Chapter 1

Meet Tony DiNozzo. Despite being a wildly popular jock, he was also very intelligent. There was nobody in the school who didn't know him, and there was no one in the school who didn't like him.

...that he was fine with liking back, that is. He did have a few enemies, but that was okay. He didn't care, because he had all his jock friends to back him up whenever he needed it...which he rarely did.

One kid, the main one, was Tim McGee. An intelligent guy whose passions lingered in tech activities, Tim was regularly mocked by Tony and his clan. He didn't really care, though, because every piece of mockery Tony slung at him would one day be reciprocated in a one-shot chance at vengeance sometime in the future. And that...would be big.

Tim's least favorite class junior year was the one he had with Tony: Pre-Calculus. He had thought that being in that class would prove to Tony that he was smart as well, and shouldn't be taken for granted. This, however, was utterly wrong, and Tim's intelligence only gave Tony more ammo to sling.

One day, in the middle of that year, a new girl transferred to their class. Her name was Ziva David, and she was Israeli.

"Hey, McGeek," Tony called, rolling up a piece of paper and lobbing it at the back of Tim's head. The teacher had just been called to the guidance office to attend to a new student. Tim gritted his teeth and growled mentally, adding another mockery to the list that he would one day pay back to Tony in full.

"You studying hard for a World of Warcraft exam?" Tony continued, throwing more paper at Tim. "I hear you're an Elf Lord on there. I got bad news for you, Elf Lord...they don't usually give tests on there." Tim rolled his eyes, praying for patience.

"Wow, that's amazing," he muttered angrily under his breath. The teacher walked back in the room, and Tony instantly took his feet off his desk, tossing the latest paper ball to the floor. To the class's surprise, following him was a dark-eyed, dark-haired girl with a Star of David necklace hanging around her neck that she was fingering in her nerves.

"Class," the teacher called, and the room went silent. The girl's eyes were almost pleading that he not draw attention to her, although it was now too late. "This is a new foreign exchange student," the teacher explained, indicating the girl. "Joining us from Israel, Ziva David." He started a round I applause that no one continued. Nodding awkwardly, the teacher pushed Ziva towards a seat in between Tony and Tim. Tim turned around, intending to talk to Ziva for the first time, but he stopped as soon as he saw Tony's face.

Tony was gazing at Ziva in a kind of stupefied silence. Tim knew the hungered, wondering look in Tony's eyes, and allowed himself a small smile. Finally, some ammo for himself.

"Yes?"

Tim blinked, bringing himself back to reality. Ziva was looking at him with curiosity, her eyebrows pushed together.

"Oh! S-Sorry," Tim stammered. "I-I had just wanted to introduce myself. Tim McGee." Ziva smiled gently back at him, and somehow he could tell that wrapped in that smile was appreciation at making the move easier.

"It is nice to meet you," Ziva said, and Tim smiled back at her.

"Oh, great," Tony sighed loudly from behind them. "Mr. McFriendly had already called to the new girl...not good for your school status Miss Ziva." Tim rolled his eyes, but he noticed something never seen before about Tony. Was it...could it be...jealousy?

"Who-who is that?" Ziva asked Tim quietly. Tim leaned back towards her to reply.

"Tony DiNozzo," he whispered. "Just ignore him." Ziva nodded slowly, glancing back at Tony, then back at Tim.

"Um...McGee?" Ziva asked tentatively. "Do you think you could show me around the school a bit today?" Tim hesitated, but realized an ally on his side was always good.

"Sure," he told Ziva. "I have a friend who I'm sure you'd love to meet. What's your next class?" For the rest of class, they quietly discussed the way the school worked, and who was who. As the bell rang, Tony was one of the first ones out the door, as he always was. Tim and Ziva stayed out a little later, though, lingering as they continued to talk.

"Oh, by the way, who's your host family?" Tim asked, stuffing a binder into his bag.

"Um...I have not met them yet..." Ziva said slowly, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I only landed in America this morning."

"Well, that's alright," Tim replied. "Do you at least know who they are? Maybe I can introduce you." Ziva paused as she dropped her backpack off her shoulder and onto her nearby desk. She dug through it, then pulled out an index card.

"It looks like I am staying with..." Ziva trailed off as she tried to read the handwriting. "Kelly. Kelly Gibbs. Do you know her?" A grin flashed across Tim's face.

"Doesn't everyone?" he asked.