[I DON'T OWN ANYTHING BUT THE PLOT. CHARACTERS AND SONGS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPANIES J I AM BUT A WRITER WITH A CREATIVE IMAGINATION AND AN OVERWORKED HEART. THIS IS BASED ON A TRUE STORY…]

She wasn't exactly the most popular girl in school. She wore her hair ordinarily, with a small clip on the side. Her hair which was half honey gold and half brown that flowed past her jaw line was never as pretty as the curly locks of the more popular girls. Her eyes were big and round though not so but they were different from the others' eyes so that was the only feature of hers that stood out. Otherwise, with her pale skin and not so extraordinary features, she was just one of those girls. Don't even get me started on her fashion sense. She didn't care about that, either. On regular days, she'd throw on a t-shirt and jeans and top it all off with a corduroy jacket that had the same color as her hair. With her always was her notebook in which she'd write all her thoughts and some stories for the writing team which she was a part of.

Since she wasn't that popular, she only had a small group of friends, most of which were just as quiet and cold as her. Nobody really noticed her and she wasn't expecting anyone to anyways. She was content with being the unpopular or one of the unpopular girls in school. How much she would cringe whenever she'd hear her female classmates talking about their hair or their nails or their clothes. To her, none of those matter. For as long as she was alive and she could do what she loved, that was alright with her.

Who is she, anyways? Well you must be really slow if you don't know by now. The cold stares, acting like she doesn't care. Who else could this be but Jessica Jung.

It was in their 3rd year of high school. Let's fast forward into the middle part of the school year. Jessica had just finished her articles for the school paper and was looking to do something else.

"Ma'am! The papers are here!" she handed the papers to the head of the writing team. Mrs. Park looked at the papers and reviewed everything.

"Alright Jessica, these would do." she said with a smile. Jessica gleefully clasped her hands to her chest, a feeling of enlightenment.

"Yes! Free at last!" Jessica cheered as she picked her things up and hurriedly left the library. Jessica had other plans that day. She was running down the hall in her hurry when she bumped into her friend Key. Key at that time was with a new student. Jessica dropped all her things and laughed. Key laughed along with her as he helped her pick her stuff up.

"I'm so sorry! Please don't yell at me!" Key begged jokingly. Jessica was known for being really scary when angry but since Key was her friend, she just laughed it off while helping him sort her stuff out. They both stood up and Jessica glanced at Key's new friend.

"Oh, Jessica! I'd like to introduce you to someone." he said.

"Is it your friend here?" Jessica asked.

"Well…yeah." Key answered. "Jessica, I'd like you to meet Jonghyun." Jessica made eye contact with Jonghyun and extended her hand to shake his. Jonghyun took hers and shook it with a smile on his face.

Jonghyun's hair was all spiky, must've been a lot of gel. His face was long and his stare was a bit intimidating but to Jessica, his touch was warm and friendly, nothing like the way he looked. Jonghyun had glasses with thick black rims on which made Jessica smile.

"Hi! I'm Jessica Jung. I've been here for quite some time." she said.

"Hi Jessica. I'm Kim Jonghyun. "

"What school did you come from?"

"Oh. Just some high school far away from here. Not that far, though."

"Just a short drive away from here?"

"I wouldn't call it a short drive but it's not accessible by foot." Jonghyun clarified.

"Ah! The District Christian School there?"

"Yeah."

"Damn! Were you classmates with Seo Joo Hyun?" asked Jessica surprised. Key just smiled at how quick the two were getting along.

"No but I know Seo Joo Hyun. I've known her since we were at the District School but since we ride on the same bus, I'm kinda familiar with her. We don't talk that much, though because she's very quiet."

"Yeah. Seo and I are the same." Jessica said with a smile.

"Hey! The Halloween Party here's next week! You coming?" asked Jonghyun.

"Hmm…I don't know. I'm not really a party person. 'Sides, none of my friends are coming so I won't have anyone to like be with."

"Hey! We're coming! You won't feel so alone with us. We promise, we'll stay with you." he said.

"I still have to think about it. I have to ask my mom about it first." Jonghyun then smiled and raised his hand, waiting for a high-five from Jessica. Jessica shook her head and gave him the high five. She was just so happy with her new friend.

[THE FOLLOWING DAY]

"Guess what!" Jessica burst with excitement as she saw her friends Seohyun and Yoona, two of the quietest girls in class. Yoona and Seohyun smile at their friend's enthusiasm. It wasn't like her to be noisy but judging by the smile on her face, it must be something good.

"Why? What?" asked Yoona and Seohyun.

"I met this new friend. Key introduced me to him." Seohyun looked pleasantly at Jessica.

"Who is he?" asked Yoona with curiosity.

"Do you know the new student from the other section? The one with spiky hair and glasses?" her two friends looked at each other with puzzled faces. Their faces pissed Jessica off and made her roll her eyes. "Seohyun, you know him! You used to be his schoolmate! The District Christian School?" Seohyun's face lightened up.

"AH! Kim Jonghyun! Yeah! I know him. What now?"

"Well because Key introduced me to him and he's such a nice guy! Plus, I'm going to the Halloween Party with them."

"You're going to the Halloween Party? I thought you weren't." Yoona asked.

"Well because I have him and Key so I'll still have company."

"Are you sending us away because you have a new boyfriend?" Seohyun teased.

"Excuse me! He is not my boyfriend! You know very well whom I like." the three girls eyed Jaebum, the writer from the senior class. Another one of those quiet students but not close friends with Jessica. The three giggled.

"Well don't make Jaebum jealous. If he sees you with Jonghyun he just might flip!" Yoona teased.

"No way! Jonghyun is not my boyfriend. We've known each other for only a day! He can't be my boyfriend. Plus, Jaebum's attending the party. So if I want to see him look really different or in an attire that's entirely different from what he usually wears, then I'm going!" Seohyun laughed at her.

"But to be honest with you, Jonghyun is a very smart guy. We weren't classmates at the District Christian School but I'd hear about his accomplishments and how he was really involved in academics-related events there."

"Really? No wonder he talks so eloquently. He's very educated."

"Exactly." Seohyun said. "Plus, his PR skills are awesome, I'm telling you. To be honest, Jonghyun's a nerd but if you're gonna ask me, he's not like the nerds who'd lock themselves up in their rooms and study 'til their eyes pop out. Jonghyun is a really friendly person and he loves talking to anyone and everyone. If he knows you and likes you, he'll say hi to you with a smile. He's a very warm person."

"But he sure doesn't look like one." Yoona said.

"You can't judge a person based on how they look, Yoong." Jessica said. "Jonghyun's a really nice person once you get to know him. When I was with him, he rarely had blank expressions. He had a smile on his face the whole time."

"He had a smile on his face because a girl approached him and talked to him for the first time!" Yoona jokingly said. Jessica glinted her eyes and gave her the cold stare.

"Just kidding!" Yoona followed up. "Yeah, I think he's a nice guy and all."

"So are you two going?" asked Jessica.

"No. You know how my parents are when it comes to parties." answered Seohyun.

"Same here." added Yoona.

"Well then I guess it's just me, Key, and Jonghyun." Jessica said cheerfully.

"Hey! Don't forget Jaebum!" Seohyun pitched in. The three laughed and talked about Onew while shooting glances at him.

[A WEEK LATER, A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE PARTY]

Jessica was in her room getting ready for the party. It was actually her first time to attend a party so she was kind of nervous about how she would look. She put on a black dress (since the theme was all black) and earrings to match. Jessica was very simple so she had no idea how to put her makeup on. She then decided to go without any makeup on but her mother insisted on a little bit of foundation and lip gloss.

"You look so ordinary without makeup!" scolded her mother. "Do you expect people to look your way with that face? You have to look pretty." Jessica scoffed at her mother.

"Mom I'm not going to impress. I'm going to have fun." Jessica argued.

"Look at your get up? Does that look like a party get up?" her mother scolded once more. Jessica's mother was really picky when it came to her clothes and the way she fixed herself. Actually, her mother was particular about everything and was very strict. Yes, Jessica had her freedom but it had very certain limitations. Her mom would snoop into her business and tell her what to do most of the time. Jessica's mom was the annoying, overprotective type who asks too many questions.

"Mom. Please. It's me who's going to the party, not you. Stay out of it." Jessica grabbed her bag and walked out of her room. Her mom just watched her and shook her head while cleaning up after Jessica's mess.

At the party, nobody recognized Jessica either because Jessica was all dressed up looking so much different from the Jessica the school knew or because it was dark. Either way, Jessica was there for the fun, not the attention. She walked around the basketball court trying to look for Key and Jonghyun. The place was very noisy and strobe lights were blinding her, thus making it hard for Jessica to see and walk. Her foot toppled because of her heels but before she could even fall flat on her butt, someone caught her.

It was Kwon Yuri, her friend from the other section.

"Woah! Are you alright!" she said as she tried to fix Jessica's hair. Jessica pushed her hand away and fixed her bangs her way.

"Yeah. My heels are just a tad bit too high!" Jessica said. "Say, have you seen Key and Jonghyun?"

"No. Wait. You know Jonghyun?" asked Yuri surprised. Jessica nodded with one eyebrow up.

"Uhh. Yeah?" she answered.

"No. I haven't. Hey Jessica! I heard you like dancing now." Jessica's eyes widened in shock. She had been dancing for some time, copying routines that she'd see on the Internet, YouTube mainly. She had been wanting to show her dancing talent but she just didn't know when and where.

"How did you know?"

"Key told me you told him you danced a lot!" Yuri said. "So what I did is, I signed you up for the Free Dancing program that's happening later on!" Jessica's eyes widened even more and her jaw dropped.

"You what?"

"Yeah! I mean, you've ALWAYS wanted to dance, right? So why not?" Jessica felt nervous, embarrassed, and excited all at the same time. Finally, her moment came.

"So you mean, I'm gonna dance later?"

"WE are gonna dance." Yuri said with a sly smile. "Besides, Jaebum's here. You want him to see you dance, don't you?" Yuri winked at Jessica who nervously bit her lip.

"What are we supposed to dance?"

"If you know "Genie", we'll survive." Jessica's eyelids dropped a bit, a sign of relief. She smiled widely and hugged Yuri.

"Let's do it!" she whispered into Yuri's hair.

"Great! You said you were looking for Jonghyun and Key?"

"Yeah. I was."

"Well, I've seen Key but as for Jong, I haven't really."

"Okay. Let's just approach them later."

Yuri and Jessica spent the evening together preparing for their dance number for the Free Dancing program. The Free Dancing program was just about to start when Yuri told Jessica that they were only two performances away from performing.

"Okay. Only two more and it's our turn." Yuri said. Jessica nodded in nervousness.

After the two performances, the MC called Yuri and Jessica up. It was their turn to dance. The two girls walked to the stage hand in hand. All of the school marveled in awe when Jessica Jung's name was called. Nobody really expected Jessica to dance. They didn't even expect her to come. Everybody flocked near the stage and Key and Jonghyun, whom Jessica was looking for, suddenly popped up and pushed their way to the part nearest to the stage. Jessica saw them and gave them a confident smile. The two girls positioned and the music…started.

[song: Genie by SNSD]

Sowoneul malhaebwaNi mamsokae itneun jageun ggoomeul malhaebwaNi meolieh itneun isanghyungeul geulyuhbwaGeuligo naleul bwaNan nuh eh genie ya, ggoomiya, genie ya

Jessica stepped forward and winked. The crowd went crazy but though Jessica was deep into the dance, she couldn't help but notice a small group of girls-popular girls-walking away with sour and pissed off expressions on their faces. Jessica continued the dance but her facial expression was less happy.

Deulimkaleul tago dallyuhbwaNun nae yupjaliae anjaGeujuh iggeullim sokeh modoo dunjyuhGaseum bukcha teojyeo buhlyuhdoBalam gyulae nallyeo buhlyuhdoJigeum isoon gan sesangeun nuh eh gut

Yuri noticed the worried expression on Jessica's face. She shot short glances at Jessica and when their eyes finally met, Yuri smiled encouragingly at Jessica and urged her by stares to go on. Jessica nodded her head and danced more energetically. The chorus came and the girls were on fire, dancing hotter than ever. This made the crowd go crazy. Key was taking a video of them while Jonghyun was just studying Jessica.

Geulaeyo nan nul saranghaeUnjaena miduh ggoomdo yuljungdo da joogo shippuhNan geudae sowoneul ilyuhjoogo shipeun (shipeun) hengoonae yeoshinSowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for you, boy)Sowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for your wish)Sowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for your dream)Naegaeman malhaebwa (I'm genie for your world)

For some reason at that moment, Jonghyun just couldn't take his eyes off Jessica. Something about her was just so attractive but he couldn't quite point out what it was. He started feeling something but he tried shaking it off because he and Jessica were just friends and they met just a few days ago so assured himself that he wasn't feeling anything. He tried to look at Yuri to give her her fair share of attention but his eyes keep on going back to Jessica. He never really thought Jessica could dance like that. His first impression of her was that she was a quiet girl. And this kind of confidence from a girl who was normally cold and quiet was attractive.

Sowoneul malhaebwaJiloohan naldeuli nun jigyubji anniPyungbumhan senghwalae nun moodhyuh bulyutniIjae geuman ggaeuhnaNun na eh superstar, shining star, superstarShimjangsori gateun ddullimae harley ae ni momeul matgyeobwaJihae isesangeun ojik nuh ae moodaeHwanhosori gateun padoga nae gaseumen nuh ae cheh oniNaneun nuh ae gil youngwonhan biggest fan

Geulaeyo nan nul saranghaeUnjaena miduh ggoomdo yuljungdo da joogo shippuhNan geudae sowoneul ilyuhjoogo shipeun (shipeun) hengoonae yeoshin

Yuri and Jessica were nearing the second chorus when they both decided to change things up a bit, just to excite and shake up the audience that was going crazy. The two girls did a little freestyle dance battle which won the approval of the crowd. Yuri showed off her dancing skills which was pretty much expected of her but what they weren't expecting was Jessica to show hers off that well. She showed flexibility, grace, and attitude on stage which weren't really present in her when she's walking down the hall. This made everyone cheer even louder.

Sowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for you, boy)Sowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for your wish)Sowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for your dream)Naegaeman malhaebwa (I'm genie for your world)Sowoneul malhaebwa

Towards the bridge, Yuri knelt on one knee, leaving Jessica standing up. Jessica then waved to the crowd and walked seductively around the stage. Finally, she said enthusiastically,

DJ! put it back onGeulaeyo nan nul saranghaeUnjaena miduh ggoomdo yuljungdo da joogo shippuhNan geudae sowoneul ilyuhjoogo shipeun (shipeun) hengoonae yeoshinSowoneul malhaebwaNan nul saranghae. nun na eh musicNan nul saranghae. nun na eh gibbeumNan nul saranghae. nun na eh hengooni dwego shippuh(Nuh eh fantasy leul soomgim ubshi malhaebwaNaneun genie gileul boyeojoolgaeNiga gajin sowon soomgimubshi malhaebwaNuh eh genie naega deuluh joolgaeSowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for you, boy)Sowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for your wish)Sowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for your dream)Naegaeman malhaebwa (I'm genie for your world)Sowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for you, boy)Sowoneul malhaebwa (I'm genie for your wish)Sowoneul malhaebwa

The two posed after their dance number, smiling and hyperventilating cause of exhaustion. The crowd clapped and howled and as they made their way down, they were met by congratulations and praises. Yuri was used to the attention being a dancer and all but Jessica was very flattered. Never in her life had she received so much recognition. This was the closest she probably got to being a popular girl.

While walking around the court, Jessica felt a cold her shoulder. The touch was so cold it made her jump and whip around. It was Key. Key childishly waved his hand.

"You were so great! I didn't know you danced so well." he said.

"Well I told you about my dancing, didn't I?"

"Yeah but that was totally unexpected. You should dance again, Jessica! Who knows, you might beat the popular girls and dethrone them!" he said. Jessica and Key laughed at that notion. All of a sudden, Jonghyun comes out of nowhere with a light-up lollipop. Jessica waved at him and greeted him with a high five.

"I didn't know you were here! I was looking all over for you!"

"I was just around, hidden from human sight!"

"Say have you seen Jaebum?" asked Jessica.

"No I haven't. Besides, why are you looking for Jaebum?"

"I just want to ask him if he saw my dance…" Jessica noticed Jonghyun's lollipop. She turned to Key and asked where she could buy one of those lollipops.

"Here." Jonghyun handed a spare lollipop which he took out of his pocket to her. Jessica thanked him and ripped the top of the wrapper, putting the lollipop in her mouth. She sucked it for a while, taking it out every once in a while trying to find the light switch.

"Say, where's the light switch. Like how do you make it glow. I can't seem to find it." Jonghyun took the lollipop from her and turned it on by flicking a small tab that was below the round sugar confection. He handed it back to her and she sucked it once more, the end glowing pink.

"Thanks, Jonghyun. Wow! You're of great help!" Key looked at them with a big grin on his face.

"You wanna hang out?" asked Jonghyun.

"Sure! Come on, Key! Hang out with us!" Just then, Onew caught Jessica's eye and she felt the need to approach her but since she and Onew were friends through the writing club, it was Onew who saw her and approached her. Jonghyun and Key made way for Onew.

"Hey! I saw your dance earlier. You were good!" he clapped. Onew teased Jessica about her passion for dancing before so she didn't really take it seriously. But she felt flattered in a way because she really liked Onew.

"Thanks." she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"You were super good! You should dance again!" he said.

"Nah!" Jessica replied.

"I got some stuff to take care of. Catch you later!" Jaebum walked away and joined his two friends Taecyeon and Nickhun. Jessica just watched him and turned her attention to Jonghyun and Key who were talking about video games. Jessica-who wasn't really into video games-sat down with them. They didn't really feel her presence until she spoke and when she did, they stopped talking about video games and entertained Miss Jung.

"So who was that guy?" asked Key.

"Oh? Jaebum? He's a friend of mine. He's from the writing club and he's a senior." she said.

"Oooh…"Jonghyun said.

"Yeah. Park Jaebum."

"Say, how long have you been studying here?" asked Jonghyun.

"So long that I lost count of the years."

"Hahaha." Jonghyun just laughed. "You seem like a really good friend. And an awesome dancer, too! I'd like to get to know you better. I hope we can get along well!"

"I hope so too." Jessica extended her hand for him to shake, just like the first day. Jonghyun took and shook it.

"By the way! I see you aren't wearing your glasses!" she said.

"Oh my glasses? They're in my pocket. I'd like to take a break from seeing every once in a while…"

This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.