Disclaimer- not mine, never will be…It would be nice to own Sanzo though… ponders this anyway on with the story.

Chapter One – Just Another Day

"Allison, you're late," Miss Branson said sternly as the raggedy Ann of goethitey land slipped into the stuffy classroom.

Allison Camille Young swallowed as she searched for an explanation. Her teacher, however, wasn't interested in excuses, sending Allison to her seat immediately. She dropped her book bag on the floor and took out her notebook, science book, and mechanical pencil.

"Page four hundred and eighty-seven, Allison," Taylor Mann whispered. She rolled her eyes. "Sedimentary rocks. Oooh, fuuuun."

Allison smirked and opened her book, also opening herself to an endless discussion of clastic rocks and precipitate. By the end of the period, three pages, front and back, had been filled with every p and q of sedimentary rock classification.

"Do you just want to slit your wrists?" Allison asked her best friend as she put her books in her locker.

"Yes." Was the nonchalant reply of a Miss Amy Sarra.

"Why?" Allison asked perfunctorily, not looking up.

"Why!" Amy asked. "Because we are a plastic society with no soul. And my math teacher is hitting on me again."

Allison's copper eyes glanced at her friend before she shut her locker, the books for her next two periods secure in her backpack. Amy was always talking about how Mr. Andrews was "hitting on her."

"You can go ahead and kill yourself, but I'd rather live to see the next Saiyuki book."

Amy rolled her eyes, and Allison latched her hand onto Amy's Invader Zim book bag, and dragged her friend down the rapidly emptying corridor to English.

"Oh, crap, we had homework, didn't we?" yelled Amy

Allison's burgundy lips curved into a smirk. "Yes, we did. Responses to All Quiet on the Western Front, chapters four to seven."

"Damn!" Amy cursed, too soft for their teacher to hear.

"Don't tell me, Amy," Allison said sarcastically, "you didn't do it?"

"Pass the arsenic, please," Amy said dully, staring at the half-eaten bag of Doritos on the lunch table.

Allison chuckled. "What for?"

"I am dead. My mother is going to kill me. No computer, no staying up late, no Halo 2, no King's Dominion, nothing. If I don't come in the day after report cards, send a search party out for me."

Allison placed a well-manicured hand on Amy's arm. "I'll give a pretty eulogy, sweetheart, I promise."

Allison looked Amy. She was a pretty girl, tall (About 5'9) with an athletic build. Large, beautiful, eyes that could change from the iciest silver to the deepest green. Her shoulder length, slightly waved, sandy brown hair was tied in a lose ponytail and jammed under a red sox cap. Her skin was fair with scattered freckles across her face. Her clothes were mainly boys' clothes and an occasional girls tank top. She was on a constant sugar high and to get in her way meant death.

Allison admired vaguely the several rings on her fingers. She was a semi-pretty girl, with longdark brown hairw/ brightred tipsand copper eyes, always perfectly eye-lined. She was Goku's height, smaller than most people in grade 10, with a pale complexion and freckles. Her clothes were of the goth/punk/boy/rocker variety, and the dark colors suited her skin. She had a she had a strange innocence to her, a flamboyant attitude, a sharp mind, and morbid streak that, when presented, would make Marilyn Manson blush.

"Gee, thanks, Allison. I feel so much better now."

Amy hugged Allison. "Now, I need you to help me with what to do about Camden."

Allison rolled her eyes, ate some Doritos, and listened as Amy droned on about the problems with her sort-of-almost-was-a-little-bit-mostly-not-anymore boyfriend. Allison wasn't quite clear on what had happened between the two of them, but apparently Amy was keen on hunting him down and using him as target practice.

The bell for fifth period rang. Amy moaned painfully. "I hate World History. Mr. Rockwell is convinced that the road to success is paved with miles and miles of class work. If he adds one more assignment to the list, I'll have to shoot either myself, him, or both of us."

Allison stuck her bottom lip out in a sad face. "I'm sorry, Amy. Good luck."

Amy gathered her books and scowled at Allison, Seconds before Amy could open her mouth Allison said. "Just shut up and get out of my sight, I know."

"Dish, go away."

The tomcat rubbed against Allison's leg as she typed in her password. The computer sounded its standard line of dial tones and finally opened with the words "You've got mail." Merry clicked the mail icon and opened an e-mail from her mother, Subject: Harry Potter 6.

Allison read the article attached, but it was nothing that she hadn't read before. The release date had been confirmed – July 16th – and it was to be 4 chapters longer than Goblet of Fire. This was nothing new, but she replied with a note of gratitude. After deleting the junk mail, she quickly signed onto to check her favorites. No one had updated, so she signed off and fixed herself a bite to eat.

The phone rang as she was in the middle of her spaghetti. She answered the phone and hung up on the telemarketer on the other end. Dish leapt onto the table and curled up on the side opposite Allison's plate of pasta.

"You should do your homework," Allison said to herself. But I'm not going to. She flipped on the television and watched Full House. At five o'clock, she saw Gilmore Girls. When it ended, 7th Heaven began and her Aunt Kiria Sixtus came home with her 13 and 9 year old, came home.

"You have any homework?" she asked as she set her purse on the chair in the dining room.

Allison's mind had a split second to decide whether or not to lie to her Aunt. "Nah, the only homework I would have I finished in class."

Kiria nodded as she came back into the kitchen. Allison let out a slow sigh of relief as her Aunt walked upstairs.

Was there ever any doubt?