A/N: Here's the second chapter. Hope you like. :)

Chapter Two: Too Much Damage

Robbie simply wanted the ground to open up and swallow him up whole.

He had never felt so...embarrassed, humiliated, mortified, stultified, along with other more complex words describing the same thing before in his life.

He was dripping in soup (it probably helped that his think curls and shirt partially helped to shield him from the hot liquid) and dressed up in Caesar salad. All thanks to the valiant effort of a ticked-off Trina Vega.

In addition to that he was the star of an impromptu one-man show in the middle of the cafeteria, with many students currently staring at him - and snickering and spreading gossip about him - and they were looking at him as if he was an alien dropped right on the Earth.

At least, that's what he felt like.

"How'd it feel to be the center of attention?" Rex's giddy voice piped up.

Ignoring his best friend's mockery, Robbie began to recall how this all occurred.

FLASHBACK

"So you think that paper will help you get Trina and Cat?"

Robbie shook his head. "No, it will help me to identify the signs that girls usually show when they're attracted to someone."

Rex cracked up. "Well, good luck, because you're not gonna get any."

"Rex! You're not helping!"

"Hey that's what I do, man. Get used to it." The dummy smarted.

Robbie sighed and shook his head.

Having printed out the paper the night before, Robbie had proceeded to search for more websites detailing everything he needed to know (like female body language and the like). He even stumbled upon the forums.

Needless to say, he'd spent all night reading about the subject. It was truly interesting, although some of the websites were quite...lewd in their details and illustrations.

Walking through the front doors of Hollywood Arts, Robbie saw his friends in the hallway. His heart, however, beat a bit faster when he saw Cat Valentine.

"Hi Robbie!" The ever-bubbly Cat grinned widely as she bounced over to him and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Robbie simply...reveled in the hug, putting his arm around her. It was a perfect moment-

"Get a room, lovebirds!"

With a start, Robbie glared at Rex as Cat stepped back, a slight blush on her cheek.

He turned to see Tori, Andre, Beck, and Jade. The latter two were leaning against the lockers.

"Hi Robbie." Tori smiled.

"Hey man, what's up?" Andre said, slapping Robbie on the back.

Beck smiled and gave a nod, while Jade greeted with a "hey dork" while sipping her daily morning coffee, a disinterested expression on her face.

However, something - or rather, someone caught his attention. Trina Vega was strutting down the hallway. She looked...amazing as usual. He felt like he simply could not take his eyes off her.

However, she paid him virtually no attention, ignoring his "Hi Trina!" with an annoyed face. Robbie's face fell. While he watched her walk away, Robbie felt a little hurt as he thought about how Trina did not show any 'signs' according to his paper. She didn't flirt with him, she barely looked at him, she didn't look jealous because Cat was standing close to him...she didn't 'accidentally' bump into him. Heck, her shoulders were even pointed away from him!

This was only naming a few, of course.

"Man, hate to do this, but told you! She totally gave you a cold shoulder, man." Rex spoke up.

Sighing, Robbie looked to his left to see Cat looking at him with a concerned face. He felt his heart skip a beat as he looked at her beautiful face. "Are you okay, Robbie?" She asked, putting a hand on his arm.

Swallowing, he nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I'm okay."

"No, he isn-mmph!" Robbie covered Rex's mouth before he could say any more.

BRRRRING!

"Time for class." Andre remarked to everyone, and they headed to their respective classes.

As he headed for his Social Studies class, Robbie'd resolved he would observe Trina and Cat's actions more closely.

Before too long, it was lunchtime. Robbie went to the cafeteria, got his food, and made his way to join his friends at the usual table. However, his heart lurched when he'd noticed Trina sitting at the table.

"Hey everyone." Robbie smiled as he reached the table. Seeing an empty seat next to Trina, he turned to her with a smile on his face. "Can I sit there?"

"No." Trina said simply, scowling.

"Trina." Tori said, fixing a disapproving look at her older sister. "Let Robbie sit next to you."

"Yeah, you heard what she said. Rob, go sit next to your girlfriend." Rex smirked.

"But I don't want to!" Trina whined. Tori, Andre, Beck, and Jade rolled their eyes.

"Um..." Robbie started to say something before Cat interjected. "You can sit with me!" She said bubbly, scooting nearer to Tori and patting the now-available seat next to her.

Torn between Cat and Trina for a bit, Robbie made a decision. "I'll sit next to Trina. But thanks, Cat."

"Oh." Cat seemed to deflate a bit.

"But, um, I'll help you with that project for Sikowitz due next week. That ok?" Robbie said quickly, not wanting to see Cat's disappointed face. It worked. She was cheerful and joyful in an instant.

"Yay! That would be great! Thank you, Robbie!" She grinned, her eyes twinkling. Andre chuckled and shook his head, while Jade rolled her eyes.

Turning his attention to Trina, Robbie opened his mouth to say something. "So, Trina, um..."

"I don't want to talk to you."

He blinked. "Um...okay." He said awkwardly. Surely Trina must've been shy...right? He looked at his friends who were having a conversation. He saw Tori looking at him with a sympathetic smile. He shrugged a bit. He looked over at Jade, only to find her doing the same. She looked away immediately.

Robbie raised an eyebrow, but before he could think on that more-

"So, Trina, what'd you say we ditch this group and go somewhere...private?"

What?

Robbie looked over to see Rex leaning toward Trina. She turned to look at him (yes, him, not Rex), anger flashing in her eyes.

"What did you say?" She hissed. Robbie gulped. If looks could kill, he would be dead right now.

"I said, you wanna go somewhere private? You surely are asking for it today." Rex continued relentlessly.

Frantically trying to recoup the situation before it got worse, Robbie immediately covered Rex's mouth. "T-trina, I didn't say that! That was Re-" He stuttered, dimly aware that everyone around the table was looking at them.

Apparently, Trina wasn't listening.

Robbie felt himself get splashed with a scalding hot liquid, followed with something more...cool. Trina had dumped her soup and Caesar salad on him before angrily storming off.

"Trina!" Tori yelled as she got up. Before running after her sister, Tori looked at Robbie, her eyes swimming with apology and concern. "I'm sorry about all that." She said before she ran off, yelling "Trina!"

Jade and Cat's eyes were slightly wide-open, as Andre and Beck had disbelieving expressions on their faces.

Rex was cracking up.

FLASHBACK END

Hence the situation Robbie found himself in.

He was covered in liquid and salad, and feeling very humiliated. No courtesy of Rex Powers.

Sighing, and wincing at the burn caused by the soup, Robbie turned to the puppet. "Why did you have to do that?" He asked exasperatedly.

Rex looked innocent. "Hey, I was only trying to help you out! Y'know, get Trina and all that stuff?" He looked around the table. "But it seems she got you first, buddy!"

"Rex!" The group shouted at the same time. Rex immediately fell silent.

Shaking his head, Robbie carefully wiped away the soup stains and salad bits from his clothes before moving to pick Rex up. "I guess I'll go clean myself off now." He mumbled.

"I'm so sorry about this, Robbie! Trina shouldn't have done that!" Cat piped up, looking sad. Most of the group rolled their eyes, as if she was stating the obvious.

Robbie mustered a small smile, feeling grateful for Cat's concern. "It's ok, Cat. It happens."

"I'm in agreement with Cat on this one." Andre spoke up, looking around the table before giving a sympathetic look to Robbie. "But it was perhaps inevitable that Trina would do this. After all, she doesn't seem to be interested in you, Robbie. If what she just did doesn't make that clear, I don't know what will."

"Andre does have a point there." Beck chose to add his two cents. "You should pursue a girl who will like you for who you are, and not dump soup and salad on you, and generally cause unnecessary embarrassment."

"Ha! Who would like him?" Jade snorted, although a closer inspection would show that this insult lacked a certain...conviction. Beck shot her a disapproving gaze.

"Jade."

"What? He's a nerd!" She said snarky.

Beck sighed and shook his head slightly.

Robbie's shoulders slumped down. Before he could open his mouth to speak, Rex chose to open his lips this time.

"Robbie should date Cat! They would be perfect for each other, given that they're both crazy!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cat protested, offended. Andre, Beck, and Jade sighed. The overly cheerful and sickly sweet Cat Valentine also took offense rather easily.

"Ok, you've officially caused too much damage for today." Robbie grumbled as he stood up, yanking Rex up with him. Deciding to make his exit, Robbie turned to his friends.

"I'm gonna go now. See you later." He said simply as he scurried out of the cafeteria.

Unknown to Robbie, as he was walking away, a certain someone was staring at him. And it was not Cat Valentine.

A/N: So...what do you think? I didn't think it was that half-bad (but then, I wouldn't know, lol). So...review on! You readers are awesome. :)