed him, and bared her white teeth in a quick, sarcastic smile.

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