(a/n) Due to some strange writers block, I haven't been able to write anything for OffBeat Normality, or anything else. Then, while I was doing the dishes, I got a sudden idea. Why not do the one-shot for Pogue that I've been meaning to write for the longest time? So, here 'tis! Though, this might end up being a two-shot...all depends on how it turns out. (I never plan my one-shots.)

Forever Young

by:

LoquaciousLethality

"Gabby, snap out of it!"

Jerking my gaze away from a certain tawny headed guy's behind, I looked over my shoulder at Betty, the one who had yelled at me. Even through she was glaring at me, with her arms folded over her chest, she wasn't angry at me. In fact, she was laughing at me. The little quiver in the corner of her mouth clued me into that fact as I stuck my tongue out at her.

"Oh, like that's mature." Betty snorted while I turned me whole body around to look at her while leaning against my closed locker.

"Who said anything about me being mature?" I retorted, making her laugh and drop the angry act. She shook her head at me and started talking to me. While she did, I couldn't help but zone out, the figure of the guy I'd been staring after taking over my brain.

"Damn it, Gabs, you're doing it again!" Betty yelled, slamming her locker door, mock glaring at me once again. I sighed, sending my light blonde bangs flying.

"You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" she asked, quietly this time, and I nodded, crossing my arms and staring at my feet.

Yes, I was thinking about him. He was all that I could think about nowadays, even if I tried to stop from doing so. It was as though he had taken over my mind. I saw him in the hallways when he wasn't there. I thought I heard his voice across the room when he was quiet. It was crazy.

"I can't help it, Bets." I said with a shrug. "I've tried, believe me."

Betty was quiet, and when I looked up, I saw that she was chewing her lip like she did when she was thining hard.

"Do me a favor, hun." Betty said when she was done. "Get dressed up sexy like. You and I are going out tonight." she said with finality.

"Where?" I asked her asked turned to leave. When she turned around and just grinned at me, I caught the evil glint in her eyes, and gulped.

She was planning something, and that scared me.

--

About two hours later, I was standing in front of my closet, brain hurting slightly from all the homework I'd just finished. Now, I had to figure out what to wear. This was made even more difficult because Betty wouldn't tell me where we were going!

I was still standing there when the door opened and my roommate walked in.

"Naomi, help me please!" I nearly begged her when she closed the door behind her. "Betty is taking me out for a girls night, and told me to dress sexy, and I don't know what to wear because she won't tell me where we're going!" I rambled, making Naomi laugh.

"Chill woman!" she said as she walked to where I was standing. I shut my mouth as she contemplated my clothes, and I nearly missed the knowing glance she ssent my way before she dived in.

"You know, don't you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes and placing my hands on my hips.

"Yup, but I can't tell you." she laughed, throwing something at my face that I barely caught before it fell onto the floor. It was a black singlet with silver sequins placed randomly in a star formation. I raised my eyebrow at the article of clothing, silently asking it why I was being left out of the loop, but shrugged it off as Naomi threw something else at me.

A black skirt that ended three inches above my knee lay innocently in my hands.

What was Naomi doing? Finding all my black clothes from my very brief emo stage?

That was soon cast aside when she threw something at my head again, and a light green tank top landed in the pile that was now growing in my hands. Which was soon added to when she placed my green converse on top of the pile. She knew I didn't wear heels. I was a walking disaster waiting to happen in those torture devices.

"Um...are you sure?" I asked, holding up the two tanks, and Naomi nodded.

"Put the green one on under the black one. It';; bring out your crazy eyes." she instructed, pushing me into the bathroom. "When you are done, come out so I can do your hair and make up!"

I stared at the door that was shut in my face, a grin fighting on my lips. I loved my friends.

Gleefully taking off the white Oxford shirt and grey pleated skirt, along with the ungly brown shoes, I took my hair out of the ponytail I had confined it in, and shook it out, the light blonde tresses landing right above the small of my back.

Putting on the skirt, the green tank, then the black one, I stared at my reflection, amazed. Naomi was right. The slight green added to my otherwise black outfit made my light green eyes pop out from under my bangs. Shoving my feet into the shoes, I opened the door to find Naomi dancing to the radio that was playing in the background.

Crossing my arms under my chest, I leaned against the doorjamb and grinned at my dancing friend. For all the clutzy-ness, Naomi could dance.

When the song was over, and she spun around to face me, I clapped, somewhat sarcastically. That quickly died though, when her jaw hung down to the ground.

"Wow." She said, seeing my confused look. "If I were lesbian, I'd do you." she added bluntly.

"Okay." I drawled, the southern accent coming out. "Whatever you say, 'Omi. Makes me glad you have Caleb." I muttered loud enough for her to hear.

Cue dreamy smile.

"Alright. Sit!" Naomi commanded when she snapped out of it.

Twenty minutes later, I was standing in front on Betty's door, waiting for her to answer. My hair, which had been lightly curled, was held back by a thick black and green ribbon tied around my head like a headband. There was a light dusting of grey eyeshadow with a slightly thick smidge of eyeliner above and below my eyes, making my eyes pop out even more. The mascara Naomi had used made my eyelashes look even thicker and longer. The only other thing was a coating of clear lipgloss.

The reaction that I got when Betts opened the door was priceless.

"Holy Toledo, Batman. You're hot!" she practically yelled for the whole world to hear.

I had to admit that she was looking pretty good herself. She was the only brunette I knew who could pull off a grey pleated mini-skirt with a white button down shirt tied above her belly button and electric blue four inch heels. Add to that pigtails with the same color ribbon holding them in, and that's classic Betty.

"So, you ready?" I asked her, and she nodded, grabbing her purse from the ground. Then, she literaly drug me through the halls, and threw me into her convertible. "Hey, what's the rush?" I asked, not panting but breathing harder than normal. I thanked soccer for that.

"We're late." was all she said as she gunned the car into gear and we shot off into the night...err. Dusk.

--

When we pulled into the parking lot of Nicky's, I couldn't help the tiny glare I sent to Betty. She had something planned, and I wasn't sure I was going to like it. All the other plans that she had included me in had ended up a disaster.

"Betty." I warned as we got out of the car.

"What? I'm innocent, I swear! Grace and Naomi planned all this!" she said, then clapped her hand over her mouth as though she chouldn't have said that.

"Oopsie?" she whispered when I glared at her even more. "Aww, come on. It'll be fun!" she cheered, and I knew I was going to break down.

And sure enough, I did. I never could stay mad at Betty for long. I've known her far to long for that. Since kindergarten, at least. I ate her crayon, she poured milk and cheerios down my diaper.

Even back then she was evil.

"Grace and Naomi planned thus, huh?" I asked, then grinned, rather shocking my friend who was expecting me to get angry. "Let's go then!" I added, then walkd up the steps and into the sports bar, or the local hang out

--

(a/n) Alright...this is going to be a two-shot. Please tell me what you think!

-Loqui