After a week, Kirstie still didn't have any real friends. There was an occasional awkward 'hi' in the hallways in passing, but nothing else. But she watched the guy she'd bumped into when they had classes together. Like, for instance, chemistry, which she had now.

"Are you even gonna help me?" asked Kirstie's lab partner, rolling her eyes.

Kirstie had had a chance to choose a partner, but no one wanted to be with her and no one asked her, so she couldn't just pick someone. And here she was, assigned with Jamie, who was mean.

"Seriously!" Jamie exclaimed, putting down the dropper that she was holding.

"Sorry," Kirstie replied, concentrating more on chemistry. But she still looked over at the guy, watching him giggle into the shoulder of his lab partner. Wow, Kirstie thought. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen those two apart.

They guy's friend was tall and blonde, and he was always smiling. Maybe he wasn't really that tall and he just looked tall next to his short friend.

At the end of class, Kirstie amounted her courage to talk to them. Hi, she thought she said.

"Huh?" said the blonde one. "Do we know you?"

Kirstie coughed. "Hi."

"Oh, hi," said the other guy. He squinted at her. "Hey, you're the one who hit me the other day! Hi!"

Kirstie waved, flushing with embarrassment.

"Come on, we'll walk with you to the cafeteria," the blonde one said.

"Library," said the short one firmly. "The cafeteria is the worst, most vulgar, most horrid, most vile, most-"

"Okay, okay," Kirstie said. "Library it is." And she walked in the completely wrong direction.

"Uh, girl?" The blonde one ran after her and pulled her back. "Wrong way."

Kirstie nodded and they entered the library.

"What did you say your name was?" asked the short guy, peeking over at her.

"I didn't," Kirstie said. "But it's Kirstie."

He glanced up at his taller friend, biting his lip. "Well, I'm Mitch, and this is Scott." He smiled at her.

"Those are… interesting names," said Kirstie, trying to think something up.

"Naw, they're totally average and boring," said Scott. He was smiling. "So you're new, or something?"

"Yeah," Kirstie said.

"How are you liking it here?" asked Mitch. He leaned up against Scott's shoulder.

Kirstie shrugged. "I dunno. There's good classes and stuff, but there's also mean people. And how long have you two known each other, anyway?"

"For, like, forever," Mitch said, waving a hand. "But seriously, girl. Come over to my house and stay the night. Scott's going and we'll have a blast."

"I've gotta ask my mom and-" Kirstie began.

"Aw come on. Just text her on the way there that you're staying at a friend's for the night," Scott said. "That way she can't really stop you."

"I guess that makes sense," Kirstie said.

And before she knew it, the day was over and they were walking to Mitch's house.

"Hey guys," Mitch's mom said, looking up from a book. "Hey, who's this?"

"I'm Kirstie," said Kirstie holding up a hand. "Hi."

"Is she a girlfriend, or just…" Mitch mom said, looking surprised.

"Yes, of course she's a girlfriend," Mitch replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Come on, guys." He grabbed each of his companion's hand and walked them up the stairs and down a passageway, letting go to open the door.

"You have a really nice house," Kirstie said, looking around at the room.

"Eh, thanks," Mitch said, dropping his bag on the couch. "This is just kinda the room that has no purpose, so it's good, but it gets too hot to sleep in, so it's no one's bedroom."

"Your mom's nice, too," said Kirstie, sitting down.

"Meh." Mitch shrugged. "I guess so, but she can be annoying and mean."

"I think you just think that," Scott said. "Cause she's always nice to me."

"I was warned to stay away from you guys," Kirstie said, deciding to bring up what'd been nagging at her.

Scott and Mitch looked at each other for about two seconds before beginning to laugh.

"They're just stupid and…" Scott searched for another word.

"Stupid," Mitch finished. "Stupid and stupid."

They laughed even more, and this time Kirstie joined in.

"One more annoying question," Kirstie said, holding up a hand.

"Yeah?" Scott tilted his head to one side.

"Mitch, you gave your mom such a look when she asked if I was dating one of you. Why?"

Scott and Mitch looked at each other.

"Dunno," Mitch said, looking down.

"They have different opinions on certain things," explained Scott cryptically. "But we won't keep ya."

Kirstie could tell they felt uncomfortable with that topic, so she glided past it with them, taking everything in stride.