The year is 1994. The place is Ballard High School in Seattle, Washington. Players are:

Shane Mcinerney-14

Mercedes Holly Wesley-16

Also, Oliver O'Toole in Tunkhannock, PA; senior at St. George's School

Chapter 1: Shane's First Day at High School

With a great sense of trepidation, freshman Shane McInerney walked down the steps of the bus outside her new high school-Ballard High School. She had grown up in the Seattle, Washington area, but somehow, this new area just seemed strange. Since her dad left with no explanation four years ago, Shane and her mom had no choice but to relocate. While her mom had an exceptional job as a receptionist at a local art gallery, it didn't make entering a new school any easier.

Shane had grown so weary of going to new schools in the past few years. She and her mom never seemed to stay in one place much longer than a year, and it was decidedly difficult to find long-lasting friendship. She and her mom were close-almost like pals at times-but with the advent of high school, she so hoped that she would finally be accepted into a friendly circle of girls with her similar interests: technology, art, and National Honors Society.

As she prepared to step off the final step, she had the sensation of flying through the air. Oh no! She had missed the final step, and the entire bus was riveted on her graceless landing. Thankfully, she landed on her behind, but her dignity was gone. There was not a single student who was not laughing, and most of the students surrounding the bus were girls. And from the looks of things, they were mostly the kinds of girls she tried to avoid. She had lost count of how many stuck-up ninnies with foul mouths and bad attitudes had hounded her throughout middle school, and unfortunately, it looked like things were not changing any time soon.

"Look at the poor little dirty blonde girl," cooed one rather tall, lanky blonde. "She doesn't even know how to walk a straight line. I wonder if she's practicing for the local comedy show."

Shane was mortified, but she was prepared to respond to this obvious attempt to discredit her.

"Then again," the girl continued with a smug grin on her face, "she may be nearsighted and forgot her coke bottle glasses at home."

Nervously, Shane approached this girl and looked her straight in the eye. "Excuse me, miss-"

"Miss? The clumsy girl called me 'miss!' She's trying to prove that she has manners."

"I don't know who you are, but I would appreciate you leaving me alone. It's my first day here, and I merely lost my balance. That's all."

This girl cocked her eyebrow. "Really? Maybe you should go back to preschool, baby. They could help you learn to walk there."

"What do you have against me? You don't even know me."

This girl got in Shane's face and said quite pointedly, "Nor do I want to, little tramp." This girl then proceeded to spit in Shane's face while knocking her to the ground. Only after that altercation did the girl turn triumphantly from Shane and declare, "My name is Mercedes Wesley, and don't you ever come within ten feet of me, tramp, or you will get much worse!" And with that, Mercedes skipped towards the school.

Following this scene, the audience that had gathered quickly turned their backs on Shane and walked towards the school. Shane sat in the dirt trying to regain her composure. She was certain that she would be the outcast here thanks to Mercedes' bullying. Shane bit her lip and willed the tears to stay behind her eyes.

"Excuse me, could you use some help up?" a squeaky masculine voice asked her.

Startled, Shane looked up and into the eyes of a pimply-faced boy with large glasses. She rolled her eyes and mumbled to herself, "I would run into the very incarnation of Steve Erkel."

The boy asked, "What did you say? Are you all right, Miss-"

"Shane. Shane McInerney," Shane completed.

The boy extended his hand to help her up. "Wayne. Wayne Watkins. Let me help you up, Miss Shane."

She accepted Wayne's help, and she began to brush off her clothes. Unfortunately, her once-white pants were plastered with dirt and mud, but her red top and denim jacket fared better.

"Miss Shane, you look lovely," Wayne drawled with a sincere, geeky smile. "I'm so sorry that Mercedes did that to you. She does have a tendency to pick on the not-cool kids. Like us."

With a confused expression, Shane replied, "But Mercedes doesn't even know me! How on earth did I get put in the not-cool group already? It's my first day here, for heaven's sake!"

Shrugging his shoulders, Wayne responded, "Gee, Miss Shane, don't you know why?"

"No, Wayne, please enlighten me."

"It's plain to see, Miss Shane. You're much prettier than she is."

Blushing, Shane looked down at her feet. "Thank you, Wayne, but I-"

"Is it too soon to ask you out on a date, Miss Shane?"

"Hold that thought, Wayne," Shane said as she put her hand up in cessation. "Let's get to know each other first."

"How long do you think that will take?"

With a forced smile, she said, "Oh, let's say seven years, shall we?"

Wayne grinned back. "Works for me, Miss Shane. You're the first girl I know who even said we could go on a date"

"Please, call me just Shane."

"Okie-Dokie, Just Shane."

"No, Wayne, my name is Shane. I would like for you to call me Shane, okay?"

Wayne looked at his pocket watch. "Oh, Shaney, we'll be late for class if we don't hurry now."

"Please, Wayne, go on ahead. I'll catch up."

Wayne beamed at her. "So, can I have a kiss for rescuing you?"

Shane gritted her teeth. "Don't push your luck."

"I'll take a rain check on that, Shaney. Bye!" Wayne ran off without a look back.

Shane took a very long, loud sigh and said to herself. "Shaney. Good grief, that guy is a piece of work. Well, here goes nothing." Shane walked off to her first class of the day knowing that she was going to be entering the longest year of her life. Possibly second only to the year that her dad left. Oh well, she knew she'd survive because she always did.