Author's Note: I'm kind of experimenting at this point…so don't hate me!

Disclaimer: I still don't own FOP, amazingly enough.

Overlooked

Chapter One: Icing Over a Secret Pain

He never noticed her. Sure, you had to realize Trixie took up three quarters of his time and Tootie the other quarter, but even so…He didn't even know she existed. All she was to him was Trixie's pesky, freaky cheerleading friend.

But she could be so much more…if only he looked at her. She'd die for one of his glances…those iridescent blue pools, shimmering in the delicate sunlight. Whenever he looked at her, everything just stopped. The world was at a standstill- and she didn't care.

If only those gazes could be reserved for her…if only he could be reserved for her. She was the overlooked, the pathetic, and the butt of every joke. Whenever people saw her, they didn't see her potential, only what she wasn't.

Timmy saw the same thing; he didn't have to tell her. She could tell in the way his eyes slid over her, to her damned attractive friend. If there was a world without Trixie, to him, there wasn't a place for him. His place was with her.

Just like every other guy in this goddamn school. All of them worshipped the ground Trixie walked on, leaving Veronica in the dust. None of these guys spared a single glance her way, but she didn't care. She just wanted him to see her as she truly was.

But the fact remained- if no one else could see it, why should he? She wasn't annoying like Tootie or pretty like Trixie; she wasn't even a blip on his radar. For all the attention he gave her, she might as well not exist. However, if she planned things right that would all change soon.

-

Trixie Tang pouted cutely, puckering lips as if for a kiss in front of the popular girl's bathroom. Even though they were in Dimmsdale Junior High, nothing had changed. The petite, popular, and pretty cheerleader remained as vain as ever.

Forever her accomplice, trailing in her shadow, Veronica Masters tapped her foot impatiently. Every morning, it was the same procedure. She'd wait for her limousine to pick her up, ride in the back with her blabbing about fashion, her busy schedule, or how much she hated her father (most of the time, it was all three). Then, they'd immediately visit the bathroom for Trixie to blather on again and fix her makeup for the first time today.

To say she was weary of the routine was an understatement. When she was younger, she used to idolize Trixie. She thought if she became her, she'd be more noticed, more accepted, and have Timmy finally notice her. However, after years of trying, she realized Trixie was Trixie and pretending to be her wasn't going to help.

And, slowly, she began to hate her. She resented how easily she made boys' heads spin in her direction, how they adored her, serving her without question. In this school, she reigned as the queen and Veronica knelt before her as a servant. By now, she was sincerely and utterly sick of it.

But did Trixie recognize her loathing? Of course not. She didn't notice the way all her lipsticks, when she 'borrowed' them, came back completely blunt. Nor did she notice the way she subtly insulted her, because, of course, Trixie was above insults. No one would dare insult her because everyone loved her.

Hmph, everyone. Then again, with her current status, she was barely anyone. Trixie was the head of the pyramid, the only girl in the entire grade worth knowing, and she was the one people shoved past to get to their class on time. Their aggression left her queasy…and their apathy left her cold.

If only she weren't in Trixie's shadow, then Timmy would notice her. She'd finally have a shot at him, if he could see her as she truly was. But first, she'd have to bite the hand that fed her, which, after all this time, she was more than glad to.

"Did you see the outfit she was wearing today?" Trixie crooned, fixing her mascara.

Privately, Veronica cared little of the world of fashion and competition. They were things for Trixie and there they would remain. After all, they suited her perfectly, the shallow little twit that she was.

This wasn't the only reason she hated her, of course not. It was easily to blame the world she'd grown up in and embraced, but Veronica knew the well ran deeper than that. In many ways, she wondered if she'd ever been friends with her, or if she'd just been pretending all this time.

And if she was, then her contempt extended to herself as well. How could she have permitted herself to be caught in this web? She wasn't a celebrity like Trixie, so what incentive did she have to remain there? Dare she say she actually cared about her best friend's feelings? Hmph, a bold faced lie.

At least she knew she wasn't alone in her loathing. Then again, the girls who shared it were at the bottom of the chain and were barely noticed by the losers, much less the popular kids. They struggled as hard as they could, but could not make their way up.

Here was the only instance where she could say she liked Tootie. Unlike the other girls, she wasn't trying to impress the popular girls. She could care less about being popular.

Conversely, all she cared about was the boy Veronica desperately clamored for secretly. Therefore, she was an enemy, one to take arms against. Small consolation that Timmy showed no signs of liking her, very small.

Grand, and now she'd lost the thread of her conversation. Not that it mattered, since she was certain it was about the same things, but when she didn't tune her out, if she was asked a question, she could answer it. Answering Trixie's questions were always more important than answering a teacher. With a teacher, you got a grade, so what? But with Trixie, it could determine many things, like whether or not she blabbed on your biggest secrets.

That clinched why she was afraid to leave her, essentially. If she had so little trust in her, how could Trixie have any in her? She imagined breaking it off…and then spend the rest of her school life being trashed at every corner. It was a rather grim prospect.

Like a little puppet, she continued to nod politely. Most of the queries Trixie made were simply 'yes or no' and easy to fake. If she missed one, unless it was 'major', the Asian girl wouldn't bat an eye. Every time she got away with that, she mentally sighed in relief. Lies were difficult to uphold.

She loathed her position…detested it. At the moment, she couldn't think of any perks, other than the obvious, the one Timmy would kill for. Timmy…

Oftentimes, randomly, she found her thoughts drifting towards him. Him and his cute little pink hat, his long brown tresses tumbling through her fingers…the cute way he smiled…

Then she'd tell herself to get a grip, that he wasn't hers. Her obsession was ridiculous sometimes. It caught her at the most inconvenient times…

Long ago, she'd learned to tune her out. Instead, she fixed her makeup, applying eyeliner. Maybe if she did it just right, he'd finally notice her. It was worth a shot, wasn't it?

Sighing heavily, she thought, And somehow, this makeup will magically make me prettier than Trixie. Get real, Masters.

"So…" Trixie mused, fishing about for another topic. Unbeknownst to her towheaded friend, she could easily tell when she was tuning her out. It irked her at times, but she understood their interests might be different. Besides, Ver was a killer artist. The way she rendered things, it was truly breathtaking.

"What do you think of Timmy Turner?" She continued, putting the finishing touches on her makeup. It was just as well, anyway, before Veronica died of boredom. That girl just didn't know how to have fun, she swore.

Veronica, in the process of finishing her eyeliner, dropped it in shock. Had she read her thoughts? Oh, dear, she hoped not. That was the last thing she needed, for Trixie to know exactly what she thought of her.

As soon as the thought came, she quickly dispersed it. There was no way she could read her mind, same as there were no such things as fairy godparents. Why was she being so foolish?

Her mouth fell agape and she couldn't help but gawk. Since when did they discuss Timmy? Sure, he might be the only thing she really gave any extensive thought to, but that didn't mean she was stalking him like Tootie! Oh, wait, that wasn't the question.

Heat spread across her face. Any time anyone brought him up, whether in passing or no, she blushed uncontrollably. Usually, she could hide her face behind something, preferably a sketchbook, but now, nothing was in sight. Trixie could doubtlessly see her expression…and gauge for herself its meaning.

Why randomly bring him up, though? Unless…dare she think it? Could Trixie possibly think of moving in on her territory? Timmy was hers! Well, not in a matter of trademark or even in a matter of speaking, but hers nonetheless. Sure, she hadn't branded her name on him (yet), but there was still time for that later.

She certainly hoped it wasn't the lattermost idea. If it was, she'd better suit up for battle. Hmm, a three way fight between Trixie, Tootie, and herself…she was going down…

It'd be ironic, though, if Trixie did in fact fall for him. He'd chased after her so ardently, she'd have to be heartless and callous to shove him aside (both traits she'd prayed she'd had). For all of elementary school and halfway through middle school he'd trailed her…could it be now that she allowed herself to be caught?

A wicked gleam entered Trixie's eyes and she smirked happily. Well, what do you know? She does have a thing for him…but what to do about it? Should I exploit it? Or should I help her out and try to fix her up?

"I…I hate his guts!" Veronica lied, recalling her many cries that her 'love for him burned with the intensity of a thousand suns'. Of course, any time she was asked, she'd staunchly deny it. She wasn't about to let people know she was as much a freak about Timmy as four eyes.

C'mon, believe me and let it go already. I don't care who you think I have a crush, just let it slide! Yeesh…Veronica thought desperately, hoping she'd change the subject. No such luck occurred.

"Are you sure?" Trixie remarked dryly. 'Cuz someone here is lying and it sure as heck isn't me…considering I never said anything about how I felt about him anyway.

"Positive!" Veronica retorted, growing steadily redder.

"We'll see about that," She replied, putting her makeup away and walking out.

The towheaded girl stared blankly ahead and realized, for the first time in her life, her cover could be blown.