Hello everyone! It's my first time posting my fiction so I hope you would all review and tell me how I'm doing! The story is set years later in Pootatuck high school so if you all have any headcannons (for older CJ, Crispo, and Fenwick), feel free to message me! I hope to update every two weeks sooooo, hope that happens!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the cannon characters.


Contrary to popular belief, having a crush on your best friend isn't as difficult as the entertainment industry makes it out to be. CJ Martin can easily attest to that.

Sure, it had its painful moments, but otherwise it felt normal. Like it was always supposed to be that way.

"That's all for today class, please remember that those interested in taking the SATs and ACTs get free tutoring on Fridays and Saturdays so long as you sign up for the Senior Tutoring Program. Enjoy your weekend!"

As the final bell rang for the day, the seniors rushed out of their last class, laughing and talking about the upcoming weekend. Following slowly behind the crowd, CJ Martin made her way through the halls towards her locker. Funnily enough, high school wasn't as terrifying or stressful as she'd first thought it'd be. Sure, it had its ups and downs, but it wasn't half as scary as her brother made it out to be. Not when her she still had her two best friends by her side.

"Hey CJ, who's turn is it this week?" a curly haired, dark-skinned boy greeted her as she neared her locker.

She smiled at Fenwick in greeting, opening her locker and placing her books in with ease. "It's my turn this week, I think. You texted Crispo?"

"Yeah, Mr. Hotshot is busy with club stuff but he said he'll catch up later," Fenwick nodded as he adjusted the strap on his bag. Her best friend had changed plenty over the years, the most obvious of them being physically. He had grown out his hair and let it flow into a mess of curls that he normally kept tied in a short ponytail. He'd grown a light stubble on his chin and replaced his thick-rimmed glasses into thin wired frames. He had also grown in build and height, easily passing her and Crispo as he reached 6'2" just that autumn. He'd started exercising in 10th grade when he'd read an article on how all successful people exercise and take care of their health—he's been a health buff ever since.

Other than physically, Fenwick had also gained lots of charisma over the years. And admirers. But he was still the same knowledge-loving Fenwick that she'd met in kindergarten despite it all.

"Alright, want to stop by the shack for food or are we taking out?" she shouldered her own bag before closing her locker and leading the way.

"Take out. Crispo's got to pay for leaving us hanging all the time," he grinned, holding the door open for her as they exited into the parking lot.

"Sometimes I worry about your dastardly ways, Fen," she laughed as she passed him and made her way to her car.

For her birthday gift last year, her family had given her a repainted version of her brother's old car. Ever since then, she'd been the assigned driver of the group as Fenwick still didn't have a car and Crispo only owned a motorcycle.

As she drove out of school and fiddled with the radio, Fenwick turned to her with a wry smile and asked, "So are you going to tell him yet?"

She replied with a glare as she leaned back, satisfied with the station and blatantly ignored Fenwick's question.

"Aw, come on CJ, you can't keep it a secret forever," he goaded her, knowing that the topic was long overdue.

"Is that a bet?" she quirked a brow daringly, sparing him a quick glance before returning her focus to the road.

"Maybe you could ask him to Prom!" he suggested, ignoring her comment as they neared her house.

"Fen, we're not talking about this."

"Why not?"

"Because we're not twelve anymore!"

"Exactly! So shouldn't you grow up and just tell him already?"

"It's just a stupid crush, I'll get over it."

"Are you going to be telling yourself that for the next six years again?"

"Fenwick."

"CJ."

"Fenwick Frazier."

"Caroline June Martin."

"Ugh, I hate you."

"Love you too, Ceej," he shot her a teasing grin as she parked in front of her house. He hopped out of her car and made his way towards her front door, leaving her to slowly exit the vehicle as her mind ran through their conversation.

Six years had passed since she'd started her list of a hundred things to do before high school. Six years since she started one crazy adventure with her best friends. Six years since she'd gotten a crush on one of her best friends.

It was painful at first, seeing him hang around Sylvia Simmons so much after their first smoothie date, but she'd adjusted to it well enough. After Sylvia Simmons came three other girls, with his current girlfriend, Callie Shane, lasting seven months (if you didn't count all the breaks in between). Despite this, he'd never mixed his dating life with his friendships and so she'd never actually had to meet his girlfriends all that much. It eased her pain to know that she and Fenwick still came first in his life.

Most of the time.

She unlocked the front door of her house as Fenwick entered ahead of her, plopping on to the couch as he made himself comfortable.

"So what are we watching today?" she locked the door behind her as she waved for Fenwick to make room for her.

He obliged, sitting up and scooting away. "I'm thinking Back to the Future."

"One, two, or three?" she turned the television on and started searching through Netflix.

"Let's marathon it!"

"Seriously? Don't you have a date with Meg tomorrow?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Watching all three will take all night.'

"Yeah, so?"

"Fenwick. You aren't sleeping over."

"Aw, why not? You'd let Crispo do it!"

"Because you already slept over last month! And stop using Crispo as an excuse!"

"You didn't deny it."

"Fenwick."

"CJ."

"Ugh, I swear you're hopeless."

"I take that as a yes. Sleepover!"

Thankfully, CJ was saved from having to listen to Fenwick's impromptu victory speech by the doorbell. She gave him a good whack with a pillow before standing to answer the door, opening it to find a messy haired boy waiting with arms full of food and drinks.

Her smile was instant as she took one bag of food and stepped aside to let him in. "Took you long enough."

"Sorry, the orchestra meeting ran a little longer than expected," he apologized, adjusting his grip on the bags in his arms before stepping in and closing the door with his foot. "We won't be meeting all week next week because of a competition, so Mr. Savage was just giving us some final reminders."

"You make it sound like he never expects you guys to return," she laughed, locking the door before leading the way to the living room, where Fenwick waited for the pair expectantly.

"Crispo! You brought food!" he greeted his friend as he enthusiastically started unpacking the bags.

"Yeah, sorry for the wait, guys," Crispo took the other side of the couch, leaving CJ to take the seat in between her two favorite guys. "What're we watching?"

"Fenwick wants to marathon Back to the Future." Fenwick merely shrugged at the girl's accusation, leaving the room to grab some bowls for the chips and popcorn Crispo had brought.

As she watched Fenwick leave, her gaze fell on her other best friend, busy texting away on his phone.

Every now and then she can still see the easygoing boy she'd found herself crushing on six years ago. Sure he'd grown, not all too worried or annoyed at the fact that Fenwick was three inches taller than him, and his hair had gotten messier through the years, but he still had the same kindness and light in his eyes that they've held all those years ago. He wasn't as built as Fenwick, but he was lean and graceful from all the years of violin practice. He was still her Crispo—no matter what the years had done to him.

"We're not talking again," his eyes flitted from his phone to her, shocking her out of her thoughts.

"Oh, uh, yeah?" she replied weakly, unsure of who he was talking about. Was he talking about his brother? His violin partner?

"Callie and I," he placed his phone on the table as he gave her his full attention. "We got into another fight."

"Oh," she tried not to deflate. She didn't really like talking about his girlfriends. At all. Ever. So she was normally always just quiet when he'd talk about them. She didn't really know what to say, anyways. 'I'm sorry'? 'You deserve better'? Really, there wasn't anything she could say that wouldn't seem detached or give her away.

Crispo stared at her expectantly, his big blue eyes waiting in anticipation for some sage advice. But she didn't have any—or, she didn't want to give any. The selfish side of her didn't really want to help his dying relationship with Callie Shane. Or any girl, really.

"CJ?" his voice snapped her back to reality.

"Yeah?" the uncertainty in her eyes making him falter.

"Uh, help?" he managed after a few seconds of silence.

With a sigh, she let herself deflate, giving him a look as she asked, "How? What can I say to fix something I can't control?"

Crispo slumped in defeat as well, not expecting his best friend to run out of encouraging words. In all their years of friendship, she was the one who always knew what to do. She always had a backup plan. She was his go-to person. Always. Even if she thought otherwise.

At the defeated look on his face, she flinched. It hurt her to see him hurt—all the time. This was why Fenwick was the one she forced into being Crispo's relationship counselor. She couldn't bear to see him so hurt and lost—because she felt the exact same way.

Nibbling on her bottom lip as she put together her thoughts, she wondered if there was any way to say what she wanted to say without giving herself away. Or ruining their friendship.

"Crispo," she started, his eyes moving from the floor to her own. "I don't really have any profound words of wisdom for you, but I do have this." She pointed to her ear. "I know I haven't been the best-est of friends when it comes to these types of things, but I'm here for you. I'll listen. No matter how silly or outrageous it be." He snorted in protest and she grinned before pointing to her head. "And this. Whatever mess you're in, I'll try my best to help see you through it. This brain didn't come up with a hundred things to do for nothing."

"We helped you come up with those hundred things," he protested, the frown on his face disappearing into a soft smile.

"Potayto-Potato," she waved her hand dismissively, hoping her grin was just as infectious. "If you're in a jam, I'll think of something to get you out of it. Trust me." He nodded, all the confirmation she needed to know that he did trust her and her voice softened. "If I can think of a hundred ways to treasure our friendship before high school, then I can think of a hundred and one ways to make you happy." As her voice grew softer, gentler, Crispo had moved closer to hear what else she had to say, his eyes never leaving hers. "And you'll also have—"

"Food!" Fenwick arrived with two big bowls of food, making CJ and Crispo jump apart—as they had unconsciously been moving closer with every point.

Taking in a shuddering breath, CJ moved to the opposite side of the couch, letting Fenwick sit in between her and Crispo.

"Now who's ready for some Marty McFlying?" Fenwick laughed at his own joke, placing the bowls on the coffee table in front of them before grabbing the remote and settling in.

"Me," the two replied without much vigor, their lack of enthusiasm completely escaping Fenwick as his focus was simply on the movie and food. He pressed play before grabbing a bowl of popcorn and placing it on his lap, happily eating away as his two friends tried to focus on anything but each other.

CJ was internally panicking. Had she really let that happen? Was she really going to say what she thought she was going to say? She was, wasn't she? She held back a groan as her eyes focused on the screen. It took all her willpower not to look at her blond best friend, because if she did, she might have ended up seeing how he was looking at her, too.