I paused from laughing, having to calm down a bit. "Wait, wait. Remember the time when one of you guys switched my soda with Red Bull?"

Parker laughed. "Oh yeah, I remember. We poured out the soda from the same can you bought in the vending machines and filled it with Red Bull. When you weren't looking someone, I think Blake, switched the sodas." He explained before taking a bite of his burger.

I laughed along with him. "The whole day, I couldn't sit still. I was literally shaking in my seat. I couldn't even hold my pencil right!"

Parker and I were eating in a local burger joint a few blocks from the school that kids rarely go. The last thing we want is for people to see a nerd and a jock socializing with each other much less get the wrong idea. I mean, it might possible for them to like each other in books or movies, but this is real life, remember? So we were sitting in a booth at the secluded corner of the joint. At first we planned to keep quiet voices, trying not to grab any attention. But we immediately forgot about it once we started talking. We always kept on laughing, turning a few heads towards us, but we ignored them.

For someone who bullied me for a number of years, he was actually a decent guy. He always did his best to make me laugh, which he did a lot. When I always talked, he'd listen attentively as if I was still tutoring him and he was listening to my explanation. And to be honest, now that I really see it he was pretty cute. The way his brown hair, a bit messed up bed hair at the front, some of the bangs hanging over his blue eyes. But now that I have a good look at them, it also had a tint of green on it, a bit of a sea green color. And how his charming smile always makes me-

I paused. What was I doing? Was I actually studying him? Actually (gulp) checking him out? I know I told him I forgave him and all. But we still had that history of bully and victim, jock and nerd. I was still wary of him, but Parker didn't seem to mind about that all. He talked to me like we were old friends, not minding about our history maybe because I told him I forgave him and he no longer has to feel guilty. And I don't think he has to. That shouldn't stop us from talking about something we have in common. The pranks he pulled and I fell for.

"I remembered in, I think," I paused to think about it, "either in my sophomore or junior year, I opened my locker and a bunch of paint balls shot at me."

"It was sophomore year," Parker told me, remembering this. "The guys all chipped in to rent a paintball gun. And we got a couple of nerds to set up the gun so when you open it, it would automatically hit you. Sorry about that."

I waved him off. "It's alright. I still have the shirt, actually, I even wear it sometimes. It gives of a... paintball theme, y'know?" The both of us laughed together.

"How about the time when someone put peanut butter on your seat in freshman year?" Parker asked me.

I groaned, but then laughed. "That was so embarrassing. I didn't notice until I sat down in my next class when I felt the squish. It looked like I crapped myself." I looked at him, glaring at him playfully.

Parker put his hands up in defense. "Hey, hey, it was Kaleb's idea. I swear!"

I nodded, taking a sip of my soda, the very same kind of soda on the prank. "Then who's idea was it to put itching power in my P.E shirt in junior year?"

Parker paused to think about it, taking a few french fries as he thought. "I think it was either Paul or his girlfriend Bella. I know for sure Bella was the one who put the itching powder."

"Yeah, I think she was," I said, thinking it over. "I remember her telling one of the teachers she forgot her combination, so they opened up her locker. What I didn't know was that the locker was actually mine. When I put my shirt back on, I couldn't stop scratching, I had a huge rash all over my body. When I tried to switch shirts, they snuck more powder on it as I took the other shirt off. The rest of the day I was wearing one of those huge hand me downs and covered with itching cream." I laughed at that. "At least I got to leave school early and didn't come back for a week."

Parker played with the straw of his drink. "Yeah, I think they threw a party in celebration for that."

I took a bite of my burger before swallowing. "Was it fun?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "At first, but then it got boring and I left early."

"Really?" I asked, not believing him. "Parker O'Neil, also known as Party Parker got bored at a party? I don't believe it."

"Believe it or not. It got lame, I didn't feel like in the partying mood that night."

I said nothing and continued eating my burger. Parker had stopped eating and was just drinking his soda, watching me as he did. I paused from eating, suddenly feeling a bit self conscious.

"What are you looking at?" I asked. "Is there something on my face?"

His eyes looked down at his drink as he shook his head. "No, there's nothing."

"You sure?" I asked, grabbing a napkin but Parker stopped me, grabbing my wrist.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Oh," I said, my cheeks suddenly turning warm. "Okay."

"I-it was just..." He paused, thinking of what to say. "I never saw a girl eat a burger like that."

"What? Double burger, extra cheese, hold the onions? I just didn't feel like having onion breath, that's all."

He laughed. "No, not that. Just the burger entirely. From the girls who hang out in lunch, I thought a girl's diet consists of salads and water."

I snorted. "Yeah, sure, if you want to die of starvation. I don't get those girls. Actually watching their weight for their body. They are actually starving themselves when there are people in other countries who are just starving."

Parker said nothing and continued to listen.

"What I like to do," I said, leaning close to him like I was telling a secret, "when I go to malls and into the food court, I buy burgers, pizzas, soda, the works. Then I sit next to a table of girls who are eating nothing but salads. And I just chow down." I smiled at the memories. "Of course, they would tell me I was disgusting for eating that crap. But I could actually hear their stomachs growling that said otherwise."

The both of us burst into laughter.

"You're not like most girls, Naomi," Parker told me.

"Is that a good thing?" I asked him.

He thought it over, a smile then forming on his lips. "Yes, yes it is."

"Well, you're not like most jocks," I told him.

"I take it that's a good thing?" He asked hopefully.

I pondered over it, tapping my chin thoughtfully. Then I looked back at him and smiled. "Yes, it definitely is." We both shared the same smile.

"Tell me about yourself," he asked me.

I raised an eyebrow. "Parker, you've been bullying me for years. Don't tell me you don't know a single thing about me."

His eyes looked down at his half eaten burger. "I don't," he admitted. "I mean, I know some things, but not enough. I've been doing this for years and I don't even know the first thing about you. I don't know enough about you to know why exactly I hate you, why exactly I bully you. Can you believe that?" Parker shook his head. "I can't believe it myself, it's so sick."

I couldn't believe it either. For years him and the other guys on the football team have been bullying me. And they don't even know the first thing about me. My story, my life, anything. Then I thought, if Raymond's own friends don't know anything about me, what about other kids in school? Do they also not know a single thing about me? They've been bullying, ignoring, scorning me for years, and they can't even say what's my favorite color?

"I know that you're a nerd," Parker managed. "You have straight-A's, an easy target to bully, and that Raymond hates your guts."

I smiled. "Well, you got that right."

"Tell me more, then," he asked me, finally looking at me again.

I thought for a while. "I'm going to turn 18 next year at March 14. I'm an only child, though I wish I have a big brother." 

"How come you want an older brother?" Parker asked me.

I shrugged. "I guess I just want someone to protect me, I guess." Though now that I think of it, I already have three big brothers.

He nodded, getting it.

"My favorite color is purple and I hate the color orange, I don't know why, I just do. I don't have a favorite band, but I like genres like rock, punk, pop, stuff like that. I don't have a favorite author or book either, but I like romance and comedy books, in a whole range of genres like adventure, fantasy, science fiction and so on. I'm a dog person and allergic to flowers."

"You're allergic to flowers?" Parker asked me.

"Yeah, no one knows this, not even Raymond. If he did, he would have stuffed flowers everywhere, and I'd be sneezing like I've in snorting pepper-" Parker laughed at this "- And it's pretty good, too. I mean, what are the chances will a bully actually give me flowers?"

"Yeah, you have a point."

"Your turn," I told him.

"Okay," he said, dramatically clearing his throat and straightening an imaginary tie, making me laugh. "My birthday already passed over the summer-"

"Happy late birthday," I said, then apologizing for interrupting him.

"It's alright, and thanks," he said before continuing. "I have an older brother who's in college, his name's Paris. My favorite color is blue, but I like orange, sorry. But I'm a dog person, so that must make up for it. I'm into metal rock, but don't tell anyone I said this, but I also like country."

I gasped, and said in disbelief. "No."

He nodded grimly. "Yes. My dad used to play country albums for hours, it's the only thing he listens. Before I hated it, but soon I got so used to it, I actually liked it." He smiled at the memory. "I don't read, obviously, but I remember reading The Outsiders back in seventh grade English. I actually read it, and it was pretty good. My favorite quote is-"

"'Stay gold, Ponyboy'," we said in unison before laughing together.

"Tell me a story no one knows," I asked him. "I'll tell you one, too."

"Okay, let me think of one," Parker said, trying to remember a story. And when his face lit up, it told me he remembered. "No one knows this, it was a couple months after my dad... left..." He trailed off and looked at me in embarrassment. "I'm sorry Naomi, I never told you this."

"Your dad left you?" I asked quietly.

He nodded, his voice changing from excited to sad. "Yeah. He left when my brother was nine, giving him the car, and I was six. Just up and left, leaving my mom with us."

"Parker, I'm so sorry."

Parker shook his head. "It was so long ago, it's alright. You don't have to be sorry."

"No, I am. I know how it feels like," I admitted.

"Really? How?"

"When I was six too, my best friend left me, just moved away." I told him, my voice so soft.

"You had a-" He caught himself and reddened. "Naomi, I am so-"

I chuckled at this. "No, it's fine. I'd be surprise too if I found out the school loner actually had a friend once."

"What was she like?" Parker asked me.

"He actually," I corrected. "And he was my first best friend, you can never forget that. He was funny, wearing a goofy grin on his face, always doing stupid things to make me laugh. He was always proud, always made up these outrageous lies. No one believed him, but I did. Sometimes I thought he made them up to impress me. And he was so sweet, always giving me a half of his chocolate cookies, pushing me at the swings, letting me win games we played..." I trailed off and shook the thought away. "But that was such a long time ago. I don't even think I remember what he looks like." I looked back at Parker. "I'm sorry for interrupting your story, continue."

"No, it was alright," he said, smiling. "Well I was six, in first grade. I had this teddy bear-" he blushed at admitting this, but I told him to keep going, so he did "-my parents bought it for me when I was really little and I never let him go. I called him TD, short for well, y'know." I laughed at this. "Anyway, after playing in a park all day, I got tired and fell asleep. When I woke up I was in my bed. The thing is... TD was gone."

"What?" I demanded, ignoring his snort at my seriousness in this story.

"Yeah, I must have accidentally left him in the park and my parents didn't pick him up." He explained to me. "When I told my parents, they told me we would go look for him the next day. I hate to admit it but I had a huge tantrum, cried for hours. And my brother was no help, calling me cry baby and other stuff. My parents had enough and sent me to my room early, him too. And it wasn't that I couldn't last one day without TD, it's just I can't sleep without him." Parker took a deep breath. "So I did what any logical six year old would do."

"And what's that?" I asked him.

"I crept down the stairs at the middle of the night, put on a jacket and shoes, then left the house." He told me simply, laughing when he saw my jaw drop. "And it wasn't easier than I thought. Whenever my parents drove me to the park, I never watched which way they drove, I was too busy playing with TD. So for hours, way past my bedtime, I walked up and down the streets, calling out his name. I finally gave up and wanted to go back home, only I didn't know how to get back home. So I just sat down on a street curb and started to cry."

"Then what happened?" I pressed.

"A voice asked me, 'Why're you crying, boy?'," He told me, mimicking a low, gruff voice. "I looked up and I saw the biggest guy I have ever seen. He had two other friends, one tall and skinny, the other short and stumpy. From the way they dressed, it wasn't until years later I realized they were gang members-" I flinched at that, but he didn't notice and continued. "When he asked me that, I sniffled, wiping my tears and told him my story. He shared a look with his friends and then he asked me the name of the park, so I told him it's Valley Park."

I looked at him. "Valley Park? It's just a couple of blocks away from here, you could just walk there."

"That's what he told me" he said with a laugh, "Then he took my by the hand and walked me towards the park. I could barely hold his hand, I could only grab one of his fingers. I kept calling him Bear, making him and his friends laugh. When we reached the park, I ran towards the playground and found TD who was just under the slide. When I went back to the three, I introduced them to TD, telling TD that I made another Bear friend. After that, they walked me back to my house after a couple of tries. I surprised them by giving them each a hug. Then I waved goodbye to them, both TD and I, they waved back to us. I went back into my bed and slept soundly with TD in my arms."

When he was done, he sighed with relief. "Wow, I've been holding that story for years. It's nice letting that out."

"Yeah, wow," I said. "That's a story."

Parker laughed. "Thanks. Okay, now it's your turn. Tell me a story."

I snorted. "I doubt I can ever top that."

"Me too," he admitted, earning a glare from me. "But just try."

I thought it over for a while. "Well, there was this one time I-"

I wasn't able to continue the story, because suddenly leaned forward and grabbed my shoulder, pulling me down. I lowered in my seat, seeing the panic in his eyes. I heard him curse under his breath.

"What? What is it?" I asked him in a low whisper.

"It's the other guys from my team," he whispered back. 

"What?" I demanded, my eyes widening at this.

I looked around the booth chair and saw that he was right. Four or five guys from the football team had just entered burger joint. And not just that, it gets even better. Out of all the people in the team, Raymond was one of them.

"I thought they didn't like this place," Parker muttered to himself.

I looked at him like he was crazy. "It's a burger place with good prices and only a few blocks away from school. Why wouldn't they like this place?" Parker gave me an innocent shrug in return.

"We can't let them see us," I said, caring not only for my sake but his. He nodded, agreeing with me.

"We're going to have to sneak out."

"But there are no back doors for us to exit," I pointed out, I had already looked around the place.

He closed his eyes, thinking of something. "Then we have to go through the front," he said finally.

"What? But that's suicide!" 

"Shh," he told me, then he looked me right in the eye and asked me four words. "Do you trust me?"

I hesitated for a moment then nodded. "I do."

He gave me a final nod. "Okay then." Parker took off his varsity jacket, revealing that he was wearing a blue plaid shirt under it. "Put this on, and wear the hood of the jacket, too." He bought the varsity jacket that came with a hood. 

I did as I was told. I put on his jacket, it being two sizes bigger than me, but comfy never the less. It was still warm, and I could smell the faint cologne- Snap out of it, Naomi, get a hold of yourself! Then I covered the hood over me, hiding my brown hair and covering my eyes, making me feel like Assasin's Creed. I gave Parker a nod that I was ready, and he returned one. The two of us stood up from our booth. Parker dug into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, leaving a twenty dollar bill, letting them keep the change. He then went to my side and put his arm around my shoulder, gripping me tightly. 

The two of us walked quickly towards the front door, our eyes on the ground, doing out best not to bring any attention. The guys were in a line, waiting to place an order for their food. But the line was a little long so they were closer to the door than we wanted them to. We were almost to the door, just at arm's reach when suddenly-

"Hey, O'Neil!"

I let out a squeak, knowing we've been caught. But Parker pushed the door opened, pushed me out of the building and closed the door, at ease. Then he walked towards his friends to greet them. I was frozen in place for a moment, my brain slowly processing what just happened. The burger joint could be able to be seen from the outside, the door also being see-through. Still hiding my face, I cracked the door opened so I can listen in. I watched as Parker greeted his friends, giving handshakes and guy half hugs.

"Hey, you guys," Parker said calmly. "I didn't know you guys go here."

"Yeah, but we never gave this place a try and decided to." One of them answered back. I held back an eye roll, what great timing.

"Parker, where were you at practice, man?" Another asked. "Coach's going to murder you."

Parker shrugged. "I decided to skip practice today. I had a bunch of homework to do." Lying easily at his friends.

"Parker O'Neil actually skipping practice to do homework?" Someone asked. "Who are you, and what did you do to Parker?" All of them burst out laughing.

"Hey," Raymond said who stopped laughing. "Who's that chick over there? Isn't she wearing your jacket?"

All eyes turned to me. I squeaked and looked at the ground, pulling the hood lower to cover my face. I could feel the weight of their stares. I glanced up and saw not disgusted looks, but smirks. I could feel their eyes checking me out, my cheeks were turning warm, and it wasn't from the extra clothes. All the guys turned back to Parker.

"Does Parker here have a date?" Raymond sneered, looking at his friend.

"Hey sweetheart, come over here and say hi," Another called out to me, whistling to me like I was a dog.

"Quit it," Parker growled at him.

All of the guys, except for Parker, laughed.

"Ooh, Parker is getting territorial." Someone noted, turning to his friends. "Better watch out, you guys."

"C'mon, why won't you just introduce your girl to us? We promise we don't bite." He assured to me.

Liar, I thought.

Parker snorted. "As if. Why would I do that when I know every girl three feet away runs for the hills?" That got a few "oohs" from his friends.

"She's pretty cute," Raymond said, studying her, the guys agreeing with him. "Where did you find her?

Parker's eyes narrowed at him. "Closer than you think."

Raymond glanced at him then looked back at me. His stare was making me as red as the varsity jacket I was wearing. "Come to think of it, she looks kind of familiar. Hey, do I know you from somewhere?"

"I doubt it," Parker answered for me. "No girl would want to see you twice."

I snickered at that, knowing that it's a fact, catching their attention once more.

"Hey, she's got a sense of humor. You got a girl perfect for you, Parker."

"Yeah, someone who'd think your relationship is a joke." 

Parker mocked laughter. "Oh, ha ha. Look who's talking. Your whole love life is a joke. Oh wait, you don't have one." 

Cue the "oohs" from the others.

Raymond looked back at me. "Hey, do you have friends as cute as you?"

I snorted again, but said nothing. Yeah, if you roll that way. 

"C'mon and take that hood off." One of the guys asked, the others cheered and whistled in agreement. "Don't let your boyfriend tell you what to do."

I slightly looked up to look at Parker. And I was happy to see him wearing a smirk on his face, giving me a slight nod in approval. A smile slowly crept on my lips. I walked back into the restaurant. Then I lifted my arm up, my fingers gripping under the hood of the jacket. Then I began to pull it off my head, letting the hood fall backwards.

Raymond laughed. "Yeah, let us see your pretty face under that-"

I shook my brown hair out, and straightened my glasses. I looked at them with a smug grin that spread across my face, my arms crossed proudly at this. The looks on their faces were priceless. Eyes wide, jaws ajar, they looked at me, dumbfounded. Parker was the only one who was laughing at this.

"You mean this pretty face, Raymond?" I asked innocently with a pout before a wicked smirk replaced it.

Before Raymond could find the words to reply to this, Parker walked up to me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder pulling me closer to him. I could feel my cheeks warm at this, but I still stood confident next to him. We turned around and he opened the door for the both of us. Then we paused and we looked over our shoulders to look at them.

"I told you she was closer than you think."

-

We burst out laughing.

"The looks on their faces were priceless!" Parker exclaimed.

"I know!" I agreed, wiping the tears out of my eyes.

"And what you said was genius!" He told me.

"'You mean this pretty face, Raymond?'" We both said in unison, he mimicked me by saying it in a high voice, batting his eyes like a girl for affect.

"No, what you said at the end was genius!"

"'I told you she was closer than you think'," We both said in unison, I mimicked him by saying it in a low voice, pumping out my chest like a guy for affect.

Both of us slapped each other a high-five. We then calmed ourselves down, slumping in our chairs. Parker looked back at the road, chuckling to himself.

"What?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Nothing, it's just... I haven't this much fun in forever."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Party Parker is saying such words? I don't believe it."

"I'm serious," he argued. "I never laughed so hard, or had this much fun with a girl especially."

"Really? A girl?"

"Well," he gave me a 'y'know what I'm talking about' look as he gave a pathetic shrug. I laughed, knowing exactly what he was really talking about. 

Soon, after giving the directions, we arrived to my house. He parked right in front of my house, putting the car on park. It was seven o'clock, later than what my parents expected me to be home by. I already told them I was going to eat some dinner with a friend and that they could go ahead without me. But I never told them I would be this late. I just hope they wouldn't get mad. I looked at the house, the lights were all turned off. Maybe they decided to sleep early, not wanting to wait up for me. It was a school night after all.

I looked back at Parker. "Well, this is my stop," I told him.

"Let me walk you up-"

"No, it's alright, Parker. I think I can handle walking up to my house by myself."

"Hey, you know what they say-"

"-chivalry isn't dead," both of said together before laughing.

"Today was fun, Naomi." He said, leaning against his seat. "Let's do it again sometime."

"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded, very serious. "Yes, really. And besides, since the guys already saw us together, we're pretty much free to hang out, right?"

I nodded with a smile. "Yeah, you got a point."

"Okay, see you Naomi. Good night."

"Good night, Parker."

I left the car and walked up towards my house. I looked back and waved by to Parker who unrolled the window and stuck his arm out, waving back. He began to drive away. But it was then I looked down at myself and I remembered I was still wearing his jacket.

"Parker wait, your jacket!" I called out to him, as I took the jacket off.

He stuck his head out the window. "Keep it!" He called back to me, as he drove away. "It looks good on you."

Parker's car went around the corner and I was glad he wasn't able to see my cheeks redden. Shrugging the jacket back on, I walked up to my house. Digging into my pocket, I took out my keys and opened the front door. 

It was dark, all of the lights were turned off. I kicked out my shoes and hung my bag on the hook beside the door. My hand searched the wall, trying to find the switch. When I finally did find it, I flipped the switch, turning the room on. But then I heard a slight creak on the floorboards behind me. I whipped around and nearly screamed my lungs out.

"We've been expecting you."

So how do you guys like another double chapter? Do I hear any new Parkomi fans? What do you guys think about Parker? Is he really a nice guy or is the whole thing a scam? Comment your opinions below. My favorite line of the chapter is this, "I mean, it might possible for them to like each other in books or movies, but this is real life, remember?"  It's like breaking the fourth wall. What's yours?

My whole family has become officially Wattpad crazy. My parents and brother are finally reading The GGBB. I don't know whether to be proud of embarrassed. My brother is for Bennomi because he thinks they like each other from the start. My mom is for Jordomi because he's just funny. And before any of you can guess that my dad is rooting for Decomi, I'm sorry he isn't. He's rooting for Rayomi, instead. I know, I have a weird family.

But a weird family shall deserve this weird award. I'm dedicating this chapter to the Rubix Cube family. Hope you enjoyed the chapter everyone. Now I'm off to go to the dentist. Wish me luck.

RubixCube89201