This chapter is dedicated to my buddy, Sam who was the first to comment on this story! :) Haha,

Enjoy!

I shut my locker, hating the warring feelings inside my body. I was in love with Spencer, but was he in love with me? I glanced down the hall looking for him. He was leaning against a locker grinning coyly at a blonde cheerleader named Marissa. Marissa laughed and put her manicured hand on Spencer's chest. My eyes narrowed. He winked at her. I slammed my locker shut and started down the hall towards them.

I purposely bumped into Spencer, hard. Marissa didn't remove her hand from Spencer and I glared at him.

"Pig." I growled and he just stared at me. I shook my head, disgusted and left the school. Nicole was sitting in her black van out front, waiting for me. I got in, trying not to slam the door.

"Hey.. Bren, what's up? I know that face." She looked at me, concerned. She had the radio playing softly.

"I love this song." I cranked the radio so loud, the van starting vibrating with the music.

"There's nothing wrong with just a taste of what you've paid for.. Say what you mean, tell me I'm right and let the sun rain down on me! Give me a sign I want to believe! Woahhh! Mona Lisa!" I sang along wit hone of my favorite songs, ignoring Nicole until she started the van with a sigh. Soon Nicole was jamming with me and we were singing together. When the song ended we both started laughing and I turned down the radio.

"Fine, I won't pry, but I know something is wrong, so we are going to have a sleepover. Ice cream, cheesy movies, and complaining about boys. Right?" Nicole smiled at me. I grinned back.

"Def." I agreed. I flipped out my cell as Nicole braked at the stop sign.

'Staying at Cole's tonight. Love you, ma. -Bren.'

I texted my mom and then slid my phone back into my pocket. I tried not to focus on the fact that Spencer had not texted me yet.

"Right, let's stop at the video rental and pick up some movie" She asked, pointing to the Blockbuster across the street. I nodded and she parked in the lot.

"I've never seen a car park with so few cars." She laughed. There was only one other car in the lot besides ours and it was the clerk's. I grinned at her wording.

"Parking lot." I said and stuck out my tongue. She gave me a confused look.

"What?"

"It's called a parking lot, Cole. America." I laughed. She understood and laughed, too.

"Oh, hush, Brendon. Try living in England for 16 years and then be expected to remember every single American mannerism." She elbowed me as we walked into the store. The clerk smiled at us.

"Hey, guys. How was school?" Ed, the clerk, asked. We came into the video rental at least once a week and were on friendly terms with Ed.

"Boring as always. How was work?" I asked as Nicole started toward the British horror films section. I sat up on the counter as Ed leaned on it.

"Boring. Well, one woman tried to bring her dog in. I told her that she couldn't and she had a huge fit about how there was no sign saying she couldn't. So I made one." He grinned and pointed to a handmade sign on the window. It said 'No Dogs in Store!'. I laughed and Ed stood up with a smile. He pulled out a movie from under the counter. It was a new horror film that I had been dying to see.

"Just came in. First copy and I haven't put any copies on the shelf." He set it on the counter. I gasped and grabbed it.

"No way!" He grabbed it back with a grin. He held it out of my reach.

"How bad do you want it, Brendon?" He taunted. I glared, jokingly at him.

"Come on, Ed!" I turned around on the counter so that my legs were dangling on Ed's side of the counter. He grinned and put it behind his back.

" 'Come on, Ed!' " He did a crude imitation of my voice. I jumped down and wrapped my arms around him, trying to reach the movie. He stopped moving and so did I, once I realized what I had done.

"Feeling all touchy feely, Brendon?" He whispered in my ear. My skin prickled with excitement. Ed was only 19 and very good looking. It was no secret that he had a thing for me, but I wanted to remain faithful to Spencer. Why go through the trouble if he won't be faithful to you? I thought for a split second.

I let go of Ed and backed up, looking at the ground.

"I'm sorry." I breathed. The tension was tangible and we stood in silence. A moment passed and Nicole came up front.

"Oi, where's the bin, Ed?" She called, not noticing anything. He cleared his throat after a moment and pointed to a trash can next to the counter. She threw something in and set 6 movies on the counter.

"Ready, Bren?" She asked and I nodded, walking out from behind the counter. Ed started ringing up the films that Nicole had picked out and then he rang up the horror one that I had wanted.

"Ed… you don't have to.." I trailed off. He ignored me and put the DVDs in a bag as Nicole handed him her credit card. Nicole was an exchange student from England and her parents were rich and had given her a credit card so she could be comfortable in the states. She looked between us, but we both refused to say anything. She sighed and took the bag.

"Thanks, Ed." He nodded and Nicole led me out the door. Once we were outside, she looked at me.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Lets get back to your place and watch these." I forced a smile. She gave me one last look, but decided to let me alone and we got in the van.

Thanks for reading :)

Hold on for Chapter 3!

Again,

Suggestions are welcome and Reviews make me jump up and down with happiness!

-Megan