A/N: Hey, all! SillverMedal here. I was asked to co-write this with Nixy Angel and I said yes, bringing you this new story that hopefully you'll enjoy. Now, about reviews: If you want to talk to me personally just send me a PM, but if you just want to let us know how you feel about the story thus far just leave us a review. I'll read both eventually. Enjoy!

I guess I was preoccupied with the fact that somebody had actually bothered to notice me (something I was beginning to think was physically impossible) because it hardly dawned on me that I was going to be introduced to this girl's friend (or was it brother? Cousin?). I cleared my throat and stood up straighter. I may be social lunch meat, but I still have some dignity left.

Carly, as the last few moments had so discreetly informed me, was different. Quirky, unique, definitely someone I hadn't noticed before, she stood out in a way that was as unnoticeable as, well, as me.

My first impression of Griffin, however, was completely different. For one thing, he looked absolutely nothing like his sister (sister, right?). Dark brown hair, thick and unkempt ran long onto his face, covering up the narrow glasses that gave his mousy face an owl-like dimension. He wore dark jeans and a black t-shirt that read Beatles in bold face. His ears were pierced and he wore a studded belt and matching wrist band.

I'm not one to judge. Really. I'm not. Look at my position on this so called social ladder; I'm nonexistent. A flea on the back of the rest of the student body. A harmless, meaningless, insect.

But man, this guy looked weird.

There had been a time once when I would have frowned upon him and passed him off for no more than-

-Than what? A fellow insect?

Carly leaned against a locker and I awkwardly stayed by her side as he walked over, wearing a smirk and burying his hands deep in his pockets.

"Sup, sis?" he asked her as he came up beside Carly, pushing his long bangs out of his eyes and yawning.

Carly rolled her eyes and popped her gum. "How many cavities?" she asked her brother curtly. I shuffled my feet and pretended not to exist.

Griffin clicked his tongue and flashed her a grin. "Zippo," he said playfully, turning the combination of one of the lockers.

Carly stood in silence for a few moments before apparently remembering me. "Oh," she said, lacking enthusiasm. "This is Cody. Zack Martin's twin brother." I fought back a grimace; I was a heck of a lot more than just Zack's twin, thankyouverymuch.

Griffin swung open his locker and grabbed a book, nodding once in my direction. "Hey," he said. "What's up, man?"

I shrugged. More questions. "Just…Um…" I searched for alternative ways to say just being the class freak, actually, trying not to get my ass kicked, mainly but failed miserably and instead just winded up looking stupid. But hey, it's all good, that was apparently my God-given talent. Might as well use it.

"He was waving at himself," Carly stated bluntly, not bothering to look back at me. "Caught my attention-,"

"-Gee, wonder why," Griffin snickered.

"-So I said hello," Carly finished.

Griffin finished emptying his locker (slipping something quickly into his pocket) and slammed the door, shrugging on his backpack. "You coming with us?"

I stared at him, mouth hanging open slightly. It had been a long, long time since my last invite to-well, to anywhere. I cleared my throat before answered. "Where are you going?" I may be an outcast, but I like to know my facts.

Carly turned to me and turned her head, flipping her long hair as though it were a nuisance. "Sully's," she said briskly but not unkindly.

I had no idea what that was.

Griffin read my expression and broke out into a grin. "It's a music café downtown. We're just gonna get, like, a snack or something. This guy I know's got a band and they're performing in a half hour."

They both looked at me expectantly, and I fiddled with my earlobe, trying to keep my cool. Think, Cody, what would Zack d-

-No. No way was I going to take unsaid advice from my so called "brother". I was a good person by myself. I didn't need him to make new friends. I didn't.

"Yeah," I heard myself say. "Okay. If you don't mind, or whatever…?" I hated how my sentence came out as more of a question, like I needed approval. I didn't.

"Nah, it'll be fun," said Griffin, starting to walk down the hall. He can't have been all that popular if I didn't know who he was prior to the last five minutes and yet he walked with a sort of confidence and dignity I envied.

Carly matched his stride and I hurried along in their wake. "Mom drop you off?" she asked him as we headed towards the doors.

He nodded and ran a thin hand through his hair. "Yep," he said.

"Okay. Then we're taking my car."

I looked at her in a bit of surprise. I wouldn't turn sixteen until January (a month away) and I hadn't even thought about cars. Zack undoubtedly had and if we did get one we'd most likely share it. Being a twin I'd grown up sharing, but somehow I didn't think Zack'd be too keen to drop me off at the library on the way to a date.

We left the building (school having been over for twenty minutes or so) and walked around to the back parking lot. Carly led the way over to a small, used, black Saturn that creaked when she unlocked and opening the driver's door.

I scooted into the backseat and considered calling mom to let her know I was going somewhere, but I knew she'd disapprove of getting into a near stranger's car so I didn't. Against my better judgment, sure, but Zack got away with it all the time.

When we'd backed out onto the main road, Griffin reached over and turned on the radio so that some anonymous rock band blared out. I resisted the temptation to cover my ears and Carly scowled.

"Turn that off!" she shouted above the noise, waving a hand in the direction of the speakers. Griffin relented grudgingly, merely turning it down. Carly narrowly missed running a red light and slammed on the breaks so that I lurched forward.

Griffin swore good-naturedly and turned back in his seat to face me. "So," he said casually, nodding slowly. "What grade are you in?"

"I'm a sophomore," I said.

"Hey, yeah, me, too," he answered, sounding pleased. I almost asked about Carly but he told me ahead of time. "She is, too."

I couldn't stop myself from blurting out, "are you twins?" and almost blushed with embarrassment.

Griffin shook his head, switching the stations deftly. "Nah," he said. "My parents adopted her when we were both five. Hence the reason I'm so much better looking," he flashed a charming grin and Carly reached over to shove him.

"He spends his time being a complete idiot," she told me sarcastically through the rearview mirror. "Ignore him and he'll usually go away."

I grinned and slowly she pulled into a parking lot, nabbing a great spot and hopping out of the car. I followed suit and so did Griffin (albeit slowly). Sully's was a small place; like an Indie-version of Starbucks. Dark inside but with a stage lit up by red lights. Griffin grabbed a table near the front and flagged over a waiter.

Once I'd ordered water and they'd both gotten coffee Griffin stood up. "Be right back," he said, excusing himself as he inched out of the booth. He grabbed something out of his pocket and nodded towards the back entrance. "Gonna go for a smoke," he said before meandering away.

I didn't say a whole lot to Carly and she didn't say much to me. She seemed to be completely immersed in a novel she'd pulled out and I pretended to be fascinated with the desert menu, which featured Zack's favorite (chocolate cake), but not mine.

Typical.

Griffin returned a few minutes later and I tried to dispel the thoughts in my head discouraging smoking. It was his business, wasn't it? Was I really going to blow this chance of possibly having friends? Heck no.

"Hey!" Griffin shouted suddenly, raising his hand in the hair as the door to Sully's opened and a guy carrying a guitar case walked in. "Ben!"

The new guy hurried over, setting the instrument down by the stage and leaning over the table. "Hey, Griffin," he said as they pulled into a quick hug. He winked at Carly who rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. This "Ben" had long, messy hair that wasn't all that different from Griffin's except that it was a light brown, honey sort of a color. He sent off immediate cool vibes that intimidated me.

"Who's the new kid?" Ben asked generically, staring at me.

"Meet Cody," said Griffin smoothly. "Cody, meet Ben Giadillio, tonight's entertainment." Ben nodded at him in greeting.

"You related to Zack?" he asked, sounding resentful.

"He's my brother," I answered sheepishly, humiliated again. Maybe that was how Zack felt whenever he was questioned about me—embarrassed to share DNA.

After a few minutes of small talk other guys started filing onto the stage and Ben left to go set up with them. Griffin turned back towards me wearing a mischievous sort of smirk. "You know…" he drawled out slowly, leaning back in the booth and folding his arms over his chest. "I think Carly's got a little crush on Ben…"

"I do not!" Carly squealed, turning to him in an embarrassed horror. I grinned and tried not to laugh. She looked at him, aghast, then proceeded to punching his shoulder and making an affronted noise.

"What?" Griffin asked innocently, laughing and holding up his hands in surrender. "Just telling it like it is, sis…"

I watched them squabble and a part of me lifted. Maybe this was my chance. Maybe I'd found friends for the first time in what seemed like forever. Maybe this Friday wouldn't be spent in my room, crying, angry at my brother.

Maybe.

"What d'you think, Cody?" Griffin asked playfully as Carly grinned despite her angry actions. "You think they'd be a cute couple?" I laughed. "I think so," he said.

The music started up, drowning out Carly's reply, and hiding the sound of the rain that had begun to fall outside.