As Roddy and Rita were walking home, loaded up on homework and studying, Rita turned to Roddy.

"I'm sorry Hal was such a jerk to you today, Roddy," Rita apologized, "I thought he'd be sweeter."

"So did I," Roddy muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Hal had put him into a headlock and given him world's most painful noogie. When Hall did that, his jean jacket had given Roddy's neck a burn. Roddy thought he'd be feeling that for the rest of the school year.

"You have to come to me sooner when someone treats you like that," Rita scolded softly.

Roddy felt like a child being bullied in pre-school. And Rita was talking to him as if he were her son coming to her after a rough first day with the meanie-toddlers in his class. Roddy sighed. This was going to be a long year for him, he could tell. Then he asked Rita a question.

"Did you know there's a dance coming up next week?" Roddy asked, grinning.

He was putting his plan into action. Now he felt like a spy.

I like spy better than toddler. Roddy thought to himself, smirking.

"Yeah," Rita answered. The dream-like look came across Rita's face again. "I want Hal to ask me."

"Well.." Roddy pried, "There's a lot of nicer, smarter, better looking boys at our school than Hal, aren't there?"

"No," Rita sighed, "Not really.."

"Not even one?" Roddy insisted.

"Nope," Rita answered without even thinking twice.

"You're sure?" Roddy continued.

"Mmhm.." Rita nodded, crossing her arms.

"Really?" Roddy asked.

"Roddy! I told you..no there aren't any boys nicer, smarter, or better-looking guys than Hal Grenner! What are you getting at with all this nonsense anyways?"

"Nothing..." Roddy shook his head and looked off into the distance innocently.

Silence over took them for a moment.

"Really?" Roddy repeated.

"Roddy! What's going on?" Rita demanded, "Tell me now. Why are you so interested in my love life so suddenly?"

"No reason," Roddy said.

"You're lying."

"Am not!"

"Are so!"

"Am not!"

"Are so!"

"Look..we could go on with argument and make everything awkward at the house..or we could change the subject!" Roddy snapped, slightly smirking.

Rita rolled her eyes.

"If you're not going to tell me what you're up to, than I'm not going to tell you anything anymore. In fact..I'm not even going to talk to you until you tell me!" Rita walked ahead of him.

"What!?" Roddy cried, stopping in his tracks, "But you can't!! Then that ruins my.."

Rita turned around, knowing that if he went on, she would find out what he was up to.

"Your what?" Rita asked.

"My..my.." Roddy thought desperately of a cover that would soften her up.

An excuse that not only would save his neck, but get her feeling sorry for him. Maybe if she pitied him, they'd be able to hang out more than the usual (if that was possible) and then he could charm her and then he'd win Hal's bet!

"Go on," Rita insisted, "Your what?"

"My..my..my..my life!" Roddy said, changing his expression to massive depression and saddness.

"What?" Rita said, "What are you talking about?"

"I can't live without talking to you!" Roddy cried, putting on his best sob-story show ever, "You're amazing and the best friend I've ever had and I couldn't go on with my pathetic life if I knew that you weren't talking to me because of something stupid I caused! I just..just..oh I can't bare to think of what I might to do myself!"

Roddy looked away and put his hand over his eyes, as if looking away from a horrible image. Rita rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"Whatever, Roddy.." Rita sighed, smiling at Roddy's act and looked to the puddle next to her foot, "I'll let it slip..I mean..It's not like you bet against Hal on who I would go to the Welcome Back dance and I'm some kind of trophy to you two..."

Roddy's jaw dropped at the accuracy of that guess..but a squeak of shock came out. Why did she have to be so smart?! Rita turned back to him, hearing his little squeak.

"You didn't...did you?" Rita asked.

"Of course not! What kind of guy do you think I am?!" Roddy cried, "I'm utterly insulted that you'd accuse me of such an act!"

"I'm sorry, Roddy.." Rita grinned, "I should know better than to think you'd do something like that..You're such a great friend to me. You'd never do something like that to me. That's why you're my absolute bestest best friend!"

Roddy groaned as she walked away from him. He hated guilt trips..especially when they weren't given to him on purpose. This was gonna be harder to go through than he thought. He followed her to the house and locked himself in his room. He threw his backpack in a corner, kicked off his shoes and threw himself onto his bed.