A/N: Hi everyone, very nervous first time poster here. This basically is my take on South with a few changes. 1. Spencer arrived in L.A at a time when Ashley wasn't around. 2. Kyla was around. 3. No Clay. There will also be a few subtle changes in ages, timelines and a few original characters who I'll put a face to as they're introduced. The name of this fic is Game Of Life but I will be writing it in episodes with 4-6 parts per episode. There will be around 12ish episodes this season if infact you guys take a liking to it.

This episode will see the introduction of Mackenzie Jenkins who will be played by Missy Peregrym.

Hope you guys enjoy....

EPISODE ONE: Blast From The Past-Part 1

Part One

Checking the clock on the far wall once again, Spencer Carlin let out an internal groan at how slow the morning had gone. Sat in History, watching the rather large figure of Mr. Dean sweat profusely as he gesticulated wildly while talking about World War Two had her wishing she'd listened to her best friend when she had suggested they skip class.

Of course Spencer would never skip class, it was something she'd never done in Ohio and something up until this point she'd never done since moving to L.A a little over a year ago. She liked school, enjoyed it even, but sometimes she had teachers like Mr Dean, who liked the sound of their voice a little too much and just droned on and on and on. These were the type of lessons that seriously tested the blondes no ditch policy.

Sensing eyes on her, Spencer turned to her left to see Megan Ward staring daggers at her from across the room. Caught, Megan quickly threw her a fake smile before averting her gaze to the front of the room. Spencer rolled her eyes, unsurprised by Megan's actions. The girl was as fake as the bleach blonde hair on her head. She'd always been jealous of Spencer, after all she had everything Megan wanted. Spencer was the captain of the cheerleading squad, she was smart, popular and was dating the school heart throb. Megan was only vice captain, barely passing school, popular by association only and was in and out of relationships. The pair had a very strained friendship, if you could even call it that. Spencer knew Megan only spoke to her because of who she was and the blonde didn't trust her for a second.

The bell rang, signaling lunch and Spencer packed up her stuff in record time, hurrying out of the class before anyone could stop her. Finally escaping to the school quad, Spencer smiled and nodded a few hello's to people as they passed her before scanning the area for any sign of her friends. Spotting a familiar brunette sporting a worn brown trucker cap, slumped over on a bench, she hurried over.

"I have had the worst morning" Spencer moaned, throwing herself down on the bench opposite Mackenzie who looked up from her magazine at the sound of the blondes voice. "Tell me again why we didn't ditch?"

"I think your exact words were… No, Mac, we can't ditch three days into a new school year. I'll be behind already and have to ask Kyla to catch me up on everything I missed. That's not fair to her, she has enough to do with all the extra stuff she's doing to earn extra credits. It just won't be worth all the hassle" Mackenzie mimicked the blonde perfectly.

"Smartass" Spencer grinned, hitting the brunette lightly on the arm which earnt her a smirk in return.

At 5'11 and with the rock hard body of a muscular athlete, Mackenzie Johnson was quite the imposing figure as Spencer had found out on her first day at King High. Anxiously trying to find her next class, she'd ran straight into Mackenzie, knocking the steaming cup of hot coffee she was carrying all over her in the process. Taking one look at the tall, angry looking girl looming over her, Spencer was sure she was about to die and started apologising profusely as she struggled to get to her feet. Much to her surprise and relief though, Mackenzie had just smiled slightly and offered her a hand up volunteering an apology of her own before continuing down the corridor.

The next time Spencer laid eyes on Mackenzie was at lunch a couple of days later. She was sat alone under a tree reading a book. Spencer had approached her cautiously, not knowing whether her presence would be at all welcomed. But when Mackenzie looked up and offered her a small shy smile, she had taken that as an invitation to join her. Turned out Mackenzie, despite being the star of the school basketball team, was quite the loner and Spencer had to work hard to tear down the walls Mackenzie built up around herself. But once she made that break through, Spencer found a kind, smart, funny and fiercely loyal girl underneath. A girl who she now considered one of the most important people in her life.

"How was your morning?"

"Not bad, considering…you know…it's school" Mackenzie shrugged nonchalantly. "Have you seen Kyla today? She was meant to meet me before school but she didn't turn up"

Spencer shook her head. "Nope, she wasn't in biology either…maybe she had an appointment or something…though she would of mentioned if she had." She frowned. "Maybe I should give her a call"

"There's my favourite lady" A deep male voice sounded beside her.

"Aiden, hi" Spencer smiled, suppressing a laugh at the eye roll from Mackenzie as Aiden Dennison took a seat next to her. She knew her best friend tried to hide it, but Spencer knew Mackenzie found Aiden irritating to say the least. Aiden didn't seem to like her much either but to both their credits they made an effort to be nice to one another for her sake.

"So I was thinking Friday night, if you're not busy, we could grab something to eat before catching a movie…of your choice of course" Aiden grinned, taking Spencer's hand in his.

"I'd love to but I can't. I've already made plans with Kyla and Mac, sorry" Spencer apologized, instantly feeling bad when she saw Aiden's smile be replaced by a frown.

"Oh…ok"

"You should join us" Spencer suggested, knowing she hadn't been spending as much time with him as she should have been these last few weeks.

"I wouldn't want to impose" The dark-haired boy said, looking pointedly at Mackenzie, who was busy tapping a beat on the table.

"You won't be, will he Mac?" Spencer grabbed the girls hands to stop the tapping and looked pleadingly at her.

"Uh…no" Mackenzie forced a smile.

"See? It's fine."

"Ok" Aiden nodded, a smile returning to his face. "So what are we doing?"

"Movie night at Kyla's."

"Cool, want me to pick you up?"

"Yea, sounds good" Spencer nodded, smiling wide at her boyfriend.

"Alright then, it's a date" Aiden beamed, getting to his feet. "I'm going to go catch up with Rob before class, but call me later ok?"

"I will"

He leant down and gave Spencer a chaste kiss on the lips before turning to the other occupant at the table. "Mac"

"Aiden"

They both nodded awkwardly at each other before Aiden turned and left leaving Spencer to stare at Mackenzie questionably.

"What is it with you two?" She asked, tilting her head slightly.

Mackenzie frowned. "Huh?"

"You know what I mean Mac. The hostility between you two is abundantly clear. You hate each other."

"No we don't" Mackenzie denied with a firm shake of her head.

"Yea you do" Spencer cut her off. "It's obvious, despite admiral efforts from the both of you to get along for my sake"

"We don't hate each other Spence…We just don't have anything in common…besides you"

Spencer eyed her friend suspiciously. She knew there was more to it, but each time she tried to broach the subject with either of them, they just denied there was any problem.

"I'll find out one day you know?"

"No you won't" Mackenzie replied in a sing-song voice. "Cos there's nothing to find out"

"We'll see" Spencer challenged, before poking her tongue out at her friend to lighten the mood.

"Oh that's attractive, not to mention mature"

"You know you want me" The blonde joked.

"Only since the day I met ya" Mackenzie winked cheekily, before they both dissolved into giggles.

"So how's it going on the girlfriend front anyway?" Spencer enquired. "You still seeing that senior…Lisa?"

The basketball star shook her head furiously. "God no, she was crazy! She went all paranoid, stalker on me. Actually thought you and me were sleeping together after she saw us arrive at school together on Monday."

"Are you kidding?" Spencer asked, eyes wide.

"Nope, asked me if I had a thing for blonde cheerleaders and what it was like fucking the most popular bitch at King"

"Oh my god."

"Yea so needless to say, we're pretty over…not that anything had begun anyway."

"Ooohh I'm sorry."

"Don't be, I'm not. That girl was a fucking nut job"

"Who's a nut job?" The petite form of Kyla Woods threw herself down next to Mackenzie and eyed both her friends expectantly.

"Just some senior I've been seeing."

"You really need to start being more selective with who you date Mac." Kyla laughed, stealing a fry off her plate and popping it into her mouth.

"What can I say? All lesbians are crazy!"

"No, you're just attracted to the crazy ones." Spencer corrected with a grin, before turning her attention to Kyla. "Have you just got here?"

"Yea" Kyla nodded slowly, glancing down at her hands. "Something came up…"

"You ok?" Spencer asked, noticing the downturn in her friends mood.

"I uhh...got a call from Ashley this morning."

"Ashley called you?!" Mackenzie leant forward, clearly surprised.

Spencer had never met Kyla's half sister, Ashley. She'd left L.A just before Spencer arrived for reasons that remained a mystery to the blonde. What she did know was that Kyla and Ashley didn't get on. Though, from what she'd heard that wasn't through lack of trying on Kyla's part.

"She just called out of the blue, asked how I was and actually seemed interested in my answer" Kyla laughed, running a nervous hand through her hair.

Mackenzie smiled softly. "Did she…seem ok?"

"Yea she did, she seemed good. But you can judge for yourself tomorrow."

"What'dya mean?"

"She's coming home."

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