"Darcy, hey."

"Hi Peter, how have you been?"

"Pretty good, you?"

'Very good. How's Mia?"

"She's fine."

"Well that's good."

With that Darcy pulled on my arm and we walked into Ms. Kwan's class.

"What was that about?" I whispered to her.

"Just being polite I guess." She whispered back.

KC walked in right behind us and sat directly in back of me.

Great.

I can feel the daggers he's shooting at me.

Ms. Kwan is talking about some lame project, where we have a partner and together we must choose a book, read it, then do a comparison project on what the book means to each of us.

I think I'll partner up with Alli or Connor, either way the work will get done.

"Okay class, I have pre-assigned the partners so please listen for your name."

She was almost done with the list when I heard my name.

"Clare Edwards and KC Guthrie."

No! Yes! What?

Oh man, this is bad.

He hates me! I can't work with him! He'll never want to get the work done; we're not even on speaking terms.

"Okay class, there is 25 minutes left in this period. I want you to join with your partners and come up with a book or possible books for you to read."

Oh joy.

I walk over to where KC was, leaving Darcy to talk to Ms, Kwan.

"So, any ideas on what book to read?" I asked.

"Well, most of the others will want to read something more contemporary, so why don't we go with a classic." He said, surprising me.

"Let's see, do you have a favorite author from maybe the 1800's."

"I kind of like Jane Austen."

"I love her!" I exclaimed, she really is one of my favorite authors.

"You would." And he's back.

"What's that supposed to mean."

"She's a female author dealing with independent, stubborn women, and everyone knows you fit into that category." He said snidely

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or a put down."

"You're smart, I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"What's your problem?" He was really starting to annoy me now, what's up with the judgments.

"Right now? You and your over analyzing, judgmental way of thinking."

"You're calling me judgmental? Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously, you take one look at a person and judge them!"

"Are you kidding me!"

I couldn't take it anymore, I just gathered my books and left the classroom. How can he call me judgmental, I did nothing wrong! Was I surprised by his past actions, yes I was. That doesn't mean I'm judging him, I just wanted him to tell me, to trust me enough to confide in me.

Darcy ran out after me.

"Clare, hey, what happened in there?"

"Is this how he's going to be now? Is he just going to be a jerk and not talk to me? He doesn't even want to be friends! What am I doing wrong?" I started to cry right there in the hallway.

"You aren't doing anything wrong, you are being supportive and nice, and it's his loss if he doesn't want to come around. Now let's go back in there."

"I can't, not today. I don't want to face him."

"Okay then, let's go to the Dot and get something to eat.

We walked out of the school, yes this is my first time skipping, and got into the car. We drove off towards the Dot, and I still feel horrible.

When we got to the Dot I was starving, as was Darcy so we both rushed through the door.

"Now if it isn't Darcy Edwards. What will those poor children in Africa do if you're here." A voice called to us.

"Nice to see you too Spinner. I want a cheeseburger, fries, and a vanilla milkshake, and make it snappy mister I don't have all day."

"And just for that your food won't be out for another hour. Now Clare, the nice Edwards sister, what would you like?"

"I'll have a sprite and a salad with grilled chicken please."

"Coming up." Spinner walked away with a smile, man he was always in a good mood, it seemed contagious.

We sat in silence, both going through silent turmoil.

Spinner comes back soon after with our food.

"Okay what's going on with you guys? You both are depressing me."

"I ran into Peter." Darcy explained.

"Yay?"

"No. He's going out with Mia now."

"Yeah cause you left him."

"I just, didn't expect him to bounce back so quickly."

"Life goes on Darce."

"Shut up oh wise one."

He turns to me now.

"And what about Miss Clare."

"KC is a jerk. He thinks that just because he has a bad past that I'm going to treat him differently, well I won't. I don't care what he did, he was a good guy when I met him, but now he's acting like a jerk!"

"Okay, breathe. He doesn't want to hurt you, or for you to hurt him, so he's pushing you away, thinking it's better for both of you."

"But it's not. It's killing me."

"Tell him that."

Oh jeez. When did Spinner get so smart?

"Hey if Jimmy left town, someone has to be the voice of reason!"

All three of us laughed and Darcy and I ate. When we were done we went back to the car.

"Where to next" I asked curiously.

"I don't know, school's out now so there's no point of going back. Want to rent some movies?"

"Yes please!"

"Chick flick movie night shall commence. Let me call Emma and Manny and see if they would like to join."

She called them on our way to the video store and they met us there.

"So what are we renting?" Manny asked.

"How about this, we each pick out a movie and meet at the register in say 15 minutes?" Emma suggested.

We all went our separate ways and as I looked around I heard the bell on the door ring, saying that someone has entered.

My curiosity got the best of me and I looked to see who it was.

Surprise, surprise it was KC.

He looked at me then walked out. I dropped the movie in my hands and went out to follow him.

"KC wait!" I called out.

"What do you want Clare? Are you going to tell me that we can't be friends anymore because my reputation will ruin your perfect life?"

"Shut up! Jeez, I was going to say that I'm sorry for running out on you in class, it was immature and we were both acting stupid."

"And now I'm stupid, thanks Clare." He began to walk away.

"That's not what I meant!" I yelled to him.

He kept walking, and then I began to run, past him, down the road and to the one place I felt safe.

I looked back and saw him watching me run, so I went faster, anything to get away from what was causing me pain.

I only hope he didn't notice the tears in my eyes as I flew by him.