Haven't really been getting a lot of reviews...it makes me sad :(

I walked to gym class surprisingly content. Of course not much had changed; people were still staring, gossiping, and just doing what they do. But on the bright side, lunch was fun, I haven't seen Mrs. Meyers, and I haven't been called back to the principal's office. Call me optimistic.

The gym doors echoed as I pushed them opened, the gym was full of chatter...of course doing nothing relevant. Rachel and her fem-bots were wearing Darton cheerleading uniforms today. I couldn't help but notice how ugly they were. Daisy, Rachel's right-hand spawn of Satan, turned towards me and raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow.

"Ohmigod. Look at her face," she said sneering. Rachel turned, looked at me and smirked.

"No uglier than usual," Rachel shrugged and turned her back to me.

I rolled my eyes and marched past them before turning back.

"Hey Rachel!" I called loud enough for others to hear. "You may wanna lay off the snack, your butt looks HUGE in that skirt," it was my turn to smirk as the crowd giggled. Rachel glared at me, her cheeks turning pink and I shrugged, mimicking her and turned my back to her.

Today wasn't a total disaster after all.

"You're that girl from the bathroom."

There went my good day. I looked up to find the same boy that had walked in on Jake and me in the bathroom. His light brown hair reached his chin and looked slightly disheveled. He smiled nervously and the skin crinkled around his ultra light green eyes.

I smiled, but was sure it looked more like a grimace. "So that is what my reputation has come down to...," I muttered sadly, my tone teasing. The boys shoulders relaxed a little and he sat down on the bleacher in front of me.

"Zach," he reached out his hand and I gave it a quick shake. I noticed he had an accent which I had missed previously.

"Sam." His skin was tan and his face was lightly peppered with some light freckles, he was definitely a looker. To prove my point, Rachel glanced up at us repeatedly, annoyance clearly etched on her face.

"Yeah I know. You're pretty popular around here," he gave me a cute dimply smile which fit him better than his nervous one.

"Only just recently," I said waving to Rachel who was staring once again. "Usually I'm pretty much ignored."

His eyes widened slightly. "I don't know how that's possible."

Was he flirting or just being nice? I don't usually talk to guys...having two best friends that are guys doesn't really count.

"Well, when the most poplar girl hates you then it's possible. I'm grateful really, I almost feel like giving her a thank-you card for making the school ignore me...all this attention is nuts," I babbled, side-tracked by the fraying fabric on one of my holes on my jeans.

He smirked and glanced back at Rachel. "I'm going to take a wild guess that the person you are eternally grateful to is the girl that won't stop staring up here?"

I clapped my hands and smiled. "Bingo!" He laughed looking down at his black Chuck Taylors. "So where are you from Zach?" I said not bothering to ask if he was new...because that was just a no brainer.

"New Haven, Connecticut...not far from New York City," he explained realizing I had no idea where he had been talking about. It explained his accent though...a New Yorker...sorta.

"Wow, that's awesome." I nodded my head in appreciation. "Nevada's a lot different I'm sure."

"Yeah, it's really hot and there is so much empty land," he shook his head in wonder. "I was a little shocked but I like it better than New York," he smiled. New York sounding like New Yoke."Quieter and not as stuffy. People are nicer too."

I held back a snort. Some people were nicer, but not the one glaring up at us...

"Excuse me...," Zach held up a finger and turned his back, walking down the bleachers. I deflated a little when he walked up to Rachel who smiled victoriously. Was it wrong for me to be slightly disappointed? I let out a sigh and stared down at my scuffed sneakers. I should have known better, it was probably another joke by Rachel...they were probably laughing at me now.

"Sorry about that," Zach stood next to me and I looked at him in surprise. He motioned towards the seat next to me. "Mind if I sit?"

"Not my gymnasium so I don't really have a say," I shrugged, glancing down at Rachel; who was seething. Is this what victory felt like? It was pretty damn awesome.

"A simple 'no' would have worked," he smiled and sat down next to me.

"It's no fun being simple," I pointed out, staring at him...he stared right back.

"You make a valid point...," he continued to smile at me. It was weird...but a good weird.

"What was that all about?" I asked, breaking the stare off to look over at Rachel.

He sat up straighter and blinked as if surprised. "Oh, she was annoying me with all that staring," he shrugged. "So I just asked her to direct her attention somewhere else...and I kind of got the feeling you didn't appreciate it either."

I laughed. "Please be my new best friend," I teased. The thought of him telling Rachel off was just too good to be true.

"And here I was thinking it would be hard making new friends," he teased back.

"Please, I'm pretty sure everyone here wants to be your friend," which was true. He was cute and he had an accent. I wouldn't be surprised if he had already collected a crap load of phone numbers.

"Well you just set the bar for them all...and I don't think anyone will be able to reach it," our gazes met and I bit my lip, looking away.

That had to be one of the coolest things anyone has ever said to me.

x-x-x-x

Zach and I walked out of the school together, still talking. He told me all about New York City and his frequent trips there. He asked me about places I've been. Honestly, we talked about the most pointless stuff, yet it was one of the most interesting conversations I've had in a while.

"Where are you parked?" He asked once we reached the student parking lot. It was filled with old cars and trucks, the ones that everyone said killed our planet. The gas guzzlers, the ones with rust and chipped paint. A lot of the students got hand me downs until they could afford to buy there own car. There were only a few newer cars, of course two of the being Rachel's and Ryan's.

"Actually, I take the bus," I said pointing over to the other parking lot filled with big yellow buses.

Zach pulled out his keys. "Oh, well do you want a ride?"

Yes. "You don't have to, besides it's probably out of the way," I tried not to sound too disappointed.

"I wouldn't care if you lived in Vegas," he said, raising his eyebrows and holding up his keys.

"Well that's because Vegas is awesome," I stared at his keys.

He laughed and motioned for me to follow him. "C'mon, I'm parked right over here."

I followed without protest. Jen would probably murder me for skipping out on her...again. But this was totally acceptable, she would understand. If it were her and Ryan she'd do the same thing. At least...I think...

Zach pressed the unlock button on his keys and lights blinked on a new dark grey Dodge Challenger. I stopped mouth agape.

"This is your car?" I asked pointing dumbly at the beautiful masterpiece in front of me. It was like for the first time in my life I experienced love at first sight. I would have married this car if it were legal.

"Yeah?" He seemed uncertain. "Something wrong?" He asked opening the passenger side door for me. His brow knitted together.

"Are you kidding? It's just I've been dreaming about this car since the day I saw it in Car and Driver," I said still staring at it appreciatively. "No guarantee that I won't push you out of the car and steal it," I forewarned climbing in.

He shook his head and shut my door. Opening the driver door he sat down and smiled.

"I'll take my chances."

x-x-x-x

"Yeah, so Clara's is probably the best place to get some grub around here. Especially deserts." We were driving home; I was educating Zach about Nevada along the way.

"Maybe we can go sometime...," he said nonchalantly. I smiled, heck yes.

"Your life will be forever changed," Clara's food did that to you. I will never be able to eat another McDonald's french fry after having Clara's. So long to my fast food days. Hello to Clara's.

"By a diner?" He seemed unconvinced.

"You'll understand one day young one." I was the Yoda to his Luke Skywalker...well when it came to Nevada at least. "So what brings you to my fair land?" I asked, realizing I had no idea why he would move from New Heaven-or whatever-to Darton.

"Um, I'm living with my uncle," he shifted in his seat, uncomfortable.

"Oh, what's his name? I might know him...it's a pretty small world here," I ignored his uncomfortable-ness, what could I say...I was curious.

"He just moved here...actually, he isn't even here yet, he's coming in tomorrow," Zach explained shrugging. I pointed to my driveway and he pulled in.

"You don't have to go pass the bridge if you don't want to...its pretty dusty," I unbuckled and reached around to grab my backpack from the back seat. The car bumped over the bridge and he parked next to Gram's car. Obviously not caring. Something about him amazed me, he was just so different from the rest...he was also someone new. I've practically had the same friends all my life...almost.

I turned back around and nearly hit Zach in the head with my bag. He ducked and I laughed, apologizing. When I looked up I was a little surprised to see Jake's truck parked near the barn.

"What is he doing here?" I mumbled, squinting my eyes towards the round pen...it was empty. The front porch door swung open and Jake walked out along with Wyatt. I sighed. Of course, just my luck. Jake never worked today. Was he telling Wyatt about my visit to the office? Knowing Jake...probably.

"Isn't that your boyfriend?" Zach asked nodding towards Jake.

I guffawed. "No...no, no, no. Not even close," the very thought made me laugh.

"Oh, sorry...," he seemed embarrassed and I smiled at him.

"Its okay, we're best friends...he's like a brother to me," I shrugged and reached for the handle. "Well, they already saw you so you have to meet them now," I said looking back to the porch. Jake and Wyatt both stared at the car confused. "C'mon."

I opened my door and he followed suit. Jake's eyes widened slightly in recognition but he hid his surprise with a cough. Apparently he remembered Zach from the awkward bathroom moment too. I led him up to the porch, Wyatt and Jake met us at the base of the steps.

"Hey, dad...Jake. This is Zach, he's new here," I introduced Zach, who shook both of their hands. I always hated introductions; something about them just always seemed extremely uncomfortable. "Zach this is my dad and Jake," I finished though I was sure he was smart enough to have already figured it out.

"Where you from Zach?" Wyatt asked, shoving his hands in his pockets and taking on the intimidating cowboy stance.

"Connecticut, sir."

I tried not to laugh at his overly formal reply. This was probably as excruciating for him as it was for me.

"Nice car you got there," Wyatt nodded towards the very out of place Challenger. It glimmered in the sunlight and I felt myself swooning again.

Zach smiled proudly. "Thanks, my parents bought it for me for my birthday...," he glanced at the car and I swore it looked like he grimaced a little.

"Well that was very nice of them," Wyatt loosened up a bit, his posture relaxing. It was like his sign of approval which let me let out a breath in relief. Jake rubbed the back of his neck, like he always did when he was uncomfortable or felt out of place. Gram opened the porch door, oven mitts over both of her hands, some flyaway strands of hair hanging in her face.

"Oh," she glanced at Zach in surprise and smiled. "Hello! Sam, I was just coming out to let you all know the pie is done...come get a piece while it's still hot...all of you!" Gram bustled back into the house and Zach stared after her confused.

"That's Gram...and she almost always has pie waiting for us," I explained. It was a miracle I wasn't about three-hundred pounds now that I thought about it.

"Well aren't you lucky?" He said, raising his eyebrows so they disappeared under his messy mane.

"You have no idea...but are about to find out," I grabbed his hand surprising both of us and led him up the stairs. The kitchen smelled like brown sugar and blueberries, enough to make my mouth water. Zach also took in an appreciative sniff. Jake shuffled in behind us along with Wyatt. The both sank down into chairs at the table and I did also, pulling out one for Zach.

"Would you like ice cream with yours dear?" Gram asked and looked at me pointedly. I stared back at her confused and jumped a little when I realized what she wanted.

"Gram, this is Zach," I announced once again. "And he would love ice cream."

He glanced at me. "I would?"

"Of course. You can't have pie without ice cream," uh...duh. I rolled my eyes as if this were obvious.

"What if I were lactose intolerant?" He asked and for a minute I thought he was serious until he smiled teasingly.

"It's worth dying over," I shrugged and dug into the pie Gram sat in front of me. Trying to contain my smile as I took a bite. Jake stared at us and I glanced over at him.

What? I mouthed towards him but he just shook his head and I rolled my eyes. Someone was jealous that I made a new friend. Suppressing the urge to stick my tongue out at him I took another bite of pie.

"This is delicious," Zach said, sounding completely sincere.

"Thank you," Gram smiled at him and winked at me. I rolled my eyes at her; leave it to her to make something out of nothing. But when Zach smiled over at me my pie did a little dance in my stomach.

Well, shit...this could not be good.

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