It always felt like that first day of school for her. Everyday she comes, she gets nervous and wants to go home and just be alone. At least this was her last year. She couldn't relax just yet. She needed to work hard and pass her classes to graduate.

Only 10 months left. How hard can it be? I mean there's no group of friends to always hang out with to go to parties. Oh and DEFINITELY no cheating, asshole boyfriends to distract me. She thought. It's weird but I like it that way.

As she walked down the hallway toward her locker, she could already she her best and only friend waiting for her. She picked up the pace.

"Hey Slash." She smiled at him while putting in her combination.

"Yo Mona, what took you so long? The bell is-" An ear throbbing ringing echoed through the halls. "-about to ring."

Slashed sighed. Mona just grinned as she grabbed her science book and closed her locker shut.

"You always make me late for first period." He groaned and led Mona to race down the hallway.

"I'm sorry! You know I stay up late."

"Yeah. Yeah." They walked down the hall towards the science lab.

"You don't have to wait for me. I can walk myself to class." She huffed.

"If I didn't wait for you, Lotus and Karai would come swarming at you with their little group of evil clones." They stopped in front of the science lab.

"Ugh don't even mention their names. They might form out of thin air and torture me for their own amusement."

She rubbed her temples just at the thought of the two biggest bitches in school showing up at this exact moment to ruin her day. Mona then felt a sharp tap on the back of her shoulder. She looked up at Slash, who was glaring at something behind her.

"Shit." Slash gave her a glowering look and she knew. She turned around and faced Lotus and her sidekick, Karai. Mona groaned.

"What? I just wanted to stay how nice you looked today." Lotus gave her the fakest smile her perfect little face could.

"Oh?" Mona knew where this was going and she was going to take it. Like always.

"Hell no. The day you look good for once in your insignificant life, is the day I die. Now move!" Lotus shoved her way past Mona and Slash into the science lab with Karai right behind her.

"So much for the help!" Mona looked up at Slash with grim look in her eyes.

"Maybe if you would come to school on time, you wouldn't have to deal with that- that monstrosity of a girl!" Slash yelled. Mona could never keep a straight face when he yelled. She immediately giggled. Slash sighed and pinched her cheek.

"Ow!"

"I'm serious! Wake up on time damn it!" Slash always did this to her, but he needed to get through to her somehow.

"Fine! Fine! Fine!"

Slashed laughed and let go of her cheek and pointed into the lab. Mona pouted, while rubbing her cheek and walked in.

"See ya at lunch." Slash smiled and waved good bye. She turned and stuck her tongue out at him and took a seat at one of the lab stations in the back of the class. Luckily the teacher was always later than her. She opened her textbook and started reading a chapter.

"Is this seat taken?" Mona looked up. A guy who dressed way too nice for school, looked at her. He looked familiar. Oh yeah! He usually sits in the front of the class. The smart one!

"No, it's not. Go ahead." Mona motioned to the empty seat in front of her. The guy smiled at her and took a seat. Mona went back to her book. It got quiet between them.

"I'm Donatello, by the way." He said as he reached his hand out for a hand shake. Mona looked up again at his hand. She grinned and shook his hand.

"Mona."

"What are you reading there?" Mona look down at her textbook.

"Biology. I always read this chapter over and over again. It's interesting." Mona quiet down as she saw her teacher,
Mr. Falco, walk through the door.

"Hello everyone. I hope you all have Monday's quiz ready for review." Everyone got out their papers.

"I know this wasn't the easiest test but that is what review is for right?" Mr. Falco started to write on the board.

Some people groaned as a response.

"How did you do on the exam?" Donatello asked curiosity. He tried to catch a little look at Mona's exam.

"Uhh…" Mona tried to cover her test a little. She didn't want to be rude but then again she didn't know this guy. She and Donatello knew he was the smartest kid in the class, maybe the school. Donatello knew that by Mona's reaction she didn't score that well. He hates to admit it but this fed into his ego. Mona showed him her test anyways.

"I think I did pretty well." Mona smiled a bit. Donatello was a little shocked. She had the same grade as him!

"Pretty well? You did great."

"Thanks! I studied hard for this test." Mona smiled down at her test.

"Okay class! I have a little surprise for you all." Mr. Falco exclaimed after finishing the review. Everyone waited for his 'surprise'.

"I have decided to have you all do projects!" He beamed to the class. Everyone groaned. Except for Donatello, Mona noticed.

"We will start forming into groups next class. Class dismissed."

Everyone started to pack up. Mona tried to put away her books as quickly as she could.

"Hey! It's Mona right?" Donatello asked as he put his backpack on. Mona nodded her head 'yes'.

"I was wondering since we get to decide our partners for the project maybe you and I can work together?" He asked. I mean we're both pretty smart. Well, he's brilliant but doing the project together could be an easy 'A' for me. She speculated.

"Yeah sure! Why not?" She beamed

"Great! Soon we can discuss what we want to research. See ya, Mona." Donatello quickly walked out of the classroom.

Mona was happy she didn't have to go through the growling task of having to ask to join a group and hoping they didn't reject her.

Mona walked out of the room. She thought whether to go to her next class or going to the auditorium. She and some others are making the background for the school's fall play West Side Story and her next class was Trigonometry.

Yep, auditorium it is.