So…with all the variables, did Ana manage to get to the right Seven-Eleven at the right time?

Saturday night came and I was basically a wreck. I'd called my friends a few times, checking out what we were all wearing (I was wearing my new leggings and a tank top I'd found at the back of my dresser drawers, the same turquoise as some of the shapes on my leggings), what makeup (I went for a natural look that I heard was early 90s rather than the more crazy wear-as-much-as-possible look of the decade, but hey, it wasn't even four months away from 1990) and what snacks to pick up. I'd thought of a better plan than stopping for snacks after I picked them up. Instead, I asked them what they wanted so I could get to the Seven-Eleven early and not make them wait if I ran into JD. I wouldn't be able to stay too long, but long enough to get my own slushie. If nothing else, it would give me a little energy burst. It wouldn't matter if I was a little late picking up my friends. We didn't want to get to the party early, and I was planning to pick them up at nine fifteen, so we'd be five minutes late.

As I had it, luck was on my side when I got to the Seven-Eleven. JD wasn't actually there when I arrived at nine exactly, but five minutes later, he appeared, just as I'd finished filling my own slushie with sugary lime goodness. I just turned off the machine, and then saw him in the doorway.

Before he could speak, I grinned and took his own line from the musical. "Greetings and salutations."

My grin widened when JD paused, wrong-footed for a moment and eventually said "You took those words right out of my mouth."

I laughed. "I guessed. You're a high-culture guy, right? Who else would read at lunchtime and still be able to throw a punch? Usually I don't approve of fights, but when it's those meatheads, violence is the only language they speak. Extreme violence, especially if it's with a book since they never read any."

"That, and the extreme always seems to leave an impression," JD quipped, as I knew he would.

"Which is why I tried not to leave one," I said, laughing. "I only got to the point of having a clique because that clique doesn't discriminate. That's because I wanted to fit in more than stand out. It's nice to know there's someone like you who's unafraid to be themselves." At that point, I realized I was still standing by the slushie machine and stepped aside. "Oh, sorry. You wanted one of those?"

JD took my invitation and started filling a cup. "Glad someone appreciates slushies like I do. Just don't stand in my way again and I won't have to hurt you."

I laughed, not sure if he was being serious or not. "Noted. If I ever see you here again, I'll let you fill your slushie cup first. I just need one because I have a party to go to. I need some fast energy to get me through it."

A small smile played across JD's face. "Huh. I don't think about slushies as energy. I get them for the cold rush it gives me."

I, of course, already knew that. "We could talk about the benefits another time, when I'm not on my way somewhere," I suggested slyly. "If you didn't think about it as an energy spike, then that's another reason to keep drinking them besides the rush you get. You were talking about brain freeze, right?"

"Course I was," JD shrugged. "You sure you have somewhere else to be? You seem like you're going out of your way to stay here, like you don't even want to leave. You could easily hang here instead."

"I don't think I'm going to enjoy the party, so you have a point." I admitted honestly. The party itself could be fun until Martha showed up, but I really wasn't looking forward to standing up to Heather. But it would have to be done, otherwise there was no way I could have any influence over Veronica. I would rather stay and keep talking, but that wouldn't mean Veronica wouldn't try to break into his room much later and I hadto make sure she didn't. "But I promised to go. One of my friends has a crush on someone there, and I was going to try and talk to him for her. Also, I offered to bring the snacks."

JD actually looked approving. "Considering you're part of a group that goes to parties thrown by the popular group at all, that's a lot kinder than I expected. Free to give, priceless to receive."

As he spoke, I took a gulp of my lime slushie, but I was so distracted by the feeling that I was making progress that I didn't realize it was too much until it happened.

My mind blanked out for a moment. All my worries, nerves, everything just disappeared for a few seconds. All I felt was a searing pain in my forehead, so cold it burned. When I came back to life, the pain fading slowly, JD was still looking at me. His expression was faintly amused.

"I didn't mean to copy you," I said without thinking. "I don't usually drink these for brain freeze."

That was an opening and JD took it immediately. "You should. It makes things easier to face, and if you drink them for energy spikes, you might as well take the brain freeze, too. After ten different high schools in the last three years, Seven-Eleven is the only thing that's always there in every town, even the little ones, and the slushies never fail to help."

I smiled sympathetically. "That is rough. Ever been to Indiana?"

JD shrugged. "Only when I was still in junior high. Not long, not quite two months. Why?"

I gave a sigh. "Remember I said my name was Ana? I don't tell anyone else, but I get the feeling you won't go around telling people. It's short for Indiana. I haven't actually been there. Well, I have, but I was nine months off being born. It's why I got called that."

JD didn't even laugh. He looked amused, true. But he didn't react any other way, it was just something in his face that betrayed his thoughts. After the initial amusement, he just smiled, a sympathetic sheen to it and said "I can see why you shortened it. But it wasn't the worst place Dad and I have lived in, I remember that much. It was neat. Orderly. Nothing to jump out and surprise you." He made eye contact with me and added "Not that you have to be all those things. But then, I've always thought life could use a bit more than neatness."

I blushed, and at that point, I checked my watch. Time I left. "I better go," I said regretfully. "But…well, don't feel like you have to say yes to this. I know I'm probably just being annoying, but I'd like to talk to you again. Out of school, so I can be myself and not act so I'm not teased. Why don't we exchange numbers? If you don't want to, totally fine."

JD seemed to think about it for a moment, then said "If you have a pen, okay. We just got the line connected, so why not?"

I felt a warm rush. I was sure that if he really had no interest in me, he wouldn't have had any issues with refusing. I wasn't, and never would be a clone of Veronica, but I felt like I'd made progress, which I had material proof of now. Of course, he could have given me a fake number, but by the way he'd looked at me, smiling a few times, I got the feeling he really, actually, truly liked me.

I managed my own smile as I left. "Okay, I'll let you get back to freezing your brain. See you later, JD."

JD looked at me like he genuinely was looking forward to seeing me again. "Sure. Survive your party, I guess. Bye, Indi – sorry, Ana."

As I walked out, a spring in my step, I almost collided with a girl just on her way in. "Oh, sorry!" she said, and went to go in,

"Totally my fault," I said quickly, causing her to stop and turn. I knew her without even looking at her face. "I guess you're on snack detail for the party tonight, aren't you? Are the Heathers waiting for you?"

Veronica looked confused for a moment, but then she nodded. "I guess you know who I am, then."

I shrugged. "You're with the Heathers. Who doesn't know you this year? I was shocked that Heather Chandler of all people knew my name, true, but even the new kids like me know who you are, Veronica Sawyer. Anyway, I've got people to pick up, so see you at the party." Over my shoulder, I added "And don't forget the BBQ Corn Nuts – Heather would never forgive you!"

It only cut down a few seconds of Veronica getting into the store, but that meant she had fewer seconds to talk to JD before Heather dragged her out. It was time for me to pick up my friends.

I know I have to tread really carefully to get JD to like Ana. Her liking slushies is just a point they have in common, but he definitely has taken some interest in her, mainly because she's interested in him. I feel like JD probably would have attached himself to anyone who showed him genuine affection and he'd convince himself they were The One, so Ana's on the right track.