"Is your mom like super strict?" Ryan asked
"Not super strict. I mean, she lets me go out and stuff but she's not like stay out as long as you're home by sunrise." Stefani said
"Yeah, that's like something my mom would say." Josie said
"And what's the deal with your parents Libby?" Andrew asked
"Um, they're not strict with me because they kinda realized that could backfire. They were strict with my older sister and she like totally rebelled against them. And I'm in the middle. I'm kinda the forgotten child. Like I'm not the oldest so I don't have the responsibility of setting an example and I'm not the youngest so I'm not spoiled rotten. I'm just Libby, the good quiet one they forget exists unless Melissa is whining about how I'm being mean to her." Libby said
"That sucks." Andrew said
"Eh, its not that bad. I haven't turned out like half of my friends from back home." Libby said
"Where are you from?" Ryan asked
"Georgia. My family lived there until seventh grade. Then the summer before I started eighth grade, my mom's job got transferred up here. They moved with Delia and Melissa and I lived with my aunt, uncle and cousin's until I graduated." Libby explained
"That's cool. Do you go back and visit a lot?" Andrew asked
"Usually during the summer I stay for a few weeks. We also go back for Christmas to spend it with my grandparents." she said
"That's cool. I was born in New York." Evan said
"I'm originally from California." Stefani said
"Cool! What part?" Andrew asked
"San Diego. I go back every time I can. Usually I stay with my best friend Winter." Stefani said
"Your best friend's name is Winter?" Evan asked
"Yeah. Her mom was totally a hippie and loved seasons. So she named her Winter. She's like the coolest person you'll ever meet." she said
"Um, I'm sorry but no one is cooler than me Miss McAdams." Libby joked
"Actually Miss James, I am." Josie said
The guys looked at them and shook their heads in confusion. The girls laughed.
"We forget that you're not used to us. We apologize." Josie said
"No, it's okay. You guys are amusing." Andrew said
"Why thank you Andrew. You guys aren't as amusing as us but it's okay." Libby teased
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Evan asked
"From us, yes. We are not your average girls." Josie said
"That's an understatement." Stevie replied
Josie shot him a look and then started to laugh.
"So, anyone else not a native Mass-hole?" Josie asked
"I'm from Florida." Andrew said
"Ohio." Ryan replied
"I'm the only one." Josie said
"You were born here?" Stevie asked
"Yeah. I used to live on Cape Cod but then we moved further inland. I'll probably live in Massachusetts for the rest of my life." she said
"I want to live someplace glamorous like LA or New York." Libby said
"LA ain't all that glamorous honey. But it's a cool place." Stefani said
�But New York is the best.� Evan said
�Dude, you�re not even really from New York. You�re from Long Island.� Stevie said
�Which is a part of New York.� Evan said
�And they talk about us.� Stefani said
�Seriously though.� Libby replied
�You three are definitely weirder than we are.� Andrewn said
�Um, if weirder means cooler then yes we totally are.� Josie said
�No, weirder just means weirder.� Ryan teased
"You better watch it you. You're skating on thin ice." Josie warned with mock seriousness.
"You know you totally think I'm adorable." Ryan grinned
"I've realized that Ryan is quite the cocky one tonight." Libby said
"Oh he's in rare form. Usually Andrew's the one with the big mouth." Evan said
"I'd believe that." Libby nodded
"Oh really would you?" Andrew asked, pinching Libby's side.
"Hey! Watch the hands." Libby said, smacking his hand away.
"No getting frisky in front of the group you two." Stefani said
"I'm not trying to get frisky but I don't know about him." Libby replied
"If I wanted to get frisky, I wouldn't try, I would just do it." Andrew said
"Cocky." Libby said sticking her tongue out at him.
"Whatever." he replied
"Oh you guys." Josie said, shaking her head.
"What?" Libby asked
"Nothing. Not a thing." Josie replied
"You know guys, we should have started hanging out with these three a long time ago. I never realized how funny they are." Greg said
"I agree. They are way more interesting than the girls we usually hang out with." Andrew said
"Um, hello! We're still sitting here." Stefani said
"We know. We can see you." Ryan replied
"What is with you tonight? You are never like this and frankly it is scary." Andrew said to Ryan.
"I know what it is, he's showing off in front of me. I can you though, its not working." Josie said
"I'm not trying to show off." Ryan replied
"Liar." Evan said
"You girls have to admit, this is a lot of fun." Libby said
"What is?" Andrew asked
"Watching the three most popular guys at Tremont act like complete asses." Stefani replied
"You think we're acting like asses?" Andrew asked
"We've seen you in school and unless this is how you act at parties, you're definitely not being yourselves. We didn't mean asses in a bad way." Josie explained
"Oh." Evan said
"We're having a great time hanging with you guys." Libby said quickly.
"Are you sure?" Ryan asked
"Yes we're sure." Stefani replied
"We wouldn't still be here if we weren't." Josie said
"Good point." Andrew said
They all hung out for another few hours. The girls helped them clean up and then got ready to go home.
"So, do you want to go to like grab some dinner with me tomorrow night?" Andrew asked Libby as she was getting ready to leave. Ryan had offered to drive Josie home, leaving Stefani to drive Evan home.
"You mean tonight? Its already three in the morning." Libby replied
"Fine, tonight. Interested?" Andrew asked
"Sure." Libby said. She went digging in her bag for a scrap of paper and a pen. When she found it, she wrote her number down and handed it to Andrew.
"Call me." She said. He programmed her number into his phone before she left so she could see he was serious.
"I will." he replied smiling.
"Okay. Well, I had a great time. Night." she said, opening the door. They stood awkwardly for a minute before Andrew kissed her cheek. She blushed and smiled.
"Night Libby." he said. She waved and walked to her car. She climbed in, started it and pulled away. Then she said to herself..."Delia was right...Andrew Cooper totally likes me. Shit."
Meanwhile, while Ryan was driving her home, Josie was making a realization of her own.
"So, did you have fun tonight?" Ryan asked
"I did. Thanks." Josie replied
"Good. I'm glad." he said
"Yeah, I wasn't really sure what to expect from you but you turned out to be pretty enjoyable." she said
"You can drop the act now." he said
"What act?" she asked
"C'mon Josie, you can't always be this cynical." he said
"Oh yes, yes I can." she replied
"Even when you're with Stefani and Libby?" he asked
"Especially when I'm with Stefani and Libby." she said
"I refuse to believe that you're always like this. There has to be another side to you and I know why you don't show it." he said
"Oh really? And why is that?" she asked
"Because you're afraid to let people see the real you. Only a few have but you don't want word to get out that you have a heart in there. And underneath that tough exterior, you're really just a regular girl. You have the same insecurities most girls do." he said
"Well thanks for the diagnosis Doctor Freud." she said defensively.
"No need to get defensive." he replied
"You sit here and try to tell me why I am the way I am and then have the nerve to tell me not to get defensive?" she responded.
"Josie, I think you're a really cool girl and I want to get to know you. But you have to let me in first." he said
"What if I don't want to?" she asked
"I'm determined. And I don't let go easily if I really want something." he replied. She nodded dumbly. They got to her house and Ryan put his car in park.
"Can I call you sometime?" he asked
"I guess that's okay." she replied. He took out his phone and she put her number in to not run the risk of him losing it. He smiled.
"I'll call you later...maybe." he said
"Sure thing. Thanks for a fun night. I'm glad you didn't ditch me for some other girl." she said
"Yeah, me too. Night Josie." he replied
"Night Ryan." she said, getting out of the car. She closed the door and walked up her steps. When she was in the house, she heard him drive off. Things were going to become very complicated. She could feel it.
While she was driving Evan home, Stefani was facing complications of her own.
"So, I had a lot of fun tonight." Stefani said, trying to break the unbearable silence in the car.
"Yeah, it was a pretty interesting night." Evan replied
"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked
"Nothing bad. I just never realized how much fun you and your friends were." he said
"Well, you would if you had given us a chance before now." she said
"Look Stefani, I'm sorry we were such jerks, okay?" he replied
"I never said you were jerks. I mean, I totally understand. You guys are popular, we're not. It's not like we expected you guys to notice us out of the hundreds of other girls trying to get your attention." she said
"But still, I mean, I don't know about the guys but I feel bad." he said
"Why?" she asked
"Because I feel like we should have acted sooner. I've been noticing you for a long time now but I never did anything about it." he said
"It's okay. But what made you act now?" she asked
"I'm not really sure. I guess because we have a class together now. It wouldn't seem as weird for me to approach you. Maybe it was because my friends finally noticed your friends. I really can't put my finger on it." he replied
"Well...how long have you been noticing me?" she asked
"Oh, I don't know. Like the end of last year maybe. But then I didn't see you all summer." he said
"Wow, I didn't know you noticed me at all." she said
"Its hard not to Stef. You're really pretty." he said. Stefani was glad he couldn't see her blushing.
"Thank you." she said
"No problem. Its true." he said.
"Which side of the street are you on?" she asked
"This is me coming up here on the right." he said.
She pulled up to his house and stopped the car. Evan turned to her.
"I'm really glad you came tonight Stefani." he said
"Yeah, I am too." she replied
"Well, see ya in class Monday." he said, opening the door.
"Yeah. See ya then." she said. He got out and closed the door. Stefani drove off, feeling completely confused.