Picture of Joseph :) -------------->

"Thanks for the ride," Keely smiled down through the passenger's window to Joe.

"Yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes jokingly. "I got places to go, go get in your fancy private school."

"You got to go get detention again?" she asked, blinking innocently at him. But she let her bright smile come out as she looked at her honourary brother. "I'm going, don't worry, bro," she laughed. "I just need to make sure I avoid Tony while trying to get my morning coffee."

Suddenly, Joe's eyes brightened. "Call me if you see him."

"Why?" Keely's eyes flattened and narrowed.

"I thought we could have a little chat," he said harmlessly.

Snorting diversely, she tapped her hand to the top of the car for effect. "With you and Tony, a little chat means that someone is going to have a black eye while the other had a gash across his forehead."

"Why would you say that?" Joe asked, he was sincerely surprised.

"Because it's happened before," she pointed out before turning on her heel and marching into the school.

It was true what Joe had said, Keely did go to a fancy private school.

The whole idea was something that she never understood and a source of constant fighting between her and Frank. The fact that Frank and she were always looking for another way to make money to keep the barn afloat would make you think that Keely would go to a public school? Makes sense, doesn't it, save more money, right?

But, no, Frank insisted that she go to the private school in Bellingham. Even though Keely brought up that she would most likely get the same education at the public school and she would much rather be hanging out with Joseph.

Yawning, she covered her mouth with one hand, using other to open her locker.

It was kind of depressing that she had to wear almost the same things as everyone else.

But there was an advantage to having a future fashion designer for her best girl friend. It was that Keely never actually was wearing the plaid skirt that hit just above the knees, red tie, baby blue button up shirt and red blazer. The uniform code at this school was pretty lacks, because you just had to wear the skirt, a button up shirt and some sort of vest, sweater or blazer that bore the school's crest, but nobody besides Keely and Haley ever seem to take advantage of the chance.

Today, Keely was wearing one of the many designs of Miss. Haley Channing. Meaning she was wearing a white button up shirt vertically striped with grey; a red loose fabric vest she didn't bother buttoning up. For this outfit, Haley had also added a stripped black and red tie that Keely had loosened around her neck.

"Coffee?"

Smiling, Keely pushed her chemistry binder unceremoniously into her locker. "You read my mind Hales." Now she leaned against her locker as Haley opened the one beside her.

"We've got the whole telepathy thing going for us," Haley demonstrated tapping a finger to her head.

Out of all the people in the school, Haley was the only person who knew Keely wasn't as rich as the others. All the others saw was Keely's big, expensive barn that always looked upkept and neat and the clothing she accessorized on her school uniform. Not even Tony knew the truth.

As always - though Keely would only admit it to herself - she was a bit scared of what people would think. Like every other kid in this school, she was self-conscious. Though people liked to write insporational stories about high school and being a teenager, the fact was that no one really knew who their true self was. It was just a fact of life.

In Keely's opinion, you had to lose it before you found it.

"So how did the after concert date go with Tony?" Haley asked after Keely had gotten her tall Chai latte and they had settled beside a window.

"Broke up," Keely informed her.

"For how long this time?" it was obvious Haley was trying to be sympathetic.

Keely just rolled her eyes, looking out where a couple members of the basketball team were engaging in a early morning practice of shirt and skins in the outdoor court. "Why does everyone ask that?"

"You break up every second day, honey."

"I really think I might stick this one out," Keely said firmly, tapping her finger restlessly to the top of her cup.

"You sure about that one?" she enquired with narrowed eyes. "I mean you two have been together probably since the ending of our freshmen year. Even if it's a non-stop drama train when you two are together, you two have history, and it's obvious that there is something between you."

"I guess," Keely admitted.

"Don't get me wrong," Haley said in a hurry. "I really do not know what on earth you see in the guy, besides he's hot, captain of the football team. It's just, I have no idea, you let this guy control your life, and you're so much better than it."

"I think I'm going to blush," Keely grinned, but the truth was she felt tears pricking her eyes. "I guess I see the guy that nobody else sees, the guy he could be."

"But do you really want to just wait for him to become it?" she asked seriously.

"No, not really, I don't know what I want."

"At this moment, what you want is not to be late for theatre, because than you'll be in detention, and not be able to go to cheer practice. And see your man bulge in all the right places."

All Keely could do was arch her perfectly plucked brow at her.

"Sorry," Haley winced, hooking her arm through Keely's. "But he really is hot."

"So why did I have to pick you up three hours late today?" Joe asked in a relaxed voice as they walked their horses gently underneath a canopy of trees.

Breathing in the sweet forest air, Keely let her hips relax totally so they could move naturally with the horse's movement as they walked up the hill. "I had cheer practice."

Joe just snorted.

She was close enough to hit him, and she did, Keely smacked him in the back of the head. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I've just never gotten used to it," he sniggered. "Miss Keely Staub, girl who is all dark and gloom. The same girl that told me at seven years old that life sucks and you die, the one that sits in her room listening to Travis CD's and plays her guitar in the dark singing depressing songs; is a cheerleader. I mean, what have our standards fallen to, if we think you're cheerful?"

"Thank you," Keely said dryly. But the truth of the matter, she was relieved, somebody else knew she hated it. "And how do you know about my guitar?"

He just rolled his eyes, "Keel. Being your surperior, I can remember from when you were three years old. The first thing you ever did was try and play the guitar, and I almost live in your house, I hear you singing sometimes."

"You're only a year older than me and you're in the same grade," Keely contradicted, "You wouldn't be able to remember that."

"Figure of speech, I was always more mature than you anyways."

"Oh, really?" she blinked owlishly at him. "The one that slept with a Barney night light until he was ten and the one that wet his bed until he was seven. Yes, you are so much more mature than I could ever dream to be."

"Oh shut up," he scowled. But he was a bit embarrassed that Keely knew so much. In a show of that humilty, he took off at a gallop.

Letting him have a two seconds head start, Keely patted Rosie's neck soothingly. "Just give him two seconds, and then maybe we'll insult his masculanity," she crooned. And when the canopy of trees opened into a large lush green meadow, Keely chased him down laughing.

- Ha, new chapter, yay! Are you excited? I'm excited.

Anyways, I have more advice for today. Do not allow yourself to get thrown off a horse because when your ribs are chipped it hurts like a son of a bitch (excuse the language) and you have to stay on bed rest because your family likes to overexagerate -___-

On second thought, don't be like me and be so stupid, reckless or brainless - haven't decided which one yet - to get on a horse that has a history of not wanting people on it's back even if you're getting paid for it. Because it really hurts when you have to drive yourself home from getting your ribs cracked and it takes two hours.

Okay, my ranting portion of the day is done. I'm stupid. Now, it's done.

Dedication to kittykat95 because she's awesome!!!!

Vote/comment please :) -