"And that is why the students of any public school system, in a newspaper of their own, should be allowed to write anything they please. Thank you." Tawny smiled as she tidied her papers on the podium and looked over at her best friend standing beside her. "Anything you'd like to add, Luis?"

Luis gave her a look of disbelief. "If anyone was dumb enough to let students say whatever they pleased, then that person should be responsible for their actions. That would let loose utter chaos. There would be slander and liable and Lord knows what else going on."

"Are you saying that students aren't protected under the constitution?" Tawny asked, egging him on.

"Of course I didn't say that. Where did you come up with that one?" he asked, incredulity evident in his heightened voice.

Tawny gave a little smirk and at that time Luis knew that once again, he had been had by Tawny's ability to argue. "Then students should be able to practice free speech as well as free press. Isn't that right, Luis?"

Before Luis could articulate a reply, the bell rang signaling the end of debate class.

"Good job, guys, very well done. You were both well prepared and you argued like pros." Mrs. Wheeler said smiling at them as the rest of the class shuffled past her and out in to the crowded corridor. "Luis, I think your problem is that you get flustered too easily and fall into the traps Tawny set for you. You need to keep your emotions under your hat while you're arguing something so you can focus on what you are saying. And Tawny, good job kid, and quit baiting Luis up there. He's going to get you on a technicality one of these days. Now get out of here," she said grinning. "See you two later."

Luis walked out the door, with Tawny following close behind. "Oh come on!" She said. "You can't be mad at me! You did a really good job up there, buddy." He kept walking. "Tell you what, I'll give you some pointers next time and you'll be fine." He slowed when Tawny jumped ahead of him, putting her hands on his firm chest. "Woah.! Have you been working out big boy?" she asked, waggling her eyebrows comically. He smirked and she knew that was the sign of forgiveness from him. "Besides, it's not like you need tips, you suck so bad there is no hope for you." At this he grabbed her shoulders and put her into a headlock.

"Say you're sorry, freak!" He said giving her a devilish look.

"I shall never surrender! I shall never give up my ship! I shall never." her impromptu speech was cut off by as series of high-pitched giggles as he began ticking her across the ribs. "I give. I give," she gasped as she collapsed against him, almost snuggling into his strong body.

He helped her stand on her own two feet again and she ran fingers through her disheveled hair. "Crap," she said holding her side. "That hurts, dork."

He gave her a huge grin. "Pansy," he taunted.

She started to say something derogatory back to him, but at that moment his jaw dropped and his eyes widened. She turned to see a small brunette she had never seen before standing beside the Principal's office.

"Who is that?" he whispered, almost in awe.

Tawny looked again. "How should I know? Knowing our luck, probably another cheerleader. There's something we need in this school system, more cheerleaders. Right, Luis?"

No answer.

"Hello! Earth to Luis! Hey!" Tawny tried again, grabbing hold of his face and forcing him to look her in the eyes. "Repeat after me, buddy. Cheerleaders are bad. Come on you can do it. Cheerleaders are."

He jerked his face from her grasp and stared at the stranger once again. "If that one's a cheerleader, I take back anything bad I've ever said about them. I'm going to go over and introduce myself. You coming?" he asked, almost as an afterthought.

"No thanks, I'm good. Too much exposure to fakeness is bad for my complexion," she replied, wrinkling her nose.

And with a laugh and a wave, he was gone. Tawny sighed, watching him work his way through the throng of students that littered the hallway to get to the petite girl. 'If only he would look at me like that,' she thought, remembering the way his eyes glowed at the sight of the other teenager.

She glanced down at her watch and started, not knowing it was that late. She pushed aside the thoughts of Luis and rushed down the hallway to get dressed for weight lifting.