DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN VICTORiOUS. This chapter is from Jadelyn's POV.

Chapter 34

Another Quarrel

January, 2008.

So it's January and a new year. Last year kinda ended on a good note. I did manage to patch up some things with Riley and we seem to be on the road to becoming friends again, which she seems to really want. But, there's something amiss; she's holding something back from me. I don't know what it is yet, but I know for sure that she's hiding something from me.

I don't want to pressure her into telling me what it is. Better yet, I don't think she wants me to know. So I should probably stay quiet about it and wait for her to make her move.

On Halloween at school, she mentioned that she still had a crush on me, even though it was very minor. That's when I started getting suspicious. I confirmed my suspicions that afternoon when I got home from school.

I did some research into crushes. They typically last only four months, but if they continue longer than that, the person with the crush is considered to be in love with the person they have their crush on.

So, when Riley said that she liked me that afternoon, she meant she liked me, liked me, as in she's in love with me.

That means she's been in love with me for over seven years now. She didn't say anything about it because I was such a bitch to her and kept ignoring her. Of course, I couldn't see that she is in love with me. So, you can imagine this was a lot to process. Hell, I cried a little too. I couldn't sleep well for a while either.

Even three months later, I still haven't a clue what to do. I mean, how does one react to something like this? Better yet, how does one get in this situation in the first place? I've read cheesy romance novels, especially in English classes, but none of them have a situation like this. I guess that means I'm kinda fucked when it comes to seeking help.

Maybe I should take this up with Vinny. He might know something. I wonder if he knew about Riley being in love with me for years. No, he couldn't have. He would've told me if he knew. I would. It'd be awkward, but I'd still say something. Riley's good if she can trick her twin into thinking that she never liked me, let alone be in love with me.

All of this is exacerbated by the fact that I am attracted to her as well. It's not a crush nor am I in love with her; it's just an attraction.

Monday, January 7th, 2008.

The first day back to school is today, which means I'm halfway through eighth grade and am just about done with middle school. Every day, I just keep hoping that high school is much better than this shit.

Mom and dad have looked into Hollywood Arts and found out that auditions are going to happen over summer vacation to get in. So, I've been getting ready by thinking of what I can audition with to show the heads of the school.

So I'm in my first class of the school day, gym, and I'm experiencing a feeling I haven't had since I was six.

I have a crush on someone in my class.

Here lies the rub. The boys and girls don't usually do stuff together in gym, so I have a crush on a girl.

She's new to school. I think her name's Katelyn. Pretty close to my name.

She doesn't look like me, which is helpful for once. I swear, sometimes when I was arguing with Riley, I felt like I was arguing with myself; very strange.

Anyways, Katelyn is cute. She has blue eyes, long black hair, and is a little tan. She's skinny and tall like me.

Ok, maybe she looks a little like me; but not enough to be awkward, like with Riley.

That still doesn't change the fact that I'm crushing on her. I can't win, man.

I'm going to have to talk to her. Introduce myself, friend her up, then maybe some time later, I'll tell her about my crush on her and we'll see what happens.

I can't tell Riley about this at all; it'll undo everything the two of us have done over the past three months to fix our friendship.

An issue with having a crush on someone is you act all funky and awkward when single brings up the person you're crushing on in a conversation. So, I hope Riley isn't present or bringing up Katelyn in a conversation. That would be awkward.

Two months later, St. Patrick's Day.

So Katelyn and I are good friends and she and Riley are friends as well. Riley and I are best friends again, much to the delight of everyone, especially poor Vinny. We did put him through hell for years.

Remember how I said how you act weird when someone mentions the name of the person you're crushing on? Well, that's been happening for the past two months since Riley and Katelyn met.

I have yet to tell Katelyn about my crush on her. I think I'll tell her after school today.

I've been procrastinating about telling her. Mainly because I'm afraid of what'll happen if she reacts negatively to the news. I mean, how often do you find out that someone of your gender is crushing on you?

I'm going to tell her, no excuses. I'll invite her to my house after school today. We have a science project to do anyways, so that's a good thing.

I'm in science class now with her, listening to the teacher drone on about photosynthesis in plants. Can someone explain why I should care?

Our science project is to a plant for two months. If it dies, you fail. The project is worth three fucking hundred points. C'mon.

The class was split into partners for the project a while ago and now we're listening to the teacher lecture. All the while, not killing ourselves. Ugh, hurry up and shut up. Science is my least favorite subject, tied with math.

Later, back at the West residence.

Katelyn and I are now and working on our project in the backyard. Our plant is a poinsettia. They need a dark and moist place to grow and keep their color, according to the notes we received. I cringe when I hear the word, 'moist'. That word gets under my skin.

We're now planting the seeds we got from a little pouch in a medium-sized pot.

"Alright, what's next?" Katelyn asks after pouring some dirt on top of the seeds. I'm reading the directions for planting the poinsettia.

"Water the dirt with plenty of water until moist. Then place pot in a damp area with minimal sunlight." I read out loud, cringing at that word again.

"Got it." She replies. She takes a watering can full of water and fills the pot with it.

"Is it nice and moist?" I ask, wincing and cringing.

"Yup." She replies.

"Good; let's put it in the laundry room; dark and damp there." I say.

"Alright," she says and she picks up the filled pot and we go inside the house to the laundry room, where she places the poinsettia pot on the floor near the washing machine.

We go back to the kitchen where all of our stuff is and we start a log of the plant's progression, with day one being the planting of the plant.

"Hey, I need to tell you something important." I tell Katelyn as we work on the log. She looks up from her paper.

"Can it wait?" She asks, looking unsure.

"I just said that it was important." I reply, giving her an expectant look. She sighs.

"What's up?" She asks. I take a deep breath.

"Just try not to freak out, ok?" I ask her.

"I'll try..." She says with a shrug and a confused look. I sigh again. Here goes nothing. I think.

"Katelyn, I like you..." I start. Wow, that sucked.

"Ok?" She says. Damn.

"No, I meant to say is that I like you, like you." I 'elaborate'.

"I don't understand, Jadelyn. What the hell are you saying?" She asks. I really need to be blunter in the future.

"I have a crush on you, damnit!" I practically shout, causing her to jump. There! I said it!

She just looks at me, surprised. Her mouth is open slightly, so I can see some of her teeth.

"You like me like that?" She asks, quietly.

"I wish I didn't." I say.

"No. It's cool, I like you too." Sure admits with a smile.

Huh?

"You what?" I ask, unsure if I heard her correctly.

"I like you, too." She repeats, smiling more.

"Is it...?"

"Yeah, I have a crush on you, Jadey." She confirms. Holy shit. I think as my jaw drops to the floor.

"How long?" I ask, weakly. This is just...wow.

"When I first met you. I had a feeling that you had a crush on me too, but I wasn't too sure; that's why I never acted upon it. I'm glad that wasn't the only one afraid." She explains. I feel a little better now.

"Same here; I was afraid of you reacting negatively to my crushing on you." I tell her.

"Well, I'm not reacting negatively." She says and we share a little laugh.

We look each other in the eye and just stared, mesmerized.

"Come here..." She whispers, leaning in a little. I lean in as well. I'm kinda acting on instinct here. I get closer to her and she leans in some more and our wet lips touch.

It was vastly different than when Riley force kissed me years ago. It was sweet and innocent. Her lips were soft and warm. It I is...perfect.

We stayed lip locked for several minutes. Five to be precise. New make out record. I run my hand through her silky hair.

We pull apart and look into each other's eyes again, both of us utterly speechless.

"Wow that was..." I start.

"Perfect." Katelyn finishes for me, with a big smile. I chuckle a little and lean my forehead on hers.

"Um, I don't want Riley to know." I whisper to her. She just nods slowly.

"I don't want her to know either; it'll be our little secret." She replies. I nod and kiss her again.

The next day, after school at the Newton residence.

Katelyn and I are at Riley's and Vinny's house, in Riley's room. Vinny is at a friend's house, so it's just us girls here. The three of us somehow fit on Riley's bed.

The three of us are doing homework when Riley excuses herself to use the rest room. Katelyn and I take the opportunity to make out some more. We do it until we hear her come back and we go back to working on our homework.

"I'm getting hungry; how about you girls?" Riley asks when she walks in.

"Yeah, I could go for a snack." Katelyn answers, looking at me.

"Yeah, why not?" I reply, nodding.

"Cool; can you help me Jadelyn?" Riley asks.

"Sure." I reply, getting up from the bed. I follow Riley downstairs into the kitchen to grab some food, when she turns around and grabs me and slams me against the fridge. "What the fuck, Rye?" I ask.

"You thought you could take her for yourself, didja?" She asks.

"Dafuq are you talken about?" I ask, pretending to be innocent. She must have saw Katelyn and I make out.

"I saw you two kissing each other and you were totally into it!" She whisper-shouts.

"Yeah, I like her, she likes me, and so we kiss." I say in a 'duh' voice, rolling my eyes.

"Well, I want her!" Riley snarls.

"Well too bad, Riley; I saw her first and she said she wanted me, too, so there!" I reply, forcing her hands off me. We stare each other down. Deep down, I'm thinking. This isn't what I wanted; I want to be friends with her again, but she's so stubborn.

"I will make you pay!" She growls. "Now get out of my house." She demands.

"Fine; I'll tell her something." I reply. I march upstairs, into Riley's room, still fuming. I clear my throat and take a few deep breaths and put on a blank face and walk in. Katelyn looks up from her homework.

"Hey." She says.

"Hey, I gotta; I forgot that I have a doctor's appointment today." I lie.

"Aw that sucks." She groans.

"I know; I'll see you tomorrow." I say before grabbing my stuff and giving her a peck on the lips. I go downstairs and pass Riley on my way out and we glare at each other again.

This will be a lot worse than before.

Chapter 34. Comment or review plz or whatever. DOUBLE UPDATE! WOOOOOOO! WOOOOO! WOOO! Now if you'll all excuse me, Team Fortress 2's Scream Fortress VI is calling! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!