What Does He See in Her? (Chapter 5)

After Marla fell into the mall's water mountain, some security guards saw her and felt that she was disturbing the peace. So they pulled her out and attempted to escort her out of the mall which was difficult because Marla kept screaming and struggling. They eventually had to chase her away, hopefully chasing her out of the mall like they planned. As they did so, Skye chatted with Jeffrey to make him feel comfortable.

"I'm sorry for Marla's behavior," confessed Jeffrey.

"It's okay," responded Skye.

"No, it's not. I mean she constantly acts like that so I have to keep apologizing since she won't."

"I'm sorry for even insulting her."

"It's okay. Who wouldn't?"

Skye chuckled.

"I know she's not the best liked in school--"

"Best liked? I like the Cow Belles better than her and I hate the Cow Belles."

"That must be some strong hate."

"Yeah, I wish it was stronger."

"I don't blame you."

"Then why do you constantly put up with her?"

"I know, it's just--"

"It's been ten years. That's a decade! When a certain amount of years have a name, you know they represent a very long time."

"I know but it's just that... I guess I liked having her company. She made me feel wanted. When I had her, I kept her."

"Like a pet?"

Jeffrey chuckled. "Exactly."

"But you were a kid. You're a teenager now. Soon you'll be an adult and eventually have to grow out of certain things."

"I know. But did you see when I was with her? I couldn't even stand up for her. I have lots of growing up to do... since I'm the size of Peter Dinklage."

"Hey, if I have to look up at you when we're talking, then you're not that short."

"Thank you."

"Or maybe I'm the size of a pony. Who knows? Who knows?"

Jeffrey grinned instead of laughed.

"So are you going to break up with Marla?"

"I think she broke up with me when she said she would find another boyfriend."

"Oh, yeah. No, yeah. I'm really sorry."

"Hey, it's okay. At least I can be happy now. Especially with other people."

Skye looked deep into Jeffrey's eyes. It felt like she was looking into hypnotizing vortexes that will never stop. "Well, that's good," she almost didn't know what to say.

"You're a strong person, you know that?"

"I tell myself that every day until I believe it."

"You just say whatever you want to say but at the same time, it's approachable. You just have an irresistable demeanor."

"I don't know about irresistible but I do have a demeanor."

Jeffrey chuckled. "But are you sure there was nothing more to your argument with Marla?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know, when she said you liked me in that way, was she right?"

"I would never agree with Marla."

"But do you think that -- not to offend -- you wanted to be in her place?"

"I-- Uh-- I-I don't worry about stuff like that. I would like to share something with someone but that's like a whim."

"It's okay to like someone."

"Okay, someone told me that today and I still don't know how to respond."

"Well, would you happen to know your response if I were to tell you about a Death Cab for Cutie concert and me wanting you to come with me?"

"I mean I like Death Cab for Cutie so I assume I'd know my response. But before I answer, are you asking me on a date?"

"Does Patrick Stump wear fedoras?"

"But aren't you feeling a bit lovelorn since Marla broke up with you?"

"Honestly, no. You and I, when we met, had a special connection that I did not have with Marla. Even though Marla got on my nerves, she was still my girlfriend and I didn't want to be one of the sordid guys. But since we just don't plain like each other, why not start something with someone who might slip away from me?"

Skye smiled. She wanted the exact same thing and since he said something, she could break her barrier.

"And another thing: I came to your school to visit Marla but I also came to see my new school."

Skye's eyes widened. "No way! You're going to attend Laguna Beach High?"

"Yep. My parents thought that the family should move closer to my aunt so since we're going to do that, I have to start going to the nearest school which is Laguna Beach."

"That's great! Now we can finally be together!" She then paused. "I mean--"

"So you feel the same way?"

Skye sighed. Then she nodded. "Does Andy Hurley play the drums?"

Jeffrey grinned, making Skye grin. "So is that a yes to the date?"

Skye rolled her eyes. "Yes."

Jeffrey blushed and chuckled. "Awesome."

"Awesome."

After maintaining eye contact, it broke once Skye spotted Kent approaching her. He held out a discernibly shattered and tattered device.

"Marla broke my phone," he explained.

What Does He See in Her? (Chapter 4)

"Why do you look angrier than you usually look?" asked Kent.

"Did you hear what Marla said to me?" Skye questioned.

"Well, you were talking to her the whole time," said Sean.

"No, she whispered something to me."

"Well, whispers aren't meant to be heard."

"Shut up, Sean. She said to me, 'I know that you like Jeffrey so stay away from him.'"

"I don't blame her," said Kent. "You do like Jeffrey."

"Kent, please," said David. "That's a horrible thing to say."

"Thanks, David," Skye stretched her eyebrows up. "But was I obviously throwing myself at him?"

"More than obvious," Kent chuckled.

Sean slapped Kent in the gut.

"Oh, God, what has infatuation become of me?" Skye asked.

"Hey, don't fight it," said David. "Liking someone is okay."

"But it's different so it's not okay to me."

"Why does he like Marla anway?" questioned Kent. "She looks like Stan's sister from South Park."

"You know what? We should do something," insisted Sean.

"What kind of something?" asked David.

"Like a bad kind of something."

"We're not going to moon the security guards," Skye said.

"Not that... even though I don't mind doing that again. Nobody likes Marla so we should embarrass her for you and the people."

"I don't know about that," responded David.

"Come on, then Jeffrey will see how much of a spazmo Marla truly is. So he will dump her after ten freaking years and that's when you will slide in."

"But I have accepted Jeffrey's relationship with her," said Skye.

"Really?"

"No, but I'll keep saying that to myself until it makes sense to me."

"Skye, Marla is not right for him. You could be. Let me help you help me help you."

"Help me help you help me?"

Sean nodded.

"Okay, I'm game."

"Everyone else?"

The other guys agreed.

"So what are we going to do?" asked David.

"I got it," said Sean.

He turned around and sprinted. The group stopped and looked behind themselves. They gazed at Sean making a right turn at a drink shack. They watched him order a soda under twenty seconds. After paying for the soda and receiving it, Sean walked in the direction towards the water fountain. He faced Marla who still sitting on Jeffrey's lap.

"Hi, Marla," he greeted. "We meet again."

"I said I don't want you talking to me," Marla hissed.

"I know but I want to say sorry."

"You better be sorry."

"I bought you a drink. You like Mountain Dew?"

"I can't eat that stuff because of my braces."

"I said 'drink', not 'eat'."

"Well, since you bought it..." She reached out her hand to retrieve it.

Sean slowly attempted to hand the cup to Marla. But instantly, he dropped it on her lap while unnoticeably taking the lid off with his thumb. Marla stood up and gasped deeply when the green soda splashed all over her skirt.

"Look at what you did, you dork!" she screamed at Sean.

"Oh, no, I'm so sorry," lied Sean. "It just slipped."

"I'll slip you!"

Jeffrey immediately stood up and held Marla to prevent her from hurting Sean. "Hey, hey, take it easy," he demanded. "It was an accident."

"He was an accident!"

"Marla, please be nice."

"I think I've done too much," said Sean. "Sorry for spilling my gift on your girlfriend."

"It's okay."

"No, it's not!" Marla almost shrieked, trying to shake Jeffrey off.

"Marla, calm down."

Sean walked away and found his friends who laughed as they watched what happened from afar.

"She looks mad," commented Kent.

"She was," said Sean, "but not mad enough."

"I have an idea."

Kent opened his jacket and from the inside pocket pulled out a ziplock bag of baked beans.

"Ew, what are you doing with beans in your jacket?" wondered Skye.

"I wanted my lunch to have a little pizzazz."

From the same pocket, Kent also pulled out a plastic spork. He sprinted away with the band watching him. Once Kent reached the phonecase stand, he crouched down and hid behind it. He peeked at Marla who was inaudibly screaming at Jeffrey and tugging at her skirt.

Kent settled the bag on the floor and snapped it open. He scooped a spoonful of the beans with his spork and peeked at the couple once more. He stretched his spork back with a couple beans dripping off. He tried to make a good aim by closing one of his eyes. Until he got a good angle, he released his finger to fling the spork. With a far distance, the blob of beans flew in the air and perfectly hit Marla in the leg.

"What the frick?" screamed Marla, looking at her leg.

"What?" asked Jeffrey.

"Something hit me!"

"Don't imagine things."

"I'm not imagining!"

Kent snickered. He continued to fill his spoon with baked beans and flick it numerous times, hitting the oblivious Marla on her legs, feet, skirt and shirt. She freaked out as she kept getting hit with beans and eventually moved out the way. As Jeffrey tried to simmer her down, Kent got up and unnoticeably ran over to his friends. They laughed along with him, gazing at the screaming Marla from afar.

"I think she's mad enough," said David.

"What should we do next?" giggled Skye.

"Show Jeffrey your soft side," insisted Sean.

"I have a soft side?"

"Yeah, go over there and be nice or try."

"Ooh, bring her these napkins," Kent said, reaching into the pocket inside his jacket and pulling out several paper napkins.

"Okay, Kent, I'm glad you brought all of this," admitted Skye, "but next time, don't bring anything. This is a mall!"

Kent wagged the napkins at Skye. She grabbed them and walk away from the band towards the unhappy couple. Jeffrey stopped arguing with Marla once he saw Skye, making Marla turn to see who he was looking at.

"Oh, my God, Marla," said Skye. "What happened?"

"I'd tell you but I'd scream," answered Marla.

"Well, good thing I have these napkins because I was ordering food then I saw you."

Marla snatched the napkins away from Skye. "Did you have something to do with this?"

"Why would I fling what appears to be baked beans at you? Where would I get baked beans from?"

"It's probably not beans; it's probably feces because you're an ape."

"Okay, I don't dislike you that much to be throwing feces at you."

"But your broken friend from earlier spilled a soda on me. You probably told him to do that to me."

"No, I didn't."

"Liar, liar, ape on fire."

"Marla, please," begged Jeffrey.

"No, it's okay, Jeffrey," said Skye. "Because you know what, I'm done with trying to be nice to you. You can't get respected if you can't respect others."

"Oh, please, I am respected," sassed Marla.

"Where? The jungle that you came from?"

"You're stealing my comments and making them yours."

"You're right because you're more than an ape, you're a monster."

Skye's band came closer to listen in on the argument.

"Why don't you admit that you're jealous of me?" questioned Marla.

"Jealous of you?" Skye repeated. "Dude, nobody likes you."

"Then why does Jeffy Bear like me? Admit it, you're jealous of me because you want to be with Jeffy."

"First of all, his name is Jeffrey in case you forgot. Second of all, I'm fine with Jeffrey having a girlfriend because I only knew him for a day so there's nothing to say. But the problem is that the girlfriend is you."

"Hey, don't hate on me because you're too ugly to be someone's girlfriend."

"At least people can understand me, Mrs. I'm-Mahrla-Anch-I-Schink-I'm-Liched-By-Erv'ryone-Even-Schough-I'm-Ash-Everl-Ash-Josheph-Schtalin."

"Jeffy, you're not going to let her talk to me like that, are you?"

"No, you should apologize," Jeffrey suggested.

"But do you hear what she's saying to me?"

"Yeah but I hear what you're saying to her. Skye is harmless; please be the bigger person."

"No, you be the bigger person because you need to grow up anyway. Seriously, you're the size of Peter Dinklage."

"Don't insult me, Marla."

"No, you know what? I'm going to get a better boyfriend and tell him to stand up for me because I have that power, Jeffy."

Marla turned away and walked off in fury.

"Jeffrey doesn't need you anyway," Skye shouted, "because he deserves more than a sleazeball."

Marla stopped. Her face boiled red with more anger. She swiftly turned back around and darted towards Skye. Skye smartly ducked with Marla accidently leaping into the water of the fountain. The splash hit Skye's and Jeffrey's legs but it wasn't too big.

"Awesome!" commented Sean.

Marla flipped over and sat up in the water with her hair curling into ringlets and her black eyeliner streaming down her cheeks. She shrieked while splashing the water by pounding down on it forcefully with her fists.

What Does He See in Her? (Chapter 3)

Two days later, Skye almost forgot about her strong infatuation with Jeffrey, the boy she met at Richard party. Over the weekend, instead of hanging out with her girlfriends, she decided to take her bandmates to the mall. She wanted to shop for new wardrobe and needed the boys come along to tell her what they wanted. They conversed as they walked passed shops that didn't interest them.

"Think I can get a snapback?" asked Kent, the band's drummer.

"You don't even know what that is," said Skye.

"Yes, I do, It's a hat that snaps back."

"Whatever. We will see."

"I hate that phrase, 'We will see'," confessed Sean, the rhythm guitarist. "Every time I asked my parents for something, they always said, 'We will see. We will see'. But I never got what I wanted."

"Maybe because you're a bad kid," said David, the lead guitarist.

"Hey, I can behave."

"But when was the last time you behaved?" asked Skye.

"Uh..."

"Three years ago?"

"No, two years ago. So ha!"

"Okay."

"Hey, does Madeline ever talk about me?"

"No, never."

"Have you mentioned me?"

"Yes, she still won't talk about you."

"Maybe that means something."

"Yeah, maybe it doesn't."

"When are you going to stop talking about Madeline?" questioned David.

"Till the day I get her," answered Sean.

Abruptly, Skye stopped walking. She put out her arms to stop the guys from walking.

"Hey, why are we stopping?" asked Kent, bumping into Skye's arm.

She pointed towards herself. There he was: Jeffrey, with Marla, sitting by the white water fountain. Skye was almost bulgy-eyed; she couldn't move.

"Who's that?" Sean questioned.

"Jeffrey," Skye answered quietly.

"Oh, that's Jeffrey?" asked Kent.

"He's hot," Sean commented. "You know, in a non-homosexual type of way."

"Who's the squirrel?" asked David.

"Marla," replied Skye, "his girlfriend."

"I don't get why we're stopping," said Sean.

"I can't just walk pass him."

"Hey, Jeffrey!" Kent shouted, waving. "Over here!"

Skye glared at Kent as she didn't want to be seen.

The calling eventually caught Jeffrey's attention. He awkwardly waved at Skye who awkwardly waved back as well.

Skye reached over and back-handed Kent in the gut. "I didn't want him to see me, doofus!"

"You said you couldn't pass him so I figured that you wanted to say hi first," Kent explained himself.

"Well, you figured wrong!"

Jeffrey motioned his hand at Skye to invite her over. Marla gave him the evil eye but didn't stop him. Skye took her time to walk over to Jeffrey. Her bandmates followed her as they thought the hand motion was to themselves as well.

"Hi," Skye smiled.

"Hi, Skye," Jeffrey greeted back.

"Hello, Marla."

"Hi," Marla cocked her head. "Who are those dudes? Are they all your boyfriends?"

"No, we're just her friends," replied David. "We go to your school just like her."

"I don't remember seeing you."

"That's because we're the aloof kids," said Kent. "We're so cool, we can't be seen."

"That's not it but whatever makes you happy."

Kent's smile quickly dropped to a scowl.

"I didn't know you were coming to the mall," said Jeffrey.

"Well, it's not like I post everything I'm about to do on Facebook," Skye tried to joke.

"I do!" Marla shared. "I think my life is important and it should be to everyone else."

"But I don't know you so your life is not that important to me," Sean commented.

"Can you not talk to me?" she asked in a polite voice with seering rudeness.

Sean looked away.

"Marla, be nice," demanded Jeffrey.

"I can do whatever I want," Marla responded through her teeth.

"So you guys are on a date?" asked Skye.

"Sorta," answered Marla. "Jeffy Bear is buying me anything I want today for our tenth-year anniversary."

"Ten years?"

"Dang, how old are y'all?" asked Kent.

"We're seventeen," answered Jeffrey. "We just have been together ever since we met each other in first grade."

"Wait, you began your relationship in first grade?" Skye asked.

"Mm-hmm," Marla nodded.

"You two just stayed together for ten straight years?"

"Yep."

"Like you didn't break it off after first grade or at least after elementary school?"

"What can I say? He couldn't keep his eyes and hands off me."

Marla wrapped her hands around Jeffrey's neck and interlocked her fingers.

"I find that hard to believe," Sean muttered to Kent.

"Did you say something?" asked Marla.

"You told me not to talk to you," Sean's voice raised in volume.

"So I guess we're going to go," stated Skye, "you know, on our separate ways. It was nice seeing you two... again."

"Can I give you a hug for goodbye?" requested Marla.

"We're not actually leaving. I meant we're going to go shop so we might bump into each other again anyway."

"So can I get a hug in case we don't bump into you again?"

Skye's eyebrows scrunched. "I guess."

Marla stood up and wrapped her arms around Skye. Skye hugged her back awkwardly so she grazed her hands on Marla's back as she felt like she couldn't move her arms.

"I know you like him," Marla whispered into Skye's ear.

Skye's eyes widened.

"Stay away from him. I will break you."

Marla released her and gave her a big smile. Skye just stared at her like she was crazy. Marla sat on Jeffrey's lap and put her arm around him to show Skye had no chance with him. Skye feigned a smile and turned around to direct the guys to walk the other way.

What Does He See in Her? (Chapter 2)

After seeing Jeffrey at school and leaving with his girlfriend, Skye blabbed how foolish she felt and how mad she was to her friends, telling Andrea in the car and texting and calling the rest of the girls. The next day, lunchtime began and Skye was more than ready to continue talking about the situation to her friends.

"I can't be mad at Jeffrey for not telling me he had a girlfriend," she said. "It's not like we were on a date or anything. But he flirted with me and it was very obvious because I can read hidden messages. And his message was that he liked me and wanted me and just became ready to be hung up on me. But that had to be a lie because apparently, he's hung up on someone else."

"I love it when Skye can talk to us like a girl," grinned Madeline.

"And that is just not right... man."

"It's too late, my little Skylar. It's too late."

"Jeffrey just released something inside me that I never thought I had."

"Gas?" Lizzie inquired.

"No, not gas. I don't know what it is but it's still there and I liked it until... you know."

"Why would Jeffrey develop an amazing connection with you if he knew that he had a girlfriend?" asked Andrea.

"Maybe he forgot he had a girlfriend," responded Lizzie.

"Or maybe he's a cheater," added Madeline.

"Come on, guys," Skye rolled her eyes. "He was way too smart and sweet. Even if he did truly like me, he knew that in his mind what he was feeling was wrong and had to stop it. That idiot."

"I can't believe he's dating Marla," commented Andrea.

"Nobody likes Marla," stated Madeline.

"Well, clearly, we're wrong because somebody likes Marla: Jeffrey," Lizzie remarked.

"What I hate is that Marla thinks she's hot stuff when she is obviously not."

"Hey, that is not nice," Debra responded.

"Well, neither is she."

"Looks don't matter. What's hot is smart. Smart is hot."

"She's not smart either."

"Then... I have nothing else to say."

"Since Marla is not hot, does that mean Skye has a chance?" asked Lizzie.

"Shh!" Skye uttered. "We don't want people to hear us talking about somebody."

"But no one likes Marla so who's going to tell her anything?" Andrea questioned.

"Maybe there's a side to Marla that Jeffrey likes," Debra reckoned.

"Whatever that is, I don't even want to know," said Madeline.

"I'm sorry, Skye, but maybe there's something in Marla that Jeffrey is fond of but is not in you."

"So I guess I'm going to let him go," Skye decided.

"However, I did say that fate will bring you two together."

"Yeah, so it can laugh at my face."

"Maybe you should try to steal Jeffrey away from Marla," insisted Lizzie, "like I did with Hank."

"But you and Hank broke up... again."

"Please don't remind me."

What Does He See in Her? (Chapter 1)

"Do you think Lizzie has a shopping problem?" asked Andrea, individually placing her books into her shimmery backpack.

"I feel she does but I don't have any precise proof," answered Skye. "Why did you ask?"

"Because I'm running out of space in my trunk and Lizzie keeps putting her items in there."

"Well, tell her to put them in her car."

"I did. She can't because her trunk is full of her clothes."

"Then it is likely that she does have a shopping problem."

"I know, right? And she can't put some of her clothes in Madeline's car because that trunk is full of clothes."

"Where does Lizzie get all of her money again? Because I know that she's not allowed to have a job."

"Her parents just throw money in her face. It's ridiculous."

"Making it rain. Are we sure that her parents are conservative?"

Andrea chuckled. "I'm kind of envious."

"Are the secret compartments in her closet full, too?"

"Skye, you know the answer."

"I know all answers."

Andrea stood up and threw her backpack over her shoulder, into her arm. "So you want to get some food later?"

"Nah, I have homework."

"You can do your homework in my car."

"No, you have road rage so it's kind of hard to concentrate or keep my pen still."

"Hey, if there wasn't so many pinheads on the road, I wouldn't have to drive like Miss Daisy meets Evel Knievel."

Skye snickered. She flipped her short hair by twisting her neck. That led to her looking over her shoulder and losing her smile. She saw from a not so far distance a pale-skinned boy in a gray flannel shirt. She recognized him from his hair to his glasses. It was Jeffrey, the boy Skye met at Richard's party not too long ago. Skye was shocked and thrilled to him. When he looked over his shoulder and saw Skye, her demeanor turned down into a chill state. He walked up to her with a smirk on his face.

"Skye?" Jeffrey pointed.

"Jeffrey?" Skye smiled.

"Oh, man! I almost forgot, you told me you went here."

"Too bad you forgot; I remembered."

Jeffrey chuckled. "You still got that sense of humor."

"Well, I still got a lot of things."

"Nice to meet you," he waved at Andrea. "I'm Jeffrey."

"Me llamo Andrea," she greeted back.

"Does she speak English?" Jeffrey asked Skye.

"Only on a good day," she replied before chuckling.

"It's so good to see you."

"You, too. What are you doing here anyway?"

"Oh, I'm visiting someone."

"Oh." Skye looked down and blinked numerous times. She knew that she wasn't the one he wanted to visit. "Who are you visiting?" she looked up.

"Jeffy Bear?" shouted a girl's voice from far away.

Skye and Andrea looked behind themselves. They spotted a skinny girl, about four yards from them, with red hair tied in a ponytail, bearing teeth glued with blue braces, and sporting a maroon marching band uniform.

"There's my Jeffy Bear," she called, sprinting towards the teens. She jumped up and embraced Jeffrey who caught her and held her up. He spun her around as her weight made him a bit unsteady. "You actually came," she squealed. "Finally!"

"Marla," Andrea and Skye said simultaneously and unenthusiastic.

"I said I'd come, Marla," Jeffrey said, looking up at her.

"Yeah, but you say you'd do a lot of things so..." Marla poked Jeffrey on the nose.

Jeffrey gently put Marla down. She pulled her jacket down then quickly gave Jeffrey one more squeeze.

"So... you're dating Marla, I see," Skye smiled to be polite.

"Yeah, we've been together for almost forever," Marla said with a subtle lisp. "How do you two know each other?"

"Oh, we met at some gathering," answered Jeffrey. "I tried to make a friend and there she was."

"Yeah, there I was," Skye nodded.

"I'm so proud of you for trying to make new friends," Marla put her hand on her chest. "But next time, make friends with a boy, okay?"

"I guess," Jeffrey almost muttered.

"Don't stare at him too hard, ladies. I got a long list of ex-lovers and there's a blank space but I am not writing his name. I will tell you that right now."

Andrea and Skye just stared at Marla in their own blank expressions. Marla smiled pretentiously and interlocked her arm with Jeffrey's. She turned him around and they walked together out of the school through the doors.

"I can't believe that Jeffrey has a girlfriend," said Skye, "and I never knew. I guess we weren't meant to be together like I thought."

"Is there a pimple behind my ear?" Andrea chose to ask, tucking her curly lock behind her ear.