FicWad

[Eric's point of view]

I sat on the floor of the warehouse, my head in my hands. Uncle stepped in front of me and looked at my face. "Stop staring at the walls like you're a love-struck fool and help me build this laser!"

I turned my eyes to face him. "I am a love-struck fool, Uncle."

Next thing I knew, I was seeing stars as Uncle hit me in the head. "What was that for?" I shouted.

He glared daggers at me. "If your stupid feelings for Lollipop ruin my plans, I swear I will kill her. I'll kill you both!"

With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off to the room he was building the portable laser in. I stared at the floor, rubbing the spot where Uncle had struck me. What had I gotten myself in to?

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[Delilah's point of view]

I was so thankful the bullet hadn't done anything serious. Julius was let out of the hospital a day after the shooting. It was my fault, really. I wasn't paying attention. I could have done something, but I was staring at ... that boy. Eric, Dr Dismay called him.

No, it was wrong. I had feelings for Julius ... be he hadn't ever asked me out. Maybe he didn't feel the same way. But that Eric ... I could tell just by the way he looked at me. He felt the same way, I know he did. Maybe I should give up hope on Julius ... it might never happen ...

"De?"

Julius' voice brought me back to reality.

"What are you doing in my room?" he asked.

Oh crap. I completely forgot I was here. "Uh, er, I was waiting for you ... to see if you were OK."

He eyed me suspiciously. "You knew it wasn't serious, De."

"Yeah, but I wanted to apologize," I admitted. "It's my fault you got shot."

Julius sat down on his bed. "Technically, it's Eric's fault."

"No it isn't!" I blurted, without even thinking.

My partner froze. "What?"

"I said it wasn't his fault!" I repeated. "He didn't want Dr Dismay to shoot me."

Julius' reply was barely audible. "You like him, don't you?"

"No!" I shouted, shocked. He knew.

"Yes you do," Julius whispered. "I could tell by how you looked at him."

"I don't!" I protested. "I swear, I don't like Eric!"

"Eric, is it?" Julius shouted.

I staggered back. He never shouted at me. "So? What do you care? You don't have feelings for me!" The words came out before I could stop myself. They sounded to cruel.

Julius glared - glared - at me. "That shows you what you know. But if you like that Eric guy more, go ahead and kiss him. I don't care."

Those words stung. How could he say that to me? I ran from the room, tears streaming down my face.

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[Julius' point of view]

As Delilah ran away, I felt hot tears of rage spring to my eyes. I hadn't meant to say those things to her. I wasn't thinking. But those words ...

So what? What do you care? You don't have feelings for me!

I knew what I had said was wrong, but she hurt me. Oh god, I felt horrible. Even if she had hurt me, I shouldn't have said those things. I got up to go to her room and apologize.

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[Eric's point of view]

I stood underneath Delilah's window, debating whether or not I should go up there. Uncle wouldn't notice I was gone. He didn't care about me, no one did. Not Father, Mother, Grandpa ... none of them. I am the outcast in my family.

But then I met Delilah.

I had seen care in her eyes. And I wanted it. That convinced me to climb up to her window.

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[Delilah's point of view]

I sat on my bed. The tears had come and gone. I knew I hadn't meant to say those things to Julius. I had been angry. I had to apologize. Just as I was about to rise, I heard a knock on the window. I turned around and gasped.

"Eric?"

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[Julius' point of view]

I walked down the hall to Delilah's room, thinking about what I would say. Before I knew it, I was there, outside her door. Oh crap, why did I feel scared? I pushed the door open. The words were forming on my lips when I saw him.

Eric.

He was on the other side of the window, gazing lovingly at Delilah. And then he said three words that tore my heart to shreds.

"I love you."

Then he saw me. He gasped and fell from the window. Delilah turned around. "Julius!"

But I wasn't listening. She had betrayed me. I couldn't go on living any more.