Previously on TGGBB2...

A couple of weeks ago, Dominic offered Naomi and Jordan a ride which turned to the opportunity for Jordan to reveal his background check on Dominic. This was based on his suspicions that he is related to The Lost Boys which only revealed his own relation to the gang and putting their safety in jeopardy as they were in a car together. Jordan later got in trouble with Bennett and Declan.

After the closing of girl's night with Lynn, Naomi's new friend, and Brennan, Bennett's sister, Naomi witness Lynn forcing herself to throw up, a symptom of bulimia. Naomi goes to Lynn's house to get her forgotten jacket, but met Lynn's parents and witnessed their toxic relationship firsthand. The next day, Naomi bumped into a past bully before Declan was able to step in and stop them. However, Dominic was there to see it happen.

And that's what you missed on TGGBB!

~

He saw it, were the words then kept repeating over and over again in my head. They kept getting louder and stronger. I felt like I was suffocating. He wasn't supposed to see. He wasn't supposed to find out. What should I-

"Naomi."

I snapped back to reality but still felt dizzy. Declan, still holding my books, stood in front of the door when class was about to start.

"You doing ok?" He asked me.

"Yeah. I've never been better." I said hastily before trying to move him aside but failing drastically because it's like a stuffed animal running against a wall.

To which Declan is obviously the stuffed animal.

"No, I've seen you better," he told me. "That was not better."

"Well..." I paused, then I found the opportunity to maneuver around him through the door. "That... You're right."

"Would you like your books back?" Declan asked, holding up my books while following behind me.

"No, you can keep them," I said as I sat down at my desk.

I watched as he sat at his own desk beside me. He stared down at my books then realized the sarcasm in my voice. He gave me back my books with an unappreciated look.

"Jordan is rubbing off on you."

"Hey, I keep my hands to myself," Jordan defended as he sat on top of my desk.

"But not your butt on my desk."

"He can have his butt on my desk," some random girl said wistfully.

Jordan nodded to her with a grin. "Sorry, but this butt is taken."

He turned to me, still wearing the same grin, and saw my look of disbelief. "To this... desk... I'll hop off now..."

I thought Jordan was going to back to his own desk but instead, he went to the person in front of mine.

"Hey man," he greeted, leaning casually at the desk. "Mind if we switch seats for the day?"

"I mean it's assigned seating, and this is a good spot from-"

"The teacher doesn't look at the seating chart anymore, so it doesn't matter. And... do you know where I sit?" Jordan mused. "Right next to Tanya Adams," he said in a stage-whisper.

"How did you-?"

"Well, it took me a while to figure out that you weren't ogling at me. I'm very hurt by the way." He said with a sigh. "I didn't really want to tell you, but sometimes I see her looking at your direction."

"But not at me," the guy said sadly.

"Oh definitely at you," Jordan said. "Now go take your chance, then maybe I can sit with my lovely Naomi."

"A-Alright," the guy stammered as he gathered his belongings and went to Jordan's seat.

"She has never looked back, has she?" I asked.

"Like she has no regrets in life," Jordan confirmed. "But it was all for a noble cause. Your sacrifice will always be remembered, my good man."

Just when I thought I could escape him, Jordan had to turn on the ol' charm and do this. He then turned around on his seat to make it as if we're sharing the same desk.

"Okay, so I have a plan and it's foolproof."

My mind instantly went to our problem with the Lost Boys and I looked at him expectantly. I glanced at Declan who also looked intrigued.

"I have figured out how to cheat in any class."

Both Declan and I groaned.

"It better not be on cheating on me again," I warned as through an over the top elaborate plan, he was able to cheat on my final last semester.

"Naomi, don't think like that. The Jordan from last year is no more. Well at least, the laziness in studying for that final is."

"I think it seems contradictory that you were lazy enough to study for a final, but not to set up a plan to copy off someone," Declan told him.

"Who was me," I reminded, still irked.

"But doing that wasn't for the sake of cheating and getting a good grade, it was for a higher purpose."

"Which was..."

"To prove that I can do it and that I am therefore a genius."

"Declan," I said.

"Don't worry, Naomi," he assured me. "He's dead the moment he steps out of class."

"Then I will never leave," he declared.

"Please don't do that to me," the teacher muttered as he passed out the worksheets for today.

When the teacher was at a safer distance, Jordan told us, "So from now on, I'll put 'Answer Key' on top of my tests."

"My God," Declan muttered.

"I can't believe it," I whispered to myself.

"I know right? It's-"

"You're an idiot," Declan and I said in unison.

"So we're hanging at the base today?" Declan asked, changing the subject and leaving Jordan distraught at his failure. I think he's losing his touch on his plans. What a pity to watch.

"I'm down," Jordan said. "Though in the end, it's up to Bent since it's his car."

"Speaking of cars," I said, "I had to apologize to Dominic about your whole act when he drove us."

Jordan's usual smile vanished which was enough to make anyone flinch like a glare from Declan. "You didn't have to do that, Naomi. And besides, I still don't trust him."

"It isn't a matter of trust but etiquette," I told him. "If he isn't related to anything suspicious, you didn't seem like some threat but a jerk.

"You said if," he commented.

"And if he is related to something, then you blew our cover. Happy?"

"Ecstatic," he grumbled.

"Sorry, I'm late," Dominic said as he rushed into the classroom. "May I get the worksheet?"

I stiffened at the sight of him.

"Speak of the devil," Jordan said. "And how is he not suspicious? He said 'may' instead of 'can'."

"Saying 'may' is grammatically correct," Declan said.

We both looked at him.

"Why do you guys keep doing that? Of course, I know this. Everyone knows this."

"I'll be sure to use 'can' next time then, Jordan," Dominic said as he sat down at his seat next to Jordan.

"Thanks for the consideration," Jordan said with a smile.

"Naomi, it's been so long since I've last seen you," Dominic said dramatically. "I've written so many letters yet you've never responded. I have no idea how I survived such a life."

"We saw each other a few minutes ago," I told him.

"But did you miss me since then?" He asked, almost hopefully. "Raymond was being a clingy girlfriend and wanted me to walk him to class."

I didn't get it. How could he be acting like as if he never saw what happened? Did he actually see it? Was I just imagining it?

As if it was an attempt to change the topic, Jordan said, "I want to...  apologize for what happened the other day. I was having a bad day and I took it on you."

"No worries," Dominic said. "We all have bad days and are entitled to work them out in our own way. I won't take it personally."

Jordan nodded, looking like he wanted to leave the conversation, maybe even the class, as soon as possible. "Thanks."

"For this in-class assignment today, you're allowed to work with the person sitting next to you," the teacher said before taking a seat. "Two minds are better than one. Then there's less of chance for you to bother me with questions."

"Hey, since we're sitting next to each other today, I guess we're partners," Dominic said.

"Wait, what?"

"Sorry that Jordan had to take me away Naomi," he said with a grin. "I know you're fuming in jealousy right now."

"I think that's your own," Declan told him cooly. "Since she has me for her partner."

"Well let's just see who finished this worksheet first. C'mon Jordan."

"I uh-" Jordan turned to me for help.

But I just winked at him and went over the first question with Declan.

-

"You guys are awful," Jordan complained as we walked into our base.

"What did he do this time?" Bennett asked without missing a beat.

"What did I do?" Jordan asked in disbelief. "Nothing. I've been my usual well-behaved self."

"That's not what your mom said last night," Declan said.

Jordan stopped short. "Wait, what?"

"Your mom called me and Declan since you were out so late painting," I said. "It led to the dam breaking of her complaints of you."

"But for once he's actually right," Declan told Bennett. "We ditched him and left him with Dominic in class."

"You reap what you sow. That was kind of the best punishment we would have given him."

Jordan breathed in deeply. "I'm going to take it. What you have stated was true but I still suffered."

"Then suffer in silence, we don't want to hear you complaining," Declan said.

"But wow Jordan, I'm proud of you," I told him. "You're growing as a person."

"Mentally, but not physically," Declan commented, comparing his height with Jordan who was shorter by a couple inches.

"Thanks for the reminder," Jordan huffed.

Declan then pulled me aside from the others. He shot Jordan a glare when he started complaining about how Declan was taking me all for himself before Jordan got the idea and started defending his honor to Bennett.

"Naomi, you know I'm here for you. I saw what happened."

If only you were the only who did.

"I really appreciate it, Declan. But I'm alright. As you can see, I'm unscathed."

"But that guy won't be. I already have ideas," he grumbled.

"Declan, please don't. You're better than that. I know you are. You've been getting better. You can't use this to stoop down to their level. Never again."

He looked into my eyes. "You're right. I really have been trying. Less 'Parking lot. Afterschool.' Don't have to waste my times for no-shows."

"And I really am okay," I assured him. "Why should I be bothered by some buzzing fly, right?"

Declan smiled proudly at me. "That's my girl." He froze at that. "Not that you're my girl. Not that you're an object. You are your own person, you're a strong independent-"

"I know what you meant Declan. And I'm happy that I made you proud."

Suddenly, someone's phone started ringing.

Everyone but Declan checked their phones. It ended up being Bennett's and he went to the side to answer it.

"Why didn't you check your phone, Declan?" I asked.

"Well, because..."

"Because of this," Jordan said when the song 'Baby Shark' started playing inside his pocket.

Declan scrambled to turn off his phone. "What the hell man?"

"Why do you have that song as your ringtone?"

"Everyone has a different song," Declan explained. "My sister loves that song and we kept playing it so much it's stuck in my head. So I thought it was fitting to give it to the most annoying person I know."

Jordan started fanning himself. "Oh sweetie, you shouldn't have."

"What's my song?" I asked, already going to my phone to call Declan when we were interrupted by Bennett.

"Brennan, how did you- What? I can't talk if you're yelling at me."

"Is that Brennan?" Jordan asked excitedly.

"Yes," Bennett said before turning back to the phone. "Yeah, I'm with the others. No, I'm not going to- Ok, I'm going to."

And he put his phone on speaker.

"I'm glad you still have some good sense in you," Brennan said. "I want to chew you out in front of your friends who I hope are doing well."

Jordan pushed Declan away, "I miss-"

"We need to hang out again," I told her. "Heaven knows how much I need it."

"And trust me, it's long overdue," Brennan said, "like this."

Bennett sighed. "Brennan I-"

"What were you thinking? Trying to use our father's name to try to bail Jordan out of jail?"

"Custody," Jordan corrected.

"Don't start with me, child. You're next."

"For once I'm not excited..." Jordan muttered to himself.

"You already knew you were in hot water," Brennan continued. "And you're lucky that I was there before he could do something worse thanks to your little stunt." Her voice suddenly shifted and became more serious as she said, "You have to come home for dinner tonight."

Bennett cursed under his breath. "Can I-"

"No, you have to go alone. Don't make this worse. You have to stop hiding behind-" Bennett put the phone off speaker. "I'll be there. Bye."

Bennett looked at all of us, each one of us. "Well, you already heard," he said quietly as he turned away. "I'm going to head out first. I'll talk to you guys later."

"Bennett," I said, grabbing his arm to stop him. "You know you can talk to us."

"And you know that we're here for you," Jordan said. "You were there for me. It was all my fault. You shouldn't take the fall especially with your dad."

"No, it was my choice," Bennett assured him. "I need to stop running away."

"You can do this, Bent," Declan told him. "You can use this as a chance to... finally change things between you and your dad."

It was as if a spark lit up in Bennett's eyes. "You're right."

Jordan put his hand on Bennett's shoulder. "I fixed my daddy issue. Now it's your turn. And after you do, it'll be my treat this time to celebrate."

Bennett shooked his head, smiling. "Alright, I'll see you guys. Things will finally change."

Things did change, but not for the better.

Thank you all for your patience. And if you want to be thankful, thank my cousins who told me that they checked out my Wattpad page and told me I should start updating again.

I miss you all and this story. I just finished my first year in college, UCB. Go Bears! I currently have an internship and I will be taking a summer online class for English, so I'll still be pretty busy this summer but I'm going to use more of my time to write especially during the commute.

This chapter wasn't much of a filler as it really was a transition. I had hoped my returning chapter would have been something more juicy and longer, but THAT will come as my outline has advised me.

I hope you're all doing well and staying awesome- whether you're still in school or finally free of it. Until then, here's the little scene I posted. I'll start posting them in my Author's Notes in case you may have missed them.

Jordan: Man, imagine how many months went by and I don't look a day older. Is this magic?

Naomi: Maybe it was thanks to our creator Rubix.

Jordan: Well maybe *someone* can help me a guy out over here. Maybe be some wing-God?

(Instantly, Jordan and Naomi are transported to a fancy restaurant with Naomi wearing a stunning dress and Jordan wearing a dashing suit.)

Naomi: What just-

Jordan: I appreciate the effort, and allowing me to see Naomi looking like this, but I feel this is more of Bent's scene.

Bennett: (Coming to the table with their entrees) I don't remember cooking these...

Naomi: How did-

(Jordan and Naomi are then transported to a music concert)

Jordan: Nah, it still doesn't feel right.

Declan: (At the stage grabs the mic) I want to dedicate this show to my little sister! I love you, Delilah!

Naomi: Can't we stay and watch?

Jordan: Nuh uh. This is my date. Next!

(Finally, they are in front of a movie theater)

Jordan: (Nodding) Old school, classic. (He looked at Naomi) Perfect.(

Jordan offers his elbow to Naomi and when she took it, they went inside to watch a movie.)

Love,

Rubix