So, Firkle and Pete had some pretty hot times, huh? And don't worry, that's not the last time they'll be getting together. *Wink* But for now, back to Firkle and Ike drama. Firkle is determined to find out who his stalker is. Let's see if he catches them.

Chapter 6 – Dramatic Music

I couldn't stand seeing that damn cheerleader parading around my necklace as if she owned it. She kept showing it off to her friends, claiming her boyfriend got it for her, though in reality he stole it from me and she knew it. It really pissed me off.

"Are you all right?" Ike whispered to me as I glared at the cheerleader in one of our shared classes.

"No," I hissed, "I can't stand that bitch. If she thought stealing my necklace was going to make me like her she is sorely mistaken."

Ike gave me a sympathetic frown. "I wish there was something I could do for you," he said in a sad voice.

"Not unless you can magically get my necklace back from her," I muttered. I rested my head on my hand in frustration. It wasn't fair. Why did it have to be the one object I treasured most that got stolen from me?

"Why don't you ever report the football team for abusing you?" Ike asked me in a low voice. He had moved his desk a little closer to talk to me because technically we were supposed to be working, but no one actually was.

"Yeah, like anyone is going to believe me," I scoffed, "The entire football team against one lone goth whom nobody even likes. Yeah, that'll go over well." There was actually another major reason I didn't rat them out, but I didn't like to dwell on that memory. Let's just say there was a reason they whipped their dicks out every time they were done tormenting me.

Ike's frown deepened and he leaned over and rested a hand on top of mine. I flinched slightly away from him. He opened his mouth to say something, but he was suddenly interrupted by Filmore and his douchebag friend, Quaid.

"Hey Dorkle, mind if we cut in?" Quaid sneered. I glared at him and Filmore. Why were they even up? We were supposed to be working.

"So, Ike, next weekend there's going to be a party at Mirabelle's house and you're going," Filmore said. He said it in such a way that made it clear that it was not a request.

"I don't know, Filmore, I'm not really a party guy," Ike told him, "And I don't exactly appreciate being commanded to go to something I don't want to go to."

Filmore didn't seem to care. "I already invited all of your friends and they agreed to go," he informed the Canadian.

"Doesn't mean I have to go," Ike muttered.

"Come on, Ike," Quaid whined, lightly punching his shoulder, "Don't be a wet blanket! This'll be the biggest, hottest party of the year!"

"I'll think about it," Ike replied, rubbing his shoulder where Quaid had punched it. Even though it had been a light punch, Quaid is a beefy guy, so even his light punches probably hurt like hell.

Thankfully, Ike's answer seemed to satisfy Filmore and he and Quaid went back to their seats. I felt like I could finally breathe again. Those two always made me really uncomfortable when they were around.

"You're not really going to go to that party, are you?" I asked Ike, despite not really caring whether he went or not.

Ike sighed. "I don't know," he replied, "I mean, all my friends are going to be there so maybe it won't be too bad? Parties just aren't my thing."

"You wouldn't catch me dead at any party," I told him, "I can't stand the loud music, all the people bumping into you, or the drinking or anything else that supposedly makes a party fun. Any time I hear people talking about them I just don't get why people think they're so great."

"Have you ever been to a party?" Ike wondered.

"No," I scoffed, "And I never will."

"Not even a birthday party, like when we were younger?" he wondered.

"No!" I snapped, starting to get irritated, "Haven't you figured out yet that people just don't like me, Ike! But it's not like I care anyway! I'm an introvert! I don't like being around a lot of people and that's fine by me! I'd rather they all leave me alone anyway!"

The bell suddenly rang, signaling the end of class. I slammed my book closed and shoved it into my bag and got out of the room before Ike could say another word.

I decided to skip my next class in favor of smoking outside near the courtyard. It was near the sports fields, but thankfully gym class was inside today so I was all by myself. While I preferred it this way, it did make me miss the days when I would smoke with my friends. We would just sit outside with a boombox and listen to dark music while smoking. Oh, how I longed for those days.

I was on my second cigarette when the door beside me opened. I quickly ducked out of view in case it was a teacher but was equally annoyed when Ike stepped out.

"Firkle?" he called softly, "Are you out here?" I sighed with aggravation.

"What do you want?" I growled at him, "Can't I go anywhere without you following me around?"

Ike looked over to where I was and walked over to me. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, I blew smoke in his face. He coughed and waved a hand in front of him.

"Well that was rude," he muttered, "Firkle, what are you doing out here? You're supposed to be in class."

"Yeah? So?"

"So, weren't you going to try harder to get your grades up?" he scolded. I rolled my eyes.

"Don't lecture me," I sneered, "It's just one class. I just really needed a smoke break, all right? I'll come back in when the bell rings."

Ike frowned. "You shouldn't smoke, you know," he said, "It's really bad for your health. And since you've been smoking since you were five who knows how fucked up your body could be now?"

"Like I care," I muttered, "I've already heard the 'smoking is bad for you' speech a million times already. Tell it to someone who actually cares." Ike's frown deepened.

"Aren't you worried you might get lung cancer? Or any other type of cancer?" he wondered, "You could die."

"No one would care anyway," I hissed, taking another drag on my cigarette.

"That's not true," Ike murmured. He stepped closer and lightly pressed against my side. "Your friends care about you. They would miss you if you were gone. And… I… care about you as well."

I didn't say anything. I really didn't know what to say to that. I guess it was flattering that Ike cared about me, despite me being rude to him all the time. And the truth was that I had cut back on my smoking as I got older. Usually I only smoked with my friends or when I got really stressed. In my room I only smoked like one cigarette. I did know how bad it was for me and it made it hard for me to breathe sometimes, especially when I was running from the football team. But a bad habit is hard to break, especially one you've been doing since you were five.

For some reason Ike stayed out there with me until the bell rang. I'll admit I kind of enjoyed having the company even if we didn't say anything to each other. I would never tell this to Ike, though.

On our way to our next class, I split from Ike as I didn't have that class with him. Unfortunately, it was one I had with Filmore and Quaid. Even while the teacher was talking they wouldn't shut up about the party. And they were within earshot, so I couldn't concentrate on anything the teacher said.

They kept giggling about all the girls they were going to score at the party and how wasted they planned to get. I tried to tune them out, but it was really difficult.

"We have to make sure the girl to guy ratio is at least three to one," Filmore whispered behind me, "That way we have plenty of girls to choose from."

"Maybe we can get a hot three way going with some of them," Quaid suggested with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes. Couldn't these guys think about anything other than parties and sex?

"Could you guys shut up?" I hissed over my shoulder at them, "Unlike you block heads, I'm actually trying to learn!"

Filmore immediately glared at me. "I don't take orders from losers like you," he growled.

"Dorkle is probably upset that he wasn't invited to the party," Quaid snickered.

"Yeah, because I would really want to go to a party thrown by a bunch of dick swingers like you," I scoffed. I'm almost certain that if we weren't in class Filmore would've socked me.

Not that he didn't get the chance to. After the bell rang, we all filed out the room, but I was rudely shoved out of the way by Filmore on his way out. I glared after him and waited for everyone else to leave first.

I was so glad it was the end of the day. This day was really tiring. I walked towards my locker but before I turned the corner, something compelled me to stop and hide. I slowly peered around the corner and looked down the hallway. It was mostly empty now, there were only a few lingering students left. I could easily see my locker from where I stood.

After a few minutes I saw Ike walking down the hallway, which was weird because I knew his locker wasn't anywhere near mine. I watched as he stopped at my locker and looked around before starting to put in my combination. I took a sharp breath as he took a folded-up paper out of his pocket. As he opened the door, I quickly strode over to him.

"Ike?!" I exclaimed, startling him, "You're my stalker?"

BUM BUM BUM! Yeah, I know it's not that surprising because of the description, but I hope the build up to the reveal was still fun. Next time we'll see Ike's reaction to being outed. Also, in case you don't know who Quaid is, he's Filmore's friend from the episode "Trapper Keeper" who occasionally appears alongside him. Just so you know. Please leave a comment and remember that licking doorknobs is illegal on other planets!