AH. THIS IS EXCITING. The sequel to SOF. Cool right?! I'm so happy about this guys, I can't even explain how happy I am.

Right, so this is the first chapter, it's not super long, I know and my next chapters will be longer than 2,000 words. I promise. I've recently handed in my Summer Project, which I managed to complete. Shocking right? I 'm now available to continue writing everyday, since my wonderful writers block has left me as well. I am so ready to get working!

Thank you for everyone who read my other story "Speare of Finality."

OH. I really hope you like the new story title. Took me ages to come up with. I hate making titles, because I can never find something that completely intertwines with the story, you know?

Also. After I finish this story, or before, I don't know yet, well either way, I'm thinking of writing a new story. BUT. I don't know what to do it for. It's a competition between Transformers, The Walking Dead, The Hangover, Teen Wolf or The Avengers. So yes. Please help? Which would you prefer, or if there's another category you want me to a write a story for, then tell me. I'm up for anything.

Anyway. Enjoy this update. Review, favourite, message me. Whatever you want. Thank you!

Edited 30/September/2014

Chapter 1: Four in a Morning

I don't remember waking up that morning, I swear I went on auto-pilot just thinking, worrying about what would come once I walked into school, and John had already disappeared, so there was no one to bounce off ideas but myself. Would we all act chummy despite our social standings or would we walk the other way?

I had told them that I wouldn't be friends with them, I mean, how could I even think to do that to them. How could I become their friend just to leave? What was the right thing to do?

I don't really know what to do, I could stay with or leave them, just like I would in the end anyway. But, last night, I had this dream, and I feel like I should listen to it.

It was really weird, as far as dreams go, but it was almost a cliché. I don't know what to make of it. Instead of that impending darkness, there was colour everywhere, there was... my mother. She spoke to me, told me stories like she did when she was alive, and just at the end, before I crawled back awake, she told me I should have never given up friends, because without them I was a shell.

And so now it's got me thinking. Maybe I should be friends with other people, let them bare my pain with me. I was sceptic, I don't usually believe in visions of the dead, or messages across from heaven, but this felt real, and if it wasn't really my mum, then it was my subconscious that wanted me to be happy, even if it was limited.

It was my final act of life, so why not enjoy it, or be a little different. Like Shakespeare. I can always try. I don't know, I really don't know what to do.

So yeah, the dream was disconcerting, but the fact that today could go either way was even worse and thoughts about what could happen plagued me.

I went through the normal routine. Shower, face, breakfast, pills and teeth. Every morning. Always the same. I guess it made it better in a way that I had a routine. Something that I had to stick to, it made me feel normal.

I was wearing my jeans from yesterday but I picked a pink cropped sweater and pale blue top for underneath as it peeked out the bottom. I put on some white high-tops and looked in the mirror. I looked normal. Let's just hope today is normal.

Turning away, I grabbed my bag from the floor where I dropped it Saturday, and grabbed my keys. Making sure everything was off; I walked out and locked the door behind me. I waved towards because he was just getting back in from his morning post run, but what I really mean is he goes to the shop and grabs a newspaper. Nothing much and he most definitely does not run, I don't even think he can run honestly.

It's cold outside again, and I wish I brought a coat but I can't be bothered to turn back so I brace myself against the wind and walk slowly towards school. It was early anyway. School starts at about 9 and it's only just after half past 8 so I can afford to walk slowly this morning. I don't live far though, and I've already started walking across the field me and John did the other day.

I seriously can't stop thinking, all the possibilities that could happen today. It could turn into a war, between us, logically, there is obviously going to be 2 of us that wants to continue the new found friendship but, that doesn't guarantee that everything will be ok.

I don't even know what to do. I'm still unsure. I want to try but I'm scared of the final part. That's alright though isn't it? That I ignore them so I don't hurt them more in the end? Is that even justified?

Probably not.

I would have started hyperventilating over my thoughts but since I was already in school, or standing across from it, I don't think it was the best place to have a mass panic attack. I could be wrong, though I doubt I am because it would also mean other students, people I don't even know, watching me through their stupid beady eyes. Judging me for something they know nothing about.

Either way, as I walk across the road to the steps of Shermer High, I see someone familiar. Brian.

He looks out of place, standing in a crowd of people who know nothing, people who don't want to notice him and I feel sorry for him. His eyes are darting everywhere, searching faces, but not making direct eye contact. He's waiting for the others and I to show up, probably thinking we'll ignore him completely. But do I want to?

I don't have time to answer properly, not to myself at least, as all thoughts cease to exist as Brian catches my eyes. His blue eyes meet mine in frenzy and I can see all the emotions flitter across his face. He looks hopeful, and his arm is half way up before he hesitates, then drops his arm remorsefully. It takes me a moment to realise he much think that I didn't want to speak to him, that my frozen figure is because I had hoped it was a only a dream. It's not though, and I struggle to form his name because my mouth turns dry as he turns to some kid next to him - one of his club members by the looks of it.

I don't even really think before I open my mouth this time. It's as though the look on his face made me want to get rid of it. I can't honestly say what really made me shout but all I know is I did it, without even knowing if I could be friends with him… them.

But I don't let my thoughts stop me, I mean, I've already begun.

"Hey Brian!"

My voice is loud, it's strong and friendly, and it makes people turn to see who shouted, and they look in disbelief as I walk calmly over to Brian, who's frozen just as I was before, his back towards me. The kid he was talking to is floundering as I step closer, wrapping my arm around Brian's shoulders.

"Hey."

My voice is softer now; I know I have his attention as he turns to me slightly. I don't expect there to be a smile on his face, but there is and let me tell you, his smile is blinding.

I squeeze his shoulders tighter, as we move up the steps towards school, ignoring everyone around us, only focusing on each other and our new found friendship. And even though I'm unsure about everything right now, it feels nice being close to someone, to be a friend almost.

Brian's stuttering over his words as he speaks, but it's adorable because he explains he's only doing it because he's happy and really surprised.

"I thought... I don't know... I just thought you'd ignore me... This is... Alka... Thank you."

"It's alright Brian; you don't need to thank me."

"Maybe not, but, it's just polite to say that isn't it?"

"Really Brian? Only doing it to be polite. My goodness, manners you have yet no one else does."

I chuckle at him, but only jokingly which I'm thankful he gets. My arm is still around his shoulders, drawing him into me, as we walk, and it's not long before we reach his locker, which is completely wrecked.

"Woah. Brian is that from that thing you mentioned?"

He looks sheepish, and he's blushing, but he does nod to my question before speaking quietly to me.

"It ruined everything I had in there, and now I have to leave my bag in home room, or I just carry it around everywhere along with all my books."

"I have an idea. How about you use my locker? I don't have much in there; I cleaned it out last week."

"You'd let me use your locker?"

"Sure, you don't mind sharing do you?"

"No... No… Of course not. I just can't believe your even suggesting it."

"Why? Do I come off mean or something?"

Even though it's said impassively, I'm not really joking. I really hope I'm not coming across mean towards him. That would be the worst because, Brian's really sweet, in the nerdy way, and I don't want to be mean to him like everyone else is. While I'm freaking out in my head, I almost miss his response entirely.

"No. You don't come off mean, I just meant that we don't know each other very well and you're letting me share a locker with you. No one would ever offer that to me."

"Well, with sharing a locker, we're bound to get to know each other more, right?"

"Yeah, you're right."

Moving away from his locker, we come to mine, which I quickly open, telling Brian the combination- 7437- and letting him put whatever he needs in there, before we continue down the hallway slowly, watching as people stare at us funny.

"You see any of the others before I got here?"

My question catches Brian off guard, but he doesn't need to answer as right in front of us, with a bunch of jocks, is Andy. He doesn't see us at first, but when he glances up, he smiles without hesitation. Brian and I can see from where we are that the guys around him are wondering why he's smiling, and who is it at but he ignores them in favour to walking across to us and away from them.

"Hey guys."

Neither me nor Brian say anything; just stare at him which makes him fidget slightly under our gazes. I snap out of it and blink a couple times before answering.

"Well if it isn't Andy. What brings you here jockstrap?"

"Ha ha, real funny. Just 'cause your Bender's girl, don't mean you got to call me that."

"Oh got some bite?"

We both chuckle to that, and turn to face Brian, as he's the only one who hasn't said anything, but he's still gazing at Andy, so I nudge him which makes him jump in panic.

"Brian!"

"Oh... Sorry... For staring, I just... I wasn't expecting this."

Andy doesn't answer straight away, and he seems to gulp and let his eyes roam the halls before he can even think to put his words together.

"I had to prove you all wrong didn't I? Never hear the end of it from Bender."

It's strange as we speak to one another, just us 3 standing in the hall while popular kids all walk past staring like we're aliens. Everyone around us whispers, there is glares aimed at us, and threats are jeered towards us, but none of us react. There is a tightening of the jaw from Andy, and a weak whimper from Brian, and me, who just glares in return to anything vulgar but other than that, we don't say anything to them, we just talk as if we do it every day. It doesn't even feel awkward between us as we spoke about our weekends, and it's not long before we come across the subject of the others.

"Have you seen anyone else? I asked Brian, but you didn't answer that, so have either of you? I haven't. First one I saw was Brian."

Andy's the first to answer me, saying how he'd only seen Claire in passing, but she was going into the bathroom and he didn't bother to wait for her. Brian says he didn't see anyone while he was waiting outside for us to turn up.

"So either they are somewhere not close, not coming in, or plain avoiding us. What do you guys think? Avoidance? Or maybe no one can find us."

"Who's avoiding?"

I jump wildly at the unexpected voice of Allison. And I spin around with a hand over my heart, glaring at the girl who looks at me with a complete straight face as I start yammering at her for scaring me, while the boys in the background laugh. Even as I speak, I look over Ally and see she's got her fringe pushed back like she did on Saturday, but she was wearing her black clothes like normal, which made me happy because that means Claire didn't change her like I thought she might.

"Allison... Ally... How dare you make my heart jump from my chest? I still need that thing you know?! So mean. And you two quit your laughing. You are attracting unwanted attention."

At my last remark, we all shift our eyes towards the eyes piercing into us. It's like they're coming from everywhere, and I would shiver but in my mind that's like saying they've won. Won what? I don't know but they'd have won something.

I'm still looking around at everyone, as the others start a conversation, mostly asking Allison what she did, to which she explains she was doing art. Why am I not surprised?

I just open my mouth when the bell goes for home room. I sigh before looking to the others. Ally and I are in the same home room, it's the same room we have art together in, so we can walk together, but Brian and Andy have separate rooms. I don't know if they are with either John or Claire, and I don't ask, I just tell them to meet us by Brian's destroyed locker since we can all see if from a mile back, before I grab Allison's arm to drag her away. We don't make it far before Andy pulls Allison back and kisses her cheek sweetly. Aw, such a good couple.

Shaking my head at them, I share a smile with Brian before taking Ally's arm again, and drag her to homeroom, but not before asking in the most serious voice I could muster.

"What do you think the others will say when I sit next to you?"

Ally doesn't say anything, she only squeaks violently, and moves her hands all over the place.

"Yeah, I thought so too."

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of the sequel!