Krystal's POV

They were ignoring me. I'm used to be on my own, and being a loner, but this wasn't fun. Yesterday, I listened to Jacks, Allysa, and Daniel talk after school. They didn't even notice me! I didn't try to get myself noticed, but I'd think they'd notice if I was sitting right there! Allysa, Daniel and Jacks are best friends. Jacks Honda, Anzu and Yukio are like siblings. They know everything about each other. Then there was me. Davan looks so stupid sitting there twiddling his thumbs. At least I wasn't the only one being left out. I got up and started playing basketball. I just needed to be by myself. Shoot. Hit the rim. Shoot. Missed by an inch. I never was very good.

"You need to keep your elbows in." Jacks told me, walking up.

"I don't need your help Jacks." I snapped. Shoot. Swish. "I hate it when people are right." I though irritably. "You're still standing behind me aren't you." I heard Jacks laugh behind me.

"Can you seriously not sing or dance?" She asked, catching my rebound, and shooting the ball herself. Shoot. Swish. It bounced right back to me.

"No, and I don't plan on learning any time soon." Shoot. Swish. I caught it and did a series of fancy dribbles, but ended up hitting my foot.

"I can't do that either." Jacks smiled. Jacks was very easy going, probably took after Joey.

"What exactly gave you the idea to perform on your balcony?" I asked shooting the ball. Swish. Jacks caught it gracefully, if anyone could actually catch a ball gracefully.

"Well, my dad got mad at me for making too much noise in my room, so I went out onto my balcony. People got mad at first, but this one cute kid asked me to sing the muffin man song. He was the cutest kid, so I sang his song for him. So now, everyone sends me paper airplanes onto my balcony with song suggestions or things they would like to see or hear, for instance I got one that said to have a dance off between me and Anzu. Boy did that make us look stupid. I made it a tradition to go out on my balcony and sing the weekend after the first week of school. I realized I couldn't do what everyone wanted to see slash hear. I needed some help, so I asked Anzu since her mom taught her to dance, and both of them together are much better than me-" Jacks's story was cut off by clapping from the "poor" girl Jacks ad beat up on the first day of school. I smirked as the girl had a brace on her wrist. Serves her right for picking a fight with my friend. Wait, friend?

"I applaud your story Jacks Ass. I knew you weren't all high and mighty." Something was different about her. I recognized it instantly. It was the same thing that happened to Dad sometimes.

"But how in the hell?" I wondered. "Jacks.. What the hell is going on?" I whispered urgently.

"Typical Assly, the reincarnate of all evil." Jacks growled back. "Why?"

"Because I'm not typical." Ashley said in a voice not her own. She jumped towards Jacks, hands outstretched and reaching for her throat.

"Jacks move!" I yelled at the exact same time, jumping forward and shoving Jacks out of the way. Jacks stumbled sideways and Ashley's hands clenched around my throat instead. I clenched my teeth, determined not to show any pain as my airway was being blocked. Just as my eyesight started swimming, I felt Jacks rip Ashley's hands away and did my best not to gasp for air as I massaged my throat gently, glaring at the girl under my eyelids.

"What the hell?!" Jacks yelled pushing Ashley against a wall. I grabbed her shirt, pulling Jacks away before she molded the girl into the wall. I did however allow Jacks to land a few well-placed slaps and punches before I dragged her away.

"Forget her." I said.

"But a little longer-"

"I little longer and her own mother wouldn't have recognized her." I did feel like explaining that the Ashley that had just attacked me was being controlled by an evil Yami; too complicated.

Jacks shook my hand off. "Yeah, well, she'd deserve it." She muttered. I smiled as she asked. "You okay?"

"Yeah." I said, rubbing my throat as the bell rang. "Yeah just a bruise."

"A lot of big bruises." Jacks said looking at my neck.

I shrugged. "It's nothing. Hey, ya wanna come over to my dad's after school?" Jacks' face fell.

"Oh, Krystal, I already made plans with with."

"Fine then." I interrupted angrily, not looking at her as I swung my backpack over one shoulder.

"We're going to the arcade, Ya wanna come."

"Don't like arcade games." I muttered. It was a lame excuse and Jacks knew it.

"Krystal, why really don't you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I told you. I don't like arcade games." I snapped. "Besides, I gotta get right home." I grabbed my CD player and turned it on, walking away quickly,

"Krystal, wait!" I didn't listen to Jacks, only kept walking to geometry. I didn't want to admit to myself that the excuse from Jacks hurt; that hot tears were starting to sting the edge of my eyes. "Well." I thought, "I guess that's what I get for being a loner." I just closed my eyes and listened to my song.

"Sometimes I feel like I am a drunk behind the wheel

The wheel of my stability however it may roll…"

I sat down in my seat just as the bell rang and immediately looked at the board. No notes, just some easy bookwork and an even easier worksheet.

"Give it a spin,

See if it can somehow find the end

Y'Know there's always more than one way to say

Exactly what you mean to say"

Someone tapped me on the shoulder about the minutes into the period when I was already done with all the work. We'd just finished going over the sheet of notes for the next chapter, and most people were only starting the bookwork. I, however, had gotten about half of it done before we went over the sheet. "Can I borrow your book?"

I looked up to see the hottest, most gorgeous male my age I had ever seen.

"Was I out of my head?

Was I out of my mind?

How could I have ever been so blind?

I was waitn' for an indication

It was hard to find…"

He looked to be only a little taller than my 5'2" and solidly though not bulkily built. Just enough muscle to attract an eye, but not enough to overshadow his other features. His dirty-blond/ light brown hair offset a plain black tee shirt, and casual hands were shoved into pockets of apparently much-worn jeans.

"S-sorry?" 'Stuttering. Why was I stuttering? God, get it together!' I screamed to myself. "I- didn't hear what you said."

Deep gray eyes flecked with black, blue and green sparkled as he smiled. "You're done, right? Can I borrow your book?"

"Yeah." I said, handing it back to him, nearly dropping it because I was shaking so badly.

He caught my book and smiled again. "Thanks… say what's your name again?"

"Krystal. What about you?"

The ever-present smile flashed again. "Arlen." He said, heading back to his table. "Thank for the book."

I sat back in my chair, staring at the board without seeing what was on it. "Well," I thought, "I guess even tomboys like Jacks and me can get crushes."

"Don't matter what I say

Only what I do

I never mean to do bad things to you

So quiet, but I finally spoke up

If you're sad, then it's time you spoke up too"

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Weirdo: :P