My hand flew into the air; of course I wouldn't have the homework. I felt a pang of sadness. My all-girls school had closed to do swine flu, I was one of the few left and my brother brought me to this…school. Degrassi was not at all to my liking. It was so…uncivilized. Girls flung themselves at guys and guys did nothing to stop it.

"Lizette?" The teacher called on me.

"Uh…I don't have the homework." I said awkwardly. He knew that I was new and told me to ask my lab partner to bring me up to speed, a tall boy who came in late and smelled of girl drama. I turned to my new lab partner, but he wasn't looking at me. In fact, he seemed to be pointedly ignoring me.

"So, lab partner, do you want to tell me what the homework was?" I asked. I received no response and no acknowledgement. "The 'silent treatment,' charming." I continued, tilting my head to the side. I wanted to raise my hand and ask to switch partners. I was born with low patience and we obviously weren't getting anywhere. I could see this guy had obviously just struck out with some medium maintenance cheerleader. I was not going to let him bring down my science grade. I decided to try a new tactic; he seemed like someone who wouldn't mind a girl teasing him.

"What did I replace a girl who was way hot or something?" I said, smiling. Apparently this was the wrong thing to do because he came really close to me with a death glare. I felt my grin melt off my face.

"Yeah, you did actually." He said. "I don't know the homework because I didn't do it." He turned back to his book and started copying down the notes on the board, obviously taking in none of it. I followed his lead and from what I gathered we were doing a lab tomorrow, I'd done it before so I zoned out a little bit.

I watched other girls in the class throwing each other glances, not hiding the fact that they were silently talking about me. I couldn't help but feel that something had happened before I'd arrived at Degrassi, something to do with the girl I'd replaced.

I painted the picture in my mind, a hot blonde. Probably a cheerleader, that seems like his type. Probably transferred out of the class because she and my lab partner got too touchy feely, which would explain why the girls in my class would be interested in his female lab partner. Maybe Lab Partner thought there was something more than there was and she had to transfer to send him a message.

The bell interrupted my story and my lab partner was the first one out. My locker was just down the hall, right by the front entrance. My twin brother's locker was four down from mine. After exchanging my science books for English books, I walked up to him and pinched his arm.

"What, sis, you need help finding your way to our English class?" Said Eli, flashing me his crooked smile.

"No, actually, I was wondering where Clare was. You two are usually attached at the mouth." Our playful banter continued on our way to Ms. Daus' class where Adam and Clare were waiting for us. I'd met them and hung out with them all before. Despite the whole different schools thing, they were my friends.

"Hey, You." Said Clare, leaning over to kiss Eli. Adam and I exchanged a look. I could tell that he didn't mind it as much now that there was a fourth wheel.

"You two better stop. I don't mean to be a Simpson intern but the new rules on PDA will land you both in detention." Said Adam. They pulled apart and grinned.

"Detention won't do anything to help plans later." I put in. "Seven, at the dot?"

"I'm in." Said Clare and Eli at the same time. They smiled again.

"Clare, I love you but if you and Eli keep doing that I will tear you limb from limb." I threatened playfully. Eli put his arm around her and whispered something in her ear. She giggled and I groaned.

"Sorry, Liz." Said Eli. They toned it down, but Eli's arm remained around her shoulder.

"So, how was class number one?" Asked Adam.

"So dull, not only had I covered everything but my lab partner treated me like a social pariah."

"Who was it?" Eli laughed.

"I don't know. Some tall kid, apparently he'd had some sort of girl drama because all the girls were looking at me." I said, hoping that would narrow it down. Apparently I was wrong.

"That could be one of a hundred boys in the school." Said Clare, smiling.

"His last name was Torres or something…"

"Torres?" Adam jumped.

"Wait, that Torres? As in your step-brother?" I said incredulously.

"Brown hair? Brown eyes?" He asked.

"Yup." I said slowly.

"That would explain the drama vibe." Put in Eli. I was confused because we had never talked drama much, just music, books, nothing outside our inner circle. Clare mouthed a name; she mouthed Alli.