Andrew and John were the most unusual of friends; complete polar opposites that forged a bond over their foul-mouthed fathers after smoking some of John's weed during Saturday detention. If John needed a place to stay for the night, Andrew was there with an open window... And a fridge full of food.

John had his ways of sneaking out during detention. Andrew never knew, but John was there at his home games. Sometimes, Allison would pop in for a few hours to keep John from losing his mind. He never said it, but he was grateful for the company. During tests, she'd left John cheat off her since he now sat next to her.

For the first time in a long time, Allison was happy.

"Yo, Kooks!" John yelled from somewhere behind her. "Did ya get what I asked for?"

Allison wordlessly handed off the sticky note when John appeared by her side after pushing some people out of the way.

"Holy fuck, you actually did it. You really are one weird chick," He said, marveling at the paper filled with the four numbers he needed. "But definitely the coolest one I know."

She almost smiled. Compliments from John were rare, one in a million. "Do I wanna know what you plan to do with it?"

"Gotta make a delivery," He winked, walking off in the direction of Claire's locker. "Send Sporto my best regards, I'm ditchin' our little afternoon date."

John was hooking up with Claire. Nobody knew except Allison. She accidentally caught them after school and it was something she wanted so bad to forget. She never saw them together on school grounds after that.

He was careful not to let it slip around Andrew. Claire was still on speaking terms with him, though most of the popular crowd had dissociated themselves with Andrew by now. They couldn't understand Andrew's sudden interest in befriending people outside of his former circle.

John was too chicken shit to admit he liked her as more than just an everyday play thing that he could throw away whenever he felt like it. He didn't look at girls anymore the same way he looked at Claire. Maybe he subjected himself to secrecy because it was better than not having her at all.

Allison didn't blame him. If she were in his position, she wasn't sure what she'd do. Feelings are complicated and flimsy.

A month had come and gone and she was trying to push aside the ones growing for Andrew. He made it difficult with every passing day.

Allison arrived at her own locker, reaching for her extra pencil case. She had Chemistry next and wasn't looking forward to pairs work.

"Hey," She closed the door and Andrew was standing in its place. "Sorry I didn't meet up with you this morning. I had wrestling practice."

"It's okay. How's your morning been?"

He shrugged. "Coach's been up my butt more than usual and these study guides are killing me. I can't wait for summer."

Her eyes drifted to his hand, clutching the strap of his backpack on his shoulder. She pried his fingers, inspecting the bandages on his index and thumb.

"What happened?"

"Oh, these are from Home Ec—courtesy of Bender. We're learning how to sew stuff and…" He sighed loudly. "Let's just say, it didn't go well."

Andrew didn't pull his hand away and Allison didn't know what to think. She wanted to ask what exactly was going on between them, what had been going on between them since they first met. Sometimes, she thought keeping her mouth shut was the better option.

His eyes widened in realization. "Oh, speaking of that, I made something for you."

He pulled down his backpack to the side, reaching into it. Allison was stunned to silence.

"We had to sew together a teddy bear kind of thing for a grade," He placed the small stuffed thing into her sweaty palms. It was an ugly shade of blue and the ears were bright red. One of the ears weren't sewn correctly, and the black eyes weren't symmetrical. It was supposed to be smiling, but it looked like a menacing frown.

"Bender made one too. It's perfect, I'm actually jealous! I knew he was good at shop but who knew the guy was good at this kind of stuff? I asked him who was he giving it too 'cause it's like super bright pink and girly and I know he doesn't have a sister but he kept evading—"

Allison couldn't say anything, her mouth dry.

"—Anyway, I know it's nothing great," He muttered, suddenly ashamed. "Bender kept distracting me with his wise cracks and—"

She pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly.

She just couldn't get enough of Andrew.

A guy named Brian Johnson was her lab partner Chemistry. They were doing an experiment Mr. Rogers' liked to call The Biochemical Guessing Game. The point was to predict what would be the greatest compound in the foods Mr. Rogers would supply.

Brian was a sophomore. It was unusual for freshmen and sophomore's to be in classes that were full of juniors and seniors. At least he wasn't the only sophomore in Chemistry. He was one of four, and the other three were his friends. He was always with them like a tight knit community.

But there was another reason why his named sounded familiar. She just couldn't remember.

If Brian wasn't happy about being with his friends, he never showed it. His large eyes regarded Allison with confusion instead of ridicule. She found that she could deal with that. He flushed in embarrassment when she caught his blatant gaping.

Surprisingly, they worked in peace. Brian didn't ask her any questions that were anything outside of their lab. He guessed all of the compounds with ease, only slightly off when it came to the raw potato. They were the first ones finished. Allison decided she would wash the materials while he filled in the sheets with the correct answers.

She came back, hands dripping in water. Brian didn't even notice her, completely engrossed with writing the conclusion to their experiment. Allison flicked the water from her hands.

He jumped in surprise, turning beet red. "What was that for?"

"You look like you could use some fun."

He softly chuckled, wiping his face with his sleeve. "Thanks, I think."

"No problem."

She sat down next to him, and he regarded her with a look she couldn't pin point. "What?"

Brian flushed again. "You're... You're the girl that's friends with Andrew, right?"

She gave a curt nod.

"I just..." Brian flicked his pencil between his fingers. "I just wanted to say that it's nice of him to do what he did. Not the prank on Larry, you know, I mean his apology. Not a lot of guys would do that. That... That takes real courage. Admit your wrongs and correct them, you know?"

"It does." She responded. "But I dunno why you're telling me this."

Brian shrugged. "I know I'm book smart and I stutter a lot but I'm not entirely socially inept, you know. You... You're the one that pushed him to do the right thing. We all need people like that."

He was right. It seemed like a life time ago when she didn't have those people; people she could count on. People that would push her in the right direction. But she did now.

And she recognized something in those deep blue eyes of his. Longing. "Do you have those people?"

Brian scoffed, folding his arms on the table. "I'm not really comfortable with discussing my personal, private life."

Allison shrugged nonchalantly, watching as the tables beside them cleaned up.

"I like to think I do." Brian finally said once the people in front of them got up to clean their station.

She thought being able to read people was a blessing and a curse. "... But?"

"But I don't," He set his eyes downcast. "Not really."

"What makes you think that?"

"Well," He started, already frustrated. "'Cause my mom wants me to study, you know? Study all the time. My parents care more about my grades than me. They think they're pushing me to do the right thing, and maybe I used to think that, too, but... But I don't know any more... I just don't know. And my friends? My friends just don't understand."

Then it clicked. "John's told me about you. The flare gun was you."

Brian's eyes widened and he paled. "I forgot. You know Bender, too."

"Yeah," She dragged out. "He's..."

"...interesting, to say the least." He smiled, cheeks tinged in pink.

"An asshole is more or less what I'd use to describe him."

Brian laughed. "I used to think so, too, but... But if Andrew's taught this school anything, it's that not everyone's what they seem. John's actually been helping me in shop, you know? I mean, the school year's almost over and he can't get me to an A, but at least I can pass the class with a B."

Allison thought it was funny how change started with just one person. One little action could change so much, could alter lives. It might not start right away but that didn't mean it doesn't happen ever.

"Are you be okay with that?" She asked quietly. Brian looked confused for a split second, then realization hit him. John not only told her about the flare gun but why he had it in the first place.

"I've come to terms with it," Brian said honestly. "It'll drop my grade point average a little bit, but I'd rather that than an F. I'll be okay."

Allison nodded. "Well, if you need anything-"

Brian nodded, with a smile showing off his braces and dimples. "I know. Thank you."

"This isn't who I want to be," Andrew said, fixing his sitting position on his bed.

His parents were gone for the weekend and he invited Allison over. This wasn't the first time Allison had been in his house, let alone his room. Nevertheless, she was always on her toes, careful not step on any of his clothes thrown across the floor or touch his trophies, decorated with medals.

She sat the way she always did on his bean bag by the edge of his bed. Shadow, his year old golden retriever, fast asleep on her lap. His stereo was tuned onto some heavy metal station on a low frequency. Him and John oddly had a lot in common, more than either one of them would ever admit.

"I know," She said, running her fingers through Shadow's coarse coat. "But what is it that you wanna be? You've never told me."

Andrew shook his head, untying his sneakers. "I dunno… I just… I don't wanna become a mindless machine like old man."

"You won't be," She said softly. "You're nothing like your dad."

He gave a weak smile. "God, my old man would kill me if he knew what I really wanted."

"Which is?" She probed, eager.

Andrew visibly shrunk. Allison had never seen him so embarrassed. "I really wanna go to cooking school. If I've learned anything this year, it's that I'm good at cooking. Really good. I think... I think it might be my calling. I even let Bender try some of my stuff the other day. That guy actually gave me a compliment, can you believe it?"

"You should do it," She said, upbeat. "If it's what you really love to do, then go for it. There's nothing stopping you now."

Andrew sighed, lying back on his bed after discarding his shoes. "It's not as easy as it sounds, Ally."

Allison pursed her lips. "You have to start thinking for yourself, Sporto. You can't live in everyone's version of what they want you to be."

Andrew nodded, folding his hands behind his head. He did that pout he did often when he was lost in thought. Allison loved it.

"Hey, Ally? How is it that you're always right? It's kinda scary sometimes."

"Comes with experience." She said cheekily.

He turned his head to the side, giving her a knowing smile. A mass of butterflies formed in her stomach and flew around endlessly, nearly making her stop breathing. Andrew had the bluest eyes, like a clear sky during winter and she willed herself to hold his gaze instead of turning away like she always did.

She dreamed about those eyes a lot.

"I'm really glad I met you, Allison."

"Me too," She said immediately. And she was, truly.

He changed her life for the better. No matter what happened, she would always be his friend. And she knew that it was the same for him.

Allison crinkled her nose, wanting these feelings to go back where they came from. "Hey. Did I ever tell you I can write with my feet?"

His brows furrowed in interest and he rolled onto his side. "No way?"

"I can also eat, brush my teeth—"

"With your feet?" Andrew was totally amazed.

She nodded and smiled shyly. "If you make something, I'll show you."

"You're on!"