The alarm went off and Gordie grabbed his head in pain. He had a terrible headache. He reached for the alarm and shut it off, then tentatively opened his eyes, which he noticed were almost sealed together with sleep. Why did he have such a bad headache? He was sitting there picking the sleep out of his eyes when he remembered the fight he had had with Chris the night before and crying himself to sleep that night. Slowly the fog in his brain started to clear and he remembered why he had fought with Chris, as well as what had been said by both during the fight. Thought you were my friend… I fucking hate you…they were all right…just like the rest. Gordie felt the anger bubbling up inside his stomach again. What was Chris' problem? Why did he think he had the right to decide who Gordie got to date? And what was with the way he tried to say that Haley had been hitting on him? How conceited could a guy get? Was it really that hard for Chris to imagine a girl liking Gordie more than him? Gordie knew he wasn't exactly gorgeous, but Chris was supposed to be the one who told him that girls looked for more than that. Instead, he was telling him that there was no fucking way that a girl would actually like him. That was probably what hurt the most, that his best friend in the world thought so little of him that he couldn't imagine someone being attracted to him! So much for being best friends, Gordie didn't need a friend like that. Whatever! Haley did like Gordie! Fuck Chris! He could learn his fucking Latin by himself. Gordie didn't need him for shit!

With these wonderful and encouraging thoughts, Gordie got up and went to school.

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Gordie was walking down the hall to his locker when he saw Haley. He immediately went up to her gently pushed her up against a locker and kissed her long and hard.

"What was that for?" a surprised Haley asked a little breathlessly.

"Just for being you gorgeous. Did you miss me?" Gordie asked a little to smoothly as he leaned against the locker.

"You bet I did." Haley said, raising her eyebrows as she ran a finger down his chest. Liking this new Gordie.

"What do you say we…do something after school?" Gordie asked suggestively.

"Depends on how you define something." Haley said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"I think you know" Gordie suggested.

"Why don't you tell me. Just to clear up any misunderstandings" Haley said as she leaned into Gordie, who's hand was now on her waist.

Gordie leaned down a little to whisper something inaudible in her ear.

"Gordie! Aren't you a naughty boy!" Haley exclaimed excitedly.

"Don't you know it" Gordie responded.

"Well I guess I'll just have to think of a way to punish you." Haley said, running her hand down his arm. She looked over his shoulder at Chris, who had been there the entire time and, seeing his hurt expression and thinking it was for her, grabbed Gordie head and kissed him fiercely. When she came up for air, Chris was gone. She sighed heavily.

"I know, those kisses just take your breath away don't they?" Gordie asked a little smugly.

"Oh yeah…completely." Haley said, rolling her eyes.

"Well listen, I have to get to class okay? I'll see you at lunch baby." Gordie said then left.

"Yeah, see ya" Haley said, wiping her mouth as she walked away in search of Vern.

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Chris sat on the floor in one of the bathroom stalls with his knees pulled close to his body. For a minute there he had really thought he was going to throw up. Seeing Gordie kissing Haley and flirting with her had been like salt in a fresh wound. It was the final confirmation that he needed. Gordie would never act like that with him. Not that it mattered, he would probably never talk to him again. The thought made Chris want to scream. He wouldn't survive without Gordie. Chris wasn't stupid, he knew he could never be with Gordie the way he wanted to, but he had never imagined the possibility of not having his friendship. The thought made Chris feel frantic. What would he do? He and Gordie had never fought before. What do you do when the one person you count on to make you laugh is the one making you cry? Chris heard the warning bell ring and fought for composure. He ran his fingers through his hair, left the stall, went to a sink, washed his face, dried it, and was about to leave when he saw Gordie in the mirror staring at him from behind.

"Gordie" Chris chocked out.

Gordie looked at him for another minute or so, torn between comforting his friend and punching him. He settled for giving him a dirty look and leaving.

"Gordie! Come back!" Chris shouted to the closing door, almost glad he didn't listen. What would he say?

Chris walked into class and saw two empty seats, one next to Gordie, and one across the room. Chris didn't know what to do, part of him wanted to sit next to Gordie because it hoped they could try to work something out. The other, more sensible part, wanted to avoid the pain of rejection again and sit in the other seat. Chris ended up sitting in the seat across the room. The "bravery" he had with his father disappeared around Gordie. As soon as he sat down though, he regretted his decision. Now he could sit and stare at Gordie the whole class without his being aware of it. Talk about torture.

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Chris was miserable all day. He couldn't think of anything but that look Gordie had given him in he mirror. He decided that he would try to talk to Gordie at lunch. But when he got there, Gordie was surrounded by Haley's friends, looking very uncomfortable, obviously forfeiting an enjoyable lunch in order to avoid Chris. Well he wasn't going to make it easy for him.

"Hey Gordie, can I talk to you?" Chris asked

Gordie simply pretended that he didn't hear him.

"What did you say honey? This lunchroom's really noisy, but what can you expect? There are a lot of obnoxious people at this school." Gordie said to Haley.

"I said that I'm gonna go to the bathroom, okay?" Haley answered.

When she left Chris sat down in the her vacant seat, oblivious to the reactions of all the girls around him.

"Gordie, I'm not leaving until you talk to me, and I think you would prefer we have this conversation while Haley's not here, so to make it easier on everyone involved and come on" Chris insisted.

"Don't know why I'm surprised. This is just like you. You see something you want, and you take it, doesn't matter how it will affect anyone else, they don't matter do they? Well, come on Chamber, lets go." Gordie said as he got up and walked a little away from everyone else.

"Gordie, I want you to know that I never meant to hurt you" Chris began.

"Fuck you" Gordie responded in a ironically sweet voice.

"No, sincerely, Gordo! I was telling the truth!" Chris said as he laid his hand on Gordie's shoulder.

"Don't fucking touch me!" Gordie said, looking at Chris like he was some disgusting bug.

"I just didn't want to see you get hurt Gordie. You're my best friend, I was just trying to watch out for you." Chris said as his hand was shaken of violently by Gordie.

"Well don't do my any more favors okay? Apparently she's not the one I need protection from. I know its impossible to imagine someone being attracted to someone as disgusting as me, but she is, so just leave us alone." Gordie said harshly, glaring at Chris.

"Gordie, I'm sorry!" Chris shouted desperately as Gordie walked away.

"Go away! Don't look at me like that. I have faith in you, I'm sure someone as amazingly irresistible as you can find something to do." Gordie said sarcastically.

"Gordie" Chris repeated weakly as Gordie turned around.

"Hey, if you get bored, you can always steal something!" Gordie said, not even bothering to turn around.

Chris stood in that spot in shock staring into space until the bell dismissing lunch rang, wondering if Gordie was ever going to forgive him.