Not Even Reputations (Chapter One)

Joe and Jenny had been best friends forever, two peas in a pod. But what happens when one of those peas has feelings for their pod mate, not knowing their crush feels the exact same way?

Jenny:

Being a sophomore in high school isn't easy. You're not at the top, you're not at the bottom. You almost don't even have an identity. It can be especially hard, when you don't have any friends, but that's not my problem.
I have Joe.
Joe's been my best friend since we were four, and has never turned his back on me once, as I never have to him. I walk up to my locker and swing the dial to my requested combination, unlocking it, and opening the tall door.
"Got a date for the dance this weekend?" I heard, making me smile as I looked behind my locker door. I would recognize that deep voice anywhere. This dance he was talking about was the Arlington social, for all the teens in the small Massachusetts town. Everybody dresses really nice in suits and gowns. Basically the town prom.
"No Joe, I think I'm gonna skip the dance." I said, and he raised his eyebrows, but it wasn't really a surprise. I wasn't really a social butterfly. I'm pretty quiet, but I only talk to Joe. He's really my only friend.
"Not go? Well, why?" He asked, leaning up against the lockers beside mine. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Well Joe, how about the fact that nobody wants to ask me out?" I said a little bitterly. Joe smiled softly.
"I asked you." He whispered, still sporting his half smile, reaching out and taking a strand of my curly blond hair around his finger and twirling it. I smiled a little back.
"Well, I know you're just doing it out of pity." I said, and he looked a little hurt.
"Why would I ever need a reason to pity you Jenny-Bean?" He asked, using the nickname he gave me when we were 7. "You have everything a guy could ask for. Smarts, humor,-"
"Don't you even say beauty!" I warned, waving my finger at him, but he pushed it away.
"Why are you so afraid to know the truth?" He asked, brushing his wavy brown hair back in semi frustration.
"The truth? Joe, I'm not beautiful. People get angry at you because you even hang out with me!" I snapped, slamming my locker door shut and walking down the hall a little faster than usual. Yes, this seems like the classic teen romance story you'd see on the big screen. The king of the school is friends with little miss nobody. People don't understand it, but the two of them are the only ones who ever could.
Reminds me of A Walk To Remember
Except I don't have leukemia, and Joe isn't in love with me.
It's true, Joe and I would walk down the halls together, and people would give me dirty looks, and I could just read their minds. 'This is NOT the way it is supposed to be! He is supposed to be making fun of people like her, and she is supposed to be crushing on people like him!'
Well, half of that is right.
"Jenny, please just hear me out!" I heard, seeing Joe jump in front of me. Apparently, this gorgeous green eyed fool doesn't understand that when I walk away quickly, I don't wanna talk to him.
"I don't wanna talk Joe, I'll see you in Geometry." I said, walking around him, when he grabbed my forearm, making sure not to capture any of my long blond curls with it.
"Jenny, you're so much better than you give yourself credit for, and I'm trying to get you to understand that." He said, making me look up at him. "We've known each other for years Jenny, over 10. I know you well enough to know when you're being self conscious about yourself. Don't be! You are a beautiful girl, and any guy would be lucky to have you. Given that I would try to push him away because I would be jealous because 'Joe time' wouldn't exist anymore." He said, and I had to stop myself from laughing. "Please, I want you to go to the dance with me, and we'll make all those people jealous." He said, whispering the last part so only I could hear, instead of the few people that were eavesdropping. I smiled a little, and sighed, nodding softly.
"Okay." Joe always knows how to make me feel so beautiful, even when I feel my ugliest.


A few days before the dance, I went out and bought a nice dress. It was daisy yellow, and had rhinestones covering the bust. The skirt flowed smoothly all the way down to my feet. I even got matching shoes. I don't know why, but something about going to a social event with Joe got me really excited. Not because it would get me stared at all night long, being on the most popular guys arm, not because guys would be hitting on me just because Joe had me and they knew that they couldn't.
I was excited, because it was Joe I was going with.

I wanted to look nice for Joe, and I had it all planned out. I was going to wake up on Saturday morning, the day of the dance, take a nice long hot shower, and go to get my hair and nails done. I would paint them a pale yellow with gold tips. You know what? Hell, I'll get a pedicure too. A few days out of the year, a girl has every right to spoil herself just a little. Then, I'd go home, put on my dress and makeup, and wait for Joe to walk down the street and come and get me. I was so excited.

This was going to be a night I'll never forget.

At the end of the day, Joe was waiting beside my locker with a smile on his face once he saw me.

"Hey dance date!" He said, making me laugh, opening my locker.
"Hello to you as well dance date!" I said, making Joe chuckle as he leaned against the lockers.

"Are you ready for tomorrow night? They finally decided on a theme." He said, and I looked over at him. NOW, they decide a theme. I think Joe noticed my semi panic attack, and put his hand up. "Relax, it's not a theme that will clash with your fabulous yellow dress you keep describing to me." He said, making me blush. Did I really talk about it THAT much? "The theme is mascaraed. Which means masks, with glitter and feathers on them. You are so coming over tonight to make some with me!" He said, and I laughed. Joe was such a little kid, which made him even easier to get along with.

"That's a definitely." I said, and he smiled, taking my hand and kissing it. He turned his head to say hey to one of his friends, and that's when I stuck my head in my locker to hide my blush. When he turned around, I pulled my head out as quickly as I could, so he wouldn't notice my embarrassment. "So, you want to walk to lunch together?"
"Joe, we always walk to lunch together." I retorted, making him sigh as we started walking, him wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"I know. It's just polite to ask what the young lady wants." He said, and I blushed again. As we walked down the hall to the lunch room, I could see the stares. The stares that I saw didn't approve of us.

"Hey Any-Jenny!" I heard a high pitched voice say, making both Joe and I stop. I turned, and saw Missy, the queen bee of the school. She's been calling me Any-Jenny for as long as I can remember, and nobody knows why, but I do. She started calling me that, because in 7th grade, her crush, had a crush on me, and then she started a rumor that I had been with every guy in the school. She said that I was with 'Any' guy that I looked at. It didn't phase me, but I didn't tell Joe about it, because I know that he would've confronted her about it, causing drama for everyone. She was one of the prettiest girls in the school. Her bleach blond straight as a pin hair was cut shoulder length and had a little edginess to it. She wears her makeup like if she doesn't she would never be recognized. She never goes anywhere without her Chanel's or Gucci's or Juicy Couture purses. 

"Hey Missy." I said, turning to keep walking, when she started to talk again.

"Um, hi Joe! Do you wanna sit with us at lunch?" She asked, motioning to her clique. Joe smiled sweetly. He doesn't want to hurt peoples feelings.

"Well, me and Jenny are going to sit together today, like we always do." He said, his arm returning back around my shoulder. Missy made a face.
"Why?" She asked like I was a disease. Joe always said that once people started being mean to me, to not worry, because he was going to be mean right back.

"Well, I just love sitting next to the prettiest, most funniest, most smartest girl in all the school, because nobody, and I mean NOBODY, can compare to her." He said, leaning over and kissing my cheek. I blushed even deeper, as Missy and her gang gasped. Joe had never been that forward before. I mean sure, we would do some mindless flirting and touching, but we never kissed, except for the hand or something like that. He never kissed me in front of people. 
"Well, their obviously is someone that is better than her." Missy said, flipping her hair back. Joe snorted.

"Who?" He asked, and I had to hold back my laugh. Suddenly, I felt someone knock all my books out of my hand.

"Whoops! Looks like nerd girl dropped her books." The stupid quarterback jock Trent said, joining Missy's side. I sighed, both Joe and I bending down to pick them up, when Missy stepped forward, and kicked them from my reach.

"Oops! Looks like Any-Jenny isn't as smart as she looks." She said, laughing. I started to try and not show any physical reaction, because that would just feed them more.

"Don't you guys have anything better to do than harass people? Maybe go and try to educate yourselves like Jenny is. Stop thinking that your high school status is going to follow you the rest of your life!" Joe said, standing up with all my books in his hand. No Joe! Don't get them started!

"What, are you calling me stupid?" Missy said, not trying to have an attitude. Since Joe is the king of the school, Missy and her clique tries to be friends with Joe so badly, wanting to be as popular as him. "Joe, answer me!"

"If the shoe fits!"

"Why do you even hang out with her?"

"Because she's fun! And it just so happens that we're going to the dance together!" He said, and Missy's mouth gaped open. Then, she got an evil smile on her face, and even from my knees on the floor, I could tell something was going to happen. Missy reached into her bag, pulled out her iced tea, and opened it. Joe didn't flinch.

To bad she wasn't aiming for him.

She turned the bottle and the liquid dumped all over my head.

"Yea! What you got now geekerella?!!" Trent said, pulling out his lunch, which was soup, and tossing that on me too.

"What the hell is your problem?!!" Joe said, pushing Trent away, as I stood up, trying not to cry. "C'mon Jenny-Bean." He muttered, as everyone stood around laughing. "What're you all looking at? Don't you have anything better to do?!!" Joe shouted at everyone, and since they respect him, they all looked away, trying not to laugh. Joe took me into the bathroom and sat me on one of the sinks.

"Why?" I whispered, as he dispensed paper towels and ran them under the sink.

"I don't know why sweetie, their jerks!" He said, unzipping my sweatshirt and letting it hang on the sink railing.

"I know but, what did I do to deserve that?" I asked even softer.
"They're jealous of you."
"No Joe, they're jealous of you! They're jealous of how popular you are! How many girls you could get! How many friends you have! They could never be jealous of me, and even if they were, it would only be because I'm close to you!" I said, suddenly jumping off the sink and pushing him away. "Just leave me alone! The date is off! I don't wanna go to the dance!" I said, and Joe's eyes widened.
"What? Jenny, please don't say that, Saturday's an important night-"
"No it's not Joe! Can't you see that you only invited me to pity me? You did it because nobody else asked me, and I went and got my hopes up. I bought a stupid dress, stupid shoes, and made stupid nail and hair appointments!! It was all a mistake! I should've never done it! Go to the dance with Missy or someone, you're meant to be with them anyway." I said, and that last part really broke my heart. I knew Joe and I could never be together. He was Mr.High School, I was Ms.Geek van Chess Team.

"Jenny, I invited you to the dance because I wanted to go with you. If I asked you out of pity, that would mean that I didn't like you at all as a person."

"Yeah well, maybe you don't Joe! Maybe you can't stand me!"
"Then why would I hang out with you? Jenny-Bean, you're my friend, and I adore you! We've known each other for so long. Why would I string you on like that?" He asked, walking over to me and holding me close, but I pushed him away.

"No! I don't care! I'm not going to the dance Joe, I just don't care anymore! Maybe you should hang out with those popular kids instead of me so much. I'm probably ruining your reputation, and I don't wanna do that." I said, backing towards the door. Joe stood there, shocked. "I'm sorry Joe." I whispered, turning around quickly and running out, not even caring that I was still covered in soup and iced tea. I'm skipping the rest of school, I don't care. I can't see everyone right now.

It's Saturday night, and I'm sitting alone in my bedroom. I'm in my favorite pajamas and my most comfiest bathrobe. Sitting on my bed, with a big bowl of popcorn, with my favorite movie "Grease". I feel bad now for blowing up on Joe like that. He didn't deserve that, he didn't do anything wrong. I'm going to apologize to him once he gets home tonight. Yes, Joe left for the dance already, after calling and begging me to get dressed and go with him, but I denied him, and hung up. I sit here, watching the scene where the car racing takes place, Danny driving the car, and Sandy was sitting on the hill watching. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and I groaned. Since I was the only one home, I had to get up and get it, even though this is the BEST SCENE of the entire movie. I jog down the hallway and swing the door open.

"Hello-"

Nobody was there.

I look around, down the stairs, and see nobody. I was just about to close the door, when I looked down, and saw something was placed on the doormat.

A masquerade mask.

I lean down and pick it up, it was beautiful. Definitely not handmade like the ones I was going to make. It was black with a gold surrounding it, and feathers at the top. Not those cheap feathers, really soft and delicate feathers. On the sides, their were gold and black streamers hanging down very long. I smiled a little, and turned around, closing the door behind me, walking up the stairs and taking the mask with me. I sat down on the bed just as Danny won the big race, and it cut to Sandy sitting on the hill, as she started to sing.

"Look at me, 
There has to be, something more than what they see 
Wholesome and pure,
Oh so scared and unsure, a pawn then,
Sandra Dee"

I sigh, because it was really true. Theirs more to me than what people think. It's not just all about appearance. I mean, I'm not ugly, I'm just not beautifully gorgeous. I'm a little Sandra Dee. I'm a nerd, I'm geeky, I'm what all the girls at my school aren't. Joe tells me that's what he likes about me.

"Sandy, 
You must start anew,
Don't you know what you must do
Hold your head high,
Take a deep breath and sigh
Goodbye to Sandra Dee"

You know what? Olivia Newton-John is right! I have to start fresh! It doesn't matter what other people want to believe, I have to believe what I want to. And you know what? I'm going to that dance! I'm going to dance! I'm going to have fun! I stand up, and run into my bathroom, just as Sandy runs down the hill with Frenchie, ready to change her look. So am I. I grab my gown and my heels.

I walk into the dance and, have my mask on. Everyone's masks are pretty big, I can't recognize anybody. I sigh, and start to walk to a table, when someone took my arm. I turned, and saw a boy standing there, wearing a suit and a black and white mask.

"Hi." He said, and I smiled at him.

"Hello." I said, and I stuck my hand out. "I'm Jenny." He looked confused for a second, before he smiled and took my hand.
"It's nice to meet you Jenny." He said over the music, me barely able to hear him.

"Aren't you gonna tell me your name?" I asked, and he smiled, shaking his head.

"Don't worry, you know who I am." He said, and I looked confused. I knew him? The music started to slow down, and one of my favorite songs "So Close" by Jon Mclaughlin. This mystery boy smiled, and stuck his hand out. "Care to dance?" He asked, and I smiled a little. Well, I guess the search for Joe can wait for just one dance with this guy, who I supposedly know. We stepped onto the dance floor, and he swept me off my feet. Joe was the one who taught me how to dance.

"So um, are you okay from yesterday?" He asked, and I groaned.

"You know about that?" I asked, tossing my head down, and he laughed.

"Yeah, word gets around. You wanna talk about yesterday? Safe space." He said, motioning to the air around us. I giggled, and he smiled.

"Well, I kinda blew up on my best friend after it happened." I said, and he raised his eyebrow.

"Oh?" He asked, and I nodded.

"Yeah, but the problem is that he didn't deserve it. He was just trying to help me." I said, and he nodded. 

"Well, he's one lucky guy if he gets to be your friend." He said, and I giggled, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah well, most people wouldn't agree with you on that."

"Don't believe what people say. They're just jealous of you." I giggled again, but he was being serious.
"Like I haven't heard that before." I said, and he smiled a little. 

"Seriously, you are a very beautiful girl." He said, making me roll my eyes again.

"How can you tell, I'm wearing a mask." I said, as he spun me around, pulling me even closer to him than before.

"I see you every single day. We always talk to each other, and I always see that beautiful smile of yours, that gorgeous laugh." That freaked me out a little bit. I can't even place him, and I can't really recognize his voice because of the loud music.

"W-what?" I asked, and he smiled even wider.
"You need to understand, that I fell in love with you while being with you, and I know this may sound crazy coming from a stranger, but I'm not a stranger." He said, and I tried not to studder.

"W-well, who are you?" I asked, and he smiled, lifting his hand and brushing my face. I started to panic. "M-my boyfriend will be here any minute." I said, starting to pull away, when he pulled me even tighter. Joe would always pretend to be my boyfriend when I needed him to be.

"I know for a fact that you don't have a boyfriend." He whispered, but I heard every word. He leaned in slowly and kissed my lips. When we pulled away, he smiled, and placed his hands on the back of my hand, slowly pulling my mask off. Once he could see my face, I started to blush. He probably regretted it, because everyone that knew who I was didn't like me.

"Go ahead, say it." I said, and he looked confused. "Tell me that you didn't really mean to kiss me." He laughed, yeah, he LAUGHED, and then placed his hands on the back of his own head. 

"I told you," He said, pulling the mask off and showing his face. "I just love the prettiest, most funniest, most smartest girl in all the school, because nobody, and I mean NOBODY, can compare to her." 

Oh my God, it was Joe.

"J-Joe?" I whispered, but he placed his finger on my lips.

"Don't talk, just kiss me." He said, and I smiled, and started to whisper as we slowly leaned in.

"People won't be happy about it."

"I don't care how happy people will be about it. I care how you and I are happy about it." He whispered back, and then our lips met.

"I love you Jenny, and not even reputations can keep us apart."