Thank you to 80sHoe for the character "Scarlet" :)

Author's Note: I've decided to give the chapters actual titles. Sorry for any confusion. :P

Ever since the rope incident, I had three new friends.

I needed crutches, apparently, while my ankle healed up, even though I thought it really wasn't that bad.

My best friend Scarlet volunteered to carry my books and things for me while I worked the crutches, so it was awesome to get to hang out with her all day between classes.

"Could've been worse," Scarlet said, "You could've landed on your head if those guys hadn't caught you. Who are they again?"

"I don't even really know them. Bill Preston, Ted Logan, and some River kid...,"

"River? Ohh, yeah I think I know him. We've got math together. He's quiet, doesn't do much. At least in math, anyway. And you said Bill and Ted? Like, those guys from the history final?"

"Yeah, those two. They randomly started trying to talk to me yesterday, for the first time all high school, and it just so happened to be the day I almost died."

"You didn't 'almost die,' you drama queen. You didn't even break your glasses." Scar quipped back, rolling her eyes.

"Put my books in my bag, loser, and get to class," I smirked, kicking her in the leg with my good foot.

"I'll catch you later, nerd," she grinned, flashing me a rock on sign and going merrily about her day, fixing her Van Halen shirt as she left.

Crutches were difficult to work, at first, but I ended up getting the hang of it.

At least the crutches gave me something to talk about with Bill, Ted, and River.

"Was your fall really that bad?" Ted asked, looking apologetically at my crutches when I went into history class.

I shook my head. "I've had worse. The doctor just said I should use these for a little while. I think they're pretty pointless. Just a twist."

I stopped before I reached my seat to talk to Bill, who was in front of Ted.

"Bill, how's your nose?"

Bill grinned and gave me a thumbs up. "No damage done, dude. No worries." Bill and Ted shared and air guitar riff and smiled.

I settled into my seat like it was nothing, resting my crutches against my good leg. Luckily, there was no gym today. I don't know how I'd be able to face that whole class again after embarrassing myself that badly.

I had a study hall instead of gym, but that was only because the music history classes were filled. Scarlet got into music history, so she often let me read over her notes.

I was big into music, but with my distaste for being in front of people, I fancied the business end of it more: getting gigs and setting the stage, running focus groups to find out the newest craze, and reading into the numbers to figure out today's top 20.

Scarlet was into music for Eddie Van Halen. She looked up to him in every sense of the word. She was really enjoying her music class for this exact reason.

Thinking about the prospect of managing or watching out for a band or musician in that way had me zoned out on the back of Ted's head. Again.

The class giggled and snapped me back into the now.

"Miss Elwood?"

"Eddie Van Halen?" I blurted out, since that was the first thing on my mind.

The class erupted in laughter. My face burned.

The class settled.

"So, Miss Elwood, you're telling me that the leader of the French army... is Eddie Van Halen?"

The class burst out laughing again. I wanted to die.

Bill turned around and hit Ted on the arm. "I knew it!" He shouted.

"You know, dude, Napoleon Bonaparte did enjoy the music of Van Halen when he visited San Dimas in 1988, so it only makes sense...," Ted took my answer and ran with it, which was relieving and hilarious at the same time.

Thank God for Bill and Ted. Only they could possibly make me feel good about that answer.

***

As it turns out, I had study hall with River all along. I never really bothered to notice, since I sat toward the front of the room while he was in the back, but today as I scoped out my seat, I felt a pair of arms around me, taking the books from my grip.

I was tempted to scream, but I was glad that I didn't, since it was only River, trying to help.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Hey. River, right?"

He nodded. "Lemme help you out. Lucky, right?"

"Yeah. Thanks. You don't really have to--"

"Yeah I know," he smirked a little, almost dancing around me to get to two seats together. "I want to."

I grinned and sat next to him, and he put the crutches out of the way.

"Sorry about your leg,"

"It's really not as bad as the doctor made it look. I feel fine. I'm sorry if I accidentally punched you when I fell."

River laughed, so that was a good sign, then there was a moment of silence. I clicked my pen for something to do with my hands. When I get awkward, I need something to occupy my hands or else I fidget.

"So what music do you like?" River finally asked. Ugh, small talk, I'd rather you kill me now instead.

"I listen to a lot of everything, really. What about you?"

He shrugged, "Yeah, me too basically. You play anything?"

I shook my head. "Never had talent in that field. I tried guitar for a while but couldn't get the hang of it. I've always preferred the behind-the-scenes of the music industry anyway.... like I'd rather be a manager than a rockstar."

"I think you're the first person I've talked to who said that...," River started, then he zoned out for a minute as if lost in a thought. When he snapped back, he looked excited.

"You remember Bill and Ted, right?"

"Yeah...?"

"They've got a band. You should see if they need a manager!"

I liked that he was trying to set me up with a job like that, but I wasn't sure just how useful a manager would be to a garage band. Besides, I hardly knew any of these guys, so suggesting that I try and manage their band just seemed ridiculous. I didn't tell River this, of course.

"Oh yeah? Tell ya what, if you think they can use me, sent them my way. What's their band name?"

"Wyld Stallyns," he told me. It's catchy. I like it.

"Nice. Okay, I'll do it. One condition."

"Yeah, and what's that?"

"You gotta help me," I was half serious, half joking, but it was true. If Wyld Stallyns was really going to let me manage the band, it would be my first attempt at what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

From what it sounded like, they didn't just need a manager. Bands needed staging, sound, lights, gigs, working instruments, security, a set list...

I wasn't expecting them to let me do it, of course, but if River followed through and got me the position, I'd need help.

"Hmmm," he pondered, looking up at the ceiling in thought. "Okay, deal. I'll talk to the guys."

"You really don't have to--" I reminded.

"I know," his eyes glinted mischievously, "I want to."