The rest of the week passes by in a blur of classes I can't remember for the life of me. I don't see much of Ryder these days other than in the very few classes we do share.

But though he wears leather jackets, rides on motorbikes and throws glares to almost everyone he doesn't miss ONE single class!

It just reminds me that how I shouldn't judge a person based on only their appearance.

"Hurry!"

My thoughts are interrupted by Chloe's whisper yelling.

I roll my eyes at her, "People sneak out of their houses to go on secret dates and alcohol filled parties. And you're sneaking out to buy a ice-cream? Not to mention on a weekend? Are you seriously real?"

She huffs impatiently as she tugs at my hand to make me walk faster, "Shut up and run! My parents will see us otherwise!"

I roll my eyes but oblige nonetheless.

Chloe's parents were really strict. Every time I went to her house her mom would always ask me which classes I was taking, how far my grades were falling, how many unlucky colleges that I wanted to go to. Safe to say, I didn't like them much.

But Chloe had it much tougher. Her patents' only goal in life was to make her a doctor. They didn't even give a flying fuck in what she wanted. So she wasn't allowed to go to parties or dates till she gets herself admitted into a nice medical school. It has been that way since we were kids.

She doesn't show it but I know she hates her present situation too. But she loves her parents too much to go against their wishes.

I think that's what we have in common.

We're both too busy acknowledging others' feelings to acknowledge our own ones.

I look at her and sigh, "Yeah okay. Fine. Its not like I had anything better to do with my Saturday like going to some fabulous dates and glamorous parties. Sneaking out to buy ice cream at 7 pm trumps it all."

She glares at me, "Yeah right. You were just going to stay holed up in your room and read books all day."

I shrug, "Pah-tato, potato."

She looks at me like I'm truly hopeless and shakes her head, "What am I going to do with you?"

I grin, "As a start, treat me a huge delicious ice-cream. I didn't have time to bring money when you suddenly rang me up yelling 'Emergency! At my house! Now!'"

She rolls her eyes, "Well what was I going to say? It was an emergency! I had a sudden craving for ice cream!"

I shake my head at her like she's truly hopeless.

We enter a ice cream parlor close to her street so she can eat her stupid ice cream and leave fast so we won't get caught.

I was already on Mrs. Stone's bad side because of my report card, I don't want to make it personal. Everyone needs to have a good relation with their friends' mothers. No matter how much you dislike them internally.

We sit in a booth by the window and a waitress gives us our menus. Smiling at her I take them.

"Which one?" I ask in a bored voice but on the inside I was whooping.

I love ice-creams. Seriously, I love them so much that I'll probably trade my first born if I could get a delicious bucket of Ben N Jerry's.

But I'm not going to let her know that in case she makes it a daily routine to call me up every time she gets a craving like a pregnant woman.

Chloe snorts as she looks for her choice through the menu, "Oh please. I know you're ecstatic that I took you here and not to a shopping mall like I would have if I was Alexis."

I grimace as I thought of the last time I went out with Alexis.

Yes, I had some fantastic clothes in my wardrobe. But the prize (both emotional and financial) I had to pay for it wasn't really a walk in the park.

"Besides you worship Ice-cream," She rolls her eyes.

I sigh, "Amen to that."

After placing our orders we both fall into a easy going conversation about school and mostly its students.

"I hate that guy!" Chloe growls as she angrily stuffs a spoon of ice-cream into her mouth.

"Whoa! Easy there!" I look at her worried, "You're going to get cold if you keep stuffing it like that."

She ignores me as she continues her rant, "I mean who the hell does he think he is to tell me that I'm a stuck up bitch? Just because I get better grades than him?"

I look at her confused, "Who are you talking about?"

The bell chimes signalling that someone has come. Chloe looks up from her sit and glares at whoever has come, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear."

I turn my head and gasp in surprise, "Ryder!"

I turn to her incredulously, "You were talking about Ryder?"

She rolls her eyes, "Don't worry. I have no interest, be it good or bad, in your crush slash the guy you think is totally perfect for me. Tell me you realize how weird that sounds."

I shrug and look at Ryder over my shoulder. He isn't alone. There's a blonde guy with him too. It's the same guy I saw Ryder riding a bike with that day we talked about our favourite books.

Which also happens to be the day I developed a crush on him.

They are sitting at the front whereas we were sitting at the back. Furthermore Ryder's back was turned to me. And the parlor is full with people today. Couples, kids, teens you name it. So they had little chance of seeing us.

"They're in a ice-cream parlor?" I ask incredulously to no one in particular, "That completely ruins the bad boy image."

I don't see her since I'm craning my neck to look at them but I'm sure that she's rolling her eyes at me now, "You need too stop always judging people by their looks. And don't say you read them in stories. Real life is not a story okay? People are not characters to toy with."

"I know that," I replied. A sense of bitterness sipping into my voice without intention.

I know that.

Wouldn't it have been so much easier my life was a story?

Then I could just sit back and be assured that no matter what happens, no matter what is thrown at me, I'll somehow manage to make it out of the mess.

That somehow, I'll always have a happy ending.

Chloe notices my change of mood and is going to say something, probably apologize, but I interrupt her.

It's probably one of the few times she's getting a break from her studies. I can't be a bitch and ruin it for her because of some petty insecurities.

So I put on a fake enthusiastic expression, "Do you think we should say hi?"

"What?" She looks at me like I'm crazy, "We? No we! If you want to say hi, you go say hi! Don't drag me into this! Besides I hate the guy he's with! I don't want to get in a six feet radius of him!"

"Who is he? And what did he do get you so riled up?" I ask her astonished, "You hardly get angry!"

She scowls in their direction, "He called me a stuck up bitch just because I refused to help him with his chemistry experiment! Those are given to do by ourselves and to learn more in class! Not ask for someone else's help and then call her stuck up because she refused!"

"Well..," I trail off, "You do tend to come off as harsh sometimes if asked for your help in assignments. Believe me, I know."

This time, her glare is directed at me, "Well excuse me if I believe that my hard work's credit should be given to me."

Seeing no point in engaging with her in an argument she's probably going to win with all her logics and what not, I slid out of my seat and ready myself.

"I should probably go say hi. I mean it's not weird, is it? It's completely normal for people to say hi to their friends if they see each other outside of school right? I mean, if it was Sam or Alexis or Leah or even one of my guy friends, I'd have said hi right-"

She cuts of my rant, "Why the hell are you getting so nervous for it? I mean, you guys are just friends, aren't you? I mean as you insisted a billion times before."

I nod hastily, "Y-yeah. Totally. Absolutely. Completely. Just friends. He's my crush, yes. But it'll go away. And obviously just friends."

Then why the hell are you getting so bloody nervous?

She gives me a smug look, "Then go say hi."

Suddenly I don't feel so confident anymore.

I bite my lip, "You know what? I think I'm good-"

She shoves me in their direction, "Kick ass. Or should I say kiss lips?"

All this time, the both of them had paid no attention to the back. They were happily chatting with each other paying no attention to their surroundings.

But right when I'm in a half-standing and half-falling position, they along with half of the customers turn to look at me.

I quickly compose myself and wave at everyone, "Uh hi?"

Thank you very very much, Chloe.

Ryder's eyebrows shoot up to his forehead, "Allie?"

I gulp. No backing down now.

So I straighten up my shoulders and grin at him, "Hey! What a surprise to see you here!"

By now the rest of them had turned back to do what they were doing. So throwing a giggling Chloe a death glare, I walk over to them.

"Ice-cream?" I laugh, "What? Are you two on a date? You should've told me Ryder before I had a crush on you!" I say in a joking manner.

But really he should have if this is true. I love gays yes, but I don't fancy having a crush on one.

He rolls his eyes, "Haha. You're hilarious. No we're actually waiting for some friends."

I raise an eyebrow at him, "You have friends?"

A chuckle distracts me.

The blonde grins at me, "As shocking as it sounds, he does actually. Very few, but he does."

I grin at him, "Nice to know someone appreciates my sense of humor. Since he," I nod towards Ryder, "Is as funny as a piece of brick."

He chuckles and stretches his hand, "Nice to meet you. I'm Andrew. He's self proclaimed best friend."

I shake his hand, "Alison. But you can call me Lisa."

He directs a weird look at Ryder but Ryder's glare shuts him up.

"What?" I ask confused.

"Nothing," Ryder mutters, "So, care to join-"

He is cut off by an extra squeaky squeal, "Oh Ryder! Oh Andrew!"

I turn around to come face to face with barbie herself.

She's blonde with a pair of blue eyes that really looks like contact lenses. She's wearing a tight pink skirt and cropped top that didn't leave a lot to imagination.

In short, she looked like your typical man stealing slut.

Okay, Lisa. Remember about not judging people by their appearance? Too much stories, Lisa. Too much, stories.

Besides Leah looks like her half of the time...and though she is a man stealing slut, she's not that bad of a person!

So maybe this girl isn't either!

So I look at her with a smile but she ignores me and proceeds to hug Ryder, "Hey! I missed you so much!"

Ryder chuckles as he hugs her back, "Yeah. Me too."

There's an unusual gentleness to his voice which shocks me. And I can't help feel a slight pang in my heart.

Obviously because of this stupid crush I have on him.

Just this stupid crush, right?

Yup. Totally.

Putting on a fake smile on my face, I stand there awkwardly as she hugs Andrew next. But I can't help wonder if that hug seemed slightly forced than the hug she gave Ryder.

Probably the crush talking. Maybe she's a wonderful person! No reason to act like a bitch.

Then as if she didn't see me earlier, she suddenly gasps, "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I absolutely didn't see you!"

Sure you didn't. You just walked past me like I was air, right?

Nevertheless I smile at her and stretch my hand, "Alison. But call me Lisa."

She looks at my hand for a moment before shaking it hesitantly, "Uh, Karin."

I beam at her, "Nice to meet you Karin."

She smiles, "You too."

But I feel that the smile is forced. I'm really good at reading people.

I shrug it off. Not everyone needs to like me.

Andrew raises an eyebrow at her, "Where are the others?"

She chuckles. The sound is perfectly composed. Not too loud or soft. As if she practices chuckling every time she's in front of a mirror.

"No," she says pouting, "They couldn't come. Wayne and Diana are on a date. And Grey is stuck because of an errand."

"That's too bad," Ryder says dejected, "We were really looking forward to this."

She grins at him, "Well you have me, don't you?"

He chuckles and looks at me, "Want to join us? I swear we're not that bad."

My heart jumps at the thought. But my mind drifts towards Chloe. God, she's sitting there all alone! What kind of a friend am I?

From the corner of my eye I see Karin's smile waver, "I'm sure she doesn't want that. Does she?"

I open my moth to reply but she beat me to it, "See? She doesn't!"

What. The. Hell?

Ryder looks at me with an emotionless face, "Oh. Then we're sorry to hold you up for so long."

My jaw falls down. She didn't even give me a chance to reply! And worst of all, he's not even waiting for my answer?

Guess her word means more to him than your word does.

I wanted to argue. I wanted to shout at my stupid inner voice.

But on what base? You only know the guy for a week! And they obviously seem long time friends by the way they're talking to each other.

And I don't think Ryder's like me and befriends anything on two legs.

So shutting my mouth, I nod and back away. Karin slips into the seat beside Ryder and sits way too close than it is appropriate for friends.

But they could be great friends! Best friends! Hell, they could be lovers for all I care!

Andrew smiles at me, "I'll see you at school then."

My eyes widen, "You go to our school?"

He chuckles, "I've only gone one day. I'm sure your friend there," he cocks his head towards where Chloe was sitting, "Will tell you all about me. I'm officially starting from Monday."

Now that I think about it, wasn't she ranting on about some guy she hated?

I chuckle and wave at them, "Okay then. Bye."

Andrew grins at me. Karin smiles but it looks as if she's having a seizure more than anything. And Ryder just stares ahead blankly as if he couldn't care less.

Ouch.

"Who's the plastic?" Chloe asks me as soon as I reach our booth.

I shrug, "What happened to not judging a book by its cover?"

She rolls her eyes, "When the book has a half naked body on it, I think its safe to assume what's going to be inside."

I chuckle slightly despite my dejected state, "I don't know. Some Karin. I think they're old friends."

"Karin?" Her eyes widen, "You mean Karin Waters?"

"How should I know?" I ask her confused, "Why?"

She doesn't answer me but looks at their direction one more time, "Holy shit. It is her!"

"Chloe!" I narrow my eyes at her annoyed, "Tell me what!"

She looks at me and sighs, "She reads in our school. Don't you know? She's trying out for cheer leading this year. So she's been wagging her tail at Alexis whenever she sees him. God, I hate her. She's so fake!"

My eyebrows shoot up, "She reads in our school? Really?"

She shakes her head at me, "What are you? Blind? Have you not see her hanging around every jocks neck?"

I hum thoughtfully, "Then maybe she has a boyfriend in one of the jocks?"

"She does!" She rolls her eyes, "Grey Winchester. But does that stop her from banging anyone? Obviously not!"

I feel a burning feeling in my stomach.

Ryder...

Is she planning on being with Ryder next?

Well, it doesn't looks like he minds

Chloe sees my expression and smiles smugly, "Jealous?"

"Jealous? Me?" I scoff, "I can't even pronounce the word!"

She rolls her eyes at me.

"But I really want to get out of here," I say softly not caring if I was ruining her one day out.

I'm way too annoyed to care.

Annoyed? Or sad?

Seeing my expression Chloe's eyes harden. She merely nods and pays our bill. After we make our way out of the parlor, but not without me glancing at their table only to see them laughing cheerfully, she grabs my shoulders to stop me, "Tell me everything."

I sigh and reluctantly agree. Its not like I'll get her off my back if I didn't.