Disclaimer – Everything in this story is mine. Characters, places, etc. So, no stealing please. Also, if anything in this story seems to relate to anything real life event or someone else's story, that is purely coincidental (I don't plagiarise – it goes against everything I stand for in writing).

1

Finn – Monday

New school. One of eight. I am so over doing this whole process.

Dad said that we would stay in Melbourne for my last two years of school but I doubt it. I am sure his work will uproot my whole family again and move us half way across the country. That is just what happens when you are an Army Brat. And my mum is over it too. I can tell. I wouldn't be surprised if she divorced my dad this weekend.

I took a breath and looked at the new school before me. With the black wire fence it looks a little like a prison. If they put barbed wire at the top I swear we would all be going in wearing orange uniforms, not the navy blue one I am currently dressed in. Dad had already gone to work and Mum had to drop off my little sisters at the local primary school so I was on my own. Kayla – my Year 8 sister – had already found some friends and left me.

I walked into the school and followed the signs to the office. I was a week late in the new school year because I had to help unpack and set up the house. I had already come to the school before though to put in my subjects. I was in 11D. I talked to the office lady and she handed me my timetable.

My first class was homeroom. Also my English class. I was in C2. I had to stop and ask a small kid where C2 was. He jumped when I called out to him, as if he was scared I was going to punch him. He pointed me in the right direction and I soon found the room.

When I entered no one even stirred. They just kept talking about their weekend or homework or whatever. No one even paid the slightest attention to me. I didn't mind. I hated having the spotlight on me every time I started a new school.

I walked to the teacher, pointed out my name on the roll and found a seat. The only one left happened to be in between a really tall guy and dark haired girl. Even though they were sitting a seat apart, they seemed to be talking. Or not talking, arguing.

"Josh, pah – leeze just get over your self," the girl said.

"As if you can talk, Isabelle," the guy called Josh responded.

"Err… you mind if I sit here?" I asked. Both Isabelle and Josh looked at me and nodded simultaneously.

"Thank you," another girl sitting next to Isabelle said. "I am so sick of those two whining."

"I wasn't whining," Isabelle huffed.

"Yeah, right," the other girl responded with an eye roll. "I'm Rachael."

"Finn," I answered. Rachael smiled. She had a kind face and nice smile framed by dark blonde hair and bright hazel eyes. She had tanned skin and really straight teeth. But I could see the, even if very faint, tell tale braces marks. She was thin but kinda scrawny. And she had bright pink fake nails on.

"Where are you from?" Rachael asked.

"Err… Perth," I said.

"Is your Dad in the Army?" she asked.

"Yeah," I answered. "How did you know?"

"Just guessed," she said easily. "How are you finding Melbourne?"

"Well, I was born here, but we moved up to Canberra when I was three, so I kinda grew up there. Then there was Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Canberra again then Perth again. Finally I have ended up here. Again," I told her.

"Wow," she said. "I feel for you. You got any siblings?"

"Yeah, three little sisters," I answered.

"Now I really feel for you," Rachael laughed. "I have two little sisters and that is bad enough." I laughed too. "This is Isabelle," she said tapping her friend on the smile. Isabelle turned to me and gave me a quick smile before her sulky face returned. Isabelle had long wavy chocolate brown hair and soft blue eyes. She had pale skin, but no freckles so it was kinda pretty. She was slim and tall but not overly beautiful. "And on the other side of no man's land is Josh."

"Hi," Josh said with a nod. Josh was really tall. I could tell even though he was sitting. He looked lanky, but I could tell he was strong. He had lightish skin, but at the moment he had a tan. And there were a few very light, almost unnoticeable, freckles on his nose. His hair was black and his eyes were a deep green. It might sound like I am describing Harry Potter but this guy was actually really good looking. And he definitely had the boyish-charming-I-am-so-cute-and-all-the-girls-love-me look down pat.

"What subjects are you taking?" Rachael asked, turning my attention back to her.

"Err…" I looked back down to my timetable to remind myself. "Physics, Woodwork, Maths Methods, Maths Specialist, English and English Lit."

"Load it up, hey?" Rachael said. I just shrugged. I was never all that great at school, and I figured I will do the work but I am not all that fussed with what mark I get. What ever I get, I get, and I will see what happens from there. My dad was always hassling me to have a plan, but I didn't even know what I liked yet. All my mum's advice was, 'what ever you do, don't join the Army. And most of all, don't marry one'. I had laughed when she said this, but then realised she was totally serious.

"What about you?"

"English, English Lit, Art, Health and Human Development and French. I want to learn to speak French fluently so I can live in France."

"Rach, do you know how hard French is?" Isabelle asked. "You can't just learn it at high school. You need to study it at Uni." Rachael ignored this comment and turned back to me.

"I've already started saving. I'm going to get a job teaching English over there. But I'll have to get a teaching degree first."

"You seem very organised," I told her.

"No, I just want to live in France," she laughed. Just then the bell rang to go to class rang. "What do you guys have?" Rachael asked Isabelle, Josh and me.

"I have Maths," Isabelle said with a groan.

"Physics," Josh said looking at his timetable.

"English Lit," I said.

"Me too," Rachael said bouncing out of her chair. "We're in the same class. Great. I'll see you guys later." She gave a quick wave to Isabelle and Josh and left with me following in her dust.

Isabelle – Monday

"What did you think of Finn?" Rachael asked me at recess.

"He seemed nice," I said, picking out the apricot pieces of my muesli bar.

"He's smart," she said.

"Yeah?" I answered preoccupied with getting out the dried apricot without losing any of the chocolate.

"You should have heard the things he said in English Lit. He is really deep," Rach said.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Do you like him?"

"No, I still like Will," she sighed. "If only he would ask me out."

"Seriously," I said, giving up on my muesli bar and just taking a bite. I could still taste the apricot flavour anyway. "Why you even like Will is totally beyond me. He is a stuck up idiot. With no brains. You should have heard him in Maths. You know what he said? 'I hate algebra. When am I ever going to use it in real life? I know the speed my car goes, what else do I need?' Oh my God. I really wanted to punch him in the head for that comment. But Josh got to him first."

"But Will is sweet," Rach said. I just shook my head. Stef then joined us with Kiara following. Stef was part of our group. We kinda had a group. There were four of us. Me, I was kinda the tag along. The last to join the group. Then there was Rach and Stef. They were best friends. Rach was sort of the leader. Then there was Kiara. She was best friends with Stef. Our whole friendship group was weird. Rach was the leader, Stef the go-between, Ki was the spoilt one (as much as I hate to say it, but she was a youngest child) and I was the tag along. I kind of felt I never really fitted in with my friends. They were all kind of laid back and just floated along in life. Drifters. I was different. I refused to be a drifter. I knew what I wanted and had a plan. Rach joked about going to France but other than that she didn't really have a plan at all. I could connect with each girl sometimes but most of the time I just… well, tagged along.

"Hey guys," Stef said, sausage roll in hand. "You seen the new guy?"

"Yeah, I have English Lit with him," Rach said.

"He is in our homeroom," I told her.

"He was hot," Ki said. "If you are into the surfie thing."

"Yeah," I said. And that was when Josh walked past. Let me explain the deal with Josh. In Year 7 he asked me out. On the bottom basketball courts he got one of his friends, Jake, to ask me out for him. I had said no. I still remember Jake coming up to me and asking me out for him and looking in the corner of the basketball courts to see Josh's lanky, freckly form. Even then he was the tallest in the year level.

Since then I hadn't spoken to him. Until two years ago. Year 9. And I have to say, Josh got kind of got hot. He grew muscles and his freckles faded into a light tan. I was put in his class and then paired up to do a science project. He was dead against me. I think he was still a little embarrassed about Year 7. Just get over it. I didn't care anymore. Apparently he did. Anyway, we totally clashed. Everything I said, he would argue. Our topic, the colour of the poster, the content. Everything! It was such a pain.

And by the end of the year we hated each other. The last year I was put in his grade again. Guess what? We still hated each other. We fought almost every day. People got so pissed at us. And this year I was put in his homeroom and English class. Not to mention I also had Chemistry and Maths Specialist with him. I mean come on. The only difference in or timetables was that I did Math methods when he had Physics and when I did Psychology he had Maths Methods. It was nine kinds of annoying. Anyway, as he walked past he tugged at the bottom of my dress. I spun around and said,

"Oh, just lay off would you?"

"Why? When I can annoy you?" he said smugly. A few of his friends giggled. I rolled my eyes.

"No one wants you here," Rach said to him. This time it was Josh who rolled his eyes.

"Whatever," he muttered and turned to leave.

"Jerk," I said under my breath.

"Can we go to the canteen?" Stef asked.

"Seriously Stef, if you keep eating Mars Bars the way you do you will end up fat," Rach joked. We all looked at her stick-like figure and laughed. With that we headed off to the canteen together.

"You know who got hot this year?" Ki said. "Liam."

"You think?" I asked.

"Yeah," Rach said. "He sort of did. He got a better hair cut and toned up a bit." And this was how out recess continued until the bell went. I had Psychology, so I moved off alone, finding people I knew on the way. When I got to class with Reese and Nina – just some friends from previous years – we found a bench and faced the teacher. Finn wandered into class a little late, but the teacher let him off, being his first day. He sat next to me.

"Isabelle, right?"

"Yeah. Finn?"

"Yeah," he said and claimed the seat next to me. Finn was good looking. Average height, just taller than me, blonde hair, blue eyes, dark skin and good body. He definitely had the laid-back surfie look about him. After the teacher had started the lesson, I took a chance to talk to Finn.

"So, how are you liking the school?" I asked.

"It's alright. Just the same as the other eight really," he said.

"Eight? Wow," I said.

"Yep, my schooling has definitely been extensive," he smiled at me. He had a nice smile. Kind of crooked, one sided. I smiled back. I felt bad for being sulky this morning. But Josh was being a pain and I was annoyed.

"Where were you before Melbourne?"

"Perth."

"Yeah? What was it like up there?"

"I went to a smaller school and I lived about two seconds away from the beach. I was a lifesaver up there actually. And every weekend I would go surfing. I loved it." That is obviously where he got his surfy look from.

"Lifesaver?" I asked, impressed.

"Yeah," he nodded thoughtfully. "First aid training, rescue techniques, surf awareness, just general stuff like that. But there is no beach around here, so all that training is fairly useless." And I think it was there that I began liking Finn. Hey, I guess I am just a sap for a cute smile and blue eyes.

The class was slow. But with the kind of teacher I had, it was hardly surprising. When the bell went, we all got up to leave. As I collected my books Finn touched me on the arm and said,

"See ya 'round, Issy."

"Yeah, sure." Was that all I could come up with? No wonder my current boyfriend history sucks. Yeah, just another piece of info. I am crap with any guy issues. And guys in general just don't like me. It doesn't really bother me much anymore, but I would like a real boyfriend some time in my life. As I left the classroom I just had to crash into the ever-tall Josh. My books went flying and I tripped over a small step.

"I am so sorry," Josh gushed. He hadn't recognised me. I looked up at him and his face changed. "Oh, it is you."

"Gee, thanks, Josh," I said sarcastically.

Josh – Monday

"Aren't you just a happy chappie today?" I said to Issy as she hunched over her books that were sprawled all over the floor. He he.

"I can not believe you just said happy chappie," Isabelle shot back. She began to pick herself up; shoving books hastily back into her arms. I leant against the near wall, boks in my arms, and watched over her. She finally stood up, chocolate brown hair messy and out of control. "Thanks for all the help," she said sarcastically.

"I have a back problem," I said with a mock shrug.

"Yeah, probably from having to hold up all the weight of your huge ego," she said icily.

"Touché," I said, impressed. "But, really, my ego isn't nearly as big as the pimple hidden under your fringe."

"Jerk-off."

"Drama queen."

"Tool."

"Nerd."

"All right you two," Jake – one of my mates – said moving in between us. Then he turned to me. "How am I ever supposed to get Issy to fall for me when you keep calling her names?" This was a long running joke between Jake and I. Jake was constantly pretending to be in love with Isabelle and I hated her. I am not sure how this worked but it seemed too. I laughed and Jake cracked a grin.

"Ugh," Issy said with a frustrated sigh and spun around. As she walked quickly down the hall Jake called out,

"Call me!" Then he and I fell into hysterics.

Last period of the day. Thank God. I cannot wait to get home and jump in the pool. I totally love summer, but I hate having to go to school during it. Why waste time inside when it is awesome outside? I was kind of known for skipping classes during the summer. I walk into the English classroom a little late. Okay, very late. I was busy. Well, not really. Just dawdling. I scanned the room for a seat and there was only one table left. It was empty, but it could have been worse. I could have been stuck with–

"Sorry I'm late," Isabelle burbled as she entered the classroom. I grinded my teeth. This had to be a joke. She looked over the classroom and noticed the only seat left was next to me. I saw her stiffen, then walk to my table. She almost slammed her books down as she sat and gave me a deathly stare.

"Hey, it wasn't my fault," I whispered. She just rolled her eyes and began to organise her stuff.

"Today," Mr Carlile began. "I am going to start something new. It will be a partner exercise and you will work on it for the next ten weeks. Each Friday you will have time to work on it. But the rest of it will need to be done outside of the classroom. The task is to take an act of your choice of Macbeth and translate it into modern English. Not only that but I want it written in a movie script format. This will need to include description of images of the 'movie' and chosen backing music. You may have fun with this, but essentially, it is your interpretation of the play. You may even choose actors you think would fit the parts if you wish. You may change names, but only to an extent that they are still recognisable. The story must not change and the dialogue has to match. I understand some of the things said are not relevant, politically incorrect or not suited for our times and you are allowed to change those parts of the script. It must be like you are trying to write a real movie script. And this will be one of your assessment tasks so there will be no slacking off."

My jaw dropped. I knew Mr Carlile was famous for loading his students up with homework but this was insane. How much work did he want to give us? "And, I will be choosing the pairs so they are suitable." I groaned.

"Stop whining," Isabelle told me.

"What? You like this?"

"I actually think this could be fun. I already have a few ideas."

"You are insane."

"You know, not all of us are as close-minded as you," Isabelle said shooting me a look.

"Close minded? I am not close-minded. I am a very deep thinker."

"Sure," Isabelle said sarcastically. "As deep as a puddle." I frowned and gave a huff.

"These are the pairs could you please move together when I call the names. And I do not want any whinging. These names are final," Mr Carlile said reading off a sheet. "Jake and Rachael. Finn and Hayley. Isabelle and Josh. Ethan and Kia. Liam and Martin." I am sure the names kept going but I was in too much shock to register anything. Isabelle and Josh. Isabelle and Josh. This was beyond a nightmare.

"Did you hear that?" Isabelle asked, mouth hanging open.

"No. No. No," I moaned. Isabelle's hand shot in the air.

"Yes, Isabelle?" Mr Carlile asked.

"We have a slight problem with the pairings," she said.

"What would that be?" Mr Carlile asked smugly.

"We hate each other!" I burst out. Issy shot me a look. I ignored her.

"I know," Mr Carlile nodded with a smile. "That is why this should work so well. There will be no swaps."

"Great," Issy muttered angrily. I hate my life.

R+R please - dieing for reviews - i need to know if you want me to continue.