DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters or the--eh, I'm gettin' tired of typing this. You get the idea: I Don't Own it. DEAL WITH IT!lol

Oh, and I forgot to point out that the current month of this story is March. A few days before Tootie's birthday. That's very important, so don't forget it. : )

Veronica sighed as she balanced herself carefully on her hands and knees, atop the back of her fellow cheerleaders. On top of her, Trixie's right foot was planted firmly on her back. Trixie's voice rang through the air as she yelled, "Go, Dimmsdale!!!" in a spirited voice only found in a cheerleader, a spoiled girl, or in this case, both.

After an emotionally hurtful rehearsal of "Raising Hell" three times, the practice was done for the day. And right on schedule, the boys basketball team was walking out of the school.

"Hi, guys," Trixie said in a flirty voice. Naturally, they all got one glance of her, covered in a light sheen of sweat, and her uniform altered to seem a bit more promiscuous, and fell over themselves -- and each other-- to be the first to return the greeting. Veronica rolled her eyes as one of the boys pushed his teammate off of him and ran over to her. He took her hand. "You know," he said, "Prom is coming up in a couple of months. We should go together." the hopefulness in his eyes was sickening to Veronica, and she plopped down in the grass, watching enviously from the corner of her eye.

"Mmm...nah." Trixie said, as if turning down recieving a new blouse (yeah, right). She didn't seem to notice his smile fade. She touched his cheek. "But your blindness to the fact that it'll never happen is very cute." And instantly, his smile was back. He seemed to float on air as he walked away, a hand on his face.

Unbelievable,Veronica felt her hand tighten around her water bottle, She's like God! she knew that her parents would chastise her for making a reference to God in such a way, but it was the only way to describe Trixie's power. And that was what made everyone hate her, but love her at the exact same time. Because she had power. And power was a very strong thing. It had a beauty all it's own, yet an aspect of such horror, such macabre, that it could make a person recoil in fear. And all of it was in Trixie's hands.

But one thing had been true: Prom was coming up. She had always dreamed of being prom queen. Maybe Trixie would be kind enough to nominate her. She highly doubted it. Just as she opened her mouth, Stacy, a fellow cheerleader destroyed what was left of Veronica's heart, "Trixie, I'm so going to vote for you for Prom Queen." All the other girls chattered in agreement, nodding furiously, and covering her in a sheet of smiles. Veronica shook her head in anger, stood up, and stormed to her car to go home and cry over the death of her hope. The last soldier in her army of dreams had fallen; the troops of Trixie's perfection had finally won the war.

Her hand tightened around the steering wheel, her face red with fury. "Trixie's running for prom queen now. Well, too bad. This is my lifelong dream. I'm running too. And if I lose, then so be it. At least I tried." she heaved a sigh, "I only hope she won't be mad at me." And she felt like a cowering rat for that last statement, but even if she was angry, she couldn't deny that she loved her best friend, her sister for life. But still...

One week later...

"Happy Birthday, Tootie!" Tootie blinked in surprise when she walked into Timmy's house. He'd told her to come at four, and here she was, facing Timmy, Taylor, Chester, A.J., and Sanjay. They all held gifts, and a cake was on the coffee table. She smiled. "Oh, thank you, you guys! I could just hug you all!"

"Woah, no need to go there..."

"No! Nononono... That's ok."

"Uh, I'll pass."

The boys all started protesting at the same time. Hugs were still to girly for them. Tootie snickered. She always knew just how to make them squirm. I'll have to use that against them one day. April fools will work perfectly.

"Open your gifts!" Sanjay grabbed her by the shoulders and sat her down on the couch, placing a green box with gold ribbon on her lap. She smiled at him and started to tug at the ribbon. The guys groaned.

"Oh, just open it already!" Chester rolled his eyes with a laugh.

"Why do chicks have to be so delicate? It's only paper, man. Tear it up!" Taylor teased. Tootie laughed, and did just that, gaining cheers and laughter in effect. Inside the box was a dark blue sari with a baby blue sash. Tootie gasped in delight. "Sanjay, it's beautiful! Thank you so much!"

"I went to India with my mom to visit my grandmother. We all went to the market place, and my mother saw this dress. We thought you'd like it, and my mother told me I could get it for you as a souvenier." he smiled. "Takes a girl to know a girl." he joked. Tootie laughed. She placed the dress back in the box.

Chester gave her a gift bag. Inside it was a basket set of Cherry Blossom shower gel, lotion and body spray. "Thanks, Chester! This is my favorite scent! I love this!" She smiled at him, and he hugged her. "Hey, you're one of my best friends now. Besides, I owe it to you. When I was little, you never gave me the hives like other girls did." he shuddered as he remembered Trixie hugging him, and they al laughed. Tootie looked around.

Where was Taylor? A.J. put a box in her hands. She opened it, to find a telescope. A.J. beamed. I made it myself.

"Wow, A.J. How did you manage to make this?"

"Well, it was fairly simple. As long as you align the cuts in the equi--"

"On second thought, let's just preserve the moment. Thanks, A.J." she gave him a warm smile.

Taylor ran out of the kitchen holding a blue box. "Open mine! Openmineopenmineopenmineopenmineopenmine!" he yelled like a little kid as he made a tremendous leap, landing next to Tootie on the couch. She laughed. "Ok, I guess I'll open Taylor's next." She lifted the lid, and pulled out ---"Ice cream! Thanks!" she smiled. It was the thought that counted, and who didn't love ice cream?

"Well, I don't know too much about you, but y'know, I just figured...well...read the flavor."

Tootie lifted the container and chuckled. " 'Tootie Fruity'. " Taylor beamed. "It's nutritious, and it has your name on it!"

They all laughed. "Thanks, Taylor! We can eat it with the cake." Lastly, Timmy handed her his present. She opened it and smiled. Inside was two dolls. One was a Crimson Chin, and the other was a doll wearing a dark blue swimsuit, and had glasses and black hair in pigtails. They were glued to a cardboard platform, painted white with fake flowers around it. Tootie smiled. There was no doubt that she and Timmy were the only ones who understood the sentimental value of the gift. Everyone else could tell that this was something they hadn't been let in on.

"I don't get it. Is this an inside joke?" A.J. asked.

"Yeah, fill us in!" Chester proded.

Tootie smiled. When I was little, I had a doll like this, and Timmy gave me his indestructable Chin doll. I put them on top of a fake wedding cake and went to the treehouse to show him."

"Oh, yeah, I remember!" Chester grinned, "And then you went, 'Oh, Timmmmy! I have something for you, too!' and walloppd him with a water balloon. That was great! Especially since that was your revenge, Tootie."

"I wish I coulda seen that!" Taylor laughed, "Timmy was so mean to her then."

Tootie stopped laughing. What? She got up, and grabbed Taylor's wrist. "Uh, can you guys excuse us, please?" Before anyone could answer, she dragged the very confused Taylor into the kitchen.

"What? What'd I do?" Taylor gave a confused grin. Tootie made a face as she asked, "How'd you know that?"

"Because I'm secretly a psychic with mind reading powers." he grinned, "No, seriously, though. How did I know what?"

"How'd you know that Timmy was mean to me when we were little?"

"What?" Taylor said. But playing dumb wasn't going to work with a girl in all honors classes. She crossed her arms and scrutinized him as she spoke. "You said that you wished you could've seen me hit Timmy with that water balloon because he was mean to me then. How'd you know he was mean to me back then if you just moved here a couple weeks ago?"

Taylor blinked. "It's simple: Chester said that it was your revenge on him. And people only want revenge when someone does something mean to them. So, it wasn't hard to figure out he was mean to you." Tootie was silent as she took this in. This made perfect sense. She sighed.

"Ok. I believe you. I'm sorry. "

"No problem." he smiled and gave her a hug, sending shivers up her spine."Now, if you don't mind, I think it's cake time. And I really want some Tootie." he gave her a smile before he turned to leave.

"I'm right here." she smirked.

"What?" he said, confused again. Tootie smiled. He was adorable when he ran his hand through his blonde hair.

"You said you wanted some Tootie. I'm right here." she chuckled.

"Tootie Fruity!" He said quickly, his cheeks flushing red, "I - I meant Tootie Fruity. The ice cream." He continued to attempt to make an excuse, and Tootie crossed her arms and gave a satisfied smirk. Finally, he stopped his stammering and simply said, "I'm going to go get some cake." before leaving the kitchen. Tootie laughed and followed him back into the other room, where the guys had turned on the t.v. to watch football. Tootie rolled her eyes and just gave them some cake before sitting down to join them. She was never into the singing ordeal anyway. She looked at the boy next to her, Timmy, and smiled. He glanced at her and mouthed, "Happy Birthday".

Tootie smiled back and gave him a hug. He looked at her, "You didn't make a wish, y'know."

"I know." she shrugged, "But it doesn't matter. It it's meant to come true, then it will, whether I wish it or not."

He grinned, "Then can you tell me what it is?"

"No." Tootie smiled. My wish is that you'll love me one day, the way I love you.