A/N: Okay, so my timing is a bit off. I have Quil imprinted before Jared, but it doesn't really affect the main plot of the story, so carry on!

Chapter 1: Blue Sharpie and Blues Clues

"Kim. Kim! KIM!" I awoke from my reverie to the flustered face of my boss looming in front of me. I looked up at his wobbly hanging cheeks and triple chin flushed red in anger.

"Explain this!" he spat, pointing to the counter of the cashier I was currently working. I looked down. Bright blue hearts adorned with 'K+J' were strewn all across the counter I was working. In my handwriting. And permanent ink. I sighed. I'd done it again.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Peterson. I'll have it cleaned up right away. I wasn't paying attention." I ducked under the counter to withdraw the turpentine as he proceeded with his usual tirade.

"Damn straight, girl. I ought to fire you for this. You're lucky I'm giving you a second chance. I've half a mind to go up to whoever this boy is and humiliating you so you get the punishment you deserve…" He ended mumbling and walking back to his station in the back of the store hiding from perplexed and inquiring customers.

I retrieved my cloth and scrubbed half-heartedly at the already smearing marks. How embarrassing. To be scribbling all over my notebooks in class in erasable pencil was normal, I supposed. Just another part of the hormonal teenage girl thing. But this? This? This bright blue sharpie desperate vandalism all over my workstation? This was far too much.

Why couldn't he just look at me? Just once? Why couldn't he see that we were so perfect for each other? So meant to be together for the rest of eternity? I'm not ugly or anything. I'd like to think I'm rather good looking for an average girl. Why isn't he looking at me? What's wrong with me? I scrubbed harder and harder at the desk as tears of frustration welled up in my eyes. I groaned, aggravated, as I threw down my rag, and sat behind my counter.

This was ridiculous. He was just a boy. This was just a crush. It would pass like it did for everyone else. And then it would be on to the next tall, handsome, smart, funny…

No. No it wouldn't. It wouldn't go on to the next guy because this "crush" had been here since I'd first met Jared in seventh grade. I winced at the memory; it wasn't pleasant. The point of the matter was that I was never going to get over Jared, as hard as I might try. But I didn't want to sit here any longer without him knowing how strongly I felt about him. Without him not feeling the same way.

"Excuse me?"

I stood up and wiped my eyes quickly, springing to my feet to meet the intruder who had interrupted my pitying wallow session. The face that greeted me was well-tanned with warm chocolate brown eyes. His sharp structured face was topped with cropped dark hair. I recognized in an instant whose face this was. It was a friend of my Jared (Did I just say MY Jared?), Quil something or other.

"Uh…Sorry. Just ah…having a moment there…" I peered uncertainly at him, "Heh…sorry, can I um…help you with something?" I was wringing my hands in my apron so that dark, sweaty handprints formed on it.

"Well, erm…" He leaned forward to look at my name tag as I tried to turn away so he couldn't see my embarrassing sweat stains, "Kim. I was wondering if you knew anything about baby food."

I gaped at him incredulously, then before I could stop myself I blabbered, "What, got your girlfriend all knocked up?" I slapped my mouth shut as he turned a shade of pink. Wow Kim, real smooth. Sever your chances with Jared some more, why don't you?

"No." He stated, still flushed. "Are you going to help me or not? Because I can just as easily go to some other register…"

"NO!" I yelled. He backed up, startled. "I mean, no. I'll help you." Great Kim, now you look even more stupid. He might even think you have a crush on him now.

He broke into a wide grin, "Great well, I can't tell which one is better. Something sweet like Applesauce or Plum or something like Turkey Dinner or String Beans. And do little girls have a preference? I wasn't sure because I know that guys aren't partial, but I wasn't willing to take a chance when it comes to Claire…"

"Claire?" I muttered under my breath.

"Yes. Claire." He stated rather defensively, getting red again.

"Um, well I suppose I would get a bit of each actually, I think she'd probably like Applesauce over Plum, no child likes the plum. And I don't recommend the Split Pea. A friend of mine tried some on a dare once, and it wasn't pretty." I grimaced remembering my Kristy's bout of projectile vomiting, and Mr. Peterson's fuchsia face. He looked like he was having an aneurysm that time.

"Alright thanks." He started to walk away, but then turned back, "Hey Kim?" My heart rose for a moment, in hope that whatever was going to come out of that defensive brute's mouth pertained somehow to Jared. "Do you prefer Disney Princesses or Blues Clues?"

My jaw dropped. Did he just say what I thought he did? How could someone raise your hopes like that and then spring something that random on you? Really, that was plain cruel. "Um…Blues Clues?" I replied hesitantly.

"Good. I thought so, too. I figured that if I was going to get Claire to fall in love with a dog, we might as well start with the patterns on her Huggies." With that, he turned away, bee-lining towards aisle 14.

I shook my head in disbelief. Jared had some odd friends.

A/N: I know. It's starting a bit slow, but I want to build up to it. This will hopefully be a ten-chapter, possibly longer, story.