A/N

Thank you MidnightBlue88! You are probably my greatest reviewer ever! (No offense to my other reviewers, you all rock hard too!) I'm really ready for the next few chapters. I've got some great ideas! Well, read on! Luv yah 3 Carlee

I came to school around ten o'clock on Monday. That was late, even for me. I didn't usually skip shop, but ever since that fucking dumb comment from Brainy about the 'dopes who take shop', I'd decided that maybe it was a moronic class. Wood glueing things together to make stupid things like lamps was idiotic.

I walked into Mr. Bertin's class casually. I saw that he was not in the room, and that total chaos had begun to break out. Some nerds were sitting in their desks, quietly discussing something nerd-related while a group of girls sat in the corner with their makeup spilled all over their desks. The group that stuck out most in my mind was the jocks. A few of them were talking to the cheerleaders while I noticed that one of them was sitting quietly beside them, staring blankly at the floor. What gave his identity away was the missing patch on his letterman's jacket.

Sporto. A miserable looking sight, if you ask me. Not that I had noticed much, but he had been a sulky mess ever since Allison moved away. I had to give him some credit for actually acknowledging her after that detention. I think they actually went on a date before she left. Watching him was pathetic, and I felt a pang of sympathy for the guy.

I took a seat in front of the nerds, finding that they had become scared and quiet. Kicking my feet up onto the desk in front of me, I sighed and wondered why I had come here. Then, I saw a very familiar brunette sitting next to a few girls a few rows back.

Riley had caught my glance, smiled, and went back to talking to her friends. Suddenly, I felt myself drawn to her presence. Once again, another questionable feeling from me, John Bender, but she just seemed so...so...damn fine.

"Did you just smile at John Bender?" A blonde chick asked Riley in wonder. "And did he actually smile back?"

A few of them gasped as Riley frowned. "Hmm? Are you crazy? John Bender would not ever smile at me."

I grinned to myself. That crazy little bitch.

After class was over, I walked out into the hall, deciding to probably just play hooky when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"What the hell do you–," I whizzed around to find Riley standing there with a slightly startled look on her face.

"Well hello to you too," She responded, taking her hand off me. I started to walk down the hallway with her following not too far behind. "Hey, wait!" She called.

I felt a little pissed off at myself for trying to avoid her. I don't really remember if it was because I was embarrassed about that kiss or because I had a rep to maintain, but I did remember the way I had shouted at Claire, "You are a bitch!", because she was being honest about not speaking to any of us. Now I felt like an ass again. This pattern was occurring a lot now that I had met Riley.

"Look, all I want to do is tell you the 411 on Brian." She told me.

I stopped, looked back at her, and took her by the hand. She seemed taken aback by this. I led her to the janitor's closet and closed the door. Some idiot shouted at me, "Hey, hey! Way to score, Bender!" as the door had closed.

Riley had crossed her arms across her chest and gave me a cold look. "Why do we have to talk in a closet? Am I that embarrassing?"

"Look, it's not that." I tried to tell her. "I just...what's the deal with Brain Drain?"

She gave me another cold stare before telling me what she had found out from some of the Physics Club members.

"They said he has a small concussion and a few bruises here and there. He's coming back to school next week." Her velvet brown eyes fell on me again, this time with a hint of compassion. "If you hadn't stood up to that Rip guy, it could have been much worse."

How come feeling like a hero was starting to feel really good? Especially coming from her.The way she looked at me almost admirably gave me a shot of pride as well as (and to this day, I still hate admitting it) a bashful feeling. Now, if you anything at all about me, it's that I'm not ashamed of anything. Not ashamed of telling it like it is. That's just how I am. I fear nothing.

But as I have said countless times, this wasn't the same John Bender.

"Can I get out of here?" Riley asked me finally, taking a step towards the door. I was ready to let her out of this musty room when I decided that maybe I could ease up a little bit–for Brian's sake, I mean.

"Wait, where's Brian staying at?" I asked her.

Riley raised an eyebrow and replied, "Uh...Collins Hospital."

"Isn't that off I-79?"

"Yeah, I'm going there tonight."

Gathering up all my courage and ignoring my reputation as Bender the Bad, I shoved my hands in my pockets, stared at the ground, and said, "Meet me there around four. In the lobby."

Riley's frown became a beautiful smile, bearing her white teeth and letting out a chuckle of relief. She nicked me on the shoulder with her fist playfully.

"You're full of surprises, John."

Without hesitation, I smiled back. She had this thing where whenever she would smile, I'd automatically smile. She just brought out the best in me, I guess. I just wish that it wasn't like that.

"See you then." She told me when she left down the hall. I watched her walk until she turned a corner, and then I took a moment to think. She was an amazing girl. It took a lot for me to think that. It also took a lot for me to not call her a chick.

And then, instead of playing hooky, I went to next mod in an unusually upbeat mood.