Disclaimer: I do not own I'm In the Band or its characters. Just the idea and anyone you do not recognise.

One: This Royally Sucks

It wasn't easy being Isabella Fuentes. One main reason for that was because more than half the majority of things in her life just seemed to...well suck.

She was one of the many unlucky girls in life who were unfortunate enough to have a best friend that was a guy. Of course she didn't mean that literally because she very much liked his company. But there were also many problems to this arrangement. The problem of never really being able to talk about the 'girly' things that were bothering her or not being able to go shopping for cute things at the mall with someone once in a while was only a few of the many things that troubled her. They could tell each other everything, but not everything and sometimes she was positive it couldn't be possible for anyone out there in the universe to be more immature than he was.

And something that was once a dream but was now one of the top five of her 'things that suck in my life' list was the fact that she, out of all the girls in the suburbs had ended up being the girl with the teen lead guitarist of Iron Weasel as her best friend.

"An elephant? No more like a...turtle?" Lying down flat on her back in her backyard, Izzy muttered to herself as she stared thoughtfully up at the clear blue sky. Playing the 'Guess what shape that cloud is?' game wasn't exactly what she had imagined for her oh so productive Saturday afternoon. Shouldn't normal girls her age be out with their other girl-friends, spending time doing the girly things that girls should do? Why didn't she ever make the effort of making friends that were girls from time to time? She had to be that one female in pre-school who thought being unique was the way to go and sitting next to the kid with the bowl treatment and the guitar on his shirt was the right thing to do.

Boy if she could, she wouldn't think twice about going back in time and smacking her six year old self.

Eleven years later and look where her stupid decision had gotten her; alone and slowly dying of boredom on a Saturday for crying out loud! One out of the two days of the week she had to relax and have fun was slowly washing down the drain and all because a certain best friend of hers had decided he'd rather look after three dim-witted idiots that were also known as his band members than hang out with her!

Why couldn't she have just gone through that 'cooties' phase? Life would have been an absolute breeze right about now.

"Isabella? Sweetie where are you?" Oh no, had her my mother decided to come join her? What was more pathetic than considering the company of your parents? She concluded the answer for that had yet to be discovered.

"Out here Mom."After shouting her where abouts, Izzy bit her lip and kept her gaze focused on the sky, to the point that it turned blurry. She heard her mom's light chuckle before long brown wavy hair that was somewhat similar to Izzy's blocked the view of the clouds. Izzy's mother held amusement in her eyes as she looked down at her daughter.

"Tripp's on the phone, he was wondering if you wanted to come over." Izzy raised both her eyebrows in disbelieve. Was this a dream? Tripp actually wanted her over? It must have been a lifetime since she'd heard anything like that...two, three weeks tops.

"I'm guessing those three buttheads are driving him insane and he just wants someone to help babysit them or something." She sat up none the less, shaking her head and raking a hand through her brown hair.

"I'm sure he also wants to see you honey." Her mother said in a tone that indicated she knew something rather interesting. She also added a light pat on Izzy's head for good measure causing Izzy to swat at her mother's hand good naturedly.

"Yeah, right. Pass the phone please." Izzy's mother rolled her eyes playfully before handing the cordless device over and heading back inside the house. Izzy begrudgingly stood up on the spot and pressed the receiver to her ear with a sigh.

"'Yes?" Yeah, that's right. He was only going to get a one-word slightly abbreviated answer. This didn't seem to bother him though. And if it did, he did a very good job of hiding it.

"Hey Iz, you coming over here or what?" That was Tripp for you; a well mannered boy who loved to politely invite his closest friends over to his household. Not. Izzy frowned as she stared at the floor and shoved her free hand into her back pocket.

"Hmm well let me take time to consider that amazing offer...how about no?" In all honesty, the words had formed in her mouth and escaped her lips before she could register them properly as an actual response; so she didn't know why she had used that as a reply. She was slightly pissed off at him for deciding she'd become a second priority in his life without her consent...but it's not like that had anything to do with it right?

"Aw, come on...the guys are out and I was wondering if you wanted to spend some time together. You know just you and me." Her stomach jolted for a second because she let her ears scrap away the context of his words. It sounded as if he just wanted to be alone with her and for reasons other than just hanging out as friends. She knew she was getting ahead of herself so she shook that thought away in an instant.

The way he had said them had sounded innocent enough, so why was she bothering to ridicule herself? She knew the real reason he was calling was because as soon as the three man children went off to play, she was the one he could easily run over to as some sort of last resort. Her lips formed the shape of a frown again. Well no way was she becoming a last resort for anybody.

"I get it, I'm like some sort of rebound for you right?" She asked him as she lay all her support to one side of her body, and placed a hand on her hip with narrowed eyes.

"Of course not!" He was quick to defend himself. "I just...I know we haven't been spending time together all that much lately and...can a guy not miss his best friend?" Great. He was using that tone. The one he used for when he was trying to get what he wanted and probably knew got under her skin. His voice would come out pleading and would crack slightly at the end of his sentence. Something about that always managed turn her insides to mush. Biting her lip for what had to be the millionth time that day; Izzy stared down at the faded green grass.

"I'm mad at you." She said quietly, her voice resembling one of a little five year old girl.

"I figured that, and I'm trying to make that, well, not the case. " Ugh, he was being all cute and it wasn't even fair. She could feel her anger slipping away and she was desperate to cling on to it for a while longer.

"Aren't you just going to kick me out or ignore me once Iron Weasel comes back?" He was silent for a moment. She sighed as she guessed he was only realising he did this now. He replied a minute later once he'd gathered his thoughts.

"I'll let you punch me if you notice that even begins to happen." She let the corners of her mouth tug upwards slightly into a small smile despite herself. When he put it like that...she couldn't help but give in right? Ugh, she was so going to regret this later. After a moment of silence she finally replied.

"I'll be there in ten."

"I'm counting on that." Rolling her eyes, she inwardly cringed upon hearing the satisfaction in his voice. He obviously thought he'd won her over again...but then again he pretty much had. Izzy hung up the phone and walked back into her house, feeling pathetic in more ways than one.

(TXI)

Crap. That seemed to be the one and only word that was roaming through the mind of Tripp Campbell.

She was angry. He knew that for sure because the bitterness of her tone was still ringing in his ears. He could feel a rising pile of guilt forming in his stomach, and that meant he definitely had to get her happy again, or this whole situation would eat at his insides until he was nothing but a ball of lint.

It had been a while in which Tripp had been in the company of his best friend and it wasn't like he hadn't noticed how little he saw of her recently. He knew they didn't hang out as much. He also knew she was pretty angry about this fact and that scared him a little. When Izzy was angry she tended to hold that anger for a...good amount of time to say the least.

She had said she would come over, but that didn't mean she was softening one bit. A few scenarios began to consulate in his head and he started to ponder. She may come over and just sit there on his couch; staring expressionless at the TV and muttering one word answers to his pathetic conversation starters. She may come over, shout at him for a good half hour and then leave in a huff possibly to never return. She may not have even been serious about coming over and just not show up at all.

No. She would definitely come over. He ruled out the last possibility out of his head. He frowned as he stared at the front door; willing for Izzy to just bust it down with the heel of her converse and enter with a smile on her face. Any second now she would walk through those doors without knocking because you know, she was Izzy and was the only girl allowed to do that, and then he would have to think of something to say that would cause her to crack a smile or even better make her laugh.

Sheesh, it was exhausting having a girl as a best friend.

As Izzy stood firmly on Tripp's front porch, you'd think she'd spend less time debating on whether she should just walk in or knock; but that's what she did for about five minutes at least. Gosh, what was she doing? She was his best friend and that came with privileges. Privileges that included casually walking into his house for ten going on eleven years now and it didn't mean that because they were kind of, sort of, not really fighting that normal routine had to change. This wasn't even one of their 'serious' arguments and she was already hesitating. Scoffing at herself and making sure to keep in mind to look nonchalant, she walked in through the door.

She noticed him lounging on his couch, and just from the back of his head her stomach was in knots. She never did quite like the effect he had on her. She smiled to herself once she realised he hadn't heard her walk in and it was a joy to revel at his reaction when she stood behind him and whispered in his ear.

"Boo." He jumped slightly and she had to hold back a grin as she moved to sit down next to him. Unlucky for her he had managed to notice the internal battle that she was fighting and noticed her lips restraining themselves from tugging upwards. Relief slowly began to flow in his chest and he relaxed his bones.

"Boo yourself." He replied with that soft smile he always saved for her occupying his own lips. It caused the usual fluttering feeling that occurred when he did that to erupt in her stomach and she had to look away for a brief few moments.

"So where did your three monkey's go?" She asked, stealing some of the popcorn that was in a bowl on his lap. Usually he would snatch the bowl of buttery goodness out of her reach but considering they had just returned to unspoken good terms he let it slide as she swallowed the mouthful.

"I don't know. They said 'grown up band stuff' and it's not like I'm bothered to figure out what that means." Izzy nodded but then frowned as a not so satisfying mental image flashed in her mind.

"Is it weird that I'm imagining a hot tub?" And let's not forget her lovely friend Burger suddenly plaguing her thoughts wearing swimming trunks that were three sizes too small.

"Is it weird that I'm now imagining Ash in a bikini?" Izzy looked towards Tripp to see he was already looking back at her, disgust masking his features. They both shuddered before letting out a laugh.

"So not the mental image I was looking for." With his gaze trailed on her, he raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really? And what mental image were you looking for then." With a small knowing smile, she cast her gaze downwards. Inside, her heart was beating a little faster than what she would consider her normal rate and she decided to answer his question internally. You, holding me in your arms. Sweeping my hair away from my face and telling me how gorgeous you think I am. I could go as far as you standing here shirtless actually.

"Oh...nothing of your concern Mr. Campbell." She hadn't looked back at him yet. If she did she was sure her cheeks were bound to turn a not so attractive shade of red. He noticed her hesitation to look up in his direction and he couldn't stop the smirk that slowly grazed his lips. What perverted thoughts were travelling around inside that cute little head of hers? Maybe he was right to suspect she had a thing for Derek.

More importantly...did he just describe her as cute?

"Well now I have to know Miss Fuentes." He shook the thought of his weird use of adjectives out of his mind and moved so he was sitting slightly closer to her. She didn't even notice at first because she was still trying to figure out how he made her last name sound so amazing...but then again he probably could've made the word bread sound amazing!

"Uh, no you really don't." She finally turned to look up and noticed he was much closer than what she remembered from two minutes ago. Her eyes widened slightly but Tripp didn't seem to make any note of it. Their proximity was having a worrying effect on her and she didn't want to do or say anything else that could be considered stupid. So she stood up and let out a nervous laugh, successfully stopping anymore of his interrogation as she walked towards his kitchen. Tripp watched her walk away and leaned back against his couch. He had forgotten how fun it was to watch her get all uncomfortable.

"Get me a root beer please babe." He shouted after her, causing Izzy to roll her eyes at his use of the word 'babe'. He may have been her best friend but that didn't mean she liked it when any boy called her stupid pet names like that.

"Whatever sweetie," She yelled back as recoil and opened his refrigerator so she could grab two of the same cool beverage. She began mindlessly humming an Iron Weasel song to herself as she headed back into the living room, but as she pushed the door open she noticed Tripp was on the phone. She stopped abruptly when she heard the words he was failing to whisper into the receiver.

"Sorry for picking up on the last ring honey, my phone was on low vibrate." Honey? Who the heck was he calling honey? Izzy frowned to herself and slowly but quietly walked backwards into the kitchen; hiding behind it while clutching onto the two root beer bottles for what seemed like dear life.

"Nothing much, missing you though. I'm here with Izzy." There was a pause. "Gia, she' just my friend remember?"

Did he say...Gia?

Izzy's heart sank as her mind wandered to the only Gia he could be possibly talking to. Head cheerleader/head bitch in charge, Gia Jenkins.

"There's nothing to be jealous about G. You know I could never do that to you. She's my best friend and nothing more." Now she couldn't even feel angry over Gia because Tripp's words stung like a freshly opened cut. Nothing more? Like...ever? The two words rang through her ears like the beginnings of a throbbing headache and she had to swallow to console the dryness of her throat.

"Sure, I'll be there in twenty. Aw, no you hang up first." Like hell was she going to let that yuck fest start. She cleared her throat loudly and walked through the kitchen door as if she'd just finished getting their drinks. As he saw her walking in, he hastily hung up. She smirked at this as she handed him a bottle and rejoined him on the couch.

"So, who was that on the phone?" This was going to be interesting. He knew of how much she despised Gia's presence. Was he going to lie to her?

"Oh, no one that important." Izzy narrowed her eyes. Well, she couldn't really say this was a lie. It's not like Gia was very significant to their lives...or rather her life anyway.

"So that wasn't Gia I heard you flirting with on the phone then?" The name escaped her lips like a deadly virus and although Izzy had said it calm enough, she suddenly had the urge to run upstairs to Tripp's bathroom and stick her mouth under the faucet.

"Maybe it was...how would you know?" He sounded offended, looking at her as if she had eavesdropped on purpose.

"Well don't blame the fact that you can't whisper for crap on me." She eyed him with a glare before turning her attention to her root beer bottle.

"Oh...shut up."At his lame come back she smiled to herself and her tense muscles relaxed a little.

"So...you and Gia huh?"

"Yeah...she really is something else you know?" Yeah, something else from another species. Or something to be thrown into a dumpster perhaps? To refrain herself from saying any of this, Izzy put the rim of the bottle to her lips and let the fizzy liquid soothe her throat.

"I'm going to see her in about twenty minutes...you don't mind do you?" Oh no, of course she didn't mind. She didn't mind at all that she was being used for company again and that he had found what he thought was better company somewhere else. She definitely didn't mind that of all people he could have chosen he was going to leave her for Gia. Nope, she didn't mind one bit. She directed him with a disbelieving look, but because his attention was on the TV screen he didn't notice. She bit her lip to stop herself from heaving a big sigh.

"Of course not." She finally said. "I might as well leave now anyway. I have...stuff to do." Oh she definitely had stuff to do alright, and screaming into a pillow from frustration for the next three hours just so happened to be one of them.

"Oh okay," She marvelled over the fact the he at least sounded sad. "I'll call you later?" Later. A word that never really indicated a specific time period. Izzy momentarily decided that 'later' was no longer a favoured word of hers from the English dictionary as she managed a smile and let her eyes wonder to the carpet.

"Yeah sure, I'll be waiting." And indeed she would be.

It was official, her life royally sucked. She was in love with her best friend and wasn't able to do a damn thing about it. She slowly looked up at him to see he was now smiling at his phone like a love sick idiot as he most probably texted Gia. It looked like she wouldn't be able to do anything about it for quite some time.

Author's Note:

BOO! Yes, I am back haha.

So, I know everyone who was reading this before wants to hit me, but please find it your heart not to want to? I totally understand if you still do lmao.

Anyways, so as planned I've managed to write this again in third person. I also have a few more chapters that I've already typed up in this way too :) I totally understand if you didn't really read this chapter properly though considering it's the same thing as before only in a different POV. Though it is necessary I guess as I've added a few new things in there.

I hoped you guys liked this, and chapter two will be up next week :)

Review! Tell me your thoughts and what not.

-N