"Come on! Give it back!" nine-year-old Allyson screamed at Carson and Johnny, two boys in her class who had insisted on picking on her since she had moved here a little over a year ago. 

Her parents had told her the move would make everything better. They said she'd make more friends, new friends. They said she'd finally fit in and have a bigger room overlooking the ocean. 

Allyson thought it sounded fine then. Now she didn't care either way. All she wanted was to go back to the comfort of what she still considered home: Flagstaff, Arizona. Not where the ocean could be seen but where she could hide and play within all the green that surrounded her lovely forest home. But no, daddy got a better job. And she and mommy had to go with him.

Her whole life, even up until now, Allyson had always trusted her daddy. Daddy never lied to her. Daddy said everything would be better here. Better for his little butterfly to roam and play. 

But all Allyson wanted to do was leave and go back to the greenery and view of the San Francisco Peaks that she had yet to experience here in California. Los Angeles was sunny and didn't get a white winter like Flagstaff did.

Allyson had tried to make friends, she tried to fit in. But no one seemed to like her very much.

And for that very reason, Carson McCain and Johnny Lidsdale, chose to pick on her every day at lunch, because of course she would be alone. 

That's what they were doing now; picking on her and playing keep away with the lunch mommy had packed for her today. 

"I said to give it back, dipwads!" Allyson screeched again, trying hard not to let her screaming turn into crying and trying to keep her tears from somehow spilling over like the last time. 

If she wanted them to stop she had to be strong.

"Give it here!" she yelled as she charged for Carson who just continued laughing along with Johnny.

"Leave her alone, you idiots!" 

All three of them turned in the direction of where the new voice had come from.

Carson smirked. "And what are you going to do if we don't, Frank?" 

Frank Anderson was another boy in Allyson's class but he was quiet and usually kept to himself. There were some instances where he got into trouble and had to be taken to the office or put on time-out away from everyone else. But he never really did anything wrong. He just had an expressive vocabulary. 

Ally never talked to him, even though he appeared to be friendless just like her, because she didn't have the nerve.

But now here he was, standing up for her and trying to help her. After a year of getting picked on no one else had ever interfered with whatever Caron and Johnny wanted to do. No one else stood up to them or got in their way. Not until now.

"I'm going to beat the shit out of you," Frank replied in answer to Carson's question and Ally refrained from putting her hands over her mouth at the word shit. Her mother had told her it was bad.

"Go ahead and try," Carson taunted as he tossed Ally's lunchbox in the air over and over in his hands. She thought he'd drop it and break it and somehow allow its contents to spill out.

Johnny moved to stand next to Carson and both smirked at Frank, who Ally knew couldn't fight them and win because he was outnumbered and because she knew nothing of fighting herself.

Frank began taking a few steps toward Caron and Johnny, but not before turning briefly to wink at Ally who gave him a questioning gaze as he strode up to the two bullies and stopped with a smile on his face.

"I just got a black belt in karate," Frank informed them as he took an offensive pose that Ally thought looked like the kid from the movie Karate Kid she had watched with her dad.

Before she could even blink Frank swung both his fists out and landed each in Carson and Johnny's face and then he swiped and kicked their legs out from under them.

Ally found herself smiling a real smile as Johnny scrambled away saying, "Ow! Mommy!" and "You bruised my bones!" When Carson got mad and tried to call him back Johnny cried, "No! You're on your own!"

Carson turned back to Frank who smiled and took another karate pose, this time putting one foot back and other forward and doing the same with his hands. Except with the forward hand he made a 'come on' gesture.

Frank looked confident. Ally could see it and so could Carson, but he still put up his fists and tried to act as tough as Frank looked, even without his best friend to back him up. 

Ally was shocked to see the next few moments of the fight. Carson charged forward quickly and in the flash of a second Frank kicked up his leg and knocked Carson back onto the ground.

When Carson stood up he was crying and had a bloody nose.

"I'm telling!" he cried.

Ally was surprised to see him look so weak. 

"Like hell you are!" Frank yelled. "You pick on everyone! If you tell on me, I'll tell on you and so will the rest of the kids in our class."

"You're a freak, Anderson! Everyone thinks so!"

"And you're a bully and a baby," Frank replied. "If you ever mess with Allyson again I'll beat you up even harder." 

Carson stood up and began walking away, but not before saying, "You freaks belong together."

When Carson had finally gone, Frank shook his head, picked up Ally's lunchbox, walked over to her, and held it out to her with a small smile on his face.

Ally was still in shock over what had happened. She stood frozen. Yes, she was relieved and wanted to smile, but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to do it. Even as she gazed at Frankie. 

"Are you okay?" he asked gently, in a tone that assured her he was a 'good guy' and wouldn't hurt her like he hurt Carson and Johnny. 

"Yes," she responded and accepted her lunchbox from Frank. 

Ally's hand touched Frankie's as he handed her the lunchbox and she jumped from the contact.

"Hey, it's okay," he said. "They're gone now. They won't hurt you anymore. I promise." 

He gave her another smile and Ally looked away from him.

"It's not that. I just, I don't really have friends or people that talk to me a-and those guys have been picking on me since I got here." She shrugged. "I just, why did you help me? Why now?" 

"I'm sorry I didn't help you sooner. I just  couldn't stand up to them before. And I couldn't just let them keep bugging you. Especially since I used to be the one they picked on." 

Ally felt bad for Frankie. He used to be in her position until he did something about it. He learned to stand up to them. But, was it because of her? 

"So do you really have a black belt?" she asked Frank curiously. 

He smiled widely and said, "No. I wish. I just watch a lot of ninja movies on TV." 

"Oh." Ally felt embarrassed and looked away from him again. 

When she looked back at Frank she noticed he was now looking away and down at his feet like he was nervous or antsy. And then she thought he must want to go back to whatever he was doing before he helped her out and she felt bad.

"Well, thanks for helping me," Ally replied. "Guess I'll go now." 

"Wait!" Frank called out to her just as she had turned her back on him.

"Yeah?" she asked curiously.

Frank bit his lip and looked even more nervous. "I was thinking that, um, that maybe we can be friends or something?"

At Frank's words Ally felt warmth spread throughout her entire body and was smiling widely at him. 

"I've never had a real friend before," she admitted shyly. 

Frank took two steps toward her so he was standing right in front of her. 

"Well, you have one now," he said as he put his hand out to her. 

Ally smiled at his hand and gladly accepted it in a shaking gesture she had seen so many adults do before. As she grasped Frank's hand she finally felt like she belonged here. Like she had a reason to want to stay in California and not go back to Arizona. 

She finally had a friend now.   

The bright morning light seeped into Ally's room and she smiled widely, welcoming its warmth with a little spark of joy.

Today was the first day of her and Frank's junior year of high school and she couldn't be happier. They were no longer fourth graders and she still couldn't believe they stayed best friends after all these years. 

The day Frank had saved her from Carson and Johnny wasn't the last day he had saved her or helped her or stood up for her. Of course now she could fight her own battles but it still made her smile to think of how far she and Frank had come and how at first it was saving her from kids who were mean, then as she got older from boys who all of a sudden wanted to go out with her because they thought she was cute, and sometimes he'd even stay by her side and support her while most of the other girls in her class glared at her or called her names.

Sometimes the girls were even worse than the boys. But either way she had Frankie to help her get through each brutal year and each annoying grade until they finally made it to this one and she couldn't wait for it to start.

Allyson rolled out of bed and went into her bathroom to take a shower. She already had her clothes picked out for today and had set her alarm early so she wouldn't be rushing and could eat breakfast and still have time to wake Frank up so he could get ready too.

Ally couldn't help but smile as she thought of Frank, who was most likely still sound asleep in her guest bedroom. Sure, he slept over all the time but the weird part she was still getting used to the fact that her parents were fine with it. Heck, her dad loved the kid and said so every time she and her dad had a discussion about him. She figured it was because Frank took care of her when her dad wasn't able to and also because he trusted him.

Her mom was a different story, though. She loved Frankie and was glad he was Ally's friend but she worried way too much that her daughter didn't have any other friends, specifically ones that were girls. She didn't find it natural for a guy and a girl to be friends all their lives and exclude themselves from ever making any other friends. What her mom didn't know though was that Frank and Ally were fine on their own; they chose to accept it that way long ago. Since they were kids guys didn't really like Frank and girls didn't really like Ally.

One of the main reasons Ally stayed clear of the girls in her grade was because of middle school. In middle school most of the girls would give her dirty looks and whisper stuff about her. Ally couldn't help but be curious as to why they were talking about her.

It was because of Frank. They were jealous.

According to mean girl Malory and all her little followers, Frank was a "hottie" and way out of her league. Of course Ally couldn't tell if they were right or not, she never looked at Frank that way. Sure, he was cute, but he was Frankie, her best friend. 

Then when they both entered high school as freshmen and then sophomores Ally noticed that Frank got into way more fights than usual, even with guys that were older than he was. Yet he still managed to do more damage because he had grown out of whatever scrawniness he carried with him as a kid. Now he was tall and a bit muscly and his hair had grown out and swept a bit over his eyes. He was a total bad boy now but only Ally ever saw what was underneath, she was the only one he let himself get close to.

She remembered asking Frank why he always got into fights but he wouldn't tell her. She'd then become frustrated and try to get info from the guys he had beaten up. 

It didn't take her long to figure it out when she started noticing the way the other guys would look at her. And her guess was that, knowing how teenage guys could act, they had said something about her to each other and Frank overheard. Always defending her and sticking up for her.

Guys carried with them a sense of security. They exuded strength and protectiveness and Frankie was definitely strong and protective, especially when it came to Ally.

In return Ally was the only one who made Frank laugh and smile and be himself. She was nice to him, kind, and understood him more than most two people ever get to know each other. And she wouldn't trade their bond or Frankie for anything or anyone else in the world.

After her shower, Ally got dressed in the clothes she had laid out on her bed and then did her hair and makeup before opening her door and wandering down the hall to the guest room.

As Ally walked on the wooden floor she couldn't help but smile as her cozy socks made her feet feel warmer and softer against the cold surface.

She stopped at the door and gently turned the knob, trying her best to be quiet so she wouldn't wake Frank up if he was still sleeping.

Of course he was sprawled on top of the covers with his hair covering a majority of his face while he rested atop one of the big pillows. 

Ally smiled and closed the door behind her as she stepped into the room and couldn't help but smile at Frank's expression. Aside from looking serene his mouth was agape and he had a spot of drool coming from his mouth and seeping onto the pillow. For some reason this didn't bother or gross her out, it never had.

Ally took a deep breath and prepared herself for the impact of Frank's loud wakeup call.

With a bit of a running start Ally hopped on top of Frank's back and screamed, "Wake up, sleepy head! The day must begin!"

Predictably, Frank groaned and attempted to throw one of the big pillows at her, which she dodged with ease since she was expecting it. This was their usual routine for wake up calls.

Failing with his first throw Frank attempted to throw another pillow which Ally caught and then put over his head before lying down beside him.

"Time to get up, Frankie," she stated as she removed the pillow and ruffled his hair so she could at least make out some of his face.

Frank made another groan, this one lighter, before wrapping his arm around her and holding her immobile next to him. 

"Five more minutes," he grumbled and Ally sighed as she uncovered his cheek. For a moment she almost caught herself thinking how hot he looked. 

Wait! Hot? Frankie?

Even if she could mask her thoughts, Ally couldn't help her reaction as she moved closer to Frank and ran one of her hands gently through his hair. At first she tried to sort it away from his face and when it resisted she gave up and just smoothed it back, running her fingers through it absently.

"That feels good," he murmured before turning one of his stunning hazel eyes at her and giving her a warm smile. "You're going to put me back to sleep."

Ally moved her hand back to her side and gazed at Frankie with a smile of her own.

"I really like your eyes," she mumbled as Frank turned his head fully to look at her.

"Mine are boring compared to yours," he stated as he moved a strand of hair from her eyes. "Blue and green are a perfect combo."

"So are green and brown; I love your hazel eyes." 

Frank smiled widely. "You do?"

Ally bit her lip and nodded, wondering why her stomach was getting butterflies as Frank gazed warmly at her. It's not like he's never given her that look before. But still, something about this time tugged at her heart. It felt so different from before. Not like all the other times. Something in the air between them was different now. 

Before Ally could even process or analyze what was different about this moment, Frank leaned over to rest his forehead against hers. 

"I'm glad you do," he murmured, his voice a mere whisper she felt all throughout her body. She couldn't describe what it was she was feeling, but she knew they had to get to school.

"You should get ready," Ally said as she shot up out of her lying down position and hopped off the bed and onto the floor before heading to the door. 

As she was reaching for the door handle she stopped herself momentarily and forced herself to turn back to Frank.

"My mom's making us breakfast. When you're done getting ready I'll meet you in the kitchen."

"Okay," Frank responded. 

His reply was simple, easy, but Ally couldn't help but feel like it was more withdrawn than it usually was. She shook off the feeling and left the guest bedroom to head into the kitchen. 

The first person Ally was greeted by when she entered the kitchen was her dad as he leaned against the counter.

"Morning, sweetie," he said with a cheerful smile. "Where's Frankie boy this morning?"

"I'm assuming he's getting ready," Ally replied simply. "I just woke him up."

"I don't know what that boy would do if he didn't have you as his personal alarm clock," Ally's mom, Angela, stated as she entered the kitchen and strode to the stove to check on the eggs and bacon she left cooking.

"Angie, he's a boy. A teenage one at that. He likes sleeping in. It can't hurt him unless it makes him late for school." Ally's dad met Ally's gaze and she smiled, knowing how fond he was of Frank. "He isn't late is he?"

"No," Ally said. "He's never late because I make him get up, whether he's here or not." 

"You two are awful close," Ally's mom stated a bit worriedly. "If you can't get him up I don't know who can."

Ally laughed lightly and her dad joined her.

"I think they're perfect together when it comes to building each other's strengths and weaknesses. Ally's an early bird, Frank isn't. Ally gets good grades and if Frank struggles she helps him. Frank is strong and tall and Ally is small and can throw a punch if need be but I'm glad Frank's there to watch out for her. They even out for the stuff they don't share in common," Ally's dad stated.

"I know that, Richard, but sometimes it worries me," Ally's mom said just as Ally looked away and glanced down the hallway in the direction she just came from.

Ally tried not to smile as her parents went on and on about her and Frank. Of course her dad was able to get her mom to see reason when it came to them being friends, especially because there was nothing going on between them aside from friendship.

Still, she couldn't help remembering when Frank had first met her parents and how she had told them she was bringing him over for the first time.

"Oh, um, and can I bring a friend over?" little Ally asked timidly, not sure how her parents would react to the news.

They were all sitting at the dining room table and she was getting ready to head to school while her parents went to work.

"A-A friend?" her mother asked in shock, almost like she didn't believe her.

"You made a friend?" her dad asked cheerfully. 

Ally nodded. 

"Who?"

"Frank. He's a boy in my class and he's really nice," Ally rambled quickly.

"A boy?" her mother asked in the same tone as before, only now it sounded worried.

Luckily her dad was more encouraging and supportive.

"That's great, sweetie," he replied happily. "Bring him by after school. I'd love to meet him." 

"Okay. Thanks." Ally smiled widely and left for the bus. 

She always had been daddy's little girl.

...

"Come on, Frankie, they won't bite," Ally urged as she practically dragged Frankie up the walk to her house. "They just want to meet you."

Ally told Frank how important this was to her and with lots of pleading and fake tears he finally agreed to come with her to meet her parents. But now he was scared and hesitant.

When they made it to the door Ally ran inside with Frank by her side and called for her parents. They were in the living room and each looked up from what they were doing to gaze at Frank and Ally.

From beside her Ally could hear Frank swallowing loudly as he gazed at her parents for the first time.

"H-Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Averson," Frank greeted them politely. 

"Mom, dad, this is Frankie," Ally responded happily. "He's my best friend."

Ally's dad got up from what he was doing and walked over to where Frank was standing to offer him his hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Frankie. My daughter seems to like you a lot." 

Frank shook Richard's hand and smiled over at Ally, clearly relaxing and loosening up once he saw how nice her dad was.

"It's nice to meet you, too. Ally talks about you a lot."

"I'm sure she does."

Ally smiled widely and knew that everything was going to be just fine, her dad liked Frankie and Frankie seemed to like her dad too.

"Ally, what's your first class?" Frank asked curiously, appearing from the long hallway she had just been staring at until Frank snapped her out of her train of thought.

Ally shook herself mentally before turning to meet Frank's gaze as he strolled into the dining room and took a seat. She joined him and tried to sort through her thoughts before answering him.

But even as she gazed over at him and met his gaze she couldn't help but notice that his hair was still dripping wet and he was staring at her with an expression mixed with amusement and a smirk combined. 

"Your hair's still wet," Ally stated gently. 

Frank looked up at his hair that settled over his forehead and replied, "So it is."

Ally shook her head at him and tried to focus.

"I have Econ with you," she said as she met his gaze. "And English with you last."

At Ally's response Frank's smile grew ten shades of adorable and Ally looked away.

"Kids, your breakfast is done and I put toast in the toaster that should be popping up soon," Ally's mom said as she removed her apron to reveal a business suit. "I have to get to work now. Hope you two have a good day!"

Ally smiled as her mom gave her and her dad a kiss goodbye and hurried out the front door.

"Guess that means I should get going too," Ally's dad retorted as he set down this morning's newspaper and finished his coffee from the kitchen counter he was still leaning against. 

"Have a good day, dad," Ally replied with a wide smile. "Love you."

Richard smiled and said, "Love you, too, kiddo. Have a great day." He then turned to Frank and added, "Take care of her for me."

"Always," Frank responded. "Bye, Mr. Averson."

"Bye, kids. Be good," he said lastly as he hurried out the front door. 

Ally sighed and stood to get plates to serve the food with for her and Frankie while Frank got the glasses and poured orange juice for both of them. Since the table already had a set of silverware for each of them, Ally sat back down and handed Frank his plate and set hers down just as the toast popped up.

Frank laughed as Ally rolled her eyes, clearly forgetting the toast was in the toaster, and wandered back into the kitchen to get it before rejoining Frank at the dining room table.

Frank was still smiling when she took a seat next to him.

"What?" she asked a tad bit annoyed as she met his gaze. 

"Nothing," he laughed. "I've just never seen you this frazzled in the morning." 

"I'm not frazzled," Ally muttered before she began taking bites of her breakfast. 

From the corner of her eyes she could see Frank watching her but chose to ignore it.

"My mistake," he murmured and began eating his food with her. 

For a few moments they ate in complete silence. But soon Ally finished and found herself gazing at Frank as he put more ketchup and hot sauce on his eggs. 

He looked so concentrated on not pouring too much that she smiled at his expression. Then she glanced up at his hair that had moved to cover his right eye and was still a little wet.

If Ally was being honest with herself she thought Frank looked good, cute. 

No! He can't look cute! He's my best friend! Ah! I'm losing it!

"What?" Frank asked curiously, noticing her gaze on him.

Crap!

Ally shook herself. "Uh, nothing," Ally replied as she got up and put her dishes in the sink before returning to the table.

"I saw you staring at me," Frank stated. "And it looked like you were enjoying yourself too." 

Ally rolled her eyes and stood back up from the table.

"You're delusional, Frankie," Ally retorted as she headed toward her room and collapsed onto her bed.

When she checked to see if Frank hadn't followed her she sighed and grabbed her big, fluffy pillow and held it close to her.

She wasn't sure why Frank was all of a sudden affecting her but she refused to think she liked him. She couldn't. She could not see him like that or be with him. Right?

Feeling frustrated Ally clenched her pillow and brought it to her face as she screamed into it.

"Didn't know you liked me that much."

Ally jumped out of her skin and shot her head up to glare at the owner of the voice. 

"Don't scare me like that, Frankie!" she yelled as she stood up from her bed. "And what are you- wait! What?! I don't like you!" she insisted. 

Frank gave her a shy smile and walked into her room hesitantly until he was standing right in front of her. 

"There's no need to freak out, Ally. I-I like you too," Frank admitted shyly.

What?! He wasn't being serious, was he? No, he couldn't be. He's always been like-like my brother. And brothers can't possibly like their sisters. Of course he's messing with me! Just to see how I'll react.

Ally smiled and shook her head at Frank. "Good one. Come on, let's go to school," she said as she grabbed her backpack from off the floor and rushed to her door.

"I'm serious," Frank stated in a tone Ally wasn't able to decipher. For all she knew he could just be saying he was when he wasn't.

"Yeah, and I'm serious too! Let's go!" Ally grabbed Frankie's hand and pulled him along with her. 

"Ally!" Frank groaned. 

"Come on, Frank, it's time to learn about Economics."

He whined and said, "You like torturing me, don't you?" 

"I love it," Ally replied cheerfully. "Now, let's go!" 

Ally and Frank piled into Ally's car and buckled up before heading to Christensen High School which was about five miles down the street. 

Ally turned the radio up not only because she and Frank loved KROQ, but also because she didn't want the topic of Frank's "serious" confession to come up. For one, she couldn't tell if he was really serious or not. And two, she wasn't sure she could handle it if he was. Thinking he was cute was one thing but confessing feelings for him was something else entirely and Ally didn't want to have to go there and cross the line that separated her and Frank from friends to more than friends. Because if she crossed it, she was sure that if something went wrong, she wouldn't be able to handle re-crossing it.

Frank was quiet the whole way and only glanced out the window and sighed every so often. But the silence wasn't uncomfortable, not when their favorite song Smells Like Teen Spirit played and both of them sang along to it and smiled widely at each other.

"Amen to Nirvana," Ally said as she pulled into the school's parking lot and unbuckled her seatbelt.

Frank unbuckled his and Ally turned to him and smiled radiantly, excited to finally be an upper classman.

"So are you finally ready for an über fun day?" she asked Frankie cheerfully.

His eyebrows pulled together and he sat up in his seat as he repeated the word, "Über?" like it was some sort of disease. 

"What?" Ally asked, a little offended by his tone. "You've never heard anyone use that word before?"

"I don't even think it qualifies as a word, Ally." 

Ally rolled her eyes at him and grabbed her backpack before getting out of the car.

Frank followed her and started laughing.

"Shut up, Frank." She crossed her arms at him. When he didn't she added, "I'm going to kick the über hystericalness right out of you if you don't shut up."

"Ally, seriously, that isn't a word. It's a fast growing company."

"It was just a word before it was a company."

"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" Frank quieted his laughs as he dramatically felt her forehead. "On my gosh!" he exclaimed.

"What?" she asked, even more annoyed than usual.

"She's alive!" he announced to those who were filing into the school from the front entrance. 

Some gave them weird looks and others just ignored them. What else was new?

"Frank, seriously? Grow up." 

Ally turned away from him and walked confidently into the school and tried to find her locker. When Frank caught up with her he reached out for her wrist to stop and slow her down.

"Hey, I was just messing with you. I'm sorry. I thought you'd laugh." 

Ally gazed into Frank's eyes and saw that he really did look upset for hurting her. And she could never stay mad at him.

She sighed and said, "It's okay. You were just being you." 

Frank's smile returned and he asked, "And what's me?" 

Ally smiled and ruffled his hair. "You are an obnoxiously annoying young man who never knows when to be serious."

"I can be serious," Frank retorted defensively. Like earlier.

Ally was about to respond again when a sharp pain went shooting through her head. Of course she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and so she walked right into the door of an open locker. 

"Ow," she said, lightly rubbing her forehead as she stepped back a bit.

Ally was trying to determine whose fault it had been that a locker had swung open and hit her. The only way it could happen would either be if the person who had that locker was really evil or because she wasn't paying attention to where she was going.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" 

Ally squinted her eyes to gaze at a big, tall guy who appeared on the other side of the locker door that had hit her. 

"No sweat," she muttered as she continued rubbing her forehead. 

"You want to watch where you swing that thing?" Frank asked hostilely, getting protective of Ally. It's what he was good at. 

"I'm really sorry," the guy repeated. "I'm just running über late for class. Not only that but I have practice to get to."

As Ally gazed more intently at him she realized she was staring at Aidan Riley, captain of the baseball team and remembered him also being on the football team but couldn't remember what position he played. She just knew he played offense.

"Über?" Ally heard Frank mumble under his breath; as if he couldn't believe someone else besides her used that word.

"Okay, cool," Ally managed simply as she removed her hand from her head to gaze at the big, tall and friendly looking Aidan. "I'm Ally, by the way."

"I'm Aidan. Nice to meet you, and sorry again." 

She nodded as she looked into his eyes. 

He didn't seem like the usual jock. And he appeared to be nice. All the other jocks usually ignored Ally and Frank but Aidan didn't seem to mind either way. She knew he was Vice President of the school and also really popular but she figured it was because he was good at sports. She had never talked to him before, but now that she had she felt that maybe he wasn't the average jock. He was still smiling at her and talking to her like an actual human being after all.

"What grade are you in?" Aidan asked curiously as he continued gazing at Ally.

"Uh, I'm a junior." Ally glanced over at Frankie who was glaring at Aidan but Aidan didn't seem to be paying attention to him. "We both are." 

He nodded and gave her a warm smile, "Senior." Aidan then lifted up his right hand and glanced at the watch on his wrist before he turned back to smile at Ally. "One who has to get to class." 

Ally shook her head quickly. "Oh, yeah, um, bye." 

"Bye, Ally, nice meeting you."

As he started walking away Ally remembered something.

"Wait!" she said and waited for him to turn around, which he did. "Is locker 254 near here? Or did they end up building more like they said they were going to do and move them there?"

Ally had been going here since freshman year but for some reason they decided to add more lockers and confuse some of the numbers to be pushed back into other buildings.

At her question Aidan smiled widely, showing off a brilliant, heart stopping smile and drawing dimples that complemented his nice brown eyes before pointing directly behind her.

"It's the locker right next to mine," he responded simply. 

Ally found herself blushing and said, "Thanks." 

"Anytime, cutie," he replied before walking down the hall and disappearing around the corner. 

As he walked away Ally couldn't help but smile at his words. 

He thinks I'm cute! And he's-he's...gorgeous.

"I'll kill him if he lays one finger on you," Frank muttered darkly as he stood protectively next to Ally's side as she hurried to her locker and began dumping her books in, keeping only a notebook and pen in her backpack for notes.

She slammed her locker shut and rolled her eyes at Frank.

"You'll do no such thing, Frankie," Ally said sternly. "I like him." At that she turned away and began walking hastily down the hallway to their first period class. 

And she did. He was the first guy in a while not to have been a jerk to her and Frankie. Not only that but a senior and what she definitely would consider a "hottie". 

Maybe nothing would ever happen with Aidan but Ally didn't mind if something did.

Frank continued to stand like an idiot in the hallway, unable to comprehend what Ally last told him.

'I like him.'

She likes him? Really? Why? She barely even knows him. And it's Aidan Riley for crying out loud! He's a jock!

Frank stared after Ally and then quickly scanned the halls to see barely anyone left. With a bit of grumbling he followed after Ally and made it to his seat in time before the final bell rang. 

Since Frank and Ally barely missed the final bell there weren't many seats left. They had to sit separately but Frank suspected that was a good thing so he could sort out the earlier response from Ally he was still trying make sense of. Because when someone says "I like him" it could mean different forms of liking them, right?

Ally didn't let anything distract her as she took down notes for her first period class. So far the teacher, Ms. Williams, was going over the basic rules of the class, the expectations, projects, homework assignments, and code of conduct. All of it had been outlined in the syllabus. 

As Ally took in her fellow classmates she saw that some of them had brought their Econ books for the actual course. 

Did they actually think we'd be working today? She thought as she shook her head and continued taking notes in her notebook. She would definitely be going school shopping after school today or even later this week.

Ally glanced up once more and gazed further back to where Frank was sitting and was surprised to find him gazing intently at her.

She felt heat rush to her cheeks and looked back to the front. 

What he had said earlier was still at the back of her mind and still slightly bugging her, but she forced herself to forget about it. 

Frank was her best and only real friend. And if anything happened between them she might just lose him forever. And she didn't think she could handle that.

After class Frank met her at her desk as she was putting her notebook away.

She smiled and stood to join him, pulling her backpack over her shoulder.

"Come to escort me to my next class?" Ally as curiously as she and Frank walked through the door and back into the busy hallway.

"What do you have?" Frank asked curiously.

"French," Ally stated proudly. "You?"

"History," he muttered and shook his head. "With Barker. I heard he's strict as hell. Wish me luck."

"Good luck!" Ally said cheerfully as she turned to face him fully. "Looks like this is my stop."

She glanced over their heads and saw the room number 204 above them.

"Okay, well, I'm in 314, I'll see you at break?" 

Ally nodded and said, "Definitely."

"Your locker or mine?"

"Um, mine, considering you haven't located yours yet."

Frank rolled his eyes. "Good point." He was contemplating giving Ally a hug when a group of students rushed between them and into room 204. One of the students was Aidan. And that put Frank completely on edge.

"Guess I'll catch you later!" Ally exclaimed enthusiastically and tried to remain calm but sensed she wasn't fooling Frank one bit. 

"Yeah. See you later."

Then he leaned in and kissed her cheek which made her flush heatedly. And not only because that was his first time doing it.

Frank smiled when he saw her face and his only response was, "The French do it all the time." Then he winked and walked away, leaving her in the doorway dumbfounded until she was able to shake her head and walk inside the class to find a seat.

The classroom consisted of the colors red, blue, and white with dozens of posters of France and French things to make one believe they were indeed in France. It had a comfortable feel to it though. So Ally chose a seat near the window and pulled out the same notebook from before.

As she began to title French IV on a fresh piece of paper, a familiar face walked up to her.

"I didn't think you'd be in this class."

Ally glanced up and saw Aidan smiling widely at her, to which she felt her nerves go from nonexistent to panicked in one split second.

"You take French, too?" Aidan asked softly, showing a wide set of white teeth.

"Um, yeah. I do." Ally tried to think of a way to sound smoother and less like a ditz but then she wouldn't be Ally.

"That's cool. But shouldn't you be in three and not four?"

"I skipped the first year."

"Why?"

"Because my mom knows French and I already knew the basic stuff. I mean, I tried to stay in that class but the teacher wouldn't let me because she said I was more advanced than the other students." The heat went to Ally's cheeks when she realized how that must have sounded. "I mean, I'm not bragging or anything. That's just what happened."

Aidan smiled widely at her and said. "That's totally fine. I think it's cool that you're so smart. Well, I'm sure you're the only junior in this class so I hope the rowdiness of the seniors doesn't irk you too badly."

Ally smiled and felt herself relaxing. "Don't worry. I'm not easily irked." 

"Good to know." Aidan nodded at her once more before the teacher walked in and he was forced to take his seat. 

Ally couldn't help but smile as she watched Aidan and couldn't help the warmth that she felt when she thought of him. Of course she didn't look his way once during class because she didn't want him thinking she was psycho but just the thought of him talking to her and smiling at her would be enough to get her through the rest of the school day.

Ms. Bristol was a cool teacher Ally decided adamantly as she gathered her things together. Usually teachers weren't all that exciting but Ally felt Ms. Bristol was and knew French would be fun this year.

She was expecting to leave quickly so she could go to her locker and meet up with Frankie for break to see how his second period went when Aidan appeared next to her.

"Heading back to your locker?" he asked curiously. 

Ally raised an eyebrow at him and tried to think of something clever to say.

"Isn't everyone?" Not clever enough.

"I suppose you're right. Usually breaks are long enough to allow such privileges to students."

Ally rolled her eyes but found herself smiling at him.

"Mind if I join you?" Aidan asked curiously.

"Not at all since we are kind of heading in the same direction."

Aidan smiled and asked, "Are you sure you're not new? I swear I've never seen you before and you claim to be a junior. I'm a senior and Vice President. How is it that I've never met you even once?"

Ally shrugged. "I've been here since freshman year and this school isn't that big." She frowned. "Maybe it's just because I tend to fade into the background."

Aidan shook his head. "You don't seem like the fade-into-the-background type."

Ally couldn't help but smile. "Sometimes I am. I mostly wear jeans, band tees, and Converse. Nothing too eye catching. I probably own the most Nirvana and Misfits tees out of anyone else at this school."

Aidan's eyebrows lift in amazement. "You like Nirvana?"

"Hell yeah! What's not to like?"

Aidan shook his head and lifted his shoulders. "No idea." 

When they reached their lockers, Aidan and Ally continued their conversation and got deeper into different types of music. 

As Ally leant against her locker, conversing with Aidan and keeping an eye out for Frank, Aidan kept asking her what her top favorite bands were and why.

Ally groaned. "There are seriously too many to count! It's insane. I can literally be an underground groupie for over fifty bands. Already I can hear my dad saying, 'Sweetie, you have to limit yourself.' I can even picture my mom's horrified face if I were to tell her I'm marrying a musician." 

"Sounds about right when it comes to parents," Aidan agreed and then crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against his own locker. "So come on, quit stalling. Give me some names and I'll tell you if they're any good."

"Oh, you're going to judge my taste in music? I can educate you!"

"Prove it."

"Alright, um, ACDC, Aerosmith, Anthrax, Angels and Airwaves, Gun and Roses, Journey, The Killers, The Knack, Misfits, Sex Pistols, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rise Against, The Rolling Stones,  The Smashing Pumpkins, The Smiths, Steppenwolf, The Used. Okay, most of those are old school but I also like Bullet for My Valentine, Sky Eats Airplane, Never Shout Never, Chiodos, Hopes Die Last, A Line Before the Ocean, Akissforjersey, Paramore. The list goes on!"

Aidan's smile was huge and Ally felt her face flush once more when she realized how dorky and geeky her excitement over bands and music must have sounded to him. 

Then she said something even dorkier.

"Ooh! And Aidan! I love Aidan!" It was then she caught sight of Frank and felt both his and Aidan's confusion as they eyed her strangely. "The band!" she clarified. "They have amazing songs."

She quickly averted their gazes and suddenly found her shoelaces interesting.

"I'll have to give them a listen," Aidan said sweetly with a warm, comforting smile meant solely for her.

Frank reached her side then and cleared his throat.

"Oh, hey, Frankie!" Ally exclaimed happily. "I was just talking to Aidan here. Have you two been formally introduced?"

Ally wanted things to be peaceable between them, especially because she knew if Frank didn't approve of Aidan then it would cause problems between all of them later in the future.

"Not formally, no," Aidan responded simply as he gazed at Frank. 

"Um, well, Aidan, this is my best friend Frankie," Ally stated calmly before turning to Frank. "And, Frankie, this is Aidan. He's my new locker neighbor and he's also in my French class."

Ally could sense the tension rolling off of Frankie and didn't want to think too much about why it was there.

"Well, uh, nice meeting you," Aidan said simply and glanced at his watch. "I actually have a few things to do before the class bell so maybe I'll catch you later."

Ally nodded. "Bye."

"Bye." 

Aidan turned and walked away and as Ally smiled, Frank scowled.

Then Ally turned to Frank and said, "You could be nicer. He wasn't being a jerk."

"Yeah but he's a jock. That won't change, will it?"

Ally sighed and shook her head, walking down the hallway in the opposite direction Aidan chose.

Frank caught up to her and asked, "What do you have next?"

"First is history with Ms. Eleanor and then it's Calculus with Bixby." 

Frank's entire face scrunched up. "I don't understand why you just don't drop math. You should! You've already completed and went beyond the required amount of math credits. If I had I would drop it stat! Especially since it isn't required next year."

"Yeah but it'll look good on college applications and I like math, remember? That's why I'm also taking physics."

"You must like torturing yourself."

"One person's torture is another's joy."

"You realize how twisted that just sounded, don't you?" Frank asked jokingly while Ally smiled and whacked his arm as he laughed. She then slipped her arm through his like she'd done many other times before. Only this time it felt different. Kind of like the earlier feeling of waking Frank up and being in close proximity with him.

Ally didn't want to ponder about those feelings. Didn't want to consider why her stomach now acted like it was floating and her heart felt like it was constantly flapping around in her chest and rib cage trying to break free. Like it wanted to tell her something. But she wouldn't let it.

She couldn't. 

Ally and Frank wandered around the hallways until the final bell rang and ordered them to class. Ally was smiling and joking around when the bell rang and caused her to frown.

"I don't want to go to this next one," she mumbled sadly. "You're not in it this year and I hate history."

"I know, sweetie, but it'll be okay. You'll see. And then when that class and math are over we can grab our old spot for lunch and hunker down. I mean, you like the last two classes, right? And we do have the last one together."

"True. Hmm. Are you coming back with me after school or going home?"

"Uh, as much as I'd like to go with you I think I have to go home and clean up my room a bit before my mom gets back."

"Okay, well, until lunch then."

"Yeah, lunch," Frank agreed and as he smiled widely at Ally she found herself leaning in to hug him.

Frank squeezed her back gently and just like that she felt calm again.

"Geez," someone commented as they walked past them. "Get a room already."

Ally could feel her cheeks heating as she and Frank pulled apart. Hearing comments from some of their peers while they were at school wasn't anything new, but it still made Ally upset. 

Frank rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to them. Maybe it's been a while since someone hugged them and they don't like being reminded about it."

"I know." Ally sighed. "Sometimes it just gets old, you know?"

Ally averted Frank's gaze by looking down the hallway to where the person who had commented disappeared. She wished the comments didn't get to her but she wasn't like Frank who could just brush off what people said to him. 

Frank's eyes slowly met hers and he gave her a slight smile. "Anyway, I'll see you later."

Ally nodded, spun on her heel, and walked to her junior history class: United States History. 

The moment Ally walked into class nervousness seized her. Almost all the seats were taken and though she recognized a few friendly faces, most were far from friendly and she found herself biting the inside of her cheek as she was forced into the last vacant seat next to Carson McCain, her fourth grade bully.

Sure, she was lucky to avoid him after Frank's rescue in fourth grade but most of that luck seemed to have run out now.

When she and Frank had arrived here freshman year they noticed that Carson had also come to the same school. Neither were too thrilled about it. He may have grown up some but he was still an immature jerk. One Ally wanted nothing to do with. She just wished it was mutual on both ends.

Ally sat down and pulled out a pen and her notebook.

Carson was talking and laughing with a few friends as she tried to focus on writing the name of the class on a new sheet of paper. 

Carson leaned over and said, "Hey, freak."

Ally ignored him as his friends snickered. 

"Come on, Ally, the least you could do is acknowledge my presence." He leaned over a little closer to her. "You used to back in fourth grade."

"That's because you wouldn't leave me alone," Ally quipped as she turned to face him. "Kind of like now."

"Please. You still hanging out with that loser Frank? You two tie the knot yet?"

Ally glared at Carson and turned back to her notebook. Carson leaned over to see what she was writing. 

"Is that a journal or diary of some sort?" he scoffed. "Are you writing about how much you love Frank? Are you two already planning on kids?"

"Shut up!" Ally yelled, causing a few heads to turn. "What Frank and I are to each other and what we do doesn't concern you. And you know what? I'm beginning to think you care a little more than you should since you've been out to get me since we met."

Carson laughed and shook his head. "Don't worry. I can no longer touch you with that other freak by your side. But when your body guard is no longer able to protect you, you better believe I'll be the least of your worries."

"Frank isn't my bodyguard. I can fight my own battles."

"Sure you can. That's why he's always around you. And took out Donny McKinski, Brad Foyer, and Mark Goldberg in middle school. Yeah, I heard about that. It didn't take place inside the school so naturally word spread pretty quickly. Just surprised Frank wasn't kicked out of school."

"Donny, Brad, and Mark were idiots. I'm sure whatever they did to make Frank angry, they deserved it."

Carson smiled wryly. "Did they? Can't say I agree with you since many guys here are thinking what those three voiced. They're just not stupid enough to piss Frank off. Dude acts like he's your boyfriend rather than best friend."

Ally's face heated with anger. "Just shut your mouth about stuff you don't understand."

"I understand more than you think, Allyson."

When the class was called to order Carson leaned back in his seat and Ally scowled as she faced forward. She knew Carson was a jerk, bully, and troublemaker. One who was best to be ignored. 

So that's what she set on doing from now on, from the moment she walked into history class, to the moment she left for math.

After history, Ally walked hastily to Calculus and sighed in relief when she was safely inside and in a seat at the very front. If anything could calm her after the last hour of grueling history with Carson's obnoxious, conceited-self sitting next to her, it was math and equations and formulas that were easier to figure out than a complicated bully who had trouble paying attention to anything but himself. 

Ally was so engulfed in trying to calm herself that she didn't notice the person who sat in the desk behind her until they leaned over and whispered, "Hey, cutie" in her ear, making her jump.

She spun around and saw Aidan smiling widely at her. "Don't tell me you're a math whiz too," he said simply. "Then I'll be really intimidated. I suck at it."

As Ally was about to respond, Mr. Bixby called the class to order and went through roll call like every other teacher; only this time he asked a random question of each student who answered "present." 

Ally's question was, "Who is your favorite mathematician?"

"Euclid." 

"Why?"

"Because he invented the awesomeness that is geometry – shapes, angles, and all that fun stuff."

"I totally agree. Good answer." 

Most of the questions were math or fact based whereas others were easier like "What's your favorite color?" or "What's your favorite sports team?" to which Aidan answered the New York Yankees but Ally liked her question and was able to relax and forget completely about last period until it was time to go to lunch.

"Thank you all for cooperating. I'll see you tomorrow," Mr. Bixby said and dismissed the class the moment the bell rang.

Ally was a bit faster collecting her things compared to her first two periods, but Aidan was still faster than she was.

"Are you heading to your locker or to the cafeteria?" Aidan asked curiously as he stood next to Ally. 

"Cafeteria first, locker after," she responded with a bright smile. "So do you like math too?" 

"Actually, no. I kind of suck at it. I just needed to complete another year since I flunked out last year." 

"Ouch. That must suck. Calculus actually isn't that hard. It can be fun."

Aidan's eyebrows pulled together. "You're kidding, right?"

"Not at all. I love math."

"And the nerd just got even nerdier." Aidan smiled widely but Ally frowned. "No, no! I think it adds to your cuteness. Usually nerdy girls aren't cute but I think you're the exception."

Ally found herself smiling and biting her lip as she contemplated something.

"Um, are you heading to the lunchroom, too?" she asked nervously. 

"Yeah. In fact, I'll walk with you there."

"Okay." Ally tried to keep the excitement out of her tone so as to not freak him out but couldn't all together stop smiling. 

As Aidan smiled and walked by her side she gathered up her courage to ask him something she thought of earlier. 

"Aidan?"

He smiled widely at her. "Yes, Ally?"

"Um, I was thinking that, if you wanted, I could help you in Calculus. You know, with stuff you don't understand or can't remember. That way you won't flunk out again. But it's only if you want. Just a suggestion."

Aidan's eyes glinted and he gave her a curious glance. "You mean you'd be like my private tutor?" Ally nodded since she wasn't sure she could keep her tone even. "Are you sure you'd be able to handle that?" 

Ally's tone was confident as she said, "I can handle just about anything and math is easy for me so I'm saying it's a yes for me if you're interested."

Aidan stopped walking and Ally turned to face him once she stopped too, wondering why he stopped in the first place.

He met her gaze with a steady one of his own. "I am interested," he stated. "In more ways than one."

Ally's stomach clenched and unclenched as she gazed at Aidan. She wasn't sure what to say to that.

"What do you think?" Aidan asked curiously.

Ally gaped stupidly and then shook her head to clear it. "I'm interested, too."

"Yeah?" he asked with a huge, winning smile, stepping closer to her.

Her heart pounded even faster and she found herself nodding quickly, her mouth unable to form words.

"Cool. Um, guess I'll be seeing you around." 

"Yeah," she agreed. "See you around."

Ally quickly walked ahead into the cafeteria and went to meet Frank in their usual spot as Aidan went to his.

When she sat down next to Frankie she could hardly breathe and was in a bit of a daze.

Frank noticed. "What is it? Did history go bad?" She didn't answer. "Was math bad?" When she still didn't answer or meet his gaze Frank tried a different tactic. "Oh my God, Ally! I think I'm in love with you!" he exclaimed loudly which caused her to snap out of her trance, shake her head, and turn to glare at Frankie. 

"Be serious, Anderson. As unbelievable as it sounds this world doesn't revolve around you."

Frank smiled widely. "Sometimes it does."

Ally shook her head and replied, "History sucked. Carson's in that class. Math actually wasn't bad at all. I like Bixby and Aidan sits right behind me. How's that for cool? I already told him I'd tutor him if he needed any help."

Frank's entire face fell. "Please tell me you're kidding."

"Why would I be?" She raised her eyebrows at Frankie. "He's a really sweet guy. He deserves to pass Calculus this year and graduate with his class."

"This year? Why? Did he flunk the last one?"

"Not everyone is good at math, Frankie."

"I know that! I'm a prime example." Frank shook his head. "You've been helping me for years, Averson."

"Yep and look how great you've been doing. Why not help someone else?" 

"Because you barely know him!"

"There was a time I barely knew you!" 

"Ally, it's not the same. You knew me for years before you started helping me with homework and stuff."

Ally sighed and placed her hand on Frank's arm. "That's only because you were too scared to ask me for help. But I would have said yes regardless, Frankie. You're my best friend."

Frank sighed, his entire body relaxing when Ally touched him and she smiled as she noticed. 

"Just be careful, Ally. He's a jock. They have a reputation for not being nice to you."

"But he doesn't. Please, Frank. I need you two to get along."

"Why?" Frank asked seriously. "Why do you want that so badly?"

Ally shrugged. "Because you might be seeing more of him and I don't want it to be awkward between you two."

Frank's heart sputtered and then went into overtime. Ally did like Aidan and as he glanced across the cafeteria toward the jock table he noticed Aidan smiling at Ally. He could see that Aidan liked Ally too.

So where did that leave him?

Smack dab in the middle, he thought bitterly. 

After lunch Frank walked Ally to her fifth period Physics class and sighed internally as he tried to figure out a way to make Ally forget about Aidan.

Nothing came to mind.

Of course he could try once more to tell Ally how he really felt about her, but considering her first reaction he wasn't too sure he wanted to go there again. First, Ally hadn't even taken him seriously. Second, he sensed she didn't want to take him seriously. And he was scared if he pushed her to take him seriously, he'd push her away for good.

So with no other plans in mind at the moment he forced himself to swallow and stomach the information and try to act normal around Ally. 

Which proved near impossible when he saw Aidan approaching them from the corner of his eye. His smile growing wider as he eyed Ally. 

Frank's fists clenched at his sides and his jaw ticked. 

"Are you okay, Frankie?" Ally asked curiously as she eyed him seriously and then lifted her hand to squeeze his bicep. "Someone's angry." 

"I'm not angry," Frank snapped and Ally let go. 

"My mistake," Ally murmured and looked in the direction where he had last seen Aidan.

"Oh, no way!" Frank's head whipped back in that direction and saw Aidan approach and address Ally. "You're in this class, too? Physics with Johnson?"

Ally smiled widely and replied, "Yeah I am. You?"

"Hells yeah. Can you believe it's the only form of math I'm actually good at? Something about the science part makes it easier for me to understand."

"That's good." Ally nodded and Frank didn't miss how she moved a bit closer to Aidan.

"And you know what I heard? Johnson's usually pretty cool and let's everyone pick their own work partners unless they become disruptive and he makes them work with someone else or on their own." 

"Sweet," Ally replied. "So who's your partner?"

"Actually, none of my friends are in this class. They all took anatomy or another elective but I like science so I chose this class. I don't have a partner planned but if you wanted, maybe we could be partners," Aidan suggested with only a slight tint of nervousness in his voice and Frank hated that he could mask it so easily and still sounded smooth. 

Frank could hardly stand it when Ally's entire face lit up and she nodded eagerly. "That'd be great. Thanks for asking me."

"No problem. So, um, I guess I'll see you inside."

"Yeah." Ally was nearly breathless and managed one more nod before Aidan walked inside the classroom and left her and Frank alone outside the door. 

Frank turned to Ally who was smiling radiantly. And no matter how badly he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her and tell her he loved her and force her to stop liking Aidan, he knew he couldn't. And because he couldn't it tore him up inside.

"Well, um, have fun. I'll see you in English." 

"Okay." Ally smiled widely and wrapped her arms around Frankie excitedly. Even though Ally was hugging him tightly Frank's heart was breaking because he knew she was only excited to have someone else like her. "Today's a really good first day."

"Yeah," he mumbled as he let her go. "Catch you later."

Ally smiled and headed inside her classroom, leaving Frank out in the hallway with a saddened expression and diminished hopes.

He thought back to when he first woke up this morning and compared it to what he felt now.

Looking back he was on top of the world one moment and all the way back to the bottom in another. When Ally had woken him up he felt a strong, electric energy between them and a swell of pride and content to be the only one who had the privilege of waking up to her beautiful face. 

Ally had been slowly stealing his heart from the moment he laid eyes on her.

Back when they were kids and she was the new girl in class he couldn't take his eyes off her. She had long, dark brown hair, sparkling green-blue eyes, and an expression so shy and unsure he automatically wanted to befriend her or even just talk to her. But back then he had been too shy and all the other kids were already whispering about her.

Frank's mom, Evelyn, had always taught him to respect women and be polite to them. Since she raised him on her own when his dad bailed he felt the pressure to become more than what his dad was. To rise above his circumstances and be a more than decent young man. 

His mom had raised him well. She raised him to be a gentleman. 

Frank first laid eyes on Ally when she was eight years old and finally worked up the nerve to talk to her when she was nine. 

That day he came to her rescue forever changed his life. The moment she looked up at him with those piercing eyes he knew he'd never be the same again. As the years progressed he learned more and more what her smile did to him and what it made him feel every time she used it on him. When she would cry because other girls picked on her he felt her pain and that's when he first felt something more.

The day she cried because Marcy Malone called her fat and ugly, Ally had tried to stand up to her but in the end came running to Frank with tears running down her cheeks. Frank was shocked to see her so sad and thought it had been Carson or Johnny. He expected her to stop and tell him in mumbles what had happened. But what she did shocked him and claimed him from that moment on.

Ally didn't stop running. Instead, she ran right into his arms and hugged him tightly, her tears soaking his shirt. At first she didn't even talk, she just held him close to her and slowly but surely he wrapped his arms around her and knew he'd never be able to let go. 

And so far he hadn't. 

After that day he and Ally had become closer than ever. Shared and told each other everything. In time Frank had confided that he thought Ally was pretty and Marcy was just jealous of her. He said she wasn't fat at all. In fact, she was rather skinny. And Ally had smiled at him. She smiled at him and little by little claimed more of his heart. 

So as he walked to his Chemistry class he couldn't help but feel down about everything that had taken place on his first day as a junior in high school.

He thought back to this morning when he had breakfast with Ally and was openly flirting with her, had thought she was flirting back, especially when she woke him up. Looking back to then he had thought everything was finally going to change. He finally thought he could tell Ally how he felt and have her return those feelings; he thought it was going to be the best day of his life. Now it was easily one of the worst.

When he told Ally he liked her, he knew it then to be an understatement just as he knew it now when he pictured Aidan and Ally together. 

Something had to be done, but he had no idea what. All he knew was that he couldn't let them be together. Not if he wanted to keep his sanity and heart intact.

After Physics, Aidan had walked Ally to her to English class. 

"American Literature," he murmured as he stopped at the door. "I remember it so well. It can be fun if you have the right teacher." 

"I heard Ms. Ashby's really good," Ally stated with a smile. 

"She is," Aidan agreed. "I had her last year. Between you and me, I was actually one of her favorite students." 

"Really?" Ally's smile widened. "Can you put in a good word for me?" I'm actually flirting with him!

"I might be able to." Aidan smiled. "So, um, I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"Are you busy later tonight?"

Ally's heart fluttered. "Not that I know of."

"I was thinking that maybe after I go to a few meetings I could meet you at your house so we can start a bit of reviewing Calculus formulas."

"Um, yeah, that's fine. Just meet me at my locker after school and I'll give you the directions."

"Alright cool. Catch you later."

"Bye."

Ally headed into class and was surprised to see that Frank was already inside, saving her a seat. She smiled and sat next to him.

"How was Chemistry?" she asked, flushed and winded from elation. 

"Boring." Frank shrugged. "How was Physics?" 

Ally's smile grew. "Fun. Mr. Johnson basically said, 'Pick your partners and get to know each other because you're going to need to start working on projects for the rest of the year together.' So that's what we did. What did you do?"

"Just reviewed the periodic table."

"I actually like the periodic table. That doesn't sound too bad." 

Frank turned to Ally and scowled. "Try being me and then say that."

Ally shrunk back from his tone and faced forward. "Sorry to liven up your bad mood." 

"Ally –," Frank tried to amend when Ms. Ashby called the class to attention.

"Welcome to American Literature. This is a junior English class so if you aren't a junior please leave now and find your real class." No one stood up to leave although it did happen in two of Ally's other classes with lost freshmen. "Alright then, in this class we will be discussing all major aspects of American Literature. You should have already purchased your reading books: A Farewell to Arms, The Great Gatsby, and To Kill A Mockingbird. If you haven't then I suggest you do so soon..."

Ally tried to pay attention but was having a hard time doing so. Instead most of her mind was running with thoughts of Aidan and an even smaller part was wondering why Frank was in such a bad mood.

As she glanced over at him she could tell he didn't look like his usual amused, joking self. Right now he looked sullen and grumpy. 

When the final bell rang indicating school and the first day was finally over, Ally was already prepared to leap out of her seat and head straight for the door.

She walked quickly and hurried to her locker, Frank right on her heels.

"Ally!" he called. "Als!" She could hear him grumbling until he finally caught up to her. "Jesus, Ally, slow down! What's the hurry? I thought you were free after school."

"I'm not anymore."

"What does that mean?"

But Ally didn't give him an answer. Instead she walked even faster until she made it to her locker. When Frank stopped to stand in front of her he looked angry. 

"Ally, what the hell? Why are you acting so weird?"

"I'm not!" she insisted. "Why are you? You practically tried to bite my head off earlier. What's gotten you so grumpy? What made you so mad you snapped at me? Me! The person you can always talk to about anything that's bothering you." 

Frank sighed and took a few deep breaths, his face softening. He knew she was right. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just, today sucked." 

"I'm sorry, Frankie." Ally placed her hand on his shoulder and offered him a small smile. "But, hey, we can always kick its ass tomorrow, right?"

At that Frank smiled widely. "You'll help me kick its ass?"

"Of course! We're a team if you haven't forgotten."

Frank smiled and Ally joined him. Then he remembered something. 

"What did you mean earlier about having something pla-,"

"Hey, Ally."

Ally spun around at the sound of her name and smiled widely. "Hey, Aidan." 

"Got those directions for me?"

"Yeah, sure thing." Ally pulled the piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to Aidan. "I put my number on there too in case you get lost." 

"Sweet. Thank you." Aidan slipped the piece of paper in his pocket and smiled at Ally. "So my meetings should all be done by five. Give or take a few minutes and I should be right over."

"Alright, awesome. I guess I'll see you later." 

"Till then, cutie." 

With that Aidan slammed his locker shut and headed down the hallway.

Frank turned to Ally who was oblivious to his glare on Aidan's back before he asked, "Aidan Riley is coming over to your house?"

Ally met Frank's gaze and smiled innocently. "Yeah. We're going to go over some Calculus stuff. He wants a head start on it."

"I'll bet he does," Frank muttered darkly.

"Are you alright?" Ally asked gently. "You're still going home aren't you? Do you need me to drop you off?"

Even though Ally's entire expression was soft and welcoming, he couldn't bring himself to say 'yes.'

"That's alright," he managed. "I think I'm going to walk. But thanks anyway."

"Um, okay. So I'll see you tomorrow?" Ally asked gently. 

Frank nodded. "Yep. Tomorrow."

"Okay, well, bye, Frankie." 

"Bye." 

Frank gave Ally a quick hug before turning his back and heading down the hallway toward the front of the school. If he could find a way to get through tonight without calling Ally maybe he could fool himself into thinking that things weren't as bad as they seemed. 

And maybe if he wished and hoped for it hard enough, Aidan and Ally wouldn't find anything in common and would grow to hate each other. And maybe, just maybe, Ally would finally admit to feeling some of what he felt for her.

But Frank knew wishing could only get you so far.