Why can’t I ever be the one to get the guy? My best friend is a major player. She can hardly keep track of all the love letter and IMs from the guys that like her. But me…nah, I’m a junior and I’ve never even had a boyfriend. I have been kissed though, then Hailey walked in and he was her boyfriend the next day. Hailey doesn’t mean to take the guys I like though, she always dumps them on the spot if she found out that I’d liked them. It doesn’t matter to me though, I know that I’m just a shadow compared to her. She has sunny blond hair and I have a dull brown. She has blue eyes that make guys melt and I have forest green eyes that aren’t very…well…bright. She has an hourglass figure, while I’m more pear shaped. She’s exactly five and a half feet tall whereas I’m only five foot three. I know that I’m not competition and I don’t mind. Hailey never misses our Girl’s Night though, every other Saturday, even if she has a date. I wandered from my thoughts and glanced at the clock, “Hmm, it’s only eight a.m. ...Holy crap! It’s eight a.m.!” I threw on a pair of jeans and a Pink Spiders concert shirt and ran out the door. I can’t believe I’m going to be late for school, and I still need to go get Hailey! I jumped into my old mustang and pulled out of the driveway quickly, good thing she only lived on the next street. I pulled up to her house and honked the horn. After a few minutes, I saw her mom come out of the house and wave.

“Her boyfriend picked her up, Nicky! She said that she was going to call you!” I banged my head on the wheel from Mrs. Love’s announcement. I waved back to her and leaned out the window.

“It’s ok Mrs. Love. I’ll just chew her out at school.” I put the car in drive, and after one last wave, I drove away. That chick was so going to get it! I planned all the ways on how to kill her on the way to school and finally pulled into the student parking lot. I glanced at my watch while pulling my bag out of the trunk. Only fifteen minutes until school started and I still needed to go the anime club room to make sure the new paperwork was filed correctly. I was also told that there was a new kid and that they wanted to join our club. Since I was secretary, I would take care of his registration. I walked into the school and went straight to the cafeteria, I knew that Hailey would be there with her latest conquest. I walked to the doors and found Hailey leaning against the far wall in the cafeteria foyer. She was talking to some guy that wasn’t her boyfriend. I walked over and stood off to the side, behind Mr. New Victim and glared at her. She immediately stopped talking when she saw me.

“Nicky! This is Brian.” Was how she greeted me. I glanced at him and he looked at me with little interest, then he looked back and his eyes widened. I knew what he was thinking, this goddess hangs out with a thing like that? It didn’t surprise me, not much did with Hailey.

“What about…uh…Jeremy? I thought you said that he was ‘The One’.” I heard myself ask and rolled my eyes to myself, they were all ‘The One”. I raised one eyebrow when she said that she had broken up with him that morning. I glanced at my watch again and gasped, only ten minutes left!

“This is lovely and all but I need to get the paperwork for anime club. We’re having a new registration this afternoon.” I turned around and started walking away but stopped when I heard my name being called.

“You’re the one I’m supposed to see to get registered?” The Brian guy asked me and I looked at him. I nodded quickly and grinned, “I can register you now. C’mon.” I said and walked away. I heard him saying that he’d see Hailey later and then yelled for me to wait up. I slowed down until he’d caught up and led him to the official Anime Room. I walked inside and went straight to the desk in the corner. I motioned for him to sit in the chair in front of the desk and rummaged through a filing cabinet until I found a blank form. I sat in the chair behind the desk, pulling it closer to my desk. I handed a pen and the form to Brian and waited for him to finish filling it out. After a few minutes, I stood up and walked over to our library. Our librarian was usually too lazy to put the book in order so I usually ended up doing it. As I rearranged the books, I felt a hand tap my shoulder. I jumped a little and turned to see Brian with the form in hand. Standing, I took it from him and walked over to the filing cabinet.

“Ok, you’re set. Just a reminder though, we have dues every week. You are relieved of your dues for a month if you donate ten manga or five episodes of an anime. They may not be recorded, the anime must have been bought through a store. Oh, and no fan fics.” I gave him the customary welcome and led him to the door. He stopped suddenly and grinned, “I never introduced myself properly. I’m Brian Aderlin. And you are?” He held out his hand and I placed mine in it.

“I’m Nicky Everings. Best friend of Hailey Love, the girl you were talking to earlier. By the way, what’s your first class? The bell rings in about two minutes.” I smiled and shook his hand before he released mine to dig in his pocket, I took this moment to actually notice him. He had slightly shaggy brown hair and was at least six feet tall. When he handed me his schedule I noticed that he had grey eyes, he was also well muscled. Why am I thinking of his muscles? He’s the next conquest of Hailey. Completely off limits. I looked at his schedule, he had four classes with me and three with Hailey. I told him this and he grinned widely, probably thinking of how to make Hailey his. Poor boy had no idea of his problems. The bell rung shrilly and jerked me from my thoughts. I glanced at the paper again.

“You have English, Science, Drama, and Multimedia with me. Let’s go, I’ll walk with you to English.” He nodded his ok and followed me into the hallway. I could hear them whispering already. I’d never walked through the hallway with anyone but Hailey, much less a guy. A hot guy at that. I glanced at Brian to see him smiling to himself.

“What’s got you so happy?” I asked and laughed when shook his head and looked at me as if he was just seeing me.

“Just an old country song that I heard my dad listening to once. I can’t remember the name though.” He said and looked away. We didn’t talk until we reached the classroom. I sat down in the back while Brian introduced himself to Mrs. Lee. I was taking out my notes when Brian sat next to me and sighed. “I’m your new English shadow, Mrs. Lee said that you’ll be my English partner for the year, since I seemed to be friends with you anyways.” He said and gave me a thumbs up. I grinned and handed him the notes.

“That’s what we’ve done so far this year, all two months of it.” Brian took out a notebook and began copying my notes. He smiled a little when he noticed my flip book I’d made in the corner. I watched as he flipped the pages to see the two stick figures fighting with swords and then finally one sent a bazooka on the other one and blew him up. He laughed and the teacher called the class to order. I caught him glancing at me every few minutes and figured that he was trying to find a way to use me to get to Hailey. I almost cried out in joy when the bell rang for us to go to second period. I waited for Brian and walked with him out the door.

“You have Algebra II right?” when he nodded I continued, “Ok, do you want me to walk you there? I’m going that way, I have History on the hallway next to it.” When he nodded again I turned and began to walk with him

“So, what school did you go to before this one?” I asked, trying to make conversation.

“I went to a small school in Waco, Texas. Then my dad got a job here and we moved to Washington.” He said it somewhat quietly so I had to move closer to him to hear, a girl suddenly grinned and a thumbs up as we passed her. I think she was looking at the couple making out on the lockers on the other side of the hall. We talked about the English homework and before I knew it, we were standing at his classroom door. I saw Hailey inside already and I waved to her. She waved back, then saw Brian and ran over.

“I didn’t know that you had this class! C’mon Brian, I saved you a seat. Thanks for showing him here Nicky. ” She said and almost drug him to the seat behind hers. Brian looked back at the door and smiled at me. I smiled back then looked at my watch and walked off to my class. My mind wandered during Mr. Red’s lecture. I thought of Brian and how cute he was, and I frowned as I pictured him with Hailey. It didn’t look right somehow. She didn’t usually date the musician types, that what he reminded me of, a musician. She went for the popular or athletic. Not that she couldn’t change her type, of course. I heard the bell ring and stood up. I had Science next, then Drama. Brian was in both classes, I felt myself feeling a little lighter. I walked down the main hall and saw Hailey and Brian standing at the end of the Math Hall. I waved to them and hugged Hailey.

“So we have Science and Drama next, Brian.” I said and he grinned. I guess he likes Science and Drama. I glanced at Hailey who was watching Brian with her I’m-gonna-get-you look. He didn’t notice it though, and I was slightly surprised. I walked with them down the main hall, strolling slightly behind them so as to give Hailey a chance to work her magic. I raised both eyebrows when Brian looked back and locked eyes with me and mouthed ‘Help me’. I nodded and grinned, then walked down a random hallway. I turned to see Brian glaring at me as they passed the hallway I’d turned down. I laughed and walked by myself to the science room on the second floor. I sat at an empty table and grinned when Brian walked in and sat in front of me. He didn’t get to say anything because the bell rang and the sub handed out the chemistry worksheets. I was working on the third equation when a folded piece of paper hit my hand. I glanced at Brian, who never looked up, before opening it.

Why did you leave me?

I laughed silently and scribbled my answer,

I thought you said go away…as in you wanted alone time with Hailey.

I threw the note onto his paper and smiled to myself. A second later it landed on my paper.

Bull. You knew I was asking for help. I didn’t want to walk with her.

I raised my eyebrow at that, why didn’t he? I scribbled quickly and probably messily,

Why not? I think she likes you. And she’s pretty. That’s a plus. Lol.

I threw it at him and almost choked on laughter when he looked up as I was tossing it and it hit his nose. He rubbed his nose and opened the note. I watched him read it and grimace from under my lashes. He tossed it and I gasped lightly when it hit the top of my head.

I guess I don’t like the type of girls that tell me they want me to be their next conquest. She actually said that. She sent to me in a note during class. I just wrote back whatever and then she’s hanging all over me. Another girl has caught my eye anyway.

I felt my stomach when I read the last sentence. He already found someone to like? This is only his first day. I bit the tip of my pen as I thought of how to respond. I didn’t want to sound jealous.

Who? Is it someone from English or Algebra II? Tell Me! I might be able to get you a date with her.

I threw the note in front of him and watched him reply, I’d given up on the work a while ago. I looked around to see people ignoring the work and talking with their friends. I sighed and walked around the table and sat next to Brian. He was folding the paper when I snatched it out of his hands. He glared at me and took it back.

“We can just talk. The sub won’t care.” I said and reached for the note again, he grinned at me. I got to glare at him when he stuck the note in the back pocket of his jeans.

“I decided not to tell you after all.” He said while rubbing his hands together evilly. I laughed and moved to sit on the counter next to his chair.

“So why won’t you tell me? I know that I could hook you up. Lots of people owe me lots of favors.” I said with a puppy face. I’d somehow become more open to him than I was with even Hailey. I wonder how that happened? I even pouted as he pretended to think about it.

“I’ll give you a hint. She’s in our English class. She’s very beautiful and I’m pretty sure that I’m going to write a song about her.”

“Ha! I knew you were a musician! You have the look. And those aren’t hints, all the girls in our class are beautiful. Most of them have boyfriends though, I hope it’s not one of them.” I thought of all the girls who were single and wondered if they were the one.

“Since we’re on the subject of boyfriends, do you have one?” he looked at me and for a moment I wondered if I was the one he liked…nah, that’s impossible. I’m not his type.

“No. I’ve never even had one before. Much to Hailey’s embarrassment.” I said with a nervous laugh and looked at my lap. Why did I just tell him that? How stupid could I get?

Brian laughed and the bell rang, I felt gracious that the awkward moment was over for me.

Drama was pretty normal, Brian and I were both put into crew for the yearly production. We were both to work the sound/light booth, him on lights and me on sound. Brain and I met up with Hailey for lunch after Drama and I spent the time watching Hailey flirt with Brian and Brian trying to hold her off. This guy interested me, he was the only one to not return her feelings. I around and saw Jeremy looking at Hailey with a wounded expression. I watched as he crumpled a piece of paper and walked out of the cafeteria.

“I’ll be right back.” I said and walked out after Jeremy.

“Are you ok?” I asked him and watched as he tried to recognize me, no surprise needed.

“I really loved her. Hailey was like my light. Then she breaks up with me and starts hanging all over that new guy.” I thought of his problem and an idea suddenly popped into my head.

“I’ll be right back. Just stand here and I promise I’ll be back.” I said and ran back inside. I pulled Brian away from Hailey and pulled him off to the side. After I explained Jeremy’s problem I told him that Hailey and I would have to miss the rest of lunch. He nodded and went to sit back down. I drug Hailey away and pulled her to where Jeremy was, “He loves you Hailey, give him another chance.” I said and pushed her to him. I turned to see Brian standing behind me.

“Might as well stay and watch this.” I said to him when he moved to stand beside me.

We watched as Jeremy begged with Hailey and both our eyes widened when Hailey got mad and stormed over to me and Brian.

“But I like him now! Don’t you understand?!” she yelled and pulled Brian’s head down and kissed him. I stood there in shock as she rubbed her tongue on his bottom lip. Brian jerked away and glanced at me as I watched them with a, what I assumed to be, shocked look. Jeremy looked much the same.

Brian cleared his throat and walked closer to me, “Actually, I’m going out with Nicky here. She said yes during Drama.” He pulled me to his side and I watched as Hailey looked as shocked as I felt. I said yes to WHAT?! Since when did I allow myself to be someone’s cover? Someone that I had only met today! I jerked away from him and glared.

“But she’s never even had a boyfriend before! And I know that she’s not as pretty as me! Even she knows it!” Hailey screeched and just like that I got over my shock. I walked right up to Hailey and slapped her. She screamed when my hand connected hard to her cheek.

“I may not be as pretty but that doesn’t mean you have to insult me. No one gave you the right. You can just eat lunch by yourself from now on. I have other friends that aren’t as full of themselves!” Sure, I was lying through my teeth, but I’ll deal with that later. I can’t believe that she actually thought she could get away with saying that. I was on a rampage now.

“And you know what? I’m sick of you taking every guy that I’ve ever liked. And I’m sick of them liking you. I don’t care if you’re prettier. I treat people like people. Not like play things. I hope that Jeremy notices that major flaw in you.” I gave her one last icy stare before walking away from the whole scene. Even Brian was looking in shock. There seemed to be a lot of that shock going on.

I walked towards the back of the building to the hill over looking the tennis/basketball court. I sat down and thought of all that happened today. My life was good until Brian showed up then it all went to hell. It was only the first day that I’ve known him and all the sudden he’s my fake boyfriend and I lost my best friend. I saw a shadow from the corner of my eye and chose to ignore it. The shadow stayed there for a long time before I saw someone sit behind me. A leg appeared at both of my sides and suddenly I was sitting in between someone’s legs. I looked behind me to see Brian there. He just raised a finger to his lips and we watched as fifth period began and the tennis team came out to practice. I wanted to ask him a few questions but I felt that he needed the silence for a moment. I felt an arm go around me and I was pushed against his chest.

“Hailey wasn’t the only one who came on to me today. I had at least ten girls come up to me and tell me how sexy I was. But not the girl I wanted. See, I met this girl this morning while I was talking to her best friend. And I was thinking to myself, the blonde chick is pretty hot. Then some brunette ran up to us and the first girl said her name. I wasn’t to interested in the second girl, she looked pretty plain.” I felt my muscles stiffen at this and then the hand that was around me started rubbing my neck, almost absentmindedly, “Then she gave the same once over and ignore that I had to her. And that got me interested. This had never happened before, you see. I looked at her again and noticed that she was only five three, and that she had more than just brown hair. She had a little honey color in there too. And I also noticed that she had the most beautiful green eyes I’d ever seen. This girl was the exact opposite from what I’d looked for before. She was more than all the tall blondes that I’d gone for. Then this girl turned out to like anime, and she was nice, and she had most of my classes. And I began to like her. By third period I really liked her. Then I started passing notes to her. And she asked who I liked.” His hand left neck and he shifted to get into his back pocket. I saw him pull out the note from earlier. He held it in front of me so that I could read it.

I like that little brunette from English that sat beside me and became the first friend I have at this school. I know all this sounds corny…but would you like to go out this Friday? I know that we’ve only known each other for one day but I want to get to know you.

My breath caught in my throat. This was the first guy that had liked me over Hailey. But I don’t think I can trust him, yet. I want to know him better. I don’t really know how to respond to all this, it’s never happened before.

“Then she came over to talk and I learned that she’s never had a boyfriend. I wanted to be her first boyfriend. I wanted to get her to like me instead of giving her the note and possibly scaring her. Then the whole drama with Hailey started and she kissed me. All I could think was that I wished it was the girl I liked. Her friend got mad when I made myself the girl’s boyfriend. She said some really mean things and my girl set her straight and left. I told Hailey that she could never be as pretty as my girl was, at least not to me. I walked off to find her as Jeremy told her that he didn’t want her back.” His hands wrapped around me and held me close, I’d only know this guy one day and I felt safe. “I followed her and saw her sitting in the grass looking sad and I wanted to comfort her. So I sat behind her and told her a story from my day and how I’d met the girl I want to date.” He ended by putting his head on my shoulder and looking at me from the corner of his eye.

I sighed to myself and smiled lightly, “I like the story, and I like that you like me. I just don’t know how I feel about you. I’ve only known you for one day. I’m not good at having sudden feelings like that. They have to develop for me. I’ll act as your girlfriend during school, to help keep the girls away, but I don’t know about after school and all that. I just don’t know how I feel.” I said quietly and I felt his arms move away from me and his legs left my side. Then his head left my line of vision. This is great, I just hurt the feelings of the one guy that had ever liked me. How great am I, no, I suck. I pulled my legs up and rested my head on my knees. I didn’t see his shadow and a cloud had covered the sun. I closed my eyes and let the guilt drown me. I felt something press against my lips and opened my eyes to see Brian kissing me. My first kiss, from someone who meant it! I let him kiss me innocently for a moment longer before I pulled away.

“I’m going to make you like me.”