“I’m just saying, it wouldn’t hurt you to be nicer to people. Half the kids in this school think you’re scary.” Doug told him with a sigh.

Ferris rolled his eyes and glanced at his best friend, shifting the backpack slung on one shoulder. “I don’t care if they are, I don’t particularly want to talk to anyone here.” Ferris replied, and then looked pensive for a moment. “Besides, I have enough friends. I don’t need anymore.” he added, as if that made perfect sense.

Doug groaned and looked at his friend more directly. “Getting along with people is part of life, Ferris. Name one friend you have outside of our immediate friend group.” He challenged.

Ferris had a little flash of worry cross his face before he offered, ” uh… Ben.”

Doug laughed at that, but didn’t let his friend off the hook “he and Melanie just started dating, he’s obviously joining our friend group, so he doesn’t count. “

Ferris huffed at this, and the rounded a corner quickly while saying “If you’re going to be picky about it, maybe I need LESS friends in my li-” Before slamming into someone carrying an armload of books, causing them to go scattering everywhere. Ferris clenched his fists and grumbled “WHY DON’T YOU WATCH WHERE You’re ..” before realizing that the person behind all the books was apologizing profusely.

“I’m s-SO SORRY” She squeaked, scampering to pick up the books that were laying on the floor, and glancing up at him in aghast horror. “Are you-Are you okay?” she asked, trying to grab the books but also very concerned about having possibly injured him.

He wasn’t hurt, but was having trouble finding his words, instead half glaring and half staring at her, until he received a gentle nudge to the back of his head from Doug, a pointed look, and a whisper that told him to help her. He let out a short breath, and then bent over, not saying anything but helping her gather the books and stack them back up into her arms.

“I really am sorry, I never meant anything by it” she promised, still apologizing, as she shakily stood, balancing the books precariously and heading towards the library.

Ferris received another nudge to the back of his head, and this time he reacted with venom. “I just helped her, why do you keep bugging me??” he asked, having snapped out of his stupor and now glaring at his best friend.

“You could have offered to help her carry them too? That’s like a whole shelf of books!” Doug told him, waiting for his friend to think it over.

Ferris paused, then looked confused. “Why didn’t she take a library cart then? It’s not my fault she didn’t plan ahead.” He tried.

Doug gave him a long stare. “Maybe she’s doing someone a favor. The polite thing is to offer to help her carry the book so she can actually see. Also, don’t storm around so you don’t plow into people… and when she apologizes, don’t glare at her and make her feel worse!” Doug explained.

Ferris seemed genuinely surprised by the last remark. “Was I glaring?” he asked.

“Yes.” Doug assured him.

“I should apologize then.” Murmured Ferris, looking decidedly at the direction she had headed in.

Doug hadn’t expected that reaction. “W-what?” He stammered, checking in the direction Ferris was looking to see if maybe there was a pig with a jetpack strapped to it or any other miraculous acts happening.

“Stop acting like this is such a shocker.” growled Ferris, before adding in a quiet tone, “If I’m wrong about something, I should apologize. I should tell her it wasn’t a big deal about her bumping into me”

Doug couldn’t help but add, “Okay, but seriously, the whole event was both of yours fault. You crashed into her as well.” But then, Ferris started to walk in the direction of the library, and Doug started to panic. “W-wait. right now? We haven’t made a game plan yet!” he tried, walking after him.

Ferris shot him a confused glare, and Doug stopped walking.

“Just be polite, then…” He called, nervously watching as his best friend nearly trudged through another group of people, except these moved out of his way due to the scary persona he was known for.

Ferris made it to the Library without colliding into any other people and without Doug trailing behind him lecturing. Not one to be loud in many spaces anyhow, he wasn’t concerned as he wandered into the library and passed by the other people studying and reading. He did notice some glance up or pull their book bags in as he passed by, which made him wonder if Doug was onto something with the idea of revamping his image a little. Maybe he was known as an asshole. She was over by a nearly empty shelf, with her pile of books stacked beside her, trying to sort them back into their proper area. He made a beeline towards her and heard one person whisper

“Oh no, I wonder what she did to incur the wrath…”

He had to grimace a little at that one, and decided he could never tell Doug about that. Not only would his friend be angry, it would definitely convince him he needed more friends, which was something he absolutely did NOT need. He realized he was standing behind her and glaring again when she turned, looked at him and jumped a little. But then, to his surprise, she stopped looking as nervous, and gave him a small smile.

“Oh, its you.” She said, and looked at the floor. “Are you okay? you never told me if you were or not…” she tried, holding one of the books she had been putting away. He crouched down next to her and the stack of books and took one, placing it on the shelf silently. She gave him a confused look, but then joined him in putting the books away.

Finally, he sighed. “I’m sorry for glaring at you earlier.” he told her quietly, and she turned her head a little bit towards him. “and for possibly plowing into you.” her eyebrow raised at this but she didn’t push it. “My name is Ferris, by the way.” He offered. He wasn’t sure why he offered that last bit, but he kind of wanted to know her name, and wasn’t about to stop talking to her, even though he could have. This was his lunch period, and he did want to eat.

“Oh, um, that’s okay.” She told him, looking a little confused still. “I’m glad you’re okay, Ferris. Or I assume you are. you still didn’t say you were.” she tried, with another small smile.

He felt one side of his face turn up, and he replied, “Yeah, I am.”

She smiled a bit wider, and then told him, “good, then. I’m Rebecca.”

“Do you want to go to the café nearby after classes? I’d like to make up for smashing into you, and also glaring at you twice.” He blurted, hating himself suddenly and wishing he had better control of his own words. she looked shocked for a moment, and then smiled.

“Sure, I guess. I’m always up to make a new friend.” she told him.

Before he could stop himself, again, he admitted, “I’m not. but… I guess I’m trying something new” he stared at the floor, feeling his ears turn red.

“Well, then I’m glad you’re trying with me then! ” she told him, placing the last book on the shelf an giving him a reassuring smile.

“Okay, so we should meet outside the main doors after school?” He asked, trying to not look at his shoes, internally screaming.

She nodded, and fairly enthusiastically so it was a bit reassuring as well. “that sounds fine by me.” She stood up, and grabbed her book bag, beginning to walk out of the library. “I’ll see you then, Ferris!” She told him, and people around them started to eye her in a way that said they might consider her dangerous as well, until he shot them a snarly look. She seemed unperturbed by this as well.

After she was gone, he dashed out of there as well, no longer hungry but in desperate need of finding Doug. When he did, his friend was eating his lunch in the calmest way ever, as if the end of the world was not in sight. He kicked Doug in the shin and glared at him. The kick was probably harder than it needed to be, which earned him a shocked glare back. “I apologized!” Ferris told him, glowering down at his best friend.

Doug looked even more confused. “As we discussed, yes. What is the issue? Did she not accept?” Doug asked, sounding confused. He began to put his lunch away, looking confused.

“No, it went fine!” Ferris told him, still sounding worked up. Doug waited, knowing there had to be more. “THEN I KIND OF ASKED HER OUT A LITTLE” Ferris squeaked, causing Doug to have the most shocked expression of his life. “she – she agreed to go to a café with me after school and said we could maybe become friends” he stammered. It was starting to sink in and he slid down to sit on the floor, despite the empty space on the bench next to Doug.

“HOW DID YOU MANAGE THAT?” screamed Doug, earning a few looks from people nearby but not really caring much.

“I have no idea but I also have no idea what I’m going to do now!” Ferris countered.