Ryan walked up to Nate's driveway just in time to hear Peter venting. "Peter," he said, shocked speechless. "What was that about?"

Peter turned, looking surprised to see him.

Kayla called Nicole that afternoon. "Hey, um, Nicole," she said hesitantly in a soft voice, "can we please talk?" She held her breath, waiting for Nicole's reply. Nicole is my friend, she chided herself. She won't turn me away.

Nicole was annoyed that Kayla had the nerve to call her. "Sorry, can't talk right now," she said abruptly, and hung up before Kayla could say another word of protest.

Kayla heard the click on the line as Nicole hung up, and her eyes filled with tears. "Fine, she can be that way," she muttered to herself as she hung up the phone. "I have Jen and Peter for friends." Still, she couldn't stop the tears pricking her eyes.

Peter blushed, embarrased. "Um, sorry. Rough day."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen was hanging out at Kayla's for a little while before doing her project with Peter. She noticed Kay crying, so she put a hand on her arm. "Are you okay?"

Ryan hoped Peter was okay. "Wanna talk about it?"

Kayla yanked a tissue out of her pocket and wiped her eyes, her stomach twisting and churning. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just called Nicole and she wouldn't talk to me. Doesn't she want to be my friend anymore?" she asked, choking back tears.

Sweaty, Peter sat on his basketball and motioned for Ryan to sit next to him. When Ryan did, Peter said, "Miranda wrote an article in the school paper saying that Ally was upset because my hair is growing back. So, I went to talk to Ally about it. Then, Miranda told all my friends that I only cared about my hair and she brought up my past." There was a fire in his eyes. "Then, she had the nerve to say that when I was a bully Jen was only pretending to be bullied by me and told me what to do! Now, that is not right at all! So, I went off into a private room, to ugh cry. Then Nicole told me I act like a girl over my hair and that I was crying over my hair. I wasn't crying over my hair, I was crying over my past and people thinking I only cared about my hair. She told me I was too young to be in love with Jen, when I know it's true love. Then, the bullies started calling me a girl. Jen even seemed to be acting a little strange." He took a couple deep breaths. "And there's no hope of being friends with Zach because he's annoyed with me too. He thinks I'm in love with my hair. Which sucks, because I really want to be his friend."
~
Jen said, "I'm starting to feel the same about Peter. I mean he didn't pay as much attention to me today." She shook her head. "I could be imagining things. But, he defended his hair before defending me then, wanted to talk to Zach about soccer." She glumly continued, "He does still want to go to the game again and asked for advice about being more manly like he was before the pill thing. But, I can't give him that advice. I told him I want him to be more heroic, like he was." She paused. "I want to help him, but I can't. Everytime I try, it blows up in our faces. You should have seeen the look on his face when he brougth up the pills. He looked so sad and so haunted." She hugged her knees. "I still love him though and still want to date him. I think he still wants to be with me, also. I just think he's a little desperate for a male friend now, with Nate leaving and all. THe thing is, no one seems to understand the real reason when he was crying. It was not because of his hair, but because people thought he only cared about his hair and because miranda brought up his past."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter lowered his head, exhausted, as his hair feel around his forehead and the middle of his cheeks. "I had a nightmare last night, that Mr. Pole came back and cut off all my hair. THat made me real upset, but that doesn't mean I love my hair. I was just worried someone would cut it all off again or it will eb pulled out again. KInd of happens when you lose your hair in a car accident, then ti grows back only to be pulled out again."

Nate had been at the recruiter’s office sighing up, now there was just one paper for him to sign and the deal would be closed. One more signature and his life would change for ever, he wrote 'Nathaniel E. Greene' the man across from him stood up and shook his hand "Thank err sonny" the recruiter said with a southern accent. Nate replied “Your welcome sir” Nate and Greg stepped out of the door letting the next guy through, Levi gave Nate a big smile and Nate returned it with thumbs up. Greg’s big SUV pulled up and Nate hopped in “When do you leave?” Greg asked “Two weeks till Boot Camp, two weeks after that I’m deployed” Greg looked down then looked up, tears where running down his face but Nate didn’t notice them he was looking out his own window, with his own tears.

a half an hour later he was back at the house he opened the door of the SUV and jumped out "Peter, what happened" Nate wasn't in school, they granted him permision to go register instead.

Peter told him everything that happened. "Do you think all I care about is my hair, Nate?"

Nate sat down next to Peter "Pete, I know first hand that if all you cared about was your hair I'd be dead" he sighed "I leave in two weeks for Boot Camp"

Peter's eyes brgihtened at Nate telling him that he cared about more than his hair, but darkened when he was reminded Nate we was going to boot camp. "Nate, the rest of the day at school was horrible without you. How can I be more manly?"

Nate raised his eye brows and nearly laughed "You would have never made it on the streets Peter" Then he recovered "You need to learn some fortitude"

Peter sighed. "I used to be braver, before I started ODing." He groaned. "How do I get myself back?" There, he admitted it. He was nothing but a shell of the brave, strong boy he once was.

"Pete, without fear there can be no courage cause to have courage you must overcome fear" Said Nate "Lets hope I remember those very words the next several years"

Peter cut (OOC: haha) to the chase. "So, howdo I overcome my fear of someone pulling my hair out or cutting it off again wihtout letting it happen?"

"Pete I can't answere that one, you'll have to find out for yourself" Said Nate as he stood up. Angie stuck her head out the window "Are you boys going to stay out in the cold all day?" she asked "Come on in I'll get you some hot cocco"

Peter lowered his head, as he followed Nate inside. The thoughts of being called a girl stayed on his brain, along with thoughts of Jen getting annoyed with him. SHe looked down and asked him if he coudl do something heroic. Did that mean he wasn't her hero anymore? Why did she say helping watch her siblings was not a good idea? Are they mad at him because her dad is in jail?

Nate took a seat at the breakfast nook while Angie handed each of them a cup of hot cocco he looked around at surronding house that was his home and muttered "I'm going to miss this place" he took a drink "More importently I going to miss the people here" he said quietly.