Noah, Jayden, and Benjamin were waiting outside the school for their friends. Liam and Jason were usually the first ones there, but today they showed up late, and when they did get there, they had someone with them. A girl with blue eyes and blonde hair that was parted into two ponytails, she had neutral colored makeup and was wearing a pink crop top and green shorts.

"Well well well, who is this young lady?" Noah said, smiling at the girl. He sounded kind of like a youth pastor.

"Uh this is my cousin." Liam said. He seemed annoyed.

"Oh Apple, right? I'm Noah."

"Hi." It was the only thing she said. She looked around awkwardly as if she wasn't allowed to talk. But despite that, Noah kept trying to talk to her.

"I love your makeup, it's so cute!"

"Thanks." The complement made her smile.

"My brother Jayden likes makeup too, he's right there." Noah started dragging her over to his brother. He placed her in front of him.

"Jayden, this is Apple. She's Liam's cousin, so say hi."

"Hi." Jayden said shyly.

"Hi." Apple also said shyly.

Noah stared at them for what seemed like exactly forty five seconds. He probably would've stayed like that for longer, if he hadn't heard his name.

"Hey Noah, come here." It was Liam.

"Alright. Well, you two have fun."

Noah walked over to where Liam and Jason were.

"Thanks for getting rid of her. She's been asking me non-stop questions, it's really fucking annoying."

"I wasn't trying to get rid of her. I just thought since she's Jayden's age they could be friends. And of course she's asking lots of questions, she's at a new school."

"Still, she's been a pain in the ass. But my mom said if she keeps dating guys and doing things she's not supposed to, she'll kick her out. So I doubt she'll be here for long."

Noah stayed silent. He looked over to Apple and his brother, who were awkwardly trying to talk to each other. Once the bell rang Noah grabbed Jayden.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Jayden."

"Yeah?"

"Could you please help me try to keep Apple out of trouble? Like keep her away from shady people and boys who would ruin her life?"

"Why?"

"Liam's mom will kick her out if she doesn't, y'know "behave"."

Jayden looked at Noah for a second. Then he looked at Apple, who was already walking to class.

"I can try, I guess."

"Thanks." Noah smiled at his brother. "Have a good day okay!"

******

By some weird pure luck, Jayden ended up having six different class periods with Apple. The whole time in their geometry class he was trying to get along with her, despite having a really different personality than her.

"Uh hey Apple."

"Hey." She looked him straight in the eye, making him jump a little.

"Do… you like it here so far?"

"It's fine, I guess. My old school was smaller, so it's cool to have a bigger school."

"Oh yeah, it's big..."

"Are they guys hot here?"

"I-I wouldn't know."

"Really?"

"Well, I guess some of them are. But I don't really pay attention."

"What about that tall blue haired guy? He seemed to be eyeing you down." Apple smirked.

"Eyeing me down? Ben? I don't think so, he just always looks like that. Plus he's too cool for me."

"Too cool? He was literally drooling over you. I literally thought y'all were already dating. You should ask him out."

"I don't even know if I like him."

"Really? I think you probably do like him. Like, you wouldn't even be thinking about it if you didn't like him."

"You seem...boy crazy?"

"Boy crazy? Nah, I don't really care about boys, I just like when they're hot and have a car. Other than that, I could never see myself with a guy for more than a year."

"Wow, that's blunt."

"Yep, maybe that's why guys like me."

Seemingly out of nowhere, one of the guys from their class was next to Apple. She looked him up and down.

"Hey, are you new?" They guy asked.

"Well, have I ever been in your class before?" She gave him the are you seriously asking me that question you dumbass fuck, face.

"I was just asking." They guy was obviously trying to keep his composure. "You're feisty."

"Hmm." Apple looked down at her phone. "And you're fucking ugly."

The guy walked away, Jayden could hear him saying the word bitch under his breath. Jayden looked at her wide eyed.

"You just rejected Dillon Smith, he's like, really popular with the girls."

"There's no such thing as popularity, Jayden. Plus, he's totally fucking ugly."

Jayden let out a laugh.

"I mean, yeah, I never got why girls liked him."

"I bet he's got a small dick." Apple started laughing too.

"Dude yeah I bet! Once I heard that when he slept with this one girl, he accidentally called her mom, and then cried about it afterwards."

"Holy fuck, your joking right?"

"No he seriously did!"

"Oh my god! See, this is what I mean when I say most guys are useless!"

"Yeah, most of them are."

"Except for Ben, right?"

"Well, he's cool."

"He's cool and you're hot, go get yourself that man babes!"

They both chuckled. It seemed like they did in fact have something in common: they both hated guys who pretend to be popular, and they both loved talking trash about them.

******

When Jayden and Noah got home, he told him about Apple.

"Wow, seems like you guys had fun!"

"Yeah." Jayden stared at Noah for a second. "Do you think Ben and I would be a good couple?"

Noah's head robotically shifted towards Jayden. Jayden hadn't mentioned that he liked Benjamin, or that he might even be gay to Noah yet, so he was in a state of... excitement? Yeah let's call it excitement.

"Uh, are you okay?" Jayden was confused why Noah was completely flabbergasted.

Noah's head exploded, like, actually exploded. Bits of brain matter splashed everywhere. Noah's head grew back in place, then he grabbed Jayden.

"You like Ben! Oh my god, oh my god! Yes you two should date! And get married! And adopt a dog! And other stereotypical couples things!"

Jayden was starting to regret telling Noah.

"Woah slow down! I don't think he likes me back." Jayden pushed Noah off him.

"You should ask him out!"

"No!" Jayden started walking away. "I'm not going to do that!"

"Aw come on! Why not?"

"I'd rather not embarrass myself!" Jayden was halfway up the stairs. "And don't you dare tell him, you asshole!"

"I won't! I will not tell Ben."

Noah heard Jayden's door shut. He got out his phone and started to call Jason.

"What's up?" Jason asked.

"Guess who has a crush on little ole Benji!"

"Y-you?"

"What? No. Jayden does."

"Oh! Yeah that makes more sense."

"I'm so ready!"

"Ready? Ready for what?"

"To play cupid!"

"Oh no."