Hey everyone! I've got another story to put up! (Yeah, I know its my third one....)

Summary: First, it was my brother's best friend. Then it was my ex. And then, a new student. I liked all three of them, but which did I like more? Emotions go crazy, and I'm not sure what to do. A twist on a couple of normal clichés. Read to find out what happens!

Twisted Clichés

by: angel-babygirl

CHAPTER ONE

My name is Elizabeth Raleigh Anderson, although everyone called me 'Beth.' As of the moment, my age is only fifteen. I'll be turning sixteen in only a little over four months. March twelfth is my birthday. I have one brother. He's two years older then me- right now he's only seventeen. Right now I'm a Sophomore and he's a Senior at our school- Bonita High School. His name is Andrew. Andrew Johnathon Anderson. We're close, but we are also almost complete opposites.

Andrew is the 'golden boy' of our school. Popular. Center striker in soccer- Bonita's main sport. He is also rather smart. Not completely straight As, but mostly As. He has short brown hair that he enjoys to keep semi-long, just a couple of inches so that it fell into his eyes. Apparently it turned the girls on. At least that is what he's told me and what I've heard from other girls. Frankly, I wouldn't know and wouldn't want to know. He's my brother!

Me? I'm one of the non-popular people. I'm not semi-popular even, or a nerd though. I am kind of in the middle of nerd and semi-popular. Of course I had been invited to the popular girls' table in lunch. I had once been friends with them, and simply didn't want to turn into what they had become. I was happier with my friends. But before we go onto my friends, let me tell you about me. I have long brown hair that was highlighted blonde. It goes about two inches below my shoulders. I have always loved long hair, and now couldn't stand short hair. I'm not into any sports, so therefore don't have the athlete's body. I am only about five foot two, getting it from our father's side while my brother got the six feet of his height from our mother's side. I don't care about calories or anything, and still am rather skinny. Of course, that's what I've been told- many of my aunts cursing me for being able to keep a figure when all I do for exercise is phys. ed. class, walk to school (it was a whole point two miles away!), and walk around my house to get to different rooms. Our family was rich, might I add. So I was supposed to be in the popular group- you know, the gorgeous, rich, usually stupid, stuck-up, and slutty girls. But was I? No. Why? I once knew what it was like, and after a slap in the face from one of my now-friends, my brother and his best friend, I realized that it wasn't right.

Now to my friends. I had five of the best friends ever. Kelsey “Kels” Greenan- about five-eight, fifteen (she was the youngest of the group and had just turned fifteen in September), had brown hair also highlighted blonde that went only a little bit below her shoulders. She was rather skinny, although she considered herself fat (all my friends did and I slapped them for it every time). Tricia “Trish” White- about five-one (only a little shorter then me), sixteen (she was older then us- her birthday was in July), and had long blonde hair about my length that had been bleached by her mother when she was younger. Brittany “Britt” Stark- about five-two, sixteen (her birthday was just in September), and had light brown hair that was about my length. Lily Warriner was about five-five, fifteen (her birthday is in March like me), and had long blonde hair that she normally had in a ponytail with a light blue ribbon. And finally there was Jackalyn “Jackie” Rouse. She was about five-eight, fifteen (born in April), and had black hair that went to the middle of her back.

We had all been friends since third grade, and we weren't about to stop now.

--

I pulled my t-shirt over my head. It was already November tenth, a Monday. I wasn't looking forward to this Monday morning very much. I just had this feeling it wasn't going to be that good of a day.

“Sis, you want a ride?” Andrew called from downstairs

“Why are you driving when we don't live far at all?” I asked. I always hated how he drove most days when we lived point two miles away.

“Because I have to stay for practice,” Andrew answered

He was in front of my door now, leaning against the frame. I was currently brushing my hair, and turned to look him in his hazel eyes that I also had. He was not only on the soccer team, but also on the basketball team and baseball team later on. “So what? Wow. You'll have to walk point two miles in the dark. I do it when I have bowling club and I have more of a chance of getting mugged then you.” I said, rolling my eyes

“True...” Andrew said sighing, “I have to pick James up though.”

James was Andrew's best friend. James Alexander Rainsford. They had been best friends for as long as I can remember. He was like another older brother to me too, or at least, that's what I used to think. Lately he's been hanging around the house even more and I just don't know my feelings that well anymore.

“He can walk here or you can walk over to his house and walk to the school. He lives right down the street.” I retorted, “You are both too lazy though, right?”

“Bingo sis!” Andrew said laughing, “So do you want a ride or not?”

“Nope. I'd rather keep the polar bears alive thank you very much.” I said

“Your loss sis,” Andrew said, and left my room

I thought back to James. He had always been Andrew's best friend. He had short dirty blonde hair cut the same way Andrew had his. He was about six foot as well, and whenever he was with me it really felt like he was towering over me. He played soccer as well, right striker. He was also on the basketball and baseball teams with Andrew. I had been confused about my feelings towards him since he started hanging out at our house this year more. And by more, I mean he was spending the night five out of the seven days. He seemed like something was wrong lately, but of course, I wouldn't know. We were friends, but not best friends or anything. We talked, just not really about anything sentimental. Sometimes I wish we did so I knew what he was thinking, and other times I was grateful we didn't.

I sighed and pulled my phone out from my pocket. No texts this morning. That was weird. Normally Lily text me early to wake me up. It was strange. Maybe something was wrong? I shook the thought and pulled my hair back with a simple red barrette to go with my red t-shirt.

--

I walked over to the front of the school. I could see Lily, Tricia and Jackalyn standing there. The other girls must have been running late.

“Good morning,” I said smiling

“Morning,” they said

“Crap. Bowling club meeting. I forgot to tell Andy.” I said, pulling my phone out.

But before I could do anything, I felt arms around my waist starting to pick me up. “What the hell?!” I said, turning around. Of course- it was Andrew. He seemed to enjoy doing that to me a lot now-a-days. “Andy!” I shouted

“At least it wasn't a random guy.” Andrew said shrugging

“Yeah, you would have beat the crap out of him.” I said sighing.

Yes, Andrew was that overprotective brother. He always hated my boyfriends- one reason why I've only had three.

“That's for sure.” Andrew said grinning

“Bowling club meeting today after school.” I said

“Okay, I gotta tell James then.” Andrew said

“Where is he anyways?” Tricia asked

“At home. He apparently slept in.” Andrew said

“When doesn't he now-a-days?” I asked

“He's been staying up late because of tests coming for his advance classes.” Andrew said sighing

Yeah, James was practically a genius. He barely had to study, at least that's what I thought. “Oh yeah.” I said

A tall figure loomed behind Andrew, and he rubbed his face roughly. I laughed at the image, he was really disheveled. Andrew gave me a confused look and then turned around, only to jump when he saw James there. I burst into more laughter. “Gee, love to laugh at me, don't ya Beth?” James said. His deep voice sent shivers up my arms.

“You seem to enjoy making a fool of yourself a lot.” I retorted smiling, “Good morning.”

“Meh,” he said, “Not that good of a morning.”

“When is it for you?” Andrew asked, “You need to stop staying up so late.”

“Oh like you're much better bro.” I said, looking at him

“Whatever.” Andrew said, shaking his head

“Come on, lets go inside.” Jackalyn said

--

I sat in lunch. I sighed as Andrew and James walked in. The usual cheers and hellos filled the loud cafeteria. Why didn't they ever just pack their lunches or go straight out to eat since they could?

“Hey sis,” Andrew said, walking over to me

Oh yeah, now I remember. Andrew always needed money. “Don't have money today Andy.” I said, knowing what he wanted already

“Oh come on, you aren't going to do a good deed for us today Beth?” James asked, taking a seat beside me and smiling with his wondrous smile

I just shook my head. “Learn to not spend it on stupid games and you might be able to eat.” I said

“Oh come on, please sis!” Andrew said

“No.” I responded, standing my ground. Might I add that I was as stubborn as a mule a lot of the time, and Andrew was at times too.

“I'll do your homework for the rest of the week sis!” he pleaded

“Don't need you to.” I said. I never had a problem getting homework done.

“Come on sis!” Andrew pleaded again

“Why don't you just go and ask your girlfriend Andy?” I asked. I picked up my food and went and threw it away, “She'd do anything for you.”

I despised all the girls he had ever dated. They were always the cheerleader type. Too dumb to know right from left. Couldn't say a sentence without saying 'like'. Yeah, you know the kind. The kind that I now hated because of what they had done to me when I had chosen my friends over them.

“You don't have to hate them all ya know.” Andrew said softly as I got back to my table

“If you actually chose a girl with brains I wouldn't.” I said, picking up my bag, “Look, I really don't have the money today. Mom forgot to give it to me before I left. Sorry bro.”

“You suck sis.” Andrew said, “You still got food with you?”

I could see he must have been really hungry. I still had an apple with me, along with a pudding cup. I had only thrown my sandwich out, and that was only because I didn't want to deal with his retort right away. I sighed. “Pudding or apple?” I asked, revealing the pudding cup and apple

“Apple- you need the fat from the pudding cup.” he said, stealing the apple

I glared at him. He, and just about everyone else in the family, said I was too skinny. I weighed one hundred twenty pounds and was thankful for that weight. I preferred to stay at that way. I just picked my spoon up and opened the pudding cup. But before I could even dip my spoon into it, James had taken both the spoon and pudding cup! “Hey!” I said

“Your bro isn't the only hungry one.” James said

“Why don't you just go and get your own lunch? Don't you have your own money?” I asked, glaring at him

“Yeah, but pudding sounds good right now.” James said smirking as he ate the pudding

Brittany walked over to me with a tray of food. “Getting tortured again?” she asked laughing

“As always- let me have some of your food. Andy took my apple and James took my pudding. I'm really hungry today.” I said, and took the pears from her tray

“Sure, go right ahead.” she said, “Gees- you boys need to stop stealing her food. She keeps stealing mine.”

“Well if she ate at home she wouldn't need to.” Andrew said

“Hey- I eat a lot at home!” I protested. Why did they all think I didn't eat or something?!

“Sure ya do.” Andrew said, biting into my apple

I just ate into the pear. I really didn't feel like arguing with him today. “Bowling club meeting today.” I stated

“Awesome. Can't wait to use my new ball.” James said, finishing the pudding

“Yeah, dad got me one over the summer since my old one was about five years old.” I said, “I wanna get used to it first.”

“We should go bowling tonight then- the three of us. I have nothing to do.” James said leaning back

“Same.” Andrew said

“I think I'm gonna have a lot of homework, so I don't know....” I said, biting my lip

“Oh come on Beth- you're always studying. Loosen up and bowl with us tonight.” James said

“I just don't know. I don't-” I said

“Beth- shut the hell up. You're coming bowling with us tonight.” Andrew said forcefully

I just looked at him in shock. He never forced me to do anything. He never acted like that to me. That told me immediately something was wrong. “What's wrong?” I asked, my voice soft

Andrew just looked at me, shook his head and stood up, taking the pudding container with him. I turned to James immediately. “What's wrong with him? He was fine earlier.” I said

“I don't know. I think he's tried of you not hanging with us. It has been a while Beth,” James said

“I hung out with you guys just last week!” I protested

“With Lily or at least one other girl. It hasn't been just the three of us in about three months.” James said, and stood up when he saw Andrew going to the door, “I'll talk to ya later Beth. Hang with us tonight, we miss hanging with just you.”

I sat there in shock as he left. I turned my head to Brittany. “Did that seriously just happen?” I asked

“I'm in shock too. They actually miss hanging with just you.” Brittany said. Her eyes showed the shock that I possessed as well.

“I can't believe it.” I said, and shook my head, “Ten bucks says its just a joke to get me to go with them because I feel guilty.”

“Beth- I would say that if it were Andrew saying that, but it was James that said that. James doesn't say stuff like that if he doesn't mean it. Or at least that's what I get from what you've told me.” Brittany said

Oh right, the girls weren't so close with James. I always managed to forget that. And actually the only one really close to either guy was Lily. But that was mainly because she was always at my house like James. I sighed. Brittany was right. James wouldn't say something like that just to get me to come. He joked around a lot, but I could tell he had been serious when he was talking. “Looks like I might be up late tonight.” I stated

--

I sighed as I shut my locker. It was the end of the day and I was loaded with homework in every subject. Global Studies, English, Spanish, Earth Science, and Math. Oh great. And I was going to go bowling. The boys owed me big time for this.

I felt someone watching me and turned around. A tall, sixteen-year-old boy with short brown hair and brown eyes looked at me. “Oh, hey Collin.” I said smiling. Collin Waters was in a few of my classes, and was in a lot of my classes our Freshman year last year. I hadn't really spoken to him that much, and if it was it was on school.

“Hey,” Collin said smiling

“Can I help you with something?” I asked, curious as to why he was standing there

“I don't know. I was just hoping to ask you something.” He said. He seemed nervous. I could see him fidgeting slightly as I put a binder in my locker and shut the locker door.

“Ask away.” I said smiling

“Do you want to go out on a date with me sometime?” he suddenly asked

I was shocked. It was the first time a guy had asked me out. Yeah, I had had boyfriends before, but I had always asked them out. This was a first. “Uh, well Collin, I just...” I was trying to find a nice way to say 'no', “I can't,”

“Why not?” he asked, seemingly not that hurt

“I really don't want to sound mean or anything, but I don't like you that way and we don't really know each other.” I said, “I'm sorry.”

“Its okay Beth, I hope you have a good school year.” Collin said smiling

“You too.” I said smiling, and left

I thought on my way to the room the Bowling Club meeting would be held in. Why had I really said no to Collin? I mean, yeah there was all those reasons, but there's no reason why I couldn't get to know him and start to like him. A figure appeared beside me and I looked at it through my peripheral vision. It was James. Oh yeah- that was the other reason.

I might have a crush on my brother's best friend. I'm not supposed to, and yet I do. He's the forbidden fruit that we all want.

“You seem depressed.” James suddenly said

“I'm fine.” I said. It confused me slightly. James had never really shown much concern for me.

“You coming bowling?” James asked

“Yeah and you two owe me big time. I have homework in every subject.” I said

“I'll help you with it after we bowl.” James said, “And dinner with be my treat.”

I couldn't help but smile at that offer. He was supposedly valedictorian in his class. And dinner paid for by someone else was always nice. “Alright.” I said

“Lets go then,” James said smiling

--

I sighed as I stood outside the school. The meeting had been quick, and we had gotten the chocolates we had to sell for the fund raiser so that we could go to the bowling alley for free. James and Andrew were following behind me.

“You boys are being really slow.” I said sighing

“Hey, be nice or else you won't get free dinner or help tonight.” James said. I could tell he was joking as I turned around to start to walk and saw the smirk on his face.

“I don't really need it to be honest. Its just nice to have it.” I said smiling

And of course guess what happened to me? I forgot that there was a telephone poll behind me, and ended up walking straight into it, causing both boys to laugh as soon as I stumbled forward slightly and cursed.

“You okay?” Andrew asked, trying to stop his laughter

“Shut up.” I said, glaring as I started walking home

“Come on Beth- you can't say that you wouldn't laugh at one of us if that had happened to us!” James said, catching up to me

“Actually I can. To both of you.” I said, glaring at him

“Gees, you must be PMS or something.” he muttered

I smacked him on the arm and hurried. He grabbed my arm and stopped me. “Look, I was just joking. Come on, don't be mad.” he said

That was one thing- I could never stay mad at James or Andrew. Especially with that sweet voice James had just used. I really hated myself for liking me as anything more then just friends right now.

“Its okay.” I said sighing, “You know I can never be mad at either one of you for long.”

“Too true.” James said laughing

--

We had just gotten done with our third game. It was already 5:00 that night. “Hey Beth, you want something to drink?” Andrew asked as he headed to the vending machine

“Yeah- no caffeine though- Sprite.” I said. We were still going to bowl one more game.

“You're doing pretty good.” James said

“Yeah right. I've barely broken one-hundred.” I scoffed

“Its because you're trying to get used to the ball. I had the same problem over the summer when I bowled with Andrew.” James said

“Yeah, it still sucks though.” I said sighing

“Hey, you'll get used to it.” James said shrugging

--

I sat in the living room with my homework in front of me. James was sitting beside me with his own homework out, and Andrew was watching television from the recliner. It was already 7:00 that night.

“I don't understand this Math! How did I get it wrong?” I muttered, looking at the Math problem that I was unable to figure out

But as my eyes scanned the paper, it was taken and was in James' hand. I looked over at him as he took my pencil. “You're lucky I took this since Andrew didn't.” James said, “I remember this stuff thankfully. You didn't simplify before you rationalized. It makes it a lot easier and you have less area for mistakes if you do that.” He handed me my paper and I looked at him. “Thanks.” I said

“Yep,” James said

--

I leaned back on the couch. It was 9:00 and I was just finishing my homework. I looked over at James, he was still working on his homework. He had spent a good hour all together helping me with mine. It wasn't that hard, but I wasn't quite getting the Math. And the English was a little confusing since we were doing Shakespeare. The only other thing was I didn't bring my Spanish binder home so I needed help with certain words.

“I take it you're spending the night again dude? Its 9:00,” Andrew said

James looked up at the clock above the television. “I guess. Damn I didn't mean to stay this long.” he said

“Its cool, you're always welcome.” Andrew said shrugging

--

Well, hope you liked it! Please review!

-Angel