Hi again :) I hope you enjoyed young Joe and Katy, and now here's chapter 3!

"Joe, come on! We have to get to class!" I called over my shoulder as I hurried down the hallway.

I heard the distinct sound of a locker door being slammed shut and the thud of quickened footsteps on the linoleum floor until their pace soon matched my own. I looked to my side, and there he was, panting slightly as he worked to keep up with me.

"Sorry, I couldn't find my math book!" he sighed, completely exasperated.

Typical Joe, I thought, unable to contain a small smile. Always so disorganized.

We walked down the long hallway to our Calculus class in comfortable silence. I glanced over to Joe and we smiled fondly at each other.

It was hard to believe eleven years had passed since that fateful first meeting in the library. Time slipped away so quickly, though I never regretted a single minute of it. Through many gruesome years of schooling, to Joe's father's tragically fatal car accident, to dealing with my crushing periods of depression, nothing could tear us apart. Our companionship was undoubtedly one of the things we both held most dear.

"So, how's the play coming along?" I asked him as we walked into the classroom. "Are you nervous yet for opening night?"

I sat down in a desk near the back of the room, carefully pulling out what I needed from my backpack, while Joe flopped down in the seat next to me.

"Course not, Kit-Kat" he said casually.

I rolled my eyes at the stupid nickname, but he paid no heed to my defiance—he never did. The matter of getting rid of that moniker was an argument I simply could not win. Joe had given it to me when we were only six years old, when he walked into my room one day to find me being not-so-lady-like and pigging out on a giant sized version of the chocolate covered wafer.

Joe suddenly turned to me and smiled, his dazzling blue eyes sparkling as he spoke. "I'm not worried about the play at all, as long as I have my best friend front row and center to cheer me on."

I grinned and gave him a friendly shove of the arm in return. "Wouldn't miss it."

Yes, Joe was a theater nerd. But he was a fantastic one, at that. I couldn't recall how many times I'd seen him perform on stage and think he would never be able to outdo himself, but time and time again, he had proven me wrong. I couldn't wait to see what kind of insane twist he would put on his character Dorothy in Roosevelt High's upcoming spoof of The Wizard of Oz.

Somehow we were able to get through Calculus without too much trouble. One time, however, I happened to look over at Joe to see him gripping his head in his hands, obviously frustrated.

As the bell rang and we walked back out into the hallway, Joe muttered in my ear, "That class is seriously going to be the death of me!"

I patted him on the arm in encouragement. "Don't worry; I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon."

"No, I won't. Let's face it, I suck at math." He let out a groan and started to walk away.

"Don't worry, Joseph" I called after him, jogging to catch up. "I'll tutor you. It'll be fine."

He slowed and seemed to consider this for a moment. Finally he huffed and said, "Good. Because I'm gonna need all the help I can get since I won't get to be in the play if I don't pass. How pissed do you think Ms. Fields will be if I tell her I'm not in?"

I let out an involuntary snort. Ah, Ms. Fields, the beloved drama teacher of… well, no one. Students absolutely despised her, and she returned that sentiment with everything she had in that frail, decaying little body of hers.

Joseph Walker, however, was an exception.

Long story short, Joe was Ms. Field's most prized possession. And for good reason, sure. In a school so focused on things such as sports to devour every waking second of everyone's lives, hardly anyone even gave the performing arts a second glance. But when a slightly nerdy, skinny boy with a goofy smile came in one day and mesmerized an audience with a zeal for comedic timing and natural, untouched talent… well, so they say, a legend was born.

We continued down the hallway in silence, until I suddenly remembered something important.

"Is everything okay?" Joe asked as he turned back around to look at me. I hadn't even realized I stopped walking and had practically glued myself to the spot.

"I almost forgot…"

"Forgot what? We can go back and get it if you need t-"

"No, it's not that" I quickly corrected him. "It's something I, uh, actually wanted to ask you."

His brow furrowed but he stopped anyway. "I'm listening…"

"Um, well…" I quickly glanced about the hallway and finally found a resting place on his shoes. I could feel a slight blush creeping to my cheeks as Joe waited patiently for what I was going to say.

But when I didn't respond after several moments, he gave up and rolled his eyes at me.

"Seriously, Katy? You're gonna be like that, and in front of me!? I thought we talked about this whole shyness thing."

"I know, I know…" I sighed in frustration.

He grabbed my shoulders and hunched down slightly to my level, leaning his head in to force me to look into his eyes. "Come on, Kit-Kat. Just spit it out!"

"Oh, alright" I sighed again. "Well, you know the Sadie Hawkins Dance is coming up and—you know I really don't like dances—but Mariah told me I don't have a choice this time because I'm apparently 'missing out on all the fun'. But I don't want to feel weird without bringing a date so…" I mumbled the last part, "I was wondering if you might want to go with me."

My eyes darted from his face and then back down to his shoes, not sure exactly where to look.

"Oh…" was all he replied.

I could hear the surprise in his voice, and I looked up quickly with widened eyes. "I mean, if you don't want to that's completely fine. Or if it's too weird or whatever, since we're just friends, that's fine too. Or—"

"Whoa, just relax for a second" Joe chuckled, thoroughly amused at my rambling. "I was just a little unprepared for that. Of course I'll go with you." He grinned, then bowed and held out his hand. "In fact, it would be my honor."

I smiled gratefully and laid my hand in his. "Thank you" I replied, a rush of relief I didn't know I had been anticipating suddenly washing over me.

"Always a pleasure."

And with that, he gave a small wink and then walked off to his next class.

I want you all to know that I'm not doing this story just for the reviews, but it would be nice to have a little feedback so I know if anyone is actually enjoying it. So please, review review review!