I just noticed that I messed up Jake's eye color in the last chapter. They're supposed to be murky green, not murky brown. X3

ANYWAYS. The chapter titles are the playlist for this story. They – for the most part – have nothing to do with the chapters. ^^

"Come on, man, you're so slow."

Taylor was at the top of the steps, fixing a dress strap with one hand, holding a binder in the other, as she waited for Zim. As he finally reached the top, he was dramatically panting.

"You're evil, dirt-child," he breathed, chuckling darkly at one of their inside jokes. "Maybe I should've walked GIR instead of having you."

Taylor smirked a little before patting the boy's back.

"We'll be late for Theater at your pace." Her cowboy boot's small heels clicked on the linoleum floor tiles as she walked towards the auditorium, Zim not far behind.

The large wooden doors scraped against the carpeted doors as Taylor prodded one open, Zim standing right behind her. As they walked in, she noticed that the teacher was sitting up front, looking at a clip board.

The teacher was young, looking perhaps as young as her late twenties. She had black hair that was pulled back into a sloppy pony tail, and she wore a simple white tee shirt and jeans. The teacher didn't wear normal teacher shoes. She had on a pair of black Converse.

Taylor already liked this teacher.

Zackery stood next to the inch-shorter girl, looking around.

His pale violet eyes locked with murky green, and both quickly turned to glares.

The rest of the Sophomores chattered idly, oblivious to The Best Friend's and The New Kid's stare down.

Taylor, however, turned, giving Jake another small wave and miniscule smile. The taller boy frowned, sitting down and looking away from them. The girl's smile faded quickly, and she lowered her hand.

"Ignore the Almighty Tallest," he chuckled, trying to cheer her up with another inside joke and his heart-breaking head tilt and crooked smile combination.

It seemed to work, for she smiled back at him lightly.

Jake was watching them out of the corner of his eye, frowning on both the inside and the outside.

I've gotta get her back to her old self. Away from that green kid.