Nick couldn't concentrate. The page of sums swam before his eyes, mocking him. Fern was singing downstairs, her voice warbling an out of tune rendition of 'Hit Me Baby One More Time.' And the only thing on Nick's mind was Aria Kane.

Why did she chose Aria? Of all people? Sure, she was a friend of Jordan's. And yeah, sure, they'd spoken a few times, and maybe nodded to one another in the corridor at school. But that didn't make them friends. It certainly didn't make them potential lovers.

Besides, what did they have in common? Nothing, as far as Nick could tell. Jordan had promised someone he'd easily be able to talk to. But Aria didn't seem to fit that category. She was loud, gobby, opinionated. And Nick wasn't any of those things.

He'd seen her at school that day. She was stood at the Mikey Roth's table where the popular kids sit, lecturing Mikey on objectification of women. Her face had gone as red as her hair, and all five foot three of her was shaking. Nick had turned and run from the dinner hall before she spotted him. He locked himself in a toilet cubicle, shaking. He had to go on dates with that girl. What if he aggravated her?

He couldn't concentrate on homework at a time like this. Especially not maths. He called Jordan.

"I'm panicking."

"Nothing new there, squirt."

"You started this. You get over right now and help me."

"Fine, I'm coming. I don't see how I can help though."

"You're going to give me step-by-step instructions in how to survive this date. Because a) I'm very anxious about the whole ordeal. b) now that you've said people think I look gay I'm paranoid, and need help picking an outfit. And c) this is all your fault and it's going to be a nightmare."

"Yeah, yeah, I get the picture. I'll be five minutes."

Jordan arrived punctually and with a backpack full of supplies. That's how Nick knew she meant business. She nudged her glasses up her nose and marched up the stairs to Nick's room. Fern shouted hello up the stairs. Jordan replied by slamming the door.

"No time for pleasantries. Let's do business," she said, making herself comfortable on Nick's bed. "First up; we shall stalk her Facebook."

Nick rolled his eyes. "That's your master plan? I could have done that myself."

"It's a start. Besides. She only has five friends on Facebook, and I suspect you're not one of them. You won't have seen half the stuff I have. Believe me. This will be useful."

Nick didn't argue. He knew better than to argue with Jordan. She opened her laptop and typed out a few words.

"Okay...ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

"Then meet Aria Kane. Sixteen years old. Feminist. Animal lover. Political enthusiast. Scary girl."

"Goes without saying," Nick muttered.

"Aria has a brother, Lucas. If you meet him, be careful. He's almost as scary as Aria. He's very quick. Got a sharp tongue. Her Mum is the same." Jordan took off her glasses, wiping them on the hem of her shirt. "Oh, how I admire Mrs Kane. Nirvana fan. Crazy lady. Barmaid and master of puns."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You've got a crush on Mrs Kane. Back to Aria, please."

"Fiiine." Jordan scrolled through Aria's profile, past pictures of Aria at various local protests and long, rambling text posts. "You get the picture. I'll show you one of her videos."

"Videos?"

"You'll see. She's got her own channel."

Jordan found Aria's videos on a channel called AriaActivisim. She clicked on the latest video, which had been posted that evening. Aria's face appeared on the screen after a s short burst of music and her channel logo. She waves at the camera, beaming.

"Well hello! Here we are again! It seems you guys keep coming back for more," she said to the camera, "And boy, are you in for a treat this week...my latest project is targeting the issue of teenage binge drinking. And let me tell you...I did not have fun making the footage you're about to see. To me, binge drinking seems like an obvious issue to target. All teenagers like to drink, and, often, excessively. But the dangers go overlooked. In one sitting, you can get alcohol poisoning. In the long run, you can get liver and brain damage. The question is: is it worth it?"

The video changed to a full view of Aria's bedroom. The word Saturday flashed across the screen, and then Aria reappeared, tying her carroty hair back with a bobble.

"I'm dreading this. Got my bottle of vodka, and I'm ready." She raised a shot glass to the camera. "Cheers."

The video proceeded to show her stumbling around her bedroom, crashing about and laughing hysterically. At some point, Lucas, entered the room and laughed at her for a good two minutes as she flailed around on the floor, claiming to be impersonating a fish moored on a beach. It then skipped forwards to her dancing wildly, dragging Lucas around with her, before collapsing on the floor and stroking his blonde hair affectionately, calling him her fluffy little bunny.

"Embarrassing, isn't she? You've got to date that..."

"Thanks to you. At least the video holds comedy value. Actually dating her doesn't."

"You're such a pessimist."

The next part of the video showed Sunday morning. Lucas was laughing, holding the camera.

"Sounds like my little sister is having fun in the bathroom," he said, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously. The sound of Aria being sick was heard, and Lucas honed in on her bent over the toilet, trying desperately to keep her long hair out the way as she's sick.

"The first part of the video is funny. The second is just grim," Nick said.

"I think that's the point. Meant to be hard hitting."

"I think we've seen enough of that," Aria says on screen, cutting back to the present. "I hope that my little experiment proves how dumb binge drinking is, and how much damage it does. Even if it does feel fun at the time. And OK, I'm not saying don't drink at all, but staying safe is important. And when I upload this I'll be flooded with comments about how boring I am, and how everyone drinks, so why shouldn't you?" She smiled sweetly at the camera. "But I'm not interested in people I can't teach."

"She's...intense?" Nick said.

"That's one word for her. What are your thoughts?"

"I'm thinking I have no idea why you thought we'd be a good match. She's going to crush me."

Jordan smiled and evil smile, eyebrows furrowed. "You're perfect for one another."

"Oh, yes, I see it now. We're completely perfect for each other. Except for the fact that she's a girl."

"Details, details. Now. All we need to do now is arrange a date!"

"Now?"

"Yes, now!" Jordan took out her mobile and dialled Aria. Nick desperately tried to take the phone of her, but Jordan was taller, and held her hand high in the air while Nick jumped up like a little child. "Hey loser!" she said a little breathlessly as Aria picked up. Nick stopped jumping. It was too late. Jordan put Aria on speaker.

"Jordan," Aria replied tiredly.

"I like the video."

"Thanks. So do I. But you calling and complimenting me means you want something. What is it this time?"

"I'm wounded that you would think that....although actually, I do want something, yeah, and I don't have time for sucking up to you. So here's the deal. I need a favour."

"Which is?"

"Go on a date with Nick."

"Nick?" Aria laughed on the other end, and Nick had to pretend he wasn't slightly offended. "Are you kidding me? He's not my type, at all."

"Oh come on, Aria. He's lonely."

"Oi!" Nick hissed.

"Bullshit," Aria replied.

"He's wanted to ask you out for ages and-"

"Bullshit!"

"OK, it's bullshit. But he needs a girlfriend."

"Why's that?"

"So I can get him out of my hair a while."

"You're not his mother."

"Yeah, Jordan," Nick muttered."

"No, I'm his best friend. And I promised I'd get him a date. Please? Just think of him as one of your projects, or something."

"You want me to use your best friend as a project? Jordan, have you ever considered seeing a psychologist? You're seriously messed up, my friend."

Nick nodded in agreement and Jordan slapped Nick's arm.

"What was that noise?" Aria asked.

"I'm messed up, but determined," Jordan said, ignoring Aria's question. "So what do you say?"

Aria sighed on the other end of the line. "Look, I'll think abou-"

"Great! Meet him at Antonio's tomorrow night at six! OKthanksbye."

"Jordan!" Nick and Aria screamed simultaneously as Jordan ended the call. She rolled her eyes.

"Nice one. Now she knows you were here. Dumbass."

"You're unbelievable. She clearly doesn't want to go out with me."

"She's just playing hard to get, the minx."

"Eww."

"Anyway, it's sorted now! Aren't I a great friend? For doing this for you?" Jordan prompted, nudging Nick's arm.

"That's debateable."

"Hush now. Let us continue the preparations. I mean, no offence, Nick, but if you want this date to be a success, you're going to have to make some serious changes."

"Like what?"

"Like brushing your hair for once. Dressing better. Learning how to have a conversation without having a breakdown."

"Interesting. So what you're saying, really, is that I need to change my whole personality."

"You've hit the nail on the head right there. So we better hurry up. We've only got one night, and I'm not sure that's going to be enough..."

n