I always rise early so that way I can eat freely, but today I had to stuff the food in my mouth and hurry out. That is because I always get rides to and from school from my brother. When going with him it's either be on time or find another ride. Today he was one of those rare days where he was already up and ready to leave.

The moment I shut the door after me he pulled away. Tania never rode to school with us. She got rides from her friends or her latest fling (not that she dated around a lot, but she wasn't above casual flirting). This was because Nick never had the patience to wait for her, and because we did nothing but argue when she tagged along

"How come you never mentioned that you're friends with that arrogant jerk?" I questioned Nick the moment he pulled out of the driveway -my seatbelt securing me safely.

Nick raised an eyebrow at me, his eyes remained fixed on the road. I shrugged my shoulder, he already knew about whom I was talking of.

He sighed shaking his head as if he gave up. "Sydney, how many times have he come over when the rest of the guys are around?" His question was pled with amusement. However instead of letting me answer, he went on. "Forget it, it isn't like you actually pay attention to such things."

I pouted at him, crossing my arms across my chest. Their was no use arguing with him when what he said was the truth.

"Why on earth are you friends with a high school student anyway?" I grumbled instead.

Laughing, he ruffled my neatly done hair. Whining I smacked his arm away. It had taken me ten minutes to fix it.

"He's Bruce's brother. Not to mention, he and his friends hangout in graffiti street. It was inevitable." He answered, laughing at my whining.

"And you still refuse to take me down there!" I exclaimed throwing my hands up in frustration. I've been asking this for the last one and a half years. Ever since Bruce first showed him the place and he told me about it.

"I'll take you on the day you mature more. Now get out, I have places to be." He replied rolling his eyes. Yep, he was annoyed at me bugging him about it.

Pout-glaring at him, I got down, wiggling my fingers at him in farewell. He didn't bother waving back, or acknowledging my existence, as he pulled away.

Huffing at his rudeness, I spun on my heels and hurried inside. It was my misfortune that my phone pinged as I was hurrying to my locker and I looked down to dig my bag for it. Not a moment after I looked down I rammed straight into a wall of muscles.

My books clattered on the floor, spilling out of my open bag. I followed right after, landing on my bum.

"You really can't stay away from me, can you?" An all to familiar voice questioned. Amusement colouring his tone. My head snapped up to be met with a pair of breathtaking bottle green eyes. I swallowed back a groan just in time.

"First you threw yourself at my feet, then sang you couldn't stop staring at me and now this? Yet you insist on claiming you don't even like me. I keep getting mixed signals here." He went on not waiting for my reply. He even had the gall to shake his head like he couldn't believe it.

As if he wasn't twisting the whole thing up to fit his story.

His words cause his football buddies to roar with laughter.

Glaring at the lot of them, I gathered my stuff.

"Oh yes! I'm most certainly head over heels for the one jerk who doesn't have the decency to help up a girl he rammed down." I muttered, voice filled with sarcasm.

"Why? Are you professing your love to him?" A teasing voice questioned as a hand extended to my line of vision. I trailed my gaze along the arm until my eyes met Leo's smirking lips and striking blue eyes.

Leo is Cams best friend. They were practically attached at the hip. He could easily be mistaken as his boyfriend, if either of them swung that way.

I eyed his extended hand with suspicion and decided not to accept it. He was no better than Cam. He wasn't being helpful.

"Keep dreaming!" I replied as I stood up. He didn't care that I had ignored his helping hand, as he stepped back with a shrug.

"You dream of me every night? And here I was thinking you couldn't get any more obvious." Cam snickered, high-fiving Leo.

I'm not sure if it was my good luck or bad luck that my friends walked in on me at that exact moment. I was too busy gaping at Cam, stuck speechless by how he had turned my words around.

"Why would Sydney dream of you?" Ian's voice made me jump. I whirled around to find my four friends behind me.

"Oh, but she's in love with him." Taylor snickered, rising a series of wolf-whistles and catcalls from the rest of his team.

Scoffing at the absurdity of these boys, I turned to walk away. This argument wasn't worth pursuing. Tugging on Ian's sleeve - he looked ready to defend my honour - I walked over to Carly.

My white faced bestie had stopped a few feet behind everyone else and she looked ready to faint - or cry. I gave her an apologetic look at having unintentionally dragged her into this mess I'd made for myself.

Just as I opened my mouth to give her a verbal apology, someone shouted, "see, she didn't deny it. Pathetic! Just like little Carly!"

Carly's eyes widened, and as if possible went even more paler than she already was. I spun back around with a dark glare on my face. Ready to give the person who shouted that a piece of my mind.

Before I could, Carly grabbed my wrist, pulling me back.

"It's not worth it, let it go." She whispered as she dragged me away from there.

"Let me give them a piece of my mind Carly! I'll make sure they don't howl like hyaenas every time they see you." I pleaded, throwing a glare over my shoulder.

Stacey, Richard and Ian were following us, but stayed out of our conversation. It wasn't because they didn't care. Rather because they understood we needed our alone time to talk this out.

Actually, I'm surprised that Stacey wasn't at my throat demanding what I was doing talking with Jocks.

Carly chuckled at my words. She gave the hand she held a gentle squeeze. "I know you will Sydney. Which is exactly why I don't want you to get involved. I don't want you to be their next target." She explained with a softness only Carly possessed.

I huffed not liking it. Carly smiled at me fondly and gave me a quick side hug. This happens every time we have this argument. I want to butt heads and she wants me to leave things as they are. She always manages to calm me down and make me give it up.

That was my best friend for you alright. The best in the world.