Chris was sitting in the diner, listening to Teddy and Vern bullshit, occasionally dropping in a word or two.

"So you gotta finesse her," Teddy was telling Vern. "Let her think you're calm, cool and collected...because you certainly aren't."

"Okay, so calm, cool, and collected," Vern folded his arms, but knocked over a saltshaker.

"Aw, Christ," Teddy picked up the shaker, "We're gonna have to work on that."

"Are you trying to give him love advice?" Chris asked.

Teddy nodded, "Yes, very good advice."

"Oh of course, because you have ladies all over you, don't you Teddy? Wait..." Chris looks around for Teddy's 'ladies', "But where...hmmm."

"Shut up," Teddy snapped, and Vern grinned.

"Listen Verno," Chris said, "If you really like a girl, be yourself. If she doesn't like you for who you are, then she's not worth it."

"But she IS worth it," Vern mumbled.

"Who's this skirt that's got you all worked up?" Teddy asked after taking a swig from his root beer bottle.

"Nobody," Vern blushed.

"Come on, tell us!" Teddy elbowed Vern in the ribs.

"No," Vern said firmly.

"Is it Nora Dennis?" Chris asked.

"Is it that girl that sat behind us in bio last year?" Teddy asked.

"No, it's not them," Vern said, "Can we change the subject?"

"Lisa Smith?"

"Theresa Gibbs?"

"Jena Barnes?"

"No!" Vern yelled. Chris and Teddy both stared at him, and Vern blushed redder. "It's not them either," he said quietly.

"Just tell us before we hurt you," Teddy grinned.

"Lrmmrmrmmm," Vern mumbled.

"Oh, yes Mrrrmmrrrr," Teddy said sarcastically, "I dated her last year. Big slut."

"Lorraine Duncan," Vern whispered.

"LORRAI-" Vern clamped his hand over Teddy's surprised yell.

"That's what I was trying to AVOID," Vern said. Chris just shook his head and laughed.

"Sorry," Teddy shrugged. "But Lorraine Duncan, man, isn't she a bit...out of your league?"

"I know," Vern mumbled, "But I can't shake it."

"If you really like a girl, you have to tell her how you feel," Chris said. "You'll never know what could be unless you tell her. Hell, you have a chance. Everyone has a chance. She's nice, so I doubt she'd be a bitch about it if she didn't like you."

Just then, Gordie and Randi entered the diner.

"Hey Chris, scooch over," Randi ordered. "What's up?"

"Vern wants to ask out Lorraine Duncan," Teddy said simply.

"I don't know if I should...what if she doesn't like me?" Vern sighed, "Wait, Randi, you're friends with her, right?"

Randi nodded, and the other guys looked surprised, "We've uh, bonded...and what not."

"Do you think she'd ever go for a guy like me?" Vern asked sadly.

Randi used all the fiber in her being to restrain from letting loose a hysterical bout of laughter, "Oh...Oh I think she might."

"Isn't that her?" Gordie pointed behind the counter, "Go ask her."

"She looks busy," Vern said.

Actually, Lorraine was standing absent-mindedly wiping the counter off.

"Go now," Randi urged. Teddy went as far as to push Vern out of the booth. Vern brushed himself off, and walked over to the counter. The few feet felt like it took ages to walk across.

"Um...Lorraine?" Vern said, his voice cracking.

Lorraine put the plate she was carrying safely on the table, "H-H-Hi...Vern," she stammered, "What c-can I g-get you?"

"Oh, nothing, well...I was just a, wondering if, um, you'd...go out on a date.... with me? It'sokayifyoudon'twantto," he rushed his last sentence quickly, almost trying to dismiss his actions if she rejected him.

All the color drained from Lorraine's face, "You...want to take...me...out?"

Vern nodded.

"Oh, absolutely yes, of course, I mean, I'd love to, I can't believe-yes, I-" Lorraine grinned, "Yes."

"Boss," Vern smiled, "Uh, you wanna like, meet here at like, seven tomorrow?"

"Yeah, tomorrow," Lorraine laughed nervously.

"Well," Vern said, "See you then."

"Yeah, see ya," Lorraine laughed nervously. Vern went back to the table, and sat down in a daze. Lorraine went back into the kitchen.

"She said yes," Vern grinned.

"Way to go!" Teddy clapped him on the back.

"Allright Vern!" Chris said.

"Way to score!"

"Good job!"

There was a sudden high-pitched girlish squeal that came from the kitchen. Vern's grin grew wider, if that was even possible. "It was so weird," he told them, "She got all nervous and stuff. Around me! And she was all 'yes' and stuff, and I was all smooth, and it was awesome. Guys," he said, as if coming to a sudden realization, "I'm the hottest guy on the planet."

"I wouldn't go that far," Gordie said.

"Yeah," Randi added, "We all know that Chris is the hottest guy on the planet."

Everyone stared at her.

"Guys...I'm kidding," she laughed.

"No you're not," Chris said simply.

"Um...actually," Gordie interrupted, "the reason we came over here is to tell you guys that Randi and I are uh...going out."

Chris grinned. "Cool. Teddy?"

Teddy grumbled and pulled two quarters out of his jeans pocket. "There's your money Chambers."

Chris happily put the quarters in his own pocket. "What?" he asked innocently. "I bet Teddy fifty cents that you guys would start going out soon."

"How did you...?" Randi didn't quite know how to finish her sentence.

"I see all..." Chris grinned knowingly.

No one questioned this at all.