A/N: OHMYGODWHAT!? An update? Why, yes, yes it is. God. Sorry. I'm a bitch. I'm not even gonna try and come with an excuse for my absence. Also, I don't know if this is the right place to put this, but I am currently looking for a Beta. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Anyone possibly interested?

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I gave him an indifferent glance before getting up and putting my tray of food into the trash. I hadn't even touched it.

"What do you want?" I asked apathetically, flatly.

"We need to do it," He said, as if what he was talking about was crystal clear.

I turned around, hoping the disgust was clearly written across my face. "What?!" I practically spat at him. Scum.

'Be careful.' Something inside me warned. My conscience? Nah, I'd rid of myself of that the day I started smoking. But a thing inside my head made my stomach turn with anxiety. Can't really explain it, because I don't know exactly what it is.

He rolled his eyes at me. "The project? The philosophy project?" He then muttered something to himself that I couldn't quite make out. It was like he was talking to himself or something. Shit. He's actually insane.

"Oh, right, right," I sighed and crossed my arms. "What about it?"

Johnny looked like he had just eaten a lemon. One eye was narrowed, but the other one was wide open like a saucer, and his mouth was in a tight line. Stress much?

It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Okay, I tried this once before, but I'll try it again," I paused and shifted around. It became more and more obvious to me that I was alone with him. He could just… just take a spork and stab me and leave, and he'd probably get away with it. I don't know why, I just think he could.

I swallowed the bitter taste of dread in my mouth. What was wrong with me? I swear I'm not like this, so pathetically scared of some stupid creepy little boy. I control him; I shouldn't fear him. "I think, you know, if we have to work on a project together, and-" Here I took a deep breath, because the thought just sickens me, really. "And spend time together, we should be able to tolerate each other…" I paused, scrunching up my nose. "Or something like that. You know?"

He stared down at me with those eerie, beady little eyes. God. Why does he have to make everything so dramatic? I mean, seriously. I'm just trying to patch things up between us. Kinda.

I raised a brow at him. "Something on your mind, sugar?" I wasn't trying to be affectionate, just for the record. Ew. Being affectionate with Johnny. Skinny, slimy, sickly Johnny. Ew. Ew. Fucking EW. It just slipped out of my mouth for some reason. I guess I felt like being ironic or something.

He stood there, looking very sullen, of course, for about thirty seconds, before a self-satisfied smile crept across his face. Like he was pleased with what I had just said. Which makes me want to vomit, obviously. And if I seem like I'm being defensive now, I swear I'm not.

He patted me, just once, on the head, which felt very much like being hit on the head with a tree branch. "You are so pleasantly idiotic. God, people like you are just too much fun. I can't wait." His mouth pulled across his teeth even more, and he just skipped away. Really, he skipped. It was so disturbing.

"You can't wait for what? For what?" I called after him, but by that time he had already flounced his way out of the cafeteria, leaving me thoroughly perturbed.

---

I have three classes all in a row with Johnny, which is really just bad, bad luck. Media Studies, Philosophy, and biology. I sit at the very back of the room in biology class, with Wendy, because I think biology is pointless. I really don't care, and I'm failing because of that. My parents don't give a shit, which I'm actually thankful for.

But Johnny sits at the very front, silent as usual; taking notes in his notebook like it's his job. Not only is he deranged, he's damn smart. From what I've heard, he's the best out of the entire class. Never got less then perfect on a test. His parents must worship the ground he walks on.

Or maybe he's killed his parents. But then who's he trying to impress? God. Lately he's been like this parasite just eating away at my brain and invading my thoughts.

At this point, I laughed out loud, right in the middle of biology class, no less, because the idea of Johnny as a bug is just so plausible to me. Plausible. Is that the right word?

"Audrey," Mr. Gopivallabha snapped. He hates me. "Care to explain this sudden outburst?" Mr. Gopivallabha is a middle-aged Indian man who probably immigrated here when he was already grown, because he has a thick accent. Wendy and I spend a lot of time laughing at him during his classes. I know it's so rude to do that because it's not like he chooses to do that, but we can't help ourselves.

"Sorry sir. I was sneezing," I shrugged. Restrained laughter rippled through the class. Mr. Gopivallabha just turned around and went back to whatever he was writing on the board. For some reason I kinda wanted to see what Johnny's reaction was, but he sits in my row of desks, so that was pretty much impossible.

Valerie, an annoying little prick who sits directly in front of me, twisted in her seat to glare at me. "Ignorant," She hissed, and turned back around.

Wendy gave me a warm smile and passed me a folded up piece of paper. On it was written: 'She's gonna regret that, isn't she.' I looked up, returning her pleasant expression and gave a quick nod.

We weren't allowed to talk for the rest of the class; I missed the exact reason why. Normally, this rule wouldn't stop Wendy and me from talking, but Mr. Gopivallabha decided to walk right over to us and stand there, looking over our shoulders, for the rest of the period.

So now I'm left alone with my thoughts. And he's on my mind. Wow. I can't stop wondering what's going on in his head when he's just staring down at me. He's probably thinking about killing me, or maiming me, or maybe I'm just being paranoid. Why would he want to hurt me like that? I mean, yeah, we're not exactly best friends, but I've never really done anything to him directly.

Maybe… he just needs some friends, or something. I wonder if he's ever had a birthday. He doesn't look like the kind of person who celebrates things. He looks really morose, but that's just pointing out the obvious. Maybe-

Mr. Gopivallabha tapped me on the shoulder. "Stop daydreaming!" He yelled out loud enough for everyone to hear.

Fuck you, Mr. Gopivallabha, fuck you.

---

Fashion, my last class of the day, started off great. Janet is in my class, so you know I'm gonna be entertained. Sometimes she brings those little miniature bottles of alcohol and we take turns sipping from them. It's like Russian roulette because we could be caught at any minute, and at this point I'd probably be expelled, at least I think so, because I've done a lot of shit much worse then this. But there's a reason people play Russian roulette, right?

Anyway. It was all going good until I happened to look out the door. It was just for a second, maybe two or three, but I swear I saw Johnny drifting by like a ghost. Our eyes met up. I shivered.

"What?" Janet asked, looking up from a sketch she was working on.

"Ugh," I grunted and shivered again. "I think Johnny's stalking me," I tossed my hair over my shoulder. Habit

She cackled. "He's probably, like, obsessed with you," She went back to her drawing.

My entire face crinkled. "Why?" Was the only thing I could manage to spit out.

"Think about it. He's not exactly the most popular guy around. I don't think he has any friends…" Janet blew a bubble and popped it. "You're probably the first girl who's ever given him a second glance. And you know… he's all… messed up and shit, so he probably thinks you love him or something," She popped her gum again. This time I actually grabbed the gum before she had a chance to suck it back in, and stuck it under the desk.

"Hey!" She cried out, but I ignored her.

"You don't really think that's true… do you?" I cringed again. "Ah… ah GAWD. That would be just…" I pretended to vomit on her shoes. She snorted, but I could tell she was really amused by all this. And frankly, so was I. If Johnny really was attracted to me, that would equal to some harmless fun for me… and my friends.

---

My ride was late. I glanced down at my watch – 4:17 PM. The sun was really beating down on me. It was awfully quiet outside, except for a weird distant hum. I could never understand where it was coming from or what it was, but it sounded electrical.

The doors of the school opened, and out walked Johnny. Of course. Who else could it be? I mean, with the way things were going by then, I should've been expecting this sort of thing. My life has now become a really bad horror movie. Really bad.

"Hey," I said and waved. What else could I do? I mean, he was there, I was there, no one else was there. If I didn't say anything, it would've been just awkward and creepy between us.

Johnny just stared at me as if I was out of my mind. You know, that stupid smug-yet-bored look that someone gives you when they think they're so above you. Janet can't be right about him. Clearly, he doesn't like me any more then I like him.

"I said, 'hey.' Usually when someone says that, the other has to respond," I sighed mockingly. "God, you need help," I waited for him to say something.

He tipped his head to the side, and started walking towards me with this… this homicidal look in his eyes. I swear, it was chilling. I took a step backwards and suddenly remembered why I don't talk to Johnny when we're alone.

He walked right up to me so that he was towering over me. Then he bared his teeth and I thought that he was going to bite me or something. "Hey," He grinned.

I stumbled backward again. "God, what's your problem?" I could here myself stuttering. Jesus, I don't stutter. "Don't you know what it's like to have a normal conversation!?"

His grin suddenly faded away.

"That wasn't meant to be a stumper," I fixed my hair.

"I wasn't stumped," He promptly countered. "Actually," He continued. "It seems to me, that it would be you who can't manage to conduct a normal conversation," He crossed his skinny little arms over his skinny little chest and jutted one skinny little hip out at me. Diva, seriously.

"What?" I scoffed. "Excuse me?"

"Excuse you indeed. Every time we speak, you get apprehensive and shifty and all…" He looked up quickly. "Crazy."

I laughed. Actually, it was more like a shout. "Are you kidding me? You think I'm the crazy one here? HA!" I shouted again. "I- I- you think that- and with the- NOODLE- I mean ughGOD…"

"Very articulate," He smiled lop-sidedly. "I, you, meh, blaerghajarjarrahh MNEEEHGAAWWD," He mocked me, complete with the whole tongue-sticking-out-of-mouth, whiny voice and roll-y eyes. He even danced around a little bit.

"Whatever," I sneered. "I don't feel like I have to waste my time on some side-show dropout like you," I turned away.

"Au contraire," He tapped my head with one claw-like finger. That hurts, if you must know. "The project?"

I swivelled on my heel and smacked his hand away. He looked shocked (but I'm pretty sure he was mocking me) and smacked me back. I smacked him again. And so it went on. Smack smack smack owsmackowsmackowsmack back and forth, until he really whipped me on the back of my hand, leaving a mark.

"OW!" I cried, pulling my hand towards my chest and rubbing it gently.

"YOU STARTED IT!" He yelled back.

"ARRRRRGH," There was no point in arguing with him. "You're such a child," I mumbled, and then growled again, because I remembered that the project was mandatory. There was no way out. I could choose not to do it, but then Alton would never let me get away with it. Shit shit shit shiiiiiiit.

"Whatevverr," The word rumbled in my throat. "That was so pointless. And yeah, I guess you're right. We do need to do the project." I turned around to face him and was about to say something, but then I noticed the perplexing look on his face. It was the same one he had in the cafeteria… except a little less stressed out and a little more… I dunno. One eye was narrowed and the other was bigger. His mouth was in this straight line but curved more at the bottom.

"What? Whaat?" I whined.

"Saturday," He said.

"What?"

"Saturday. We meet in the library on Saturday," He said, as if it was a perfectly normal situation.

"Huh? No. Noo way. No, we're doing this in my house, my house, because it's bad enough being alone in school with you but being with you in the library NO."

"Once again. Very articulate," He sniggered.

"Ohhhh-kay then. Anyway. You come to my house Saturday at 7:30 PM. Don't talk to anyone, don't touch anything, don't do anything unless I say you can. You got that? Here's my address," I scribbled it down on a piece of paper and shoved it into his chest.

He smiled cordially and thanked me. And then he smacked me on the head.

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A/N: You all have the right to hate me. I promise the next one will be so much more interesting then this. Wow. Review please.