How could she not be swooning hopelessly over the patented Strider Charm?! Everything Bro (and the internet) had taught him about girls relied solely on being cool and collected! And she thought he was an ass.

Well, he was. But she was supposed to like him anyway! Nevermind all the huge mental discussions he had with himself about apparently crushing(ish) on his best and probably only friend, especially considering until yesterday he thought Jade was a guy.

Quietly sitting at his desk, he twiddled his thumbs nervously. Pretending to not know her was a great idea! He could start all over, and not be a dork and say stupid things because he already knew what she wanted to hear!

The door flew open and Jade propelled herself into her seat seconds before the bell rang. She gave a sheepish smile to the teacher, who sighed and shook her head. Dave sat patiently, waiting for Jade to strike up a conversation with him. Naturally, she would. It was his role in this dynamic to be barely attainable, and for her to make moves.

He waited. Okay…

He waited, counting the minutes left in the thirty minute homeroom. There was twenty minutes left to talk to her, what was she waiting for?! Dave glanced impatiently at her, jaw almost dropping. She was reading. She had taken a goddamn book out as opposed to talking to him! His mouth flapped open indignantly for a moment. Fine. Two could play that game. Plugging in his headphones, he turned up the volume on his phone loud enough so he knew his music would be heard.

Gee Dave, what cool music are you listening to?

Ohohohoho, you mean this? It's my mix.

Wow, YOU made that mix?

Sure did. You wanna share a headphone?

Absolutely! I'd love to listen to that totally cool remix!

By the end of class, Dave was left with a conversation unsaid and a headache. The next week passed like that, each time Jade not speaking a single word to him, while the rest of the class joked with their new peers.

What the hell. Just, what the hell. It was so easy getting to know her the first time! Long-ass messages flowed like water, talking about family and futures, what they wanted for themselves. Their mutual isolation with the rest of the world. What was wrong this time around?

"Brooo," He complained, flopping onto the couch. "Strider Charm isn't working."

His brother spun around in his swively computer chair, placing his hands underneath his chin. "Hm?"

"There's this chick. She won't talk to me." Dave explaining, throwing his hands up at the ceiling in exasperation.

"You're not gonna get any chick to talk to you if you call chicks chicks in front of other chicks. Especially that particular chick."

Pause. "What?"

"No girl is a chick. Duh, you call 'em chicks in front of guys, but they're not. Got it, Davey? That's step one. You said she won't talk to you, right?" He spun back around, probably going back to typing some business email harassing some dude. Club owners were shit at responding.

"I sit there for a week, and she doesn't say shit." He grumbled.

"So you're expecting her to talk to you?" Bro questioned.

"Yeah!" Dave burst. "But she won't!"

"Dude. You can't expect her to talk to you? That shit's not her job. Give and take, little Bro. All this bullshit waiting for her is not Strider Charm, you got this clusterfuck of crap off the internet. Strider Charm is easy, calm, and cool, not rushing shit, and not Niagra fall-ing emotional crap. Nothing about waiting for her to make the first goddamn move. And if she sees anything in you she might be frustrated you're not talking to her by now, ever think of that?" Bro finished his speech and Dave lay stunned.

"So her book is like my phone? An opening to talk to her? And she's been secretly wishing and waiting that I talk to her because she's actually in love with me?" He asked hopefully.

"Nah, she probably just likes reading. She's not reading just so you ask her about it. Although you should." He stood and ruffled Dave's hair before walking into the kitchen. "When'd you get all doki-doki over a chick anyway?"

TG: hey harley

GG: hey strider :P

TG: hows it goin

GG: it's going okay. I'm almost done with this amazing book!

TG: cool shit man

GG: I know right? :D

TG: what about your new school

TG: any not assholes

GG: there's some really nice girls at lunch

GG: and a few boys in my classes that aren't complete idiots haha

TG: sweet

TG: wish I had that many friends

GG: if you were here i'd totally introudce you! You're such a softie they'd all love you!

TG: im not a softie

TG: blasphemy

TG: throwing you in the dungeon brb

GG: oh shush you so are

GG: that's why I like you! :D

TG: yeah calling bs on that

TG: what about that ass in homeroom

TG: is he

TG: less of an ass

GG: eh. Not really? I don't know we haven't talked at ALL.

TG: did you want him to talk to you

GG: i'm not sure. If he had I would have been okay with it.

GG: boys are so weird.

TG: hey

TG: taking offense to that

GG: oh right

GG: I keep forgetting you're a boy oops

TG: you what

TG: what girl is named dave wtf

GG: I don't gender names. You could have totally been a girl named dave!

TG: well im not

TG: I guess were even

TG: I totally thought you were a gay guy for the longest time

GG: omg. That's hilarious!

GG: but nope. I'm a girl.

TG: are you gay

GG: lol I don't know, I don't think so? Girls are nice though.

TG: I agree

TG: youre pretty nice

GG: very smooth dave :P

ugh short as shit chapter. sorry guys, i'll try and make them longer in the future. Please review and favorite and all that stuff but mostly review because I love what you guys have to say when it's nice, which it is 99.99% of the time. Again, sorry that the typing styles aren't right, my laptop keeps autocorrecting the not capitalized shit and i don't know how to fix it. :/ love you byeeeee