January 2, 2013: C

"Hey, Fang."

The familiar female voice makes me turn my head, and I offer a half smile as my friend Maya sits down. "Oh, hey, Maya," I reply awkwardly. "What's up?" Glancing over my shoulder, I see Max still arguing with her friends. What's going on over there?

She giggles, rolling her eyes and shoving my shoulder. "You never answered my question!" she complains, and I distractedly try to remember if I had, in fact, answered her question. And what her question was.

"I didn't?"

Maya laughs, rolling her brown eyes and shaking her head. "No, you didn't," she says, fake pouting. "I was really disappointed."

Nodding in the same distant way, I look at Max again. Her back is to me, but her shoulders are slumped. Whatever they're saying isn't what she wants to hear. "Sorry," I reply. Maya is quiet for a moment, turning to follow my gaze, but I look away before she can.

Ratchet's eyebrows are halfway up his forehead, and he shoots me a look that screams, 'HOT GIRL. FLIRT NOW.'

I shake my head at him.

"So…" she says, leaning closer, her eyes wide and interested. "Who do you like?"

Frowning, I open my mouth to respond, but the bell rings, and Maya draws back, laughing. "Oh, well. I guess we'll have to continue this conversation later." She gets up to leave, and I nod, standing up to throw away my stuff, glancing over at Max.

Ratchet sees me staring, and shoves me after Maya. I stumble into her, and she looks startled for a moment before smiling, shoving my shoulder. "Couldn't stay away, huh? Maybe everyone's got the rumor wrong." She glances around and leans in, dropping her voice. "Maybe you like me, instead of the other way around."

I blink.

"Wait," I say, slowly. "The girl from the rumor…you're that Maya?" She nods, beaming, and I laugh, running a hand through my hair. "Oh, and here Ratchet had me thinking the gossip was true. To be honest, I'm glad that she's you."

Her eyes glitter with something I don't exactly recognize, and she leans away, studying me.

"Really?"

Nodding, I smile, dropping my hand. "You see, I really like this girl, and I don't want another girl liking me to get in the way of that," I explain, patting her on the head. "I'm glad it's you because there's no chance that you like me!"

She looks away, smiling thinly.

"Yeah…" she says quietly. "It must be a relief."

Heh.

He's so clueless.

Max: Smooth, Fang. Smooth.

Iggy: Man, you totally friend-zoned her.

Fang: Wha?

Angel: *Giggles evilly.* PLAN FAX CONTINUES!

Nudge: *Nods.*

Me: *Shakes head.* R AND R?

~Anna Ride