THE FIRST DAY

They said it was a time to start over,

A time to start fresh.

So why do I feel

As though nothings changed at all?

-Eternal Beginning

-Age

People swarmed all around, shadows and blurs as they moved swiftly. Ghost like were their faces, stoned cold and empty of emotion. Distant to the objects amongst them, they seemed to float rather than walk, move without intending to.

Rachel stared at them as they passed her; drawn in by their expressions as she felt a fear wash over her. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Whirling around she came face to face with Seth who wore a strange attempt at a lopsided grin.

"How's my baby girl doing? Any first day jitters?" He asked playfully tickling her.

"It's not my first day of school, it's just my first day at Harbor, and...yeah," she replied shrugging slightly.

Seth rapped his arm around her. "Oh, someone has butterflies in their stomach," he teased in a baby voice.

"More like bats," Rachel replied leaning into him.

She had always liked the feel of him when they were together, the way she seemed to fit perfectly into his arms, they way he always kept certain things just for her.

It had been over six months now since they had first met and thinking back on the past times, Rachel couldn't think of a single moment where he hadn't supported her. Even in the darkest times.

"Hey, Rachel, first day at Harbor, how does it feel?" Marissa asked as she and Ryan walked up to them.

Ryan gave his sister a small nod and she grinned at him.

"We just went over all this...but oh wait, you were late and therefore did not hear it," Seth stated.

Ryan let on an apologetic face. "Yeah, sorry about that, got caught talking to Luke who now seems to have a fascination with tartan sweaters."

"Luke in tartan? That's an image I really didn't need."

Seth only nodded his head when non other than Luke walked up to the group wearing – as Ryan had said – a blue tartan sweater and off white pants.

"And yet suddenly I am seeing it."

"Hey everyone," Luke greeted. "Rachel, first day, gotta be a tough one."

"There are bats," Rachel replied causing everyone to look at her strangely. "Don't worry."

"Well there is nothing to worry about, we'll take care of you," Marissa promised. "Plus, Summer and Anna should be floating around somewhere in case you need something."

"That's something I really needed to hear," Rachel replied sarcastically.

No two other people were more bent on destroying the relationship between her and Seth than Summer and Anna. Rachel, though she knew Seth loved her deeply, couldn't help but feel awkward around the pair. They made her feel un-important and small, something that never went down well with her.

"So you have everything you need Rach?" Ryan asked.

"Ry', for the last time will you stop asking me that?" His sister replied.

"Just checking."

"You're starting to sound like Sandy."

Marissa smiled at that knowing that the Cohen's had taken Rachel under their wing as another equal member of the family.

"Sandy and Kirsten nervous too?" She asked.

"They nearly didn't let me out of the house this morning."

"And then," Seth went on. "Dad insisted on dropping us off right in front of the doors so that Rachel didn't feel lost or anxious."

"Hey, you're the one who agreed it was a good idea," Rachel retorted.

"I did not."

"Then what was with the whole 'yeah, just so she doesn't have to walk so far' thing?"

Seth went silent, his girlfriend beating him with his own words. Rachel noticed his sudden lack of words and moved in closer, resting her head on his chest.

"Not that I'm complaining that I have three guys making a fuss over me."

Summer watched the group from afar noticing how Seth and Rachel couldn't keep their hands off each other. It disgusted her. She didn't want to watch it any longer.

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home," she whispered tapping her heels together three times.

When nothing happened Summer looked down at her pumps and cursed.

"Damn, that's false advertising!"

She decided that if she couldn't whisk herself out of eyesight she would have to stop them from doing the things that were making her mad.

She walked up and suddenly appeared before the group and Seth instantly felt Rachel move closer as if to show that this was her turf and the new arrival could not have any of it.

"Hi all!" She said a little too friendly like. "Everyone looking forward to starting school again?"

Her voice was filled with a fake kindness that didn't suit her personality well. The reaction she received was one of raised eyebrows and rolled eyes.

"What, can't I be totally happy to be back at school with my friends?"

"It's great that you're happy Summer, but don't you think that it's a little too much?" Marissa asked.

"No," Summer insisted. "What don't I have to be happy about?" She sent a sly look Rachel's way. "Rachel, I see you are like, going to Harbor now. Wow you Chino people just keep piling in don't you?"

Rachel glared back at her, the two sharing a silent moment of sizing each other up. When Ryan realised what they were doing he began to talk.

"So what do you guys have first?" He asked stupidly.

"Math," Rachel replied with a coldness in her voice.

Seth hugged her tightly letting out a gasp. "The subject that leads to a whole lot of naughtiness. But for us, that's just all in a days work."

Rachel smiled and let out a small laugh remembering that she had walked in on Seth studying Math mere hours before they had acknowledged their feelings toward each other. Summer immediately saw the sudden playfulness between the two and tore them apart.

"Cohen can I talk to you about...English?" She asked taking his hand and ripping him away from Rachel and the group.

"But we aren't in the same English class," Seth insisted.

"I know."

Rachel frowned at Summer's attempt to put a stop to their romantic connections and folded her arms annoyed.

"And the nightmare begins," she mumbled causing Luke to look her way.

"Don't worry about Summer, she just can't handle rejection, especially to new people in town," he assured.

At lunch time Rachel walked out of her classroom only to find that Ryan was there waiting for her.

"Hey, how was class?" He asked.

"Now I remember why I hated school," Rachel replied only causing her brother to frown. "No...I didn't mean anything went wrong, it was just the whole fact that I was sitting in class that I hated."

Ryan laughed. "Yeah I know what you mean."

A group of students passed them as they walked through the door on the way to their lockers.

"You wanna come to lunch with us Chino?" One of the males asked.

Rachel smiled but shook her head. "Nuh, sorry guys but I've already made plans to meet some people."

"That's cool, maybe next time."

Ryan turned to her once they had left. "They call you Chino?"

"Something wrong with that?" Rachel asked as they began to walk toward the cafeteria.

"No," Ryan said unconvincingly. "It's just that I started the whole Chino thing, you know, I had to punch a lot of people to get it. All you have to do is sit through three periods and you're a shoe in."

Rachel laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not taking your rep, I have no intention on beating anyone up...accept for Summer and Anna if I get the chance."

As they entered the cafeteria Ryan spotted the rest of the group already sitting around a table eating. As they moved to sit with their friends Anna instantly took the free seat beside Seth causing Rachel to stop short.

"So what's the hubbub, Bub?" She asked Seth placing her hand on his arm.

"And here I was thinking I was amongst sane people," Summer replied coldly.

Ryan sat himself down next to Marissa and waited to see what his sister was going to do.

Rachel put on a sarcastic smile, knowing that she of all people could beat the girls at their own game. She moved in close to Seth, sitting on his lap and rapping an arm around his neck, giving him a kiss, which lasted a little too long for a hello. Rachel heard Summer huff and Anna sniff, disapproving the action. Wanting to show them that Seth was indeed only hers Rachel shifted her weight slightly on his lap causing him to let out a soft moan. When they finally pulled away both of the girls were looking elsewhere in disgust. Rachel sent a look Ryan's way and he raised his eyebrows, shaking his head but smiling as he did.

"Hey," she whispered to Seth looking down at him.

"Hello," he replied, having no problem at all with her actions.

"Aw...isn't this such a Kodak moment," Luke said innocently.

Rachel and Seth looked over at him where he was smiling sweetly, admiring their love for each other.

"It's just so beautiful."

"Um...thanks?" Seth replied.

"So how was class?" Marissa asked Rachel finding amusement in playing with Ryan's hand.

"Same old. Text books, writing, the usual," Rachel replied.

Now that her attention was away from Seth, Summer moved in for the kill.

"Cohen, can you get me a drink?" She asked.

Seth looked down at the full Pepsi bottle in front of her. "You already have a drink Summer."

"But I want another one."

Seth let out a long sigh, not wanting to be rude but at the same time not wanting to do her any favours. He put his hands on Rachel's waist lifting her slightly so he could stand and move away from the chair.

"Where are you going?" Rachel asked sitting in the now vacant spot.

"To get a drink," Seth replied reluctantly.

"To get me a drink," Summer corrected.

Rachel looked at the girl on the opposite side of the table. "Is it really that hard for you to get up and do it yourself?"

"Of course not, but Seth offered."

"I did n..."

"See," Summer said cutting of the 'not' that was about to come out of Seth's mouth.

Everyone knew that Summer was only trying to make Rachel jealous of her, she had been trying this strategy ever since the pair had become an item.

Anna looked up from her history textbook and stood placing it on her seat.

"I'll come with, I wanted something anyway," she said.

Rachel rolled her eyes catching the attention of Ryan who was aware that the girl's attempts to pull her and Seth apart were becoming tiresome.

As the pair walked away Anna began to speak.

"So how are you and Rachel doing?" She asked.

Seth looked at her for a second, not believing that she was genuinely interested in the positives of the relationship.

"We're good."

"You know I always thought you were into brains more than looks."

"What makes you think Rachel doesn't have brains?"

Anna corrected herself unconvincingly. "Oh no, I didn't mean that, it's just that you have a certain...how do I put it? Standard."

Seth remained silent not wanting to comment on anything else that may very well be used against him later.

Rachel watched the pair, as they walked away not noticing how Ryan and Luke swapped seats so that her brother could whisper to her.

"Looks like you've got some competition," he said playfully.

"You think I can't outdo them? Please Ry', think about it. You've got Stick Figure Barbie here and a spokesperson for Planet Arc."

Ryan half laughed. "So you're not worried?"

Rachel was silent for a moment. She was worried but hated herself for it. She knew that Seth was loyal, he had promised her that the incident at Christmas was a once off and that it would never happen again. But despite that...

"I can give as good as I get," she answered turned to face Ryan.

"I know that first hand."

The two shared a smile.

Rachel let out a short sigh and worked the kinks out of her neck.

"Let the games begin," she whispered.

Ryan looked first at Summer and then at Anna and Seth who were now in the line to pay for their items.

He signalled the beginning of the challenge.

"On your marks..."

TO BE CONTINUED

(Hey guys, I'm back! I hope you liked this chapter and it gave you a little bit of an insight as to where I am taking this story. Don't worry, there are many surprises to come. Please review and all suggestions would be appreciated.)