"We're what?"

"We're going to The Groovy Smoothie with Robbie, Andre, and Beck! C'mon, it'll be fun!"

"No. No way. I don't want to go. I don't even know them."

"Please, Jade? I don't really know them either, just Robbie, but they all seem so nice! And I know you want friends."

Jade sighed. "Yeah, I would love that," she said sarcastically, although deep down, she really meant it. "Fine. I guess we can go."

Cat squealed and gave Jade a hug.

At The Groovy Smoothie, Andre, Beck, Robbie, Jade, and Cat all sat quietly around a large table, sipping politely from their smoothies. They were all self-conscious and nobody knew what to talk about. So far, it had just been small-talk.

"So," said Andre.

"So," Robbie repeated.

"Sew?" questioned Beck.

Cat giggled and poked Robbie in the arm. "SO….not muscular!" Everybody laughed.

And suddenly, the atmosphere changed. The young fourteen-year-olds talked with each other easily, joking and acting silly as teenagers often do. Even Jade, who was usually so moody, seemed to be enjoying herself.

A few hours later, they were still there.

"Hey, you guys wanna play truth or dare?" Andre asked.

"Let's do it!" everyone agreed.

"Okay, Robbie. Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Okay, ah…why don't you get contacts?" Andre asked.

Robbie subconsciously pushed his glasses up. "I tried it once, but the eye doctor quit after I poked myself in the eye twenty times and screamed twice." He shrugged as if to say, No big deal. "Cat, truth or dare?"

"Ummm, truth!"

"Alright, let's see. Who was your first crush?"

"Leonardo DiCaprio," she answered immediately. She looked around. "What, he's hot in The Titanic!" She giggled. "Andre, truth or dare?"

"Truth, I guess."

"You guys are no fun!" exclaimed Jade. "Only truths? Wimps."

Andre lightly shoved Jade, who grinned.

"What was the name of the first song you wrote?" Cat asked.

Andre's face shut down. "Um. I would prefer not to answer that question at this time…."

"C'mon!" "Answer!" "Just do it, man!" everyone encouraged him.

Andre held his hands up in an "I surrender" way. "Okay, okay. It was called… There's A Gorilla….In my Underwear." He mumbled the last few words.

Nobody spoke. Then Beck laughed loudly, and the rest joined in. It was the kind of laughter that was completely contagious, and after a while one laughs simply because they can't stop. When someone's laughter died down, just looking at someone else started it right back up again. Something clicked, and it felt like they had all been friends forever.

Finally they stopped laughing. Robbie wiped some tears from his eyes.

The gang continued to play, and the truths and dares became more intense. Then Andre said, "Truth or dare, Beck?"

"Dare," he replied, grinning mischievously.

Andre matched his grin. "I dare you to…kiss Jade."

Jade's eyebrows went up very high. Beck blushed ever so slightly. Cat and Robbie looked at each other, and they knew they were thinking the same thing. Would Beck accept the challenge, and would Jade allow it?

Beck shrugged. "Alright, if that's what you want." He stood up from the table and walked around to the other side, where Jade was sitting.

Jade actually looks nervous, thought Cat. Maybe she likes him! Oooh! Romance! How romantic! Oh, I just said that. He he.

In one swift movement, before anyone could think, Beck leaned down—he was several inches taller than Jade, plus he was standing while she was sitting—and kissed her. For a long time. A few whoops and hollers came from the table.

When they broke apart, Beck and Jade seemed to stare at each other for an eternity.

"You like him, Jade."

"Um, no. Stop insisting that I do, because I really don't."

Cat flopped onto her back on her bed and twisted the phone cord around her finger. She sighed dramatically. "I know you do! You're always staring at him at school."

"So what if I do?" Jade shot back. "Beck's a popular guy with good hair, and I'm the quiet girl everyone thinks is emo. I have no chance with him. He'd never go out with me."

"You never know—"

"I do know. Now shut up. Let's talk about something else."