*five months later* Sorry. I...nope. Sorry. Really, really sorry. Both about updating and this chapter. Sorry.

Standard Disclaimer. Blah blah blah. Oh and I don't own Wal-Mart, the video games shit, and most likely everything else :)

PS : Sorry

Chapter 3

"A hardware store?" I looked at her skeptically. "We have to whole Friday night to ourselves, and you want to go to a hardware store?"

"Yes." Ally replied bluntly. "We can go to the arcade or the pizzaria or anywhere you want, after we go to the hardware store."

Do you know that feeling of uneasiness that just comes up? It feels like there's a really rough ocean inside your stomach and the only way to get rid of it is to find the answer? I couldn't find it. I stared long and hard on Ally's face, and her mine. Why would she need to go to the hardware store? No teenager goes to the hardware store without a reason. Unless you have a fettish for wood. Or metal. Then yes, you have a reason to go to the hardware store.

"Can't we just go to Wal-Mart or something?" I begged. "What am I supposed to do at that store while waiting for you?"

"Easy. Not play video games."

I scoffed. "What? Who said I was going to play video games?" I rolled my eyes. "Just because I'm a dude, with an X Box, Kinect, a PS3, PSP, an N64, Nintendo DS, DSi, and a Game Boy doesn't mean I was going to play video games." I explained starting the car.

"Mhmm." Ally said, obviously not believing me. "Because Wal-Mart is not having a sale on X Box games today." She pulled out the Wal-Mart flyer from under her seat. "And you obviously didn't circle three of the video games and wrote in big red letters, 'BEG ALLY TO COME ON FRIDAY'"

"Shut up" I mumbled as we pulled into Hardware Joes parking lot. We walked into the store with my arm around her shoulders. "So what exactly are we looking for?"

"We," she explained, bringing me to the wood aisle, "are looking for a small block of wood, and rope." I looked at her in confusion.

"Um, why?" She examined a small block of wood, then shrugged, ignoring my question completely.

"Actually," she started, "we don't need this block of wood anymore." Placing the block back in place, she took my hand and dragged me towards the rope section. My face scrunched up in confusion.

"Okay." I walked with her to the rope section. I twirled a piece of rope around my finger. "So...you just need rope for a reason." I stated. She was touching different pieces of hanging ropes, as if inspecting the different grooves on each rope, as if her life depended on it.

"Yeah." She continued her intense inspections of each piece.

"And you won't dare to tell me why?" She nodded, picking up a coiled up piece of rope.

"Pretty much." Ally threw the rope around in her hands. "Durable and heavy duty. Can hold up to 200 pounds." She read aloud from the back of the tag. "Okay. Let's go." She headed over to the front of the store.

"That's it?!" I jogged up to her, our feet walking in sync. "We come to Hardware Joes to buy a piece of rope, that you can find in Wal-Mart, on a Friday night?" She gave the rope to the cashier.

"Yeah." Ally dug around her purse for her wallet, taking out a $5 bill. "You did say you wanted to have some Austin and Ally time tonight." She explained, handing the bill to the cashier. "Keep the change" She said to her, taking the plastic bag with the somewhat important but not important enough to tell him rope and headed out the door. "Plus I needed a ride." I opened the passengers side door for her. Not because I wanted to smell her indescribable strawberry scent, but because I was being a nice boyfriend. Who desperatly wanted to leave this parking lot.

"Okay." I closed the door to her side and ran to the drivers side, sticking the keys in ignition while putting on my seat belt. "Where to m'lady?" I looked at her. "By the way, don't say Wal-Mart. I don't feel like going to Wal-Mart." She raised her eyebrows.

"I'm in the mood for some pizza. Maybe from Joe's?" She hinted, looking at me expectantly. I smiled.

"Off to Joe's we go."

I was so grateful to be dropped off at home after the pizzaria.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with Austin. I love being around him; his hugs, his smile, the way he talks about things that he loves, I love it. He's my boyfriend for crying out loud. I love how he's always there for me. It may sound really cliche, but dating your best friend will probably be the best decision I've ever made.

But being around him also hurts me. It hurts to know that they'res girls envying me because they want to have what I have. That they might be drawing devil horns on me in the yearbook, or maybe even having a hate shrine for me in their room.

I've tried telling myself they don't matter. None of them matter. Their opinions, the way they treat me, they don't matter. If they hate me for me, screw them. They're just a prop in my life, a simple roadblock that I just need to find a way over. It's easier said than done.

My problem is that I care too much. I care too much about peoples opinions. I care too much about whether they'll like me or not. I try harder to impress them, than to impress myself. I'm supposed to impress myself, rather than impressing the people who I would probably never see again outside of highschool. Why do I care so much?

My other problem is that I care too little about myself. I may be rephrasing what I've said earlier, but, it's true, and I need to be able to change that around.

How long will it take before their mean voices get out of my head. How long will it take before I start accepting myself for who I am. How long will it take before I realize that Austin, and Trish, and Dez, and my dad, all care about me and all love me to death.

How long will it take before I realize it's too late?

Stay Rydelicious!

-MJ