The California breeze gently blew through Skylar's curls as she silently read a book in the Palmwoods park. Her blue eyes concentrated on the book so intently as though she was searching for the answer to a mystery. Within minutes of reading Red Riding Hood, Skylar had fallen in love with the book. Residents of the Palmwoods passed by, some in groups, others alone. Skylar simply blocked them out as if she were alone.

"Skylar,"

Looking up from her book, the blonde smiled, "Hi, Logan." Behind Logan, stood an un-familiar dirty blonde boy. He watched Skylar with carefull eyes. Raising an eyebrow to Logan, Skylar made a quick hand gesture towards the taller boy. Nodding, Logan grinned. "Skylar, this is Kendall Knight. Kendall, this is Skylar Clarkson."

Shyly smiling, Skylar hesitantly shook Kendall's hand. "Nice to meet you" Kendall smiled at the smaller teen and her timidness.

The two members of the foursome boy band sat and spoke with Skylar for a while, Kendall throwing in small questions referring to her childhood. As Kendall and Logan said their goodbye's to Skylar, Kendall brought his voice to a hushed whisper.

"I can not believe that she used to be friends with James". Logan nodded in agreement and shrugged, "But you saw those pictures. It's her."

~ ... ~ ... ~ ... ~

Hearing the all- too familiar voice of James Diamond, Skylar's blue eyes darted around the park in search for the brunette. Finding him, she quickly hid herself behind a tree from his gaze, yet kept a close watch on him.

Sending a flirtatious smile to a passing group of girls, James pulled out a mirror and comb. Disgust painted Skylar's features as he repeatedly combed his hair in vanity. " ... What in the world?" Skylar mumbled, continuing to watch him. She was speechless. Her best friend in the entire world, her first love, her first kiss was now ridden with vanity, conceit, and egotism.

Grimacing, Skylar snatched up her book from beside her and fled to the Palmwoods lobby; disbilief and pain filling her eyes.

Hearing the slam of wood, James directed his attention to the source. As his eyes trailed to the cause of the slam, exitement and adrenaline coursed through his veins; Blonde ringlets.

Running with all his strength, James raced to follow the quick blonde.

~ ... ~ ... ~ ... ~

"Skylar!" James called, picking up his pace as she began to the elevators. Seeing her ignore him, James repeated himself, calling out to her again. Skylar briefly turned to him, her eyes filling with hurt and yearning. Quickly regaining her composer though, she returned her gaze forward. Hating to be ignored by the person he needed to see most, James repeated himself once more; Still being ignored.

"Skylar Rose Clarkson! "

James' booming voice silenced the lobby. Skylar spun on her heels to face the source of the yell. Anger filled Skylar's eyes as James approached her, along with the quickening feeling of hurt at the loud yell.

Even as children, James had never once raised his voice towards Skylar. Or even, spoke to her with the slightest bit of anger in his tone. He had been sensitive of the timid girl's hatred for anger.

"What is wrong with you!" Skylar spat towards him as James reached her. He took a step backwards, taken back by her harsh tone. "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?" James shot back, "I know how long you've been here, and how long you've been ignoring me!".

People stared in shock and curiousity at the two screaming teens, some wondering the reason for the outburst, others more curious to hear the words being yelled. Some more cocky residents stopped to gawk at the two. Neither Skylar nor James paid any attention though. Their eyes boared in to eachother's; Blue and hazel.

The elevator dinged, signaling someone else's pressence in the lobby. Logan, Carlos, and Kendall stepped out. Kendall and Logan's eyes widening at the scene while Carlos' face scrunched up in confusion.

A sudden softness filled James' eyes as realization hit him. A smile graced his lips as he threw his arms around Skylar's thin torso, lifting her in the air. "Skylar" he cooed, burrying his face in her hair. To his suprise though, Skylar made no movement; Her expression never changed, her body remained stiff and un-welcoming.

As James placed Skylar on her feet once more, his smile dropped off his face. "Sky? What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes searching for her gaze. Skylar's eyes though, remained on the floor. When she found her words, her voice came out in a soft whisper,

"What happened to you?".

James' eyebrows raised in confusion as he stared at his long time best friend, "What do you mean?". Taking a deep breath, Skylar looked up to face him.

"What happened to the sweet, caring, loving, and gentle James Diamond I grew up with? I pretended I didn't know you because everyone was saying that you were some egotistic, arrogent prick. I thought that everybody was just being over dramatic. But then I saw you being some, some, jerk and I knew they were right. I don't know what happened to you when you left Iowa. But I do know that all you are now, is a big prick." Skylar's words dripped with venom and stung as they processed through James' head.

Pain filled Skylar's blue eyes as hurt painted James' features.

Logan's jaw dropped as the words flowed from Skylar's mouth, Kendall's eyes widening in shock. Carlos looked to his two friend for guidence in what to do, being taken in by all that was happening.

James looked around the lobby, embarresment and pain taking over his emotions. "Come with me." James mumbled, grasping Skylar's wrist and pulling her with him.

As the two entered the empty apartment 2J, Skylar spun on her heels to face James. "What are we doing here?" she asked. James ran a hand through his hair nervously, peering in to Skylar's eyes.

"Sky, I. I don't even know what to say."

Skylar raised an eyebrow in suspicion, "I would think so."

James was unused to this side of Skylar; the rather cold side of her. He had always known Skylar could have an attitude if she was mad enough. She could become sarcastic and sharp witted, him knowing from all the times she had fought with Elliot Stark. But that side had never been used against him, and even when she hard become in-furiated with Elliot, she had never gone as far as to call him a prick.

"James, I have to go. I'll see you around, I guess." Skylar mumbled, opening the apartment door and sending James one last look of sorrow.

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No worry, there is more drama to come:) Review!