Chapter 1

“Don’t forget! Your Essays are due tomorrow and this IS worth 35 of your grade. Class dismissed!”

The English teacher struggled to be heard over the rustling of papers and the excited chatter of her high school students when the bell finally rang signaling the end of her class and the end of the school day. Rachel Summers tucked her folder gently into her backpack and rose from her desk. Slinging her backpack over her shoulder she waited for the chaos of her peers fighting to get out of the class to die down before she even tried to exit the room.

“Hey Rachel wait up!”

Rachel turned towards the voice and watched as her friend Jamie pushed her way through the crowds.

“You so will not believe this but Anthony just as me to the Homecoming Dance!”

Rachel’s jaw dropped and she quickly closed her mouth before stuttering a reply. “wow- um- that’s great Jamie”

It was no secret that Jamie had had a crush on Anthony and had done so since their sophomore year; they were now seniors.

“U-umm th-that, that’s g-great Ja-Jamie”

Rachel turned an angry glare at the mocking voice.

“Why Conner, I didn’t know you had a stuttering problem. I would get that checked…wouldn’t want you to have a Speaking AND stupidity problem” her tone was dripping with honeyed disdain.

Conner Ackart’s lips tilted into a smirk.

His hands came up and clutched at his heart, “Ooh, You wound me Rae”

Rachel’s eyes narrowed coldly,

“DON’T call me Rae” She said, her teeth clenched tightly together to avoid lashing out at him.

Conner smirked knowing he had pulled the right, or rather, wrong strings with her.

“Oh I’m sorry…Rae”

He loved to rile her up. He loved nothing more than to piss her off. It hadn’t always been like this. Rachel Summers and Conner Ackart had once been the very best of friends, but as they entered their sophomore year of High School that friendship died hard.

“Who asked you to the Homecoming dance Summers?” He was baiting her.

She was not a popular girl but she wasn’t a reject either. In truth no one had yet asked her but she would never admit that to him.

“Whoever it is, is better than whatever slut is going with you”

Conner’s eyes narrowed. Rachel saw the glare and inwardly grinned. She decided to edge him as he always did to her. Flipping her hair she batted her eyelashes at him flirtatiously.

“Oh Conner,” her voice was soft and seductive.

She stepped forward and placed her hand on his chest glancing up at him from beneath her lashes.

“Let’s leave this dance and you can take me to a hotel…I want you baby” she trailed her fingers down his chest, suggestively toying with the buttons of his silk, button up shirt.

Conner glanced down at her shocked before his eyes narrowed icily. He grabbed her wrist and pushed her away from him. She hit the lockers with a resounding thud. Rachel glanced up at him stunned. They had had many word wars but he had never hurt her. Rising quickly she grabbed her backpack from the floor and turned to follow Jamie out of the school; the opposite direction of where Conner stood. She refused to meet his gaze. She would never allow him the pleasure of seeing her hurt surprise. Conner was equally shocked. His eyes followed her till she was out of the building. He had never dreamed of hurting Rachel. He loved to edge her on but he would never purposefully hurt her.

‘Shit’ he thought.

There was no limp to her walk and she seemed fine. It was just the shock of what had happened even if she wasn’t hurt.

“What was that about?” Jamie asked once they left the school building.

Rachel flexed her wrist and shook her head at Jamie, “Nothing…Conner is just some stuck up son of a bit--, who thinks he’s God’s greatest gift to all of mankind”

Jamie rolled her eyes. She was used to watching them fight by now.

“I wasn’t talking about the whole encounter. God knows EVERYONE is used to those by now, what I meant was him throwing you up against that locker”

“oh, I have no clue…”

Jamie let it pass and rested her hand on her friend’s shoulder.

“So who did ask you to the homecoming dance?” she asked.

Rachel was embarrassed as she said; “Nobody”

Jamie was shocked. “No one asked you?”

Rachel shook her head, “nope”

“What about Stephen? He has a crush on you doesn’t he?”

Rachel laughed. Her friend was trying to set her up with a guy and had been doing so since the beginning of high school. She had tried everyone from the class nerd to Conner Ackart; the most popular.

“He HAD a crush on me…he’s dating Tracy now end of story. If I get asked I get asked if not it’d be a great night to get a lot of homework done” Rachel responded with a shrug.

They arrived at the parking lot and Rachel pushed the button which unlocked her car, tossing her backpack into the backseat of her car she turned a parting smile to her friend, “I got a few things to do but I’ll call you later…and congratulations with Anthony”

She got into her car and drove away from the school. Reaching over she turned on the radio and turned the dial until she found a station she liked. Turning on to the I-15 she headed for her favorite after school place: Queenie’s Diner. It was her favorite because they had the best chocolate malts in town and Ian Reeves worked there. Ian had been a close friend of hers and Conner’s back when she and Conner had been best friends. After their relationship fell apart Ian’s loyalties rested with her. He was someone to talk to in the middle of the night, a shoulder to cry on when she was hurting and he was always making her laugh. She smiled as she turned onto the off ramp and into the parking lot of the diner. Running her fingers through her hair she brushed out the tangles that the wind had created during the drive over. After a moment she got out of the car and walked into the building. She smiled. A new guy was working the counter; Ian hadn’t seen her come in but was busy at the drive thru window ringing up a customer.

“May I help you?” The guy asked.

Rachel smiled,

“Yes I’d like to order that hot guy Ian to go please” she said it in a serious tone just loud enough for Ian to hear.

Ian heard her and chuckled as he turned to look at her, “Sorry but I cost more than you got girl”

Rachel snapped her fingers, “damn”

The man working the counter looked between them skeptically, “excuse me?”

Rachel laughed, “I’d like a small chocolate malt please”

Ian chuckled,

“Give her a large” he whispered to the guy.

Rachel laughed,

“No way…I want to be able to fit into my dress for the homecoming dance thank you very much!” she protested.

“I really only want a small” she said to the guy whose name tag read Chase.

Chase looked between them as he rang that up, “are you two…together?”

This brought forth a laugh from both Ian and Rachel.

“No, just good friends,” she replied and counted out change for the malt and turned her gaze to Ian.

“Can you take a break?”

Ian smiled.

“I think I can manage that…make it 2 chocolate malts Chase” he said and hopped the counter before enveloping Rachel in a hug.

“Speaking of homecoming dances has anyone asked you yet?” he asked as he led them to a booth in the back and slid in opposite her.

They went to different schools. He had transferred last year after his parents moved across town to a larger house. They were rival schools but Rachel and Ian didn’t care.

She shook her head, “No and of course Conner had to mock me about it…I figure I’ll just stay at home and do homework or fill out my college applications that night”

Ian scowled at the mention of his former best friend and her resolve to be alone. He shook his head.

“No way, I wanted to ask you to come to my homecoming dance with me and I want to take you to yours since no other guy has the brains to realize what he’s missing out on.”

Rachel was stunned into silence, “I uh…only bought one dress…I don’t want to wear it both nights…”

Ian smiled, “So don’t…wear that pretty pink one that you wore last year. I love the picture you gave me of it. You can wear that one to my dance and wear the new one to your dance…what do you say?”

Ian had been unable to attend the homecoming dance last year when he still attended the same school with her due to a family emergency but she had given him a picture and he had thought she was gorgeous. Rachel couldn’t believe he was serious,

“Are you sure? I mean I don’t want to bother you both nights and I don’t want to cause strife between you and Conner if he sees you at the dance with me…”

Ian laughed and took a sip of his Chocolate malt that had been brought out to them.

“How could you bother me? I wanted to ask you to mine and now I get to see you dressed up and beautiful both nights. And as for Conner…well you won’t have to worry about him bothering you at your dance”

Rachel smiled softly at him and nodded, “Okay, if you’re sure”

Ian smiled back, “I’m sure”

“I’ll have the hottest date there…every girl will be jealous” she teased.

Ian laughed, “You know it girl!”

They shared a laugh and spent the rest of their time talking and laughing. Before long she had forgotten about the incident with Conner. She was going to the homecoming dance with Ian…she smiled.

“Well girl, I got to get back to work. I’m really glad you stopped by though”

“Aww do you have to?”

He chuckled,

“Unfortunately I do,”

“Okay,” Rachel sighed a disappointed sigh as she pushed herself up.

She winced at the pressure on her left wrist. When Conner had tossed her she had instinctively thrown her hands behind her to block her fall and her wrist had hit the locker first, taking the brunt of the blow. Ian raised an eyebrow in question and helped her up.

“What happened?” he asked her; noticing a bit of swelling around the wrist.

She shook her head. “Nothing”

She didn’t want to cause anymore problems between the boys no matter how much she now hated Conner.

“You’re lying to me Rachel”

Rachel smiled; he could sense her emotions easily. She both hated and loved that fact.

“Conner and I got in another word war after school…I think I took it a little too far…he pushed me away from him and I hit the locker…”

Ian cursed. “Did you sprain it?”

she shook her head.

“No it only hurts if I put a lot of pressure on it…I had forgotten about it until now. I’ll be fine Ian”

Ian took her hand and brought it up to his lips, placing a soft kiss against her wrist.

“Now you will be,”

She drew in a breath at the gesture and smiled.

“Well, I better let you get back to work” She told him placing her hands in her pockets.

“Alright, want to come over later? I’ll order Chinese and we can watch a movie”

Rachel smiled, “Beef Chow Mein?”

Ian chuckled,

“of course”

“Then I’ll be there”

“Okay, see you around 7?”

“7 it is”

Ian watched her go and raked a hand back through his hair. He and Conner had multiple arguments about her in the past. The first bit of strife that began to disintegrate their relationship was over his slight crush on Rachel. Conner used to be overprotective of her and also jealous though he would never admit it.

Rachel was an attractive girl. She was average height about 5’6. She was thin with curves in all the right places and had long, wavy brown hair that fell to her lower back. She always complained that her eyes were ‘boring brown’ but he thought they were beautiful. They lit up when she smiled, and they always seemed full of hope and distant thought. Her face was almond shaped and her skin a nice tan. Overall he thought her extremely beautiful.

“Ian…can you help me a sec?” Ian turned a glance to Chase and chuckled.

It was his first week and he was just getting things under control but it appeared he was having trouble with the old receipt printer.

“I’m coming”

Casting one last glance over his shoulder towards the parking lot he waved to her as she backed away and then turned to help Chase.

“Do you think we’ll always be friends?”

8 year old Rachel Summers sat on a swing beside her best friend Conner Ackart. Her wide brown eyes turned from the heavens to look over at him.

“Why do you ask?” he asked glancing over at her; stopping his swing.

“Oh I dunno…will we Conner…will you always be my friend?”

“Of course, Best friends stay together forever. I don’t ever want to not be your friend”

Rachel smiled, “Promise?”

Conner nodded, “promise”

Her face turned serious again as she leaned forward towards him and offered her pinkie, “Pinkie promise?”

Conner nodded and wrapped his pinkie around hers;

“Pinkie promise”

She smiled and wrapped her arms around him,

“Thank you Conner”

“No mushy stuff!” He protested pulling out of her embrace.

Rachel laughed.

Conner hugged her.

The phone’s shrill ring woke Rachel up. Glancing at the clock she saw it was 6 o’ clock. She groaned lifting her head from her arms where she had fallen asleep working on her essay. The dreams of her and Conner’s friendship had come sporadically since their friendship ended. She realized her eyes were moist from this particular dream and cursed as she rapidly dried her eyes on her sleeve.

‘Damn him for making me cry. I’ve shed enough tears on that boy’ she thought angrily, her arm reaching for the phone.

“Hello?”

“Rachel…I’ve been trying to call you for the last hour. Are you okay?”

“Yes Jamie I’m fine. I went to go see Ian after school and then came home to work on my essay. I must have fallen asleep.”

“Dreaming about Conner again?”

Rachel sighed heavily, “Am I that predictable?”

she didn’t want to know the answer. Fumbling through her closet she looked for a nice change of clothes for her evening with Ian. The clothes she wore now were rumpled from a long day at school and a few hours of sleep.

“Only when the dreams are about Conner…”

Rachel winced as she pulled off her jeans and changed into a pair of Dickie pants. “I didn’t want to hear that”

she fastened a white belt with star prints cut into it.

“But it’s true. Whenever you have those dreams not even a 7.0 earthquake can wake you”

That was over exaggerating but it was the basic idea that rang true.

“Hang on a second, I have to change my shirt”

Rachel placed the phone on the bed and pulled off her Independent T-shirt and changed into a baby blue halter top. She picked up the phone again,

“That’s not true” she protested. “There is nothing special about my dreams of Conner verses my dreams of anything or anyone else,”

Even as she said it she knew it wasn’t exactly true. When she dreamt of Conner her sleep was so deep as she absorbed herself in the memories; Sweet or unpleasant. It was hard to pull her from that deep sleep. She could almost see Jamie just rolling her eyes at that statement,

“Yeah whatever Rachel, hey I talked to Chris…and he said he’d be willing to take you to homecoming dance?” she said getting away from the subject of Conner and to the real reason of why she had called.

“That’s not necessary Jamie, really”

“STOP PROTESTING! You HAVE to go to that dance!”

Rachel laughed at her friend’s outburst.

“Jamie I appreciate the thought but really if I were to get asked I’d want it to be because he wants me to go with him. Not because you paid him to.” she could hear Jamie about to protest and hurried on.

“Besides, Ian asked me to his and my dance. I’m going with Ian not Chris” She smirked at Jamie’s surprised intake of breath as she tied up her hair into a topsy tail.

“He asked you to his dance?”

“Yep…and he wants to take me to mine too…”

“Oh my gosh! Are you serious? What about Conner?”

“Well if he’s not worried I’m not worried. Ian is a good friend. It’ll be fun”

“Are you sure he’s JUST a good friend?”

Rachel laughed, “Don’t sound so surprised. Of course he is. I’ve known Ian almost as long as I’ve known Conner Ian is just more loyal than Conner.”

“Uh huh, whatever you say girl”

“uh huh” was all Rachel managed as she applied some lip gloss.

“Alright well I got to go, I’m heading over to Ian’s for Chinese and a movie want to come?” she offered.

Jamie and Ian were “friends” from when he still went to the same high school with them but after he left their friendship wasn’t strong enough to hold so it wasn’t really there.

“No that’s okay; I’m going to go see Troy with Conner and Anthony. Call me later?”

“Yeah okay, have fun.”

“You too, later girl”

“Bye Jamie”

She hung up the phone.

Jamie had been friends with the three of them since the start of high school. At first she had tried to hook up with Conner but when he told her he wasn’t interested in dating anyone they settled for friends. After they split Jamie couldn’t choose a side. She was more of a middle man having remained friends with both. Rachel cast a final glance into the mirror and grabbed her keys off the counter.

“Going over to Ian’s be back later dad”

“Don’t be gone too late”

“I won’t” she called back before getting into her Dodge Intrepid and speeding away from the house towards Ian’s.

“Mmm, I love Chinese” she said, savoring the taste.

“More than you love me?” Ian pouted.

“Undoubtedly!” she said before shoving another bite of chow Mein into her mouth; watching his reaction out of the corner of her eye.

“Ouch Rae, ouch!” he said between a chuckle. “Fine, then I think I’ll keep the raspberry cocoa I bought just for me because I love it more than you”

Rachel’s jaw dropped and luckily there was nothing in her mouth at that time.

“What!?”

she rose from her chair and wrapped her arms around his neck, “You know I was just kidding Ian, I love you more than Chinese!”

Ian laughed and ran his hands over the smooth skin of her arms which she still had wrapped around his neck, “First Cabinet, second shelf, behind the peanut butter”

Rachel unwrapped her arms from around his neck and ran into the kitchen. He chuckled watching her; she was like a little kid. Conner loved riling her up with his mocking or hurtful words whereas Ian loved to rile her up with surprises by learning her weaknesses and then surprising her with them. Ian cleaned up their plates while she made their cocoa.

“You can be cute sometimes you know that?” he teased her.

Rachel giggled, “Only sometimes?”

Ian took the mug she offered him and shook his head, “you’re just fishing for compliments”

“Nuh uh”

“Uh huh”

“Nuh uh”

“Uh huh”

“Nuh uh”

“Uh huh”

He laughed, “This could go on forever”

“Then admit you’re wrong and acknowledge my victory!”

“Yes your royal highness, forgive me for being wrong”

“Very well humble servant, you are forgiven but just this once”

“Oh thank you dear Rachel!”

Rachel started laughing and was joined by Ian who wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down onto the couch beside him; after setting down their cups. Rachel’s laughter died down to a giggle and she sighed to regain her breath. Ian watched her with a smile on his face and realized he still had his arm around her waist. Reluctantly he let go of her and rose from the couch. He handed her a cup of cocoa and picked up 3 DVD boxes.

“Ocean’s Eleven, The Italian Job, or Drive Me Crazy?”

Rachel raised an eyebrow at the last one.

“Yes I know, the guy I rented it from asked if I was trying to score some points with my girlfriend by renting a chick flick” he said rolling his eyes.

She laughed. “So why did you rent it?”

“I figured maybe a chick flick would cheer you up after your encounter with Conner today,”

Rachel smiled softly at him; he was always so sweet to her and trying to help her even if it wasn’t in his interests to do so.

“I’ll watch whatever you want to. I don’t want to make you watch something you wouldn’t like”

“Drive Me Crazy it is then”

He turned on the DVD player and popped in the disc before joining her on the couch. He knew she would never ask him to watch the chick flick. Truth be told he didn’t mind. It was time spent with her that was fun and if it got her mind off of Conner and made her happy, well then there was no decision to make. Rachel laughed all night long. Ian was making fun of the characters and making jokes at their expense, singing along to Brittney Spear’s Crazy in a high pitched girlish voice, and tickling and teasing her all night long. The second movie finally ended around 11:00. Rachel’s stomach hurt from laughing so hard. A glance at the clock told her it was time to head home.

She rose from the couch and stretched,

“Well I should be going”

Before she could take a step away Ian’s arm darted out and pulled her back down onto the couch, “Nuh uh, you’re staying her with me”

Rachel laughed and tried to pry his arm away from around her waist,

“Ian let me go” she breathed through a laugh as he let her almost get away and then tightened his arm; trapping her again.

“I’m serious Ian; my dad is already going to kill me for being out to late on a school night.”

Ian sighed heavily; “Fine” He released her.

He walked her to the door.

“Thanks Ian, it was fun”

“glad to be of some assistance madam”

She smiled at him.

“You’re such a child”

“I just think it’s too early to grow up that’s all and it was fun.”

He hugged her.

“Drive safe Rachel, Goodnight”

“Night Ian, thanks again”

He waited till she was out of sight before he went back inside.

“I thought you said you weren’t going to come” Conner arched an eyebrow in question.

Jamie sighed, “Well I changed my mind. Rachel was going over to Ian’s tonight and I didn’t want to go over there…plus I wanted to see Troy so this was my excuse”

Anthony smirked, “so it’s not because you love us then?”

Jamie laughed, “Nah, I’m here for the movie and that’s it”

“That’s cold Jamie, very cold”

Conner scowled, “Rae is with Ian you said?”

Jamie glanced over at him and nodded “Yeah so?”

“Are they together now or something?”

“No. She says they’re just friends and have been for almost as long as she was with you. He just invited her over for Chinese and a movie…hang out time is all. What’s it to you anyways?”

Conner’s scowl deepened.

“Go get your ticket. Movie will be starting soon” He told her changing the subject.

He was feeling that all too familiar pang of jealousy at the mention of Ian and Rachel. It was no secret to him that Ian used to have a crush on Rachel. It was part of what had broken up their friendship. Anthony had walked over to the ticket booth with Jamie so Conner pulled out his wallet. He removed a few pictures and a discount card and found what he had been looking for; A picture.

It was a picture he and Rachel had taken their last year of friendship together; their freshman year. She had talked him into going to a professional picture place in the mall. She was wearing a black halter top and jeans and he was wearing a pair of jeans and a Black silk shirt; partially unbuttoned with a white wife beater shirt beneath. Her arms were around his neck and his were gently holding her waist. They were standing close but not overtly close. They were facing each other but their faces were turned towards the camera; both with smiles. The background was a dark blue with swirls giving it a delicate look to it. It was a beautiful pic. They had been happy together. Their friendship had been one of a kind. People had used to mistake them for a couple because of their closeness; they would laugh it off. And now it was nothing. Now they were rivals and enemies. He heard footsteps approaching and quickly put the picture away; hiding it as he had before.

“Let’s go” He said once Jamie and Anthony met back with him.

He led the way into the theatre and was thankful for when the movie started. It provided him with a distraction from Anthony and Jamie’s flirting and it gave him something to focus on and take his mind off of Rachel and Ian and their old friendship. He had the tough guy exterior and he acted like it didn’t bother him...but in truth, there were times he really missed it.

Okay well I decided to start another story. Since all my other stories were either Co-authored/ government type stories or abuse stories I decided to do n general romance. The best Idea that came to mind was one of best friends torn apart. I promise it won’t be your typical story of this kind so hopefully you’ll enjoy it. Read and Review and let me know what you think. J Thanks so much…enjoy! I won’t update till I have several reviews. Tell me what you think good or bad. What you think, would like to see, suggestions etc…at this point I am open to suggestions and love input from my audience so I look forward to your reviews:-D !!

Your fellow author,

Sxy-Princess

PS. Open to Title Suggestions and sorry the summary sucks. if anyone has a better idea HELP!! I suck at sunmmaries so hopefully you’ll read this.  THNX!!