Gabe felt like a zombie walking through the school hallway. He hadn't slept for three nights. Every time he closed his eyes, he'd see his father glaring right back at him. Repeating the words he said when he saw his Spanish grade.

This is disgusting. Do you want to end up on the streets. You better get your grades up or else.

Or else. The way his father said it made it seem like he didn't say it for the sake of saying it. Gabe knew what his father was capable of. That made him sick to the stomach.

Travis, on the other hand, was fed up. He stopped gabe in his tracks and shook him.

"Gabe," he said "This has to stop."

"What are you talking about?" asked Gabe still dazed.

"This whole hating yourself because you pissed off your dad with your grades. You've been doing this for 5 years now. It's gotta stop."

Gabe looked at him in confusion. "what do you mean-"

"look man," said Travis, looking at him straight in the eye "your dad is being a senseless bastard. He can't understand that you aren't and will never be as smart as the nerds in this school. So what if you flunked Spanish? It's not as bad as, what, getting kicked out of school. Or like, doing drugs, right? You ain't a druggie right?"

Gabe shook his head.

"you see? One failed grade won't get you killed. And Spanish is like nothing." the rest of the guys murmured in agreement

As much as Gabe wanted to tell Travis off for calling his father a bastard, he knew he was right. His father couldnt accept the fact that he's stupid. And there really are worse things than failing Spanish.

"but-" said Gabe.

"Look Gabe," said Travis, clearly exasperated "if your father can't accept you for who you are, then why don't you just leave? If I had your dad, I would've left him long ago."

That idea never occured to him. He could just pack his things and start a new life, without having to live up to his fathers expectations. Still, it was horrible idea. He can't just do that to his family. Especially not to his mother.

Fortunately, his group decided to drop the matter later on. He trailed behind, watching in envy at how care free his friends were. Laughing and making jokes like they didn't have to face the wrath of their fathers at home. He hated his life.

Just as they were heading toward the front doors to skip school for the third time this month, he saw him. The angel. Clad in a simple plaid polo and tight jeans. His wavy brown hair hanging over his thick rimmed glasses. Their eyes met momentarily then flickered away.

But Travis had him cornered.

"Well, well," he said. "if it isn't the star of the show. Liking the attention, huh faggot? How's this for attention?"

He knocked the books out of the guys hands, took his glasses and crushed them under his shoe. The rest of the group laughed cruelly as they left him there, trying to gather his things with shaky fingers.

Gabe stayed behind. It was pitiful watching the guy try to cover. He knew he should be going after Travis, but instead he found himself helping the guy fix his books.

"you alright?" he asked. The guy just stared at him with those chocolate brown eyes, as if he were wondering why a guy like Gabe was helping him instead of beating him up.

Gabe placed the books back in the guys hands. "here you go."

"thanks," said the guy, still looking right at him.

Gabe gave him a small smile. "Dont mention it. What's your name?"

The guy opened his mouth to answer but, at that moment; the bell rang. The guy got up and left, without so much as a goodbye. Gabe watched his form retreat into the mass of bodies gathered in the corridor. And slowly, his lips pulled into a smile.

~~/~~

"God, I really hate Mr. Wentz," said Alex, shouldering his bag irritably "2 pop quizzes and I failed BOTH."

"Isn't he always like that?" asked Cassadee as she accompanied him out into the hall "I mean, from what you've told me, he acts like a woman on PMS week everyday."

"I think he has some teenager phobia or something," said Alex rolling his eyes "but that's not the point. I'm gonna end up failing math because of him!"

"oh well, you'll figure something out." she gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "you're not stupid anyway."

Alex smiled at her. "thank you, love. I appreciate your concern."

Cassadee checked her watch. "well, I got class. See ya at lunch."

Alex waved good bye as she left and headed for his locker, where Brian stood smirking at him.

"well, you look rather cheeky today," remarked Alex, fishing out his notebook.

"I believe there's something you're not telling me," said Brian.

"huh? What do you mean?"

"you called Cassadee love just a few minutes ago."

Alex snorted. "I've been calling her love since I was 13. It's a joke. It doesn't mean anything."

Brian nodded, but the smirk still stayed on his face. "have you heard of the bestfriend theorem?"

"the what theorem?"

"the best friend theorem. It's states that if a boy and a girl have been best friends for over a long period of time, then there is a possibility that they could fall in love."

Alex laughed. "And you believe in that crap?"

"It's not crap if it's true," said Brian shrugging.

"Prove it then."

Brian counted it off with his fingers. "Ron and hermione. Katniss and gale. Jacob and Bella. Rachel and Ross. Monica and Chandler. Kim possible an Ron stoppable-"

"any non-fictional couples?"

"my parents. Possibly yours too."

"okay fine." conceded Alex "say it is true. Then why haven't I fallen in love with Sierra?"

"because you only knew her for 2 years." explained Brian "you knew Cassadee since you were kids. That's when it usually starts."

Alex still wasn't convinced. "what makes you think I like Cassadee?"

"You're beside her every minute of everyday. You always walk together to class. You sit next to her at lunch. You talk about her a lot."

"because I haven't seen her in 10 years and our only means of communication was through the computer!" said alex in exasperation.

"okay fine." Brian studied Alex. "so, what would you do if someone else liked her and asked her out?"

Alex was taken aback. What would he do? "I...I..."

"you see?" said Brian, leaning back against the locker "you can't answer. That means something."

Alex stared hard at Brian. He wasn't sure if he had a point but... "But what happens if she doesn't like me back?"

Brian shrugged. "well you don't know that, now do you?"

"yeah, but what if?"

Brian lifted himself off the lockers and rubbed Alex's shoulder. "you'll know what to do." with that, he strutted away, whistling.

~/~

After watching his friends disappear out of the school gates, Gabe decided to head to his next class. As much as he wanted to skip, he felt like he needed some time away from his friends. They didn't understand his predicament. Most of them were rich and spoiled rotten since birth. He didn't even know what travis's parents were like, since he barely talked about them.

All he knew was, he was the only one with an insanely strict dad and he hated it.

Gabe checked his schedule and groaned. Spanish was next. The bane of his existence.

Without a word, he slipped into the classroom. Being the unlucky day that it was, all the seats were taken. All except one. Next to a slim boy with light brown hair and thick rimmed glasses.

Wait... thought Gabe. He squinted at him. The boy adjusted his glasses and happened to catch his eye. He turned away almost instantly.

Gave was so startled, he forgot to breathe. He was in this class all along and he didn't notice!

Today might not be so unlucky after all.

Gabe approached the boy. "hey is this seat taken?"

The boy looked at him, the same way he did when Gabe helped him with his books, when he first saw him at the bleachers. "No. Go ahead."

Gabe slid into the seat and began unpacking his things. He felt the weight of the boy's gaze on him and suddenly felt very conscious.

"Are you following me or something?" the boy finally asked.

Gabe chuckled. "Believe me. I've got better things to do than be in this class."

"Then, why aren't you with your friends?"

Gabe paused and looked at him. The boy's cheeks suddenly flushed with embarrassment, and he avoided his gaze.

"Sorry if I'm being too demanding..." he said.

"Nah," said Gabe, zipping up his bag "It's cool. I just needed to be away from them for a while."

"You're Sierra's brother, right?"

"Yep. The one and only." Gabe ventured a smile. "You know, I've never caught your name. I mean, I think Sierra talks about you at home but-"

"It's William," said the boy, reciprocating the smile "William Beckett."

Gabe couldn't resist another chuckle. "Wow. Fancy name." He looked back up at William and couldn't help but think that no other name would be as perfect. "It suits you. I'm Gabe."

They sat in complete and slightly awkward silence, until William started to laugh. Gabe looked at him curiously.

"What?" he asked.

William shook his head. "Nothing. It's just...my entire life I've always been the most obscure wallflower. And now, the most popular kid in school is sitting next to me and asking me for my name."

"Yeah, well," said Gabe shrugging "Any friend of Sierra's is a...you know...friend of mine."

"Really? You've met her other friends?"

"Well, yeah. I mean they come over a lot. But I only know two of them. They increased in number the last time I saw them."

"How are they like?" William seemed geniunely curious.

"Um...well, one looks like he could be in a boy band and the other one looks like a stoner hippie."

William nodded, suddenly not curious anymore. Gabe cleared his throat.

"Hey," he said "You free later this afternoon? We could hang out...with Sierra if you wanna." He added as a precaution.

William raised a brow. "Hang out with me? You're willing to take that risk?"

"Well my friends and I usually hang out past 8, so you don't have to worry about them about beating you up...or me up for that matter."

William smiled. "That's nice of you, but I can't. I've got glee."

Gabe felt slightly disappointed, but he kept his face straight. "How about tomorrow?"

"Same."

"Day after that?"

"Same."

"Day after that?"

"Same."

"You're not trying avoid me are you?" asked Gabe suspiciously. William laughed.

"I'm serious!" he said "Ever since I joined glee club...well, it's been my entire life now. And Brendon tends to get too passionate about it, so we can't skip any session."

Just then, Mr. Suarez entered the room and class immediately began. Gabe spaced out instantly and unconsciously turned his attention to William as he scribbled down notes. He didn't know why, but something deep, deep down inside of him wanted to know more of the boy sitting next to him.

Then suddenly, he had an idea. A crazy, possibly socially suicidal idea. An idea knew that just might get him what he wanted.

~~/~~

"So I talked with Brian in class a few minutes ago," said Sierra as she, Alex and Cassadee walked to art class "He says the two of you might have a thing."

I'm going to kill him later, thought Alex. Cassadee, on the other hand, was geniunely confused.

"Might have a thing?" she repeated "You mean, he thinks we might end up together?"

"I mean, it's not a bad idea," said Sierra, shrugging innocently.

"But isn't that weird?"

"I agree," said Alex immediately "It is weird. And not very practical."

"But you guys know the best friend theorem, don't you?" asked Sierra.

Alex groaned. "Not you too."

"Best friend theorem?" asked Cassadee "What's that?"

"It's when a boy and a girl who have been best friends for a long time-"

"Happen to fall in love," completed Alex, clearly annoyed "Look, that thing isn't true. And if it were, you and I would've ended up together."

Sierra looked at him in disgust. "Okay, ew. There are valid reasons for that."

"Name them."

"One, you're clearly not my type. Two, two years is way to short for "a long time". Three, you two know each other better than any one else in the world. Why wouldn't you fall in love?"

Cassadee shook her head. "I still think it's weird."

"Yeah," said Alex in agreement "Plus, clearly her type would be someone like Dave." Sierra elbowed him hard in the ribs in response.

The art room was crowded when they went in. Not only was it filled with students. Every inch of floor space was taken up by easels, stools and palette stands. There wasn't even space for a model, which meant only one thing. It was portrait day.

Inwardly, Sierra was glad he wasn't here, otherwise she'd have to face the humiliation of...but she thought too soon. Because there he was, sitting by his lonesome at the far end of the room, staring out of the window just like he did in biology.

"Wow," muttered Alex, grinning "Speak of the devil."

"Shut up," hissed Sierra.

"Alright class," said Mr. Trohman, making his voice heard over the buzz of the students. "As you all know, today is portrait day. So, right now, you will be picking your partners. Once you have picked your partners, one of you will sketch his or her portrait on the sketchpads. Sketches will be submitted at the end of the period."

"Hey Alex," said Sierra immediately "Do you wanna-" She was too late. Alex and Cassadee were already picking an easel by a lit window.

Sierra looked around desperately, but everyone seemed to already have a partner. Even the people she thought no one would ever partner up with. Finally, the only one left was Dave. As usual.

Trying her best not to scream, she sucked in a breath and marched over to Dave's area. It was only when her form cast a shadow over him did he look up at her.

"Yes?' he asked.

"I'm your partner," she said through gritted teeth.

Dave frowned. "No. I decided to work alone."

"Well, too bad. The class is even. Now, am I gonna be your partner or what?"

Dave studied her. "I think I'm gonna go with or what."

Sierra was about to burst. "Look, if we don't pair up right now-"

"Start sketching!" Mr. Trohman called as he paced the room.

Dave sighed. "Alright. Sit down."

Sierra sat down on the stool and brought out her charcoal pencils. She looked up and saw, to her irritation, that Dave faced the easel the other way and was flipping to a clean sheet.

"Hey!" she said indignantly "I'm supposed to draw!"

"Um no," said Dave, not looking up from the easel "We both know who's the better artist here."

"I've never seen you draw in my life," spat Sierra "What makes you think-"

"Look, do you want this done quickly or not?" asked Dave, looking around from the easel. In grudging agreement, Sierra scowled and kept still, listening to Dave's pencil scratch on the rough paper.

"You know this is actually a good spot," said Alex, flipping the pad for a clean sheet 'The light's not very bright."

"Yeah," agreed Cassadee "Come on, we have 30 minutes."

"Right, okay," said Alex. He peered over the easel and studied Cassadee's still form carefully. He couldn't help but think to himself, Why would Brian and Sierra think I'd fall in love with Cassadee? It's ridiculous. She's...

At that moment, the sun shone brighter and illumined Cassadee's figure. And suddenly, Alex wasn't sure what he was looking at anymore. It wasn't because the sun was blinding him. Rather, his model transformed into something entirely different.

Her skin, once dull in the shade, began to glow as it bathed in the warm, bright light. Her eyes twinkled as bright as distant planets on a clear night sky, bright hazel planets a million miles away. Her hair gleamed like polished wood. No...richer than wood. Chocolate. Deep, warm chocolate that seemed almost alive in the sun. The freckles on her face were like stars, tracing her skin like intricate constellations, forming amazing patters.

Alex dropped his pencil in surprise. Who was this? Who was this beautiful creature sitting before him on a...

"Alex," Cassadee called for the fifth time.

Alex blinked rapidly. "W-what?"

"You done yet? We've only got 15 minutes left."

"Um...um...yeah. Yeah. Hold on," said Alex, shaking his head and finally starting on the sketch.

He had no idea what had just happened. But suddenly, the best friend theorem didn't seem so stupid anymore.