Chapter 1

Stares as we walked by. Whispers as we sat next to each other. Rumors spread like wildfire here at Murakami High. It's more fun to spread them, but it really sucks when they're spread about you. And when you're in the elite group that I'm in, you learn to deal with it. Now believe me, it's not a clique. We're just a group of friends that have been together since, like, kindergarten. Thing is, people make it seem exclusive. They've called us many names; "The Alphas", "The Trojans", "The Ruling Class", and most recently, "The Titans". I don't know why. We've invited people to join our group, but they've denied because we're too 'holy' or something.

Most recently, though, there have been rumors directed at Richard and I. Richard has been my best friend since first grade. We were always doing things together; sleepovers, 'play-dates', and even going on vacation! Our parents were always setting up dates for us and they were always so awkward. Movies, dinners, roller-skating, laser tag. Everything! The rumors started in middle school, when we were going through puberty. Well, when I was going through puberty and Richard was just starting. Anyways, since we were inseparable and joined at the hip, people just shipped us from the beginning. The rumors weren't as bad in middle school; they just said that we were dating, we were getting married, and other things of that sort. Since we were younger back then, it was easier to diminish them because people would believe you. But high school was- and still is- a whole different animal. Rumors flair and everyone thinks you're lying. For example, there's a rumor that Richard and I slept with each other. Besides the initial disgust, we were angry. Honestly, people just need to mind their business. There are probably much worse rumors going around, but I haven't had the time to catch up.

"Yo! Earth to Rachel!" I was stirred from my thoughts by Victor. Victor Stone…was your average jock. He's captain of the basketball team, the football team, and the swim team. Don't get confused. He's smart, though. He is one of the few African Americans here at school, and everybody loves him. He definitely isn't what you'd call a playboy. He's been dating Karen Beecher since fifth grade, and they really love each other from what I can tell.

"Sorry. Just thinking…" I stared into my food, picking at my gnocchi.

"What about?" Karen was sitting next to Victor, holding his thick arm. She had beautiful dark skin, which complimented her brown eyes. Her lips were bloody red, and her hair was braided and put into two tight buns. She was eating a slice of pizza. She had a camera strap slung on her shoulder. She was the chief editor of our school's newspaper.

"Just…things. Where's everyone else?" It was only us three at our lunch table. It felt lonely, because they were being all lovey-dovey about it; feeding each other and sharing a drink.

"Dick's at Latin, and Gar and Terra are…I really don't want to know." Karen shook her head in displeasure and I had to laugh.

"Alright, fair enough. Free period's next, right?" They nodded and proceeded to feed each other. I rolled my eyes, mock gagged, and threw away my food.

Free period is the one time we have to ourselves during the school day. We go outside on the Greens and just talk to each other. We could do our homework, toss around a ball, or just be antisocial and just sit inside the whole time. Sometimes that'd be me, since all of my activities are after-school. Karen often times has meetings, Victor has practice, Dick had foreign languages, and Gar and Terra….were coupling. You just have to learn how to be on your own in high school sometimes. Whenever I'm alone, I usually just sit on a bench and open one of my books or write in my journal. It would be perfect, when the weather's nice, but there is always something to ruin my fun. Namely, Kitten Walker Moth and her drones. And they were standing in front of me.

Kitten had made it her mission to ruin me. I'd had the displeasure of knowing her since preschool, when we slept next to each other during naptime. She was evil; always pulling my hair and stealing my toys and writing on me with marker. She got more evil in elementary school. At that time, my parents were divorcing, we lost our home, and I was feeling particularly vulnerable. She was suspended luckily, but she'd always end up in my class somehow. It got way worse in middle school, though. She met Dick and developed a crush on him almost immediately. I could tell, but Dick couldn't. She was twirling her hair, batting her eyebrows, and going all coy when he looked at her. How could you be more obvious? Anyways, when he started to hang out with me, she was obviously pissed. That's when she acquired her drones; Paige Norman, Stephanie Mourey, and Allie Krista Jones. They were actually pretty nice girls before they went to the dark side. Back in grade school, we all spent our free time playing Ring Around the Rosie and hopscotch. Now we spent our free time torturing each other. It was a truly toxic relationship.

"Well, well, well. Rachel Roth. Where are your friends to protect you?" Her voice was really nasally and annoying. Looking around her I noticed that there were her band of bitches, flanking her at the sides.

"They don't protect me, Kitten. What do you want anyways? Shopping money? A new dye job?" She gasped and grabbed her hair.

"This is natural blonde, Rachel! You know that!" I smirked as she blushed. She was lying. I could tell. People usually called me an empath, because I have a knack for reading people's emotions.

"Right…I remember you a brunette in grade school. Hell, in middle school. The summer before high school." Her face went emotionless for a few seconds, then she smirked.

"Right…I remember you with red hair, Rachel. Summer before high school." I fought not to blush, but that was hard when you're pale as I am. I had gotten my hair dyed Ronald McDonald red that summer, so I could try something…new.

"At least I knew it looked terrible on me, as I see you can't tell." She froze as Paige stepped forward. Paige had black hair and spray tanned skin. Everyone knew her father was a plastic surgeon, so why wouldn't she be accused of getting work done? We used to be good friends, like most of her drones.

"Hey, back off girlfriend! Lay off Kitten! Just because you've had troubles at home doesn't mean you can take it out on us." I froze. She couldn't reference that! That wasn't fair! It wasn't my fault my father was an alcoholic who abused us, being my mother and I! It wasn't my fault they divorced. It wasn't my fault my family was ripped apart. I blinked back tears as I stood up. And I walked away. I could hear their heels clinking behind me.

"What's wrong, crybaby?" "You running home to your mommy?" "Kitten One! Rachel Zero!" They yelled behind me, but I paid no attention. All that mattered was me getting away from them. But there was still twenty minutes of Free Period. I ran inside, ignoring the jeers of the girls behind me. I felt the hot tears run down my face, and the trudging of my feet. I ran into the girls' bathroom and locked myself in a stall.

'The Ruling Class' is actually a book. It's really good and has minor language in it. Francine Pascal is her name, the author's. Anyways, this is my second AU story! I'm very cliche and will be going with the whole 'high school' thing. Review and Favorite. Grammar Nazis and Flamers welcome!