Eric's Pov:

I rolled my neck and tried to ignore the anger that threatened to explode. I snatched the paper out of John's hands and waded it up.

Kourtney pulled my head to her chest and rubbed my hair. "It's alright honey buns. It wasn't that bad. I mean it wasn't that good but it could have been worse."

I pulled back and rolled my neck again. "Look just... I don't want to talk about it and KT no offence but you don't know what you're talking about. How would you feel if one of your exes went to the paper with details of your relationship?"

She grimaced and I sighed. "I'm just going to-"

"Eric?" I turned and sighed. "Whatever it is that you think I did to your office I swear this time it wasn't me." I said to Steven.

He rolled his eyes. "Hey guys you think you could give me and Eric a minute before the bell rings? Just some track stuff."

They walked off and I leaned back against the bench I was sitting on. Steven sat next to me and stared at the waded up newspaper on the ground.

"You know littering is a crime." He teased with a faint smile.

I rolled my eyes. "Harassment is too." I quipped.

He smirked. "Sooo I guess you saw the paper."

I groaned. "Yeah and it's.... I can't believe they printed that crap. Most of it isn't even true and him, I just can't believe he'd do some shit like that. Seriously shouldn't they have like contacted me to see if it was true?"

He leaned back and stared ahead. "People suck and unfortunately he must have had some proof that y'all used to date because-"

I stood up and rolled my neck again and snapped. "No we didn't date. We were friends and then a few times we hooked up when we were drunk but I mean come on he made it sound like... I mean two freakin articles about me in one week. I just wish the damn papers would remember that I'm not even out of school and cut me a little slack. How many other people are going to..." I trailed off because Steven was laughing.

"Steven this isn't funny! Sure most of that shit was lies but a few things were true and I don't like my personal business out there for everyone to read and-"

He placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Look I'm not laughing because of what was in the article. It honestly wasn't that bad. Sure it said you were um dating quite a bit the last few years and you were ummm how was it phrased.."

He snapped his fingers and smiled. "Insatiable and that you have commitment issues. Who cares. In a few weeks you'll be old news and no body will even blink an eye at you. In the mean time you're gonna go crazy if you let this get to you. Just try and see the humor in all the idiocy."

I rolled my neck again to release some of the tension. "I think if it were at least more truthful I wouldn't be so pissed but I mean damn it's like a full fuckin article and out of all of that maybe a paragraph was actually factual and even that was taken out of context." I whined

"Simple solution then, demand the paper print a retraction. Tell them it was all crap and demand they correct it or you'll sick your mom on them."

I raised an eyebrow. "Cause I'm really gonna use mommy dearest as a means of cleaning this crap up. No."

"No you wont. You know that and I know that but as far as everyone else knows you're still one big happy family and your mom is a big ass name when it comes to the law and-"

I shook my head no. "Thanks but I never ask anyone to help me with my problems. You're right it'll be old news soon and until all this blows over I'll just lay low and basically just keep doing what I've been doing the last few months."

"Alright, come on the bell's about to ring and you have a class to get to and I heard Mrs Harris is in a mood. Better not be late" He warned.

"Pshh when is that she-devil not in a mood." But I grabbed my bag and walked quickly inside.

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First and second period sped by and I was sitting in third period listening to Steven lecture when my phone vibrated. It was a text message from my mom's secretary. How am I not suprised she got my new number. I clicked it open and snorted.

Hey Eric, I'm not supposed to tell you but your mom has been on the phone and heads are rolling for the article in this mornings paper. Just thought I'd tell you that even though things are a little strained now she's handling it and I hope you're okay. Let me know if I can help with anything.

I rolled my eyes and walked over to Steven's office and closed the door. I dialed her office and demanded to speak with my mom.

She growled out an unfriendly hello and I ignored the feigned pleasantries.

"Stop whatever it is you're doing, just stop. I don't need or want you getting involved. I thought I made it perfectly clear before that I don't want you interfering in any part of my life." I growled out.

"Well that was before another article came out detailing all your exploits. I mean couldn't you have been a little more circumspect in your.. romantic dealings. So I will handle it and you are going to sit back and stay out of any more messes. I have more pressing things to do then clean up after you. Honestly what were you thinking? I thought we taught you to be more careful with your personal dealings. None of this happened when you were straight!" She barked.

I laughed humorlessly. "Like I said before don't concern yourself and as to what I was thinking or doing it's frankly none of your business. I'm not at fault here for the papers printing false shit but even if it was true it's not your business. Stop wasting your time trying to clean up my messes. Deal with your own fucked up life and stay out of mine."

"What you do reflects on me and I've worked too hard-"

I cut her off. "I don't care how hard you've worked or about the multitude of more pressing matters you have to attend to. I'm not going to tell you again to stay out of anything that pertains to me. Next time I'll just go straight to the papers with all the dirt. Goodbye. Have a nice life." I hung up and rolled my neck just as the bell rang.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I leaned over and panted trying to catch my breath. Steven handed me a bottle of water and I gulped it down.

He grinned and shot me a cocky smirk that made me want to do very naughty things to him. I leaned back over and ignored the stupid thought just like the million other times I got it.

"Don't feel bad, like I told you last week. I'm really good. Besides you've kept up pretty well. Our last three runs have shaved off almost four seconds from your time." He said then took a swig of his water.

I watched a drop fall from his lip and trail to his chin. I turned away and bit my lip. I have got to stop these stupid feelings for him.

"Nah it's cool, you're just making me up my game. Anyway I'm gonna head home and shower."

"You're doing it again." He muttered keeping pace with me as we walked the trail back to our cars.

"No I'm not. I'm not still thinking about the paper. Or about Michelle cleaning up my mess. I'm just tired is all. You wore me out."

I blushed at the thoughts those four little words put in my dirty lust filled mind.

"I mean that was a pretty intense run and well I'm not used to having to push myself that hard because no one's ever come close and yeah so like I said the run wore me out. That's how I meant it not um any other way." I rambled.

"Impressive. See I knew us being running partners would help. That was much shorter then your passed verbal spewings. I guess we're starting to be friends already huh" He said with a grin bumping his shoulder to mine.

I shrugged. "Nah it's more like you're my puppy. You follow me around school and practice and even home. Yeah you're either my creeper or my pet." I teased laughing when he rolled his eyes.

He laughed and playfully pushed my shoulder. "So any plans for this weekend?" He asked

"Umm not really. John's coming over tomorrow and we're going out but that's about it. Unless KT shows up again and then it's operation 'Make Daniel fall for KT' The girl's been a head case and bugging me about it since she told me about her feelings for him last week."

He smirked. "Hey at least she isn't into John. He's..." He trailed off and shrugged.

I laughed. "A slut? Yeah I know. It's all part of his charm."

"So have you and John ever dated?" He asked curiously.

I laughed. "That would be a definite hell no. He's not my type. And even if he was, I've known him forever and well it'd be weird and gross and we'd end up killing each other."

"So it's been a long week and Del has once again asked that you come eat dinner. It's the fifth time and she said you're starting to hurt her feelings and so she asked me to please talk some sense into you so that you eat properly." He said messing around with his phone and then flashing me the message she'd sent him during our run.

I rolled my eyes but smiled. "Don't you think it'd be strange for me to be at Delilah's house?"

He shrugged. "No stranger then you calling her Delilah and calling her a lesbo or any of the other numerous ways you treat her as nothing other then your friend." He returned with a careless shrug.

"Fine but.."

"Oh it'll be fine. You'll have fun."

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Steven offered to let me ride with him since we were both going and it was 'retarded for both of us to drive to the same place at the same time in different cars.' and he was taking his 1967 mustang and I had to admit the car totally sweetened the deal.

We walked up and he walked in without knocking and I followed. "Yo Del we're here and you'll be happy to know I finally got Eric to agree to let you fatten him up." He called.

She walked out of the living room and smiled. "Good boy. Now go get you two a soda. Dinner should be done in just a minute."

He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and walked off.

"I'm glad you came Eric now get in here and stop being so shy. I swear it's like you lose all your you-ness once you step into my house. Relax, just pretend we're in my office." She teased.

I walked over to a couch and plopped down like I normally do in her office. "Ya know it's a good thing you're married and I'm gay cause this could start a whole shit storm. You naughty cougar!" I retorted dryly.

Laughs coming from behind us caught my attention and I turned to see Patrick and Steven walking in together. Patrick did a head nod. "Nice to see you again Eric." He greeted me with a smile.

"I already told him to stop worrying about people thinking you were gonna statutory rape him but the kid's kinda paranoid." Steven teased dropping down on the couch next to me and ruffling my hair.

I swatted his hand away and flipped him the bird, covertly so Delilah and Patrick didn't see.

"No just concerned. I don't want to cause Delilah any problems. Anyway I never mentioned statutory rape. Hello I'm 18 so that doesn't apply to me. It'd be just rape or um a consensual affair with a cougar or um MILF."

"Well dinner's ready so lets eat. I'm starving." Delilah called ushering us into the dining room.

We sat down and I noticed the two little girls were gone but shrugged it off.

"So do you have a boyfriend?" Patrick asked curiously after a bit of small talk.

"Nope I broke up with him a few months ago and have just been laying low."

"Really? Was it Daniel?" Delilah asked.

I stared at her. "Hell no! What the crap would make you think that? He's like a brother."

She laughed and raised her hands up. "Just figured since I know it wasn't John and Daniel's the next closest to you but okay so who was it?" She wagged her brows and grinned.

"No one from school anyway wow this is really good roast." I said over-enthusiastically trying to change the subject.

Steven laughed. "Smooth dude, really smooth."

I flipped him off. "I don't see you sitting here going into details about your love life. Besides there really isn't much to tell. We dated for a while, things weren't working out and I ended it."

"Awe that's sad were you in love with him?" Delilah asked sympathetically.

I rolled my eyes. "I so shoulda clued in that you were a freakin fan girl. No I didn't love Richard. I cared about him but... things just weren't working. Anyway I see Steven shut the hell up. What Steven, no girlfriend waiting by the phone?" I asked trying to steer the conversation away from my love life or lack there of.

The table busted out laughing and I looked from one person to another. "What the hell did I miss?"

Steven smirked. "No girlfriend. I don't know why those two idiots are laughing like that. I think they huffed something before we got here." he said with a grin.

Delilah rolled her eyes. "Steven was in a relationship for like 2 years but.. well it wasn't meant to be I guess and since then he's sort of taken a dating hiatus. Anyway how about we drop all the dating talk. Steven said you live in his building? That's pretty convenient, if you ever play hooky I can just have him drag ya to school." She said teasingly.

Steven laughed. "He likes school way too much for a normal teen. I swear it's unnatural how he can zone out in class and still ace it."

"I'm just that sharp." I said with a shrug.

"Have you seen the re-decorations he's done to his apartment? I mean the floor plan was good before but it's amazing now." Patrick remarked.

I shook my head. "No. I didn't even know he lived there until a couple of weeks ago and I still don't get how he got management to agree to him renovating his apartment."

Patrick gaped at me then shot a look at Steven who rolled his eyes.

"What?" I asked looking from one to the other and back again.

"It's his building." Patrick said with a shrug.

I rolled my eyes. "So it's mine too but you don't see me tearing the flooring out or whatever the hell he did to it. I'd be surprised if they didn't-" I trailed off because Steven was making a funny face.

Like he really wanted to laugh but was trying really hard to keep it in, or he was constipated and having some severe gas pains.

"No Eric it's my building, as in I own it." He explained over patiently like I was a stupid little kid or something.

I gaped at him. "You own my apartment? And didn't think to tell me? What the hell Steven." I snapped.

He raised an eyebrow. "Technically yes I own your apartment and everyone elses in the building and I did tell you it was my building you just misunderstood me."

I narrowed my eyes. "Semantics. You knew what I thought and should have explained it better. Like saying 'no dumb ass I don't just live here I freakin own the joint so make sure your rent's on time or I'll evict your ass.' Which it is by the way, I'm paid up for the school year. Anyway whatever. So I guess that explains the crotch rocket and all the cars. So do you own anything else? Something else I may use?"

"Umm I own a few places but I highly doubt you've been there." He said simply.

"So I'm betting you're pretty flush. Why are you even teaching?" I asked curiously.

"I told you I wanted to take after my uncle."

I rolled my eyes. "Technically you told Kourtney that but whatever. Anyway, so Patrick what is it that you do?"

"I'm an architect. I have my own firm and we actually designed some of Steven's buildings. Not the one y'all live in but his um other business. What about you? What are you planning on doing when you finish school? Got your college picked out yet?"

"Nah, I'm not going to college. I've decided to become a crack smokin hobo and be one with the world." I quipped sarcastically.

He laughed. "Sounds like a plan. That's better then what I had at your age."

Steven looked at me thoughtfully. "No really, what are you planning? I just realised you haven't said anything about it."

"That's because I'm still thinking about it. Until fairly recently I'd decided to go into forensic psychology but I've changed my mind and now I want to specialize in sexual disorders."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Like sexual sadism? Or like listening to bored house-wives spend an hour complaining about their husband's not being up to snuff?"

"Technically sexual sadism isn't considered a psychological disease as long as it's practiced with two consenting adults and there is no way I could listen to women complain about their marriage losing it's spark between the sheets. I was talking more about sex addicts and people with quirks they want to get out so they can lead happy and healthy sex lives."

"Wow that's interesting and a bit disturbing that you know so much at your age." Delilah commented giving me a look that clearly said she wanted to know more but didn't want to pry.

"I had a friend that had some issues and I went with him to one of his appointments and sort of hijacked his therapist to talk about his career field."

I paused and then smugly added, "If you're worried I have sexual issues don't. It's all great below my belt."

"So y'all have a meet in about a month right? Think you'll place well?" Patrick asked me and Steven. Steering the topic back to safer territory.

"Yeah I do. We have some really good talent on the team and Eric's a shoe in for first place in two different divisions. He's given me a run for my money when we run. He's almost as fast."

I bit back my blush and shrugged nonchalantly. "I actually think he's been going easy on me but damn can he get it."

Steven's phone buzzed and he checked his message. "Crap, Del I gotta run there's an issue I need to take care of."

I stood up since he was my ride and he whisked me out and into the car and sped toward our apartment building.

"If you're rushing you can just drop me off and I'll catch a cab home." I offered.

He rolled his eyes. "No it's fine I just have to be there soon to sort out this mess."

A few minutes later we pulled up to the building entrance and I got out. "Bye Eric and in case I don't see you until our run Sunday have fun." He called and then raced off.

I wonder if he got a new girlfriend...

I ignored the pang in my chest and rolled my eyes at myself. Get over it already. He's straight and totally off limits and he thinks I'm a spaz and I can't be crushing on him.

I refuse to let myself do that. It would only cause a bunch of heart ache if I kept falling for him. I need to get over it. Yep that's my plan.