Shoutouts!

Unknown-Dreams: My only reviewer for chapter 3! How sad...

Slighlty: It's 'cause this story sucks.

Nuh-UH. ((sobs)) Be nice! Dude, Burger King is awesome!

January 4

"Hey, Davvy?" Dodger said, casually, setting her lunch down.

"Hmmm?" Davvy relied through a mouthful of peanut butter and jelly.

"Do you think he's cute?" she asked, nodding at the table of footballers.

"Do I think who's cute?"

"Cowboy."

Davvy coughed and spluttered, choking on his milk. "Cowboy? As in, Jack Kelly?" She nodded. "Ah, NO!" He looked at her, suspiciously. "Do you?"

"Yeah, he's pretty cute."

"Dude, he's an asshole! And he's dating Sarah!" At this, Dodger wrinkled her nose.

"Yeah, you're right. He is an asshole. But he's still cute." Davvy cocked his head to one side and scrutinized Cowboy.

"I guess he's kinda' cute, but he's still a jerk." She shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess so." He finished his sandwich and stood up. Suddenly, he paled, and sat down abruptly.

"Denton's class is next," he said, quietly, not looking up. Dodger growled deep in her throat. She hurried to finish her lunch, and walked her brother to class.

As Davvy entered the classroom, Denton gave him a bright smile and that not-so-innocent look. But the instant he caught sight of Dodger and the death glare she reserved just for him, his smile faltered, and he looked away.

Throughout the class, Dodger alternated between glaring at Denton and watching Davvy to see if he gave anyone The Look.

But Davvy studiously took notes and kept his head bent low, making eye contact with no one, especially not Denton.

Sighing, Dodger gave up for the period and dozed off.

January 4

"Hey, Mush!"

Mush turned, wondering if he actually was hearing what he thought he was hearing.

He was.

Kid Blink was hurrying toward him, a big grin on his face. "Hey! I haven't seen you all day! Are you avoiding me?" he joked. Mush smiled and shook his head.

"Hey, Blink. Sorry, but I was really busy today. What's up?" Kid smiled.

"I'm going to the mall today with some friends. You wanna come?" Mush shook his head.

"Sorry, but I'm working on a science project with David this afternoon," he said, apologetically.

"Oh, all right. That's cool."

"Maybe we could go see a movie this weekend, or something, though." Kid's expression brightened.

"Yeah, sure! Anyway, I'll see you later. I gotta go!"

"All right, see you tomorrow!"

January 4

"Hey," Race greeted, walking over to Dodger's car. She nodded.

"Davvy's at Mush's house for some project. Let's drop in on Sputchy. What say you?"

"AYE!" Race laughed. "We are such movie geeks."

"I hear that!"

January 4

"Alex, get the door!" Mrs. Durecht instructed. Hurriedly, Dutchy went to open the door. He wasn't surprised to see Dodger and Racetrack on his front steps.

"Hey, Dutchy! How's Specs feeling?" Dodger greeted. Dutchy rolled his eyes.

"His fever broke two days ago." Racetrack frowned.

"Why didn't you come to school today?" Again, Dutchy rolled his eyes.

"My mom came home yesterday afternoon, when Specs and I were supposed to be at school." Dodger and Racetrack had identical expressions of a perfect blend of understanding and exasperation.

"Let's get him out of there," Dodger sighed.

"He's upstairs." Dutchy led them to his bedroom, where Specs was lying on the bed and Mrs. Durecht was force-feeding him his fourth bowl of chicken noodle soup.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Durecht," Racetrack said, charmingly. She smiled.

"Hello, Anthony. Come to visit Mike?" He shook his head.

"Actually, we're here to take Dutchy and Specs to the mall." She frowned.

"Mike is sick."

"With all due respect, Mrs. Durecht, Specs is not sick. My sister's a nurse. Since his fever broke two days ago, he's no longer contagious," he said. Dodger, Dutchy, and Specs hid their smiles. Racetrack could charm Mrs. Durecht into letting him do anything. She frowned again.

"Well, I suppose. Just bring them home by dinner time. You two are welcome to stay as well."

"Thanks, Mrs. Durecht. We'll be back around six."

Gratefully, Specs climbed out of bed. Racetrack immediately clapped a hand over his eyes, and Dodger started laughing.

Specs was in his boxers and a tee shirt, revealing his legs, toned from four years of cross-country running.

"I could use a shirt that color," Race whispered, for Dutchy was blushing bright red.

"Ah, shaddup," Specs said, pulling on his jeans. "Let's go."

They drove to the mall, quickly, talking about the past two days at school, and about their plans to hook Davvy up.

"Whereto first?" Dutchy wondered, looking around at the noisy hellhole that is the mall.

"I've got to get some new Vans, 'cause Hugo ate mine," Dodger complained, grimacing at the sneakers she was wearing. By 'Hugo' she was referring to her two-year-old Border Collie, who hadn't done well through training.

"I wanna go to Spencer's," Race piped up. Specs and Dutchy nodded in agreement.

"All right, I'll grab my shoes, and I have to drop in the bookstore, and then I'll meet you guys back in the food court." Specs grabbed his stomach and pulled a face.

"After three bowls of soup, I'm not the least bit hungry." She smiled.

"Yeah, but I have to eat dinner. No offense, Dutchy, but I don't really like mashed potatoes and fried chicken, all that home style cooking and whatnot," Dodger said, apologetically. Dutchy shrugged.

"To each his own."

"Man, what is wrong with these girls?" Race complained, as the third group of giggling preps walked by, ignoring him completely, and instead openly checking out Dutchy's Florida surfer-boy body. "They're all six feet tall!"

"Aw, don't worry, Racey. You'll find a short girl who likes you!" Dutchy teased. As if on cue, a very short redhead walked by, heading for the video game store. Race smiled winningly at her. She looked him over, then nodded, approvingly, and graced him with a smile. "See?"

"HAH!" Race said, jubilantly. "I am such a ladies man."

"Yeah, don't get too cocky," Specs said with a raised eyebrow.

"Did you get your shoes?" Race asked, sitting across from Dodger. She grinned and placed her feet on the flimsy food-court table.

"Check 'em out." They were black with lime green soles, threading, and, of course, the trademark 'Vans.'

"They go perfect with your hair," Race smirked. She fingered her hair. It was black, with two thick strands of lime green framing her face. Specs laughed as he and Dutchy sat down.

"The Chick-Fil-A guy is giving you dirty looks 'cause of your shoes."

"Ah, he can go blow himself," she said, dismissively.

"Hey, sexy," came a new voice. Dodger, Dutchy, and Specs stared, hands over mouths lest they should start laughing and never stop. Race, however, did not move a muscle, his eyes wide.

The boy was not looking at Dodger, as had been assumed. Instead, he was smiling winningly down at Racetrack, one hand on his back. He sat down next to Race. Dodger leaned forward, grinning.

"I'm Dodger," she said. "This is Specs and Dutchy." Race silently prayed she would say he was her boyfriend. "And the 'sexy' guy is Racetrack, my best friend."

No dice.

"I'm Spot," he greeted, tracing his finger down Race's biceps. "Pleased to meet you all." Dodger smirked.

"Charmed, I'm sure. We were just about to head over to the video game store. Care to join us?" He smiled.

"I'd love to," he replied, his hand dropping onto Race's thigh. Race looked like he wanted to say something, but he kept his mouth shut.

"Cool. Let's go."

They stood up and headed for the video game store. Spot kept one arm around Race's waist while Dodger chatted, animatedly with him. "What kind of system do you have?"

"Xbox." She grinned.

"Do you have Halo 2?"

"Of course. What about you?" She shook her head.

"Nah, I've got a PS2. No Halo for me." She grinned, sheepishly. "But that's okay, 'cause I suck." He laughed, and his hand found its way into Race's back pocket, and it stayed there. Race looked on the verge of squirming.

"Hey, Spot!" They turned. Just coming out of the game store was a short redhead, the one who had smiled at Race earlier. She smirked on seeing Spot and Race, who looked very uncomfortable. "All right, I think you've freaked him out enough." Spot sighed and pulled his hand out of Race's pocket, after giving him a friendly squeeze, bringing out a squeak.

"Finally. You and your games," he muttered, shaking his head. She raised her eyebrows.

"My games? I think not. You're the one who likes to hit on poor unsuspecting guys like him. I had nothing to do with it," she said, unconvincingly. Spot snorted.

"Yeah, and I'm Prince William." She frowned.

"What do people see in him, anyway? His brother's much cuter," she said, thoughtfully. "I'm Two-Bits, by the way. I'm friends with Spot."

"Obviously," Spot interjected.

"I'm Dodger, this is Specs, Dutchy, and the victim is Rape—I mean, Race." She grinned, cheekily. Race glared at her.

"I am mentally flicking you off," he growled. Two-Bits laughed.

"My brother says that a lot. Hey, where is Snitch, anyway?" she asked, looking around. Spot shrugged.

"He's with Skitts and Blink. I think they went to Hot Topic." Two-Bits rolled her eyes.

"My brother's going through his 'goth' stage," she said. The boys laughed. "Ah, speak of the devil!"

"I am not going through a goth stage, Bits!" He was tall, with curly brown hair, and slightly bucked teeth, which he pulled off in a cute way. Sure enough, he wore a black tee shirt, and baggy black jeans with buckles on them. Faint traces of eyeliner could be seen around his eyes.

"Suuurrreee…Anyway, Snitch, Billy, this is Dodger, Dutchy, Specs, and Racetrack. Guys, this is my brother, Snitch, and my best friend, Billy the Kid, or Blink."

"All right, let's go browse. I can't stand around or I'll start laughing at Race," Specs said, impatiently. Race turned bright red and Spot laughed.

"Don't worry, sexy," he joked. "I'm not interested. Two-Bits just likes watching me hit on 'unsuspecting victims,' as she put it."

"Unsuspecting victims…" Race muttered, as they walked off. "Makes you sound like a rapist, or something…"