Cody flung herself down, landing in Squib's lap.
"Long day?" He chuckled.
"Don't even get me started," she sighed, "I have so much homework!"
"Join the club," he smiled.
"What are you working on?"
"Well, I was doing my English, until you landed on it," he smirked.
"Oh, sorry," she blushed, laughing lightly. She sat herself up, now sitting beside her boyfriend on his bed.
"Well, at least it's Friday," Squib smiled, closing his books.
"Yeah, we're watching movies in the open tonight," Cody told him.
"Cool. And by 'we' you mean…? Because I'm guessing it's not just me and you," Squib said.
"Friday is friend night, Saturday is date night," Cody reminded him, smiling, "and by 'we' I mean Cameron, Tannis, Adena, and Nate."
"Nate?" Squib asked, sounding less than thrilled.
"Yes, Squib, Nate,"
"Oh,"
"Stop pouting," Cody joked, kissing him.
"Can you guys please get a room?" Cameron asked as he walked through the door.
"We're in it," Squib told him, "could you please learn to knock?"
Cameron rolled his eyes, "Whatever, I need a favor."
"What?" Squib asked, sighing.
"I'm sneaking out tonight, Tannis and Adena want me to help them swipe some stuff from the storage shed,"
"Why?" Asked Squib.
"Beats me, those girls are weird," Cameron shrugged, "but if Rick comes by, I need you to cover for me."
"Fine," Squib said, "now will you please leave?"
"Gone," Cameron said.
"Thank you,"
"No, thank you," Cameron said, leaving.
Squib sighed, "So, Nate, huh?"
"I know you don't like him," Cody sighed slightly, putting her head on his shoulder, "but he's my friend."
"I know," Squib absentmindedly ran his fingers through her hair as they spoke.
"And I'm not saying you're jealous," she continued, "but if you were, you would have no reason to be."
"I know," he said again, his lips showing just the faintest hint of a smile.
"So you'll come to movie night? And be nice?" She asked, lifting her head from his shoulder.
"Do I even have a choice?" He joked, grinning at her.
She smiled, "Thank you."
"No, thank you," he placed his hand behind her neck and guided her mouth to his.
Nate sighed quietly, yet angrily. He had been trying all night to get close to Cody, but it was nearly impossible, what with her curled up in Squib's lap and all. Merely looking at them made Nate want to be sick. She was seated on his lap, her legs curled up, with his hands around her waist and hers on top of his. Nate cringed at he saw her snuggle her head into the crook of his neck.
What did she see in him, anyways? Was it because he was in the A group? Because Nate was currently sitting high in group B, and with a little practice… And it's not like the two had anything in common! At least Nate had other interests outside of Tennis, he even knew a little about photography, but as far as he could tell, Squib's life revolved around the sport. All Nate had to do was find out how to get close to Cody, he knew he could then show her how perfect they were for each other.
Squib smiled as her felt Cody move her head to rest in the crook of his neck, and tilted his so it was resting on hers. He had stopped paying attention to the movie long ago, and was more focused with the feeling of Cody's fingers tracing random patterns on his hand.
Now, if only Nate would stop looking at her. Squib had refrained from glaring at the other boy, but he knew he had been staring at Cody all night. Squib had finally decided that he would have to have a talk with Cody about her new friend. Now, all he had to do was figure how to do it without sounding like a jerk…
"Hey, can we talk for a minute?" Squib asked, pulling away from Cody but quickly regretting it when he felt the cool air on his lips.
"Gee, that's comforting," she joked from her position on his lap. The two had retreated to his room after the movies, knowing Cameron would be gone for a while.
"It's about Nate," Squib started.
"Squib…" the redhead sighed.
"Look," Squib cut her off, placing his hands on either side of her face and guiding her gaze back to his, "I'm trying really hard here not to sound like the jealous boyfriend, because I don't wanna be that guy. But Nate was staring at you all night! And he asks for help with the easiest assignments and makes up the lamest excuses, just to get you alone…"
"Squib," this time it was her cutting him off, "I don't know what you think is going on with Nate and I, but there's nothing."
"I know there's nothing going on," he agreed, "but the guy's practically obsessed with you. Don't deny it, you know it's true."
Cody sighed and, to Squib's shock, responded, "I know. The guy has kind of a crush on me, and sometimes it's a little weird. But what do you want me to do? I mean, he's not that bad. Plus, he's new and has no friends…"
"Stop hanging out with him," Squib half-asked, half-suggested, "not as a group, I mean, you're right, we're the only friends he's got. But you two are always alone together. And I know you're gonna tell me not to, but I worry about you." He placed his hand on the back of her head, lacing his fingers in her hair.
"You shouldn't," the two smiled, "but you're right. From now on, no more hanging out alone."
"You don't hate me?" He asked.
"I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer," she smiled, placing her lips on his. A few seconds later he pulled away again, resting his forehead on hers.
"Thank you," he whispered. She simply smiled and continued kissing him.
"Hey Cody," Nate said as he approached her the next day. She was sitting in the open, working on some math.
"Uh, hi Nate. What's up?" She asked, hoping whatever it was it was quick.
"Want to head into town today? I know all your friends are at practice right now, so…" he suggested.
"Um, no thanks,"
"Why not?"
"Well, it's just, maybe we shouldn't hang out anymore. Alone, that is. I mean, I have a boyfriend and…"
"Squib put you up to this?" Nate asked.
"No, well, yes, kind of…" Cody paused to collect her thoughts, "he suggested it, but I agree."
"You're just going to let him run your life?" Nate asked, taking a seat beside her on the couch, awfully close.
"He's not running my life," Cody defended, not noticing when Nate slung his arm over the back of the couch near her shoulders.
"But he's telling you what to do?" Nate asked.
"No," Cody sighed, "we talked about it, and we both think it would be for the best if we don't hang out alone anymore."
"Cody," Nate said softly, "I care about you a lot. I don't want to lose you…"
"We don't have anything for you to lose, Nate," Cody said irritably.
"Not yet, but I mean, how long can this thing with Squib last?"
"You know what?" Cody asked, standing up, "I think I've heard enough. I've got to go, my boyfriend will be getting out of practice soon."
Squib walked down the hall in a good mood. Not only had practice ended early, but this also meant he had all day to spend with Cody. He headed toward the open, hoping to find her there. He stopped, frozen in the doorway, when he found her. There she was sitting on the couch. And there was Nate practically in her lap with his arm around her!
Squib couldn't move. She had promised him, promised him, that she would not see Nate anymore. She told him he had nothing to worry about. And yet, here she was.
"Cody," he heard Nate say quietly, "I care about you a lot, I don't want to lose you…"
Squib turned from the door, heading in the opposite direction; he had heard enough. His shock quickly turned into anger as he walked down the hall. How could she do this to him? Make him look like such a fool? He had thought he was in love with her! He had cared about her! But Squib didn't care anymore, as tears of both hurt and anger threatened to fall. As of that moment, Gary Furlong and Cody Myers were over.
I almost got drunk at school at 14
Where I almost made out with the homecoming queen
Who almost went on to be miss Texas
But lost to a slut with much bigger breast-es
I almost dropped out to move to LA
Where I was almost famous for almost a day
And I almost had you
But I guess that doesn't cut it
Almost loved you
I almost wished you would've loved me too
I almost held up a grocery store
Where I almost did 5 years and then 7 more
'Cause I almost got popped for a fight with a thug
'Cause he almost made off with a bunch of the drugs
That I almost got hooked on 'cause you ran away
And I wish I woulda had the nerve to ask you to stay
And I almost had you
But I guess that doesn't cut it
Almost had you
And I didn't even know it
You kept me guessing and now I'm destined
to spend my time missing you
I almost wish you would've loved me too
Here I go thinking about all the things I could've done
I'm gonna need a forklift 'cause all the baggage weighs a ton
I know we had our problems I can't remember one
I almost forgot to say something else
And if I cant fit it in I'll keep it all to myself
I almost wrote a song about you today
But I tore it all up and then I threw it away
And I almost had you
But I guess that doesn't cut it
Almost had you
And I didn't even know it
You kept me guessing and now I'm destined
to spend my time missing you
And I almost had you
And I almost had you
And I almost had you
I almost wish you would've loved me too
-Bowling For Soup 'Almost'
