Writing Highlights of the Year [PG/E] - Humour/Angst

[asian_tofu]

Ah...here I am again. This is a romantic comedy, just about covering the gist of teenage angst. I hope.

[b]Story Summary: (PG13)[/b] [i]Nicole and Ryan have always had a platonic relationship, and they intend to keep it that way. Although in the midst of denial, horrible puns, and (conniving) best friends, somehow they both know it won?t be as easy as it was last year.[/i]



[i]Chapter Summary:[/i] (PG) Ryan and Nicole aren?t exactly friends. They?re not enemies either. It?s just the space in between there that might blow up.


Project Dedication: To my friends Panda and Elbow, for unwittingly becoming my inspiration for it and just plain because they?re my friends (DUH).


A/N: No! -covers face in shame- Why do all of my major writing projects originate from one-shots?! Why God, [i]why?! [/i]




[i]Prologue

Junior High: Susceptible to Assumption

By Yanzi a.k.a. Blue[/i]


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Ryan Christopher shuffled through the hallways, making a minimal amount of progress against the hordes as they stampeded to lunch. Upon reaching Ms. Dilroy?s chemistry classroom, he immediately found Nicole in the back of the room, partially obscured by the billows of smoke that emitted from what only could be the product of her disastrous fetish for explosive elements.

?Why, is that fun?? he said casually, smirking as she muttered colorful expressions under her breath.

?Shut up, Christopher,? was her greeting.

While she coughed and waved away at the haze gathering around her, Ryan put his books down on a vacant desk and grabbed a pair of safety goggles from a cabinet, donning them before he strutted in her direction. ?Why are you here??

Nicole grunted in quite an unsophisticated manner as she began to scrub a test tube, ?Probably the same reason as you are.?

Ryan dried the washed tube with a paper towel, ?Flirting??

?Extra credit,? she said, not looking at him. It [i]had[/i] been her who?d caught the teacher on fire, and thus ending both of them with such a poor grades, since they weren?t allowed to use the lab tools (especially the Bunsen burners) for the rest of the week.

?Can?t we do both?? Ryan asked playfully, then frowned, scanning through her lab book. ?How long have you been on this experiment?? Nicole answered by scowling, scrubbing more violently than necessary.

?Since last period.?

He let out a low whistle, ?That?s [i]got[/i] to be record, even for you.?

Nicole raised a suds-covered hand and clouted him at the back of the head, ?Are you going to help me or not??

Ryan winced, ?Not after that ? you almost killed me!? She lifted her hand threateningly again, and Ryan shied away with his hands up in surrender, ?Or [i]yes[/i]?yes is good.?

Grinning smugly, Nicole turned off the water, ?You?re so nice.?

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Mei giggled as her friend, Nicole Johnston, entered the cafeteria with Ryan Christopher. Gwen blinked up from her sandwich, stole a bit of Mei?s food while the romantic was distracted, and directed her eyes to what the inane girl was so excited over.

If Gwen could describe Mei with one word, it would be ?odd.? The girl wasn?t odd in a bad way, more of a hysterical, slightly overdramatic type. In having that established, they?d become good friends with each other and Nicole.

Nicole was the one missing at their usual table that day, and Mei had been fantasizing about how their other close friend was probably ?involved? with someone and just wasn?t telling them. How ecstatic she was to find that her theory might have been correct.

?My word is law,? Mei said matter-of-factly. Gwen rolled her eyes, and leaned over her to get a better look as Nicole spoke in a seemingly engaging conversation with Ryan. As their center of interests both stepped up in line, Gwen had to edge over more to see them. ?Gwen?? Mei wheezed beneath her, ?[i]Gwen[/i]??

?Shh! I can?t see them anymore!? Gwen hissed, and Mei would?ve rolled her eyes had she had enough oxygen.

[i]?And she calls[/i] me [i]a romantic?? [/i]

?Who??

?GAH!? Mei and Gwen jumped, practically ending up in a heap on the floor. Nicole stood above them, balancing her lunch tray as she watched the scene with mild interest.

She raised her eyebrow, ?Did I miss something??

Mei coughed on her soda, and Gwen chomped a hefty bite out of her sandwich.

?Nah,? they chorused.

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Gwen listened restlessly as their English teacher rambled on the importance of pronouns. [i] ?Seriously, when did pronouns become more important than sticking my nose into my friend?s love life?? [/i]

Tapping her pencil on her desk, she exchanged a glance with Mei at the desk next to her. Nicole was the most unfortunate, seated in the unconcealed front row, so she didn?t see them.

Mei scribbled some nonsense onto a small shred of paper and swiftly handed it to her. When the teacher had her back turned to the chalkboard, Gwen discreetly opened it. There, in a script that would have been illegible to anyone who hadn?t been Nicole or herself, was written:

[i]Do you think they?re dating?

- Mei[/i]

Gwen caught Mei?s eye and shook her head, about to write something in reply when the bell rang. They exited in a jubilant procession of peers, and joined Nicole at the doorway.

?Oh my [i]God[/i]. Again, why exactly do English teachers review the same concepts every year?? Nicole groaned, starting to climb the stairs.

?So they can at least try and think of more soporific lectures,? Mei yawned. Gwen nodded in agreement as they parted for their individual lockers.

Mei rushed to Gwen with backpack in tow as the poor girl was furiously pulling on her lock, which wasn?t responding much to the combination in which she was applying. ?Do you think it?s broken??

Gwen cursed, her eyes narrowing at the offending device, ?Of course not!? Mei, having known her combination for a long time, wrenched it out of her hands indifferently.

?Hmm?? she murmured, turning the knob.

After a few minutes, Gwen had her backpack slung over her shoulder, and Mei was shutting her locker. ?So??

Gwen shot her a look, ?What?? Mei grinned.

?What do you think??

?If you don?t tell me how do you expect me to know??

Mei sighed, ?Nicole?s [i]situation[/i],? Gwen began to walk away. ?Hey! I wasn?t finished!? The Asian girl caught up with her friend, sullen.

Gwen groaned in exasperation, ?For the umpteenth time, Mei, there is [i]no situation[/i].? Mei cast an ambivalent expression upon her, ?Besides, it?s Nicole?s business.? She said, tucking a stray lock of her sandy hair behind her ear.

?But this is big!? Mei protested, hands forcefully cutting through the air, ?I can?t just [i]not[/i] care!? Gwen darted her a dismissed guise, pushing open the school doors.

?You are blowing this out of proportion,? she stated curtly. With those words said, she turned her way home.

The other girl hissed to her back, ?You?ll see!?

Gwen gave Mei an apathetic wave over her shoulder, continuing to walk, ?Whatever.?

Mei scowled.

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Nicole trudged up the sidewalk, cursing her parents? choice of house locations. [i]?Right on a freakin? hill??[/i]

As she advanced higher, she saw a figure ahead of her. Much to her dismay, [i]he[/i] looked quite familiar.

?Christopher?? she squinted, shading her eyes. [i]?Stupid sun!? [/i]

The person stopped, and she dragged herself to catch up. By the time she got there, the guy had turned around, smiling.

?Well, if it isn?t the pyromaniac?? was his salutation.

?Shut[i]up[/i],? Nicole glared. ?I?ve never seen you down this route.?

?Well, duh, of course not,? Ryan shrugged, resuming his strides. ?I just moved here last week.?

Nicole gave him a quizzical look, ?But you?ve been in school for months ? ?

?I was staying at a relative?s until my parents could find a house.?

She nodded in understanding, a bit embarrassed about her somewhat obvious question, allowing the silence to settle in briefly until they reached her house, ?Oh God, this means that you know where I live now??

Ryan chuckled, ?And that?s a bad thing??

Nicole narrowed her eyes at him, ?We?ll see, Christopher.?

The boy smirked and watched her disappear through the door, ?Yeah, we?ll see.?

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AUTHOR?S NOTE: I appreciate all types of reviews (minus flames) so don?t be shy! If there?s no feedback I start getting paranoid and begin thinking my writing is crap?

EDIT: If you've read until the end and want to read the rest, [url=http://www.fictionpress.com/read.php?storyid=1775082]click here.[/url]

[KarmaOfChaos]

[color=deeppink][size=1]It's a good story so far, and your characters are very believable. That's something many authors fail at. My only suggestion is that the plot seems forced, the sequence of events is too focused on the one idea of Ryan and Nicole having a relationship. Try filling out the story more, and developing the raw materials you have in the characters.

Keep writing. ^.^

-Karma[/size][/color]

[asian_tofu]

Thank you, Karma, for the concrit. I'll keep that in mind as I write chapter two.

This is chapter one (the ending is kind of bad, I know...editing in order).

[b]Story Summary: (PG13)[/b] [i]Nicole and Ryan have always had a platonic relationship, and they intend to keep it that way. Although in the midst of denial, horrible puns, and (conniving) best friends, somehow they both know it won?t be as easy as it was last year.[/i]


[i]Chapter Summary: [/i] (PG13) Highlights of the years gone by, days in which we laughed and cried. This is our story, our love, our lives; a simple definition of undefined.


A/N: The story will be ten chapters max. Actually, this little thing is just my wayward muse stumbling through another bout of inspiration, and Panda telling me to ?expand? on a story I wrote for a writing competition.

As another side note (assuming that both Panda and Elbow don?t get wind of this), I based the physical and some personality features of the characters Nicole, Gwen, and Mei off Panda, Elbow, and I.




[i]Chapter One

Sophomore Year: Back to School Charades

By Yanzi[/i]



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Nicole took yet another look across the cafeteria and subconsciously continued glaring at Ryan, finally earning a tap on the shoulder from Gwen. ?Hm??

Gwen moved so she was the edge of her seat, her voice low, ?What did he do this time?? Nicole gaped in surprise, and she smiled, ?You?ve been staring at the same spot for five minutes ? how could I not notice??

?He?s only got his arm around that?that?Mike again,? she hissed back, pursing her lips.

?You mean Michelle,? The sandy-haired girl sighed exasperatedly, leaning back on her chair as Nicole continued her tirade.

?He didn?t call for the [i]whole[/i] summer? ?

Had Gwen not known about the platonic relationship that her friend contained with Ryan Christopher, she would have sworn the girl was jealous. Then again, Nicole Johnston didn?t get jealous. She was selfless?

? ? least there?s an explanation for completely ignoring me ? ?

?nonviolent?

? ? if I could just [i]kick[/i] him ? ?

?supportive?

? ? I will not let them be together!?

?and fiercely independent.

? ? help me, right?? Nicole paused, waiting for her answer. The spoken to was staring at the ceiling, calmly counting the tiles in utter fascination.

[i] ?I might have to rethink that description.? [/i] ?Yeah, sure, whatever,? the girl replied. Mei suddenly plopped down in the seat next to Nicole, grinning from ear to ear.

Nicole attempted to raise her eyebrow, but realized she couldn?t, thus raising both. ?You look like some soap opera couple just eloped.?

The Asian girl smiled slyly in return, her obsidian locks spilling onto her shoulders, ?Something like that.?

The stormy-eyed girl flared, her features darkening somewhat, ?[i]Really? [/i] Then what?s your opinion of the Ryan and Mike?s make-up??

?You mean make-[i]out[/i]?? Mei said, the meaning behind the words dawning on her right after, and immediately clamped her mouth shut. Unfortunately the damage had been done; Nicole turned in their direction, just in time to see a glowing Ryan lift his head away from Mike?s.

She abruptly got up, sending her chair screeching backwards. Mei opened her mouth to apologize, but was cut off by her terse words, ?I?m going to class.?

With one final, reaffirming glance at the couple, Nicole left the area, ignoring the gray eyes watching her leave.

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Nicole clutched her books closer to her chest, her heart pounding. The poignant punch that she?d experienced when she saw him with her was coming on full-force. Every time she closed her eyes she would see them just moving away, flushed cheeks and puffy lips sending off waves of their ardor for each other straight ? or so it seemed ? at [i]her.[/i]

She felt sick.

Even after what that girl had tried to do to her the year before, Nicole couldn?t imagine Ryan had her by his side again. His eyes had not spoken to her at all ? had he missed Mike after they?d broken up? Was he so ready to forget that summer?

[i] ?Ack! You can?t even stop thinking about him! Pull yourself together Nicole. Mindlessly talk to yourself via pointless banter,? [/i] as much as she didn?t want to think about Ryan, she didn?t appreciate the idea of her peers questioning her sanity like they did Mei?s. [i] ?No bantering.? [/i]

The bell rang just as she reached Pre-Calc, obviously early. Setting her books down, Nicole exited and casually began to search for any other students. She suddenly hoped that there weren?t going to be any.

In a tumultuous rush of voices and shoes, the sophomore class began one-by-one reaching their lockers, which added the clang of eroded metal to the mix of noise.

Somehow, without her noticing, Ryan and Mike were a few feet from reaching her. Their arms were linked, and they were walking right towards her. Cognizant of her presence, Ryan looked at her, and stopped hesitantly, ?Hey.?

?Where were you all summer?? she inquired; then adding with a tinge of hurt in her voice, ?You didn?t return any of my calls.?

Ryan shifted in Mike?s grasp, mumbling something about ?vacation?.

?Nicole!? Mei called from several feet away, catching up to her. Nicole glanced at her and rolled her eyes, just in time for Ryan and Mike to disappear.

?Yes?? she nearly snarled, causing Mei to recoil slightly.

?About lunch ? ?

?What about it??

?I didn?t mean to say anything,? she apologized, brown eyes shifting anywhere but Nicole.

[i]?I guess it can?t be helped.?[/i] ?Don?t worry about it,? Nicole sighed, rubbing her temples. [i]?He[/i] left[i]??[/i]

Mei saw the distant look on her friend?s face, ?Oh?okay. But you and Ryan and only friends anyway, so I guess it wasn?t because of him you left early, right?? Nicole heaved out another sigh, though this time it was one of exasperation.

?No, Mei. I don?t C-A-R-E [i]care[/i] about who he dates! Get it through your thick head!?

?Under suspicion again, I presume?? Gwen chirped in, appearing in the space between them. Mei and Nicole nodded in mutual agreement. ?Mei, you?re in denial.?

Appalled that [i]both[/i] her friends were against her, Mei scoffed, ?The one in denial isn?t [i]me[/i], Gwen, it?s a certain blonde who for once in her life is acting like a [i]blonde.[/i]?

Gwen darted a glance at Nicole?s hair, ?You do know she?s starting to turn brunette, right??

Mei spluttered, ?Stop trying to change the subject!? She returned her gaze to match Nicole?s, ?He?s not going to hang around forever, you know.?

Nicole felt her patience ebbing away to the size of a toothpick. ?Mei, [i]drop it.[/i]? She gave a genuine glare at the Asian girl?s mulish complexion, turning on her heel back to class before her aneurysm exploded.

---------------------------------

?Gwen,? Mei sighed as Nicole abandoned them once again for the delights of math, ?I am an [i]idiot[/i]. Reuniting Mike and Ryan?maybe that was a mistake.?

?Didn?t get the results you hoped for?? Gwen quipped, a tinge of annoyance lining her words. She had warned Mei not to mingle with Nicole and Ryan?s delicate balance as friends after the incident the year before, and the romantic hadn?t listened.

Mei faced the ground, her lips set in a grim line, ?No, actually I did. Nicole?s jealous about Ryan, which is what I?ve wanted all along ? but I?m not really happy about it like I thought I would be.?

?Aren?t we [i]all[/i] either hurt, angry, or irritated nowadays?? They entered the chemistry room, a putrid odor encasing them. It was still empty ? they were five minutes early.

Mei coughed, rubbing her eyes, ?I?m just confused.? She strode over and grabbed some goggles from the cabinet, putting them on without any further dialogue was exchanged.

Gwen gazed at her with a dry expression in her eyes, ?I don?t suppose you?re going to [i]tell[/i] me anytime soon about what you did, are you?? Mei shook her head, slapping a hand over her mouth.

Moments later she parted her fingers just a crack, ?No.? Gwen blatantly walked to her from her place on the other side of the classroom and hit her over the head.

?That?s for being an idiot,? she reprimanded. Mei winced, smiling weakly.

?I guess I deserved it,? she mumbled sheepishly, slumping down into a desk. Abruptly Gwen?s hand shot out again, smacking Mei over the head again. ?Ow! I [i]know[/i] I didn?t deserve that!? she howled indignantly.

?That was for next time,? Gwen said prudently.

Sitting down in the seat adjacent to Mei?s, Gwen muttered under her breath, ?Now, If I had a dollar every time you [i]deserved[/i]it ? ?

?I can hear you,? whispered Mei sullenly as she rubbed her battered head. Apparently Gwen?s words weren?t under her breath enough.

?I don?t see why you?re so persistent about Nicole and Ryan,? said Gwen, watching as the rest of the class began to stream in.

Twirling a lock of her ebony hair, she replied, ?I don?t know. I mean I get this vibe whenever I see them together. Weird, isn?t it??

?I think it?s just because you?ve read so many of those tacky drugstore novels, everyone has to be placed in a pair or the world will stop spinning.? Mei stared at the wall, indicating that she was too lost in thought to reply. ?Think about it,? Gwen got up and returned to her own assigned desk, not wishing to have the smoldering glare of Mr. Stevens upon her.

Mei began to take out her homework from the night before, though her regularly organized thoughts echoed with the answer she?d been afraid to give Gwen.

[i]?Perhaps you?re right.? [/i]

---------------------------------

Nicole dared to take a careful glance at Ryan. He didn?t notice her, as the teacher was buzzing shrilly about the upcoming finals.

[i]?Good grief?he doesn?t even stop to[/i] breathe, [i]does he?[/i]? The girl stared at the way the instructor?s mouth kept moving (spewing specks of saliva) while maintaining a steady level of oxygen with keen interest. [i] ?What a wonderful specimen of the species governmentus puppeta.? [/i]

Behind her, Derek Taron was rapt with another matter. A certain female Homo sapien, to be exact.

Almost as if on cue, the bell broke the teacher?s drone for the last time of the day. As the students filed out the door (or to be more precise, squeezed themselves), he leaned against his projector with a seemingly great fatigue, wiping his brow with a daisy-embroidered handkerchief.

?Erm, Derek.? It wasn?t as easy for a girl to ask the guy, but it didn?t matter.

The addressed whirled around, clearly surprised, ?Yes??

Nicole blushed, practically a cute shade of pink, the color scarcely brushing on her cheeks. ?Um?I was wondering if we could,? she cleared her throat, averting her eyes from his, ?hang out, or ? ?

?Seven o?clock Friday, sound good to you?? The situation was going much smoother than he had planned. [i] ?Perfect.? [/i]

?Yeah, yeah. See you then,? was her reply, leaving Derek in the deserted classroom.

He grinned like the madman he was.

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AUTHOR?S NOTE: Ok, most of this chapter was forced out. That isn?t how I work. I?m going to be tweaking it pretty soon, so readers, you might have to do some rereading. If so, I?ll have it in my A/N for chapter three. So basically I don?t like about half the scenes in this chapter, but they all are relevant to the plot, so blah. If chapter one doesn?t even live up to the prologue then what about all the other chapters?! Do write a review anyway, as an authoress on Cloud Nine is sure to write quickly!