JULIE'S POV

The rest of the school day went by as normal. The entire school was buzzing with the news of Connie and Averman. By the end of the day, everyone had a theory about it.

The most popular one was that Connie was using Averman to make Guy jealous.

I know this is going to sound really awful and I feel guilty for even thinking it but I can't help but wonder if that was the real reason. Connie and Averman make the most unlikely pair.

"Hey Julie wait up!" I heard my name being called. I didn't even have to turn around to see who it was.

"Hey Dwayne" I replied when he'd caught up to me.

"Hi Jules" Dwayne grinned.

"What can I do for you?" I asked.

"Well I kind of need a little help in Algebra and since you're one of the smartest people I know I was wondering if you would please help me" Dwayne asked in his usual polite fashion.

How could I say no to that?

"Sure Dwayne, when did you want to start?" I asked mentally checking my schedule.

"Is after dinner okay?" he asked.

"Sure, come by my room. We can study then" I smiled at the cowboy.

"Thank you so much Julie. You're a life saver!" he exclaimed and actually gave me a hug in the middle of the hallway.

"You're welcome Dwayne. See you later" I couldn't help but smile. If only Portman would do that whenever I help him out.

Speaking of Portman there he is joking around with Fulton. I couldn't hide my distaste at the group of girls hanging around the Bash Brothers with stupid looks on their faces.

Now I know I don't look like that. Do I?

"Hey boys" I greeted them casually on the way past.

"Jules hang on a sec" Portman slammed his locker shut and much to the dismay of the other females he grabbed my arm and pulled me back to him.

What pissed them off even more was that he pulled a little too hard and I ended up tripping and falling into him and pinning him to his locker.

"Didn't know you liked it rough Jules" Fulton joked.

I snarled at him and got off of Portman.

"Shut up Fulton" I replied with a little grin to let him know I was only kidding.

"Sorry Julie I didn't mean to do that" Portman was looking more at his feet than me.

"Its okay. No harm done" I tried to sound as casual as possible. On the inside I was screaming.

"So what did you need?" I asked curious as to why he pulled me back in the first place.

"Oh um, well. I'm failing Algebra and if I don't get it up to a B then it's the pine pony for me" Portman gave me one of his famous grins.

I rolled my eyes at him when what I really wanted to do was swoon and Julie Gaffney did not swoon.

"Okay, I'm helping Dwayne anyway. My dorm room after dinner" I told him.

"Thanks Jules, you're a legend!" Portman brightened up.

He surprised us both by kissing me on the cheek.

That was way better than a hug.

"Okay, um. Well. I guess I'll see you later then" I stammered trying to recover from the shock.

"Yeah. Um. Bye" Portman was stammering just as much as I was.

"Bye Julie!" Fulton had an evil grin on his face.

I swore at that moment he could see straight through me.

Great! That was all I needed right now.

PORTMAN'S POV

I hadn't meant to pull her back so hard but when she fell on top of me it was all I could do not to devour her then and there.

Obviously I didn't have a death wish though as I kept my cool.

Fulton was smirking next to me and I felt like wiping that stupid look off of his face.

She managed to snap me out of it when she asked me what I needed.

There were a few things I needed but none of those I could say out loud so I went for the problem I could use her help with without getting my ass kicked.

She didn't looked at all surprised when I told her I was failing Algebra.

"Okay, I'm helping Dwayne anyway. My dorm room after dinner" she replied.

Damn it, now I have to put up with the Cowboy but at least I get to hang out in her room for a little while.

It was as if my brain had left my body entirely when I suddenly felt her soft skin under my lips.

I shut my eyes for a minute as if anticipating that she was going to place her knee hard into my groin or something.

When I pulled back she was smiling and was stumbling over her words.

At least she wasn't mad.

Then I found that I was stumbling over my words too.

And Fulton had that stupid smirk plastered all over his face the entire time.

"Bye Julie!" he called out.

I watched her look at Fulton then back at me before she turned around and started off down the hallway.

"Dude you have it bad" Fulton teased.

"Shut up Fulton" I gave him a shove.

"Make me Portman" Fulton shoved me back.

And that was when we resumed our play fighting in the hallway again.

"Dude quit it, we don't want to get detention" Fulton suddenly stopped.

"Since when do you care about detention?" I asked surprised.

"Since you went and got yourself a date with the Catlady" Fulton teased.

"Shut up! It's not a date. Cowboy will be there and its Algebra" I used the word with as much venom as possible.

"So kick Cowboy out, throw your text books out the window and give her the old Portman charm" Fulton was on the verge of laughing hysterically.

"Bite me Fulton" I replied stalking off. I was sick of being on the receiving end of his shit stirring.

I made it back to the safety of my own dorm room repeating the mantra.

Its not a date, its not a date, its not a date, its not a date.