Chapter Six- Realization

"Hi, Katie, I'm Sonya, I hear you're new here."

Katie glanced up from her notebook to see a girl with brown hair pulled back into a very high ponytail grinning at her. She had her hand stuck out and a large grin was plastered on her face. She had square teeth and squinty blue eyes that were found behind square wire rimmed glasses.

"Hi… Sonya, I'm Katie," Katie said, smiling and shaking Sonya's hand.

Sonya took a seat next to Katie at the lunch table and leaned forward and said in a voice barely above a whisper, "So I hear you and Dustin are an item now, eh?" She raised her eyebrows slightly.

Katie spat out the milk she had been drinking. She turned to Sonya, cheeks pink, and said, "No. No, definitely not, we're not… you know, going out or anything. We're just friends, not boyfriend and girlfriend."

Sonya raised her eyebrows. "Uh huh… sure, I believe you." She giggled and turned to her macaroni and started to shovel piles of it into her mouth. Katie sighed and rested her chin on to her hands, pushing away her lunch tray. For some reason, she didn't feel hungry anymore.

"So my friends tell me you're from Texas," Sonya was saying. "I thought I'd be nice and greet the new girl myself. By the way, my full name is Sonya Lotus. I'm in the same grade as you, I hear." She grinned, showing the bits of cheese stuck in her braces. "You know, I've got a real nose for gossip. I know everything."

"Really," Katie said, smiling politely. "How… um, interesting…" She paused. "So is that how you came up with the idea that Dustin and I were… you know…"

"Together?" Sonya said, picking at her braces with her nails. They were painted a sparkly green with black swirls everywhere. Bits of nail polish chipped off as she scratched them against her red and orange braces.

Katie nodded her head. "I mean… did someone tell you or… uh, what are you doing?" Sonya was now sipping her milk and then spitting what she had in her mouth back into her cup. Then she drank it again and did the same thing. She glanced over at Katie and grinned.

"I'm saving milk," she said. "I always run out so this way, I won't."

Katie looked at Sonya, feeling half terrified, half disgusted. She pushed her own cup of milk to her and said, "Here, have my milk. That way you won't run out. Just please… stop doing what you're doing now."

"Gee, thanks," Sonya said, sounding surprised. "I mean, some people said you were nice, but gosh, you really are." She grabbed Katie's milk and chugged it down in less than five seconds. Katie watched in bewilderment as the white liquid disappeared like a magic trick. Now you see it, now you don't.

"So what were we talking about?" Sonya asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Oh right, you and Dustin Brookes." She laughed and looked around the cafeteria before finally nudging Katie and pointing at Dustin who was sitting with a group of his friends, looking strangely upset.

"He looks sad," Katie commented, feeling a small pang in her heart. She frowned, wondering why seeing him sad made her feel funny.

"Course he looks sad," Sonya said, picking at her teeth again. "He's sad because you broke his heart. You know, don't you?" Seeing the surprised look on Katie's face, Sonya laughed. "So I guess you don't know."

"Break his heart?" Katie said brow furrowed. "When did I…?"

"Darling, it's so obvious that he likes you!" Sonya said, laughing and feeling pleased that she had used the word 'darling'. "I mean, gosh, it's… like… as obvious as… well, I don't know, but it's really obvious!"

Katie felt stunned. She had never known… well, maybe apart of her heart told her that he did like her, but she never thought that… but wait? Why did she even care? It's not like she liked HIM or anything. Katie… likes Dustin? She shook her head. That was impossible. Or was it?

"I've got Dustin in a lot of my classes," Sonya said, polishing off her macaroni. "And he's got that 'help me, I'm in love' look in his eyes, dear. I mean, one just KNOWS these things. How can you not when you're me?" She laughed. She had a very loud, squawky laugh… kind of like a parrot gone wrong.

"How do you know it's me he likes?" Katie said, trying to convince herself that Dustin couldn't like her.

Sonya shrugged. "You're the only new thing around here… You come, Dustin acts strange, there we go, and bam, slam, dunk, and here we go. You two are perfect for each other! Can't you see that? He is so in love…"

Katie laughed and stood up, pushing her chair back. "Well even if he does like me, I don't like him like that so what's the big deal?" Picking up her tray, she walked off when suddenly, she slipped on a banana peel and was about to land flat on her back when…

"Are you ok?"

Katie had closed her eyes, but now that she opened them she could see that she was lying in Dustin's arms. Dustin had caught her before she had hit the ground. She felt her heart start to speed up and her cheeks turn a burning red.

"Are you ok?" Dustin was looking at her with concern. His brain was bouncing around his head like mad right now. He was holding Katie! But he reminded himself quickly that this was the last time it was ever going to happen and she didn't like him and…

The thoughts made him sad so he quickly helped her stand up and started to shuffle away. Katie suddenly grabbed his arm and turned him around so they were face to face. She could feel Sonya's eyes burning the back of her neck.

"Dustin," she said, her heart thumping so loud she could barely hear her own voice. "I just want to say that I…" She suddenly felt her whole brain freeze up. "That I…"

Dustin stared at her, cheeks pink. He wanted to get out of there, but he didn't want to leave Katie. Not now, not ever. He held his breath to hear what she had to say.

"You…"

"I…" Katie took a deep breath. "I just want to say thanks."

"Oh," Dustin said. He forced a grin. "Okay then. Your welcome… bye." He quickly bustled away, leaving Katie standing there, feeling stupid. She bent down to pick up her spilled tray. Sonya came running over, flapping her arms.

"Oh, MY GOSH," she cried. "You have to admit it now. He saved you. He's got it bad for you! He loves you!"

Katie glanced up to see Dustin disappear out the cafeteria doors. And I think, she thought. That I've got it bad for him too.

So how do you like the story so far? Not as good as my other one? Well anyways, I just want to give out a few shout outs…

MrsLoganReese- Lol, my number 1 fan, right! Hehe… thanks so much for reading and I LOVE your comments, they are so great. A billion and one thanks! Plus, I am keeping up to date with your story as well, so keep on updating!

LibbyRoxYourSox- Thanks so, so, SO much for reading. If you have any requests that I read any of your stories, don't hesitate to ask D

hopefully- Thanks for your support! You rock… maybe even more than me! Lol, modest I am, yes? Hehe… well thanks for reading and keep on checking!

Ella Ynrihan- Know that I am also reading your stories! Thanks for reading!