Prologue:
This is for your benefits! This is a guide to the various kids.. there are a lot of them " I hope you don't get too confused…
Parentage:
Rick Anderson x Nameless OC Dallas grade 12, Bobbi grade 10
Garland Wakeman x Julia Wakeman Diego grade 12, Jose grade 10, Atalaya grade 4
Kenny x Keo Johnson Regan grade 4, Darren grade 12, Alame grade 9
Mingming x Michael Parker Kyan grade 12, Booker grade 11
Miguel x Matilda Aston Jamie grade 12, Shane, Isaak, Kolby grade 10
Tyson x Hilary Kinomiya Makoto grade 12, Yusuke grade 11, Shina grade 9, Kenji grade 4
Spencer x Maya Katia grade 12
Robert x Mariah Jagen Kaden, Kale grade 12, Emma grade 10
Ian x Emily Nikolaev Alexei grade 12, Ana grade 11, Elena grade 10
Brooklyn x Rhia Kingston Benjamin grade 12, Mackenzie grade 11
Bryan x Liika Kyznetsov Nadya grade 12, Mikhail grade 10, Sasha grade 4
Max x Koi Mizuhara Morgan grade 11, Jezabelle grade 10
Oliver DuBois x Nameless OC Dominique grade 11, Damien grade 10
Enrique x Esperanza Valerio Blaise grade 12, Ferdinand grade 11, Constance grade 4
Tala x Jade Ivanov Fayina grade 12, Ilya grade 10
Kai x Lucy Hiwatari Gou grade 12, Shae grade 11, Kolt, Karina grade 9
Johnny x Cassiopeia MacGregor Conrad grade 12, Hale grade 11
AN: I hope you guys like it! This is my new ficcy featuring GenX XD
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Chapter 1: Perso in Questo Mare (Lost in this Sea)
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"Wake up brat."
He groaned, pulling his pillow over his head in attempt to block out the gruff voice of his father. It couldn't be morning yet…could it? Fuck…he didn't want to get up.
"Go away."
Apparently he lazed about a bit too long because suddenly his quilt was ripped away and his mattress tipped so that he was sent sprawling to the floor. He moaned. Life really wasn't fair. Why did he have to have a father that was cruel?
His eyes cracked open, his blurry lavender orbs settling on the large man with eyes the same color as his own that was standing over his now empty bed half-glaring at him.
"Mrrr…" He moaned closing his eyes again.
Even though his floor was extremely hard—especially compared to his bed—he didn't move. Instead he threw his arms over his head, and grabbed the pillow that had fallen beside him and stuffed it under his head, trying in vein to ignore the eyes that bore into the side of his face.
However, after a few moments the steely silence, accompanied the heavy gaze proved too much for his resolve and he sighed grumpily, opening his eyes and sitting up.
"There, I'm up."
"Mika, are you up?" A new voice asked from the doorway to his room.
Liika paused, blinking, and looking from between her fifteen year old son on the floor, to her husband who was standing beside an empty bed, his arms crossed over his chest and his lips tilted in a smirk. "What's going on?" she asked confused, her eyes moving from one to the other. "Why are you on the floor?"
Mikhail grumbled, pulling his slightly-stocky body to his feet, pushing his blue bangs out of his eyes. He glared at his smirking father. "He tipped me off the mattress."
"Next time you'll get your ass out of bed won't you?"
Liika rolled her eyes. "Bryan," she scolded lightly, "Did you really need to knock him off the bed?"
Bryan snorted. "I refuse to play this fucking game again this year." He gave his son a stern look. "Next time it will be water."
Mikhail paled slightly, rolling his eyes. "Whatever."
The blue haired woman sighed, shaking her head. Her husband and her son were too alike for their own good sometimes.
It was a well-known fact—by his parents and all his friends—that Mikhail Kyznetsov was not fond of mornings. He liked his sleep, and preferred to stay up late then sleep in late. Normally Liika and Bryan didn't really bother him about it—Liika had been just as bad when she was his age—but that morning was different. That morning he had to be up for school. Mikhail didn't like school either.
"Mom have you seen my…" Nadya trailed off as she peeked into her little brother's room. "Umm…?"
Mika glared at his sister, then at his father. "Do you mind?" he snapped, referring to his current dress of a pair of boxers and a wife beater.
His sister flushed, averting her eyes. "So-sorry."
Liika turned to her oldest child and smiled. "What did you need sweety?"
"My shoes…I can't find them."
"MOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!"
Liika sighed, her youngest son's voice echoing through the two-story house. "SASHA! DON'T YELL!" she yelled back. "Come on Nadie, we'll find your shoes—you can tell me which ones you can't find—and then you can get some breakfast." She threw a look at her middle child. "Mika, get dressed. I want you down for breakfast in ten minutes."
Mikhail grunted, nodding and throwing his quilt back on his bed. Liika and Nadya disappeared leaving the two males alone. Mika ignored his father for the most part, used to his father's constant surveillance. He grumped his way to his closet, opening the door and pulling random pieces of clothing from the shelves and hangers inside.
"Are you going to watch me get dressed as well?" Mika muttered in the direction of Bryan who was now leaning against the wall beside the now closed door.
"If I have to."
"I'm not going to go back to sleep."
"How do I know?"
Mika snorted, pulling the wife beater over his head and replacing it with a scraggly, tight, greyish black t-shirt. "Can you at least turn around?"
Bryan snickered, his smirk growing a bit. His eyebrow quirked, his eyes running over his son. "You don't have anything I haven't seen before. You were a baby once."
Mika flushed, scowling. "Go away."
Chuckling, Bryan shook his head and straightened. "If you're not down stairs in five minutes I'll drag you down by your hair." With that he left, closing the door quite loudly.
Bloody family. He thought, not too unkindly. Why was it that his family were always so nosey?
xxxxxx
"Daddy?"
Tala arched an eyebrow, barely looking up from the newspaper he was reading. "What?"
A pretty red head slumped into the chair beside him, her turquoise eyes wide and imploring. "Daddy…" Her tone was wheedling and Tala could tell instantly that she wanted something.
He gave his daughter an assessing glance. "I repeat: what?"
"Can I take the Lexus today?"
"No." The response was automatic and final, even though Tala himself was smirking. He knew, however, that the discussion hadn't ended. His Fayina was, if anything, tenacious.
"But daddy," Fayina wheedled, wiggling closer to her father. "I have to take it today."
"What makes today so special?"
Fayina sighed impatiently. "It's the first day of school." She said flatly, frowning.
"And your point is?"
"Dad."
Tala glanced at his daughter again, taking in her large pouting turquoise eyes, and hopeful expression. He felt his heart twitching. Damn it. She always did it to him. Had him right wrapped around her little finger. Her and her mother. He cursed inwardly. They would be the death of him.
"Fine." He grumbled, folding up the paper, and downing the last of his coffee. "I'll take the B.M.W., but if there is one scratch on it Fayina—one—you'll never see the light of day again."
Fayina squealed, jumping up and giving her father a quick, tight hug. "Thank you daddy!"
Tala rolled his eyes, annoyed. "Yeah, yeah. Let go, you're wrinkling my suit."
"What are you thanking him for?"
Fayina bounced over to her mother, kissing her on the cheek before bouncing out the door. "Bye mom! By dad!"
Jade waved, a suspicious frown on her face. She turned her wary eyes towards her husband who was picking up his suitcase, and keys and also heading through the door. "Tala Ivanov, what did you let her do?"
Tala bent over and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek, grinning charmingly. "Nothing, of course."
"Tala."
He rolled his eyes again. "Oh calm down," he stated flatly, heading to the door. "I let her take the Lexus."
Jade gave him a look that clearly said she didn't agree with his choice. "You can't keep giving her what she wants."
He scowled. "She gave me the eyes damn it! I can't say no to the eyes!"
"Grow a backbone," she sighed, shaking her head. "You should have at least told her to take her brother."
"It's ok mom, I'm meeting Mika anyway," a new voice replied for Tala.
Ilya strode into the room, his black backpack already slung over his shoulder. He grabbed the pop tart that was waiting in the toaster for him and gave his mother a bright smile. "Have a good day mom," he said, pushing up his glasses. He then glanced at his dad as he passed him in the open doorway. "Bye dad."
Tala smirked, ruffling his son's hair. "See ya nerd."
Ilya smiled slightly before disappearing through the door.
"I wish you wouldn't call him that."
Tala threw a look at his wife. "We have an understanding. Anyway, I have to go. I'll be home about 6. Bye babe." He said with a smile.
Jade shook her head, waving a bit. She sighed. Time to start her day.
xxxxx
"Mika! Mika! Are you excited about starting grade 10 today??" The nine-year old Kyznetsov chirped, shoving cereal into his mouth.
Mika threw an annoyed look at his little brother. "No." He stated flatly, slumping down at the table. He pulled the box of Honey Nut Cheerios towards him and pouring them into the waiting bowl.
"Sasha, don't speak with your mouth full," Liika scolded from the counter where she was putting things into brown paper bags.
"Sowwy," came the reply from an obviously full mouth.
Bryan levelled his youngest with a look that said, "Don't do it again." Sasha gulped down the cereal and grinned at his dad. Bryan rolled his eyes.
"Bryan can you take Sasha to school? I'm running late, I have a meeting at 8:30, and then a class at 9."
The pale haired man grunted. "If Tala doesn't object. Someone else will have to pick him up." He set his coffee down, careful not to get any on his crisp black suit.
Liika nodded, brushing some toast crumbs off her slacks. "Will you be late tonight?"
"Likely." He shrugged. "Depends on how much paper work there is, Tala just bought out another company."
She nodded, striding over to the table and picking up the bowl from Sasha, ruffling his blue hair with a smile. "Mika, you'll have to pick your brother up after school. I have a class at three this semester."
Mikhail, who had been silently eating his breakfast up until now, scowled. "Why can't Nadya pick him up? She has the car."
"The hell she does," Bryan interrupted. "The Volvo is in the shop, and your mother needs the Supra." He almost shuddered at the thought of his small wife taking his baby. The Supra was his car, and damn it, he didn't want anyone screwing with it! "Not that I'd let your sister take it anyway."
Liika chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of Bryan's head. "I won't hurt it, I promise," she said playfully. "Nadya! It's almost time to go."
"Coming!"
"Fine," Mika said, throwing a glare at his brother who stuck his tongue about back.
"Why can't Nadie come pick me up? I don't want Mika to… he's mean to me!"
Nadya appeared then, face flushed from rushing. Bryan narrowed his eyes at his daughter.
"You aren't wearing that." He stated crossly.
Nadya's face grew brighter and she glanced down at what she was wearing. She honestly didn't see what was so wrong with it…
She was wearing a pair of tight, black flared jeans and red tank top that showed off her belly button. She had on white tennis shoes, gold hoop earrings and several silver bracelets.
"I-I'm sorry… I'll go change." She turned around, prepared to head back up the stairs.
Mikhail rolled his eyes and went back to ignoring the world.
Liika swatted Bryan, and gave him a look. "Don't be silly Nadya. Don't listen to your father. You look fine. That's the shirt Fayina gave you last week isn't it?" She said, stepping over to her daughter and reaching up to straighten the short, lavender pigtails that spouted out from the side of her head.
"Yes…"
Bryan grumbled, scowling. She never agreed with him when he thought their daughter was wearing too little. Tala may let his brat off with wearing less than nothing, but he sure as hell wasn't letting his off with it!
"Nadie, why can't you pick me up?" Sasha whined, looking pleadingly at his sister.
Nadya smiled, walking over and ruffling his hair. "I'm sorry little buddy. I'm taking an extra credit Italian class on Mondays and Wednesdays."
Sasha pouted, glaring at Mika. "Oh…fine. But you'll pick me up tomorrow right?"
Nadya nodded. "Promise."
Just then the doorbell sounded, causing the lavender haired seventeen-year-old to jump "Fay's early," she murmured, picking up her lunch off the counter, stuffing it in her back and then throwing her bag over her shoulder. "By mom, by daddy."
"Bye Nadie, have fun!" Liika said with a wave of her fingers.
Bryan grunted. Mikhail stood up from the table, carrying his bowl and spoon to the dishwasher and plunking them in with a clink. He then moved by the counter, scooped up his lunch, gave his mom a kiss on the cheek and disappeared into the front of the house.
Liika sighed sadly, pushing some of her bangs out of her eyes. "They're all growing up so fast. Nadie graduates this year, and Mika's in grade 10 already. I don't know where all the time flies."
Bryan's chair scrapped across the floor as he stood, making his way to his wife in two strides. He pulled her against him, running his hand over her head. "Don't sound so sad," he said gruffly. "Couple years and they'll be gone and I can have you all to myself again."
She giggled, leaning in to him.
"Don't be sad mom!" Sasha chirped, joining the now family hug. "You still have me! I'll be around forever!"
Liika laughed, pulling away from Bryan and kneeling to her son's height. He threw his arms around her, and she hugged him back. "Of course you will."
"God I hope not."
"Bryan!"
Sasha just grinned, pulling away from his mom and throwing his arms around his father's waist. "Love you too dad!"
Bryan half-smiled, ruffling his son's hair. "Come on brat."
The little blue haired boy nodded. Liika held out his lunch, received a kiss on the cheek before watching the nine-year-old bounce out of the room. She smiled. "Have a good day."
Bryan bent over and kissed his small wife before disappearing after his son, his low voice echoing through the house as he commanded the boy to do something. Liika smiled again, shaking her head.
xxxxx
Five figures lounged lazily on the front lawn of Cleveland Highschool. They watched lazily as other students made their ways up the front steps and into the school, all chattering excitedly about the new school year.
"Man, I think Fayina Ivanov gets hotter ever year," a baby blond admired casually, watching a group of four girls make their way up the stairs. "And that outfit, damn, is she trying to attract someone's attention?"
The girl in question was wearing a short pleated, plaid skirt and a white baby doll top. Her socks came up to the top of her calf, which brown shoes covering them. Her short red hair was styled into a cute bob with shiny, stylish bobby pins pinning back her bangs. She wore a black choker, and bracelets on both wrists. Fayina Ivanov was considered the prettiest, most sought after girl at Cleveland High.
"Nah, she just likes to flaunt what she has," another spoke up, his greyish purple eyes glancing over the group. "She shouldn't be allowed to wear that, it's distracting."
"Makoto has the hots for her," a brown haired boy said, fiddling with his skateboard with one hand.
"You're brother has the hots for every girl in 12th grade, Yusuke."
The brunette threw an amused, but lazy smirk at another blond who was leaning back on his hands, his board resting on his legs. "Can't argue there. Regular manwhore he is."
"What do you think Benji?" the baby blond asked looking at the final member of their group.
The boy with orange hair and green eyes glanced at his friend, then back at the group of girls. His gaze, however, was not on the red head, but rather on the quiet lavender haired girl beside her. "She's ok."
The rest of the group raised their eyebrows and followed his gaze. The baby blond grinned, whistling under his breath. "Nadya Kyznetsov. Brave one you are."
"I don't get how you can think she's hotter," Yusuke stated, pulling his long brown hair out of his eyes and securing it with a ponytail holder. "She's so timid, and shy. She blushes at the mere thought of a guy talking to her."
"I'm inclined to agree with Fern. It takes guts to like her," the other blond said with a shake of his head. "I heard her dad's fanatical. Threatens guys with a shotgun or something whenever they come around."
"And you think Ivanov's father is any better?" The violet-grey eyed one said incredulously, pushing some slate bangs out of his eyes. "They're best friends you know. The fathers."
Fern Valerio (whose name was really Ferdinand, but he hated being called that), Gou Hiwatari, Benji Kingston, Yusuke Kinomiya and Shane Aston made up Cleveland High school's senior skater-bum clique. They were generally unpopular with the rest of the groups, being considered too lazy and too high to do anything but skate and slack off.
Fern's baby blond hair and sapphire eyes made him popular with the younger girls of the school, which he totally supported. Fern was a flirt.
Gou Hiwatari, along with his best friend Benjamin Kingston, were the oldest in their little group. At eighteen, he was the most mature, as well as the most serious. His slate bangs, and black hair made him attractive as well, but most of the school knew him as rather unapproachable and as part of the "no one associates with them because they are good for nothing" group.
Benjamin Kingston, referred to as Benji by his friends, was probably the laziest of the skater group. He was smart, but rarely tried in school. Though he had silky, chaotically styled, orange hair and green eyes, he was not overly popular with the girls, mostly because he chose to wear baggy, grungy clothing, much like his friend. His greatest love was his electric guitar.
Yusuke Kinomiya was only known to the school as "Makoto Kinomiya, the star basketball player"'s little brother. Not that he cared overly, he wasn't really one to give a crap about what his older brother did. He was only a year older. So what if he didn't play basketball? It was a stupid sport anyway.
Thankfully—in his opinion—he looked nothing like his big brother, sporting brown hair and crimson eyes, to his brother's light blue hair and green eyes—an anomaly in their family.
Bringing up the rear was the always-rational one, Shane Aston. He was a triplet, but was remarkably different than his brothers (or even from his older sister for that matter) and made a show of it when choosing his friends. Rational, and intelligent, Shane was the voice of reason for the lazy group, and often was the motivator behind their activities. He had blond hair that stuck up wildly on his head and blue eyes. Not as good looking as Fern, but cute none the less.
"I don't know why we're even discussing this, they're too snobby anyway," Gou stated sharply with a shrug of his lean shoulders.
"Oh, oh, don't look now Shane, your sister is waving at you!" Yusuke cried, falling over laughing. "Hi Jamie!"
Shane looked up at the group and found that his older sister was in fact, waving at him. Her blond hair streamed down her back, her crimson eyes flashing wickedly. He flicked her off. "She's just being a bitch. She and her little friends are laughing at us."
When he did so the girl laughed even harder, drawing the attention of those around her. The other girls giggled, throwing the boys looks of ill-disguised contempt—with the exception of the lavender haired girl Nadya, who just blushed and looked away—and flounced their way through the doors.
"My point," Gou said, "Bitchy. Girl's like that aren't worth dating."
The bell sounded drawing groans for most of the boys. Benji smiled, stretching his arms over his head and standing. "Time for another year of hell," he said, scooping up his board.
Fern snorted. "At least it's your last one, I have another year after this one."
"Yeah well I have two, so stop whining." Shane said, shoving at the other blond.
The boys made their way slowly into the school, shoving at each other and laughing, completely ignoring the looks they were getting from the rest of the student population.
xxxxxx
Nadya pulled her books closer to her body and hunched her shoulders trying to make herself seem smaller. Of course this was difficult when you were rather tall for a girl—5'10.
She always hated the first day of school. It always gave her a sense of loss, and she felt distinctly out of place. She didn't like being around so many people—the halls of the school were packed with other students—it made her nervous. She ducked her head and followed her best friend silently, hoping no one would notice her.
However, this wish was not too be. As she travelled she got jostled from left to right and eventually lost sight of her red haired best friend. Just as she started to panic she was pushed from the side and slammed into to someone, causing her books to fall from her arms and scatter on the floor, systematically being trampled by passing students.
"Watch where you're going bitch," a voice sneered.
Nadya looked up into the disdainful, glasses covered, violet eyes of Alexei Nikolaev and blushed scarlet. "I-I-I-I'm s-s-s-orry." She stammered, falling to her knees and trying desperately to pick up her books that were being trampled into oblivion.
The navy haired senior eyed the other senior with disgust before disappearing, not even bothering to help.
Nadya felt her eyes sting with tears. Not only did she have to make a spectacle of herself, but she had to do so in front of the guy she had a tiny crush on! Sure Alexei Nikolaev was part of the 'bad' crowd, but he was wickedly smart and so good-looking, she couldn't help but secretly like him. Even if he was the biggest asshole on the face of the planet.
Her eyes burned more. Where were her history and math binders?? She was seriously ready to cry.
"Don't let him bother you."
The lavender haired girl blinked, looking up, sniffling a bit and found herself staring into placid green eyes.
The boy was smiling slightly, his red tipped, orange bangs slightly obscuring his vivid green gaze. He was cute, in a lazy sort of way.
He was also kneeling in front of her, holding her missing books.
She blushed even brighter, flinching, and looking away. "Tha-than-thank you." She stuttered quietly.
"You're welcome," he said, pulling himself to his feet and holding out his hand, her books still tucked under his arm.
Nadya nervously tucked her hand in his larger one and allowed him to pull her to her feet as well. His smile never moved, nor did his eyes. He continued to watch her blush and stutter as if that's all he had to do in the day. He didn't even move to give her her books.
"Um…" Nadya murmured, not looking at him. He looked familiar, though she couldn't really place him. She had a bad tendency of not remembering people, mostly because she didn't associate with very many people. Or tried not too anyway.
Only then did his smile move at all. It grew, and his eyes softened a bit. He turned on his heel, tilting his head towards the moving flow of traffic that moved around them. "The first bell already went. If we don't hurry we're going to be late." He said.
Nadya froze, her eyes widening as she realized that he was right. More tears stung her eyes. Being late would mean being the center of attention! She began to quake in fear. "I-Oh…no…" she whimpered.
"Hey," the boy said, stepping closer to her and taking her arm with his free hand. "Don't worry, we can get there—it's only down the hallway." His voice was soothing as he began to herd her down the hallway.
"Ho-how-"
He threw her a lazy grin. "We've only been in the same homeroom for four years." He teased.
Now Nadya was really embarrassed. He had been in her homeroom class for four years?? How did she not know his name? She glanced at him quickly, studying his face to get a better idea of his identity.
Of course! She thought suddenly, her eyes widening. He was in the group that hung out on the front lawn with their skateboards! The group everyone said was always high.
He didn't look high to her; in fact he looked no different than any normal person, minus his grungy clothing. His shirt looked like it was from the 80s and had been worn so much had faded to the point where you couldn't tell what the original color was anymore. His jeans weren't much better, baggy and ripped, also faded to a pale blue. He had chains hanging from underneath his shirt that were attached to his back pocket or wallet—she couldn't tell which. However, what was the most curious was the white shell necklace that hung around his neck looking bright and so out of place on his faded person.
"Yo-you're B-Benjamin Ki-Kingston ri-right?" She stammered, flinching visibly at her weak voice. She really did wish she didn't quake in fear at the thought of being in an unfamiliar situation.
His eyes lit up then, and unfamiliar expression flittering through them. "Yup!" He said brightly. "So you do know me."
"Bu-But you aren't high!" She blurted before she could think any better. Oh God! She thought mortified as she realized just what she had said. Her face burned in shame as she hid it from him. She couldn't believe she had said that out loud!
"I-I-I'm sorry!"
Then she heard it. The low chuckling that was rumbling in his chest. When her eyes darted towards him she saw that he was grinning, laugher spilling from his lips as easily as if she had just told him a funny joke.
"I'm so-sorry. I … I don't know why I said that!"
Benji slowed his laughter to quiet chuckles. "No…I'm not high."
"Nadie!"
Both teens looked up to see a light blue haired boy waiting by the doorway to their homeroom class. He gave Benji the once over, looking as if he had just eaten something bad. Benji ignored him.
"Nadie, we're waiting for you! Come on!" The blue haired teen said excitedly, stepping forward and pulling Nadya away from Benji. "Conrad dyed his hair! You sooo have to see it!"
Nadya blushed, allowing herself to be tugged into the classroom. She glanced back guiltily at the orange haired boy. His smile had finally dropped, but he didn't look horribly upset.
"A-Ah…Makoto…yo-you're hurting me." Nadya stammered quietly.
"What?" The basketball player blinked at her, not letting her go.
"She said you're hurting her you stupid clod," another voice said dryly, delicately removing Makoto's hand from Nadya's arm.
Nadya looked over at her saviour to the dark pink hair and gold eyes of their junior class president—who was sure to win the senior position this year—glaring in annoyance at the exuberant basketball star.
"Oh fuck off Kaden," Makoto snapped, glaring back, but letting go of Nadya's arm with no complaint.
Nadya smiled shyly at the tall pink haired preppy. "Thanks," she murmured, slipping into her seat the in the row beside Makoto.
Another pink haired, gold eyed boy, identical to Kaden, suddenly glomped onto Nadya from behind, his arms slipping around her neck. "Hiya sweety!" He all but chirped before letting her go.
Once again, Nadya blushed—her face was almost always in a constant state of red on the first day of school. Her smile was less shy when she turned around. "He-hello Kale."
The pink haired teen winked. He leaned his chin on his palm. "Did you have a good summer? Well since the last time I saw you…two weeks ago."
Kale Jagen was almost universally popular—both cross grade, and cross clique. Everyone liked him because he was almost always cheerful, and was nice to everyone. He flirted with girls equally with no reference to age, looks or wealth status. He was also considered one of the cutest boys in the school. He and his identical twin brother Kaden Jagen, had dark purple-tinted pink hair and gold eyes. Kale, unlike his brother, was sporty and played on the school's soccer team, and participated in track and field. He was a member of the so called "popular" group.
There were only six boys that were considered part of the core "popular" group. There were of course others that moved in and out; mostly guys that belonged to the "preppy" clique which Kaden belonged to.
The so called leader of the popular boys was Makoto Kinomiya, the self-proclaimed basketball star. To his credit, he was the captain of the team and was heralded by everyone around him as their ticket to winning. Needless to say it went to his head a bit. He tended to be a bit hyper and liked to be the center of attention. Makoto was not overly tall, but he wasn't short either. Standing at about 5'10, he was built solidly, but thinly, with wiry muscles and a slim physique. He looked more like his uncle Hitoshi than his father Tyson.
Dallas Anderson—Makoto's best friend—was the largest boy in Cleveland high school. In fact he was the largest person in the school, teachers included. He stood 6'8", had extremely broad shoulders, perfect for football, if he had so chosen to like the sport. Which he didn't, he deplored it in fact. He preferred soccer, which he played with Kale.
His pale turquoise hair blended with his tanned skin and hung to his chin, which in turn matched his blue eyes. His attitude was much like fellow group member Conrad MacGregor: sarcastic and arrogant. However, unlike Conrad, he had a bit less tact.
Conrad MacGregor's natural hair color was a dark red, and was naturally spiky, no matter what length it was. However, since he had recently dyed it—much to his father's annoyance—it was now a white blond, with bright red streaks through it. It was tied back into a tight ponytail that jutted out the back of his head, with two strands—one red, one white-blond—that hung down on each side of his narrow face. His eyes were violet, and flashed cynicism most of the time.
Conrad's brother Hale was also included in the 'popular' group. He was a junior, and would have been popular no matter if his sarcastic brother was in the 'in' group or not. Less cynical than his older brother, he was somewhere between Kale nice and Dallas tactless. He was a follower, not a leader, and was the youngest member of the popular clique. He was the constant source of jokes, mostly because he was the youngest, and because he was Conrad's little brother. He looked little like his brother—especially after the hair bleaching—with his blue eyes, and short black hair.
The last member of their clique was really only a part-time member, but mostly because he was the only one of the group that didn't play a sport, and he was the only one that really cared about his grades. Blaise Valerio spent a lot of time with the popular group—he was best friends with Kale—but he spent an equal amount of times with the prep group. His black hair was chaotic—not unlike his little brother Fern's or his father Enrique's—but hung a bit longer, shaggy over his eyes and ears. He was far sighted, and so wore glasses most of the time, which hid his vibrant emerald eyes. His humour was a bit on the sarcastic side, but not overly, and he was friendly, but tended to be quiet, preferring to read than to talk. Which contrasted him highly with his best friend.
"Yes," Nadya replied, smiling slightly. "Fay and I volunteered at a children's camp."
The younger Jagen twin grinned. "So I heard," his teeth flashed, "I also hear your good with little kids."
Nadya flushed with pleasure and embarrassment. "I'm ok," she said, "It helps that I have a little brother at home. He went to the camp."
"How's Sasha doing anyway? He's a cute little squirt."
"He's good-"
"Nadya! Did you see Conrad's hair?" Makoto's voice cut into the her and Kale's conversation.
Kale snickered, his eyes dancing wickedly. "Looks awful if you ask me," he whispered conspiratorially. "Should have stuck with the red."
Nadya giggled, behind her hand, her eyes flickering towards the boy in question. It really did look…odd.
White blond, with red streaks running through, and different color bangs. Conrad didn't seem to care that his hair looked funny, or that his friends were snickering at him. He was sitting in his seat behind Makoto, flicking pieces of paper at the back of the blue haired teen's head.
xxxxx
"It's really amazing that so many of them are in one homeroom class," a boy with white hair said with disgust, glancing at the group at the center of the class. He pushed some bangs out of his eyes. "My cousin's an idiot."
Dusk Kinomiya, the sixth member of the skater-slacker group, cousin to Makoto and Yusuke Kinomiya. He was a senior and was Benji's only saving grace in a homeroom filled with 'the enemy.'
Benji snorted, slouching in his desk. He didn't look particularly interested in what his teacher was now talking about. This was particularly shown by the fact that the only books that were on his desk were not his own.
"Your cousin is a loud mouth who thinks he's god's gift to the plant."
Dusk snickered. "True. Sorry about this morning, had to go talk to Mr. Kon, he wants me TA his science 9 class."
Benji shrugged, smiling over his shoulder. "Didn't miss much," he said, "Fern and Yusuke drooled over the Ivanov chick, Gou told them they were retards and Shane tried to be reasonable."
"Same thing as every day then?"
"Yup."
They fell silent for a few minutes after the teacher called attention to them, scolding them for not paying attention, which drew snickers from the popular group in the middle of the room—Dusk and Benji were by the window, in the very back corner of the room.
"Why do you have Nadya Kyznetsov's binders?" Dusk whispered, leaning forward and looking at the purple and the blue binders that sat on Benji's desk, clearly labelled with Nadya's name, as well as the subject they were going to hold.
Benji's smile was a bit more mischievous, his eyes flickering back at his friend. "Came to her rescue in the hall. That fucking prick Nikolaev knocked her over and scattered her things."
"Bet she almost started crying," Dusk replied, careful of his tone. He knew of his friend's opinion of the girl in question.
"Yeah," Benji said, moving his eyes over the room to the girl who was furiously scribbling notes, though he couldn't figure out why. Homeroom was not an academic subject. "She was about to have a panic attack."
"So why do you still have them?"
Benji hummed, tapping his pen on the binders. "Your cousin pulled her away before I could give them back. Besides," he sounded smug, "I'm trying to see if she will actually ask for them back."
Dusk laughed quietly. "Good luck with that."
xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Mika!" A female voice squealed, before a soft female form pressed against his back and thin arms circled his neck.
Mikhail twitched, his teeth grinding. Oh God. Not another year of her. "Get lost."
The girl giggled and slumped into the seat behind Mikhail. "How was your summer?" She chirped brightly.
He sighed, praying for the teacher just get started so that she could shut her mouth. "No."
Jezabelle Mizuhara had been haunting him since the third grade. She had a weird obsession with him and liked to hang off him, deluding herself into thinking that he actually liked her, and that she was going to end up his girlfriend.
She was cute enough, with sky magenta hair, and blue eyes. But she was disgustingly cheerful, and horribly assuming. She was annoying and he didn't like her.
"No?" she echoed, blinking in confusion. "That doesn't answer my question!"
"Yes it does, think about it."
Jezabelle scowled. "Mikhail Kyznetsov, don't give me that crap! Just answer the question!"
He rolled his eyes. "It was fine. Now will you go away?"
"Class, listen up!"
Mika thanked his lucky stars as his teacher called attention and began to call roll. It was going to be a long bloody year.