Sorry that it's been so long. Tell you all what, I'll make it up to you guys like I tried to do with my other story Stoplight Colored (nice title isn't it?)

Work or Heart

Chapter 2: Emerald Savior

I could've sworn that once this teacher had called on her aloud that all jaws dropped at once. If some could, their jaws would defy the laws of physics and somehow crash back down onto their head in a sense that would fracture their skull. I knew I should've brought my lawyer with me, that is, if I had one. I'm pretty sure that Grandma's house would smell a lot better compared to the thing leading me around for the rest of the week. And knowing this sludge monster, she wasn't going to leave me alone after that. The one time I desperately needed Cody; I'm thrown a face full of Heather. I just wanted to curl up and find a way to bury myself through the linoleum floor.

"And there's even an open seat beside her! Perfect, what luck!" I swear this guy has a death wish. This teacher, one day, is going to be ambushed by a swarm of past students under my command and shall be thrown down a well to live out a majority of his days. That is, until I would have felt satisfied with his anticipated, numerous apologies.

As I took my final walk down death road, I glared at Heather, noting that everyone I had passed was giving me sympathetic looks. Sympathy. Ugh. Staring evil in the face once more, I took a seat beside the beast and slid the chair away from it as far as I was given. I bet that thing paid the guy. I rolled my eyes as I leaned against the edge of the table waiting for my cause of death to take over.

The school nurse eventually dragged Cody out of the classroom. I always thought that school nurses would be small, petite women, but this guy was all muscle. Why would a muscle builder like that be a school nurse? Unless he's a bouncer for this school, but that'd be strange.

Honestly, the class flew by without an interruption from my constant plotting against the school. Heather hadn't tried once throughout the entire block, and that was scaring the heck out of me. I would've rushed out the door when the bell rang, but I'd get even more lost than with, I hated to admit, Heather.

I approached the enemy cautiously. "Uh…hey, everyone's already gone. Are you going to help me find Biology or not?" I asked in a monotone voice. Any smart person wouldn't give her a heads up to what was going on in your head.

"Yeah, sorry," she stated as she got up with her book bag and headed out the door. As I followed what I had known to be a masochist, I felt a look of frustration cross my face. Had she just apologized to me? Sure it was just a shrug off 'sorry.' But Heather never said sorry; not even for the tiniest things. Never. Come to think of it, she hadn't tried anything after her evil smirk when I first recognized her in her obviously situated plan.

My eyes widened when I realized what she was planning. Heather had set this up. She had somehow found out about me coming and planned a sort of evil torturous revenge. And Cody was just a pawn in her plan. She had known he'd try to wait on me hand and foot. What was she planning?

I had no time to think after I had stepped outside of the classroom door. The walls were lined with hundreds students of all possible varieties. Hundreds of sets of eyes were staring at me with big wide eyes and smile plastered on their faces. This is why I'm a loner! Attention. Gag. But it wasn't just that. There were cameras flashing from all directions, along with the constant cheering of built up anticipation of my appearance. No, they couldn't have just gone through their regular day like normal, screwy people. They had to see the runner up in the first season. When I get home, my brother is going to seriously pay…

Many different items were shoved in my face to attempt to get me to sign them. I pushed past all of them; angry that their shallow lives have led them to follow someone who isn't really all that famous and mainly one that was mainly for Canadians. Why do people like to watch others in pain, physically or mentally? That's for people like me, not them. Hello? Goth. I almost followed the urge to buy one of those giant, neon light signs and carry it around to make everyone understand how I detest this kind of attention. But something tells me that wouldn't even help. Oh God, I miss Trent…

Trent. My subconscious mind immediately brought him up from the piles of nonsensical things today that have happened. Overall, this was probably the best thought I've experienced today. I'd hate to sound like a damsel in distress, but I truly missed him and needed his comfort mostly. Even though his positive side was almost an exact mirror of my own personality. Who ever thought of a gorgeous, popular, and talented guy like that would fall for a girl like me, the gothic loner.

"Hello Ms. Gwen." A voice echoed throughout my thoughts. My eyes reached a kind set of eyes. This teacher wasn't at all like the last one. She was younger and didn't treat me any different from the other numbskulls around me. I gave her a weak smile to acknowledge her.

Heather prodded my shoulder asking for my attention. I tried so hard not to give her a death glare as my eyebrows started inching inward. "I need to got to class. Find your way to the cafeteria after this class." Heather demanded of me. But it made me feel a little better since she had said it coldly. Once again, I was abandoned. Except this time, I could've cared less.

"Gwen?" I turned to face the teacher beside me, "I am Ms. Srydu, welcome to my class." She greeted me with joy written across her face. "You will be sitting right over here." She pointed over to the front table on the far right. This teacher, I would be able to get used to. I gave her a thank you smile and continued to my seat.

The table was sturdy, painted in black, and made for two. I took out my sketchpad eagerly. Having had forgotten about it in first block, I began to sketch and doodle across a crisp, fresh page, waiting for the maniacal fan who would be joining me.

The bell rang loudly. I was shocked that no one had taken the seat beside me. Though, it was obvious, from the many people chancing glances and those staring at me, that many wanted to take the empty seat beside me. I wanted to go and bow down before the Ms. Srydu's feet and thank her constantly for not putting an airhead fan beside me.

"Class," she called to order attention away from me. "we are going to take roll, and then we will start." Turning towards the left side of the room, she began.

"Mundy?"

"Here."

"Martin?"

"Yeah."

"Dreanen?"

"Present!" Kiss up.

"Hanson?"

" What?" She ignored him and moved on. Apparently, she was calling from the seating chart by the students' last names.

"Taylor?"

"Here." I answered. I could've sworn that all heads snapped around to stare at me. But that was nothing compared to the next reaction for the empty place beside me.

"Johnson?"

"…" Nothing. Nobody answered. I'm guessing she was calling for the empty seat beside me. Little gasps from some of the girls around the room, along with some whispering and confused glances shocked me. There were even small branches of conversation coming off of the simple inquiry. Sure I had received some curious and anxious eyes, but the one who went by, "Johnson," received a little more than I thought I would get. I rolled my eyes; it must be another popular.

The rest of class went on with the continuation of the attendance and Ms. Srydu's lecture on mitosis and meiosis. I had previously already had this lesson back in Yukon, but that gave me lots of time to think. As for everyone else, it just consisted of goofing off, staring at me, and passing notes whenever her back was turned to the blackboard. Surprisingly, this class ended up being my favorite of the day so far. No one bugged me and the teacher didn't make my life a living hell, to which I am eternally grateful.

Lunch came all too fast. I was enjoying the almost quiet atmosphere in biology. But once the bell rang, everyone had gone and bolted towards the door. The mass of students at the door kept me at my seat waiting for safe passage through the mob. Around ten other students noticed had stayed behind and gathered around me like little groupies. It wasn't hard to locate the cafeteria when so many students were pouring into one area. I tried to follow the stream of students into the lunch line unnoticed, nevertheless, I was propelled towards the front of the line. Apparently a rumor had gone around the school of my appearance, and now, everyone was trying to get me to notice them. Once again, I was forced to suppress the urge to complain loudly, "Hey! Leave me alone! Didn't you get the message in the series? I'm a loner! I like my SPACE!" I could feel the massive blood surge to my head from all of the attention I was receiving. The 'populars' didn't even seem to notice their lack of followers worshipping them. They were too busy staring at the newest 'meat' in the school.

If I thought that was the worst part of the day, I was so mistaken. Sure the lunch line was one thing, but then there's finding a table to sit at. The masses of people scattered throughout the area emerged around me almost all at once beckoning me to join their table. Rushing to an available table in the far back, I attempted to dodge everyone who got into my face.

It didn't help much. They all just followed. The poor loners who I tried to join to keep every vexatious fan away had to bolt for cover and safety from being bombarded. Cameras went off and questions were being thrown out at me as I plopped into the chair closest to the corner with my head down. Did Cody and Heather suffer through this same insanity? Considering the absurdity of this event, would cause anyone to actually feel bad for someone like Heather. Through the madness around me, I blocked out all noise pertaining to the island prison, random inquiries about my life, my relationship with Trent, and some were even trying to kiss up to me. I'm going to be sick.

"Hey. What's going on here?" A voice called, particularly out of nowhere.

I have no idea to how I heard it above the uproar from the crowd. But I did. Once again, my ability to block out the vexatious, annoying, and obnoxious came in handy when I need to concentrate the most. The voice was of a familiar guy's, and it definitely wasn't Cody's. And yet, I still felt as if I know him. I closed my eyes tight trying to focus on the one voice and everyone who had come in contact with the person. A few sighs could be heard from the edges of the crowd from girls shallow and of other sorts.

For the second time, I heard his voice again. "Why's everyone crowded around this corner? Is it free food day again? I thought they abolished that after the corndog incident…" Wow, clever too. More sighs were heard from more girls farther down than from the last group who had. An occasional high-five or a "hello" were thrown at him as he tried to make his way to the source of the commotion. Me. I suddenly felt flushed when I heard him closer. I didn't even know what I was expecting, and still I'm flushed!

I must have ultra supersonic hearing if I was able to apprehend everything he was saying.

This guy had to be popular already with this school, especially since almost everyone he squeezed by or passed acknowledged him. So why was I so nervous to meet this guy? And right before I was about to get up and locate a way out of the sea of people, I saw him. He was staring at me. First with confusion. Then confusion turning into realization. And that itself becoming a loving expression. This guy wasn't just any popular person I've seen or met. He was my Emerald Savior. He was my Trent.


Hey guys! So this is the end to my 2nd chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it (even though I don't know what most of you think of it cause you don't review.) Now here's my little problem… We all have been discouraged at some point in our lives, right? Well, I get discouraged when you guys don't review, which makes me not want to update. Please review for the sake of your discouraged author! I would love to get at least 10 reviews for this chapter, and 20 for the entire story, but no one seems willing enough to review… Please!!! I'm begging on my nose here. I'll give you a day filled with endless chocolate pleasures! Just please review!

Thanks,

Adrienne/ Addie/ ALIDQ/ Alice : T