THANKS FOR READING! Here's the next piece of pie! Thanks for the wonderful review, Ravenclaw Prefect… I'm sorry I made you laugh so hard you hurt! I don't know that this chapter is as funny, maybe the next one.
MayRaven
After school that day, Rayanne, Ricki and Delia Fisher hitched a ride with Tino to Angela's house. Delia was a bit skeptical about the idea of getting a ride from someone she didn't know, but she wanted to study with Ricki. Delia always looked for some excuse to be in Ricki's company even if it meant studying with Rayanne and Angela for exams.
Tino sped away from the curb as the trio passed Jordan's hot red car in the Chase's drive. Angela opened the door, giggling with a shy smile on her lips. She welcomed her friends into the family room and soon they were all quietly studying in awkward silence.
"This sucks," complained Rayanne shifting in her seat and flipping her wild hair.
"Oh please," sighed Ricki, "this is the most studying you've done all year. And admit it, you're only here because you aren't ready to go home and face Amber."
Rayanne snorted and played with her earring. She stared at the blank television and half admitted to taking her time getting home. "Yeah, I guess there's no rush, but I mean who here is like any good at this?" she wanted to know.
Everyone looked around at one another. Of all of them, Delia was the best student. She realized this and commented that they should have invited Sharon Cherski over to balance things out.
Jordan suddenly had an idea. "Hey, I know. I mean, who we should get over here." He had everyone's attention. "You know, that Brian guy. He lives around here right? Rayanne, you should go ask him since you and him are-."
Rayanne jumped up and cut off Jordan's thought. "I don't think that's such a hot idea, Catalano."
Angela's face was white she couldn't say a word. Ricki stared at his English notes trying to look distracted.
"Why not? You two have a fight?" Jordan asked innocently.
Delia had no idea what was going on, but she too had heard the awful rumors circulating around the school and thought maybe this was her opportunity to exact a little revenge. "I'll go!" she said with a twinkle in her eye. "Just point me to the right house and I'm there."
Angela finally stepped in. "You know, he wasn't at school today so he, like, is probably sick or something."
"Yeah, well maybe he's feeling better. And you know Brian. He hates to be behind. We can all catch him up," spouted Delia walking toward the front door.
"Yeah, okay," Rayanne stood and joined Delia. "I'll show you."
Angela desperately mouthed at Rayanne "What are you doing?" Rayanne shrugged her shoulders and headed out the door. Ricki rolled his eyes.
"So, like, are they fighting?" asked Jordan.
Delia knocked on the Krakow's pristine white door. Rayanne twirled her hair and waited a moment before proclaiming no one was home. Delia told her that was silly and she rang the bell. After only a few moments someone looked through the side window. It was Brian.
He opened the door a foot. "What are you doing here?" he asked in disbelief, the question being more directed to Rayanne than to Delia. Delia felt he hadn't even noticed her.
Rayanne looked at Brian. He was wearing flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt. He looked like he'd just rolled out of bed and he definitely sounded congested. "Oh my god, have you been crying?" Rayanne blurted without realizing. Delia stared at Rayanne.
Brian shook his head and glanced in Delia's direction. "What? No! I'm sick. In fact you shouldn't even, like, be here. I could be contagious or something."
Delia couldn't help herself. She stayed stone cold. "We were studying and wanted you to come over and help. Well, I didn't. Jordan and Angela did. I don't need your help," she said.
"Oh," said Brian. "I can't. Study, I mean. I can't come over."
"Look, Delia, why don't you head back and I'll take it from here," Rayanne suggested.
Delia made a face and rolled her eyes. "I'll bet you'll take it from here," she taunted as she descended the steps.
Rayanne wanted to hit the girl for being such a goodie-two-shoes snob. She guessed Brian felt the same by the look on his face.
"Hey, can I come in?" she asked after Delia was out of earshot. Brian looked unsure but moved aside.
Without a word, Brian led Rayanne up to his room and closed the door. He sat on the bed and moved the schoolbooks he'd been studying onto the floor. Rayanne joined him on the bed and Brian looked away.
"We're only up here because I'm supposed to be sick," Brian babbled, "and I can't have people over when I'm sick. So, if my parents come home they can't know you're here. That's all."
"So, you're, like, not sick, right?" she asked.
Brian stood and looked out his small window. "No." He paused, and then added, "I hate that I feel this way."
"How?" Rayanne was curious. She'd had guys throw tantrums and even beg her for one last fling, but no one had ever cried over her before.
"How do I feel? Like an idiot!" he yelled. "I can't believe my life. I've spent all of this year crushing on one girl after another, and now you. No offense, but what was I thinking?"
Rayanne felt offended. "Oh gee, none taken."
"Well, I mean, you could never like me. And what happened between us. It's like it never happened. So, it's really idiotic for me to secretly moon over you."
"Moon over me?" Rayanne was slightly amused. "You have to be kidding."
He sat back down beside her. He leaned in and touched her hair, brushing his hand on her cheek. "It meant something to me. You were my first. It kind of hurt when it seemed like you didn't really care. I wanted to know if it was true."
Then it dawned on her. "You started that rumor to get my attention. You wanted me to admit that something happened didn't you?" Rayanne had figured it out. "You were, like, testing me to see if I would take the bait. Were you trying to shrink me again Krakow?"
She took a pillow and hit Brian with it repeatedly with force. She didn't know why, but she was wounded. Brian told her to stop and she finally did when she knocked his bedside lamp over.
Rayanne looked at the fallen lamp and bolted for the door. Brian didn't stop her.
Everyone turned as Rayanne came crashing through the door. She collected her things and said she was going home after all.
Delia smiled sheepishly. "What's wrong, Rayanne, you look upset. Is Brian okay?"
"He's fine," grumbled Rayanne. "I'm sure he'll be good as new tomorrow."
"Wait," called Jordan. "Graffe, I wanted to ask you. Who started that rumor thing?"
Rayanne took a breath and steadied herself. "It was Brian. He just told me. So, that's it, okay? Anything else?"
Jordan thought a moment then asked, "What about you and him?"
"There is no 'me and him'," she spat. "It was all a misunderstanding. And no, Jordan, Brian Krakow is not better than you."
Jordan arched an eyebrow while somewhere behind him Ricki choked on his drink. Rayanne turned on her heal and left.
TBC….