When I got home, Dad was watching a game and cheering up a storm. I came in and sat on the couch, but it was his team, not mine, and I was too tired to get too into it. I did stick around til the end, going into the kitchen for snacks every couple of minutes (Bella hadn't made supper), and as the end game commentary started I ended up falling asleep on the couch again.

I woke up the next morning with an aching neck and rain pattering away outside. I could hear the sound of Bella messing around in the kitchen and I realized I was hungry, but my mood was still such that the idea of moving was fairly unappealing.

I groaned loudly.

"Gen?"

I groaned again.

I heard footsteps approaching and then Isabella's head popped over the back of the couch. "Dying?"

"Yes." I moaned piteously, sitting up to rub at my neck.

Bella looked like she was considering some further sarcastic comment but she just shrugged and told me there was cereal sitting out if I wanted it, but not much else. This did nothing to motivate me but as she made her way upstairs and started clacking away at her monster of a computer I knew that I was never going to fall back asleep.

With a sigh I pulled myself up off the couch and went to see if we still had the old microwavable bean bag from when I'd first gotten into working out but hadn't yet figured out my limits as far as muscle strain were concerned. After a couple minutes in the microwave I threw the bag around my neck and spent the next two minutes trying to find exactly the right place to soothe one stubbornly uncomfortable muscle.

As I went upstairs-deciding that the only thing that was going to help me was a couple of hours more sleep- I passed Bella's room. She was staring into the depths of her computer screen, leaning so far forward she was about to fall out of her chair. I frowned, curious what could be so fascinating to my quiet sister, and crept slowly into the room. It only took a few steps before I could see what she was skimming through, identified through several creepy pictures...

I crept out the way I'd come, resisting an eye roll only so that I didn't bump into any of her ugly furniture.

Vampires?

What, was she goth now?

I fell asleep giggling at the idea of clumsy Isabella in wedge heel goth boots.

...

I had to reject my goth theory, however, as Bella was ridiculously happy the next day. As I still was suffering from boy problems, having not seen Tyler again the day before, I was rather grumpy. I spent most of the day wandering around the house glaring out the windows and scaring the neighbors before my dad came home and kicked me out to practice hoops in the driveway while he cooked the fish he'd caught with my Mr. Clearwater.

I went to bed miserable, knowing that I was going to have to figure out a strategy by the time Pre-Calc rolled around and I was forced into an hour with Tyler. I woke up with no idea what I wanted and half a mind to play hookey before I saw it was sunny. If there was one thing I knew about the Cullens, it was that they would be hiking in the mountains with their creepy hot dad and I was not about to miss an Edward free day. Plus we were still playing basketball in gym and Coach was bound to move on soon: he didn't really appreciate having to teach a sport all day only to have to coach it after school as well.

And so I rolled out of bed, picked out my favorite sleeveless dress—yet another reason to go to school on a sunny day—and stomped down the stairs to find that everyone else was already gone. Cursing under my breath, I headed back up the stairs, not quite sure why at first but eventually deciding that I just hated morning people and feeling like I was lazy for get up later than 6:30 in the morning.

I got to school as the bell rang and realized that I still had no idea what I was going to say to Tyler. Did I still want to go to the dance with him? Did I still want to be friends with him? Was I overreacting? It was just a kiss on the cheek... But he hadn't looked uncomfortable. In fact, the look on his face had been... I was scowling deeply as I marched into English class and only realized halfway through that everyone was being extremely careful not to look at me: even my teacher, Miss Weskin.

Soon enough it was time for Pre-Calc and I felt sick enough that I was considering heading up to the nurse for a class. Would Tyler notice that? Did I want him to? I rubbed at my neck as I entered the class, sick of all the games I was playing with my own mind. Deciding to give myself more time, I chose a desk already surrounded by people and started doodling in my notebook. It didn't last long.

"Gen."

I kept my eyes on a doodle of a flower.

"What is it, Crowley?"

He leaned over, blocking the aisle because he couldn't reach me from the desk he'd chosen, kitty corner behind me.

"I gave Jess your number: she wanted to ask you about something." He told me. "She said she was going to text you before school."

"Mmm." I replied.

As I went back to doodling I realized that I was going to need to figure things out fairly quickly: it had only just occurred to me that the Spring Dance was that very Saturday. I pursed my lips and made a quick calculation; I had... what? Four and a half days to find out if I had a date or not? Yikes. Maybe the cold shoulder wasn't the best approach.

After class I followed Tyler out, but he was the one who turned and dragged me off to the side.

"Eeerrrrm." I said, not sure how I felt about his hand around my wrist.

"Ok." Tyler said, looking very serious. "We're friends."

"I... guess?" Were we? It hadn't felt like it lately. "Why?"

"Well." Tyler said, taking a deep breath between each word as he thought them out carefully. "I... Just... Thought... Dances are more fun with friends, right?" I just looked at him. "And you asked me as a friend. Basically. And I mean... your friends are my friends' friends. Cass is going with Sam, Lizzie's going with Austin. We might as well... we'll be together anyway, right? Cuz we're friends."

"I don't know." I said honestly. "I'm not sure if you said 'friends' enough times."

"Oh." He laughed nervously. "Well. Jess is inviting you to go dress shopping so I figured I should check in on whether you had a date yet because I'm going to buy tickets after lunch. And they're cheaper as a couple so I figured... yeah."

I blinked up at him: was he asking me if we were going? Or did he think I'd somehow found someone else? Because it seemed like the second. "Tyler?"

He took a breath, closed his eyes, and then he exchanged his nervous smile for a more confidant one. "Genevieve Swan." He said. "Are we going to the flipping Spring Dance together?"

"I think technically you did agree to that, yes." I replied coolly. In reality, I was mentally betting with myself on how long it would take before I was crying in a bathroom. The good money was that I wouldn't even make it to Saturday.

"Ok."

"We're late for class now, Crowley."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Oops."

I rolled my eyes. "Just go. Before Banner decides to give you detention."

"Right." Tyler said, wincing. "See you, Swan."

"Good-bye, genius." I said dryly.

Aside from the tardy and a scolding, my day went on as mildly boring. I didn't see Tyler again, didn't see Cullen, didn't talk to Isabella, found out we were starting badminton in gym, played some basketball, got three texts from Jess rescheduling the dress shopping to tomorrow night to make room for a date, and went home to eat some leftover fish, finished a paper, and went to bed after texting Jess to tell me about her date when she had the chance. I was hoping Jess would have replied with something good by morning so I could be happy that someone around here had a decent love life. Then again, she was going out with Mike.

I think Jess's other friends must not have cells, because my phone had four texts when I woke up with all the details Jess could list without giving me real blackmail. I read through them in a tired squint, glanced out my little window at the rising sun, sent her back a smiley and a note that we'd talk more while shopping. Ha. As if she'd be talking about anything else now.

It was another warm day and I optimistically wore my second nicest summer dress, curling my hair and putting on the barest hint of perfume. One of my many theories on Tyler (one of which included him being a clone from outer space) was that he hadn't decided yet if he liked me or Lauren and I figured I might as well try to catch him now so that I'd have him when I made up my mind. Yes, girls can be as bad as boys. Sue me.

The rest of the day went ok. Didn't say much. Neither did anyone else: we were all too busy wondering at the idea of two nice days in a row. By the time our short, end of season practice ended, though, it was a bit cold, and when I went home to drop off my school stuff I ran inside to change into pants and a sweater.

As I changed, the back of my desk chair caught my eye: Tyler's sweatshirt was still sitting there, waiting to be washed of all evidence of both his act of chivalry and his douchiness. I frowned at it for a moment and then tossed it in the hamper.

"Mine now, sucker." I muttered.

I ran out to my waiting car as I texted Jessica that I was on my way, meaning to buy the most flattering dress very little money could buy.