So Essy finally showed up in Wattpad again. Hahaha! She's my first ever fan, and she's the first one to read Realize when I first uploaded it a year ago. She was devastated when I removed it from Wattpad. But here you go, Essy! I dedicate this chappie to you! :D xx

I apologize for my crappy editing. I was in a hurry to do this today because I seriously got a lot to do. As in, they're listed. Hahaha.. Oh, and I may have to remind you that I wrote Realize even before A and D. So it might not be as good as that one. BUT I still love this story nonetheless. It's my first baby. Haha.

Anyhow, I'll make it up to you guys soon. ;)

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Todd couldn't sleep that night – and the next night. Not because he felt sorry for hitting Josh, but because he was thinking really hard to why he hit the dupe. It was none of his business, anyway. So what if Josh kissed Maxine? So what if they started going out? What did it matter to him? But then, he couldn't truly deny that he felt great when he did what he did to Josh.

The week quickly passed with Josh continuously sticking around with Maxine. He started asking her out and sending her bouquet of flowers at home every single day. But she just kept saying, "I don't know you that well," over and over again. Josh wouldn't give up, though. Whenever he got the chance; he'd ask her out and wouldn't stop sending her flowers.

The gang was starting to get used to Josh being around more than the usual, but they were still very annoyed by his arrogant nature.

Friday was PE day for the juniors. The juniors were ordered to go to the Sky Gym for the day. Karl and Peter walked together from the Sky Main house, passing the Sky Multimedia Arts house, Sky Science Discovery and Technology house, Sky Social and Cultural Relations house and finally, the most enormous house at Sky, The Sky Sports Gymnasium. Every house had a great amount of distance from each other. Every building looked like a manor.

Sky International Academy was considered the most prestigious High School in the state. The school was as big as a small town; two and a half miles long. The area was surrounded by trees that it felt like they were in a different continent.

When Karl and Peter entered the Basketball covered court, Peter told Karl that he was finally in love. He told him this with a straight face that Karl slightly gawked at him.

"Are you sure?" asked Karl uneasily. He wasn't used to hearing his best friend say the 'L' word. "I mean, love is a pretty strong word. And you? In love? It's just – hard to believe."

"Okay, then," said Peter thoughtfully. He rephrased, "I really, really like her. Dude, she's it! She's my inspiration! I'm gonna tell her how I feel. What do you think?"

Karl shrugged. "It's up to you. If you think that's what you have to do."

"I think it is."

"Who are we talking about?"

"Jen Takishima."

Karl stopped walking.

He was surprised – and at the same time, scared. Scared that Peter might really fall in love with the girl who himself, secretly liked. It was a bad thing he kept it because if he didn't keep it as a secret from his best-friend, Peter wouldn't even look at the girl with interest.

"Jen Takishima?" repeated Karl.

Peter stopped walking, as well.

"Yes, Jen Takishima." Peter nodded. "Why? What's wrong? Why do you seem so surprised?" he added suspiciously.

"I just – I . . ."

"Look! There she is!" interrupted Peter, pointing at Jen by the bleachers. He grabbed Karl's shirt as he ran toward Jen. "Come! I'll introduce you."

"Peter, are you guys dating?" inquired Karl quietly.

"Well, no . . ." replied Peter sadly. "She's helping me in Chemistry Class 'cause – y'know – I always flunked that subject, while she aced it. Mr. Grunt made her my Chemistry partner so I can catch up. She's really patient when I can't follow what Mr. Grunt is talking about. But unfortunately, most of the time, she never talks to me about the outside world of Chemistry. She only answers to my questions if it's related to Chemistry."

"Why?"

"Dunno. She doesn't seem to be interested in life, music, social events, or even boys!" added Peter in a can-you-believe-that voice.

How come Jen seemed so different to Peter? thought Karl. And to me, she's . . . normal? I don't get it.

When they reached Jen, she looked surprised for a moment. But then she smiled at them. She couldn't understand it, but whenever she saw Karl, she felt so comfortable with him. It was like she was at home.

"It's been a long time," Jen told Karl.

"I know," grinned Karl. "So, how are you and your cousin?"

"I'm fine, thank you," she replied. "At least he won't get to bug me," she added, nodding to toward Josh.

Peter suddenly cleared his throat, somewhat letting them know that he was there. When Karl and Jen turned to look at him, he queried, "You two know each other?"

"Yeah," answered Karl, while Jen said, "Yes."

"Anyways, who's 'he'?" asked Peter, feeling a little awkward.

"Josh," responded Jen. She looked at Josh across the gym and said, "He won't get to boss me around because he's busy asking Maxine out. I feel sorry for Maxine. We met in Chemistry class. She's really nice."

Sure enough, not that far from where Karl, Peter, and Jen were sitting, Josh was asking Maxine out on a date, with Kim beside her. While Todd and Brian neared their direction.

"Come on, it would hurt," said Josh. "Have a date with me."

"I'm sorry," replied Maxine for the millionth time.

"But –"

"I am – tired – of – hearing you – ask Maxine – out!" snapped Kim. "You can see from her expression that she's annoyed! So stop asking her out again and again when you clearly know that she's gonna reject you again and again! Leave us alone!" she yelled, as though by shouting loudly could make Josh open his eyes.

Several people around them turned to watch. Maxine simply stared at Kim, horrified. She had never seen Kim that angry. She was always so graceful and poised. To see her snap like this made Maxine completely astonished.

"You know, Kim," said Josh confidently. "If she's annoyed, she would've let me know."

"Didn't it occur to your mind that she's just being nice?" suggested Kim.

Todd chuckled lightly. "Maxine, nice? Don't make jokes, Kim."

Josh grimaced at what Todd said, looking as though he was hurt.

"Excuse me? My Maxine is nice, Samuels," countered Josh harshly, his voice turning venomous when he mentioned Todd's surname.

"Your Maxine?" demanded Maxine. "Let's make something clear, I'm not yours."

"So, I'm right, then," declared Kim to Josh, smirking.

Josh turned to Kim. "No. You're just jealous 'cause you didn't catch my eye sight," he said coldly.

"You'll wish you never said that!" threatened Brian through gritted teeth, raising his fist.

"Whoa. Dude, he's not worth it," warned Todd, stopping Brian from doing something he might regret later. Todd faced Josh. "Just walk away, Mantle," he told him, coldly calm.

Josh snorted, and then chuckled. "These past few days, I've noticed your reaction toward Maxine, Samuels. You seemed so . . . infuriated, whenever I'm around asking her out."

"You are so blind, Mantle," breathed out Todd. "I'm not the only one who's acting that way."

"I know my rivals!" snarled Josh.

"Whatever," sighed Todd in a bored voice, sitting at the nearby bleachers.

"Come on," Brian told Kim and Maxine, following beside Todd.

Kim and Maxine exchanged looks and followed, leaving Josh looking aggravated.

A couple of minutes later, Coach Clearwater arrived, clutching his whistle. He called order and everyone turned quiet. The students settled themselves at the bleachers, while Coach Clearwater went to the middle of the court and looked around.

"The three different classes of juniors are combined, yet again, making the exact number of forty six juniors," announced Coach Clearwater in his brisk voice, "for another whole day of Physical Education. I have prepared something to raise your excitement." He dramatically paused. "The one-on-one Basketball game! The class of the winner will earn extra grades for your report cards." There was a muttering of excitement. "Who wants to start? Quickly, now, please."

Josh Mantle immediately stood up. Everyone, from 3-C, applauded — except from Peter and Karl. They were sure to win because Josh was the Star Player of the Sky Varsity Team. And every one of them knew that.

Coach Clearwater grinned at his player's bravery.

"Who do you want to challenge, Mantle?" he asked curiously.

Josh entered the Basketball court.

"Samuels," he declared confidently. "Todd Samuels of 3-B." He pointed to Todd and added, "Let's decide who's better for Maxine."

Coach Clearwater searched for Todd in the crowd. When he found him, he asked, "Will you accept the challenge, Samuels?"

"Accept! Accept!" everyone cheered softly.

Todd rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to accept a stupid challenge. Especially when it's just nonsense."

"Deciding who's better for my Maxine is not nonsense," retorted Josh.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" snapped Maxine. "I am not yours!"

She was really getting annoyed. She didn't like it when someone thought that they possessed her. She wasn't a thing to be owned. Not to mention the fact that Josh wasn't someone who she could truly call a friend yet. So who was he to say that she was his?

Students laughed at her remark, but Josh didn't appear to have heard her. Which only got her more irritant.

"Or maybe you're just scared that you'll lose to me?" Josh asked Todd, smirking.

"Even if I won't accept the challenge, that doesn't clearly mean that I'm scared of losing to you," sighed Todd.

"What is your decision, Samuels?" asked Coach Clearwater patiently.

Todd looked away, thinking about it quietly as everyone waited for his decision.

"If he decides to accept quickly," whispered Kim, "that means he's just provoked. If it takes a long time before he accepts, there's a possibility that he likes Maxine. If he decided not to accept it, it means he don't really care at all to this nonsense nor to Maxine."

"How sure are you?" asked Brian, bemused.

"I just – I can just tell, Brie," shrugged Kim. "Besides, you know me. It's my gift to know this stuff."

Maxine overheard what Kim said, and inwardly hoped that Todd wouldn't accept. She didn't want to owe Todd . Even though technically, she really wasn't. It would just feel weird to her if Todd accepted when Josh thought it would decide who was 'right' for her. If Todd won, that would be completely awkward.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, Todd looked up.

"Fine," breathed out Todd, getting to his feet. "Let's make this quick. You're already wasting my time as it is."

"Sure," said Josh, failing to attempt to smile. "The winner's the best."

"Great!" exclaimed Coach Clearwater. "We're gonna use half the court. Every scored basket is counted as one point. First guy to shoot ten points wins. No rules," he added, his voice full of amusement.

"You know that I'm the ace player of Sky basketball varsity team, right?" Josh asked Todd.

"So?" replied Todd in an as-if-I-care voice.

"Why did you accept my challenge?"

"It has nothing to do with you," said Todd, receiving the ball Coach Clearwater gave, and shot the ball smoothly into the hoop. "One point," he declared.

"Hey! It hasn't started yet," protested Josh.

"There are no rules," said Todd, as he passed the ball to Josh. "Remember?"

Todd caught Maxine's eye and gave out his breathtaking smile. Maxine involuntarily blushed. She looked around and noticed the girls who saw it were melting in sighs. She hoped badly that she didn't look like that.

Josh dribbled the ball, and quickly made a slam dunk. Todd now dribbled, Josh tried to steal it, Todd dodged and rapidly shot. Josh rebounded it and then tried to shoot, but Todd jumped and covered the ring. . .

The game was intense. Whenever there was a shoot from one of them, half of the juniors cheered. It continued like that for half an hour. One of them kept preventing the other from shooting, which was why it was hard for them to score – until it was a tie. Nine points each. It was Josh's ball. He was planning to dunk. It was obvious from his angle. Todd noticed it quickly, so he stole the ball from Josh's grasp and went outside the two-point line. Todd shot the ball for a three-point shot.

Everybody in the gym took a breath.

A moment later, a loud roar of cheer erupted.

Todd won! He defeated Josh!

Coach Clearwater nodded in appreciatively. Josh, on the other hand, looked like he a took was about to give a blow on Todd. The look of hate in his eyes were scary and dangerous. Todd noticed the daggers that Josh was giving him through the eyes. And he couldn't help but smirk. He took the ball from the floor and walked over to where Josh was. They stood there, quietly staring at each other.

"Nice game," said Todd tonelessly in a low voice, shoving the ball into Josh's hands, "'Ace Player.'"

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What do you think of Peter being in love? I kinda feel bad for Karl, to be honest. If you were to choose, Karl or Peter? Hahaha! Josh or Todd? OH!!! Favorite character so far? Tell me! :)

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