You, Me, And an Epiphany, a Young Adult fanfic

"Cassi! Cassi, hey, wait up, girl!"

Stopping in the middle of my happy dance, I turned to the bootiliscious shorty that just appeared beside me.

"Oh hey. Can you believe it? Schoool's out for forever, school's been blown to pieces."

"Mmm, I wish it was. I wouldn't have summer school then. Freakin' Math with Mr. Gayman."

Meet Cede, as in Mercedes, the resident black girl. Yeah, we're not very integrated here in Greystone. She's about as loud and fashionable as they come and I'm very sure she prides herself on her clever nickname for the grade twelve Math teacher, Mr. Bateman.

"Haha, sucker." Me? Feel sympathy? Not when I'm on cloud numero nine.

"You know you're gonna miss me," she said as we both opened our lockers.

"Yeah, I guess," I said, giving her a great view of my tongue sticking out. "This is the last time I'll ever have to clean out this stupid locker!" And so my embarrassingly bad dance continued.

"Ha. Yeah, and probably the first too."

I ignored her snide comment -which was totally not true, by the way. I remember once when I tried to clean it… because of the unknown, rotten smell coming from an old sandwich in the back- because at the same time, Hayden popped up at the locker beside mine and shook his head, grinning. I immediately knew why too.

"Shut up, don't give me that look. You know you wish you could dance like this." I gave my booty a little extra shake for emphasis.

"Yeah, you know it," he joked.

Hayden happens to be the coolest guy I know (even though we mostly just insult each other jokingly), a definite cutie with brown hair, turquoise eyes and a six-pack, and he's taken. Yeah, that definitely takes the icing off the cake. But still, my point is that the two of us are all jokes. Everything we do; flirting -Yeah, he's as flirtatious as they come. Girlfriend or not-, insulting, and lying are all really just the two of us being immature three-year-olds.

"So, you have money, right?"

"You're the one with the job. But yeah, I do."

"Ok, good."

I work at the local grocery store in my spare time but you know what it's like being a working girl! The clothes, candy, and oh, the perfumes! I'm a sucker for scent, mmm, especially cologne. But I do try to avoid the inevitable shopping sprees! Most of the time half of my paycheck goes into the bank. The half that doesn't is my spending money and sometimes Hayden and I take turns buying food from the vending machines for the both of us after school. It's sort of a ritual ever since those younger grades.

Fast-forward five minutes to Hayden and I walking down the crowded main hallway together to the cafeteria. Wait, one minute, where'd he go?

Marching back down the hall, I realized where the boy had gone and forgotten to bring me along too: the Girlfriend's Locker, Aka Jock Heaven, My Hell. Hayden's girlfriend's locker is surrounded by other sweaty, sporty girls… which doesn't sound too bad except that they're all very aggressive, mostly stuck up around those that aren't as athletically gifted as them (i.e. Me), and I have nothing in common with any of them except Jodi, the girl Hayden is currently waiting on, which means I'm waiting on her too. Woo, not.

Jodi's actually pretty cool, it's just her friend's aren't. At least I think so.

Jodi herself is almost perfect once you get to know her. She's nice but still manages to have a sense of humor and not get walked all over, and there are virtually no flaws in her relationship with Hayden that I can see except that they look too good together, but shhh, they don't need to know that. It would just inflate their egos even more, which could be fatal to Hayden. Other than that, she just gets in the way of my friendship with him, you know? He's my best friend and now he doesn't need me because she's a superior version. I mean, look at me!

I can't dress in a way that makes me fit in (even when I try), my nose is too small, I tend to be too truthful, and sometimes maybe, just a teensy bit two-faced.

Oh shit, I've arrived. Avoid making eye contact, avoid! Ahhh, nooo! Oh wait, its just Hayden I'm looking at. Time to use code. Saaave me, you jerk! Uck. This is all his fault that I'm stuck here and he knows it too. I guess it seems like I'm overreacting, but I'm not. I'm lucky they aren't talking stats to me.

"So where's the money?"

Hayden checked his wallet and, guess what, that mama's boy didn't have anything but nickels and dimes. I'd wasted the first moments of my summer vacation and suffered through this for nothing!?

"Ok, well I'm going then. See you later." I waved my hand and started walking but he stepped with me.

"Let's go." Oh, he's SO suffering despite his normal charming display for these ladies. Haha.

"Nope, you're waiting. Have fun. Bye girls."

"Bye," they chorused, sharing my lack of enthusiasm.

I'd forgotten about Hayden & Jodi and focused on The Beach Boys and plans for my vacation until I got home.

I signed on MSN and checked my e-mails. Hayden signed on and I figured it's now or never, literally.

Cassiopia says: Hey.

Hay, Hay, Hayden says: Hey.

Hay, Hay, Hayden says: What's up?

Cassiopia says: Nothing much, just wondering if I could come over for a few?

Hay, Hay, Hayden says: Ok. Yeah, sure.

Hay, Hay, Hayden says: Any reason why? ;

Cassiopia says: Haha. Keep dreaming.

Cassiopia says: No, seriously, you'll see.

Cassiopia says: But I'll see you soon, 'k? Bye.

Hay, Hay, Hayden says: Ok, bye.

"Hey!"

"Oh hey, Kat. Your brother is here, right? He didn't suddenly leave on me?" I asked Hayden's older sister.

"Yeah, he did. He won't be back for hours."

"Sounds like him, the jerk," I joked with her.

"Just kidding! He has Jodi over though."

"Oh, ok. He didn't mention that."

"One sec', Cassi."

"Hayden! Hayden! Stop making out with Jodi and get up here!"

"Oh, God," I sighed to myself.

This wasn't a part of my plan: Jodi wasn't supposed to be here. How could I overlook that!? Ack, what am I going to say? Think, brain, think!

"Hey," Hayden greeted with said girl at his side.

"Hey Cassi."

"Oh hi. Took you two long enough," Insert wink. "I had to talk to your sister, gosh. I'm lucky I survived that torture."

"I heard that!" That would be Kat… and this is myself, seemingly shutting up so she doesn't kick my ass but truly using this time to think up an excuse to leave… Yeah, I don't believe me either. "That's right, shut your mouth."

"Oh yeah, and what if I don't?" Not very original but it still got Kat up and in my face, which resulted in us chasing each other around the house as Hayden and Jodi watched, laughing. I'd finally lost her on the second floor and now I was back in the main hall with the lovebirds.

"Tired," I grunted, "I'm going to go before she comes back. See you guys tomorrow!"

"Cass!" That stern tone that usually stopped me like a deer in headlights gave me the momentum to run away just like that deer would.

I am officially a high school graduate, and you know that ass of mine I'd been shakin' yesterday? Yessiry, I've been shakin' it today too, but tonight was the night where my dancing skills (or lack of) get to shine. Right now, Cede and my other friend Tiffany and I are all preparing ourselves to do so.

"Hey, don't cha think we looked fine in our gowns earlier?" Asked Cede.

"We were smokin', but we'll look even better at the party." Tiffany said as she laced up her black leather high-heeled boots. She's a blonde bombshell with enough self-confidence to pack a knockout punch.

Cede and I are both wearing boots as well, to please Tiffany, the fashion Nazi. Along with that, I'm decked out in my favourite pair of blue jeans, a silky green v-neck tank top, and matching jewelery. My hair is down, in waves and I can't believe my friends. "'Smokin'? Wow, Tiff, go have your ego checked before we leave. It's for your own good. Wouldn't want your head to inflate too much from all that hot air and end up exploding."

"Haha," Tiffany laughed dryly. "At least I know when a guy want me, Miss Obliv."

I was in the middle of doing my fish imitation –you know, when you open and close your mouth like an idiot (which I'm so not, by the way)-, when Cede interrupted it. "Oh shut your mouths, both of you, before I'm forced to do it myself. Cassi, you know we're all hot enough to start a fire, and Tiffany, you don't want to scare away guys with an ego bigger than theirs, do you?"

"So should we debrief her now or later?" Tiffany asked Cede from the driver's seat. Wait, what?

"Later, when we get there, so no skanking away as soon as we do."

I had to giggle to myself at that –which led to my distraction and a missed chance to get a word in about this 'debriefing'- because it was true. Tiffany is a flirt and a tease, and damn well good at being both.

"'Skanking'? I wouldn't go there, Mercedes."

"Guys? Hey, guys?"

"Don't you dare call me that, Tiffany Freda McMillan."

This is about to get ugly so being the valiant selfless person I am, I'll distract them.

"Oh look, we're here!" Thankfully that worked, and since it did, I didn't feel bad about going back to being selfish.

Sidling up to the huffing Tiffany, I whispered to her my three-pronged argument, "Since we're technically at the party now, don't you want to inform me of your impressive plans? Plus, you know it'll piss Cede off, and once you do, you can go find a guy."

Once she looked like she was considering it, I knew she'd been skewered.

"Hey, don't listen to her, she's trying to manipulate you," Cede said, pulling Tiffany away from me and almost making her trip and fall. Tiffany glared at me, especially at my giggle at her almost accident, and stuck her nose up in the air.

Damn. It was like something my annoying little brother would do. He'd be talking to his friends on their little Xboxs or whatever while they played the violent games young children make so popular these days. When they were on separate teams and the other guys lost, one of the winners would say, "Mmm, Victory Tea. Would you like some more? Yes? Too bad you can't!" To the immature and impatient three-year-old in me, this is just like that. I was so close to winning and then someone ruins it and shoves it in my face. Ugh.

"Hey, we'll explain soon, ok? Have some fun," Tiffany said in a surprisingly sincere gesture before walking off somewhere inside the house.

Following her example, I greeted people and talked until I made my way to the kitchen.

They say a way to a man's heart is food, so maybe I am one? Well I'm not, but still, you get my point. This is the way I carried on for about an hour until my pocket vibrated awkwardly during a conversation with a cute guy and I excused myself.

"Hey, having a good time? We'll be there soon."

Next thing I knew, the cute guy had been replaced by Cede and Tiffany, both cramping the bubble of my personal space as they looked over my shoulder at the text from Hayden. They looked at each other and nodded.

"It's time." Oh, weren't they cool, acting Super Spy on me.

Good, the coast was clear. Target B was nowhere in sight of Target A. Move in, soldier.

"Hey."

"Hey," he greeted with a beer in his hand.

"You drunk yet?"

"No, haven't had enough time." Along with the fact that he was here with Jodi, so he wouldn't want to make a drunken fool of himself.

My head tipped to the side, inquisitively, before I asked, "Tipsy? Buzzed? Feeling it at all? Thinking clearly?"

"No. Why?"

"Good," Swiping the bottle and taking a swig –Hey, I deserve a gulp of liquid courage for what I'm about to do-, before putting it down and continuing. "Come on, I need to talk to you."

"O-k." I'm sure if I turned around right now his expression would be wide-eyed and surprised.

I didn't say anything until I had found a virtually empty patio outside. Patting him on the head for extra affect, I cooed, "Good boy."

"So what do you have to tell me?"

"Oh, yeah. Well, you see, high school is officially over now and we might never see each other ever again-"

"Way to go emo on me."

"Shuddup. Seriously, ugh. I just wanted to tell you that for the past few years you've been my best friend, even if I never said it. I might insult you all the time and call you things like ass and jerk-face but you're probably the best guy I know. You're nice when you want to be and not as perverted as most guys. Despite how immature you act, you can have your serious moments, and even though you do that whole guy thing where you don't say how you really feel you care about me, you look out for me and you want me to find someone good enough. I hope I can find someone that gets me as well as you do in university. I can always laugh with you and you always get my jokes before everyone else. Everything's so easy with you, no fights, no drama. You're like my soul mate, even if you have Jodi as yours.

"And yeah, that's it. You can go back inside now and find your girlfriend, get drunk, and completely forget I said anything, but first, can you just give me a hug 'cause I'm really going to miss you?"

Hayden stood there, looking at me, and guess how it made me feel? Not like a fool at all as I stand here with my arms open! Then the shock seemed to disappear from his face and he stepped towards me hesitantly. He hugged me but said nothing. When we finally let go, he still didn't say anything, so I did.

"Thanks," Insert awkward pause. "So… you going to say anything?"

That smug bastard just grinned and said, "You're welcome," before walking away, presumably to do just what I'd told him to do: see his girlfriend. Did he really think I was serious? Maybe he didn't catch on to the bitterness in my tone?

Well whatever. I'm not going to keep standing here alone; my frickin' graduation party going on inside!

"Wow, you're still out here, huh?" He tsked at me.

I grunted out, "No, I'm not still out here. I don't even know how I got here again. Ugh, so much for passing out and sleeping the night away."

"Exactly! Where's the fun in that when you could be with me?"

It's agreed; I'm the only one of my friends that doesn't need to get their ego deflated. "Now that you mention it, the fun in going back to sleep is becoming even more obvious."

"Come on, sit up," he gestured towards the bench I'm on.

"No," I grunted out again in a whiny voice. Why can't he just go away? Sleeeep, I need you!

"I'll sit on you."

"No, you won't," I lied, knowing my laziness wouldn't stop him but I didn't bother to move anyways. What? I told you I'm lazy.

"Uhhh," Yes ladies and gentlemen, Hayden had actually done it. You'll know whose fault it is when I die of suffocation. "Get off of me!"

He chuckled as I wriggled underneath him, my legs pinned. I made my voice seem shaky and punctuated out, "Can't. Breathe. Dying. Slowly. Suffocating."

I guess the guilt trip worked because he let me up enough so that I could turn around and sit up, even though my legs were still trapped. And then I noticed something.

Hayden's hazel eyes were staring into mine from an extremely close distance and it wasn't because of something I'd done. Is he… is he going to kiss me? Am I hallucinating? Did someone drug my drink? Is this a-

Rough but gentle lips brushed across mine in the first kiss I'd enjoyed in a long time. Oh no, this can't be a dream. Please don't let this be a dream! Coming back to reality temporarily, I realized I'd unknowingly returned the kiss, the sweet pressure from it still there on my lips. Warm arms wrapped around my form and mine slid up Hayden's chest to rest on his neck and finally up to those wonderful locks of soft brown tousled hair. The tender kiss deepened, his tongue sliding across my lips, looking for entrance. My low moan was muffled in his mouth. It was only when we parted lips and tried to hide our gasping for breath when the bubble I'd been in with Hayden popped.

I was suddenly over-whelmed with anger. Hayden had just made out with me. Now I was the little skank of a best friend that couldn't keep her hands to herself and instead of pushing away her obviously out-of-his-mind friend she had actively been involved in the ruining of a perfect relationship.

"Ow! What was that for?"

I'd just slapped him, and not lightly in the way I usually do. "What the hell do you think it was for!? You can't just go around kissing people when you have a girlfriend!"

"I didn't see you stopping me," he said and smirked.

Waving my hands in the air, I seethed, "Oh, don't you get smug on me! Shouldn't you be doing something else, like maybe apologizing or explaining yourself?"

"Jodi and I broke up," he said, his face unreadable.

That was a shocker and I'm not being sarcastic. "Oh… ok. Why?"

He shifted uncomfortably before me and cutely shoved his hands in his pockets. If there wasn't the fact that he was rarely ever serious and would probably squish me again -this time making sure to land on my internal organs- I would totally be laughing my head off at him and his shyness.

"I, uh, though about what you said, the whole thing, and I guess I just realized that it was all true. You're my soul mate, not Jodi. I know you can be soul mates with someone without feeling more than friendship but it took what you said for me to know it wasn't just friendly feelings I have for you so I broke up with her."

"Wow, that must have been hard for you." I said seriously but with a hint of a mockery. He grinned down at me.

"About time!" Oh, how true were Tiffany's words? "Oh. Looks like my plan worked. Congrats. Now, come on, we're about to pop some champagne."

Once again it was like I was in another bubble, but this time it was filled with friends and champagne… and Hayden. I guess I can't technically call him a friend now.

He squeezed my shoulder and whispered into me ear, "To you and me. Together."

"And your epiphany," I added. He just looked at me without a clue. I laughed and kissed those tempting lips.

Disclaimer: I don't own School's Out by Alice Cooper.

If you liked this and want to know what happens to the love birds read the one shot that will follow this called "Imaginary Friend". It's much sadder though, a not-so happy ending for one of these two.