A/N: Hello again :) So, this is chapter two. And yes, it's better than chapter one. The formatting is better, and there's more content. So, please read, and review. I think I'm going to wait until I get a review or two before I upload the next chapter.

Friendzoned, Chapter Two:

Jared's Introduction

I woke up to my moms voice, screaming at me to get my lazy ass out of bed. I stretched, and looked at my alarm clock, seeing that it was noon. Crap. No wonder she was yelling at me. I got out of bed, put a shirt and some pants on, and walked into the kitchen. My mom, who had once been some sort of model-turned-actress for a (very) brief amount of time, looked at me with an exasperated look on her face. I already knew what was coming: "Jared," she said, "How do you expect your life to go somewhere when you don't get up until twelve in the afternoon? I've been up since six, taking care of your little sister. And did you think to help me? No. No, you didn't."

She kept going on and on and on, and I just tuned her out. I heard this everyday, sometimes twice a day. She had me when she was 19, and had my little sister when she was 33. My dad was nonexistent, as he had skipped out before I was born. Keane, my little sister, was only one. Her dad, luckily for her, was still around. Surprisingly, him and my mom were still together. They weren't married, and I doubted that they ever would be. But he worked from three in the morning until nine at night, and by the time he got home, he was so exhausted that he went straight to bed. Basically, he was useless. I wondered why my mom didn't break up with him, but we were staying in his house, so I could kind of see why. Keane, at least, deserved to grow up in a nice, loving home. Unlike my youth, she deserved the best. I had to live with my mom, and be the man of the house while she would stay out until the early hours of the morning, partying and doing who knows what with random guys she met at the bar.

Luckily, everything changed when she met Jason. He was a good influence, unlike the other guys in her life. When she got pregnant, he stuck around. He supported her, and gave us a place to live. And he treats Keane like a princess, which I think is great. I'm glad that she'll have a happy childhood.

When my mom finished speaking, I smiled at her, hugged her, and told her that I would get Keane ready for the day, so she could get ready for work in peace. I tried to do nice things for my mom everyday, but sometimes I would sleep in, or forget. But when I remembered, my mom would be happy, if not only for a short period of time. She thanked me, and ran upstairs. Her work hours are pretty relaxed, and she only works from 1-6. Usually, Keane goes to daycare, but when I'm home, I like to take care of her.

My mom left about 15 minutes later, thanking me again for taking care of Keane. About five minutes after she left, I put Keane in her playpen, grabbed my cell phone, and texted Kim, asking her if she wanted to come over. Kimberley Connweller is my best friend. People seem to think that there's something romantic between us, but there's not. I mean, yeah, she's pretty. And she's nice, and sweet, and great with Keane. But that's it. We've been friends forever, and I always go to her with my problems, whether they're about school, my mom, Jason, or girls. She's always there for me, and I really couldn't ask for anyone better.

Five minutes after I texted her, she replied, saying that she would love to come over, and she'd be there shortly. I smiled, and felt a nervous flutter of excitement in my stomach. I was surprised for a second; I couldn't like Kim. I brushed it off, thinking that I was just hungry or something. Yeah, that's it.