Genre: romantic comedy

Smiles and Hearts

Co-written with a very close friend of mine, whom would prefer to remain nameless because of...um...weirdness...

So named because that’s what one of my best friends doodled on the side of the page when I was writing it. Luff ya Moo!

Just so ya’ll know, I wrote a majority of this whilst I was ill, so sorry if it’s shabby!

The song at the start is Loose Lips by Kimya Dawson!

Oh, some warnings: strong language; spy wordage used; slight umm...not normalness; weirdness and major cerfuzzlement for those with small minds (sorry Emzles :P). Hehe

You know, it was only after I wrote all of this that I realised where my sub-conscious got ‘Elizabeth Bennett’ from. It’s from Pride and Prejudice, so kudos to the amazing Jane Austen, and I really hope that’s not copyrighted...

Thankyou Ali, who helped me with the tweaking and wording kinna things in the very first...four pages or so (I know something you don’t know!).

Well, Ali, and the dictionary, and the little synonyms thing-y magig on Word that’s like a thesaurus, but they don’t call it that...yeah, I’ll shut up...

Notes:Characters in relation to my group of friends and myself!

Frankie: Me (Lyra)

Annie: Laura

Lacy-Grace: Emily (Harry’s luff)

Hayden: Dan (grrr)

Ben: Figment of my imagination

Cobe: Harry (Emily’s luff)

Colm: Ali

Layden: Figment of co-writer’s imagination

Topaz: Someone at school...

Sophie: My bestest cousin EVER! XD

Dedicated to Laura and Emily, who are the two greatest best friends anyone could ask for. From beginning to end, thick and thin, we’ll pull through. (Aren’t I the little poet :P)

LAEMLA FOREVER!

“Loose lips might sink ships, but loose gooses take trips,” I sang under my breath, walking across the school playground to get to Religious Ed.

“To San Francisco, double Dutch disco, tech TV hottie, do it for Scotty,” A voice behind me joined in, I turned to my blonde haired best friend, Annie, and together, we burst into song.

“Do it for the living and do it for the dead, do it for the monsters under your bed, do it for the teenagers and do it for your mom, broken hearts hurt but they make us strong...”

I giggled, “Heya, An. You ‘kay?”

“Yupsies, you?” She replied, looping her arm through mine.

“Yeah, I’m good, thanks – what you got now, English?”

Annie nodded, “Yeah. Hey, you seen Hayden today? I’ve been looking everywhere for him.”

“Not seen him since registration.” I came to a standstill, “This is my stop. Meet outside the Art room for lunch?”

“Yep, See ya later, Frankie. Bye.”

Maybe at this point I should introduce myself, yes? Okay. My name is Francesca Bennett, but I prefer to be known as Frankie. I’m sixteen and those sixteen years haven’t left me the most popular person in the county but still I could more disliked.I have shoulder-length light ash brown hair. So light, it’s almost blonde, but too dark for it to be ash blonde. Confused? Don’t worry – so am I, that was my last hairdresser’s view on my hair colour. Standing at about 5 foot 5, I guess I’m average in height, size 8 to 10, if you wanted to know, but to be fair if you do you’re just strange...and slightly eyes are grey with a tendency - weird as it is - to change to green and blue dependant on my mood. Unlike the rest of my illiterate classmates, I love to read. It’s true, I read Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, in just a few hours, at my friends Christmas sleepover two years back. So, yeah, I read. A lot. And write, but that’s for another story. (Hehe another story and I write...)

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Francesca Elizabeth Bennett.” I looked behind me, to see a smirking Benjamin Coldray.

“Ben. How nice to see you.” I replied dryly. Ben was tall, dark and handsome.

Ha, did you seriously believe that?

Ben is actually fairly tall – taller than me – long, shaggy dark brown hair that had the tendency to flop over his left eye, which just happened to also be brown. His eyes, I mean. Really quite muscular, but not in the Emmett Cullen kind of way, more...Edward/Jasper... okay, Twilight analogies, sorry.

I’ve known him since play-group. Went to the same play-group, then Primary School...and now Secondary. Oh God, what if he decides to come here for Sixth Form, too? ...I wonder if I can get a late transfer...

“Same, Bennett. Same.” He smirked.

He seemed to enjoy smirking. I thought, idly.

My R.E. teacher opened the door at that moment, “Come on in, kids.”

Kids?! Who did he think he was kidding? We’re almost adults, mister!

As soon as everyone was settled in their constantly rearranging seats, Mr. Everett took the register, straightened up from behind his shiny new laptop, and said: “Today, we’ll be studying more on the Big Bang.”

Major groaning from all around. You see, we had been studying the same damn subject for the past six lessons. And we only had R.E. once a week. Which made me wonder what the GCSE paper questions were going to be on.

Anyways, I won’t go through all the boring re-telling of that class – it’ll just make me fall asleep again, and I’m sure you’ll get put off, too.

The students of 11CRE3 literally sprinted out of the door as soon as the bell went, and as I followed, Ben brushed passed me, “Can’t wait for tonight, Bennett.” I looked up. And there he was, gone. Hehe, sorry – I’ve always wanted to say that.

When I got to the Art room, Annie was already waiting for me with her precious Hayden.

Oh God, I sound bitter, don’t I? Sorry – it just seems like this dude has either been tagging along like a lost sheep, completely disappearing off the face of the Earth with Annie or just completely disappearing, and I can’t help but wonder...is he up to something?

Annie grinned at me, “Found him. He was helping Lucy Maise with some coursework in the library.”

Helping my arse.

I smiled, “Cool. So, we good to go?” My best friend nodded, and we headed back the way I came – to the cafeteria. “Hey, An?”

Nod.

“Ben said the weirdest thing to me just after class. He said ‘Can’t wait for tonight, Bennett.’.”

“Well, Frankie, dearest – he isn’t really one to call many girls by their first names.”

I narrowed my eyes, “Antonia Jane, are you skirting the subject?”

She sighed, “So what, Frankie? He may just have been conversing, you know – like normal people?”

Hayden snickered.

I shot him my best I-know-you’re-up-to-something-you-dirty-toe-rag look. ...Don’t ask.

“What’s this about normality, and Frankie’s lack there of?” Lacy-Grace - my other best friend - asked as she skipped up beside me.

“She thinks Ben Coldray is conspiring against her.”

We got our food, and found a table to sit at.

“Aw, poor Frankie-boo.” Lacy-Grace smirked.

Her smirk turned into a grimace as we watched Antonia feeding Hayden chips, we turned to each other, and poked our tongues out in disgust.

After we had eaten, the four of us headed outside, LG and I lagging behind a bit.

“I saw him flirting with Lucy Maise earlier.”

My brow furrowed, “Annie said she found him helping her in the library.”

We walked in silence whilst we thought about Hayden and his ‘unfaithfulness’.

“Do you think we should watch him for a bit?” Lacy-Grace asked.

“You mean like, spy on him?”

She nodded.

“Yeah, I suppose we should. But he might catch on if it’s just the two of us.”

“And we can’t tell Annie just yet, we don’t have enough evidence.”

I nodded in agreement, there was no way Annie would believe that Hayden was cheating on her just yet. Like Lace said, the only evidence we had at the moment was what Lacy had seen, and she wouldn’t have-

“Take photos...”

I looked at her, “Took the words right out of my head.”

She grinned and tapped my head, “Well doll, there wasn’t much in there to begin with.”

I pouted and blew a raspberry at her.

She laughed, “But it is a good idea, isn’t it?”

“Mm-hm, that way we have visual evidence to support our facts.”

“Oo, get you! Very ‘poosh’.”

I rolled my eyes, “So, who can we get to follow Hayden without him noticing?”

We looked at each other, “The twins.”

Photographic geniuses, and pretend friends of Hayden himself. Let me just explain, I say pretend, because Hayden thinks that Cobe and Colm Matthews are his friends; but they aren’t. It would be cruel for me to say that they use him for gossip, but it is kinna true. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t like that to everyone, they’re actually really sweet. Just don’t get on their bad side...

Hayden looked back at us, “What was that?”

“Nada!” We both answered with matching innocent grins.

I looked at Annie, “LG and I need to go do something. We’ll see you in Phys.”

We found the twins in the library, which was where either one or both of them always were. Lace and I sat down opposite them at the table they were sat at.

“We have a proposition for you.” I told them seriously.

Lacy-Grace gabbed me with her elbow, “We need you to...” She pulled a piece of lined paper out of her jacket pocket, and slid it across the table to Cobe, who read it, and passed it to Colm.

“We will, of course, pay you for your troubles.”

Colm was tearing the paper to tiny pieces, “We only take Jelly Bellies.”

My best friend looked at me, sighed, and pulled out two bags of the mixed sweets. Cobe scooped them up.

Colm looked at Cobe, who nodded once, “We suspected something about a month back, so we started researching.” He pulled out a paper wallet and took out some photos.

Cobe spoke, “Before you ask, we didn’t tell anyone because we were still investigating.”

I nodded, and took the photos Colm held out to me.

Each one showed Hayden with a different girl.

Lacy-Grace was looking over my shoulder, “He certainly likes his blondes.”

“Could we get a copy of these, please?”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Shit.” Lacy squeaked.

I turned around slowly, handing the photos to her, “Ben.” I acknowledged, coolly, standing up.

The incredible smirk spread, “Bennett. Why do you want to ruin Antonia’s happiness?”

Oh Forks, did I just say his smirk was incredible? Infuriating! Yes, yes, infuriating...

“How can you say that, Ben? Your best friend is cheating on her!”

He sighed, “He’s no friend of mine. So, instead of doing that, “ he nodded towards the photos, “why don’t you actually show her? I know it’s cruel, but she might think those are super imposed or something, you know how stubborn she can be.”

“You have to admit, it’s a good idea Frankie. She’ll deny it if you show her these.” Colm murmured.

My mind was reeling, “Tonight, at the party.”

“We’ll have to keep in touch throughout the night, as look outs.”

Lacy spoke for the first time, “I don’t like it...what if she think’s we’re complete bitches...?”

“Everyone sit down, target has entered the building.” Cobe whispered.

Being only four seats at the table, and Ben and I having been the only ones standing up, I had to sit on Ben’s lap.

Should I be worried if I think it’s comfy...?

“He got An with him?”

“Negative.”

“Someone else?”

“No...wait, he’s walking over to Topaz Sanders.”

“That...that arsehole!” I hissed, my hands curled into fists.

Ben patted my back, “Don’t worry, we’ll get him.”

I nodded, and looked at Lacy, Colm and Cobe, “You guys in?”

“Absolutely.”

“Let’s do this.”

We looked at Lacy.

“He needs to be stopped. I’m in.”

The five of us exchanged mobile numbers, and split up. The twins going off towards the Humanities department, Ben, LG and I going to Science.

-x-

The party.

Loud, pounding music flooded the whole house, making it near impossible for people to talk normally. Bodies pressed up against bodies, grinding together and performing dance moves that should be made illegal...or at least restricted to the bedroom. Makes you wonder what these barely-sixteen-year-olds get up to in their free time.

...Ew, images. I need a cheese grater.

Lacy was gripping my hand so we wouldn’t lose each other in the sweaty mass of hormonal teens, pulling me towards the – surprise surprise – kitchen.

My mobile vibrated in my back pocket and I pulled it out, Lacy doing the same with her phone. We read the message, looked at each other in panic, and fought our way back to the hall.

I saw Ben and grabbed him on my way past, Lacy done the same with the twins soon after.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Ben asked me what was wrong. I didn’t speak, just passed him my phone as we continued power walking up the stairs.

“You three go to Antonia. Cobe, come with me, and we’ll get Rogers.” Ben and Cobe turned down a hallway as we carried on walking to the bathroom.

A short queue was forming outside the door.

“There are three other restrooms, this one’s currently closed.” Colm told them, shooing them all away. “You two go in, I’ll stay out here.” He held out the folder of photographs.

“Thankyou.” Lacy-Grace said as I knocked on the door.

“Annie, it’s Lace and me, unlock the door, ‘kay?”

We heard sniffles, and the latch lifted.

-x-

Ben tapped Hayden on the shoulder, who turned around.

Ben drew back his arm, and threw his fist at Hayden.

“Damn it, man! That hurt. What did you do that for, moron?” He whacked Ben’s shoulder.

A brawl started out between the two.

-x-

I handed Annie a tissue as she started blubbering again.

“Thanks.” She quickly blew her nose, “So, there I was, walking over to Hayden, when this guy in front of me shifts slightly, and I see him playing fucking tonsil hockey” – she spat the words – “with Toe-spaz Sanders! That dirty little...grr!” She screeched.

Lacy-Grace nodded at me over our blubbering friend’s head, and I picked the folder up off the floor.

“Annie, honey, some of us have been suspecting this for a while, so we got some photos...we weren’t sure if you’d believe us without them...”

“How many are there?” She asked.

“Seventeen were caught on camera.”

Annie sniffled again, “I don’t wanna-“

Colm pounded on the door, “There’s a fight downstairs, I think it’s the guys!”

“Cobe!” Lacy jumped up.

Just as I shouted: “Ben!”

We both went red, but didn’t say anything, we all threw the door open, and ran down the stairs, Colm in front of us.

A crowd of teens were circled around an open space, all repeating the word ‘fight’ like a mantra.

The four of us fought our way to the front. When we got there, we found the three boys on the floor, Ben and Cobe thumping the daylights out of Hayden.

“Stop it.” Lacy-Grace told them.

They didn’t listen.

“Stop it.” She repeated, louder.

Still no response.

“Oh, for the love of Carlisle,” I muttered, “Stop it!” I shouted.

The whole room lapsed into silence, even the music had been stopped.

I cleared my throat awkwardly, “Thankyou.”

Everyone was staring at me expectantly.

“Alright everyone, nothing to see here, move along.” Colm told the crowd.

The crowd dispersed, leaving the seven of us on our own.

I hauled Hayden off Ben by the collar of his shirt, “You are in so much trouble, Hayden Rogers.” I nodded towards the hallway, “Come on, get going. We have to talk to you.”

“Very domineering, Bennett.” Ben murmured from next to me, having to bend down...a lot.

I may or may not have blushed.

“I try my best.”

“In here. This room’s free.”

When the bedroom door closed, we were all plunged into darkness.

Until Annie found a small bedside lap, and set it on the lowest setting.

Hayden sat down in a chair, and stared at us.

We stood there, in silence, staring back at him.

“Why were you cheating on me?”

“Toni? I don’t know what you’re talking about...” Hayden answered, his eyes flicking over to Colm quickly, before looking back at Annie.

“Oh, don’t play bull. We have photos!” Lacy-Grace steamed.

Cobe went to hug her.

Hayden jumped up, and glared at Colm, “You took photos!?”

Um...what?

Apparently, everyone else in the room – with the acceptation of Colm – were all on the same wave-length as me.

“Huh?” Lace rather eloquently put.

“Toni, I’m sorry, I just...Colm is just...”

The door smashed open, and two figures came into the room, glued to each other, completely oblivious to the rest of us.

“Hayden!?” Annie said in confusion.

“Topaz!” I growled.

“Um...what?”

The couple jumped away from one another, Topaz readjusting her top.

“What are you lot doing in here?”

“Before we answer that, who are you? Why do you look like me?”

“Um, I’m Layden, I’m the one who invited you to this party, and I’m your twin brother.”

“Jesus, it’s like a frickin’ soap opera.” I heard Ben mutter behind me.

Can’t say I disagree...

“Wait,” I said, “Lemmie get this straight...Hayden was cheating on Annie, but with Colm, not the girls, like we originally thought...Hayden has an identical twin brother he didn’t know about ‘til now, and he’s oh-so-conveniently called Layden. Said twin is a player. It was Layden who was photographed with all those girls, which must mean that Colm had known who Layden was, otherwise he would be in the same situation as Annie...am I missing anything?”

“Umm, no...I think that’s it.” Lacy-Grace – the logical one out of the three of us girls – said.

Cobe turned to his brother, “You knew it wasn’t Hayden?”

Colm looked edgy, “Well, it wasn’t like I was going to admit that I was gay, was I? The fact that Layden looks exactly like him, and he’s a player, just worked to m-our, advantage.”

“We can’t help being hot.” Layden smirked. Topaz wrapped her arm around his waist, and pulled him closer, a coquettish smile showing on her orange mask of foundation.

Annie looked confused, “Wait. If you’re Hayden, and you’re Layden, then who was I...? And if he was with him, and he was with her, then I was...which means that...” – she burst into song, sounding uncannily like Donkey, from Shrek – “I’m all alooooone! There’s no-one here beside me! My troubles have all gone, there’s no-one to-...wait! My troubles have all gone! Okay, I’m good!”

Lacy-Grace and I shared a look.

Antonia can be so weird sometimes...bipolar? Or maybe just insane...

“Right, so Hayden and Colm are together, and happy. As are Layden and Topaz, for the moment, no offence.”

“Oh, none taken, Benny Babe.” Topaz winked.

Stupid blonde bimbo no good tart stupid cow.

I scowled – a knee-jerk reaction.

“I’ve had enough confusion for one day. I’m going home.” I muttered, turning towards the door.

“Hey, Frankie-Boo?”

I glanced back at Annie.

“Can you give me a lift?”
“Sure. You need a lift LG?”

She was grinning and holding hands with Cobe, “I’m good thanks, Fran.”

Um, wait. When did that happen? Did you see that coming? I didn’t see that coming...

I shrugged it off, “Okles, see ya’ll on Monday.”

“With a round of ‘byes’ and ‘see ya’s’, Antonia and I walked out of the house to my car.

“Lacy-Grace and Cobe make a cute couple, huh?” Annie said, halfway to her house.

I nodded in agreement, “Adorable, totally. I just didn’t exactly see it coming.”

“Yeah, but you haven’t been the most observant of things lately. They’ll last.”

I frowned, wondering what she meant.

I pulled up outside her house and waited.

She came back a minute later.

“Um...can I stay over at yours for a couple of days? I’m locked out, and Mum and Dad are out ‘till Sunday...”

I laughed and shook my head, “Get in, loser. It’s about time you came over, anyways. How the hell did you forget your keys this morning?”

“I went to school with Hayden this morning, and completely forgot about them leaving.” She grinned and got back in, “Thanks, you sure the ‘rentals won’t mind?”

“Mother figure might, but Dad thinks the world of you. And anyway, I have two tubes of Ben and Jerry’s that need eating, and I’m pretty sure I left some pizza from earlier.”

Annie shook her head, “Queen of Junk Food.”

“Hey! That title belongs to Sarah, I merely eat the food my darling younger sister supplies when needed.” I smirked, “And anyway, we have the multi-gym to burn off the calories afterwards.”

I pulled into my drive, and switched off the ignition.

“Ah, my second home.” Annie sighed in contempt.

“Welcome back, hon.” I grinned.

When I opened the side door, a giant ball a fur pelted at Annie.

“Jeez, Karla. Let her in, would ya.”

Karla is my thirteen-year-old sister’s dog, a black and white English Pointer.

Karla just happens to be obsessed with both Antonia, and Lacy-Grace. She’s a character, all right.

“Heya, Kay!” How ya doin’, girl?” Annie laughed quietly, pushing past the dog, and through the threshold.

Karla leaned back against her legs and looked up, kneading her head against Annie’s thigh as an answer, her tail wagging rapidly.

I rolled my eyes and tapped her on the back, “In your bed, Sprog.”

Annie and I were sprawled over the sofa bed we had pulled out, Karla lying at the edge, staring intently at the TV. Yes, she watches television – Sarah has poisoned her mind, Karla whines every time we leave and don’t leave the set on for her.

“So, you and Ben, huh?” Annie said absently, concentrating on getting the last tiny spoonful of Phish Food from the tube.

I blushed, “I...um...”-cough-“no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Pfft. Like hell. There’s something going on, whether it’s intentional or not. There’s chemistry between you two, and I’m not talking about one of Branshaw’s classes.”

I rolled over, so I was lying on my back, head hanging over the side. “I dunno, An. I’ve known him basically all my life, and he’s never really paid me the slightest bit of attention.”

She looked over at me, her face clearly saying ‘Liar.’

“Well, not in the romantic sense, anyways – you know that, Annie.” I sighed, and sat up to face her, crossing my legs. “I think I like him...I just...why me? You know?” I bit my lip.

Annie grinned, “He likes you, Frankie. It’s so blatantly obvious. I told you, you haven’t been the most observant lately.”

I half-smiled. “What about you? You okay after tonight?”

Annie’s shoulders slumped, “I saw it coming, actually...I was just putting on an oblivious façade.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “How is it Ms. Handley hasn’t forced you into Drama, An? You’re amazing, you really are.”

She grinned, cheekily, “Now, now – you know how much that woman despises me, Francesca, darling.”

I snorted, “True true.”

Karla nudged my bare foot.

“Jesus, Kay – your nose is freezing!” I said, rubbing my foot, “What is it?”

She jumped off the sofa bed, and padded to the back door, looking back at me.

“That dog was a human in her last life.” Annie shook her head in fascination.

“You should have been here when we first got her. She said ‘Hello Laura’, only, it sounded like ‘Herro Rawr-rawr’.” I chuckled, letting her back in from the garden.

-x-

In the morning, Annie and I woke up to the unbelievable smell of fresh coffee.

“Hey Sophie! Can we get two cups of that beautiful golden drink you’re currently brewing? Pleeeaaassee?” I called out to my older sister.

“Sure.” She grinned, bringing in a tray of three mugs, “If you tell me what happened to those three tubs of Ben & Jerry’s I put in the freezer before I left for work yesterday...Heya AJ.”

Annie smiled, “Hi Soph, we only shared one tub last night, ask Squirt about the disappearance of the other two tubes.”

“Thank you darling, wonderful, amazing sister of mine!” I sang.

“Jeez Fran, at nineteen, you’d think I’d know all the tricks in the book...And I do. You two ate a tub each. Sarah and Chloe had one whilst you were at that party last night. Oh, how’d that go, anyways? I heard there was a fight.”

Annie smirked, “Ben Coldray beat Hayden up for Frankie.” She proceeded to tell her about everything whilst I made us all pancakes, and took a cup of tea up to my parents, and a chocolate milk up to Sarah.

Annie and Sophie were giggling when I came back in with a huge pile of pancakes and syrup.

“What are you two laughing about?”

“You lot. Jeez, Franny. You really are oblivious lately.”

I looked at her confused, “Say what?”

Annie bounced up and down, “He really likes you, Frankie!”

“Who really likes me? C’mon, guys! I have no idea who or what you’re on about.” I fell back into one of the sofas and threw my head back in exasperation.

Annie rolled her eyes, “Ben, you dumb nut.”

I snorted, “Yeah huh, right. Pull the other one, it’s got bells on.”

“It’s true, Frankie.”

“Sure, sure.”

Annie opened her mouth to argue again, but Sophie cut her off, “Leave it, AJ. She’s too stubborn for her own good.”

-x-

It had been two weeks since the party, and things had gone down in spiral mode for Hayden and Colm.

“I just can’t understand what I’ve done wrong, Colm!” Hayden pouted.

Colm sighed (he’d been doing that a lot for the last ten minutes), “You’re...how to put this nicely...” he sighed again, “Guys, help me out.”

“Pushy?” Cobe put forward.

“Clingy?” Lace cocked her head to the side.

“Annoying?” I chirped. Oh God, chirped, I chirped.

“Yourself?” Ben smirked.

I giggled. What the hell is wrong with me?!

Colm nodded, “Yes, all of those. Look, I’m sorry, Hay. It wouldn’t have worked out, anyways.”

“But why?” Hayden sniffled.

Annie handed him a tissue.

“He’s faking, dumb nut.” I whispered.

Annie shrugged.

Colm sighed, “Because I’ve found someone new.”

“Someone new? Someone who?”

That's all I've got for now, things at the moment are too messy to be able to try and sort this out, seeming as this is basically based on my life. Haha. But there'll be more as soon as I can write something. This was gunna be a one-shot, but I would have forgotten it if I didn't upload it now, and seeming as my computer is being screwy, and I have to use my little sister's comp, I thought I had better get it up asap.

Thanks for reading, and stick around for more if you enjoyed it!

Lyra

-x-