Wow. Well, sorry for disappearing and abandoning this story, but I'm back now, and excited to get writing again.

Disclaimer: I don't own PJATO or any of the characters in the books.

Chapter Two

Travis' Point of View

So get this. Yesterday, I played the best prank on little Miss Gardner. Honestly, it was awesome. Connor and I rigged up a bunch of old Super Soakers, and filled them with some of Mom's fruit punch, bright red. So, right as Katie was coming out of the school, my friends and I got her with the soakers. It was so cool.

Well, it was cool until she gave me a very mean look and then stalked of to her car, driving away. I don't know what I did though. I mean, it was just a harmless prank, right? I can't help but think she hates me now.

Katie can't hate me… We're best friends. Katie, Connor, and I. That's the way it's always been…. The three of us.

I can't help but let my steps falter as I walk into school. Luckily, I regain my composure before anyone notices. I don't know what I'll do if Katie hates me. She's my Katie-Bug… Nothing can change that.

And then, there she is, her beautiful curly caramel hair falling down her back as she stands at her locker. It seems the stars have aligned for me, as none of her friends are standing around her.

Approaching her, a sly smile spreads across my face easily. I lean my shoulder against the locker next to hers and stick my hands in my pockets.

"Hey Katie-Bug." I say, letting my gaze wander over her.

"Don't call me that." She says, her voice stiff. If I listen closely I can detect a slight annoyance in her tone also.

"Why not? You're my Katie-Bug." I say, lightly pushing her shoulder in a friendly way.

"Travis, stop." She says, turning towards me. "I'm not in the mood right now." Her voice is quiet as she speaks, her books held tightly to her chest.

I knit my eyebrows together. Katie sounds…. almost mad at me. Did I make her mad with the prank? It was just a joke. A harmless joke.

I stand there, my expression confused until the bell rings, and Katie is on her way without another word to me. I head off to my first period, still a bit concerned about Katie.

Luckily, we're in chemistry, which comes easily to me. I sit down at my lab table, with my partner, who also happens to be my girlfriend. I place a sloppy, distracted kiss on her cheek in greeting and open my textbook.

"Travis babe," Drew says, tugging on my arm. "You should come to my house today after school."

I shrug, a bit unconcerned. "I don't think I can. Coach is going to run practice late tonight."

"But babe…" She whines. "We haven't gotten to be alone in-"

Thankfully, for me, Drew gets cut off by our teacher, who is starting the lesson.

I can't pay attention though, my thoughts caught up in Katie. How can Katie hate me? She can't. The truth is, I've been harboring a small crush on Katie for the past 10 years of my life. This year though, I pushed it aside to date Drew.

But I can't ever stop thinking about Katie. The way her hands are sometimes dyed red from picking strawberries all day. Or the way her eyes crinkle a little bit on the sides when she laughs.

Snap out of it Stoll. You have a beautiful girlfriend, and you're living every guy's high school dream. You can't keep thinking about Katie. Sure, she's absolutely perfect in every way, but she doesn't like you as more than a friend.

The next thought I have scares me the most.

In fact, right now, she hates you.