I ran as fast as I could. I tripped a couple of times, but I managed to stand up and run again. I had memorized the hallways of the school a long time ago, but when I ran, I didn't care where I was so I had no idea where I was running to.

Finally, I got exhausted. I ended up sitting on the floor on a hallway near the Principal's office, which thankfully was empty because everyone had their classes.

I didn't know when it started, but I realized that I was crying heavinly. I was glad I didn't wear make-ups or else I would've looked like Taylor Swift on the Blank Space music video. I sat down and was breathing heavily due to running.

I sat on a corner and covered my eyes with my hands. I couldn't take it anymore. That girl was a monster. NO. She wasn't just a monster. She was more than that. No words on the dictionary was enough to explain what she really was.

What had I ever done to her to hate me like this? I asked myself. I never ever did something this horrible to her. We never really had a huge fight or anything. We just hated each other.

I didn't want to admit it, but a little part of me blamed Ed. If he didn't like Aubrey, I would not have gotten jealous and hater her, and I had a feeling that Aubrey hated me because of Ed too. But I didn't want to blame Ed, even if it really was his fault. I just knew that I couldn't.

I thought I was strong. I thought I was brave. No. I was weak.

I was crying heavily when I felt someone sat beside me. I didn't bother to look up because I knew I looked horrible, but I sensed that it was Ed. If it was Aubrey, she would've ripped my hair off. If it was just a stranger, he/she would've asked what was wrong with me first and not sit beside me immediately. So, it was Ed for sure.

"Leave me alone." I snapped at him, even though I really didn't want him to leave my side. I was actually thankful that he followed me. I would have not known what to do next if he didn't run after me.

"I am not leaving you." He stated. Inside, I was thankful. But I didn't say anything and just continued sobbing.

He realized that I wasn't going to answer him, so he did the talking. "I'm sorry about her, Sidney. I followed you immediately when you ran away." He said. I actually smiled when he said it. I was glad that Inwas covering my face. At least he didn't see me smiling while tears were running down my face.

"I understand that she can be a bit, um, moody sometimes, but I have no idea why she did this to you. I'll talk to her later for you. I'll ask her to apologize to you. I promise. " He said.

I didn't understand why he apologized when it wasn't even his fault. Or when I WANT to think that it wasn't his fault. And he said Aubrey can be a little bit moody? Pffft. Moody was only 2 percent of what she really was. And Aubrey Hart? Apologize? I doubt that would ever happen. It was just simply impossible.

"Ed, I don't understand you." I said between sobs.

"Understand what?" He asked, and I almost felt his face only a few inches away from mine.

I heaved a deep breath. "Why her?" I asked. This time, looking directly at him. I didn't care how I looked that moment anymore. I just want to look at him in the eyes when he answers.

I wanted to ask him, Why like her? She's a monster. Look what she did to me. We've been best friends for years, Ed. Didn't you ever love me back? Why are you picking Aubrey instead of your own best friend? Your best friend that's not as shallow as Aubrey. But all my mouth could manage was those two words.

Just as I expected, he turned his head away. He couldn't face me straight. "You wouldn't understand." He said.

I managed to roll my eyes with tears pouring down from it. "Of course, I wouldn't understand. Because you're not making me understand it!" I screamed.

A bit of me hoped that the Principal wasn't there because I was sure that if he heard me, I would be in big trouble. I already had something to deal with.

"Someday, Sidney. I'll make you understand. Just, not now." He assured, but it wasn't really so assuring. "I know that if I hadn't liked Aubrey and everything, you wouldn't have hated each other. I'm sorry. I'll try my best talking to her." He said like he knew the reason why Aubrey hated me so much. I decided not asking him.

It hurted me so much, but all I said was "Okay."

We just sat there silently at first, but then somehow my best friend managed to make me feel better. My heart still hurted so bad, but I couldn't help but smile at his jokes and stories. He even told me embarassing moments of Aubrey. I felt better. But I still hated Aubrey with all my guts.

Ed helped me stood up and promised to treat me food. Knowing myself, I never say no to food.

"Wait here." He said and went to the counter of the canteen to buy some food. I waited on our table.

My eyes probably still looked swollen, but other than that I thought I looked almost like nothing happened. I just had to sniff a few more times.

Ed was still on the line which was very long, when a witch sat in front of me.

"Hey, crybaby." She greeted. I wanted to rip her hair off, but willed my self against it. I was definitely better than a war freak.

She rolled her eyes at me when I didn't greet her back. "Nice try getting Dylan's attention back at Art Class. Your act was almost believable. Almost. I just didn't buy it. Just remember this, Sidney. You may be his best friend, but I'm the one that he loves. Not you." With that, she left.

My eyes were healing, but I couldn't help it and sobbed again.

I sobbed not because I was scared at her, but because what she said was true. I was only a best friend, and she's the one that Ed really loves. She may be a monster, but Ed loves her. With just that, I'm already defeated.

I saw Ed heading back so I wiped my eyes with so much force that it hurted my lashes.

"Have you been crying again?" Ed asked and I immediately shook my head as a NO. I thought that If I say a word, he would hint on my voice that I really had been crying.

He placed my pizza in front of me, and before he could ask any more questions, I dug in. Ed must've thought that I really was just hungry, because he didn't ask more questions and just ate his lasagna.

I didn't tell Ed about Aubrey.

...

A week before Prom.

...

"How about this?" Kevin asked, showing me a tux the looked exactly the same with the 3 tuxes he showed awhile ago. I didn't even know if there were actual differences.

It was Sunday, which was five days before prom night. Kevin had called me during lunch and insisted that I should come with him buying his tux.

I regretted saying yes.

I was also embarassed to admit that mom had bought me my dress 2 months ago. She was just damn excited.

"It's nice." I only said. I wasn't really a tux expert.

He took it off and looked for another tux again. "Nice isn't going to pass. It had to be amazing. I couldn't be prom king if I don't get to be the best dressed at prom." He said, like it was a matter of life and death.

The idea of prom king and queen again haunted me.

"You're going for prom king?" I asked. Duh. It was obvious.

He stopped and turned to face me with an are-you-serious face. "Of course!" He exclaimed. "Why? Weren't you?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No. I don't want to be prom queen. Just the idea of it makes me want to puke." I explained.

He looked horrified. "Well, I guess we just have to work things out."

I should've know it was coming. I thought. We will never work things out if we're talking about that stupid contest.

I decided to just look around, since I didn't want to deal about that prom king and queen stuff at the moment.

When I turned around, I regretted doing it since I saw the persons I least expected to see. Ed and Aubrey.

Kevin turned around and saw them too. "Oh hey Aubs. Hey Dylan." He greeted. I just stood there silent.

"Hey Kevin!" She beamed at him, again ignoring my presence. She likes to think I'm invisible? Well, I like to think she's a monster in disguise.

Kevin hugged her. "What are you two doing here?" He asked when they both let go.

She shrugged. "Oh nothing. Just finding the perfect tux for Dylan." She waved her hand. She suddenly wrapped her arms around Ed's. "Right, Dylan?"

Poor Ed. All he could do was nod.

"I think we should look for one now. If you may excuse us." She said.

Kevin nodded. "Of course. See you at school tomorrow." He bid goodbye. Aubrey just said an okay, and then dragged Ed away. "Aren't they cute together?" Kevin asked me when they finally left.

I looked at their backs while they were walking away. I hated to admit it, but they did look good together. Both had gorgeous face and perfect bodies. They were like model celebrities. They were perfect.

Stupid Cupid. Why didn't he shoot Ed an arrow for me?

"Yeah." I only managed to say.

It took about another 30 minutes until Kevin finally picked a tux. Here's a thing though. It costed more than what my mom earns in three months.

Well, he's rich. It probably was just a small price for him. I said to myself.

After he bought his tux, he took me to the mall. "What do you want?" He asked out of nowhere.

"What?"

"What do you want? Is there anything you want me to buy you? Clothes? Shoes? Make-ups?" He asked.

I immediately shook my head. "No. I don't want anything." I said to him.

I didn't know if there was dirt on my face, or I said something wrong, but he looked at me and studied me. And the odd thing was, he was smiling.

I just stood there. I didn't know what to act next. I didn't remember any of my textbooks teaching us what to do when a guy stares at you. I kind of wished that they had.

I waved a hand in front of him, and it finally made him come back to his senses. He scratched the back of head. "Sorry. I sometimes forgot that you're not like most of the girls at school." He explained.

I chuckled. "I'm not like them all right." I said, the picture of me shopping for designer clothes and shoes haunting me. I cringed.

"Yeah." He said, chuckling as well. "You're different. And I like it." He smiled at me.

I didn't know why, but I smiled like a maniac at what he said. He liked it that I was different. He liked it that I wasn't like Aubrey or the Gossip Girls. He liked me because I was me.

"Let's go eat?" He suggested. Just the word 'Eat' made my stomach grumble.

My smile grew even wider. "I thought you'd never ask."

Honestly, I thought that he'll take me to some fancy restaurant at the mall, like guys like him usually does, but he surprisingly didn't. He took me to a fast food chain. My favorite one.

"Wait, you eat here?" I asked him in surprise. I was really shocked that he took me to a fast food chain than a fancy restaurant that guys like him usually eat at. Like the one he took me to when he found me alone on the streets under the rain.

Wow. That moment felt like years ago. It even made me and Kevin close to each other.

"Of course!" He exclaimed. "Their cheeseburgers are the best!"

My eyes widened. I nodded. "Yes. Delicious." I agreed. "Have you tried their nuggets?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. I like them especially when they're crispy."

"Yes!" I said, my mouth watering. Well, not literally. "Wow. I never thought you have a side like this."

He looked away. "Yeah." He said, looking a bit embarassed. "You know what, let's just eat." He suggested. I didn't want to tease him or anything, so I just nodded.

Kevin ordered us food that even my weekly allowance couldn't afford. Like, seriously. Burgers, fries, nuggets, sodas, pizzas. They were like unlimited!

I didn't complain though. I don't get this kind of chance everyday.

We sat on a corner, and we were surrounded by school girls and boys from different schools. To our right was a high school couple, probably having a date. But I was just guessing. Some people might've even though that Kevin and I were on a date. Wait, were we?

"Hey, what's this?" He asked, holding a french fry.

I looked at him funny. "Um, fries?" I said, unsure if it was the correct answer. That maybe he was just messing with me.

He gave me the french fry. "Congratulations! Now here's your fries." He joked.

Get it? Fries? Prize? Slowding......

It was lame, but hell I laughed. I had to cover my mouth so I wouldn't look like I choked a watermelon while laughing. "That's so lame." I said to him.

He scoffed. "If it's so lame, why did you laugh?" He defended, though I could tell that he was holding himself from laughing.

I decided to play along. "Hey, what's this?" I showed him a pizza.

"A pizza." He said like he was just saying duh.

I shook my head. "Nope." I said. "It's the thing we write on. A pizza paper."

A peice of paper. Get it? Oh my. I should probably stop explaining my jokes.

He laughed. "Nice one. I didn't know you had a joker side." He said.

I shrugged. "I didn't know you had one either." I said. I looked at him. The rich, handsome, talented guy that was in front of me was actually fun to be with and to talk to. Maybe I was too oblivious to notice it all these time.

All these time, I though all Kevin was thinking was being popular. But no. He likes to have fun.

We exchanged more jokes after that, but I won't write it here because I was too embarassed. Some were funny, but most of them were really lame that even I wanted to punch myself.

For weeks that Kevin and I had been hanging out together, I never would've thought that a snack on a fastfood chain would be the one to make me see and realize his good side. His normal kind of teenager side.

I didn't even notice it, but I forgot about Ed for a while. I forgot how it hurts that he doesn't love me back. I forgot how it hurts to think that he might be enjoying his afternoon with Aubrey. I forgot that I was just his best friend.

I laughed at Kevin's joke. "That was a good one." I said, pointing at him with my french fry. Which after a few seconds, I decided to dulge it in.

"I learned from the best." He said, gesturing his hands towards me.

I shook my head and laughed that my stomach ached.

My pocket started vibrating, but I hadn't answered it because I was too busy laughing. When I finally got a hold of my self, I checked my phone.

My phone displayed a message: 1 missed call from Ed.

I stared at my phone.

"Hey Sidney," he called. "I have another joke."

I debated with my self. Should I ignore Ed's call or call him back?

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"What?" I asked Kevin.

~~~~~~~~~~

Heeeeeeey!

Guess what. My prom is in two days!

And no. This story isn't my prom story.

I really don't have anything to say, so bye!

Z.