Disclaimer: Shake It Up is solely owned by the magical puff-puff cloud that lives in the apartment next to me. He has lots of money, but no friends. Maybe a cousin or two, but nothing else. Just him and Shake It Up.

It's been two days now.

The first time I manage to get my legs to work is when I have to get up for school. I sluggishly pull on my usual attire, and head into the bathroom. I manage getting my eyes working and look up at the mirror. I look like a bag of smashed assholes. My mother will be back from her trip in two days, and then I can finally explain why

I shower, brush my teeth, floss (Twice, I can't risk getting deep plaque) brush out the tangled mess of my hair, and dreadfully head off to school. And when I get there, I deserve what I get. All the paper balls hauled t the back of my neck, the popular girls eyeing me with manipulation. "Aye guys, Miss Holier Than Thou is back." Although I don't recognize the voice, I recognize the saying, but I simply keep my tired eyes down to my shoes and continue to make my way to Principle Walloch's office.

As I step into the dark blue office, she pushes away her paperwork and her amber-gold eyes take a look at me. "Raquel, what's wrong?"

Everything. The girl I internally melt at hates me. I barfed on her. "I don't-" I clear my throat, my voice dry and drained from energy. Probably because I cried for two days straight. "I probably can't go through with the rest of the tutoring."

She twist her face in confusion. "Why? If CeCe's giving you a hard time I'll gladly give her a lengthy essay and two weeks of detention, although it wouldn't seem much different from the rest of her days here."

I quickly object. "No, no-, it's just... I can't."

She sees as to why I don't explain my reasons and doesn't asks any questions. "Well, I guess I can notify CeCe's mother about the change... Are you okay?" She slides a comforting hand over mine and it takes everything in me not to breakdown in front of her. I nod and bite the inside of my cheek. Before she can talk again, I'm rushing out of her office and down the hallway to first period. It's probably the only place I won't have to face CeCe.

XxX

I've decided to spend the rest of my time in the school library. It's not like I'll get terrorized in here.

"Hey, Raquel, you alright?" At the feel of my hand on my shoulder, I snap up and glance at the brunette, freckled face girl. Dina Garcia. I nod and turn back to my book, before I hear the strong accent again. "Look, if your tryin' to get me away by ignoring me, it's not workin'."

Why is Dina talking to me? As much as I can recall, she's friends with CeCe. "I know what happened at the mall the other day, Quinton told me. And I talked to CeCe, and she's not the happiest camper right now." Oh God, CeCe was right. I didn't think that it'd get around that quickly, she's probably seething with anger right now. It only makes my chest tighten and my fingers clamp tighter on my book. I shake my head whisper,"I'm sorry."

She slides her hand on my shoulder and gives me forgiving eyes. "Raquel, don't be sorry. CeCe is a pain the ass; she only bites your ass because she's sees you as a tiny, hopeless bug that she can step on. You gotta stand up to her, girl!" Dina gets shushed by several people around her, only for those people to be flipped off by a freckled finger. I shake my head again, and quietly talk. "I'm not... like that. And besides, CeCe has no desire to see my face, let alone hear about me after my... accident at the mall. She said that," I swallow the boulder forming in my throat,"That she hated me. She hated me and wanted me to stay away from her." Dina seems to sense my discomfort, and shakes her head.

"You gotta understand somethin' about CeCe; She's a bitch. Bitches yell and scream and fight and after a goodnight's rest, they let the whole thing go the next day."

I gaze thoughtfully at Dina, and again, wonder why she's now speaking to me. I feel like she was put to this; like someone pitied me and begged Dina to agree. But now, here she sits, with a warm smile, nothing fake to it.

"But I- I threw up on her- In front of the football team's four varsity players." Dina chuckles and looks around, before leaning in and whispering,"Well, word is that Santiago and Brett are total butt-buddies. Quinton and Remy are pretty close too, so they shouldn't care about CeCe that much." Dina chuckles, her small laughter echoing throughout the quiet library. "But really, Raquel, if you wanna get inside CeCe, mentally I mean," she winks at me, the blush fusing up my ears and down my neck,"Ya can't let her flip your ass around like a piece of paper in the wind! Be the wind, Raquel!"

Dina receives several more hushes before muttering,"Well, screw ya all too. I'll see you 'round, alright?" She stands up and gives me that warm, comforting smile again, and turns to leave. I almost let her go, before I squeak,"Wait, D-Dina!" She turns around, and raises her eyebrows. "Yeah?"

"Why... Why are-" I look down at the text in the book, then back at her. "Why are you talking to me?" She shrugs.

"Just 'cause I hang out with sexist idiots and slutty, popular bitches, doesn't mean I don't have a heart. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got these really nice condoms that most boys in school would need, and mating season is bright and early this month."

With that, I watch her strut out with her shiny, blue and pink shoes gleaming in the light and glaring on my glasses.

When somebody loved me, everything was beautiful. Every hour we spent together lives within my heart.

I stutter out a breath and shut the TV off. Everything thing around me wants to resurrect all the melancholy and gloom that I had fought throughout the last two days to yank back into my stomach and dissolve. But even with the TV off, I still hear the echo of a twisted lyric in my ears. The pang of each piano key dropping down on my heart strings. The bad things starting to bubble back up. And when she was sad, I was there to dry her tears.

I remember. The tears that had flowed down her cheeks, her cocoa-colored irises drained and worn. And I was the one she came to.

And as I sit on my couch in an empty house, I feel a little snap. Somewhere in my brain, deep in the depths of where love should lay, something very delicate and small snap. And all the insults, the mindless pranks were released in in a little growl. I launch my fist towards the lamp beside me. That was a big mistake.

"So, you were learning how to dance... And you were spinning, and you hit the lamp?"

I nod even though I know he can't see me. "Um... Yeah."

"And now it's purple and puffy?"

"Yes."

"And now the lamp is broken?"

I clear my throat and mumble into the phone,"Yes."

He lets out a sigh. "Raquel, please, be careful while me and your mother are away. She should be back in a few days so make sure your brother doesn't destroy the house. As for your hand, put it on some ice and try to refrain from using it."

"Okay, dad. I'll see you later."

"Alright. Love you baby."

"Love you too." I let my left hand awkwardly set the home phone back on it's hook, and I stare back at my right hand. My anger had gotten the best of me, and now I have a plum-looking hand and a shattered lamp on the ground. It makes me even more vexed that my hand didn't even do any damage to the lamp, all it did was shove the lamp on the ground. And for the second time that day, I feel something inside of me break. Except this one isn't violent and provoked, this one is very light.

Oh look, I'm crying.

XxX

For the first time ever, I feel happy instead of fearful to see the reckless red that I mourn the internal loss of. But it's because of the nasty, puffy red scratch below her eye that make my eyes remain trained on until I bump into her. My books go falling out of my arms, and usually she'd snicker and strut away, but I see her bend over and pick up my history book. But she shoves it back into my arms and I see the glower on her face, the warning look in her eyes; She's so beautiful.

"Watch where you're fucking going, Blue."

My mouth is agape as I stare ahead, hearing CeCe's heels click against the vinyl tiles of the school ground. I can see the watchful eyes that follow her as she rounds the corner, and then she's out of my sight.

"Tinka got somethin' on CeCe." I gasp and slam against the lockers at the voice in my ear. Breath spreads germs. I don't want germs.

Oh, Dina.

She blinks at me. "Um... Alrighty. Walk and talk with me Blue." I nod and quickly catch up with her fast pace. "Well, the word on the street is that Tinka got some dirt on CeCe, and it's pretty big." Dina lowers her voice as we enter my empty first period. "So yesterday, Tinka allegedly saw CeCe making out with Santiago Lopez at Crusty's, but Santiago is already datin' Nina Puckerman. CeCe tried to jump Tinka out of telling anyone but, as you saw, Tinka got the upper hand of that game. And now the rumor has spread like herpes on a summer night, and CeCe is in the dumps."

"But I thought Santiago Lopez and Brett Pierce were... Dating?"

Dina gives a loud chuckle. "Sex isn't dating, Raquel."

All this vulgar talk makes me really uncomfortable. "Well, I betcha' eighty-seven percent that CeCe's comin' to your house after school. All her little "friends" have suddenly disappeared since that shitty rumor got out. She probably won't stay at home either since her mom's always out, and she's so goddamn needy."

My house? "M-my house? But sh-she said tha-"

Dina rolls her eyes and interrupts,"How many times do I have to tell you, she did not mean what she said! CeCe is probably the most simple-minded person you'll ever meet, she probably forgot about the whole thing by now. And quit breathin' so hard, I don't want your aspiration all over my Monster Beats."

The thought alone of CeCe already scares (And pleasures) me, but she's so broken and dark right now, one thing could set her off in a moment. Students begin to pile in, and that's Dina's cue to give one last remark,"I'd be careful if I were you, CeCe can bite real hard." She gives me a big smile before straightening her bright headphones that are always around neck, and exiting the room and leaving me alone.

Leaving me alone dying.

I've dusted the table, disinfected the bar, fluffed the sofas, swept out the family room, restocked the flowers on the coffee table, dimmed the lights, and taken a bath to seem if it would get the smell of nervous sweat and a horny teenager off my skin. It didn't. Mainly because my body only consists of those two things.

No, no negative thoughts. Just sit on the sofa and wait for CeCe.

What if she comes and yells at me again? Why won't my stupid fucking glasses stop fogging up? Why are my underwear so tight? I knew I should've bought the size five; I'm practically the size of Lebron freaking James right now. Oh God, why isn't that pillow sitting at a one-hundred-eighty degree angle like I set it? That could damage CeCe's spine alignment and then she'll hate me again and then I'll go die again-

The moment my mind stops is when I see quite possibly the most beautiful thing ever. The scratch below her eye is covered in a purple band-aid, and she's in her pajamas, despite it only being seven PM. Her locks of red seems to have fallen into natural curliness, her lips are pinks and pouty, and her eyes; They don't even hold the bright, evil glimmer anymore.

She says nothing as she shuts the fire escape and crosses over to sit where I am, naturally as far away from me as possible. I remain seated on the sofa with my hands linked to together.

I want to laugh at myself as I sit here, acting like I'm strapped to bombs around a sleeping lion. And I mentally count fourteen minutes before she speaks.

"What's wrong with you?... Why do you look like that?" I shake my head and quickly respond,"It's nothing."

I count five more minutes. "Do you like me?"

I want to have your children. "Of course I do; Why wouldn't why?"

She takes the pillow from behind her and lets her gaze trace over the patterns of it. "Because everyone else in the world seems to despise me."

My eyes widen at her sharp language and dear Lord she's getting closer to me. "Santiago touched me first. I told him to fuck off but he still wouldn't, so I just gave up and kissed him. Then motherfucking Tinka Hessenheffer showed up, and she just had to tell everyone in school that I'm a slut." I wonder how Tinka has the audacity to call CeCe that when I know that she and Ty are more than friendly when they go up to Ty's room, yet Ty and CeCe apparently go out. I should refrain from telling CeCe anything else that would ruin her day even more, though.

"I wish I was like you sometimes." ... Did she just say that? "You don't have to deal with all this drama and shit. You can wake up, go to school, come home to your family, eat dinner, then go to bed. Not wake up, go to school, sit in detention, make out with a random guy, fall asleep in geometry and English because you can't understand a thing in the textbooks, go home, stay up 'till, like, three, and then fall asleep texting one of your friends. You're really the most simple person I've ever met."

I really hope this is happening because so help me, if this is a dream, I will jump off a fucking cliff.

Oh, she's crying now. Although, they're not angry like they usually appear; they're silent and soft and shaded. "Like, I wish I didn't have so much of the world wanting to be involved with me, ya know?" I do know, only she'd explained it in her own, creative way. She sniffles and shakes her head. "One day, I just wish that I can actually be happy. My life just... sucks."

My throat is so dry. I swallow and murmur,"CeCe, you're a really brave girl, you know? So many people wish they were in your position, but they can't, so that's why they can only be in your presence to admire who you are." Why do these things fall out of my mouth with such grace yet I'm internally combusting at how close we are?

I want to reach out and stroke away the stray tears that continue to run down her flushed cheeks, but I fear that she'll run away, and hate me again, so I stay in my position at the other end of the sofa while she continues to stare out the window.

What is she doing? Oh dear, why is she getting closer?

Oh my God. She's leaning on me. Not beside me, but on me. She's barely touching the side of my arm, but still, she's touching me.

I knew I should of hid that extra pair of underwear in the spice cabinet. These ones are definitely unwearable now.

Oh no. My lungs. "I'm just tired of being nice to people who don't give two shits about me," is the sentence she trembles out with ease, and it's taking all of my might to uphold my breathing correctly and not go limp on her lap. She sighs contently and for a few more inches, leans deeper into me. There's that tingle in my throat. I know I'm forgetting something right now... Oh, breathing.

I can feel every inch by inch as CeCe gradually presses deeper into my burning, flushed arm. My lungs are beginning to serve no purpose to my body, due to the lightheaded feeling that supposed to only surround my head, not my whole entire freaking body.

Dammit, the teenage sweat is back. It's back and I'm so hot and my throat is closing and my legs are perishing and my glasses are fogging, WHY do they do that with no reason whatsoever?

She sniffles once more before standing up. "I'm gonna head home now." My legs somehow manage to work and I walk her to my front door, and then she nods at me as I swing it open. "So, thanks for... Everything. Like, really, thank you, Rocky." Why is she getting closer again? I can't take anymore, please, no more.

Oh no, she's gonna hug me. And then CeCe's arms come around mine as she gives me a petty hug. And she's such a warm girl, and the scent of the soft vanilla breezes pass me, one that dazes me everytime we cross paths in the hallway. And I can feel her fingertips pressed on my shoulder blade, and I melt deeper and deeper into her light grasp.

And then she quickly pushes herself away from my conflagrating body, with a look of repulsion, disgust, and horror neatly painted on her face. I guess she realized she was hugging me.

"Uh, bye."

And then she runs out of my house.

...

...

Oh my God. CeCe called me Rocky again. Oh my God. CeCe Jones leaned on me. Oh my God. And she hugged me. She hugged me. She hugged me.

Oh hai ground I missed you.

Y'all saw that, right? I know y'all saw that. CeCe, they saaaw yooou C:l

CeCe's not mad anymore like Dina suspected = Win. Rocky hugged CeCe = Win. CeCe gets into the biggest conflict ever with Rocky in the next chapter = Win/Loss. Wloss.

Darn, you weren't supposed to know that ;D

Mainly that I'm sorry, I'll pay the rent next time, I did not cheat on you with that super hot blonde down the street, and that child sure isn't mine. And also, review.

C: Review. (If y'all ever see any mistakes, please PM me, Betas don't like me.)