Hey, still remember me? Or this story? Don't worry, it's not just this one I abandoned for such a long time. It's all of my stories. That should be comforting somehow? Anyway, better late than never, right? I don't have any excuses for why I didn't update. My computer didn't crash, there were no deaths in the family, and I wasn't kidnapped by ninjas. I just got lazy, and then after not writing fanfiction for about a month, I just entirely forgot. But hey, at least I didn't die, leaving this story incomplete forever and ever—because that would be a recipe for a ghost. Alright, I'm done ranting aimlessly now.

Chapter 4: The Douche

"No," He declined forcefully.

"Come on. Please?" I begged. I was down on my knees, clenching my hands together as I groveled. Jimmy seemed to enjoy rejecting me. I was trying to get him to be in that stupid movie with me for the past day. I thought for sure he would have agreed to do it with me quicker than this.

"Absolutely not." He replied, shaking his head. Jimmy wasn't nearly as stubborn as I was, so I knew I could wear him down eventually.

I groaned and stood only to find my chair and sit back down. "You heard what happened. I was forced to accept! It was either that or burn in hell, and I gotta say—I'm no Cali Girl." He snickered at me, but continued to shake his head no.

"Maybe you had to make that decision," Jimmy began, wheeling to sit across from me. "But that choice was for you, not me. I'm not morally obligated whatsoever to appear in this disaster of a movie."

"For god sake Jimmy, would you please just play my badass boyfriend?" I shouted.

Jimmy opened and closed his mouth, and then decided to remain silent, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. My cheeks prickled with heat, and I know I must be blushing from the embarrassment. I quickly got back on topic, "Look, it's not a big part. I asked Peter about it. Really, I just need someone to hang out with. What if this so-called movie is being made starring all sugared-up kiddos just like Pretty Boy? Please, you can't make me suffer this alone."

Jimmy faced me again, and actually looked like he was considering it. I wish I could do more to convince him before he makes up his mind, but I'm not about to start puppy-dog pouting just to get my way. Jimmy took in a deep breath, "I think you'll manage." But it still sounded questionable.

"Ugh, just give in already!" I pleaded. That's when I realized, I just wasn't taking the right approach. Yes, Jimmy was stubborn, but I realized that my greatest chance at getting Jimmy on my side was to invoke his inner champion. "You know…" I began, taking my tone down a few notches. "It's not like Peter is the best guy for me to spend alone time with anyway. We might just see him as a goofy kid, but really—he can do a lot of damage. Just ask Manny…"

Jimmy looked serious for a few moments, and I thought I actually got through to him. Then he burst out laughing. "Yeah right, El." He chuckled, shaking his head. "You would never be naïve enough to—not that I'm calling Manny naïve. It just—there's no way. You're not exactly the damsel type."

I rolled my eyes and sighed dramatically. "But still—you may realize that, but Craig definitely doesn't." I hated bringing up Craig, but it was true. Even if we didn't talk about it, Craig was still Jimmy's friend. "I know he's been bothering you about me." He has a condescending hero complex no other guy I know can compete with.

Jimmy rolled his eyes. "He's brought it up a few times. Actually more like a dozen times, but who's counting?" He sounded really irritated. Sometimes I forgot about how the whole Craig situation must be for him. He's been great; always on my side. I don't always think about the consequences he has to deal with. If I was the type of girl to search for silver linings, then at least I made a true friend out of this big mess of things. Oh god—that's just sickeningly too cliché.

"So—wouldn't coming with me ease his—err, uneasiness?" I asked, now going for a more rational tactic. "You have to admit, it would definitely help with getting him off your back."

He pondered this for a moment, rubbing his hands over his face in what I assumed to be exhaustion. "If I do this—"

"Yes!" I interrupted excitedly, giving him one big pat on the back.

"If!" He continued. I bit my tongue, but I knew that I already won. Once he knew that I had a handle on myself, he continued. "If I do this, you are going to owe me. So big. This isn't exactly the type of thing I see as a good time."

"Done. I'll so owe you. Majorly." I agreed. "So—you'll do it?"

He inhaled deeply, like he was about to say something he would regret. "Fine. You scheming, manipulative, conniving—"

"I know, I know. I love you too." I interjected, giving him a brief hug. Suddenly, right on time it seems, my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. "One second," I said, pulling it out. I got a text from Peter—or my stalker, as of late.

E,

wut r u up 2 rite now?

can u come 2 te dot?

all business, i promis LOl

-P

I cringed at the use of chat-speak. I felt like I was deciphering a kindergartener's paper on Hiroshima. I leaned over to show Jimmy the text, causing him to snicker. "See—Craig has nothing to worry about. Peter is all business! Laugh out loud!" We laughed a while at Pretty Boy's expense before I replied.

Peter,

Yeah, I can come. And I asked my friend Jimmy if he could play the other part you were looking for. We can both be there in about 15 minutes.

Just a friendly warning… If you ever send me text like that last one again, I'll kick your ass.

-Ellie

We showed up at the Dot a little while later. I knew this was a bad idea; I could just feel it. As soon as we arrived, I saw Pretty Boy grinning and waving at me. I scoffed pointedly, ushering Jimmy in to follow me.

Peter wasn't alone. He was with one other guy that I didn't recognize, but already I didn't like him. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this guy's cover—was a total douche bag. First off, his sideburns were too well groomed, and shaved into points. For some reason, that was always a sign. People have always said that Sean was an Eminem wannabe—but this guy? Let's just say that the bling chain said it all. I felt a great urge to strangle him with it.

As we sat down, I saw that Peter's friend was up-downing me in a way that made me decidedly despise him already. I was about to wipe that smirk off of his pasty white face. "Can I help you?" I didn't hold back. Any friend of Peter's is an annoyance of mine.

He looked at me very seriously for a moment, and then a smile crackled through his lips. Peter was just taking a sip of water before the Douche gave him a big pat on the back, causing Pretty Boy to cough and splutter. "Ha! She is perfect!" He then quickly switched to a more seductive tone, meant only for me. Aren't I special? "And may I say… is also quite a—"

"Actually, you may not say," I interrupted matter-of-factly. I saw Jimmy grinning in the corner of my eye. I looked to Pretty Boy to let me know who this guy was, and why we were sitting with him, but he was still clearing his throat.

"Hey now," the Douche said, holding up a finger. I rolled my eyes to see that it, along with ever other finger, was covered in chunky rings. Maybe they tell a story! I wonder what the playboy bunny one means. How profound. "You better get comfortable with me, baby. Especially since in a couple weeks tops you'll be hanging off me,"

Then he—and I am in no way joking—winked at me. There were so many things wrong with this. First—baby? Who the hell did he think he was? And the only hanging I'll be doing is myself, if I ever find that I'm in close contact with the Douche within the next couple weeks. "Look," I said, restraining myself from making a scene, "I don't know who you are, but—"

"Ellie, this is Joe Wenster. Joey, Ellie Nash." Peter gave the introductions, finally through with his coughing fit. His voice was still a bit raspy. He turned to Jimmy, holding out a hand. "And you are?"

"Jimmy," He replied, taking the hand reluctantly.

"And you're—" Pretty Boy began, eyeing Jimmy's chair, not too discreetly.

"In a wheelchair," Jimmy finished, raising his eyebrows. I didn't even think about it, really. I didn't see how it would be an issue when I asked Jimmy to play the part. "Is that a problem?"

"No—No problem, of course not," He replied with a nervous chuckle. "In fact, this might be good. Like Thore is recovering from some street racing injury. Or better yet—a gang fight! Well, we'll work out the specifics later." When nobody said anything, Peter looked at Jimmy very sincerely. "Really, it's okay." He said again, as if Jimmy were insecure.

Jimmy glanced at me questionably, and I just shrugged in response. "Err—thanks?"

"No problem, buddy," He replied with a nod.

"Alright," I cut in, gesturing towards the Douche. "Let's get back to Mr. Wangster."

"Wenster…" Joe muttered under his breath. I shrugged, pretending not to hear the difference.

"Ellie, I brought Joey here because I thought it would be best for you to get to know him," Pretty Boy said, scratching the back of his neck. "He's playing Russell in the movie. He's playing the lead—your love interest."

My eyes widened as I thought this through. I looked at Joe, who was undoubtedly checking me out yet again. "You've got to be shitting me."

Coo Coo Ka Choo!

There you have it folks.

Sorry I won't be posting a preview of the next chapter. I was too eager to post this one, so you'll all just have to be surprised! Muhaha!