Tears were still falling from Christina's face as she walked outside. She looked around to find someone to talk to.

She walked by the picnic table that Joey and his friends were sitting at, and recognized him from somewhere, then she remembered Joey was in her science class. He was the guy who took the blame for something she had done. She then remembered his name then walked up closer to their table.

“Hi Joey.”

The guys and Lila looked up to see Christina Adams, the most popular girl in school, and she was talking to Joey.

“Hi.....Chr...istina,” Joey managed to say in his studders.

“Do you and your friends mind if I join you for lunch?” she asked politely.

“What about your boy toy Justin?” Chris asked. Joey punched Chris's shoulder. “Ow!”

“Don't mind Chris, he is very hard to control, especially these days. We don't mind if you join us,” Joey said sliding over so Christina could sit down.

Christina smiled and sat next to him. “Hi Chris, you were in my English class last year, weren't you? You almost failed.”

“The teacher was a meanie,” Chris complained.

“Yeah he kind of was,” she agreed. Then she looked over at Lance. She recognized him quickly. “And you're Lance, I saw you in the choir at the concert a few months ago.”

“You went to the concert? I didn't think you were into that kind of thing,” Lance said. He was surprised Justin left her alone long enough for her to go to one. Everyone knew Justin wasn't into school functions.

“Oh yeah I love music, I play guitar in my spare time,” she said. “And who could forget you. You're JC right?” She looked over at JC who looked shy. “You were in my math class last semester. You're very smart.”

Well, he had gotten the highest mark in the class. But he wasn’t going to brag. “Oh, thanks,” JC said, blushing a little.

“He can be when he wants to be,” Chris said. Joey punched his arm again, this time a little harder. “Joey, that hurts, you know!”

“Good,” Joey said, satisfied.              

Christina laughed. She had never seen friends so close and these friends seemed to be.

“This is my girlfriend, Lila,” Lance said putting an arm around Lila's shoulders. She was sitting beside him eating an apple.

“Hi Lila,” Christina said extending her hand out.

Lila shook it and smiled. “Nice to meet you. I must say though I'm surprised you're not eating with that Justin Timberlake guy.”

“I like to have my space, too much hanging around him can get to you,” Christina said. She didn't want them to know she was only sitting with them because her boyfriend was a cheater and a player.

“Wouldn’t be surprised,” Chris muttered.

They were nothing like she thought they’d be. They were nice, funny and fun to hang around with.

“Oh look, here comes big shot Timberlake now,” Joey said.

Justin reached the table. He didn’t look happy. “Christina, what are you doing hanging out with these losers?”

“They're not losers, Justin. Now if you don't mind could you leave so I could eat with my new friends?” she said trying not to show she knew what had happened between Justin and Missy in the cafeteria.

“Okay baby, but only because you asked nicely,” Justin said in a low voice. He kissed her cheek then walked back inside.

“God he's worse then I thought,” Lance said groaning.

“What did you think of him before?” Christina wanted to know.

“Well, he always seemed to be controlling of you, and I kind of see it now.”

“He's not really controlling but it does get on my nerves the way he treats me.” She took a sip of her soda. She wasn’t really in the mood to talk about Justin.

“He shouldn't treat you that way, though. I mean you're beautiful and smart and kind, don't let him tell you what to do,” Joey said taking a spoonful of his pudding that JC had given him.

“I appreciate that you care, Joey, all of you, but I can handle myself with Justin,” Christina said.

“We may not be popular like you,” JC began, “ but we have feelings, whether Justin wants to believe it or not.”

“Don't let anything Justin says bother you. He's very high on himself and it is annoying at times, but you got to just let it slide. Trust me I know from experience,” Christina told them.

“We'll keep that in mind, “ Joey said. “And Chris, stop staring at her like she's a beauty queen.”

“I was not!” Chris said in his defense.

“Chris, that's sweet of you to think of me like that, but I'm far from it,” Christina said looking at Chris who was still trying to defend himself.

“I think you're very beautiful,” Joey said. Oh God, had he just said that out loud?

Christina blushed from all of Joey's compliments he had made, especially this one. “You guys are too much,” she said with a laugh. “Thanks though.”

A loud ringing let all students know that it was time to head back to class.

“Oh man!” Chris complained. “I hate PE!”

“Chris man, feel fortunate, I have socials!” JC said getting up and grabbing his things.

“Lance and I have to go to English,” Lila said taking Lance's hand.

“Do you have it with Justin?” Christina asked.

“Unfortunately,” Lance said. He did after all, have all his classes with the guy.

“Could you tell him something for me? Tell him I say watch where you put you're mouth. It's a joke he'll understand,” Christina said hoping Justin would get it and let him know she knew he was cheating on her with Missy.

“Sure, no problem,” Lila said. Her and Lance walked back inside towards English.

Once everyone else was gone, Joey turned to Christina. “Let’s go to science.”

They had science together, one of the two classes they had together. But today was the first time she said more than one word to him.

Things were looking up. Joey no longer felt like a big loser, like he always did when Christina was around.

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