A.N. Woo, I am on a roll. If anyone feels I'm sort of slipping out of the manner in which I'd originally portrayed characters, please let me know! Comments are what keep me going, and let me know if I'm doing a good job, or a piss poor job. ANYWAYS! More Punk and Kelly action this chapter!

Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! KTHNX

Chapter 5

Friday. Friday is the best day of the week, in Barbie's opinion. Especially when you go to Eastmoore. It's not really a bad school, a lot of the teachers are tough and the janitor is the scariest person you'll probably ever meet, but the atmosphere is comfortable. Until the vice principle decides to show her face. Mrs. Guerrero seemed to have a personal grudge against Barbie but she wasn't sure why it was, or even what it was. But from the very first time Barbie came face to face with Eastmoore's vice principle Barbie felt like a giant target was being drawn on her back. If that woman so much as caught Barbie in the hallways after a bell rang she jumped on her like she was a giant steak thrown into the middle of a lion's den.

Today was one of those days that Barbie somehow transfigured into a steak. She'd just been heading to third period (Mr. Farrell's biology), from Ms. Mero's class (Algebra) and had stopped to get a drink from the fountain. There had been a line and Barbie had simply waited her turn. She'd been last in line, and by the time her turn came up most of the hallway was cleared. She took her drink, repositioned the strap of her bag, and headed down the hallway when a screeching "EXCUSE ME!" froze her in her tracks.

"Excuse me! Blank, what do you think you're doing in this hallway right now? Where is your hall pass? You don't have one do you?" The word witch played over and over in Barbie's head, a mantra that did nothing to calm her nerves. "Then I guess that means you'll be sitting in detention again."

"Mrs. Guerrero I was only taking water from the fountain, the bell literally just rang! That's not fair." Barbie wasn't one to usually protest against school staff but this woman was really starting to get under her skin, only after four years. There was a reason why anyone who knew Barbara Blank would tell you she was the nicest person you'll ever meet. The reason was because she really was just that nice.

"Talking back Blank will earn you more days."

Barbie's fingers curled into the palm of her hand, "I don't know what you have against me Mrs. Guerrero but I will take it up with Mr. Lauranitis if you continue to unfairly discipline me." The look on Mrs. Guerrero's face could have melted the skin off of Barbie's own. Only Barbie kept her baby blues locked on those of the other woman, issuing a challenge. Barbie wasn't kidding, she was going to go to the principle with complaints if the vice wouldn't back off.

"If I catch you in these hallways one more time after the bell you will be spending the rest of the school year in detention." Her voice was laced with acid before she stalked off down the hallways, on the prowl for unsuspecting victims. Don't vice principals have more important things to do then patrol the hallways? The rest of Barbie's day following that incident was pretty uneventful. She ate lunch at her usual table, with her usual friends (her and Maryse had another one of those moments, but it was brief), and then she went to the rest of her classes.

Practice was scheduled as usual and Barbie was already sitting out on the bleachers waiting for the rest of the girls. Maryse was usually the first one there, waiting impatiently for the other members of the squad. It was times like those that Barbie really missed their old captain, Tiffany, but she had graduated two years prior, leaving the squad in the hands of Maryse. In that time period the squad had lost two of it's best girls (Michelle and Layla) and tensions ran high. "Barbie, we need to talk."

Barbie's baby blues rose to meet Maryse's own blue eyes, curiosity plain on her features. The look on Maryse's face was enough to tell Barbie that whatever it was, wasn't good. "What's up, 'Ryse?"

"Why were you talking to that Aj freak in Biology today?"

The question through her off. Maryse couldn't be serious could she? "I wasn't aware that I wasn't supposed to be talking to her." The words left Barbie's lips in an icy tone. "You know Maryse, why does it bother you that I was talking to her? She's never done anything wrong to you, she's a nice person."

"I blacklisted that tuba playing skank three months ago. She had no right accepting Daniel's invitation to the prom, you know Torrie wanted him to take her."

"Wait, this is because Daniel, asked Aj to the prom and not Torrie? You don't control who likes who Maryse. Aj rejecting Daniel's offer wouldn't make him ask Torrie. Daniel's been in love with Aj since like, middle school."

Maryse's jaw tightened, her blue eyes pure fire. "Who do you think you are Barbie? You don't talk to me like that."

"Listen to yourself Maryse! What is wrong with you? You were never like this before."

Maryse laughed coldly. "There's nothing wrong with me Barbie. But there is a lot wrong with you. You're unbelievably naïve and you seriously need to stop with that "nice" act you got going on."

Barbie blinked, and she could feel tears welling behind her eyes. She couldn't believe that Maryse was talking to her like this, treating her like this. "I don't know you anymore." Her voice waivered slightly before she grabbed her bag and ran from the bleachers. She passed Eve and Alicia on the way down who looked utterly confused. Barbie vaguely heard her friends calling out to her, but she didn't stop. It really hurt having Maryse talk to her like that. It was no lie that they had once been really close. Maryse had been the one there for her when her first boyfriend, Matt, broke up with her and Barbie had been there for Maryse when Maryse's older brother, Connor, got sent to prison.

Barbie couldn't even begin to imagine what it was that caused Maryse to be so cruel and vicious, but the way she saw it there was no excuse for that kind of behavior. Even if something really awful had happened, it didn't give Maryse the right to treat people the way she did. Barbie honestly couldn't believe that she had stayed friends with that girl for so long. She should have been done with her the second she treated Layla the way she did. Layla had been one of their closest friends growing up and Maryse just threw her away like a piece of trash.

"What a selfish, conniving, impossible," Barbie paused mid-rant as she paced back and forth in front of the willow tree. The same willow tree Serena had photographed her with earlier that week. Since then the spot had sort of become Barbie's little getaway. She went to that same spot every day after school on her usual 'stakeouts' though it became more then her just looking out for Phil. It gave her a place to think and she'd even done some homework. "Bitch." The word passed Barbie's lips, seeming to relieve a burden that had been resting on her shoulders.

"Woah! I didn't even think you knew that word."

Barbie spun on her feet, baby blues wide as they came into contact with hazel. Tears were falling down her cheeks and she knew she must've looked completely flustered. She was left speechless as Phil gazed at her with a look akin to wonderment, tenderness taking its place as he noticed the dark tracks running down the sides of her face. "Everything alright, Barbie doll?"

"No! No, it's not all right! She's supposed to be my friend, but she treats me like a piece of crap, she treats EVERYONE like they're pieces of crap and I'm sick of it!"

Phil raised a brow as Barbie vented. "It's been a while since I was in high school, but if you want to talk about it," he offered.

Barbie was pacing again, her arms crossed over her chest. There was a long pause before she finally stopped pacing, catching Phil's eyes with her own once more. "Why would you want to listen to my problems? I'm just some high school cheerleader having it out with someone she thought was her friend." As she spoke Barbie gestured to the short skirted uniform she wore, a giant E stitched on the front.

He laughed then. Barbie wasn't sure if she should be offended by the laugh or to laugh with him. "Don't you think if I thought you were just some high school drama queen I wouldn't of asked in the first place?"

Barbie sighed, looking away from him, head hanging dejectedly. "There isn't much to tell, I already covered everything."

He approached her so that he could take her eyes with his own. "Come and sit down." He nodded his head towards the picnic table. Barbie only nodded as she followed him over to it, sitting down. He sat next to her, and she cast her eyes down to the table top. "So, what are you and your friend fighting about?"

"She thinks she controls everybody's lives." Barbie stated bluntly. "I don't get it though. She had never been like that before. Maryse was always a little conceited but she was a good person."

"Someone could have done something to her. Have you tried to talk to her about it?"

"Of course! I mean, I knew something was definitely wrong. When I asked her about it she snapped at me, but her eyes…just the way they looked I knew something happened. That was a long time ago though, right after we started high school."

"Things like this happen, Barbie. Give it some time and try talking to her again. I don't really know you, or her for that matter, but things like this have a way of working out."

Another sigh escaped Barbie's lips, her head turning slightly to look at Phil. "You're right, you really don't know me. Why are you even talking to me?"

His face split into a grin. "You're cute."

Barbie hadn't been prepared for that, her head whipping all the way around to face him. Did he really just say that? "Wha?"

"I said you were cute. But that's not the real reason." He was still smirking. "I'm a pretty good judge of character, after you bumped into me that time, I just knew you were the kind of person I'd like to know. You know?"

Yeah, she did know. Kinda, sorta. She did obsess over him for a few weeks, and literally sat in this very park trying to catch sight of him again. And he thought she was cute! Somehow she really hadn't expected him to think that, she wasn't exactly the kind of girl you imagined a guy like him would like. Then again she didn't know him, his outward appearance didn't necessarily reflect the exact person he was inside. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. " his hazel eyes had hers trapped.

She was just about to say something, she wasn't even really sure what, when a rumble of thunder cut the sky. Barbie jumped slightly at the noise, both her and Phil looking up as droplets of rain began falling. "Oh that's just perfect."

"Relax Barbie, a little rain never hurt anyone." His eyes were laughing at her as he watched her stand. "I can take you home,"

It wasn't a very far walk from the park to her house, but it would be long enough of a walk to get absolutely drenched if she decided to take it. Which would definitely result in a whole bunch of soggy text books and notepads. "You don't mind?"

"Not at all," he grinned

"Then yes, and thank you." She offered him a small smile. Her heart was still heavy, but Phil definitely lightened it up a bit.

The ride in his beat up old Buick was a little longer then she'd of thought, mostly because his car had been parked on the opposite side of the park. But it was peaceful and she was definitely thankful, especially when more thunder roared overhead and lightning lit the sky. She wasn't a very big fan of thunderstorms. Her dad would kill her if he knew she'd got into a car with a stranger though, well…he wasn't really a stranger anymore and she seriously doubted he was a serial killer.

"Thanks a lot Phil." Barbie smiled as they pulled up in front of her house.

"No problem, Barbie doll."

Her smile widened as she giddily relished in the idea that she had a pet name from the guy. "See you around." She'd pushed the door open and then closed, heading up the stairs to the door. She turned to look back and the car was already gone. Behind her the front door ripped open and Denise's voice filled her ears. "Oh my God, who WAS that? Was it a guy? I couldn't tell from the window."

Barbie turned, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe. Maybe not."

"It was a guy wasn't it? What's his name? Does he go to our school? I've never seen that car before…"

Barbie had a wicked grin on her face, as she slipped into the house and walked away from her sister. Denise had no idea. For the meantime, Barbie's thoughts were off of Maryse and once more on the hotness that was Phil. She knew there was a reason she loved Friday's so much.

A.N. Review, Review, Review!