Dear Briarwood Kid,

Since Mr. Miller wants this to be all "fun", he's making our "penpal" a surprise, so I don't know your name, and can't address this letter properly, thus defeating the purpose of this project. Do you mind if I call you Briarwood Kid? I hope not, especially since it's too late so you'll just have to deal with it anyway.

I'm Claire. I'm not giving you my last name, because I've heard some pretty...shitty things about your school, so I'm going to make locating me as hard as possible. As you can see, the return address for this letter is Octavian Country Day - my school, in case you didn't know.

I think what we should do, Briarwood Kid, is to use this whole penpal thing to the fullest extent. I heard Briarwood has a meth lab instead of a science lab; if this is the case, what you do is send a little crystal my way, and I'll sell it to the kids at my school for a marked up price - they won't mind, I'm sure you've heard about how well-off most of the students at my school are - and I'll cut you a bit of the profit and send it back. Then, you send me some more, I'll sell it for more, and we'll make more. We can start a bit of drug trafficking so you can pay for a bribe into a community college and I can buy some new clothes or something. You see? I'm not one of those girls who are freaked by you guys. I totally embrace your lifestyle.

Of course, eventually, the science teacher would notice the large disappearance of meth from your lab, so then you'll have to go out to your football field and get some of the weed growing there - I hear it's the best in the greater New York area. If this is true, maybe we should start selling the marijuana first so we can get a reputation as high-quality sellers.

Hey, whatever's cool with you, Briarwood Kid.

Tell me what you think of this plan.

x,
Claire


Hey Claire,

This is probably an inappropriate question to ask - especially with the letter you just sent me - but are you high?

You're really weird, you know that? I'm not quite sure if you're joking or being serious or what. Where did you hear that we had a meth lab instead of a science lab? I'd quite like to know. But just for future reference, no, there are no methamphetamines in our science lab. Nor is our football field made out of kif. But I could probably still get some for you, if you really wanted it.

I'm Derrick. Derrick Harrington.

I feel insulted that you automatically assume I'd be going to community college. Great job, Claire, you just insulted a "Briarwood Kid" - I think our reputation, which you rely so heavily on, should be making you scared right now. I could own a kitchen knife, Claire. I could in a gang.

(I'm not, by the way. I'm on the soccer team, though.)

I'm not sure what else to say; I'm still trying to figure which parts of your letter are true and which aren't. Do you really embrace my lifestyle? (What is this lifestyle, by the way?) Is your name even Claire? Either way, it was nice to meet you...get a letter from you.

Derrick

P.S. Out of curiosity, how do you get to school? I'm making a bet with my friend. Do you drive in a Mercedes convertible that your Daddy bought you for your birthday, or do you ride in your Daddy's company limo?


a/n: so, i think this is the most similar it's going to get to "year of secret assignments". this chapter, i mean. yeah. afterwards it's different - i swear! i think you'll enjoy the next chapter, though, especially you mosh fans [:

i have a question for you guys: to be honest, i haven't chosen the third boy/girl yet. who do you want them to be? (they're not necessarily getting a romance. in fact, i'm still fleshing this story out, so, anything can happen) yeah, tell me in review. and obviously, don't say massie, josh, claire, or derrick [: