Sitting there atop the roof of her house, Faye could see the drive in perfectly. Though she couldn't hear it, she knew the movie word for word. So many nights had she crawled up here to escape and had watched the movie, losing herself completely. A blanket was drawn around her shoulders and she popped licorice in her mouth as she muttered the movie's lines under her breath.

The wind gently blew her hair and she sighed. Her mother had really ticked her off and for some reason; she couldn't stop thinking about Chris. She really did like him, she could admit that freely now to herself. She wouldn't tell anyone else, she had decided that. One thing Faye couldn't stand was rejection. She knew if somehow Chris found out, she would be rejected and she didn't want that, not at all. So she was content on forever thinking about him and never acting on her wishes.

She didn't expect anything more out of her relationship with Chris. Last year, she knew how he had fallen for Anne, and Faye wasn't anything in comparison. Chris, it seemed, went for the petite, sweet, gentle girl more so than the sarcastic, headstrong and stubborn one. She wasn't about to change herself just to sweep Chris off his feet; she was staying the way she was. Sooner or later she was bound to find someone who liked her for her. But as much as she told herself she would never be with Chris, her heart led her in that direction.

Just as Faye was really losing herself into the movie and forgetting about her dilemma, she heard a cough and looked over her shoulder. Speak of the devil, she thought, as Chris stood there, trying to balance himself on the roof. She smiled at him and he grinned back.

"Hey there," she said, motioning for him to come over to her. "Come here. What are you doing here?"

Chris grinned sheepishly and steadily walked over to her and sat down. "I came here looking for you and one of your brothers told me I could find you up here."

Faye frowned. "I didn't think anyone knew I was up here."

Chris laughed and pointed to the screen. "Come up here often?"

Faye looked over to the movie and sighed, biting into a licorice. "I can't hear the movie. But I like watching it. Besides, I have it memorized...they play this one so much."

Chris chuckled. "That's interesting."

Faye tucked a piece of her hair behind her ears and looked over at him. "Want one?

She offered him a licorice strand but he shook his head.

"No thanks. I hate that stuff." Faye scoffed and looked disbelievingly at him.

"Say what?! How can you? It's God's most wonderful creation. I'm addicted to it."

Chris made a face. "It's too dull."

Shrugging, Faye took another bite. "So what brings you to these sides of the tracks?"

Chris sighed and looked up at the movie. The lights from the screen reflected upon him, making him look somehow even more angelic than usual. It was all Faye could do from kissing him right then and there.

"My family was getting to me," he said. "So I decided to pay you a visit."

Faye smirked. "How thoughtful of you."

Chris rolled his eyes. "I was bored and had nothing better to do."

Faye smacked him with her licorice strand and he yelped when it scraped his nose. He rubbed it and laughing, Faye cooed.

"Aww, I'm sorry." She giggled as he scrunched his nose, which was red from the hit. Chris looked at her with questioning eyes. He really did like her, but was he ready to admit his feelings for another girl? Faye was great, she really was, and an awesome friend. But Anne was still on his mind and it made him crazy.

Faye looked back to the movie and muttered the lines. "Love could never be so beautiful as right here with you," she said, just as the female character on the screen said them, falling into the arms of her loved one. Chris laughed. "Hey, I like this movie!" Faye defended. "But it's a real tear jerker."

"I don't like these kinds of movies," Chris said. "How the girl is always so vulnerable and the less dominate one. It's not true."

Faye arched an eyebrow as she bit into another licorice strand. "Oh?"

Chris nodded. "Sure. I mean most guys I know are *whipped* by their girls. Whipped, man."

Faye laughed. "You're right. Gordie is totally whipped by Grace."

"Hell yeah," Chris agreed. "But man, I've never seen Gordo so happy before. The dude is always so giddy and shit."

Faye grimaced at how Chris persistently called her 'man' like she was on of the guys. A slight turn off. Was that all he thought of her? Was she just another guy for him to joke around with? She didn't know that Chris was actually treating her like one of the guys because he didn't want to get his heart broken, because in fact he did like her, but to Faye it was a sign. A sign that he would never look at her the way he did with Anne.

She was beginning to feel uncomfortable and Chris felt her tense up. Faye didn't know why but at that moment she wasn't sure what to think of the boy sitting beside her. She couldn't help but be attracted to Chris. But really, who couldn't? She was surprised not every girl in Castle Rock was falling for him left and right. He was so amazing, and she was so thankful to actually be with him that night.

They watched the rest of the movie, occasionally talking and joking around. When the movie ended, Faye looked to Chris and grinned.

"Well, I better be going," Chris said, beginning to stand up. Faye looked over at him and pulled her blanket closer to her.

"You can come in for a minute if you want," Faye said. "But don't walk home. It's late and dark. I'll have one of my brothers' drive you home."

Chris smirked. "I'm a big boy; I can walk home by myself."

Faye rolled her eyes. "I know, but still. Come on, I'll ask Gabe."

Chris shrugged. "I'll just walk home."

Faye frowned. "What's wrong Chris? You and Gabe are cool."

Chris shook his head. "It's not that. It's just...listen, I'm gonna walk home. I'll see you tomorrow in school, Faye."

With that, Chris climbed off of her roof and left, leaving Faye to feel even more sad and lonely than before.

* * *

Chris watched Faye try to think of the answer to Mr. Greener's question. She looked like she was really thinking hard. He grinned when he saw her lightly touch her tongue to her lip in deep thought. She squinted her eyes and looked at Mr. Greener.

"Ms. Berry," Mr. Greener sighed. "What are you doing? Stop that ridiculous face and answer the conflabbat question!"

The class snickered and Faye blushed. "Uh-two fourths?"

Mr. Greener sighed in exasperation. "Now, was that so hard? It took you nearly two minutes to answer that question."

Faye shrugged. "Sorry Mr. G."

Mr. Greener shook his head and continued on with his class. Chris, who was sitting two seats in back of Faye, watched as she laughed about something that Dan Quantan had said, sitting next to her. Chris felt a pang of jealousy. It had been two weeks since he had been on her roof, and their relationship had escalated to nothing. He knew it was partly his fault; she never made a move or gave any sign that he liked her. Faye, in return, had often dropped hints but have them blown off by Chris, she gave up and decided to just forget about the whole thing. It upset Chris to know that Dan was making her laugh. Chris loved making Faye laugh, it was special to him. But his stupid male ego had got in the way and he felt Faye slowly slipping from him. He didn't blame her. He was sick of himself. Lately he had been acting as Faye was nothing special, just another friend. When really, the only reason he went to school was to see her.

Dan smiled at Faye and she blushed in return. Now, Chris was beginning to become angry. He watched as Dan leaned across and whispered something in her ear, which made her smirk. She nodded her head and Dan grinned. Great, Chris thought.

"Somebody's jealous," Gordie hissed from his seat. Chris turned and rolled his eyes at Gordie.

"Whatever, I am not jealous."

"You are too jealous."

"Screw you, am not."

Gordie shrugged. "Whatever man. But don't come crying to me when Faye doesn't give you the time of day."

Chris glared at Gordie and glanced back to Faye. She was now scribbling away on her notebook and Chris knew if he didn't act soon it was too late. He decided that at lunch that day, he was going to make his move.

Whatever move that was going to be, he had no idea. But he knew if he waited any longer, it was going to be too late.

* * * Alright, ya'll. My week is going to be really hectic, so I'm thinking less updates. I have play practice every day, plus swimming practice every day, plus homework, which sucks, plus work. So I doubt I'll have anytime to be writing fanfiction. You might not get an update for a bit longer than usual, but don't worry and don't stop reading. I'm planning to continue this story. :)

Thanks for all the reviews. PS- StormShadow21: If we did cowrite something, it would definitely be a Chris romance!! Hehehe.

Love and Strawberries, The Good Girl

**The darker the berry the sweeter the juice!!**

....sorry Bernie Mac moment.