I hate this school. In all of my 16 years, I've moved 19 times and been to 12 schools, but not one has been as terrible as Vapor High School, or Viper High School, as I call it.

It started with the very first day of school. I came in to homeroom and took the seat with my name on it. It was next to a girl with dark brown hair and friendly green eyes. She would be my only friend for the entire school year, I found out later.

" Hi, I'm Ashley", she introduced herself.

" I'm June", I returned. "I'm new here."

She smiled, "I could tell", she sat back. " At Vapor High, if you're not in the halls before homeroom, you're either an outcast or new. I know all the outcasts, so simple reasoning tells me you must be new".

I was still getting my mind around the idea, "Wow, this school is different from my old one".

Ashley smiled," Yeah, we're unique. Vapor's like a maze or a puzzle. No, a haunted maze. Am I glad I'm moving!"

"Wait, you're moving?" I asked.

"Yup, in about 2 months." She said, "After 2 years at this school, I'm sick of all the labels, the gossip, the rumors, the fight to be popular, and just everything. So where are you from?"

I replied, "Ummm...my last school was in Oregon. The school before that was in Washington, the school before that was in Virginia, the school before that was in Ari-"

"Okay, okay, how many schools have you been to?" Ashley asked laughing.

"12", I answered truthfully.

She stared at me, "Wow, I've been to 3: Elementary, middle, and high school. All in the same school district with the same people."

I was used to this reaction, "So tell me more about the school", I said, changing the topic.

"What is there to say?"

"Then introduce me to the people", I replied.

"Come with me". She walked out into the hall.

"So there are mainly four groups: the popular people, the nerds/geeks, new/outcasts, and the wannabees", I said after I met some people.

Ashley didn't reply. Instead, her green eyes were focused on three blonds walking towards us. "Alicia, Susannah, and Jackie. The three most popular girls in school", she whispered.

"Sooo, Ashley", their leader, a tall blond girl with cold blue eyes said. "Still hanging around the outcasts?" Without waiting for a reply, she turned her eyes to me. I shifted uneasily as she studied my plain blue shirt and old jeans. "Hmm"…she tapped one slender finger on her chin lightly. "Nice shirt. Where'd you get it? The ugly people department?" Her friends snickered as they walked away.

"Good-for-nothing lunatics", Ashley muttered.

"Like ehmygaud! These shoes were, like, on sale for .5 percent off!" I imitated jokingly.

"Shoes?" The tall girl was back, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Abercrombie, Aero, Hollister, or Journey?"

"Go to homeroom!" Ashley snapped. "Nobody said anything about shoes. And while we're at it, yours look like someone just garroted on them".

The girl frowned, "I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but I'll take it as an insult". Just then, the bell rang. "I'll deal with you after class", she hissed.

"Will you be okay?" I asked, worried.

"Of course", Ashley seemed surprised at the question. "I'm not afraid of Alicia. And you shouldn't be either. All she cares about is staying as alpha," she grimaced.

"Alpha?" I asked.

"Alpha, you know, like, the most fashionable girl in a grade, the one with all the answers on make-up, clothes, guys, parties, you name it", Ashley explained. "She's like the un-elected leader of all the girls in our grade as well as her clique. 4 girls, plus her, 5. Susannah Halin, Chelsea Boydes, Kayla Summers, Jackie Pave, and Chloe Chilers. Susannah is obsessed with saying the word "like"; Chelsea is anti-Hollister; Kayla dyes her hair, like, every other week. Jackie flirts with every guy she sees, and Chloe needs to find the negative side of things".

"So…which one's the nicest?" I asked as we walked through the door of our homeroom.

"None. They're all super mean. But as long as you don't let them get to you, you'll be fine".

We sat in silence for a little while for me to process all that I had seen. "Anyone else I need to know?"

Ashley beckoned me closer, then pointed to a group of guys in the corner. It all revolved around one guy, one blond, blue-eyed guy.

"That", Ashley almost spat with disdain, " is Jason. He's the most popular guy in the grade. Half the girls in the grade have a crush on him-no, more like 75. He's really athletic, but empty. He has no values, principles, or personalit-June, are you listening?!"

Actually, I wasn't. I was watching Jason. He had stolen my heart already, much to Ashley's dismay.

"Hello? Oh no, you've fallen into the trap, too. I may have just met you, but I know you're a sensible person. Jason is JUST A SHELL. He has nothing underneath."

I decided to go for false innocence, "What are you talking about? I know Jason's an idiot. "

Ashley gave me a look of disbelief. "Whatever".

I sighed inwardly. Jason was, in my mind, a god.