Hartwell High Series

**Nathan POV**
Shirt, Socks, Shoes, backpack. Check. This was weird. Just a week ago we were surviving on fruit and fish, and sleeping on sandy beaches. Last night, I was up late watching basketball with my dad, and eating fried food. And today...it's my first day back to school. Yup, things sure have changed. I laid down on my bed, staring up at my ceiling. Basketball posters covered every inch of my wall, along with plaques of achievement for my grades. However, ever since I got back, the only picture that has gotten any attention from me is the one of Daley I put up when I got home. Now that we were off the island...maybe this relationship thing could work...after all, I like her, she likes me...AND SHE KISSED ME!

"Nathaniel, you are going to be late for school!" A voice called from down the hallway, breaking me out of my day dream. I grabbed my backpack and hurried down the hallway, plastered with family photos.

"No, he has school today. There will be no interview thank you," My mother said patiently, clicking off the phone and hammering it down on the counter.

"That's the fifth call today," She said. "If I get any more..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed I was standing in the doorway. "Oh, sorry. You ready to go?"

"Yeah...and I'm really sorry about all the calls," I said quietly, turning the front door and stepping out into the sunlight. Sunlight, the one thing that still reminded us of the island. The bright rays illuminated my dark skin, at least I had something to show off. I slid into the front seat of my mothers accura, and felt the leather seats with my callused hands. A month ago I wouldn't have thought twice about this, but now it was a luxury. Chairs, air conditioning, you don't realize what you have unless it's gone.

"Nathan," I blinked, realizing that we were halfway to school. " The therapist told you to focus on the now, and not the past..." She blinked back tears. I knew that she was worried about me...otherwise why would I be seeing a shrink. But she's right...i need to adjust. The car eventually pulled up in front of the familiar building. I had walked by a few times, once with everybody, and once by myself. Students poured through the freshly cut lawn and into the front doors. "You don't need to go in if you're not ready, we can try again tomorrow." I knew she just wanted me to be happy, but I needed to be pushed out of the nest.

"I'll see you at three, mom." She kissed my head, and then watched as I got out of the car, tears forming in her eyes. I stepped out, and walked all the way to the front steps, keeping my head down to avoid confrontation.

"Nathan!" Oh come on...already? I picked up my head to see Eric running towards me. "You ready to be the most popular kids in school?" He said, adjusting his hat and pushing his sunglasses down on his face, "Because I know I am." I rolled my eyes and pushed Eric, silently glad I didn't have to do this alone. We started to walk in, and although I bet I looked confident, I was scared out of my mind on the inside. Immediately inside we saw a huge mob of kids. One kid, Cole (he was on the basketball team,) turned around and saw us.

"Nathan!" He rushed over and we hugged each other. "Man, I thought you were dead." The others turned around to see me and Eric, and the mob moved, releasing a very pale Melissa and Taylor.

"I gotta go...class and all," I pushed through the crowds of people patting me on the back.

"Thanks to me, we're all here," I heard Eric boasting behind me. What happened to the helpful Eric after we got off the island? I finally managed to get over to Taylor and Melissa.

"I knew it was going to be bad, but this is ridiculous!" Taylor cried, fixing her hair, which was pushed into a messy ponytail instead of straightened and highlighted like it usually was. I wondered if it was a side effect of being on the island."But it looks like Eric is enjoying all of the attention," The group eventually dispersed and Eric sauntered over.

"Now now, there is enough Eric to go around," He laughed, taking off his sunglasses. Taylor frowned and without a word walked off down the hallway, angry about something. "What's her problem?"

**Taylor POV**

holding onto my backpack straps I held back my frustration. Did Eric not change at all? He needs to wake up and realize that life isn't all about teasing. Sure, I'm still not the smartest person, but ever since I've gotten back, I've realized that life isn't all about makeup and looking pretty. I'm ready to start anew. Walking into my first period class, chemistry I was ready to be alone, but I saw a familiar face in the corner of the room.

"Mind if I sit here?" the blonde turned around, eyes turning wide.

"Taylor!" she screamed, causing the entire room to turn around. She enveloped me in a hug. "God I thought you were gone forever. Her name was Anna, my best friend, the girl who went to the mall with me every day after school. The girls who spent hours of time with, talking about absolutely nothing.

"God I haven't stopped thinking about you, and when I heard you were back I called you, but your cell was off!" She smiled, finally letting me go. Cellphones, yeah...i hadn't even remembered to charge mine when I got home.

"I thought of you every day too!" Lies. I had actually completely forgotten about her until now. "I've been sort of busy since I got back, you know, the whole family thing." lying again, truth is I had been staring at the ceiling, trying to cope back to civilized life. "You wanna go to the Java later?" The java was the local coffee shop, or where Anna and I spent most of our time before... my therapist told me to try and hang out with some old friends, so I figure the coffee shop was the best idea.

"Sure! Now let me fill you in on the drama that you've missed!" Drama. The one thing I was entirely sick of after getting off the island. Before, Drama was my source of entertainment, somebody elses suffering was the best part of my day. But then being a part of it, and seeing how one hurt relationship can hurt everybody else. "Hello," Anna waved her hand in front of my face, "Are you in there?" I had completely zoned out!

"Sorry, can you tell me what I've missed so far this chapter?" I tried changing the subject off of drama.

"You want to pay attention? I'm sure you could flirt your way into Jacob's heart to get the answers. Jacob was the nerdiest kid in our class, and also the most gullible. One flip of the hair got me a way to pass the class.

"I don't know, I'm going to need to learn it eventually right?" Anna looked at me sympathetically.

"Poor thing, those nerds have gotten you way too messed up, a few low fat lates and a night of the jersy shore should put you back to your old ways," She laughed melodically, but I didn't find it funny. "Don't call them nerds..." I said angrily. She backed away slightly, rolling her eyes.

"Jeez, ok." She brushed her bleached hair behind her ear and doodled hearts on her paper. Suddenly, I questioned why we had ever gotten along. She was shallow, stupid, and didn't care about anything...just like me...