My name is Nissa Tori and I'm fifteen years old going on an emotional twelve years old. I know I'm supposed to start with 'Dear Diary' but the diary already took care of that part for me, see in the left hand corner at the top that it's printed on each page. I only purchased you so that I can rant about something that I can't completely go to my friends for. There's a guy at school named Jeffrey Douglas that I've sort of fallen for. He's in my health class and if I can describe him for you... all I can say is he's wooow. I should start from the beginning.

...

It was any other April for Nissa.

Her raven colored hair, impossible to keep a curl in. Her glasses hidden when she needs to get to school and is already about to cross the bridge into the running-on-late catagory after scream-enduring a cold shower after her brother had used up all the hot water taking his shower in the morning.

'Glass flat hair. Check. Crooked smile. Check. Forgot to get tape for backpack strap and now have to lug it around by the handle. Double check.' Her satchel bag goes across her chest, so when the strap broke on a day she had to carry every book the school's entrusted her to borrow, she's been carrying it around like a briefcase since. It sucks at that, because upper arm strength is not her forte- just ask the gym teacher, Louisa Wilson, and she'll tell you.

But amongst all the usual happenings and constants of that day, something unusual happened. Nissa missed the bus. And after angrily stamping her foot to the ground, resigned to the fact that she has to walk, the girl does just that. It's a particularly windy grey day from having rained earlier in the morning, and having already run the good distance from her home to the bus stop, she wasn't about to turn around a get a windbreaker and umbrella to keep the elements back. So to school she went.

'I wonder what goes through a bus driver's head when they see a student and just press down on the gas anyway?' She wondered as she spun a circle, letting her bag sail outward at arms length. 'Probably that I should have come along a lot sooner then I wouldn't be privy the rear-end of its two bumpers. Tch. Jerks- oh crap!' She went jogging after her bag that jerked out of her hand after it snagged on the wrought-iron fence lining the park.

The nylon bag managed to slip between the opening of the gate and slide down the small hill on the otherside. By the time she got up the hill she was doused by a freak shower.

'April showers Nissa. Learn to bring an umbrella.' She picked on herself; bag over her head as a shield the unlucky girl met up with the sidewalk again then started back on her way to school. And that was when her usual day took its turn.

A dark blue small SUV drove up beside her and slowed to a stop before the overhead light came on. A woman with short hair leaned over to speak out the window of the passanger's seat. "Excuse me!" She called.

Nissa thought the woman might be lost and decided she'd help her out if she could. "Yes?"

"Would you like a ride? I'm heading to Pepperhill High school." The woman asked.

"Me too! Um... Thank you," a grin spread over the girl's face. She was either really not loving the freak shower, or she's lost her senses to get in the car with a stranger. But this kindly looking woman has two kids of her own, so what harm could it do if she went with them. "I go to Pepperhill as well."

Opening the door in back, Nissa's startled by the other passanger in the car, believing that there was only one kid and he's already in the front. Smiling at him, she greets the boy who looks about her age then climbs in.

"Hey." He greets.

"I'm Jessica Douglas, and these are my sons Samuel and Jeffrey." Jessica nods to the son who's name she mentioned.

"Hi." Samuel said over the shoulder of his seat.

"Hi." She waved a hand. "I'm Nissa."

"Nissa?" Jeffrey said. "Oh, hey, you're in my health class." He leans forward turning off the overhead light.

"Am I?"

"Yeah, I remember hearing your name in role call. Nissaaaa... Tori, right?"

"Right!" Stealing a glance at him she felt her heart hammer.

She wasn't sure what got her first, the dimples, the smile, or the fact that a living, breathing, cute guy was acknowledging her and not the other way around. It was then that she decided to learn all there was to learn about the male. Things he likes, places he goes to, just little things that could help her get a better knowing of him. Who knows. He might just be a good-looking nobody just like herself.

Boy was she wrong.

...

"Christa..." She gapes at the sheet of paper in her hand. "This is... How did you get all this information about one person?"

Jeffrey Douglas's wrap-sheet could choke a horse! He's not just nobody, he's beyond a somebody. He's one of the most popular kids in school! Terrific. Nissa scolded herself on how well she could pick 'em, before lowering the paper to the cafeteria tabletop.

"I asked." Christa shrugged her shoulder hard enough to move a lock of blonde hair that rest over it. "You wouldn't believe how willing people were to talk about him. Seems like you're not the only one to admire him."

"Which means I'll definitely be the last to be noticed by him." Nissa was sporting enough pout for four people. Gathering her black hair into a ponytail she let it fall hopelessly, following it up with a moment of a horse-lips sigh.

"You said he's in your health class, and that he noticed you first... So why not go from there." Opening the small carton of white milk, Christa took a swig setting it back down before going on. "Are the seats assigned? You can sit by him without being too obvious that you're sitting by him."

"Are you kidding?" This is asked over a bite of carrot raisin muffin. "Because I'm not the type of girl who strays from routine, he'll notice for sure if I switch seats."

Rolling her eyes, Christa picked a hunk of muffin from her friend's self-bought treat and popped it into her mouth. "What made you like Colt anyway? I thought you weren't into boys?"

"No.. I said boys aren't into me. How can they be?" Nissa shoots a glance down herself then back up. "I'm a walking, talking, sleeping pill."

"Well, if you must know, I think you're pretty and great company." Her best friend smiled at her. "And if you stopped pouncing on yourself, I'm sure you'll find a way to show Colt that without changing who you are."

Blinking, Nissa figuratively turned her nose up. "Just what does that mean?"

"I smell teen movie written all over this situation, and I don't want you going out of your way to be popular and cool for some guy to notice you." Christa picked uneasily at her lunch tray. "I'll miss you."

Chuckling, Nissa spread her arms in her friend's general direction since she couldn't reach her from across the table. "I promise, I won't change for a boy." Finishing her muffin, she brushes the crumbs from her hands by clapping them together, then she reached for the chocolate milk taking a long drink.

Looking down at the sheet of paper again, she sighs. It sure would be nice though, if the power of cliche teen movies could help her get the guy. She'll have to come up with an effortless strategy plan to get his attention without it being obvious that she's fishing for attention. Colt's stats could be further studied at home, for now she's got to focus on school.

Focus. Right. As if Nissa could concentrate with that sheet of paper burning in her hand. Walking down the hall to one of her left two classes, she muttered over it to herself. "He does ninja, his ninja name is Colt. He's into swimming, track, and enjoys watching basketball though he's never gone out for the team." Nissa thought about ninja. She didn't even know ninjas still exsited. 'Maybe that's the final stage of karate classes. Brown belt, black belt, ninja. Makes sense.'

Rounding the corner she stuttered to a stop when noticing too late that she was going to walk into someone. Embarrassed, she smiled a quick apology before stepping past the male.

"Oh hey, you're Nissa, from earlier?" The ashy-blond male spoke to her passing figure.

"And you're Samuel." She stopped walking to turn around and converse with the somewhat stranger.

"Yeah." Rocky nods. "I'm glad we could help you out."

"So am I," Her hand smoothed down the side of her white tulip printed skirt. "I hate these random rain showers, and I forgot my umbrella." Nissa gestured like she were punching the air on the shoulder then said. "I'll get 'er next time." She chuckled then added to explain herself a bit clearer. "Common sense I mean, ahaha."

"Well, if you need a lift home my mom's gonna pick us up." With a shrug he adds. "We usually ride our bikes, but when it rains we get a lift."

"I take the bu-..." Nissa caught herself from saying the rest, and then replied. "I'd like that. Thanks for the offer." Nevermind that she probably lives nowhere near the boy's home and will undoubtedly inconvenience the family, but she could pass up this chance. How many other girl's get it!?

"Rocky, come on, we're gonna be late for Spanish." A girl with long blonde hair appeared as if out of nowhere behind Rocky.

"Rocky?" Nissa asked.

"It's my ninja name. Me and my brother's take lessons with our grandfather over the summer." Explained the ninja with pride, albeit rushed pride since Emily is about to pull him away with her. "This is my friend Emily."

"Hi, Emily."

"Hi." Emily called over her shoulder with a wave, before hurrying Rocky and herself down the hall.

Nissa watched the pair head for Spanish class, and once they were officially out of sight she allowed herself a spontanious 'Happy Dance' that ended soon after realizing her musings over Colt's less than personal business had her wander into the wrong wing of the school. Apologizing to any passing student who'd listen, she backed from the hall through the exit of the double-doors.

Just when I thought I'd gotten lucky, it turns out Colt had basketball practice after school, I got a ride home with his mother and brother- though not for nothing, because the both of them are really cool. And unlike Colt, easy to talk to. Once I entered my house I whipped out the list and highlighted things that were possible for me to get into so that I could have some time with Colt. Karate was out, though not completely. If I joined a class then I could at least talk about that with him.

I could bone-up on basketball, and actually pay attention during pep-rallies. I love swimming, so there's always bringing up the swim team. And everyone's personal topic of favor food. I like to bake, and it's come to my minimal understanding that boys like food a great deal. I can whip something up and bring it over. That's what went through my head when Friday turned into Saturday and I found my finger pressing into the doorbell of the Douglas' home.

Putting on a bright smile she then holds up a tin of brownies to a young brunet who opened the door of the Douglas' home. The young boy gave her a look that would shivel her if he were older. She hates being scrutinized. But she can somewhat handle it when they're younger than she is.

Heaving a sigh he asked. "Who are you here for?"

"I'm sorry." Maybe she'd heard wrong.

"Who are you here for? Rocky or Colt?" He looked her up and down noting her kahki shorts and netted white shirt that revealed an olive green tank top underneath. "Going by the way you're dressed"

"What's wrong with the way I'm dressed?" Nissa looked herself over, having not been heard by the child who's still speaking to himself.

"I'd say you're here for Rocky."

"Umm, no. I'm actually here for your mother."

"My mom? Are you selling something?" He noticed the tin suddenly. He's never seen one outside of the holidays, so his curiosity was beyond peeked.

"No. I'm giving her a tin of brownies as a thank you for giving me a ride to and from school that day it rained."

"Aaww rad!" He swiped the tin from the girl's hands. "Thanks. Wanna come in and have one?" He turned away. "Mom's at work, but you can hang out here if you want. She'll be home in about a half hour if you wanna give 'em to her yourself."

Uncomfortable, to say the least, she nodded and followed the boy in. If no one is home but this kid, maybe his brother's will come back and her being there will look more natural than her just hanging around the home outside as though she just happened to be in the neighborhood.

"I'm Tum tum." Tum tum set the tin on the coffee table. "What's your name?"

"Nissa. It's nice to meet you, Tum tum." She held out her hand "Is that your ninja name?" drpping it back at her side once he'd shaken it.

"Yeah, my real name's Michael." Tum tum's currently at the television grabbing a control stick for the Nintendo 64. "This is cool; I've never had a girl over who wasn't just here to see one of my brothers." Giving her a cocked-eyed glance he asks. "Your kinda pretty... Are you sure you're not here for one of my brothers?"

"Absolutely positive." She nods taking a seat on the couch.

"Do you kart?" He asked handing her a controller.

"Kart?"

"Mario Kart?"

"Sure. I race up and down the halls at school. It shouldn't be any different in a video game." A chuckle escaped her mouth.

"I'm gonna pour us some milk. Crack those bad boys open while I'm gone."

"Okay." She couldn't help smiling. This whole family seems genuinely sweet it's just the right formula to produce an easy smile.

Opening the tin she grabbed a blondie for her a brownie for Tum tum, releazing she'd made the right decision when the boy came back with one plain milk and one chocolate, she takes her cup sipping from it before setting it down. Tum tum took two gulps then reached for the brownie, intoning surprised acknowledgement that they're individually wrapped.

"Did you make these yourself?" He figured to ask since it would be excessive if they came from a store just for her to wrap them.

"Yeah. I bake all the time. It's sort of a hobby of mine."

"I like to cook too, I'm not as good with baking though." Replied the male smiling around the bite of brownie he took after speaking.

"I could give you some pointers, I'm free any weekend." Her eyes scrunched closed as if she felt a bop on the head for being such a dork to tell the world she's not busy in any way shape or form.

"That's cool." Replied Tum tum attention already in game-mode, his face dropped in vacant wonder of it. "I like playing Luigi best."

"I'll take..." Looking over the selection of characters: mustached men, princesses, a giant reptile, a green dinosaur, and an ape and mushroom. It was hard to choose. "I'll take the mushroom. Toad." She added when seeing his name. He's an adorable little mushroom boy with a red vest and big bunchy shorts.

"Okay." Looking at her he says quickly before the race starts. "This is accelorator, and this is the break, and this is to shoot items."

"Shoot items?" Was her flabberghasted response.

"Yup. You'll see, it's the funnest part of the game." Looking over the cup races to choose from he selects Flower Cup then the race begins with Toad's Turnpike. Its a busy highway filled with cars driving along to get in the way of the racers. "The road is filled with colorful blocks, that's how you get items."

"Got it."

The game was a lot of fun. It was hard for Nissa to drive as well as Tum tum, but she managed to keep up if not in first place, fourth wasn't bad. And he told her he picked the skill level 50, that even a 3 year old could get first or second that way. But with the cars blocking her path it was kind of hard to keep it that way. Nissa busted out laughing when a lightning bolt shrank everyone and Tum tum ran them over one by one with his car that remained it's normal size. She was filled in that since it was his item he wasn't effected.

"Oooh Frappe Snowland." She seemed excited to see snow.

Tum tum shook his head that girls could be so weird, but he let it go when he felt his cheeks heating just from looking at her profile. She really is kinda cute. Much better than the girls at his school. He's not even sure they can be counted as girls yet, since he can still playfully hit them and not have them cry or go running for help.

"Aha!" She stood up in a cheer. "Look at that! I got first! I got first." She laughed from Tum tum laughing at her cheering. Maybe video games aren't as strange, and 'off-limits' as she'd once believed. This is actually pretty fun.

It was around the last race that Rocky and Colt came home with their mother following close behind.

"Check it out Rocky, it's your stalker." Colt whispered.

"What did you say?" Jessica asked her son.

Spinning around, he grinned sheepishly. "Oh... hey mom. How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," She ushered them into the house.

"Hey mom." Greeted Tum tum with chocolate in his teeth.

"Tum tum," Hanging up her light jacket in the closet beside the door. Seeing they have a guest she greets the girl. "Hello Nissa, what brings you here?"

"I came to give you some brownies as a 'thank you' for yesterday. I baked them myself," she waved a hand to the tin on the table. "Tum tum told me that you'd be home soon, so we've been playing games while I waited for you."

"That's nice. Thank you."

Nodding, she stands from the seat. "I'd better be going now. It was nice seeing you all again." Turning to Tum tum she smiled. "This was fun, we should do it again some time." Making for the door, she spots that blonde girl Emily headed her way; the glare she'd received from the girl could peel paint. What was with her?

"Hey Emily," Rocky greets his best friend. "Wanna hang out at the park?" Looking to mother not waiting for an answer from Emily, he asked. "When's dinner?"

"Five thirty."

"Good we've got an hour and a half, come on." He hurried back out of the house.

Colt shook his head when seeing Emily side-eyeing Nissa before her annoyed expression did an about-face after hearing Rocky invite her to the park. Closing the front door from the whole scene, he walks over to the couch. "Scoot over." Grabbing the abandoned controller, he figured out who he was by looking at where the controller was plugged in. The screen divides top to bottom for player one on top and two on the bottom.

"I'll start it over. That girl got fourth place in the first race."

Colt chuckled. Spotting the brownies, he reached for one taking a bite once it's unwrapped. Stunned, he took another bite and another. "This is amazing. Can you believe it's melted white chocolate spread over this?"

"Lemme have some." Grabbing Colt by the wrist he moves the brownie over to him for a sample. "Wow. She's alright that Nissa girl." He nodded to his own words. "She said she'd teach me how to bake."

"That was nice of her."

Blushing, Tum tum grabbed for another treat failing to nab it because Jessica swiped the tin from the table, silently expressing that he could have dessert after dinner.

"I thought she might be here for you or Rocky, but she sure took off fast when you guys showed up. She hung out with me though."

Colt's brow quirked when detecting a bit of boast in his brother's words. Was he bragging to him about a girl? "Tum tum, she's my age."

"And I'm thirteen... So?"

"So stop sounding like you wanna date her."

Embarrassed either at the idea of dating an older girl because his wrongly accusing brother put it in his head, or at the idea of being found out that he's sort of developed a crush in that short of time when usually he sees girls as parasites.

"Just shut up and race." He presses 'start'

'Well that was embarrassing.' Nissa thought as she walked home. Seeing one of her two best friends she waved then continued on home like a dog with its tail between its legs. 'God, and what was it that he said... Stalker? I'm not a stalker... Am I?' Popping her fist into her palm. 'Change of plan. Avoidance time.'

Diary. Things are so complicated. I'll let you know when the track has stopped trying to derail me.

...

Author: Thanks for reading. I'll be working on this off and on, but the chapters are gonna be short. I noticed that when I did the first Girl. So this should be done sort of the same way I guess. I hope you enjoy it, thanks again.