It wasn't like I was super-popular or anything, I managed. I had my own little group of friends…well not little really; almost the entire grade you could call it! I was the girl in the sweatshirts and jeans, the one the guys talked to about cars and the latest gadgets, and the one who always had an "open invitation" to the 'Boys Only' days. Yup, I was that girl, the one that was seen as a mere ‘buddy’ and not ‘dating material’.

Having said that, you'd think my friends would be like that too…but no, they all had active love-lives. All the guys I thought I stood a chance with, fell for them; and I ended plastering a big 'ol smile on my face and congratulating the happy new couple. But hey!...that's the way the cookie crumbles; so I'd inevitably end up going to watch another football match and partaking as the only cheerleader who cheered on her guy friends in a sweatshirt and random use of swear words directed at the referee. (Of course this did NOT help promote my 'I'm-single-and-ready-to-mingle' image.)

Being accepted by every single guy in school sure has its advantages and disadvantages. The good thing is that I get to meet an unlimited number of guys but the bad thing is that I'm automatically put into the 'lil sis' category.

The up-coming weekend was a big deal; it marked the 16th birthday of one of my (very popular) friends, Katie. She was known by everyone and feared by some too. In other words she was your typical cheerleader. She had every boy she could possible want wrapped around her perfectly manicured finger and every girl wanted to be her, she was unstoppable. Surprisingly, this girl was one of my best friends, her and her possé were part of my ginormous group. Though the group was a big one it was split up into several sections; the girly-types, the tom-boys (that's where I go), the dancers, the singers…etc.

Anyway, the party was one of the most awaited bashes of the year. Everyone who was anyone wanted to go. My friends and I (being a part of the group) were automatically invited.

****

"BOO!" whispers Scott in my ear. With a shriek loud enough to wake the dead, I jump about a foot in the air. "Right…so you definitely still have the most high-pitched voice in Darren Gull High." While he tries to unblock his ears, I gathered up my books off the floor. Scott was one of my closer friends. He wasn't on any team at school nor on the honor roll; he was just Scott…the one boy who knew exactly how to push my buttons. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy him teasing me… he was kind of cute; with deep brown hair that constantly fell into his eyes and an impressive height of 6"0 and a well built body, Scott was definitely not ugly…but still! He was always at it! He teased me about my height, my hair, my sense of fashion…but most of all… he teased me about my practically non-existent love-life. I don't know what fascinated him about it, but it did; and I never heard the end of it.

"So, you going to Katie's party? I heard that quite a few single guys will be there…you may just find…what did you call him? Ah! ‘Mr. Right’". I swear, I should never have had that heart-to-heart conversation with him. He's using it to his advantage! You don't see me going around telling people of his idea of the perfect girl do you?! No…I mustn't let him get to me.

"Of course I'm going. She's one of my best friends. And plus…where there's music and dancing you know I'm there!" "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you there then." Phew! He's leaving. No conflict this time. "Oh, and by the way…a bit of advice? Wearing something besides a pair of tracks and a sweatshirt might help you snag a few loners to help stop that 'non-existent love-life' thing". GRRR!! He makes me so mad. Muttering darkly to myself I head to my next class, The Famous Wars of History. Well I don't know about the 'of History' part, but Scott just involved himself in a war against a seriously pissed-off teenager.

****

"I will not let him win! I will not! I refuse to!" yes, that’s was me ranting in front of my four best friends during a lunch of yummy, yummy pizza. "It sounds to me like Scott really got to you this time" Shanelle mumbled as she shoved a huge slice of pizza in her mouth; swallowing it she continues slyly "why don’t you just kiss him and shut him up once in a while?" My friends have this whacked-up idea that I like Scott and the only reason he's bugging me is because he likes me. Puh-lease! How second grade is that?! I'm pissed off because he's a jerk who needs to shut up once in a while and be taught a lesson.

Suddenly, it was like a light-bulb went off in my head…I would be the one who would teach him that lesson! I'll dress up like I've never dressed up before and knock my guy friends' socks off!! Oh won't they sit up and take notice then?! And just to prove to Scott that I can land a boy, I'm gonna land myself a date by the end of the party if it kills me!!!

****

"Umm, guys? I'm not so sure about this anymore…"

It was the night of the party and I was standing outside Katie's front door with my four best friends: Noleen, Molly, Marilyn and Shanelle. The girls had gone all out and put me through a makeover I will never forget. "Oh shut up! You look hot! Scott'll love it!" winks Noleen as the girls push open the front door and shove me into the house.

The first people I saw were my jock-buddies. "Whoa!" they exclaimed in shock. I have to admit, I looked nothing like my old self that night. My girls had decked me up in a killer outfit! Gone were the comfy tracks and replaced by a pair of fitted dark jeans; my usual sweatshirt and t-shirt were gone and replaced by a baby blue halter top which was outlined by a cluster of tiny silver sequins. Gone were the converse and out came the silver heels paired with now immaculately straightened hair and natural light make-up. Of course being me I had to put in a few things of my own…I mean…who would I be without my personal touches? Black thin bracelets adorned my wrists and gigantic hoop earring dangled from my ears; and the finishing touch, the necklace which my friends gave me, it had a pendant in the shape of a biological sign for a female (just to remind the guys that I was one).

"I'm going to have to beat up quite a few guys tonight" muttered Nick as he took in my form. "How come?" I asked cheekily; like I didn’t know why! "Because I'm going to have a tough time keeping guys off you". Nick was like the big brother I never had. We grew up together due to the fact that our parents went to high school together. Nick was also, subsequently, Scott's best friend. After explaining my mission to Nick he agreed to escort me through the rest of the party.

As we set off to wish Katie a 'happy birthday' I noticed that more guys than usual stopped what they were doing to stare at me. It was a weird feeling; after years of being treated like a fellow guy I was finally seen as….you know…datable! It was weird but it felt kind of nice at the same time.

We finally found Katie thanking a guy for a birthday gift she had received. As we got closer I saw that the guy she was thanking was none other than Scott. Hmmm he did look kinda cute tonight; he was wearing a white button up shirt with dark jeans and converse. NO! BAD CASSIE! NO THINKING ABOUT SCOTT IN THAT WAY! YOU'RE HERE TO PROVE HIM WRONG! Ok…deep breaths…we're getting closer… "OH. MY. GOD! Cassie is that you!?" touchdown. Turning around, I could see Scott's eyes widen in disbelief. HA! Take that! I can look hot!

As Nick wished Katie, I smirked as I watched Scott unsuccessfully try to form words. "Well?" I asked as I twirled around on the spot "what do you think? Pretty good for a tomboy, huh?" Scott shook his head as if to clear it. "Yeah, not bad; but I bet you still couldn’t manage to land a guy!" and with that, the arrogant bastard just walked off!! Fine! I will find a guy and he will be better than Scott Curtis could ever be! Not that I'm comparing them to Scott or anything…

****

I. DON’T’. BELIEVE. THIS! Not one guy is giving me a chance! Every time I go to try and snag one he makes a dumb excuse and walks away. And it's not like I'm approaching losers; they were all checking me out! ARGH! This. Is. So. Frustrating! After experiencing several failures I found myself flopping down on the couch. The compliments that were once received with a smile were now received with a scowl and a look that could probably kill you. I was pissed. And to top of the happy trip that I was on, Scott cockily sat next to me on the couch wearing this annoying smirk that I wanted to punch off his face.

"I'm guessing, with that gorgeous look that you have on your face, you've had no luck so far?" the only thing the bastard got in response was a menacing growl…well at least I hope it was menacing. "Hmmm…you know, I’ve been thinking" "Did it cause you brain damage?" I muttered. "I think I finally solved the mystery to why you haven't had a boyfriend yet!" "Oh? And pray tell, oh mighty one, why is that?" "It's obvious; you're gay…" "WHAT!?" with that I bolted off the couch and stared down at Scott issuing a look of pure hatred.

Calmly, Scott stood up to face me "you heard me… you must be gay. I mean why else would you not have had a boyfriend until now? You know some perfectly nice guys and yet you don't date them…now why would that be?" By now, there was a decent-sized crowd gathered around us. "I. Am. Not. Gay." I muttered through gritted teeth. "Prove it!" declared Scott, grinning evilly.

With that, something inside of me snapped. Acting purely on impulse I did something I would never have done usually. I grabbed Scott's 'kind of cute' face and kissed him! I KISSED HIM! On the lips and everything! And instead of pulling away… he RESPONDED! Oh my bloody god! I'm kissing SCOTT CURTIS!! Jolting back to reality I broke away. "Uh…I…" it took me a moment to realize that everyone around us were standing gob smacked.

And then, Shanelle started squealing and cheering and everyone JOINED her! Oh my God, this is not happening! I looked over at Scott and saw that he wasn't registering this at all. His once floppy hair was now sticking out in angels where my hands had held his face close to mine. Oh god. I have to get out of here.

****

Air. Fresh air. Oh no! Footsteps. Someone's found me.

It's Scott. Great! What does that jackass want this time? "So…umm…that little stunt you pulled in there definitely proved that you might possibly not be gay" he said with a cocky smile. "You are unbelievable you know that?! I tried so hard tonight to get some guy to notice me, which no one did by the way, on top of all of that I end up making out with you in front of every fricking person just so that I can prove that I'm not gay! And to who?! To you?! You're not even worth my time! I don’t know why I even bothered to prove anything to you! This sucks!" and with that I walked forward and did the second most stupid thing I did that night; I slapped Scott Curtis on the cheek.

And then…I just stood there waiting for his reaction.

"Well" he said after the most awkward silence I have ever experienced "I guess I deserved that". Could this be happening?! Could Scott Curtis actually be admitting that he was a jerk?! "The actual reason why you couldn’t land a guy tonight is because before you set out on your little 'quest' I threatened to beat up any guy that dared to hit on you. So, it really wasn't your fault that you didn't land a guy…it was mine". A second slap from me caused him to rub the now red area. "Guess I deserved that one too, huh?" "You are a jackass" brilliant! My one chance at an amazing comeback and that's all I could come up with. Pathetic! "I just have one question" I asked "whyd you do it?"

Instead of replying, Scott just took a giant step forward and cupped my face in his hands. "You really do think like a guy…you know that? Can't even put together the simplest of puzzles" he chuckled as he stared down at me. For a minute I couldn’t think, all I could focus on was the feeling of Scott's hands cupping my face.

Then it hit me. He liked me. The reason Scott tormented me and made my life hell and the reason I couldn't land a guy, was because Scott liked me! He really liked me!

Standing in shock, the only words that came out of my mouth were "I am so not gay, you know". With his face splitting into a brilliant smile he whispered "prove it" as he leaned in closer. Trust me; I was all too eager to prove him wrong this time.