So we have a new character in this ever growing drama! Little fact: I named Ralphie after the character on The Magic School Bus because he and TJ look alike. It's creepy, it is. Just a fact.

I'm happy that this fandom is getting more stories written in it. I thought I was beginning to die.

Good forth and read!

Journal,

How did I get myself wrapped into this? This girl doesn't understand the word 'no.' I blame her parents. They spoiled her rotten, being rich and all. But she has potential, I'll give her that. Why is she dumbing herself down? It's not cute.

Maybe I'm too quick to judge her. I'll give her a shot.

~*~V~*~

"Ashley A., will you please go away? Being this desperate is not appealing."

"I'm just saying that, like, adjust back into a normal social structure must be hard for you, and I'm trying to help."

"By stalking me?"

The only person who was immune to my attempts to scare everyone just so happens to be the one person I want to leave me alone the most. I might've inadvertently attracted Ashley A. by wearing these contacts. It was bad enough in gym where we were playing dodgeball and she was on the same team as me (by her own accord). Then we have civics together and she sat right next to me. I'm all against violence against women and all, but sometimes I just want to choke a bitch. The one that's bothering me, I mean.

I'm not going to do it, though. I'm trying to be more patient and hope she gets the message.

I thought I was free from her when the day ended. She's rich; she must have her own car to drive home, or better yet, a driver to take her home, but no. She's walking here next to me. She has a driver, but the driver is following us.

"It's not stalking when I'm trying to help," She said as we walked down the street. Her driver was on the road next to us, annoying the hell out of the cars behind him.

"Thanks, but no thanks, Ashley. I'm adjusting to life here just fine. Please leave me alone."

"What's your deal? Most guys would be falling over their own feet for me! And you, the one guy who spent four years locked in a cage with a bunch of other guys, depraved of any contact from girls isn't attracted to me. What's with that?"

"I never said I wasn't attracted to you. I just so happen to think you're very attractive, especially since I last remember you as being that unbearable spoiled little girl. You're putting words in my mouth," I said. "I'm not interested is all. It's has nothing to do with you, if it makes you feel better."

"…It does a little bit," She mumbled. "Can you at least do me a favor?" I sighed. She doesn't give up easily. Stubborn, just as I remember her.

"What is it?"

"I saw you doing you math homework during lunch."

"And?"

"I'm not so good in Trig. Think you can help me out and tutor me before I completely flunk?"

"How can you be having trouble? You're in the same grade I am; they only let juniors in Trig if they're smart enough."

"Let's just say I took short-cuts." She cheated. "I had to convince my parents that I'm 'doing' something in school." Now its about to blow up in her face and she wants me to rescue her. I want this to be over with.

"Alright, fine. I'll tutor you," I told her, giving up. Her face lit up when I said that. "Who's house are we going to? If we're going to your place I'll be over there later 'cause I have to go home and feed my bunny." I heard her gasp.

"You have a bunny?" That's right, girls like cute things don't they?

"Yeah, but I have to get home and feed her. She can be a bit of a bitch if I don't. she bit me when I was an hour late one time."

"I wanna see! I'm coming over your house! C'mon, my driver'll take us!"

"It's three blocks away," I said, pointed ahead of us. "I'm not going to rider in a car for three blocks." Talk about lazy….

"But it's freezing out here!"

"It wouldn't be freezing if you more a sweater and not a tank top under your coat. You can ride for three blocks if you want, I'm walking." She didn't say anything as she ran to her limo and got inside. Must be nice to be rich. And Spoiled.

Finally, some time to myself.

I never taught anyone before. Wait, yes I did. I tutored JoJo and Bandit plenty of times back in Duval when they were having trouble. This shouldn't be too hard, but I have my suspicions about this girl. What's she after? More than just a tutor, I bet.

Hmm…I have to convince Zack to leave us alone for a while. Ehh….I'll give him some candy.

It didn't even take me ten minutes to get home. Here she is, waiting at my doorstep like I'm in the wrong.

"Please don't look at me like that," I said unlocking the door. "I told you was only three blocks."

"You would've been here faster if you took the limo like I said," She said after we came inside.

"But I didn't, okay? We're here now," I told her as we went into my room. Right on time. "Here's my rabbit."

"You DO have one! Can I hold her?" She asked, taking off her coat. She kneeled down next to the cage and tried to take Duracell out, but Duracell was having none of it. Every time Ashley tried to pick her up, Duracell moved away from her. Good girl. "Why won't she let me hold her?"

"She doesn't know you yet. How would you like it if someone ran up to you and tried to touch you? Let me see," I sat down next to her and picked Duracell up and out of her cage. I sat her down on the floor and expected her to hop around, but she didn't. "Just give her time. Until she comes to you, I can tutor you, okay?" I had to pull Ashley's attention from Duracell and to her textbook. It started out good, helping her get the basics down. I had to convince her to write with a black ink pen. All her notes were written in bright pink ink that made it hard to read. I helped her with her homework too. It wasn't as hard as I thought I would be; she's a fast learner. Or so I thought.

She spent a lot of her time flirting with me. That's nice she feels the need to, but I'm trying to tutor her I have a job to do and I intend to do it. I kept denying her, but she kept at it. She was distracted when Duracell hopped on her lap, and took that chance to look through her notes. That's when I found something that told me I was right about suspecting behind her wanting me to help her.

I found her past homework, and it's not D's or F's like she has me thinking. She's getting A's and the occasional B's. She doesn't need my help. She's doing damn fine by herself.

"Ashley, what are these?" I asked her. She was busy petting Duracell when she looked over to the papers I was showing her.

"Oh, um….those are nothing," She said, stuttering. "I copied off some nerd in from of me in class, that's it."

"For ALL of these?"

"Yep." I gave her a look showing that I didn't believe her and she got the message. "…Okay fine, I didn't cheat. I did all that work."

"Then why are you here? You're doing fine without any help."

"You wouldn't, like, pay attention to me any other way," said Ashley A. "You act like you've never seen a girl before!"

"I've seen plenty of girls, Ashley A…" I said, thinking back to Veronica and her friends. I wonder if they got out on parole too. I think so… "What do I have to do to get you to leave me alone? You obviously came up with this whole 'tutoring' thing as an excuse to get my attention…now you have it."

"I want a date." She must be crazy.

"No."

"Why they hell not?"

"Please don't curse in front of my rabbit."

"You're still not giving me a reason!"

"Because I don't want to! Why are you so interested in me?" I asked her. This is getting ridiculous. "What do I have to offer you? Shouldn't you be dating the captain of the football or basketball team?"

"For your information I dated both, and they both were assholes. Can't a girl just ask for a date these days?" She asked, smiling.

"From me of all people? The guy everyone's running away from?"

"Yeah. Like, what's wrong with that?" Okay, whatever. I don't care anymore. I just want her to go away right now. I'm willing to say anything to get her to go home.

"Fine, I'll take you out on a date." She did a silent cheer. Bet she's happy. "One date, Ashley A. ONE. This Friday night. I can't take you out on Saturday or Sunday, I'm busy those days."

"Yes! See, I knew I'd convince you!"

"Uh-huh."

"So where are we going?"

"I'm not sure. I'll tell you in a couple of days. Are we done here? You don't need my help in Trig…."

"Yeah, I'm done," She said standing up. I stood up with her. As much as she's annoying the hell of me, I'm going to be as polite as I can stand. "I can't wait until Friday!"

"I know. C'mon, I'll walk you to the door." As I led her downstairs, the front down opened and Mom and Zack came through. Zack said he had something to tell me and I told him to go wait in my room. After Ashley left I breathed a sigh of relief and headed back upstairs and into my room where Zack was on the floor playing with Duracell.

"What's the big surprise Zack?" I asked, sitting on the floor.

"I told Valarie I liked her!" He said.

"Really? That's great. Did she like you back?"

"Uh-huh, then I asked her to be my girlfriend."

"Did she say yes?"

"She said she likes me too but that I gotta take her out on a date first." Oh God. "TJ, what's a date?" Kid, this is none of your concern. Go back to playing with your tinker toys and play-doh and leave this dating bullshit to the grown-ups.

That's my frustration speaking…..

"A date when you take someone you really like somewhere and the two of you have a fun together."

"Oh. I can do that! Want to take her roller skating!"

"Do you know how to roller skate, Zack?" He nodded.

"I got roller skates in my room." I didn't know three year olds can roller skates. Hell, some of them can't even walk on their own feet without falling. The whole hand-eye coordination balance development thing. "Daddy taught me. Do you know how?"

"Yes, but I haven't been in a long time. I might have forgotten how."

"TJ can you take us on our date?" First of all, he shouldn't worry over dating yet….he's three.

"I don't know Zack—"

"Please, please, please, please! I have to take her on a date!" He begged. "She's the love of my life!" Your life barely began, okay? Probably doesn't remember last year…. "Please, TJ?"

"Okay, I'll take the two of you out roller skating. I'll talk to her brother at school tomorrow about it." Where is he getting this from?

"Yay! Thank you!" He came over and hugged me. "I gotta date!" At what point should I be concerned about this? It's cute, yeah, but….you know….these are toddlers. I'm worrying too much. They'll forget about it soon enough.

I give it two weeks.

I give me and Ashley one day.

I have a job! It's part-time, but it's better than nothing. It won't interfere with update happening as often as they have been. This update happened later than I would've liked because of a writers block I'm experiencing. I'll try to have the next update around next Monday or Tuesday.

Hiddenbehindthecurtains: Secrets, secrets! Maybe Ralphie did, maybe he didn't. Maybe TJ did light the fire is only denying it, or lit it without knowing he did. We just don't know. (I do, but I'm not giving any spoilers) You'll just have to wait and see. :D

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