A/N: I really should be updating the other stories I'm still working on, but if you have a big, fluffy plot bunny that just won't leave you alone no matter how many times you try scaring it off (and this is just further proof I'm insane), you have to write it. And hey, I now have something to do this summer.
A special shout out to Madelines, whose story "Lifeline" introduced and made me fall in love with Ray/Stella, or "Rayella," as was decided upon in her story. So thanks! And great job on coming up with a couple name for them, which is definitely something I would ever be able to do.
Disclaimer: I am not a guy, so I cannot possibly be Mark Peter Hughes. I'm still in school, so I couldn't have written and/or directed the movie. So, from process of elimination, I don't own anything. Man, I get tired of these…
"Falling in love is a lot like, well, falling. When it happens, it can't be stopped. It's usually quick, happening in what seems like a blink of an eye. There's a fear of not knowing if someone will catch you, or just let you fall and get hurt. The uncertainty is so great that people tread lightly, trying not to slip and fall in love with the wrong person, like they try to avoid tripping and landing flat on their face."
Those were the words Stella Yamada's grandmother would always tell her. Every time she visited the small, yellow house, Grandma Yamada would sit her down with a glass of freshly baked cookies and a glass of milk to tell a young Stella things her parents hoped to put off until she was much, much older.
Stella remembered everything her seemingly quickly aging grandmother muttered softly to her, as to prevent her parents from hearing. They never did, If they had, though, Stella was sure they would never let her visit again, knowing full well that Grandma Yamada wouldn't listen to them if they told her not to tell a nine-year-old girl stuff they hoped she wouldn't have to worry about for at least a decade.
Lucky for Stella, who was too caught up in memories to really notice anything, lunch was a time when you really didn't have to pay attention. She sat with her band, the ever-growing-in popularity Lemonade Mouth. Wen and Olivia, acting like their usual shy selves, were laughing at something Charlie had said, blushing whenever their eyes met. Stella rolled hers. If it was the last thing she did, she was going to get them together.
Mo was joking with Charlie as well, a slightly hurt expression crossing her face whenever she glanced at Scott, her now ex-boyfriend, whom she had caught with Jules (again) and dumping him on the spot. It was obvious Charlie was doing his best to keep her mind off of it, which seemed to work. They are so next, Stella thought, at the same time wondering when she became a matchmaker.
The cafeteria was crowded and very loud, but not as bad as it would have been if Brenigan wasn't riding around on his stupid segway. Seriously, why would someone even use those things? He wasn't exactly intimidating anyone on that thing, especially when he was wearing a helmet.
As she looked around the cafeteria again, she met the ice cold eyes of Ray, his handsome face (although she would never admit that to anyone without having to kill them afterwards) morphing into a sneer. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she quickly turned away, a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. It felt almost as she was… falling.
Oh no oh God oh no. She jumped up suddenly, causing everyone at the table to look at her. She had to make a quick excuse. "I forgot something in the music room." They nodded in understanding and went back to whatever (she really had no idea) they had been talking about before. She left quickly, her thoughts going a mile a minute.
No, it was impossible. She, Stella Yamada, could not be in love. Especially not to someone as arrogant and egotistical as Ray Beech. There was no way. But he waskinda cu- No! She couldn't think that. It wasn't right.
She pushed the doors open, after carefully avoiding running into a senior with his lunch tray. She left, completely unaware of the eyes that followed her out, practically burning a hole in her now tensed up back.
A/N: Eh, it could've been better. Sorry it's so short, but it is kinda the prologue, so those can't be expected to be too long. I promise the next chapters, whenever I post them, will be longer. But that could be anywhere from today to next week, possibly even two weeks. Inspiration is a very tricky thing. The title, in my opinion, is awful. If you have a better one, let me know.