Disclaimer: Do I HAVE to put this on every chapter? Does anyone actually think I'm Louis Sachar? If you do, I suggest you get professional help.

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Chapter 5

'Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not really after you.'--Unknown

Ricky's lunch was interrupted by a knock on the door. He peeked out of the window and groaned when he saw Nora standing in front of the door, looking as though she would rather be anywhere else. Didn't she have anything else to do? Of course, she had said in her letter that she was... infatuated with him. It was quite a scary thought, but it did explain some things. He ran up to his room and shut the door.

By the time she had discovered the doorbell, he had discovered earplugs, and would have been able to avoid her, had not his mother answered the door. His mother opened the door of his room and told him there was a girl to see him.

"I'm sick, mom," he told her, hiding under the covers of his bed. He had dived into bed when he heard her opening the door.

"Of course you are," she said, disbelieving. "What should I tell her?"

"That I'm sick."

"Ricky, be polite and act your age. I can't believe you're afraid of girls!"

"I'm not afraid of girls," he said, his ego in serious need of love and attention. "I just don't want to see this girl."

His mother gave him 'a look'. It didn't take long before the guilt set in.

"Alright, alright, I'll go talk to her..." he grumbled, getting out of bed and walking to the door. His mother smiled and left his sight.

"Hello," he said reluctantly. Nora mumbled something at the ground.

"Well, what are you here for?" he snapped. Nora mumbled something, and then repeated herself, just a bit louder.

"I'm here because I wanted to clear something up. You see, well, I kind of said I... had an obsession with you--"

"You never said that."

"Well, I, um..." she put her hands together, took them apart, and put them together again as though it was the most entertaining thing in the universe. "That's not what I meant. I meant that I don't mind thinking about you--not that I do. I mean, well, I do, but I don't um..." she trailed off, and looked up. "You... uh... know what I mean."

Ricky crossed his arms. "Isn't your mother worried that you're 'spending your free time with me'?"

"Well, uh, she doesn't... know..." she blinked. "Um... why do you care?"

"No reason."

"Ah..." she chewed her lip and Ricky suddenly realized that a book was nowhere in sight. "Um... you sure?"

He narrowed his eyes and she took a few steps backwards. "I know why she doesn't want you to be around me."

"Uh... yeah. I do, too..." she raised an eyebrow. "You are male..."

He forced a laugh. A very fake laugh. "You know."

"Actually... I don't."

"It's because I'm insane." There. He had said it. Why he had used the word 'insane' instead of 'crazy' he didn't know. He had always liked the sound of 'crazy' much more.

Nora opened and closed her mouth several times before saying, "Um... I really don't believe you are."

"Well, I am," he shrugged as if it was nothing, but he could feel his stomach twisting in a tight knot. Why was he telling her this, anyway? "I've got acute paranoia."

"So?" She was smiling, as though she knew something he didn't. "At least you're not lactose intolerant and allergic to peanuts and cats." At exactly that moment, Cat took the opportunity to run past Ricky rub against Nora's leg. She sneezed and her eyes began to water almost immediately. Ricky picked up Cat and set her down far away from the girl standing in the doorway. He sat down on the steps and motioned for Nora to do the same.

"People don't make fun of you because you have some allergies. There's nothing wrong with you." He was staring blankly ahead, not looking at her. She'd probably be all emotional and that sort of crap. Girls did that.

"Nothing wrong with me?" He could imagine she was rolling her eyes. Not typical girl behaviour. "Have you ever had Rice Krispies with soy milk?" He shook his head. "I've never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich in my life. Oh, and I forgot. I'm atychiphobic. I have a fear of failure. I almost starved myself once because I got 6/10 on a spelling test. In second grade. And you think there's nothing wrong with me?"
He could only think of one thing to say. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she sighed. "But there's nothing wrong with you. So you're a little paranoid. Who cares?" He looked at her.

"Lots of people."

"Well, then they have a problem with themselves. Most people who insult others feel insecure themselves and put someone else down to make themselves feel better." She smiled reassuringly, although he wasn't too sure he understood what she had just said.

"Uh... thanks. I think."

"You're welcome," she said. "So, are we friends?"

He stared at her, but then nodded. "Sure, why not."

"Well, that's all I had to say. I've got to go now, so bye." She got up, waved, and left. He got up, locked the door, and went back to his room.

Wait... what had just happened? He replayed the scene in his head and, when he had figured it out, he wondered why he had just told her what he had never told anyone. She was a girl, for heaven's sake!

Hey... maybe you like her...

He quickly told that voice to shut up. After all, it was just an annoying voice. What did it know?

As he flopped down on his bed, now mentally exhausted, he decided that it knew quite a lot.