Chapter 1: Swapping Partners
Max POV

"Today, class, we will be talking about the environment." Mr. Tuyo said, as he set up the video projector. "Global warming to be exact… We will be watching a video," He paused as my science class started sighing in relief; no work today. Or so we all thought. " and make sure you pay attention because you have to take 15 notes and write a paragraph about it for homework. All due tomorrow."

Cue about 27 kids glaring and cursing under their breaths. They should have known, though. He never lets us off easy. He says 'If you want to be successful you have to work your sorry ass off.' and it's true in a way, but to get homework everyday and not even in the subject you want as a career, then that is just pointless. So, from what I just said, I bet you can tell i'm failing his class. Yep, and im proud! I have a D- in here. The teacher hates me so much anyways though.

During the movie I happened to take 5 notes, because honestly we all did this in 7th grade too, and I knew all the information. The bell finally rung and I gathered up all my supplies.

I rushed to my English class, second hour, and listened to my English teacher ramble on about future tests and such, until she got to something "So important even Max needs to listen." Those were her EXACT words. Well thanks Mrs. Kylie, for calling me out!

"First, I want to start off by telling you that you guys are my favorite class. Always on time, always ready to learn, always getting good grades. You are by far the best students I've had. So, that is why I picked this class for a little project. I have a friend from England. She absolutely loves it there and I do too. England is beautiful, and English accents are just cute! Anyways, her name is Mrs. Tyler and she is an English teacher as well, at Richmond's Acadamy, a school over there. Well, Mrs. Tyler and I got together on Skype-yes I do know how to work that even though I'm old- and we decided we wanted to do something special and fun. We wanted to do a Pen-Pal thing, I guess. We want to assign you a student and you have to write to them. No switching of the student that you happen to get, though. You will all write your first letter to them tonight, as I promised that we would be the ones to send first. Doesn't this sound like fun, you guys? You could meet people from England! Maybe make some new friends! Get pumped up!"

Nobody cheered. Nobody said anything. Mostly we were all worrying that we would get a loser as a partner, some pedophile or a pervert, maybe. Or worse- a goody-goody. Goody-goody's are worse than the bad people because they're so uptight. They don't know how to let loose once in a while, or go with the flow. See, my whole life is going with the flow. I would never smoke or jump off a bridge or something stupid like that, but I don't say no to an opportunity.

"Erm… Mrs. Kylie, I don't know about this…" Tom Andes said from the other end of the classroom. His comment was immediately followed by murmurs of "yeahs" and "Mhmms" from the other classmates, even I chimed in. But we all knew when Mrs. Kylie has an idea, she doesn't let go. She wont ever let it slide and will never give up, so what she said next really didn't surprise anyone.

"Oh, it'll be fun, I promise. Now I'm going to come around with a hat filled with slips of paper with names on them. You will pick a slip of paper and whoever's on it will be your partner. Remember, no switching. Once you get the slip, write your name under the person you got and turn it in tomorrow with your letter."

Everybody sighed in frustration, but otherwise seemed to accept that she wasn't going to take no for an answer, like always. She went around the rows of desks and when she finally got to me-I was at the back of the classroom- there was only one left. When I picked up the slip of paper, I saw that the name must be a nickname, because it definitely wasn't normal. Iggy Griffiths was my partner. People immediately started whispering to each other about who they got and they moved around and complained about how they didn't want to do this. Finally, I made my way through the crowded class and to Nudge. Nudge's real name is Monique but she prefers Nudge, because of some incidents when we were young.

When we were about five, we were in the same kindergarten class. She came up to me and being the blabber mouth she is, started rambling on about how we could be 'Best Friends Forever!' Me, being the little anti-social girl I am, didn't know what to say but 'Oh… Sure…' So she nudged me repeatedly, telling me she wanted a better answer. So, being me I said "I don't know your name but now you're Nudge because you keep nudging me!" And that is how she got Nudge as a nickname.

Nudge saw me approaching and asked excitedly, "Who'd you get, Max? I got this kid named Fang Todder. Who names their kid Fang? I mean, it could be a nickname, but who would want FANG as a nickname? And whats up with the last name? Todder? Really? Well, I guess I can't really be complaining about his name, it's not his fault, but it IS his parents fault. They should know better than to name someone Fang. I bet he gets teased all the time! I would cry!I feel so bad for him, Max! Im going to write this kid a long letter!" She said, going from astonished to concerned in no less than 2 seconds.

Yep, Nudge hasn't changed. "Oh.. Nudge don't scarethe guy! Calm down! That name is probably just a nickname. Why don't you try asking him? And oh I got this dude named Iggy Griffiths. If you think you got a weird name, well I think my partners name is weirder. Wanna trade? Pleaseeee Nudge?"

I looked her in the eyes and gave her my best bambi eyes and puppy dog pout I could ever pull off. Fang sounded bad-ass. I was sort of intrigued by his name. I wanted to know why or how he got it. Nudge looked at me with an 'are-you-kidding-me-no!' face and then saw my expression and gulped loudly. She wasn't going to give in easy, I realized. But I had a plan.

"Nudge, Please? Or I'll tell Gazzy you like him! I will. I promise!"

She looked at me nervously and about 2 minutes passed before she apparently decided I would, in fact, tell him. "Ohkay, Ohkay, FINE! Please just don't tell him!"

I smiled triumphantly and she swapped papers with me.

"You're a cruel friend, you know that?"

"So I've been told, Nudge. So I've been told."