Better Than Me

Okay guys, let me just say I can't believe I've gotten so many reviews! I mean I honestly don't think this story is as good as you guys say it is but hey I ain't complaining. Um, I'm not really sure what's going to happen in this chapter. Cause I'm just making it up as I go along. I've got everything that's going to happen written down but still writing this isn't easy. Anyway I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

A/N-This one's named after Hinder's "Better Than Me".

Andie was shocked. Did Taylor really just say she was fat? Or was she implying that if Andie kept eating she'd get fat? She wasn't fat, was she? Her jeans were sometimes a little tight but not so tight that it hurt to be in them. Her stomach was smooth and flat, or was it?

"I'll see you in dance class Andie." Taylor said smiling before she strutted from the room. Chase was waiting at the door for Andie, Taylor smiled at him sweetly before flipping her brown hair over her shoulder and continuing down the hall.

The moment she was out of Chase's ear-shot, Taylor took out her phone and called Candace.

"Part one of destroying Andie West is complete, see you at lunch."

When Andie met Chase at the door she put on the best smile she could. But her mind was racing. Was she really fat? When Chase looked at her, did he see a really fat girl? How come he hadn't said anything to her about it? Maybe he felt sorry for her or maybe he didn't want to be mean.

Andie frowned even more. Better yet, how come Moose hadn't said anything to her? He was supposed to be her best friend at this school and he had never said anything about her being fat. Was he like Chase and didn't want to be mean or did he feel sorry for her? What about their crew? If they had of known that she was fat how come none of them had ever said anything?

'The reason none of them have ever said anything is because you aren't fat.'

Andie really wanted to believe the voice in her head. But she found that she couldn't.

"Andie?"

Chase's voice broke her thoughts and Andie looked up into his blue eyes. His eyebrows were drawn together and his eyes searched her.

"What's wrong?"

Andie shook her head. There was no way she was about to tell him about this. Chase would probably go find Taylor and tell her all about herself, or kill her. And it wasn't Chase's problem, he wasn't the one who Taylor had called fat. He was on the other end, he was the one Taylor wanted.

"Nothing." Andie said after a moment or two. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Chase asked.

Andie nearly said "No." But instead she nodded and gave him another smile.

"Yea I'm sure."

Chase didn't believe her. Andie could tell by the side glance he gave her, but he was smart enough to let it go. Andie squeezed his hand gently just for reassurance that he was hers, not Taylor's, hers. And when he squeezed back she smiled widely.

"Okay, I'll see after this for dance class." Chase said when they stopped in front of Ms. Jones classroom.

"Okay." Andie said quietly, she watched as Chase frowned once more and chucked her cheeks with both his hands.

"Are you positive you're alright?" He made her look at him and Andie took a deep breath. She had two options, she could tell Chase what happen and have him get mad and make a big scene. Or she could just tell him that she was okay and deal with this herself. Andie chose the second one.

"Yea, I'm alright just a little tired."

Chase kissed her forehead, cheeks, eyelids, the tip of her nose and her lips. Then he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers.

"Did you eat all your food?"

Andie looked up at Chase. He looked worried and the last thing Andie wanted to do was worry him.

"Yes, I ate it all."

Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Chase gently before disappearing into her classroom. Chase watched her go with a frown, taking out his phone he peeked in the window to make sure Moose was waiting for Andie. He was.

'Dude, something's up with Andie. Can you try and find out what?'

After texting Moose, Chase flipped his phone closed and headed off to science. He already knew he was going to be spending the entire period wondering what exactly was wrong with Andie.

"Hey Andie." Moose said hugging the girl.

"Hey, what's up?" Andie asked sitting down and taking out her notebook.

"Oh nothing," Moose felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Pulling it out he read Chase's message—then he had to re-read it and look at Andie. Her pen was gliding across the paper, her brown eyes followed it and she seemed completely absorbed in it.

'Dude, she seems fine to me. What happened?'

Moose glanced at Andie again. She didn't seem to be upset or anything but then again he couldn't fully see her face. If he could see her entire face or just her eyes then he'd be able to tell if something was wrong or not. Everyone always said that your eyes are the windows into your soul and Moose that statement had never been truer when he met Andie. If something was bothering her you could tell instantly by looking into her eyes. Taking out his phone once more Moose flipped it open to read Chase's text.

'Listen Moose I'm telling you something's not right. Just look in her eyes.'

Sighing, Moose looked up and leaned over toward Andie.

"Hey Andie?"

"Hmm?" She did not lift her eyes from her paper, which was halfway full by now.

"Do I have something on my face?"

It was the best way to get her to look at him. And when she did Moose caught her gaze and held it. Chase was right, something was very wrong with Andie. Usually her eyes held a slight sparkle in them, they twinkled like millions of stars in the sky. The twinkling and sparkling was gone, her eyes seemed dull.

"Nope, you're good."

She tried to go back to her writing but Moose touched her shoulder gently.

"Hey are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Andie did not look at him but instead went back to her notebook.

'Okay, you're right something's wrong with Andie? But what? Was she like this when you picked her up?'

As Ms. Jones began the lesson Moose couldn't help but continue to stare at Andie. She would have usually been done passed a note to him. But she hadn't, not this morning. Moose was beginning to worry, she wasn't talking and she wasn't smiling. Was she mad at him? Had he done something to upset her?

Ripping a piece of paper from his notebook, Moose scribbled a note down and slipped it onto Andie's lap. She stared down at the note for a long time, until finally she picked it up and unfolded it.

'Are you mad at me?'

His questioned surprised Andie. Why on earth did he think she was mad at him? She wasn't even mad. Hurt, she was but mad, who did she have to mad at besides herself? Why had she let herself eat until she was fat? Why hadn't Chase or Moose or the crew said something to her?

'No I'm not mad. Why do you think I'm mad?'

Glancing up to the front of the room, Andie made sure Ms. Jones's back was turned before slipping the note to Moose. Who didn't know which message to look at first, the one from Chase or the one from Andie?

'No, she was fine this morning. But when she came out of English she looked upset. I think Taylor might have said something.'

When Moose read Taylor's name he froze. What if Taylor had said something to really hurt Andie? He couldn't stand if Andie left like Katie.

'Stop it, you're jumping to conclusions. Andie's not going anywhere.' Moose was glad for once that the little voice in his head spoke up and he nodded to no one.

'Don't you think Andie would have said something if Taylor was the one upsetting her?"

After sending the text, Moose unfolded Andie's note. After reading it twice he looked up at her again. She was writing again, now she looked kind of angry and her pen threatened to tear a hole in the paper.

'You just seem very upset today, did something happen in English?'

Moose tossed the note so that it landed on Andie's desk. He watched nervously as she picked it up and unfolded it. He watched from the side as her eyes scanned over the note and re-read it. For a moment Moose thought Andie was going to turn and yell at him but instead she picked up her pen and began to scribble back.

Moose was getting a little too close to figuring it out. He must have been talking to Chase. How else would he know that she was upset after English? He hadn't seen her this morning. Andie silently cursed Chase for bringing Moose into this but she scribbled something back none the less.

'I'm not upset. Just tired. No I had fun in English today.'

Chase's message got answered first. Flipping open his phone, Moose wondered if he was ever going to be able to actually pay attention to Ms. Jones today.

'No. This is Andie we're talking about. She's not going to say if Taylor said something to her. I don't think she wants to make a big deal out of Taylor. But Moose you know what happen with Katie, I can't let that happen with Andie.'

Moose to his phone. Andie was the first real friend he'd ever had. If Taylor did to her what she did to Katie then Andie would leave. And everything would fall to pieces like it had when Andie got expelled. Moose didn't want to have no one to talk to anymore. He had Sophie sure, but Sophie wasn't Andie.

'Dude, believe me. I don't want Andie to leave either. It was bad enough when she got expelled.'

Putting his phone in his lap, Moose unfolded Andie's note. He read it and frowned, Andie never said she had fun in a class. Either was okay or it sucked, it was never fun.

'Alright, if you say so. But Andie, you would tell me if something had happen wouldn't you?'

She'd either answer back or get offended and not reply. As Moose waited for his two friends to reply his thoughts began to wonder. What if Taylor had something to Andie? How would they deal with that? What could they do to get her to leave Andie and Chase alone? Moose knew about all the things she'd said about Katie, and he didn't blame Katie's parents for taking her out of the school and moving away. Katie had been a nice girl and Taylor had completely ruined her. Yet Taylor still didn't have Chase.

'So I think it's safe to say that you'll help me find out what's wrong and if Taylor's said anything to her right?'

Again Moose nodded as if Chase could see him through the phones. He'd do anything for Andie.

'Yea man, I wanna help.'

"Moose!"

Nearly falling from his seat Moose's head snapped up to look at Andie. She was holding out the note to him. A slight smile on her face as she watched him catch his phone as it fell from his lap. Taking the note from Andie, Moose stuck his tongue out at her and she returned the gesture.

'Of course I would. You're my best friend Moose, I tell you everything. Trust me, I'm fine.'

Smiling Moose decided to slip the note back in his pocket. He felt their conversation was over. He couldn't deny that something was wrong with Andie and he would help Chase figure it out. He looked at Andie one last time before opening his textbook to the page he supposed to be on twenty minutes ago.

Right, well as you can Moose is inbetween them. He and Chase don't want Andie to leave, they love her too much. I think it's a good idea though for Chase to have some idea that all is not well with Andie. I don't want him to just be the clueless boyfriend. Did you guys like this chapter?

A/N-Do you ever get told that your eyes tell everything about you? I get that all the time cause mine are so frickin big!!

Reviews keep my fingers typing!

Danyi