Ben smiled as he looked over at his girlfriend before stepping sideways and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You're beautiful." He said quietly in her ear before putting more of his attention into the sauce ingredients.

~~~

"Leane. I cannot have Kurt trying to rip off your clothes in the school parking lot." Matthew said as he tried to take in long breaths. "If you want to come with me then you're more then welcome but we're going over to your house." Matthew explained, rubbing his forehead in fustration. "I can't have him trying to hurt you, Lee. I can't." He said softly as his hands wrapped around her waist and his face buried in her hair.

"So you keep telling me," Jenny said with a deep blush, stirring the hamburger with close focus as to not blush even more.

--

"I know," Leane whispered, "But we can't very well stop it until something happens.. Even if I am a Supton.. I don't know if my family has that much influence to get a restraining order without 'probable cause'. Besides, if I made him leave school... Everyone would kill me... Perhaps the better thing to do is just go to a private school, away from Kurt.. Please, will you come to bed and sleep with me until it's time to eat before we meet everyone? Please?"

"I just want you to know. And maybe once its soaked in enough you'll start to see it." Ben explained as he dumped the pasta into the pot of boiling water and stirred it a few times.

~~~

"Leane do you have any idea how insane it sounds for you to drop out of school and change your life because one drunken jock wnts to feel you up?" Matthew asked, his eyes wide. "If you don't want to come with me that's fine as well but I'm going over to your house to speak with Josh." He explained before giving her forehead a small kiss and heading out the door of his house.

Jenny shook her head with a laugh, "Darling, I doubt that happens. But thank you for trying," Jenny said with a warm smile as she set the spatula down and wrapped her arms around Ben's waist, leaving tender kisses upon the back of his neck.

--

Opening the door, Leane called with a sigh, "Wait... Let me get dressed.."

Shutting the door, Leane quickly went into her room and changed into the outfit she had planned on wearing out that night. Slipping on her shoes and jacket, Leane grabbed Matt's jacket as well before leaving the house, forgetting that the TV was still on. Going to the car, Leane slid into the passenger's seat in silence. After a bit she sighed and looked over at Matt. "It's not dropping out of school, it's changing schools. And it's not changing my life, it's merely avoiding the conflicts of one area and moving to another. It's a peaceful alternative," Leane explained sleepily before resting her head against the glass of the window, drifting in and out of sleep, truly exhausted.

"Say what you like, Jenny but I'm the one telling the truth here. And you are gorgeous." Ben said as he fixed the tomato sauce in with the meat before putting his arms around Jenny's waist. "And I am competely, head of heels in love with you."

~~~

Matthew didn't try to reason with Leane as he sped through the streets to her house and didn't bother to wake up as he got out of the car and stormed to the door. Without knocking, Matt was pleased to see the door was unlocked as he burst into the foyer. "Josh?" He called out, sure that he appeared half crazed in the state that he was in. "Josh!" He called again, louder this time.

"I don't know how you fell for me, but I'm very much glad you did," Jenny murmured softly as she rested her forehead against his. "If you want, you can stay here tonight after we get back."

--

Appearing on the landing, Josh looked down to see Matt running through the house. "Matt? Matt! What in the world is going on? Kal, I'll be back in a bit. I think something's wrong," Josh called, first to Matt, then to Kalli who was half clothed in his bedroom.

Wearing only his pants, Josh quickly came down the stairs just as Leane walked through the door, Matt slamming the door having woken her up.

"What's going on?" Josh demanded as he walked over to Leane, caressing her cheek and he brought her eyes to meet his, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just exhausted from practice. Matt refused to let me sleep. He insisted on talking with you about God knows what," Leane said with a frown as she made her way to the living room, her hand taking Matt's and leading him to the couch. "Sit," Leane said with a deeper frown as she took of her jacket and tossed it onto the nearby chair, "and say what you have to say."

Josh, completely out of the loop, merely followed and sat in the other chair beside the couch, confusion apparent on his face. "Will someone tell me what the bloody hell is going on here?"

"Really, Lee? You have no idea what this is about?" Matthew asked, his anger boilind over as his clench fists shook by his side. "I was just coming here to inform you that Kurt attacked your sister today by tugging on her clothes and telling her how they were together. And crazy as it sounds I got a little concerned about this ape harrasing my girlfriend!" Matthew said, seemingly uncapable of lowering his voice as he talked. "Oh and he's the cherry on top! Lee wants to switch schools so she won't have to deal with it." He finished, still standing as his shakig subsided a bit.

Leane blushed as deep scarlet as she pulled her knees to her chest, not looking at Josh.

"Lee, you knew why he came here, didn't you.." Josh said softly, keeping his temper in control, "Why didn't you tell me when it happened?"

"Because I.. He was drunk, I could smell the vodka on his breath.. He's drinking again.. I don't think he'll stop this time.. He's always showing up to school wasted, he's always drinking between classes.. It's my fault.. I just.. I don't want to cause an even bigger issues in the school.. They're already talking about my possible pregnancy, if they started talking about this.. I just.. Josh I.. He's delusional and he's confused.. Josh.. I.. Can't I just.. go to the private school Mom wanted to send me to anyway?"

"No," Josh said firmly as Kalli came down the stairs, fully clothed, and wearing an engagement ring.

"What's all the yelling about?" Kalli asked as she sat on the arm of Josh's chair, "You must be Matt. I'm Kalli, Josh's fiancee. Pleasure to meet you."

"Kurt," Josh began, "has been trying to get into my sister's pants and has this delusional idea that they're dating. Apparently a worse alcoholic than his Father."

"Oh dear.. Lee, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Kal.. I'm sorry for interrupting your celebration, congratulations."

"Thank you, he just proposed about an hour ago," Kalli said with a laugh, "Let me make you some tea."

With that, Kalli placed a tender kiss upon Josh's head before going to the kitchen to prepare some lavender tea.

"Thank you, Matt, for telling me. I know Leane would never have done so. So, since you're a part of this family now, what do you suggest we do, because we're going to do something to stop this. And that doesn't mean you're running away, Leane," Josh added. "That's not like you and you're not going to start acting like that now. If you did, you might as well be having an abortion if you are pregnant because going with the logic, you'd want to run away from your pregnancy too."

That brought the old Leane back, and that made Leane fly off the handle in a long speech full of vulgar words and a long telling off to Josh.

Calm once again, Leane took a deep breath as she steadied her nerves. "Sorry."

"Don't be, that's the reaction I wanted. Now, what are we going to do about Kurt?"

"I don't know." Matthew said as he sunk into a nearby chair, almost completely deflated. "I don't know how to keep her safe. I just wish Kurt would be sent away to some private school." He said as he buried his face in his hands, hating that his girlfriend was put in this situation. "That's why I came to you." He said, looking up at Josh.

"I can't send him away, Matthew. But if neither of you object, I can talk to Jake."

"Jake? But he can't do anything.. There are no witnesses.."

"To his drinking there is, is there not? This.. Kenny character. He could testify to him being drunk and out of it this afternoon, right?"

"Yes," Leane admitted softly, warily.

"Then it's settled. I'll give him a call and meet with him in the morning. For now, get Leane home and get her to bed, she looks like she's going to pass out from exhaustion."

Setting the tea on the table in front of everyone, Kalli sighed as she returned to her place beside Josh and sipped her tea, "Drink your tea first, it will help to calm you. I won't hear of you driving the roads in that fit of rage again."

"Thank you." Matthew said with a warm smile at Kalli. "Its nice meeting you, I'm sorry it was like this." Matthew said as he picked up his tea to be seated next to Leane and wrapped an arm around her waist. "And I'm sorry, Lee. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you." He said sadly before sipping his tea.

"It's alright," Leane said softly as she drank her tea, gulping it down as if it were a shot of whiskey.

"Leane!" Josh said with a laugh.

"What? I'm exhausted and all this yelling as made me thirsty," Leane explained miserably as she leaned into Matt's embrace, "Besides, if it's supposed to help calm me then it needs to start working now."

Kalli simply shook her head as she sipped her tea, "Come on Josh, let's have our tea upstairs, give them some time to sort things out."

Taking her hand, Josh stood with a nod, "We'll see you two tomorrow afternoon, alright?"

Leane nodded as she stifled a yawn.

"Try and get some sleep tonight, it'll all be handled in the morning, I promise," Josh said with a warm smile at Matt before leading Kalli upstairs.

"Can we go home and sleep now?" Leane said with a sigh as she snuggled closer to Matt on the couch.

"Yes, we can." Matthew said softly as he gave her forehead a quick kiss before standing up and leading Leane to the door. "What is Josh going to do to make things better?" He asked softly.

"Jake will go to his house, talk to him. If he sees the delusions, smells the alcohol, etc, then he can arrest him for underage drinking and hold him older for a psych. evaluation. If he proves to me hazardous to me, they can place a restraining order and force him to change schools. It'll be messy, it'll involve people getting questioned, it'll prove to be a nightmare," Leane explained softly as she handed him his coat and put on her own. "You sure you want to do this?"

"Is that even a question Lee?" Matthew asked as he put on his coat before putting an around her shoulders. "I can't have him putting his hands on you like he owns you." He said as he led her out the door and back to his car. "Its disgusting and you can't possibly be okay with it. He is touching you. He's forcing you to let him touch you. How are you okay with that?"

"I'm not.. But what am I supposed to do? I keep thinking of him as the guy I knew before he started drinking again, the guy I knew after he sobered up. He's back to drinking and he's acting foolishly.. And of course I'm not okay with what he's doing, far from it. I'm not a slut, Matthew Sommers," Leane added with a glare in his direction, I just.. I can't help but feel sorry for him.. And something like this will.. It'll follow him forever," Leane added softly before sliding into the passenger seat, "I pity him."

"I know you're not a slut, Leane." Mattew said with an eye roll. "And maybe Kurt was tolerable when he was sober but maybe he needs this to help him get sober again. Drinking sure as hell isn't working out." He said after getting into the car and pulling out of her driveway and starting the drive back to his place. "He can't just keep acting like this. If its not you the its someone else so we need to do something to make it better." He explained.

"I know.. I just.. I hate that I did this to him," Leane whispered softly as she rested her head against the car window, hoping the cool glass would cool her forehead. "Why is it every step I that I take, creates something horrible wrong?"

"Lee, you did not do this to him." Matthew said as he reached a hand over to hold on of Leane's. "Why would you even think somthing like that?" He asked softly as he pulled into his own driveway.

"Because I rejected him.. He's been attached to me for years.. I rejected him, for you, someone he feels is so far beneath him.. He feels as if he's had trash thrown in his face, and I"m the one who left him in the dust. So, he's drinking his misery away.. He stopped drinking when he found out I hated men who couldn't control their alcohol intake.. And now that it doesn't matter what I like, he's worse than what he ever was..." Leane explained softly, not looking at Matt, "So, it's my fault he's the way he is right now.."

"Lee that's crazy." Matthew said as he ran a hand through his hair. Cupping Leane's chin, Matthew brought her eyes to meet his. "You did not force Kurt to start drinking again. He could've said no but he didn't. He needs help for his addiction and you blaming yourself won't help anything." Matthew said softly.

"But.. If I.. If I had been more gentle.. If I hadn't let him get to me..." Leane sighed as she unhooked her seat belt. "Let's talk about it in the morning, okay? For now, lets get some rest before we meet everyone.. I'm going to need it."

"Lee..." Matthew sighed as he got out of the car and led his girlfriend towards the house and into the guest bedroom. "If you don't want to talk about it now that's fine but we will talk about." He promised her.

~~~

"I'd love to stay the night here." Ben smiled at his girlfriend while he mixed the pasta with the tomato sauce. "As long as you promise not to take advantage of me." He winked.

"I know.. I'm just really tired, Matt.. I've had a long day.. Can't I just sleep right now?" Leane asked softly as she changed back into her nightgown, folding her clothes up and setting them on top of her dresser. "Please?" Leane asked as she linked her fingers through his, leading him backwards towards the bed.

--

"I think I may be the one who needs the protecting," Jenny countered with a wink, "Poor helpless blond, in a house all alone with a devilish boy."

Laughing, Jenny added cheese to the top of the pasta dish, along with a dash of breadcrumbs, and popped it in the oven to bake.

"For now, sure." Matthew sighed as he laid down on the bed and pulled Leane gently to his side with his arms wrapping around her waist. "I love you." He murmured softly against her shoulder.

~~~

"Ah but we both know you're the temptress here." Ben laughed as he put his arms around her waist and placed a chaste kiss on her neck. "You just pull the innocent young girl card to fool people into thinking you'd never try to take advantage of me. But I'm on to you, love." He teased.