I've never really believed in love at first sight. Romeo and Juliet did nothing to my heart strings. I've always – and will forever continue to – think that Romeo deserves what he got. That's not to say that I don't get crushes but… I mean, honestly. He was mourning about his unrequited love that same day and then suddenly he's irrevocably and helplessly in love with Juliet that same night? Call me what you want, but Romeo sounds like a man-whore. No wonder his heart was "broken" – he bounced around from girl to girl!

I can't say anything about Juliet, though. She wasn't even 14 years old yet, and we all know how 13 and 14 year old girls are whenever an older guy shows her some attention.

So really, it was hard for me to even pretend to be enthused about this meeting that my supposed "best friend" has set up.

"Kasey, can't you at least pretend to be excited?" she asks from her position in the closet, throwing clothes on the floor. "I'm serious – I told Blake that you were really excited to meet his friend."

"How dare you!" I sat up on her bed, folding my arms over my chest and glaring at her. "First; you make me go on this stupid thing, second; you're picking out my outfit, third; you're making me sound desperate!" I fell back onto her bed with a huff.

"I did not make you sound desperate!" she had the nerve to sound affronted. "Okay, well… maybe a little bit – but his friend said he's seen you around before and he thinks you're cute!"

"Now you're just lying to me!" I pouted.

She didn't say anything and I scoffed.

Despite what I may have said earlier about the 'love at first sight' thing, I think it'd be nice to have a boyfriend. Here I am, 16 years old, never hugged a boy – aside from my seven year old brother Josh – never held hands with a boy, and I've definitely never kissed a boy – or girl. Even kissing girls would be some kind of improvement at this point.

I'm going to die an ugly, wrinkly, old lady with a one hundred gray and black and orange cats, going to get milk from the store with a different one every day.

Do you see? I already have this stuff planned out! My main cat – haha, see what I did? – will be named Mr. Paws because that is probably the cutest pet name in the history of the world, and my second main cat will be named Gammons because – well, I don't know. I like that name. The third will be named –

"Here!" Taylor flung pieces of clothing onto my face. "Try that on!"

I mumbled under my breath about how controlling she was while making my way to the bathroom connected to her bedroom.

She had picked out a pink short-sleeved v neck and a pink and white floral print skirt. It was actually very plain – something I was thankful for – but knowing me, if I wore it, I'd just fade into the background anyway. I always do… especially around Taylor.

After slipping into the clothes, I walked out to show Taylor. She nodded her head in approval and I was almost tempted to declare that I hated it just to spite her, but I didn't want to argue. It's bad enough she made me sound like the desperate tag-along.

I put on my silver gladiator sandals as she got dressed.

Being around Taylor can really make my self-esteem – low as it already is – drop even lower. She's a brunette – the only thing we have in common – but hers is more of a rich chocolate color and mine is dull brown. Where Taylor's tan, I'm what you would consider normal – let's face it, Taylor tans artificially, not by the sun. She's tall and thin and I'm…average. That's really the only way to describe me.

Average and plain, I am. Just call me Plain Jane!

"Are you ready?" Taylor asked, sliding into her flip-flops.

"Let's get this over with," I mumbled, following her out the door.

xXx

"This is stupid and I want to leave."

Taylor looked at me skeptically. "The game just started, Kasey. Besides – it's baseball. America's favorite pastime! How can you think it's stupid?"

"Easily," I said. "I don't even know what's going on. I haven't been to a baseball game since I was in third grade, and that was with my dad."

"You can't even guess what they're doing?" she asked. "It's pretty simple to figure out, Kasey. It's kind of – kind of – like kickball, you know? Except it's with bats and baseballs." She turned towards the field, "Look! Number eight – the guy running! That's Blake!"

Obviously, I thought. I know who Blake is, Taylor. Everyone in school does.

"And him – that guy!" she pointed – how she expected me to figure out who she was pointing to, I'll never know – at one of the many figures running around the field. "The guy who just made it to second base, you see him? That's Nathan. He's Blake's friend."

She nudged my arm as if in encouragement. I just stared at her.

I swear, it's like she doesn't even understand how annoyed she makes me sometimes.

It's wrong of me to even blame this on her – even though technically, it is her fault. If she hadn't of set up this freaking…meeting then I wouldn't be so nervous right now! Especially now that I knew who I was "meeting up" with! Why didn't she tell me who it was earlier, like when we were at her house? Then I would've had time to back out! Or at least attempt to back out, but knowing Taylor as well as I do, it probably wouldn't have went over to well.

But hey! There could be more than one Nathan on the team, right? I mean, our baseball team isn't the biggest, but I can think of three Nathans – not including Blake's friend – that go to our school… but none that are on the baseball team… but that doesn't mean anything though, right? I mean, maybe it's not him. That's wishful thinking, yes, but it's all I had.

I was starting to hyperventilate; I was getting so worked up.

"You okay?" Taylor asked, looking at me.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Uh…I'm gonna go get something to drink. I'll be right back."

"Oh, can you get me a Sprite? Here," she held out her money. I nodded, taking it, and made my way down the bleachers to the concession stand.

Baby you light up my world like nobody else

The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed

But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell

You don't know

You don't know you're beautiful

My ringtone started going off…from the front of my bra, where I kept it because the skirt I was wearing had no pockets.

Thank you, Miss Sarah for choosing that song out of all the songs you could've listed!

Not.

People were staring at me and my phone was still ringing. I'm sure it must have been an amusing sight. I mean, it's not every day you get to see some girl's boobs blasting One Direction.

Yes, an amusing sight, indeed.

I started coughing and slapping my chest, but all that did was hurt my boob, so I stopped and just took my phone out of my bra – after turning away from prying eyes, of course! – and looked at the name on my phone.

Taylor! :)

She couldn't wait for her dang Sprite?

"Hello?" I answered, clearing my throat.

"Hey, you didn't get the drinks yet did you?"

"No."

"Good. I don't want a Sprite anymore, I want a Dr. Pepper, okay?"

I resisted the urge to bag my head against the concrete wall a few feet away from me.

"Okay, will do."

"Thanks."

I hung up and turned back around and finished making way towards the concession stand.

"What can I get for you?" the man behind the concession stand asked, giving me a smile. He was obviously a parent helping out at a school function – and by the way his eyes traveled down my body, he was definitely one of the perverted ones.

"Um," I said, trying to inconspicuously cover my chest – not that there was much to cover, but anyway. "Can I have two Dr. Peppers please?"

"Here you go, that'll be $3.50."

I handed him a five, and didn't even bother checking the amount of change he gave me back.

"Have a nice day, Sweetheart!" he called out after me.

I cringed, and started walking even more briskly.

xXx

"Did you see that homerun Nathan made? It was sweet!" Blake said as the boy in his statement had yet to show. I mean… I wasn't that bad, was I? Seriously; I know that it's Nathan Cress, but he would at least give some crap excuse and then ditch first, right? I mean, the game's been over for like 35 minutes now, and we're still waiting for him.

At least I'm the only one admitting it. Taylor knows because she keeps giving me these sympathetic glances, and I'm sure Blake knew because he was talking a whole lot and keeping us here.

"Hey Taylor," I said, more than happy to interrupt Blake's story about how he joined a book club.

He was lying! Why would Blakely Saunders join a book club? That's laughable.

"Yeah?" she asked, looking at me.

"You and Blake can go on, I'm gonna call my mom to come get me. I'll come by later to get the stuff I left at your house."

"Kasey," she started, but I cut her off.

"No, no, y'all go. I'll be fine, okay? I promise. I'm not mad or anything."

"Hey, if you want me to kick his ass I will." Blake said and I blinked at him.

I thought he'd be more than ready to get out of here.

"Aren't you two friends?" I asked. "Actually, that doesn't even matter. Thanks, but no thanks. It's all good. I'm good. I don't really know him anyway," and now I definitely don't want to get to know him. "Y'all go, have fun." I looked at Taylor and winked, "Call me later."

Her cheeks turned pink, but she said "Are you sure? Because you know I'll stay here with you."

"Taylor, I'm positive. Go! I'll be fine."

Blake grabbed her hand. She bit her lip and looked ready to protest again, but I shooed them off.

Once I was sure they were gone, I went back to the empty bleachers and sat down.

Am I really that ugly? Am I some kind of freak of nature? I looked down at the scars on my arms.

Is it because of that? Everybody found out last year. I don't even do it anymore. I still get urges to, but instead I state one thing about myself that's positive, like my therapist told me to do.

I sighed out loud, going over that thought in my head.

That's why no one wants me. I'm a freak!

My eyes started tearing up, and I looked up at the sky, willing them to go away.

"Kasey, you are an amazing person. If no one else can see that, then they don't deserve you."

I took in a deep breath and exhaled, looking back out at the field. I took a drink of my Dr. Pepper before pulling my phone out of my bra again, and contemplated calling my mom to come get me or just walking to get ice cream.

Ice cream sounded pretty decent right now…

"Hey," somebody called out to me, almost giving me a heart attack in the process. I almost fell down on the bleachers!

"What?" I breathed out, looking down.

"Sorry for bothering you," he called up to me. I couldn't see his face because he was on the ground, and I was too far up on the bleachers, but I'd know that voice anywhere. Nathan Cress! "But I was wondering… Do you know Blake Saunders – have you seen him?"

"He already left. He was with this smoking brunette, she was a total babe." I said.

That's for making me sound desperate!

"Was there anyone else with them? I was supposed to be meeting up with some people, but I got caught up with some stuff after practice… I'm almost an hour late."

He said the last bit with a tone that sounded similar to bitterness, but I didn't want to think about what that could mean.

"Actually… I only saw them two."

"Oh."

"Yeah…"

Baby you light up my world like nobody else

The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed

But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell

You don't know

You don't know you're beautiful

That's it. My phone is going on vibrate from now on.

"Um… I should take this." I called out awkwardly.

Why did I even say that? It's not like he was gonna stay.

"Yeah… Yeah of course." He cleared his throat and I was completely shocked when he started walking up a few rows of the bleachers and sat on one four down from me.

"U-uh, yes – I mean – hello?" I stammered out.

"Kasey!" Taylor's shrill excited voice came through the speaker. Ouch Taylor, ouch. "Blake said Nathan just texted him. Do you see him?"

"Yeah actually, he's closer than you think," I muttered, looking down at the figure that was looking up at me. I quickly averted my eyes and turned around so that I couldn't see him.

"Oh! Well, do you want us to come back?"

"I already called my mom," I lied. I was about to though… I just didn't need Taylor making it awkward, okay?

"Oh. Well! Maybe next time! I'll let you go."

"Call me later."

"Kay."

"Kay."

We hung up.

I looked down to where Nathan last was, only to be surprised when I realized he wasn't there anymore.

"So."

I screamed. I couldn't help it. My phone fell onto the floor of the bleachers and Nathan was clutching his side laughing.

"That's not funny, jerk! That was a new phone!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but your face," he laughed, "was priceless!"

I glared at him and reached for my phone.

"My precious baby, are you okay?" I cradled it to my cheek. "It's okay Jewel, Mama's here."

"You name your phone?" Nathan asked, still chucking a little.

"Yes!" I exclaimed. Then realized I must've sounded crazy. "Well, not all the time. I mean – well – uh – I named this one Jewel because I bedazzled her when I first got her, so she's all shiny and glittery – like jewels." I said, and then looked at him. "Don't judge me, okay?"

He glanced at my arms – it was quick, but I saw it – before looking at the field, then back at me.

"I wouldn't make fun of you."

"Yeah, you'd just scare me." I said.

I refuse to let this get awkward. Well…even more so than it already was.

He grinned, "That was funny though!"

"For you," I grumbled.

"Hey," he said, nudging my shoulder with his, "you weren't even gonna tell me who you were, were you?"

"I thought you didn't want to hang out with me. It's cool if you don't, I completely understand. I'm weird, and I talk too much, and it would just be so a – "

"I did," he said. "I wanted to hang out with you. This thing with my mom came up though, and I can't say no to my mom. She'd flay me." He said and I laughed. "And I don't think you're weird, or talk too much, or whatever else you were gonna say."

"Well you're the only one," I said. Well actually… "Well, besides Taylor, of course. And Blake seemed nice…kind of…"

Nathan nodded approvingly.

"That's it though. My list of friends is not very long, as you probably already know."

"I don't care though. I've always wanted to hang out with you again since that time last year," he said and I felt my face get red. I remembered that night.

It was the first day in a straight month that I didn't feel the need to cut.

"Really?" I asked.

You have to understand why I was skeptical. For Taylor to score someone like Blake Saunders isn't anything special. They're both two very attractive people; of course they'd get together, but… For someone who looks like Nathaniel Logan Cress to be interested in me, well…. That was just a miracle or something.

Plus, he was just so…nice. He never said anything about the scars.

"Really," he nodded. "I think you're cool…and nice…and funny…and amazing awkward, it's cute."

"Cute?" I scoffed, but really I was blushing so bad I had to look away so he wouldn't see. "Yeah…right. I have the ability to make any conversation awkward. It's adorable." He didn't respond so I said "See? Right there! That was awkward!

"That wasn't awkward," he said slowly. "I was trying to think of a way to suavely hold your hand, but since you like to talk with them, it's hard." He grinned.

My face got even hotter, and I lowered my hands to my sides. "Oh."

"Yeah," he smirked. "Oh."

Well then…

"I'm having trouble understanding something," Nathan said.

"Mhm?" I nodded, encouraging him.

"If I'm not mistaken, your ringtone was What Makes You Beautiful," he said. "and of course I think you're beautiful – you really are, by the way – but you don't think so… So why…"

"My…therapist," I said. "I'd heard of the band that sings that song before because of Taylor, but I never actually listened to them. Miss Sarah told me," there I faltered, because he had suavely slid my hand into his, "to listen to it and put it as my ringtone, and whenever I'm feeling bad about myself, I could just listen to it."

"Smart woman," he said, rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb. "You know, I could make you feel beautiful too."

"Huh?" was all I managed to stammer out.

My heart was beating so fast and my stomach was filled with butterflies.

"Yep," he said, and pulled me to his side. "In fact, I could show you right now, after I do something."

"Do what?"

Then he kissed me.

It was short and sweet and there was no tongue and my mind was filled with NathanNathanNathan.

"That," he bit his lip when he pulled away. "But now," he said, "you should come with me to a movie or something. You can pick since I was almost an hour late."

"That doesn't even matter though."

"To me it does," he said, and gave me another kiss, "because I made a beautiful girl feel ugly. That is unforgivable in my eyes."

"I forgive you though."

"Yeah," he grinned. "But you don't even know you're beautiful."

A/N: I have no idea what this is, but here it is. I'll probably put up another chapter of BLC on Sunday. Thanks for reading! :)