A/N- Crap, I accidentally fell in love with the story and now I can't stop writing.

Joe had fallen absolutely and completely in love with her. They only had one class together and they barely spoke, but there was no denying what he felt for her. The way she stared out the window, the way her hair caught the florescent light, and the way she wrote notes in the little book she carried around with her. Yep. There was no denying it. Joe was completely in love with Joleena Beauchene.

The fall air had turned chilly in the middle of October. Joleena sat in front of him two seats to the left wearing a turtle neck, short sleeve sweater, a knee length denim skirt, and high heeled leather boots. Joe sat in the French class they shared and stared at her, trying to rehearse in his head how he was going to talk to her.

He could risk passing a note to her, complementing the way she looked. But then there was the risk of getting caught by the teacher and thoroughly humiliated. Or he could walk up to her after class and use some of the French he had been learning. Just was walk up to her, kiss her hand and say, 'tu es tres belle'. Or was it 'est tu tres belle'? Naw, either one was way too cheesy.

Joleena was one of the "queens of the school" as other students dubbed them. They were the most popular girls ranging from head cheerleaders to captain of the female sports teams and even just regular rich, pretty girls. Joe didn't run with the popular or even the sorta popular crowd, so he didn't really know too much about them, but he was pretty sure that it was safe to assume that she already had a boyfriend. That didn't stop Joe from thinking about her though. Or fantasizing about running his fingers through her soft, wavy…

"Joseph!"

"Huh!?"

The teacher was suddenly standing by his desk, glaring down at him. "Pouvez- vous me dire ce que je dis en ce moment?"

"Uh…oui?"

"Oh." A small smirk came to the teacher's lips. "Alors qu'est-ce?"

Joe just looked at him blankly, feeling his face heat up with embarrassment. "Que votre bouche est poilue?"

The whole class erupted into laughter and the teacher glowered at him, looking down right pissed. Joe cringed and waited for him to start yelling when someone cleared their throat.

"Uh, pardonnez-moi monsieur Thomas," Joleena spoke up in a clear voice full of sympathy, "s'il vous plaît excusez- Joseph , son français est très pauvre et il n'a aucune idée de ce qu'il dit."

Joe felt his heartbeat quicken. He had no idea what Joleena said, but she spoke French so perfectly that he wondered why she wasn't teaching the class. And her voice was like warm, golden honey, he could listen to her talk all day.

The teacher humphed and finally turned away from Joe. "Next time Joseph perhaps you should spend more time paying attention and less time day dreaming. Then Joleena wouldn't have to save you from getting a detention."

There was another round of chuckling from the class. Joe shot Joleena a grateful smile but she was back to writing in her notebook. The bell rang signaling the end of class. Joe got up hoping to thank her in person but she was swept away by the crowd. He quickly gathered his things and looked for her in the hallway, but she was already surrounded by her friends and admirers.

"Oh well," Joe sighed. "Maybe next time."

"What happens next time?" A soft voice said behind him.

Joe turned around and gave Fina an embarrassed smile. "Nothing. Forget I said anything."

Fina returned his smile and they started walking to their lockers together. Over the past month he and Fina had become somewhat friends. Okay so she followed him around like a lost puppy, but Joe thought she was pretty nice and besides, she helped him a lot with his English Literature assignments.

"So did you finish that worksheet for To Kill a Mockingbird?" She asked in a near whisper.

"What?" Joe asked loudly with a teasing smile. "I'm sorry Fina, I couldn't hear you in this INCREDIBLY QUIET HALLWAY."

Ever since the incident in the cafeteria on the first day, Joe had been trying to help Fina speak up a little when she talked. Surprisingly it had worked and she had been coming out of her shell more and more every day.

"I asked if you finished your worksheet yet." She repeated with a slight giggle. "It's due next class."

"I'm… almost finished with it." Joe chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Actually, I've only read the first two chapters of the book. Maybe you can help me? Again?"

They met Sam at the lockers and having heard the last part of the conversation, Sam rolled his eyes.

"Please tell me you aren't still helping him with his assignments, Fina." He said. "Take it from me, Joe never reads the book and never will if you keep telling him the answers to the worksheet."

"I don't mind." Fina said with a small blush. "I like helping Joe."

"Thank you Fina." Joe smiled at her and gave Sam a look. "At least somebody likes helping me out."

"Oh yeah, well what are you going to do when you two don't have the same class anymore?" Sam smirked.

Fina's eyes widened in momentary panic, but Joe merely rolled his eyes and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Then she'll still help keep me on track, because that's what friends are for. Right, Fina?"

A large smile grew on Fina's face and she nodded eagerly but Sam looked down right indignant.

"And just what have I been doing for the past fourteen years!?"

"Being annoyed with him?" Fina guessed sweetly.

Joe burst out laughing and even Sam couldn't help but smile. Honestly, Joe felt a little proud of himself. A month ago Fina could barely look anyone in the eye, let alone speak above a whisper, and now she was actually cracking jokes like a normal person. And all because Joe had taken the time to break her out of her shell.

"Hey guys." Fred smiled coming up to them. "What's so funny?"

Beside him, Fina automatically tensed and stopped laughing. Joe tightened his grip on her shoulders, but she slipped from under his arm and took off down the hallway. Joe cringed inwardly. Even though Fina had opened up around him and Sam, every time she saw Fred she immediately turned tail and ran the other way.

"What the hell is her problem?" Fred said irritably. "Every time she sees me she runs like a scared cat or something."

"She's probably still mad at you for calling her a mouse." Sam said. "Told you, that you were being a jerk to her."

"So? That was a whole month ago!"

Joe rolled his eyes. "Fred, you called her a mouse last week. And a creepy mouse too!"

"Well how was I supposed to know that she had been standing right behind me!?" Fred groaned in frustration. "Besides, I've been called worse things before. What's the big deal?"

Joe and Sam exchanged a look, debating. Fred had been busy with practice and hanging with the jocks that he hadn't been able to hang out with them a lot. And when he was around Fina always made sure to be scarce so Fred wasn't there to hear the story. Joe sighed and decided to tell him.

"Fina's been bullied a lot okay?" He explained. "In elementary school she used to have really long hair, all the way down to her back. But then one day a group of girls put gum in her hair and she had to cut it all off. And then people called her a boy for a year."

Fred's irritation faded from his face. "Wow… I guess that's pretty rough."

"Yeah and you see how she dresses." Sam pointed out, earning a look from Joe. "What? You know how judgmental these girls can be. Trust me, they've made fun of my clothes plenty and at least my clothes are clean."

"Ugh… that's right." Joe mumbled.

What Sam said was completely true. Girls were unusually vicious to Fina and more than once Joe had caught them talking garbage about her. And to be completely honest, he could almost see why. Her clothes were always faded and baggy, and for some reason there were tears or patches in them.

But thinking about Fina's ratty clothes actually made Joe think about Joleena's pristine blouses and skirts. The way her clothes hugged her figure. The sweet scent of her perfume…

"But that still doesn't give her the right to be such a jerk to me!" Fred interrupted his thoughts. "How can I even apologize to her if she runs away whenever she sees me?"

"I guess you'll have to figure that out on your own." Sam shrugged. "Though she'll probably get over it eventually. She doesn't seem like the person to hold a grudge."

"And I can talk to her for you again if you like." Joe offered.

"No thanks." Fred grumbled. "I'll take care of it. After practice, I'll find her and apologize. And if she doesn't then forget her!"

Joe and Sam exchanged another look. Hopefully Fred and Fina would be able to work out any differences they had. Because if not, it would be a lot harder to hang out with Fina when she and their best friend hated each other. And Joe would hate to think what would happen if he and Sam had to choose which of them to be friends with.

For the first time since kindergarten, Fred actually enjoyed going to school. Being one of the kings was definitely working for him. They had their first game of the season last week and Fred killed it with three touchdowns, winning the game for his team. Ever since then everyone seemed to know his name. He got high fives and praise everywhere he went. And with Joleena by his side as his pretend girlfriend, he could harmlessly flirt with hot girls without worrying about them staking a claim on him. Not to mention it was pretty awesome to hear Joleena cheering specifically for him on the side lines. And she wasn't bad arm candy herself, especially without the drama or commitment. Sure it would have been nice to be able to hang out with Joe and Sam more, but it was super cool to be liked by everyone.

Liked by everyone but her. That stupid Fina chick who was always hanging around Joe.

All of Fred's earlier guilt had been completely replaced by pure annoyance. He didn't care how much Fina had been bullied by other people, Fred was not a bully. And he couldn't even apologize to her if she kept running away from him like he was the plague.

Fred thought about all this on the way home from school. Unfortunately he had to walk by himself since Joe had a doctor's appointment, Sam had math club, Kevin was hanging with his new girlfriend, and Joleena was hanging at the mall with some friends.

"Man I hate walking by myself." He muttered. "There's no one to talk to."

That was when he spotted Fina walking a little ahead of him. Perfect. He could apologize to her, she'll finally forgive him, and all this stupid tension between them could be over and done with.

"Hey Fina!" He called, walking faster. "Wait up!"

He caught up to her and flashed her his friendliest smile, but she kept her head down and wouldn't look at him. He felt a twinge of irritation but forced himself to keep smiling.

"So, I've been trying to talk to you for a while now." He said. "You know, to apologize for what happened last month."

"Don't bother." Fina mumbled walking faster.

Fred froze in shock then hurried to catch up to her. "Hey, what's your damage? I'm trying to be nice and apologize here."

"And I said don't bother." Again Fina quickened her pace and kept her head down.

Fred easily over took her though. "Look Fina, I know you're pissed but I said I'm sorry. I'm sorry for calling you a mouse alright!?"

"Apology accepted. Now go away!" Fina's voice rose above her customary whisper, almost to a yell.

"No!" Fred said stubbornly and grabbed her arm. "I'm not going anywhere until you stop acting like a brat and actually accept my-"

The words died on Fred's lips. When he grabbed Fina's arm, she gave him such a fierce look of anger that her blue eyes almost looked electric. He was so distracted by them that he didn't see her foot rear up until it made contact with his shin.

"Ow! Dammit Fina!"

"Just leave me alone already!" She shrieked.

Fina then took off at a run and with a loud curse Fred chased after her. She was going to accept his apology if it was the last thing he did. He wasn't a bully, he wasn't a jerk, and he was going to make her see that! She might have been fast, but he was faster.

"You forget I'm on the football team." He chuckled, easily catching up to her yet again. "There's no way you can outrun me."

Fina gave him another blaze of a look and doubled her speed. Fred was admittedly taken aback. He ran faster as well, determined to catch her, but unfortunately she had a definite lead on him. Fred maintained his focus though and kept running. People were giving them odd looks but Fred ignored them all and zeroed in Fina. She glanced back towards him and when she saw that he was gaining, she suddenly changed directions and ducked into a nearby alley. Fred followed, close behind her.

"I could do this all day Fina!" He called after her. "And I'm not stopping until you talk to me!"

Fred smiled in relief when he saw a chain link fence looming up ahead of her. Even if she tried climbing it, he would catch her before she even made it halfway-

Without even breaking her pace, and still holding her books in one arm, Fina jumped off a trashcan, a dumpster, swung off the fire escape, and leapt over the fence. Fred's jaw literally dropped. She shot him one triumph look and slowed to a fast walk. Fred grit his teeth, refused to give up, and attempted to do the same thing she did. He scraped his hand and nearly fell on his face, but he made it over the fence.

Fina looked shocked for one moment before she took off running again. Fred laughed and continued to chase her. They zig zagged through the alleys and streets, jumping over dumpsters, scaling fire escapes, and even dodging through traffic. Adrenaline was pumping through Fred's veins and he couldn't stop smiling. He hadn't gotten this much of a work out since sports camp. Forget mouse, Fina was like a freakin' cheetah with this kind of speed.

Fina knocked over a couple of trashcans trying to trip him up. Fred leapt over them and paused. He realized what direction she was going in and headed into a smaller alley way for a shortcut. Climbing onto the fire escape, he ran until he spotted her below him. He waited until she was in the perfect position before he leapt down.

"Gotcha!" He yelled triumphantly.

But he had miscalculated and instead of landing in front of her like he planned, he collided with her sending them both crashing into a pile of trash. Even more embarrassing, he had landed so that he was completely on top of Fina, his body blanketing her petite frame.

"Sorry," He groaned leaning up on his forearms. "I didn't mean to crash into you like that. Are you… okay?"

Again Fred was rendered speechless. For the first time since he met her, Fina's bangs were out of her face revealing sky blue eyes. But those eyes were teary and wide with terror and she was trembling in fear.

"Whoa, whoa take it easy!" Fred quickly got off of her. "I- I was just messing with you. I didn't mean to actually hurt you or anything."

He reached down to help her up, but she flinched, bringing her arms over her head.

"Please don't hit me!" She cried.

"I'm not gonna hit you I swear!" Fred yelled getting frustrated. What the heck was wrong with this girl? "Look, I was just trying to convince you that I'm not a jerk."

He grabbed her arm and hoisted her up to her feet. She stumbled and against his chest, but then quickly righted herself again. She sniffled and lowered her head again but at least she stopped crying.

"See? You're fine. Just a little banged up that's all." He let go of her arm, but then frowned when he realized his palm was sticky with blood. "Huh, I guess I cut myself on the fire escape or something."

When he looked back at Fina though, he spotted a long gash on her forearm, dripping with blood.

"Crap." He mumbled. "I guess I landed on you harder than I thought."

"It's fine." Fina mumbled, gathering her scattered books. "I only live a few blocks from here. I have Band-Aids at home."

"Yeah but I'm closer." Fred grabbed her books from her. "Come on, it's not far. My mom should have a first aid kit at home."

Fina stuttered a protest but Fred also grabbed her bag off her shoulder and started walking. They headed to his place walking in awkward silence. She trailed behind him like a ghost and he kept having to crane his head to make sure she was still following him. Fred made a noise of impatience and grabbed her wrist, pulling her in step with him.

"You're getting blood on my wrist." Fina muttered.

"You started it." Fred shrugged. "Besides this is your blood remember?"

He glanced down just in time to see the barest of smiles flicker across Fina's face. They reached his house and he led them into the kitchen.

"Go ahead and sit down." He said throwing her books on the table. "I'll be right back with the first aid kit."

Fina did what he said, being careful not to get blood on anything. Fred shrugged off both their bags and went into the hall closest. Just like always there were several first aid kits stacked on the bottom shelve. His mom was a nurse so there were plenty of these on standby. He came back into the kitchen and pulled a chair up next to Fina. Opening up the first aid kit, he found gauze, bandages, a water bottle, and antiseptic ointment.

"Here, give me your arm."

Fina did so obediently and he winced with guilt. The sleeve of her sweatshirt was ripped and spotted with blood.

"Man you really got cut up." He mumbled wiping some of the blood away with a cloth. "Again, I'm so so sorry about this. I was just trying to show you that I'm not such a bad guy."

Fina's eyes flickered towards his for a moment but she didn't say anything. After Fred got most of the blood cleared he was relieved to see that the gash wasn't as deep as he thought it was. He also noticed that there were several scars on her arm. Wow she must do a lot of parkour or something, he thought. The thought made him chuckle a little.

"What's so funny?" Fina asked.

"Nothing really, I just never took you for an athletic type." He smiled. "How come you're not on the track team?"

"I don't do sports. Or teams." She said quietly, wincing as he applied the antiseptic. "How do you know how to do this?"

"My mom's a nurse so she's always bringing home first aid kits. And she was always patching up my brothers and me. We played sorta rough when we were kids." Fred chuckled at the memory. One time, his mom had to give him home made stitches after a fight for the remote.

"I guess I was wrong about you." Fina admitted with a smile. "You aren't a bad guy. You seem like a very nice guy."

"But not as nice as Joe right?" Fred asked with a teasing smile.

Fina's smile dropped and she turned away with a bright blush on her face. "I-I don't know what you mean."

"Uh-huh, sure you don't." Fred rolled his eyes. "Come on, I'm his best friend. Don't think I haven't notice you trailing behind him like a puppy."

Fina quickly stood up. "I should really go! It's getting late and it's my turn to make dinner at home."

"Wait! Let me finish bandaging you up first." Fred laughed and finished tying of the bandage. "Besides, I can walk you if you want."

"N-no. I'd rather walk." Fina quickly gathered her things and headed to the door. "But um… thank you, Fred. See you… around."

And with that Fina practically fled from his house. Fred shook his head with a chuckle until his stomach growled loudly. Now that the adrenaline had worn off he was absolutely famished.