Extended Summary: The golden boy of the school sought me out to help him. I know. The favour: create a chance for him to ask my oblivious (that’s why he needed my help) best friend out and get her to say yes. I had done it for other guys before, not that it had all been successful. It should have been pretty easy, since he was the most sought after bloke at school. But, things don’t seem to be going my way. It’s turning out to be nothing like how it was when I helped out all those other guys. Also, now I have a certain distraction who insists on being a hindrance.

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Chapter One

Always the Middle-Man

The tires squealed in protest as I swerved into the driveway. That had definitely left skid marks on the concrete. My parents were going to be so mad at me – they had just re-done the driveway. But, I couldn’t have cared less. Not right then anyway.

I stalked up to the front door and entered a surprisingly quiet house. It was a nice change from the usual though. Normally, there was someone already at home when I got back. There was either someone bustling around somewhere or excessively loud music coming from a certain bedroom upstairs.

However, today I welcomed the quiet. I took the steps two at a time and slammed my room door behind me. Something somewhere rattled (it amazed me how much strength I had whenever was in a bad mood). I made a bee-line for my bed, completely ignoring my Hi-Fi system, and flopped onto it. The silence was perfect for sulking.

It hadn’t even been half an hour before I heard someone else come into the house. Then there was a quiet knock on my door. Still not done with sulking, I ignored it. A second later, the door swung open.

No one in my family took a hint.

“I don’t remember giving you permission to come in,” I snapped at the dark-haired boy standing at the entrance.

“And I don’t remember asking. The knock was just protocol,” he returned.

“Could you please just go away?” I moaned, sinking further into my mattress.

“Yeah, okay I will…After you tell me why there are skid marks on the driveway. Mum and Dad are going to slaughter you. They just…” He trailed off mid-lecture, frowning at me and then surveying my room, as if suddenly realising something was amiss.

“You’re not blaring your music,” he said, almost accusingly.

“I don’t blare my music. That would be you!” I snapped at him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“There’s nothing wrong. Today’s just been an exceptionally long day…so I thought maybe some peace and quiet would do me some good. All was fine till you came barging in…”

“Okay, that was a load of bull and I’m not buying any of it. I’m going to ask you again Lor, What’s wrong?” he persisted, walking over to me.

“Just keep your shoes off the sheets,” I muttered, scooting over to give him some space.

It’s really stupid,” I began as he made himself comfortable.

“Like, it’s really girlish…something you’d tell your sisters,” I continued, stressing the words ‘girlish’ and ‘sisters’ and giving him a chance to leave. He slung an arm around my shoulders. He wasn’t going anywhere.

My brother was possibly the most stubborn member of my family. While most of the time it was an annoying trait, there were times I loved him for it.

“Okay, it has to do with Melanie…”

“You had a fight with your best friend?” He shot me a look of disbelief. I didn’t blame him for reacting like that. Melanie and I never fought…well, okay we did- we were girls after all. But we had never fought to the extent I came home spitting mad and not caring that I had left skid marks on our week-old driveway.

I shook my head, telling him he hadn’t got it quite right. “I didn’t have a fight with Melanie…it has something to do about a situation involving her,” I explained. He nodded slowly, motioning for me to continue. I took a deep breath.

“I…I’m just so sick of being the girl guys approach in order to get to the best friend. But, Melanie doesn’t seem to notice them otherwise, and when they finally get her to agree to a date, it’s, ‘Lorraine who?’. I just hate that…that’s all I ever am…”

“Damn Lor…have you spoken to Mel about this?” he asked.

“Are you kidding Matt? I can’t do that! I mean, they all just want to ask her out…and Mel doesn’t even know what’s going on…She’s just happily oblivious,” I sighed.

“While you’re painfully aware,” Matt added. I gave him a sad smile.

“So what happened today?”

“Adam Keller approached me. And…I don’t know. I don’t even like him in that way…it’s just that…the hottest boy at school wants to go out with her…and I’m kind of wondering if I’ll ever get my chance…”

“What did you tell him?”

“That’s the thing. I didn’t tell him anything. I just, walked away. I have no idea what came over me, but I just didn’t want to hear it…and so I left…”

“Maybe you should just tell him you can’t do it…or something,” Matt suggested.

“And what, be called a jealous bitch?” I asked. Matt sighed and scratched his head, as if looking for an answer.

“That’s highschool for you…” I muttered.

“I don’t get it…Melanie has all these guys falling at her feet and she doesn’t even realise it… And then, there’s you! When you were in highschool, you had all these girls begging for your attention. None of them cared how desperate they seemed. It was all worth it if you stopped and spoke to them or even, just smiled at them.”

“I didn’t hate you Matt. I don’t hate you or Mel. That’s just how things are…I guess I just…” I trailed off.

“Listen, you’ve got to do what you feel is right. If that’s helping this Adam guy out, then do it. If it’s not, then tell him no. Highschool or not, don’t be pressured into doing something that’s going to make you unhappy,” he advised, making me smile. Matt was good at advice.

“I know, I know…” I mumbled, sighing.

“Good. So are you feeling at least a bit better?” he asked.

“Yeap. I am.”

“Lor, I know you feel overshadowed by Mel sometimes…but that doesn’t mean you’re not attractive in your own right. You’re a very pretty girl. Don’t ever doubt that. I mean, with a mother like mum, a father like dad and a brother like me…how can you be anything but gorgeous? We’ve got charm, with and good-looks but the truck load,” he said, ruffling my hair affectionately.

“Thanks…” He smiled at me again, then got up and left, looking back once to check if I really was alright. The smile on my face assured him I was. However, when the door shut behind him, it dimmed and a little self-pity crept back in.

“Now, if only a guy I wasn’t related to, would call me pretty,” I muttered. I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling until the silence became overwhelming. Rolling off my bed, I turned on my Hi-Fi system.

With the smooth sounds of The Perishers playing in the background, I made an attempt to start my homework. I didn’t get beyond doodling on the margins of my notebook. At eight, I heard a car pull up in the driveway. My parents were home. I pushed back from the desk and made my way downstairs, saving them the effort of calling me down to issue my punishment.

They did not ground me like I had expected (and prepared for). Rather, they revoked my privileges for a week. When I argued, my father threatened to lengthen my punishment. I scowled at them but said nothing further on that matter. I hated how they always got the last word. I sulked through dinner and desert. Even chocolate pudding couldn’t cheer me up.

Homework was a lost cause that night. I fell asleep at my desk an hour later, my last thoughts were of the crappy week I had ahead of me.

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AN: This chapter has been re-written. Okay, so I have started a new story. It looks promising, but would love to have your opinion. Chapters are going to be roughly 4-5 pages on word. I know that sounds short. Probably is, but I don’t want to start writing long chapters then not be able to keep it at that length all the way through. That and, long chapters would make the story too fast paced. I should warn readers that this story’s probably going to be clichéd and corny and fluff-filled with the usual dose of conflict, just to keep things interesting. I’m also going to be attempting humour. Not laugh out loud funny. I think for now, I’ll strive for a chuckle or two. So, please do tell me how I’m going in that department too. I realised this first chapter’s really serious and all that, but this was the best start I could think off. I haven’t got a pattern for updating. I can’t say it will be as regular as a lot of the writers here, but I will try my best. Please leave a review!