Chloe Bridges stumbled as she made her way down the steps in the front of the school. She was nervous, for it was her first day in a new town and a new school.

"Why did we have to come here? Why couldn't I have gone to a regular school with regular people! Why do they always do this to me? I mean, what have I ever..."

Chloe was interrupted by the sound of crying. She looked around, confused. She couldn't see anyone near, so she decided it must have been a bird. Again she heard the crying. This time she stopped.

"OK, either I've lost my mind or something strange is going on here." Chloe walked down the sidewalk. She finally saw a bench that had been hidden by a large oak tree before. On it sat Shannon, crying. Chloe hesitated.

"Is something wrong?" she asked softly.

Shannon quickly wiped her tears away and sniffed. "Yeah, of course," she wiped her eye again. "Everything's fine." Shannon looked up. A curious look crossed her face. "Are you new?"

Chloe's insecurities came rushing back to her. Her response could barely be heard. "Yes."

Shannon smiled, despite the still present tears in her eyes. "I won't bite 'cha! What's your name?"

"Chloe Bridges. I just started here from Merrifield," Chloe answered, this time a little louder.

"Well, Chloe, my name's Shannon Freemont. Don't be afraid, everything's cool here," Shannon tried to give Chloe a boost, for it could plainly be seen that Chloe was an insecure wreck.

Chloe brightened. "I hope so. I really do. Things have been a little hectic at home before I left. The last thing I need are more problems."

Mel walked down the hallways, smiling. He had made registration just in time. His mother had police all across the state looking for him, for Mel had been "away" for quite some time. Now that that was all cleared up, Mel planned to make his debut on the first day of school at Midway Prep.

He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his overshirt pocket. Locker #628, it read. He walked down the long hallways of the academic building trying to find his number.

Almost running into him, in the same situation as it was several weeks ago, was Rusty McCarthy. This time, though, the first words were much less harsh. Rusty smiled as he recognized Mel. "Hey, man! How are you doing? Where've you been for the past few weeks?"

Mel chose not to tell Rusty. "Just exploring the big M!"

Rusty laughed. Coming up behind Rusty was Rusty's younger brother, Riley. Upon sight, Rusty's smile quickly disappeared. A fierce look took its place. "I'll talk to you in fifth period," Rusty said sharply, beginning to walk away.

Mel put his arm in front of Rusty to prevent him from leaving. "What's wrong, Rusty?"

Riley, coming upon them, smiled. "Hello, Rusty. What a surprise!"

"Oh I'm sure. Scram kid, before I chase you down. I'm not in the mood to look at your face or here your voice right now," Rusty snapped, his normally laughing dark blue eyes sparking and snapping fire.

"OK, could someone clue me in? Who's this kid?" Mel interrupted.

Riley put out his hand, his sarcastic smile still present. "The name's Riley McCarthy. I'm Rusty's younger brother."

A knowing look crossed Mel's face. "Oh, so that's why..." he stopped himself.

"Look, Mel, no offense, but you don't know the half of it. Riley get out of here now!" Rusty growled so angrily that Mel wondered if this was the same Rusty he'd met weeks ago.

"OK, ok. I'll see you later, big brother. Nice to meet you, Mel," Riley walked off.

"What's going on between you and..." again Mel stopped, but this time it was because something distracted him. He was staring at something intently.

Rusty noticed Mel had completely forgotten of his existence. He followed Mel's gaze to a certain young woman: Chantal Lowell.

The first bell rang, yet Randall made no attempt at heading to his first class. In fact, he was going in the opposite direction. Tennis could wait, but what he was doing could not. Into focus came Trace. He was laughing and talking with Allan & Brent before the tardy bell rang.

"Summer's ended and school's starting, man. Things are getting back to their normal, hectic pace," Trace sighed long and listlessly.

"Brighten up, dude, there's so many things we're gonna do this year. We're going to be up to our necks in things to do. You and I have student council to do, Mr. Vice Prez. That's gonna be a blast" Allan attempted to cheer Trace up.

"Speak for yourself, Prez. I don't only have school to think about, but also...other things," Trace's voice trailed off. He didn't want to clue anyone in to what had happened during the Miss Midway Contest.

Randall, from his post several meters away at a water fountain, smiled. "Perfect," he said to himself quietly. "I knew you were hiding something, Trace. Now's my chance to get back at you for what you did to me."

"I've gotta get to first period. I'll see you guys later," Brent said, walking off with his books.

Allan also went to his first class, while Trace made his way to his class. Randall silently followed. A piercing voice quiclky interrupted his following.

"Randall! What do you think you're doing? Come on, we've got to get to the gym!" Jake called.

Randall muttered something not to be written under his breath. He smiled with clenched teeth. "Coming, Jake."

The first four periods of the day passed quickly. Fifth period came upon the students, which meant lunch for half of the eighth grade students. Randall & Jake both had fifth period lunch.

Jake watched Randall intently as Randall sat down at their table. Randall noticed this and secretly smiled to himself. "Why the hawkish look, my friend?"

"Don't give me that bolonga, Randall. I saw you following Trace. Can you explain that?" Jake folded his arms across his chest and looked at Randall accusingly.

"Was I following him? Are you sure it wasn't the other way around?" Randall refused to give in.

"Just admit that there's something you're not telling me that has to do with Trace. First it was Amber and now it's Trace. What is going on with you, man?"

"Something you don't need to worry about. Just worry about Kim. She's in sixth period lunch...with Trace. I think you should worry about her with Trace instead of me with Trace." Randall knew Jake's weakspot.

Jake flushed red. "I trust Kim."

"Whatever you say. Just don't come running to me when Kim ends up in a luscious kiss with Trace, ok?"

The two continued to eat in silence, Jake in a flustered one and Randall's more brooding and plotting. Randall would find out what was up with Trace if it was the last thing to do.

"I'm going to make Trace think twice before ever doing what he did again."

Minutes after fifth period lunch came sixth period, and it was lunchtime for most of the eighth grade students. Chloe quickly threw her books into her locker and grabbed her lunch. Her eyes searched for Shannon. She found her staring into her locker. Chloe expected Shannon to turn around when she noticed her coming towards her, but she didn't. Chloe found Shannon staring blankly at the mirror in the back of her locker.

Chloe was genuinely concerned. "What is wrong, Shannon? I don't want to hear that mess about 'it's nothing' and 'everything's just fine'. Something is bothering you. You were nice to me, please give me the chance to be too."

Shannon turned around slowly. It was almost as if she hadn't heard anything Chloe had said. "What was that, Chloe?"

Chloe pursed her lips. "That's it, I'm taking you to the office." Chloe took Shannon's arm and began leading her down the long hallway to the office.

Shannon violently jerked her arm out of Chloe's grip. "You leave me alone! Don't you ever touch me again!" Shannon ran furiously down the hallway, in the opposite direction of the lunch room.

Chloe stood in the same spot, frozen with confusion. "I thought Shannon was nicer than that? What's wrong with her?" Then a hard look came across Chloe's face. "Don't get involved, Chloe. Don't do the same idiotic thing you've done so many times before. Shannon doesn't want your help. Whatever is her problem is just that: her problem."

Chloe began walking towards the lunchroom, then about-faced and walked in the direction that Shannon had run. She had to find out what was troubling that girl.

Mel & Rusty sat together at a lunch table. Joining them was Matt.

"Hey, Rusty!" Matt greeted.

"Matt, meet Mel. He's new here," Rusty introduced Mel.

Mel gave Matt a warm smile. "Hello, Matt. Nice to meet you."

Matt smiled back, brushing back a shock of his rich blond hair. "Same here. What's going on?"

"I'm trying to figure out what's up with Mel and Chantal. There's obviously something going on between the two."

If Mel could have blushed he would have. "That's not true! I...I was just taken aback, that's all!" he sputtered indignantly.

"Oh sure, that's what they all say. But you don't have to tell me. You can keep it locked inside of you forever. You can harbour a deep, dark secret that will eat away at your soul for all eternity. And that's...OK, because you own the right to hold that secret," Rusty replied.

Mel laughed. He had only known Rusty for a few weeks, but it was no secret that Rusty was a huge fan of Saturday Night Live and its character Stuart Smalley. "Yes it is."

Chantal walked across the lunchroom to sit with her friends. Mel's eyes became starry as he looked at her. She was so beautiful, so strong, so like everything he wanted in a girl. He almost smiled as he looked at her, but quickly caught himself as he remembered that Rusty & Matt were looking at him. He turned to look at them.

Rusty smiled knowingly. "Look, we have no problem with your liking Chantal. She seems like a nice person. I've got to go get some food, so don't go get married before I get back," Rusty got up and walked to the front of the cafeteria where the vending machines were. Matt followed.

Mel turned back around to look at Chantal again. One way or another, he was going to find a way to get to her...someway.

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