It has been FOREVER.

Ps. thanks guys. Gotta hate me some spell check.

-kiddo

I drummed my fingers loudly across the dark-stained desk I was sitting at. There were several other kids in detention with me, including the ginger-haired boy who I had Spanish with this morning.

The teacher who was forced to watch us was flipping through his book, his face unreadable. From the material he was reading and the whistle around his neck, I could clearly peg him as the coach of a team or a gym teacher.

"That was a nice move you pulled back there, new girl."

"Pardon?" I raised one of my eyebrows at the boy next to me.

He smiled and brushed a chunk of his gingery hair out of his face, reveling two of the bluest eyes I had ever seen. "In Ms. Partridge's class," He glanced at the teacher to make sure he wasn't listening. "A little dramatic with the added swear words in Spanish, but all in all it was very well done."

"Thank you," I scowled at the clock as it slowly made its way to four. Secretly I was pleased someone else taken heart to my little speech.

"I'm Gabe, by the way." He offered, giving me a smile.

"Good for you," I smirked at the front of the classroom, not bothering to hide my face.

He sighed, but didn't stop smiling. "Normally that gives you the pleasure of introducing yourself to me."

"Well, these aren't normal circumstances, are they?" I tilted my head at the supervising teacher.

"You're sister is Kim? Dates that big, dark guy, right?" He was persistent, I would give him that.

"My, oh my, aren't we observant?" I tore my eyes away from the clock to find him still staring at me.

"Hmm…Which means you're the reason she was having a fit in the parking lot when you weren't there. She mentioned murder and the like. Not even her boyfriend could get her calmed down."

"She's going to have a conniption later." I gave a small laugh just thinking about it. "Did they wait long for me?"

"Nope," He leaned back in his seat. "She hopped in the cay with the guy and they went off and left poor you here all alone."

I snorted at his comment. "That's just too bad."

"Isn't it? Now you'll have to walk home in the rain." He looked as if he was considering something for a moment. "Or I could give you a ride…"

"In your car," I confirmed, considering the double meaning.

He chuckled softly. "Yes, in my car…For a price."

"Not happening," I looked back up at the teacher who had fallen asleep and was snoring loudly.

"Are you sure? It's a downpour out there." He twirled a pen between his fingers, still grinning.

"I'm not into casual sex." I explained calmly, tracing the word 'FUCK' that someone had carved into the desk I was sitting at.

"Oh? What kind of sex are you into, then?"

"The deep and meaningful kind?" I lied. I wasn't into sex at all.

"I can be deep and meaningful. Give me five minutes to get into character." He shot back, refusing to pass up a good fight.

"How long are you going to last after five minutes?" It was light and superficial. Of all the things I had been accused of, a slut was not one of them.

"Ouch," Gabe looked wounded for a second. "No, but really," He coughed into his fist. "I'm not asking a ride for a ride, but it does seem fair, doesn't it? All I want is one date."

"A date?" I snorted again.

"Is that so hard to believe? And so be it if the date ends with sex, I certainly won't be complaining."

I smirked at the clock, still trying to ignore him. He was making it exceedingly difficult for me. "It's not happening, but you can still give me a ride home."

"It's all or nothing, sweetheart."

"Then its nothing."

"You win," Gabe sat back in his seat. "No date, alright?" I smirked. "But I'm still giving you a ride home. I don't want one of those Quilute boys beating the shit out of me for leaving you stranded in the rain. If you had any human compassion you would take pity on me and simply agree to take me up on the offer."

I pretended to ponder the question. "You know where I live, right?"

"I wouldn't get lost, if that's what you're asking. I've been out to drop off things of Kim's before." He caught my look of surprise and gave me a fox-like grin. "Purely educational reasons, believe me. We're in Politics together."

"Ah," I watched the teacher groan and shift around in his seat. Something told me I didn't want to know what was going on under that desk. "Will he wake up anytime soon? I really have to get home."

"Nah, we could leave early. Coach would sleep through an earthquake. Tomorrow morning the janitor will probably find him here, still sleeping like a log." Gabe stood and stretched.

"Let's blow this popsicle stand." I told him, following him out of the room.

"I have something much more interesting for you to blow, but I don't do that upon the first time I meet someone. People might get the wrong impression, you know?" Gabe's legs were much longer than my own, and I had to walk faster than usual to keep up with him. Even though he was tall, he didn't hold a candle to Jacob.

We ran through the parking lot that had already begun to flood. I could feel the water soaking through my shoes and down into my thick socks. It felt like I was wearing a pair of washcloths on my feet, not comfortable at all.

Gabe didn't seem to mind the three inches of water as much as I did. He was wearing combat boots and I was willing to bet my last paycheck he was warm and toasty in them while I took his own sweet time fumbling through his keys to unlock the car.

"Hurry up!" I finally lost my patience.

He had the audacity to laugh at me. "Listen, Kim's little sister, I'm working as fast as I can here. Give me a break, would you?"

"Is there any way you could work a little faster? My pants are getting waterlogged."

"Maybe if you told me your name I would be inclined to hurry this little operation up, what do you think?"

"Open the fucking door! I'm not in the mood to play games, alright?"

He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Name please,"

"Shannon!" I gave in and he hit the unlock button on his key fob. "Took you fucking long enough," I slid in, smirking at the fact that I was getting his good leather interior all wet.

"That's a pretty name." He said, absent-mindedly. With his left hand he started the car and fiddled with the vents so that they were pointed on me and blowing heat. It felt like heaven.

"Whatever you say, buddy. Just get me back to my house so I can get out of these clothes." I toed my shoes off and glanced at him grinning wickedly. "That wasn't an invitation, by the way."

He threw the car into reverse and pulled out of the parking lot. "You can't blame me for what comes naturally, you know."

"And what's that?"

"Wistful thinking."

I snorted in an unladylike fashion and crossed my arms over my chest. This was going to be a long drive home.

He took the long way home. Strangely enough, the drive was pleasant after Gabe cut it out with some of the innuendo. I found myself feeling like I was back in Los Angels and driving around with my dad or one of my friends, and I felt happy. He was easy to get along with when he wasn't trying to worm his way into my pants.

"And that, little girl, is why we should be the best of friends." He sighed and pulled into my driveway.

"Because you have a car?" I smirked and gathered my discarded shoes and washcloth-esqe socks. "I need a better reason than that."

"Well, how about that I'm a really good kisser and I know how to separate a friendship from se-"

"No." I slid out of the car, grateful that it had stopped raining.

"There is one more reason!" Gabe called after me, leaning towards the open window.

"And what is that?" I crooked an eyebrow, walking backwards.

"Your sister hates me."

I had a feeling this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

"Shannon! Where have you? Jake and Jared and I have been waiting here for over an hour!"

Only Kim could ruin a moment like this.