Why, hello there! This is a story that I started and abandoned quite some time ago. (I'll spare you the details, but if you're terribly interested, it's more explained in the author's note in chapter 9.) I recently decided to continue it, but first I'm redoing the first 8 chapters that I wrote so very long ago, just changing a few things that my middle school self apparently thought would be a good idea but really weren't.

So, if any of my old readers actually reads this again, then I hope you enjoy the changes I've made! And to new readers, I hope you enjoy it at all!

Wanda walked with Keesha toward the bus stop, on their very first day of grade ten, which meant their very first day of high school.

"Are you psyched for being high schoolers or what?" Wanda exclaimed excitedly, as she pushed her way past some elementary school kids to get to the front of the crowd waiting for the bus. She didn't seem to mind the complaints of the little kids she had shoved aside, but Keesha felt guilty by association.

"Um, Wanda? You really shouldn't cut in line like that... They were there first..."

"C'mon, Keesh! Don't be a chicken now! We're tenth graders, and we have a reputation to form and protect," Wanda said firmly.

Keesha rolled her eyes, knowing she wouldn't be able to reason with her stubborn friend, instead grabbing her by the crook of the elbow and dragging her to the back of the line. "When are you going to learn some manners?"

"Speaking of manners... or lack thereof." Wanda pointed down the street at two figures running full speed toward the bus stop. Keesha recognized them instantly: The Dynamic Duo, Carlos and Ralphie.

As they neared the group of kids, Ralphie called out, "First one to hug Wanda wins!" He put on a final burst of speed and lunged toward Wanda.

"I don't think so!" She stepped out of the way just in time, and he fell flat on the sidewalk. Wanda giggled. "Nice try!"

As she was reaching to take Ralphie's hand and help him up, Carlos snuck behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "I win!" he called out. Ralphie jumped up.

"Not fair! She moved! I would have won!" Ralphie crossed his arms and glared angrily at Carlos, who laughed with an air of superiority.

"I think you're just a sore loser!" Carlos said smugly. Ralphie got angrier still.

"No way!" He turned on his heel to face Wanda. "What do you think? I won, right?"

Wanda stroked her chin in thought. After a few seconds, she said, "Hmm... It's close, but after much deliberation, I think that the true winner here is... me!" She grinned slyly, and before anyone had time to react, she darted onto the bus that had just pulled up, running all the way to the back. She flung her backpack in one back seat and sat in the other herself. Her three tenth-grade companions followed quickly.

"Hey," Ralphie whined teasingly, "I wanted a back seat, too!"

Wanda smirked. "You'll have to fight me for it, you weaselly wimp!" She had actually stopped calling people weaselly wimps by the time she was in middle school, but today in particular she recalled her days in the third grade with Ms. Frizzle as a teacher and all her old friends still around her. Alas, none of them had seen Ms. Frizzle since the last day of grade three, and Tim had moved away just before grade seven. Phoebe had met up with some friends from her old school at the beginning of middle school, and had gradually drifted away from the old Walkerville Elementary gang.

Wanda was pulled from her thoughts by Ralphie's response. "Oh, really now?" He grinned widely and put up his fists. Wanda readied herself as well; five years in martial arts classes had not been wasted. Ralphie made like he was going to punch her, then when she tried to block, he jumped into the seat and tickled her. Wanda screamed shrilly.

"Ral— Ralphie! Stop—!" But she was so ticklish she couldn't finish a sentence. "No! Too— too tickl—!" She broke off in a fit of gasping laughter.

"Hey you two, quit your flirting!" Keesha teased them.

"Oooh, Ralphie and Wanda in the back seat!" Carlos said suggestively.

Wanda pulled herself together and shoved Ralphie out of the seat. "Carlos, that is sick!" She reached over to punch his arm, but he dodged out of the way.

"Touchy!" Carlos said. Once Wanda got over her indignation, the four friends chatted until the end of the ride, where they all got off the bus to face their first day of high school.