Chapter 4: Giving In

"Good morning, people! It's a gloomy day outside, with chance of light showers later in the afternoon so don't forget your umbrellas. Highs in the upper fifties, low sixties. Coming up on our morning countdown..."

Allison reached out a heavy hand and smacked her alarm clock. She didn't know which was worse, being woken up by an annoying beep or an equally annoying deejay. She got up and went to take a shower. This morning's dress ritual was a little more thought out. After she talked to Claire last night she decided that she wouldn't be able to avoid Andrew forever, this in mind she decided she was going to dress for the occasion. She laid out the blue off the shoulder blouse Jenny had suggested, a knee length denim skirt, and a large white belt she was going to wear on her waist over her shirt. If she was going to be face to face with him, she wanted to look the part. She wanted to remind him of that girl he had seen stepping out of the backroom at the library. She paid particular attention to her hair, feathering it and holding it back with a thick headband, leaving a fair amount of bangs that framed her face. Her make up was light, with gold shades accenting her dark eyes.

Once again standing in front of the mirror, she couldn't help but admire the way she looked. It wasn't, however, only a matter of her appearance, she felt better to. There was a certain amount of confidence that came with a good outfit. As if the way you felt about your outward appearance was directly proportional to the way you felt on the inside. She walked down to the kitchen and opened her morning can of coke, and grabbed her lunch, this time deliberately leaving behind her drink. She headed out the door to catch the school bus.

"Be still my heart," Allison was in her usual seat on the back of the bus. This time the geeky freshman had taken the seat directly across from her. Allison tried to look busy but he wasn't taking the hint. "Come now, why don't you and I rock around a bit. If you know what I mean?"

"Listen geek," she spat back. "I doubt you have any idea what you're talking about, so why don't you just leave me alone, and take your greasy tude with you."

"Oh, you don't have to be shy around me sweetheart," he answered sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes at him. She wasn't sure how much more of it she could take. "Read my lips: I'm not interested." she took her out her current English novel and began reading. The freshman seemed to have run out of ammo; he left her alone for the rest of the ride.

During her morning break Allison returned to her usual spot in the back bungalows, she hadn't run into Brian and she was contemplating going to look for him to apologize for what she had said to him, but Andrew found her first. He was wearing his varsity jacket, the patch she noticed had not been replaced, and dark blue jeans. She showed no emotion as he walked toward her, her mind was deep in thought. The conversation they were about to have could go in one of both ways, either he was going to tell her it was not going to work out, or her would tell her that they should date. Either way Allison was terrified.

"Hi," he said looking her in the eyes.

She was nervous; she didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry about yesterday" she finally mumbled.

He shuffled his sneakers and looked at the ground. "I don't really blame you, the situation is so strange."

"So I guess that's it then?" there was a bit of anger in her voice. If the situation was strange, than Andrew would have no desire to continue it. She didn't want to give him the pleasure of breaking it off first.

"What do you mean?" there was genuine concern in his voice.

"You just said 'the situation is strange', than maybe we should just leave it at. As something that happened because we were stuck together in a room for nine hours." She was talking fast; she wanted to run away again, she had gotten so good at that.

"That's not what I meant, Allison I just," he started, but she interrupted him.

"Please spare me your 'It just wouldn't work out between us', shit."

"Will you just shut up and let me talk," he yelled. Allison was caught off guard; she just stood there and blinked at him.

"I just wanted to say, that ever since detention I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. And then yesterday I was so excited to see you, but then you..." he stopped and just looked at her.

"I spazzed," she knew exactly what he was trying to say. "I just didn't know what to expect," she bit on her thumb instinctively and stared at him. Andy stood there just as uncomfortable as she was. It was apparent that neither of them knew what to do next.

"What class have you got next?" he finally asked breaking the silence.

"Phys e.d, you?" Allison asked grateful for the opportunity to stop biting her finger.

"Study Hall, I'll walk you to the girls gym." he took her hand in his, she squeezed it approvingly.

They stood in front of the gym for a while. Allison was determined to remain outside until the last bell rang, and Andrew kept glancing sideways at her.

"So." she turned towards him.

"So?" he smiled.

"Well I think we are way beyond awkward silences Andrew," she reached up and gave him a swift kiss on the lips. She began walking away, when Andrew who was still holding her hand, pulled her in. Reaching out for her neck he kissed her, hard.

"Yes we are," he said as he let her go. "I'll see you at lunch." And he left, leaving Allison in a stunned silence.

In chemistry Allison was still thinking about the kiss, and although she was sure that Andrew had decided to continue what they had started, it brought a new wave of concern. What exactly was going to happen next? She figured that the most logical step would be to date but could it actually work? Allison was sure that the glass ceiling of the social ladder wasn't going to be too lenient to her situation. She was, figuratively speaking, trying to make her way from the bottom of the ladder to the top in one quick motion. She didn't expect that the popular crowd would embrace her with open arms, but than again there was Claire. If yesterday's events were any indication of her assimilation, she didn't think it would be too bad. She had enjoyed her time with the group and she felt as though she fit in. She supposed stressing over the situation wasn't going to do her any good. She was going to take it one step at a time, and her next step was lunch.

"Okay class, remember that tomorrow we will be choosing lab partners for the next experiment, I expect all of you to be here." Professor Weiner spoke as the bell rang. No one listened as there was a mad dash for the door.

Allison didn't feel like dashing. She gathered her stuff slowly, and made her way quite reluctantly to her locker. She even contemplated going to the restroom, and maybe staying there, when she heard Andrew's voice.

"Ready?' he asked smiling at her.

"Um, maybe we should just eat outside I have my own lunch. You can just go grab yours and I'll wait for you here." she was trying hard to come up with an excuse to avoid eating in the cafeteria, but knew it would be useless. And then...

"Okay." he said.

"Okay?" she asked not really believing him.

"Yeah, I'll go grab my lunch, you'll grab your coke, and we'll eat wherever you want."

She couldn't believe it. Andrew had agreed to have lunch with her, instead of with all his friends. Instead of making her feel elated, Allison felt selfish. She had just started talking to Andrew and already she was asking him to give up his social world. Her guilt was to intense she didn't think she'd survive, so as they made their way through the crowd in the hall she said that maybe they should just eat inside.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes, positive. Besides I heard it might rain."

"Okay," he said. And he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Taking her hand in his, he led the way to the cafeteria.

A/N: Hey if you've made it this far how about dropping a review? Plzkthnx! Ciao