After the party I hung out with Kat almost all the time. We went to her house and the mall so many times that I lost track. Not to mention, I probably lost some weight trying to catch up with that psycho as she strolls from Spencer's to American eagle. Don't ask-I have no idea why she chose those two. I guess they're just her trademark stores or something. But unfortunately, as much as I love running a mile in converse to try to catch up with a crazed shopaholic in stilettos, today I left early because my mom wanted me to come with her to Karen's volleyball game.

That's gonna suck.

Just as I was walking away from her driveway, something weird happened...

Someone called me.

I swear, it's the weirdest thing ever when I get a phone call. Usually, I end up dropping my phone on my face or throwing it against a wall because the vibration caught me by surprise. What? You never know if the aliens are trying to burn off your hands with new spacey technology. NASA probably doesn't tell us everything.

But this time was different. I'm surprised I didn't need to buy a new phone again.

"Hello." The person said. Their voice was smooth and clear. It reminds me of this really good smoothie I bought at Jamba Juice last week.

"Hi? Who is this?" My voice is raspy and gross sounding which is left over from yesterday. I hate it. I guess paint-balling is more painful than people make it sound. So much paint... Makes me shiver just thinking about it.

"Johnny."

I think I just choked on my own lungs just now.

"Um hi Johnny?" I croaked after I was done trying to not choke on my origins. I figure I might need them later...

"What's with the confused tone?" Johnny said completely oblivious of how weird this really was. It's pretty good that he didn't notice, though because I was as flustered as anyone could even imagine but times ten. Maybe it's just first-couple-phone-calls-gitters if that's even a thing.

"Sorry this is really weird you never really talked to me ever before."

"I know," Johnny paused with a nervous sigh. Wow. Did I actually manage to get him nervous? Johnny-smoothest smoothie there ever was sounds as flustered as I am. Point one for Rachel?

Then he continued, "I-I just wanted to talk to someone nice." Stutter? Wait-did I do that? Looks like everything's coming up Rachel.

But you see, a normal girl like me who hasn't gotten a chance to take a spin with love or dating would have swooned over this and immediately would explode love at this poor soul but I guess I'm just too fabulous for that.

"How did you get my number again? Have you been stalking me?"

"What? No! Kurt gave it to me a while ago." Aha I think I'm good at this talking on the phone thing. Look at me-still got the upper hand on this jock-roach of a baseball pro.

That could make the times magazine or something. Can you see it? 'Jock-Roach embarrasses the shit out of himself as the outsider gets the upper hand.' Sorry if that's a basic name. I like to keep it strait forward without all that extra crap that attempts to make it sound more interesting than it actually is.

"Oh. Anyways, what brings you to call me on this fine day?" At times I try to be classy. You never know when times like these show up so if they do while you're here, you're awful fucking special my friend. I think...

"You sound so charming Rache." What did I say? Works on anyone. I swear, it's like a spell I use as a secret weapon.

"I know-ha, not to brag but, I've been practicing."

"Wait what? Really?"

"No."

Idiot.

"Well anyways, I just really need someone to talk to because..." He took a great sigh and then continued and his voice starting to break.

"Ally broke up with me because she said I was, and I quote, 'A freaking idiot that doesn't even know how to make his girlfriend happy.' "

Well damn-she's a cold girlfriend. Seriously, what gives her the right to talk to someone like that?

Okay, Rachel. You've got this. Wait-I've never done this. I've never comforted someone when they were dumped or whatever. How am I supposed to just... Do it? Do I pretend I know what he's going through and give him fake empathy? Everyone knows those feelings are forced and it always makes you feel worse than you already do...

Okay, okay, think. What do I do best? Nice isn't really my thing... Maybe I'll try something else...

"Well... One thing's for sure, someone's girlfriend definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." I huffed.

"Ha-yea." Johnny said with a sad sounding chuckle. It was defiantly forced. What? I told you I'm new at this!

Wait-was that rude? What if he still loves her or whatever? Oh lord-I think he does...

"Oh my god I'm so sorry! I didn't realize how rude that sounded." I said through the phone.

"No, it's fine. I don't care." He sounded even worse now. What do I do? Do I send a panda to his house or something?

"No, seriously, that was really rude. Maybe I should um..." Gosh I suck at cheering people up... Geez gotta think fast...

"Call up my fellow gang members from the hood and we can turn her into a banana smoothie after we go get our vodka from the bar. Wanna come? We've got lots of Mary Jane to pass around but it's a bring your own smoking pipe. Oh and not to mention-We're getting matching unicorn tats soon." God I suck at accents. Man-I really need a better 'how to' for dummies.

After I was done being an idiot Johnny chuckled at the fact that I just had to say something about weed. Oh well-not my fault I have a demented mind.

But this time it was a realer sounding laugh with made me less worried.

"Man-you really know how to cheer a guy up Rache." Rewarded with a compliment. Well dang-pretty good for my first swing at it if I do say so myself.

"Maybe we should hang sometime. Wanna come over to my place tomorrow after school?" Johnny seemed slightly happier now but holy crap. Did he just say that? Or am I hallucinating again... No. No, no, no, no. I won't do it! No! I refuse to walk into an embarrassing future!

"Hello? Rachel are you still there?"

"My cat likes eating tubs of mayonnaise."

"What?"

"What?"

My young grasshoppers, tip to people number one: if you aren't sure about what you're going to answer when someone invites you somewhere alone, say something random really quickly and that just might give you some stalling time to think without making it seem like stalling. Always works for me. Not that I've really been invited to many things...

"Never mind anyways, you wanna chill at my place just as friends?"

"Um... Sure sounds great."

"Thanks why don't we meet at the library tomorrow after classes so we can get out before the rest of the school does."

"Kay see you there." I said as I hung up.

Crap wait, what did I just get myself into? Hmm this could be difficult... Ten bucks says I screw up before he says anything to me. I couldn't decline his request though... I mean-why work so hard to get him happy so I can make him sad again? I may be an idiot, but I'm not stoopd.

***

The next day at school we talked a bit more than usual. He smiled a lot more at me in the halls and stuff too. It was a nice feeling to get a new friend. I learned a bit more about him and he learned a bit more about me. It kind of reminds me of how Native Americans traded for supplies with colored beads and stuff except they did this in person and we kind of just passed notes during class.

Not only did I learn his favorite animals are sting rays, but he plays the guitar so we're probably gonna hang out again sometime and do a couple duets or whatever. He's pretty sweet if I do say so myself.

But he's really intimidating... At some points during classes we have together I find him starring at me just to stare. He does it so shamelessly and it makes me feel small-like everything about me is wrong. I don't really like it..

Whatever. Today is better than usual. I shouldn't be picking out every detail of something that didn't end with me being viciously insulted by jerks.

Wait.

Someone's coming towards my locker.

Oh lord. Someone get me a helmet and a body guard. That someone is Ally Spragslut-er I meant Spraggler.

Ugh. What does she want?

"Hey nerd. We're friends right?"

Uh... hell no.

I guess today was one of Ally's days where she dresses more like a huchimama than usual because I looked over and her shorts looked like a thong and a half and her tank top was pretty much just a bunch of cleavage with straps. I think I puked in my mouth when she bounced over to me, almost as of trying to make a statement that her plastic surgery self was wearing a bra from Victoria's Secret that's not one, but two sizes too small for those beach balls that she claims are real.

"Um sure. Whatever makes you sleep at night." I roll my eyes as I take out my books.

"Shut up, bitch. I was trying to be nice."

"Well," I sigh with my little pouty face, "we all fail at something, sweetie. It's okay, you'll get it someday." I turn to leave but before I know it, she's shoved my body backwards and has me pinned against my own locker and looks me dead in the eyes.

"Okay I'm going to ask you one more time to shut up before I get my new boyfriend to beat your flat ass." She sounds so pissed. Ha-job well done, Rachel.

"Damn-calm your taco. I'm listening." I chuckle with a stone cold glare. Ah-me and my choice of words. No one said I was normal.

"Anyways, I wanted to know what you're doing with my ex."

"What's it mean to you?" I snap. Told you, I may be shy, but I can stand up for myself when I want to.

"I may hate your guts and all, but be careful around that one. He's an asshat." She smiles as she frees me and walks away.

Wait-what?

Why does she care about me? I mean-we use to be best friends but it all ended when I on accident cut off like half of her hair when we were playing hair salon. That's probably why I have like no friends now but oh well. It's the past.

How could he be as bad as she says? She's never cautious around guys so this must be a bad one. I just can't really see him being bad. I mean-sure he brings up drama every now and then and I have no idea what he is talking about... But I guess I just have to bat my eyes and play dumb for a little bit. I can act right?

"Did you hear about the fight with Brian and Brittany?" He asks as he bights into an apple at the 'popular' people's table. He made everyone make space for me. It was sweet but weird. Why is this all happening now? Why is he suddenly my friend? I get his girlfriend dumped him like the slut she is but, seriously-why me?

Now you may think 'oh hey let's watch her get flustered and face plant but with her words while she pretends to know what drama he's talking about.' Well too bad; that's not gonna happen.

"Oh yeah. That was heated. Didn't they break up?"

What? If I agree with everything and come up with a question about it it will be more convincing and usually I'm good at guessing what happened. This way it's like I actually socialize instead of staying far away from drama. Although, it's weird that he gossips like this. I would have thought guys don't care about fights and stuff.

"Yeah. God-it even ended with him getting slapped for cheating for so long."

"Whooyeah! Go Britt!" I must sound so stupid right now...

"I know right." We're both laughing and everyone around us seems to be listening in on our conversation. It's weird how stalkish people are these days...

While having this conversation, we're both so calm and it's all great but I can't help but think of how nervous I am to go into his house. I've never been in anyone's house besides Kat's and Kurt's. I wonder what it's going to look like. Should I expect him to have a big house or a small one?

Oh lord.

I have to meet his parents.

Parents don't typically like me. As hard as I try to be an angel child or friend to theirs, they always end up glaring at me at least four times when they think I'm not looking. Maybe they judge me because of my other friend choices or something... Whatever. I don't care enough to find out why.

I remember I saw Gary (drummer from my old band) and his family at a school thing and his mother looked like she wanted to shank me. I remember the grim look that seemed to be glued to her face whenever I was within a mile away from her. Too bad honey, I'm one of his closest friends so you better get used to me.

It's probably because Gary is a mama's boy who's mother always seems to need to spoil the living hell out of him. She always treats him like her little award winning show dog, but I'm fine with that because I happen to know he is not quite the angel child she thinks he is. Let's just say, he's lucky he called the right person when asking to be bailed out for shop lifting. I don't care-as long as I know the truth about people, you get a happy Rachel versus a nasty grumpy Rachel.

But this time I think I might actually care just a little bit more than usual and it's freaking me out a little bit. I guess it's just weird feeling like this. After lunch I went to each class like I wasn't really there. The classes breezed by and I hardly payed attention. It would be easier not to zone out if I cared. Anyways, I already know what I need to.

The time has come. I'm so nervous to be alone with him... I go back to my locker and fix my hair after grabbing my bag.

"Hey Rache." I turned around in the halls on my way to the library and am startled to see Victor behind me holding some books.

"Oh... Um hi, Vic." I say. I can feel heat radiating off of my as he walks towards me. I might be able to keep my cool with Johnny, but I think Vic is the only one who I can't pretend with.

"You look nice," he flashes a sideways grin and almost makes me melt. "Where are you headed? Isn't it a bit early to have your backpack with you?" He's so close to me. My heart's beating so fast as we continue walking to the library.

"I-I'm going to the... The library to m-meet up with someone and um chill at uh... his place." Dang-I didn't know I could stutter that much. Now I know how Johnny boy felt when he was talking on the phone with me.

"Oh so how is Kurt now a days anyway?" His smile is leveled out into a normal smile and it's so cute.

"Great, but how does that have to do with me hanging out with someone?" Sometimes it takes a couple sentences for me to get used to it and stop stuttering.

"Well I figured he was the guy you were hanging out with."

"Um... It's actually not him."

"Then who is it?"

"Hey Rachel." We both look up to see Johnny getting up from a seat not too far from the entrance of the library. "Ready to go?"

"Wait-" Victor says before I could answer Johnny. "You're going with him?" He says as he raises his right eyebrow.

"Yeah. Is there a problem with that?"

"No," he sighs, "I just didn't expect him to be your type."

"Type? Like for dating?"

"Yeah. Aren't you two going on a date?"

"What does that mean to you, Victor." I turn to see Johnny starring daggers at him as he spits out his name like it's acid in his mouth. This is starting to get a bit too intense for me.

I see they're arguing now but it's like the world's sounds are fuzzed out. They look so angry with each other and I don't know why. Is this my fault?

Soon my vision becomes blurry as my body goes to greet the floor. Now I can only see darkness.

***

"Shit. This is all your fault!"

"How is it mine?!"

"If you didn't start treating her like she's not allowed to hang out with people then maybe, she wouldn't have fainted!"

"It was the arguing that did it!"

"It only happened because I had to stand up to your messed up self!" Johnny said with a pissed off voice.

I shouldn't let them continue.

"Would you two both shut up? You're giving me a headache."

"Sorry." I could have died laughing when they said that at the same time if they didn't both start arguing again on who was more sorry.

It's almost like they were little kids. But it's kind of confusing that Victor cares and now Johnny is all defensive even though we're just hanging out as friends... Man my head hurts. I just want to go home. I hate it when people argue. That's all my parents did before my dad died. Ok, Rachel. Think. What's a good accuse?

Since the boys have moved a bit far away and behind a book case so it gets rid of my headache a bit quicker, I quietly grab my phone out of my pocket and text Kat to call me.

When my phone rings both the guys stop arguing and look over towards me. Ah, silence is good.

"Hello?" I say when I pick up.

"Hey gurll sup?"

"Oh my god really?" Did I tell you I was in a school play and played a girl who's just found out her dog got hit by a car? Well I did. Not saying I was very convincing though... Fake crying isn't really my thing so I guess I'll just have to dull down on it a bit.

"Really what? Wait I'm confused, did I miss something? Wh-"

"I'll be right there don't worry." I hang up and look at them both, "Sorry, something's come up and I need a lift to Kat's house."

"Oka-"

"Sure." Surprisingly, Johnny is interrupted by Victor who is now getting more death glares. Oh lord have mercy. I really am not in the mood to hear more of their stupid arguments about god only knows what.

"Well actually I thou-" Before I knew it I was cut off too by Johnny.

"It's fine. Why don't we hang out tomorrow instead Rache?" Wait-I'm so confused. Didn't he want to hang out with me in the first place? Why give this ride away to Vic? I love Victor but really? You're just going to throw me away like that? Real classy Johnny Boy.

"Okay..." I say as I turn towards the door and Victor leads me with his arm around me to keep me steady since I just fainted not too long ago.

We walked into the parking lot and I saw his car. It's so familiar to me from when we used to hang out everyday for studying. Too bad it had to stop when he got her. She's always better than me for some reason. So good, that she took him from me. When he got Angela, he stopped talking much at all to me and started studying with her instead of me. Then after that, he kept getting girlfriend after girlfriend after girlfriend.

But I still love him and I still feel safe in his yellow truck. I love how it smells like him, how the seats still manage to be soft even though it's leather, and how the windshield always has this smudge in the bottom left corner that  always bothers him to no end when the whippers never seem to get that one spot during the rain. It just feels right to be in that car with him beside me. I wonder if he ever felt like this with me in his car. It sure would make me feel special if he did...

"So um," I say as he starts the engine, "how come you seemed to have a problem with me hanging out with Johnny?"

He pauses as if trying to steady himself as he gets onto the main road.

"I just didn't want to see you get hurt is all." His eyes flicker away from the road for a split second to see my face in it's confused glory.

"Hurt?" Now this should be interesting...

"Johnny isn't exactly the best guy to hang around with. He treats girls nicely at first but then crushes their hearts into a million pieces and I just don't want to see that happen to you." He sighs and I can feel some sort of feeling radiating off of him. It feels like jealousy but I know it isn't. He only sees me as a friend. Even if he broke up with Angela and all his other girlfriends a while ago, it's still true. I hate to say it, but it's always been true.

"I'll be fine, Vic. I always am. Don't worry about me." I say as I put my hand on his free hand.

"Just try to be careful, okay?" He says with a sad smile as I get out of his car. That was weird... Why does he care so much? I already know he doesn't feel the same way.

Why are two people who haven't ever looked over in my direction before trying to help me be against a guy who is just my friend? I get he's slept with a bunch of girls but that's hormones right?

"Aye wassup chikita? That phone call not too long ago was pretty confusing." Kat said when she opened her door to let me in.

"I just needed a reason to get away from there."

"Wait-didn't you say you were going out with Jocky McBaseball Douche-er I mean... Johnny... Aha looks like I uh... Slipped on my wording..." She said with a smirk.

"Well see," I say as I bite my lip and look around, "um... Well Victor caught me in the halls on my way to meet up with Johnny and stuff um... Stuff happened."

"Wanna talk about it with Mr. Popcorn and Mr. Comedy movie?"

"Yeah. Sounds good."

***

"I don't know if the time we spend together will ever be enough, so let's start with forever."

"Edward! You sly dog with you're damn pick up lines. Gotta get you a better 'How to' book for dummies." Kat laughed as she threw popcorn at his face and booed him.

She definitely is unique...

"So wait, they seriously argued over you like little kiddies fighting over the last chocolate bar?"

"Pretty much..."

"But Vic doesn't like you like that. If he did, he wouldn't be the jerk he is that watches you wither in pain of knowing he always ends up liking someone else."

"That's what keeps me confused."

"I don't even want to get into the warning from queen silicone."

"Yeah I don't care about her. She's probably just trying to make sure I don't ever get into a relationship. Not that that would even be possible with Johnny."

"Want me to try and figure out what's up with my little henchmen?" You may be confused to what Kat means by henchmen. I was too until I realized she's got blackmail on pretty much everyone she hates. So just know that whenever you do something sleazy, she'll always be the first to know and the only until you treat her or her friends wrong.

One time this person broke into her locker and tried to steal something so then she got her jockies to beat him up since they love her like a sister and she could easily publish their sex life in the school newspaper since she's the head of the school newspaper team and the editor. I guess they just don't need their many girlfriends knowing how many times they were cheated on.

Long story short, the guy's nose was broken and he decided to transfer out of our darling school.

"Eh... Sure. I just wish I didn't have to listen to them argue. I would have liked to actually hang out with Johnny. He's actually not that bad of a person when you get to know him."

"Oh my god. MY LITTLE RACHEL IS ALL KISSY KISSY WITH A BOY! I'VE GOTTA TELL THE WHOLE WORLD! OH MY-AND KURTS GONNA BE SO PROUD!"

"Ah hell no! He is not my type. It's like he's meant to be Ken and he deserves a Barbie doll with 'brown' eyes. Anyways, he probably isn't interested in me as it is. Why should I even get my hopes up?" I say as I cross my arms and roll my eyes like a three year old.

"But-" Kat wined back.

"Yeah okay, Alice. You have fun dreaming in your own wonderland."

"Wait but you are hanging out with him tomorrow right?"

"I think so..."

"See?! This is perfect! I totally ship it!"

Lord help me she sounds like a fangirl. A fangirl.

***

Um I'm sorry-it still sounds like a child wrote this even though I've tried re-writing like three times now... Lord help me and my horrible writing skills lol. I rephrased some things but that's like all I did XD might go back and try again later with this chapter.