"You know you look like shit...again," Sam smirks as she appears out of air beside me. I would have had a heart attack if I wasn't already used to it.

"And don't you have anything better to do...again?" I give her a lopsided grin as we make our way to lunch.

She shrugs. "Better than making my making my best friend feel good? Tons. But I'm not really up for it."

I smile at her gently, "I'm fine, Sam. Really."

She will never show it but on the inside she's a real softie. She cares for people just as much as the next person. But she's afraid to show it tol much because she knows how cruel people are. She thinks if she gets too close, she will get damaged beyond repair.

I hope there's someone out there that'll show her that not everyone's cruel. That it's okay to get close. Her 'One Person.'

Someone that I'll never have.

"Seriously bitch?" Sam sighs exasperated as she grabs my arm to halt me to a stop, "I know you're always trying to hide it, but something's been definitely bothering you since this morning. Chloe and Alexis see it too but they're all saying this shit about how to give you time. I say fuck time. It always makes things worse."

I snicker. "You know, pep talks don't necessarily involve all those curses. Did you watch HBO last night? A great pep talk was given by some movie I forgot."

She gives me an unimpressed look, "Nice try. I'm not changing the subject."

"Damn," I mutter.

"Tell. Me."

I stay silent for a moment.

I really need to vent.

I really need to say something to someone.

Maybe...just this one time? Just this one time maybe my petty problems won't be too much for someone?

I bite my lip and nod.

Flashing me a winning smile, she drags me to the courtyard. Few students are scattered around here and there. She drags me to a bench and shoves me with so much force that the bench almost topples over.

"What the hell?" I glare at her.

She shrugs nonchalantly, "Spit it out."

"What are you? A gangsta?" I roll my eyes at her attitude.

She gives me a secretive smile, "Who knows?"

I ignore that part for my sanity and safety and sigh, "Okay, so...Ryder...."

She groans cutting me off, "Oh man! Love problems? Yuck! Why didn't Alexis come? She's the one always watching those movies!"

I scowl at her, "You're the worst pep talker ever! I'm leaving!"

She grabs my arm, no more like pulls it out of it's socket, to stop me.

"Shut up, bitch. You're going to stay right here and tell me what that idiot friend of mine has done!"

Fifteen minutes later and with five hundred gag noises that came from Sam, we are walking to our next classes since lunch seems to be almost over.

Man, am I hungry.

Seeing Sam in deep thought I nudge her, "Hey. What's wrong?"

She gives me a small smile, "Nothing... I'm just thinking."

"About?"

"Ryder is such a bloody idiot!" she suddenly screams out of nowhere.

I look at her weirdly, "What? Why? It's not his fault that he doesn't like me."

Yeah.

He doesn't like you.

Get that through your thick skull and go love someone else.

Sam gives me a look, "And you're even stupider than him."

"Huh?" I ask her confused.

"Nothing, I'm not getting involved in this drama," she says slinging an arm over my shoulder, "Besides guys are all idiots. The only thing they're good for are their abs. Yum."

I ponder over her question, "You know....that's kind of right."

"Right?" she says with glinting eyes, "You know what'll be the best invention of this century? Not a iPhone 100 but an abs pillow."

"An abs pillow?" I look at her incredulously, "What?"

"Yeah, we should cut the abs of every hot guy out there and stitch them together. Bam! We have an abs pillow!" she makes a 'ta da' pose, "Oh, I just now realized I really sounded like a serial killer."

By now I'm doubling over in laughter, "That took weirdness to a whole different level!"

She laughs with me, "Yeah, it did, didn't it?"

I gasp to catch my breath, "It also took creepiness to a new level!"

She winks at me, "Don't deny that you're not turned on by the idea."

I burst out in laughter again.

*********

My eyes widen in excitement as I read the poster in my hand. The school ended a while ago but I was waiting for Alexis and Chloe. Sam, had once again, landed herself in detention so she was going to be late.

"There's a carnival in town!" I jump in glee as I process the piece of information that was stuck to the notice board...before I had ripped it off in excitement.

I sit down on the stairs that go lead to the second floor and run my eyes over the information once again.

I loved carnivals and rides since I was born. Yes, call me a kid but I loved them. Specially the Ferris Wheels.

It's tomorrow. But I need someone to go with me. You can't have fun with yourself. Chloe's mom would never agree and Sam would puke even at the mere mention of it.

That leaves Alexis.

But my face falls as I remember that she has a boyfriend. She's probably has already plans to go with him. If I tell her my wishes, she'll no doubt cancel her plans. But I don't want that. She won't say anything but I know that she'll be devastated over breaking Dylan's heart.

You ALWAYS have to be melo dramatic, don't you?

As I ponder over on who to take, a tap on the shoulder distracts me.

I crane my neck and grin at Patrick, "Hey! No time no see!"

He grins and makes himself comfortable beside me, "Well, it's tryout season. Everyone's busy...with the exception of you."

I smack his arm, "What the hell does that mean?"

"Nothing Ms. Violent!" he puts his arms in front of him laughing, "I was just saying that you're lucky."

"Sure and I'm Oprah too."

He gives me a respected look as if he seriously believed me.

Idiot.

Patrick is one of my closest male friends. He's the goalkeeper of our school's soccer team. He sometimes might act annoying but in reality he's a really good person. He stands up to bullies and when his friends unknowingly behave rudely with me, he gives them a piece of his mind.

We fall into easy talk about our lives. Halfway through an argument about the best flavour of pizza, I hear footsteps approaching from the second floor. But I'm too busy laughing at his jokes to pay attention to it. Besides, the footsteps seem to stop suddenly so I blow it off as my imagination.

"Tell me that pick up line again!" I gasp as I try to control my breathing from laughing so much.

He clears his throat grinning, "Okay. Here we go. Your ass is so nice, it's a shame you have to sit on it."

I double over in laughter, "Oh my God! One more!"

"Are you trash? Cause I really want to take you out."

"Oh my God! I'm dying! I can't breathe," I pant, "Those are...where do you find them?"

"Google obviously," he flickers his nose, "I'm the king of pick up lines now."

I chuckle, "Yeah...I don't think any girl fancies being called trash."

He chuckles but stops when his eyes fall on the piece of paper in my hand, "What's that?"

"A carnival," I grin at him, "There's one in town right now for three days."

He shakes his head in amusement, "Let me guess, you want to go but all of your friends will be busy and you don't want to ruin their plans."

I shrug and give him a small smile.

He smiles at me softly, "You're such a great person Lisa."

Okay, why is he looking at me like that? Is he having a seizure?

Shit! Should I call an ambulance?!

Maybe I should call the school nurse first!

Are you an IDIOT?

Huh?

"I'll take you?" he suddenly looks nervous, "That is, if you want to go?"

My grin widens, "Seriously? That's amaz-"

"No."

I freeze.

That voice.

Can it be...?

I slowly turn around. There, in front of us, at the top of the stairs, stands Ryder Woods, in all his glory.

Oh and he looks pissed.

Really pissed.

Patrick cowers under his glare, "Oh hey? Ryder, dude! What's up?"

He receives nothing but a glare.

"Good? good. So are you trying out for the team this year?"

Glare.

"Good, good. So did you play the new video game that was released this weekend?"

Hardened glare.

"Good, good."

Realizing that this conversation wasn't going anywhere, Patrick stands up hurriedly, "So uh...nice to meet you?"

Ryder narrows his eyes even more at him, "Get out of my sight."

"Ryder!" I gasp, "That's so rude!"

Ignoring his annoyed look, I turn to Patrick, "I'm so sorry for my friend's behavior, Patrick. I'll talk to you later?"

He hurriedly nods and scurries away like his ass is on fire.

"I'll text you!" I yell at his disappearing form.

"No you won't!"

Grabbing my arm, Ryder whirls me around to face him.

"Excuse me?" I narrow my eyes at him, "He's my friend! I can damn well text him! And who the hell are you to order me around?"

His jaw tenses, "I'm.... shut up! And with the way he was looking at you, I think 'Friendship' is far from the thing he would like to do with you," his grip on my hand tightened slightly.

I give him a confused look, "Then what would he like to do with me?"

My eyes widen as realization dawns upon me.

"Oh my God! Seriously?"

Giving me a satisfied look, Ryder let's go of my hand, "See? I told-"

"Do you think he doesn't want to be my friend any more?" I look at him with wide eyes.

"Huh?" he blinks.

"That's what you meant right? He was looking at me with hatred because he doesn't want to my friend anymore," I say sadly.

But why? I'm a nice person, right?

"Are you an idiot?" Ryder asks flatly.

That's what I've been telling her!!

I narrow my eyes at him, "You're making no sense. Besides, I need someone to go to the carnival with me. So I have to find him. I'll see you later."

Ryder growls, "No way are you going anywhere near him! Didn't you see how he was hitting on you?"

"No he wasn't!" I say incredulously, "He was saying those pick up lines as jokes!"

Ryder rolls his eyes, "God! Are you seriously this clueless when it comes to you? Where did your knowledge of love stories go?"

What is he talking about? What does that have to do with anything?

Stupid boy.

"But I need someone to go with me to the carnival!" I say exasperated.

"Then take one of your female friends!" he says throwing his hands up.

"I don't want to make them choose between me and their plans," I say softly, "I don't want to be a burden."

His eyes soften, "Oh Allie. What am I going to do with you? You're not a burden. Such a good person like you? You'll never be anything less than a gift."

My heart thuds as his words process inside my head.

How can you lie like that Ryder? If I'm a gift, then why are you not...

Forget it.

It's fine.

"Whatever!" I start yelling in hopes that it would distract me from my depressed thoughts, "I still need someone to go with me! I love carnivals and I'm going! So I don't care what you think if I go him!"

After all, you don't care either, right Ryder?

"Fuck!" he runs a hand through his hair, "You're so bloody frustrating!

"Oh look who's talking!" I groan, "What the hell is your problem if I go with him anyway?"

Suddenly my heart stops.

Can it be?

Can it seriously be true?

"R-Ryder? Tell me, are...are you jealous?"

He freezes.

"Well?" I ask him, my heart beating painfully.

"No! No way! Nope! Absolutely not! Completely not! No way in hell! No fucking way!" he looks away from me quickly, "Why would I be jealous? That's so ridiculous! Haha."

My eyes harden, "Absolutely. Why would you be jealous? You have Karin, right?"

He looks at me incredulously, "What?"

I shrug, "Well, it's pretty obvious with the way you look at her. You two are perfect for each other! I wish you the best of luck. I'm happy for you."

"Oh you are, are you?" he narrows his eyes at me, "Great. Fantastic. Just what I needed."

I knew it.

I knew it all along.

God, how could I be so stupid?

He obviously likes her! She's strikingly beautiful. Has a body like a model and is his friend! It was so obvious!

"Then of course I'll go with Patrick!" I glare at him, "And you can't stop me!"

"No!" he snaps his head back to me.

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Fuck it! I'll take you to your fucking carnival, happy?!"

What?