Grace Bowman was walking through the halls of Grant High School. Usually, when starting a new grade she would have made a resolution for herself, but this year was different. She was a senior now! Her heart was exploding with pride. She had finally made it, and this year was going to be perfect… well, with the exception of Adrian having Ben's baby. That royally sucked.

Grace didn't mind all that much. It wasn't like Adrian and Ben were together. They were just bringing a child into this world together. And Grace wanted to be with Ben! Sure, he was awkward and didn't know when to shut up, but neither did she! Plus, he was really cute.

Then there was Adrian, she wasn't even into Ben! She was still secretly in love with Ricky. That's what Grace was hoping anyways…

"Hey,"

Grace jumped, "You scared me!"

"Sorry, you were a bit zoned out!" said Adrian, defending herself. Grace smiled weakly and leaned against Adrian's locker. "You were walking the halls with that glazed over look."

"Was I really?" Grace moaned, "That is not how I wanted to start my year…"

"Yeah, well I didn't want to start my senior year pregnant, but then Ben Boykewich happened." Adrian glared at Ben, who was standing on the opposite side of the hall.

Grace sighed.

"Why don't you just ask him out again?" Adrian rolled her eyes.

"Well… I… he's the father of your baby!" Grace stated.

"And?" Adrian laughed.

"And I have to go." Grace lied, starting to walk away. "I'll see you after school."

"Whatever…" She heard Adrian mutter.

Grace raced down the hall pretending she had somewhere to be. Then Grace saw a very pretty girl with long auburn hair walk in. She silently thought to herself that it reminded her of a Broadway entrance. The girl walked through the red double door by herself and the way the light shined upon her made it look like there was a spotlight. This girl was new, because people would have noticed her before today.

Grace made her way towards the girl, who was staring down at a piece of white paper that Grace took to be her schedule. "Hi! I'm Grace Bowman." She smiled deeply.

The girl look startled but then let out a warm smile, that Grace could tell was going to break hearts. "Hi Grace Bowman, I'm Peyton Powers."

"Hi," Grace repeated again. "That's such a nice name."

"Thanks, yours too." The girl had the smile plastered on her face, but in a completely genuine way. "So, are you like the welcome wagon here at Grant?"

"Oh, no!" Grace giggled. "I just had a feeling you were new, and came over to introduce myself."

"Is it that obvious?" Peyton said as her smile faltered a tiny bit.

"Not really, I'd just never seen you around before."

"Well, that's reassuring. At least you don't think I'm a freshman!" Peyton said, making Grace giggle. "Anyways, Grace, do you think you could help me find my locker?"

"No problem!" Grace said, taking the sheet of paper from Peyton's hands. "Oh, this is two down from Amy's locker!"

"Amy?" Peyton asked as they walked.

"Amy Juergens, she's a junior." Grace said. "Oh, I'm so rude! I'm a senior. What are you?"

"Me too." Peyton smiled.

"We might have classes together!" Grace yelped excitedly. Peyton looked a little frightened, but nonetheless the smile still stayed on her face.

When they arrived at the locker, Peyton's locker, Grace helped her open it and they had a conversation about the school.

"… And Amy had John two last February." Grace was going on.

"Amy has a baby?" Peyton said, curiously.

"You don't have a problem with that do you? Because if you do I'd have a problem with you, and I really don't want to have a problem with you because you're really nice!" Grace said alarmed.

"Calm down, I don't have a problem." Peyton smiled, "I'm just curious."

Grace let out a sigh of relief. Then spotted Amy, and said: "Oh, Amy!"

"Grace," Amy smiled slightly, opening her locker.

"This is Peyton Powers, she's a senior and she is new here." Grace said excitedly.

"Hi," Amy said kindly.

"Hi," Peyton said back equally kindly, putting a book in her locker. The girls head a little alarm noise and looked around to find the source.

"Oh, that's my cell!" Grace exclaimed. She pulled it out and checked it quickly, blushed and then looked up. "Well, I have to go! I really hope we have classes together, Peyton! Bye Amy!" And then she was gone.

Amy's face looked how Peyton was feeling. Scared yet content at someone so nice.

"Grace is really friendly, sometimes overly friendly. But, that's the way she is." Amy explained, as though she had read Peyton's mind.

Peyton laughed a short laugh. "So, you're the girl with the baby?"

Amy turned to look at Peyton. "So what if I am?"

Peyton's face turned white. "I didn't mean it like that, Amy! I was just trying to make conversation! I think it's great you have a baby! That you had the courage to keep the baby and stay in school! I know that must be hard." Peyton explained herself.

Amy nodded her head smiling. "I'm sorry. I just get a little defensive when it comes to John."

"No, I'm sorry. I should have worded it better." Peyton said.

"It's fine," Amy smiled.

On the opposite side of the hall, Ricky Underwood was walking towards Ben Boykewich who happened to be staring at Amy Juergens with deep longing.

"Ben, can you cover my shift tonight? I have to watch John." Ricky said, approaching his friend.

"Why? Where is Amy going? Not on a date! Please, tell me not on a date!" Ben said quickly, never breaking his glance at his former girlfriend.

"Not that it's any of your business… but she has a job interview." Ricky stated, looking quite annoyed. He then glanced in the direction of the mother of his child and he couldn't peel his eyes away.

"Sure, I'll take the shift." Ben said, still staring. "Do you know who that is talking to Amy and Grace?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing." Ricky stated. The girl's long wavy hair bounced as she smiled and her long tan legs made Ricky want to kiss his way up them.

"What the hell are you guys looking in such concentration?" Jack said coming up behind the two guys.

"Amy," said Ben.

"That really hot girl beside Grace and Amy." Purred Ricky, like a lion hunting.

"Whoa!" said Jack, as he caught sight of the new girl. "Who is that?"

"No idea." said Ricky, as he thought: But I intend to find out.

Jack pulled out his cell phone and began to text. As soon as he closed his phone, they three boys saw as Grace opened hers, and then quickly said good bye to the other girls. They're eyes didn't really follow as she came towards them, because they were still looking at Amy and the other mysterious girl. Whom, Amy looked as though she wanted to kill now.

"What do you thinks happening?" Ricky said.

"I don't know. But, if she hurts my Amy!" Ben moaned.

"What'll you do, tell her she's hot? Because, that's all she is guilty of." Rick said slyly.

"They are laughing again!" Jack said, obviously confused.

"Girls." The three boys sighed at the same time.

"Boys," Grace said in greeting. "You wanted to talk, Jack?"

"Huh?" Jack said, "Oh! Yeah, Grace… I, erm, wanted to know what was for dinner tonight."

"How should I know?" Grace replied, obviously a bit pissed off.

Before a fight could break out, Ricky caught Jack's drift. He'd asked Grace over here so that they could find out who that girl was. Ricky smiled what a thrifty guy Jack was.

"Grace," Ricky smiled seductively at Grace, who blushed.

"Hey Ricky," She said politely.

"Do you know who that girl is?" He said smiling still.

"Oh, you mean Peyton?" Grace stated kindly.

"The one with the browny-red hair?" Ricky asked, his glance going back to the girl.

"Yeah, that'd Peyton. She's new, she's also a senior." Grace went on, proud of her knowledge.

"Thanks Grace." Ricky said.

"She is really nice… and seems smart." Grace was still saying. But, the boys weren't paying attention, they were back to staring at Amy and Peyton. Amy walked away, after waving to Peyton, as she walked past them… she completely ignored them, well, more of Ben.

Suddenly, Ben was out of his trance and finally acknowledged Grace. "Hey Grace," He smiled feebly.

"Ben," She smiled, then cursed herself for liking the guy who got her best friend pregnant, and was still in love with his ex-girlfriend. Why did she have to be so stupid and forgiving?

Peyton was humming to herself as she put the contents of her bag into her locker. The people here seemed so nice and down to earth. Not at all like the stuck up assholes she was used to.

As she was thinking this, her books tumbled to the ground. "Great." Peyton said to herself, letting out a groan as she bent over to pick them up. There were other, more masculine hands picking some of her books up as well. She turned to look at the kind person who was helping her. The boy… no, man… no, guy… looked like James Dean and Peyton could feel her face flush with excitement.

"Thanks!" She said happily.

The James Dean look alike flashed a perfect grin and spoke in an alluring voice, "No problem."

Peyton paused stupidly and smiled.

"I'm Ricky, and you might be?" He said, keeping the grin on his face.

"Peyton," She smiled and went to get up but smashed her head lightly on the bottom of her locker and let out a few curse words.

"How sweet, you're nervous around me." He smiled, stifling a laugh.

"Don't flatter yourself, I'm always this clumsy." She said rubbing her head and pouting. She was used to the pain of constant clumsiness but she was not used to embarrassing herself in front of really, really, really good looking guys.

"I'm sure," Ricky said slyly, putting the books in Peyton's locker. "Advanced math?" He said, impressed, noticing one of her text books.

"You bet," She smiled lightly.

"Wow, beautiful and smart." Rick said suavely.

Peyton laughed, and then said: "Well, aren't you charming."

Ricky raised his eyebrows innocently while Peyton closed her locker.

"Well, thanks for helping me Ricky." She smiled and began to walk away. Ricky looked stunned, then confused and then stunned again.

"Wait, you aren't even going to give me your number?" He shouted after her.

"You didn't ask for it!" She called back, still walking away.

"Can I have it?" He shouted over the crowd of people and watched Peyton pause and turn around.

"I don't know, can you?" She said rather seductively, and walked away again, leaving Ricky standing by himself in the hallway looking dumbstruck for the first time in a long time.

This is going to be fun, Ricky thought.

Hi Guys! This is my second attempt at FanFic. Ahhh! Lord help me! Please let me know what you think, and leave a review! Thanks!