"You're the man, Tyler!"

"Way to go, scoring a date with Big Tit Brit! Damn it man, you just broke up with Stella last week."

Ethan, his closest friend as well as the team's guard, stared at him achin' to hero worship that made his ego swell ten-fold.

David laughed out loud before shooting a three-pointer on the basket, knowing everyone was watching his every movement. It soared through the air right inside and the near-to-empty gymnasium filled with hoots and cat-calls echoing aloud from the usual groupies and spectators coming to watch their first practice game for the season.

"What can I say, women are so predictable."

Wyatt, their team's forward, tapped him on the shoulder. "Yeah, you're like the Guru of love. Lothario and Don Juan would be so proud of you."

"You're the man, Tyler!"

"Stop, stop it guys. Hell, I just got lucky that's all." But he couldn't help grinning broadly.

God, he was more than lucky. He was blessed! After he broke up with Stella, the rumor that he was back in the market spread instantly like wildfire. The next days that followed after, girls were giving him the eye and all-too-flirty smiles whenever he passed by.

And man how he basked in all of it…

"Team! Get started and get going! Across the field," Greg Masters, their team captain and centre, called out across the court as he stood watching their progress with their head coach, Mr. Hanson. "Tyler, get your head in the game!"

Being the team's point guard had him in a situation that he holds the game's play and progress. He may be as tall as their center, Greg Master's, but he was the fastest in the team, and he could score as many as the other shooting guards make in one play.

In short… he was The Man. His ego can live up to its expectations because he knew he's got what it takes to be "The Man" and everyone knows that.

Thirty minutes later, David's team won seventy to eighty-two, cheering and guffawing as they trudged towards the shower rooms.

Ethan and David instantly got into a rowdy conversation about the usual locker room talk: girls, parties, girls, basketball, getting laid and girls.

He was just removing his shoes when another foot dropped down beside him on the bench, the owner bending over to tie his shoelaces.

It was Greg, his face grim and pondering. "Hey, Tyler, I couldn't help but see that you think so little of the woman's psyche, and I can't just let you get on with whatever you are doing without telling you that playing with women's feelings… something is bound to happen to you. You may be good at playing the field but messing around with women's emotions won't get you anywhere."

David frowned, not knowing what Masters was talking about. "Dude, what are you on about?"

Greg smirked still crouched in his shoelace-tying.

"You know, Tyler, women are much more complicated than what you think." He looked up and gave him a scrutinizing look. "I wonder what you will do when one day, you will meet a girl who would have you playing so rightfully inside the palm of her hand you would wish you'd rather go crazy…"

At that David laughed so loudly that half of the members of the team turned in their direction. Some were staring at them animatedly. This was something that doesn't happen often. Their team captain, the sensitive gentleman talking to no other than David, the school bad-ass woman-player. The two were known to hate each other's guts they couldn't be in the same place together. What they only do have in common was their popularity with the ladies, as school princes, homecoming royalties and as student body electives; not to mention the top jocks that placed Nunez High's name on the local newspaper.

They weren't even seen talking with each other except when it is related to basketball. The fact that Greg was talking to him –of all the effin' subjects- about how he treats women, it deviated from what usually goes on that everyone couldn't help watching them.

David straightened and matched his scrutinizing gaze with an intimidating look of his own.

"There's the snitch, Masters. I'd rather go crazy first."

"What about love?" He continued with a frown, still not looking at him.

"What about it?" He gave a mocking laugh. "I don't believe in that crap and all the bullshit it involves."

"That's because you haven't found the right one yet. Hell, you won't even know what a real woman is before it's too late." Greg stood his full height that towered over David's six feet, a grin playing on his face. "You're lost, Tyler. And I pity you."

With that final remark he left, slinging his own duffel on his shoulders, marching out of the locker room oblivious to the silent eyes following him out.

David stared at him, still struck and confused with what he meant. He shook his head and got a tap on his shoulder from Ethan.

"What was that all about?" he asked jerking his head in the direction of their team captain.

David frowned as he continued to look in Greg's direction. "I have no freakin' idea…"

Ethan raised a brow and shrugged. "Whatever… Are you coming with us? There's a kegger in Matt's house, ladies and beers a-flowing."

David slung his duffel in his shoulder and looked at the time.

Great!

The cheerleading squad was about to start practicing down at the quad-grounds. Couldn't hurt to go there and get a few minutes with her, right?

Britney, his new girlfriend was hornier than his past girlfriends ever were which was both bad and great (not just good). Although it was becoming her habit to call him in names that are greatly annoying him. But he was ready to overlook that one small fact.

Hell, he could dump her when the time is right. The idea of seeing Brit drove Greg's words out of his mind as he denied Ethan's request and headed his way to the quad, a grin splayed in his lips.

Sue bit a stray paper out of the way for her hands were so laden down with books she couldn't see where she was going. She shifted the huge volumes on her arms and heard some giggling before she trod on something on the floor.

The books wobbled precariously on her arms as she scrambled to regain hr footing, when a person probably standing in front of her, held a steady hand on the books.

"Need a hand?" The person asked and the nasty giggling stopped abruptly. A few books disappeared from the top of her pile and Sue was mildly surprised to see no other than Stella on the other side, a beatific smile on her face.

"Hey Sue."

"Oh, uh hi, Stella…"

For the past few days, the two have become friends, talking about school and anything that came up, and Sue found Stella a fun and kind person -unlike the others on the squad. Cheena who always loved dissing the cheerleaders also liked Stella, which wasn't hard for she wasn't a person who was hard to make friends with and the three hit it off well. Stella never got the courage to tell her friends about last week and Sue held her confidence, which also built their unlikely friendship.

"Going to the library?" She asked staring at the books.

"Uh, no I'm actually headed off to the field." Sue grinned. "I only got these books for Cheena who doesn't want to go to the library."

"Why?"

Sue only shrugged.

"They look so heavy… we'll help you! We're headed that way as well." Stella answered in polite conversation until they heard someone scoff so loudly from behind her.

Sue, noticing that they weren't alone, saw all the Honeybees, in matching bare on the mid-riff striped black and yellow cheerleading outfit, standing behind Stella, who was their team captain apparently. Some looked at her in disdain, some sneered at her huge glasses and paint-smeared overalls, while others looked at her in mild curiosity.

She was much aware of how she might look like -talking to someone as well known as Stella. People like her were never given much thought and the fact that Stella seemed to know Sue, was a surprise not at all welcomed. And judging from the handful of dirty looks she was getting… once again, she was right.

One girl in particular caught her attention. She had pretty strong features and her blonde highlights added to her exotic beauty, but most intriguing of all was the way she looked at her with a narrowed gaze that sent goosebumps up her arms.

It took her by surprise and she unconsciously pushed her glasses in nervous habit.

Sue was used to bullying and being looked down all her life; she's always been the underdog. But seeing such hate in the sharp brown eyes of such a striking girl could still make her shudder inside.

"N-no it's fine. I can handle this." She pushed her large glasses up her sweaty nose. "You'll just strain a muscle or something."

Stella pouted. "You make me feel like a weakling. We cheerleaders are used to strain. We can handle it."

To prove her point, she hoisted two more off her pile and grinned.

Sue couldn't help smiling in amazement. "I think my perception of you just changed, Ms. Cheerleader."

"Why, thank you, Ms. Scott." Stella grinned. "Come on, then. Let's not keep your friend waiting."

Stella jerked her head to the other girls who were already walking ahead of them, while they were still talking.

A pity… Sue could've thought of them as otherwise due to Stella's warm personality and non-judgmental outlook on things, if they took that one step on reaching out to people like her… invisible as they may be in society. But they didn't. Sue knew that Stella could probably do such a thing without thinking of ruining her reputation.

There were just certain rules that people must follow and Stella just broke everyone of them by helping her and befriending her. It was either that Stella didn't mind or she didn't know.

Sue has been aching to voice out such a situation to Stella but can't find the courage to hurt her. What if Stella truly liked hanging out with her? She did help her that day… even if it was just one small act of charity.

On the way to the field, they chatted about anything and Sue lost the nerve of ever bringing up the topic. They spent the long walk laughing and exchanging gossip. She might just as well forget it… for now.

As soon as they reached the stands, Stella turned to her.

"Listen, I'm having a slumber party at my place and I would love for you and Cheena to come. The whole squad will be there. Not my idea actually but Joey was always pestering me to have one, and I would be glad if you two could come…"

Tempting, yes… but there was the issue of not only being with a roomful of hateful cheerleaders, but also with her strict parents ever allowing her to go. Sue was ready to tell her so but seeing the hopeful look on her face, she couldn't very well turn her down.

But what if… well, she could say yes and then call to cancel then make an excuse… yes! And the fact that Cheena would never agree to something as improvident as a… a slumber party… it would be better that way. It was enough that she could be friends with someone like Stella, but getting friendlier was asking too much.

There were too many broken rules already and the last thing Sue needed right now –just one more school year until college freedom in Princeton, away from all the drama, the high's and low's of high school- was a high school experience she's always avoided as much as she could: getting on the wrong side.

Sue gave her a smile, hesitating on the rightness of her decision. "Okay…"

The brightness of Stella's smile almost broke her heart. Lying, even on the phone, will be a difficult thing to do.

Sue shifted the books on her arms. "Thanks for helping me."

"Thank you for everything too. Without you I never thought I could've handled that awful day."

Sue gave her a comforting smile and saw that Stella was looking at something behind her. She followed her gaze and saw that she was staring at someone who she only saw just recently with the squad. But the person, who was eating her face, was no other than David Tyler… which wasn't new to her.

Hell, he broke up with Stella and here he is… instantly recovering over the weekend. Already had a new victim… she should've known.

Sue smirked unconsciously.

David Tyler… not only a week passed and now he's flirting with another girl - and not just that… a fellow member of the squad too. The guy was an asshole. It was written across his forehead. She never would've known him if it weren't for his reputation.

Yep! David Tyler was the most famous man's man in the whole campus… the whole city maybe.

Although their paths never crossed, Sue has known him for as long as he has been in town which was four years –his parents were pretty popular too– and knew he was a hard man to figure out, although all she knew about him were from rumors and his reputation for being a major player.

A princely figure with the killer abs and mesmerizing blue eyes… no one was safe from his undeniable good-looks and irresistible charm.

He was every girl's dream guy but for Sue… a skunk who enjoyed his own stink. Pretty mean of her seeing as she doesn't even know him that well, but a jerk's a jerk and the fact that although everyone knew that of him, they still flock to him like bees to honey. Girls like them have no self respect whatsoever and Sue couldn't help feeling disappointed.

The female race of Nunez High has sunk an all time low… women that David Tyler duped… Sydney… Fiona… Ashley… Lisa… Stella…

Sue whipped her head around and looked at Stella in alarm.

She was still staring at them and Sue couldn't help feeling sorry all of a sudden. It wasn't fair. Assholes like David Tyler deserved to be flayed alive, their male genitalia ripped apart and thrown to the flames and…

Sue eyed Stella hesitantly. There was an unreadable expression on her face and although she has the knowledge of a garden snail when it comes to relationships, she knew that getting over break-ups required a certain length of time.

Women were deeper than what men thought of them to be. Why no one seems to understand the strength of a woman, may be due to the long-standing patriarchal domination that existed even in the biblical times.

Stella proved to be a nice person and having been played by David Tyler made it all the more worse. He was a jerk!

"Are you feeling okay? Did you know he's dating another girl, I mean…"

"I'm fine…" Stella shrugged, a painful smile playing on her lips. "But it's hard, you know… getting over someone like him. It's like getting over a beloved pet that died. He gets under your skin so easily it was hard to let go. Every moment with him was magical. Then it was too late to realize that you lived in a reality that doesn't give way to fairytales."

Sue nodded. "Women tend to believe in fairytale happy endings…"

Stella laughed bitterly. "Who wouldn't? But I should've known about it sooner. I could've stopped my heart from falling, I mean, getting fooled by him. He's got this charming personality that makes you feel like you're an amazing person, like you're his only princess. Kind of hard to get back to reality when you loved living in that fantasy than the reality, if you ask me… That somehow our story must have an ending. And it did."

"You could always make your own fairytale. It's not like you gave all your heart out."

"You're right. But I did give it, you know," Stella looked at her with a serious expression on her face. "Only, he broke it."

Sue didn't know what to say to that and so she looked back to the grounds unseeingly. Stella must've sensed her discomfort for she chuckled and gave a pat on her head.

"Susannah Scott, you are simply too cute. I take it you never been in a relationship before."

She smiled meekly. "Wasn't it obvious?"

"It was."

"Gee, thanks…"

They both cracked up laughing.

"But you did give some really nice pointers and I couldn't help appreciating your innocent wisdom." Stella smiled. "Thanks, Sue."

Sue stared at the genuine smile blossoming from her lips and she smiled in return. "Well I better go or Cheena will eat me alive…"

"Okay. But don't forget about the sleepover okay, or I'll be mad at you…"

Sue grinned as Stella waved her away. She walked down the field to a large tree where Cheena sat under its cool shade, a sardonic expression on her pretty face.

"Did the school collapse and they have to dig you out? What took you so long?"

"I got held back. Anyway, Stella said tha-…"

But Cheena clearly wasn't listening for she continued with her probably practiced tirade.

"I bet Greg cornered you again, didn't he? If he wasn't so full of himself he wouldn't have to, you know," Cheena, her ever temperamental red-head friend didn't give her the opportunity as she kept venting her anger on a sandwich in big angry bites. "I thought I told you not to talk to him? You shouldn't gi-…"

"Cheena won't you chill? I didn't see him, okay," Sue sighed and sat down beside her on the grass. She took a few seconds arranging the heavy books on the ground, before adding. "It's your fault you know…"

Sue was talking under her breathe but Cheena's sharp hearing caught it. Green eyes flashed angrily and Cheena swallowed one big mouthful before answering her.

"It wasn't my fault - it was his! It never ever occurred to me that he wanted to meet my parents." She took another angry bite. "You know my parents just looove terrorizing everyone I know. Look at what they put you through before you could even make a phone call to me. They are so overprotective, it's suffocating me…"

"It isn't their fault. It's because of your evil twin. That's what made them stringent."

"But I'm not Gretchen."

"Yes, you're right. But still, you and Greg should probably talk about it… not venting it out on a helpless chicken sandwich."

When Cheena still held her head in stubbornness, Sue grabbed Cheena's long auburn hair and yanked her forward. "Listen to me and forget your pride for a second. Greg's been tracking me after school, begging me to ask you to answer his calls."

Cheena frowned. "He's been calling me?"

Sue frowned as well. "Didn't you receive any of his calls? He said he's been calling your phone and leaving voice mails and-…"

"But I lent my phone to Gretchen. She said she needed to borr-…" she started then realization struck them both.

"Gretchen." They both said at the same time.

They knew all too well why Cheena never got any of Greg's calls. It was Gretchen, Cheena's evil fraternal twin. While Cheena was kind, soft-spoken and smart, Gretchen was mean, rude and arrogant… and so in-love with Greg.

Cheena stared at her sandwich for a long, long time before she stood up and dusted her form-fitting jeans.

"I thought he didn't care anymore that's why… Oh, I should've known," Cheena started muttering to her self, a nervous habit that she have. "Telling me ths and that and I don't even have a clue as to why he was doing all those things to me. I thought he stopped caring and here I am stubbornly waiting for him to make the first move when all along he's been trying to reach out! What if I missed my chance? What if he's mad now? Oh, Sue, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I tried, but you-"

"Where is he… now?" Cheena demanded.

"The library…"

The real reason they were out there instead of the library was because Greg was in the library. But it wasn't anymore for with that, Cheena lifted the heavy volumes and her bag with superhuman strength and dragged Sue on her empty hand towards the school.

They ran to the school's main building, up the flight of stairs and reached the library, just as it was starting to close. There were still a few people left and right there, sitting on an empty table surrounded by a good number of books was Greg, the sunset making his brown locks go blonde.

Cheena breathed in and out heavily.

"Does he hate me now? What did he say to you? Oh, no what if he hates me now? What should I do? Sue, help me!" Cheena started pacing around, nervously wringing her fingers.

"Relax, Cheena. Greg can't hate you. He misses you! He hasn't been himself you know. He thought you hated him." Sue smiled at her. Cheena was frantic. There wasn't anything that could make a strong-headed girl like Cheena fret, not even getting a low grade in a subject she studied so hard on –except when it comes to Greg. She grabbed her hands and held on to them. "You should go to him. Talk to him."

"But… how? Look at me, I'm a mess! I can't face him looking like this." Cheena retorted, spreading her arms wide.

Cheena didn't need anything more that was for certain. Although Cheena ate a lot, her body didn't seem to be keeping much of the calories for it was as softly curvy as any hottie could ever be. Blame it on speedy metabolism. She has always had that classic beauty of a redhead. But what set her apart from any green-eyed ginger was her forever present air of authority that surrounds her like a cape. She's the outspoken, demanding type of person, with a big heart.

She and the un-intimidated Greg Masters were perfect for each other. Two stubborn heads and what you got is a romantic love affair. Sigh…

Sue pursed her lips and reached out to unfasten the first three buttons on Cheena's shirt, exposing a healthy amount of cleavage as she ran her hands along her jeans to remove the lingering grass stains. Sue reached up and messed up her hair and viola… a Cheena out to reclaim her man back.

This was going to be quite interesting.

"There, he can't resist you now, can he?" Sue gave her an encouraging smile and a thumbs-up. "Good luck and don't mess up, okay?"

Cheena smiled at her, flinging her bag over one shoulder and hitching the heavy books up smoothly.

"Thanks for everything, Sue. You're the best, bestfriend in the whole world!" Cheena gave her a brief kiss on the cheek before straightening and righting her clothes.

"Call me later."

Sue stared through the glass doors as it swung close. Cheena walked to where Greg Masters sat and dropped the heavy books on the table, effectively startling him and he looked up wide eyed at Cheena fumbling with her shirt. Alarm turned into pleasant surprise, and before Cheena knew it, she was clasped -crushed was a more appropriate term- in his arms.

Sue turned away with a satisfied smile on her face.

Love… so complicated.