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Chapter Eight: New Kid

As Booth and I walked in late to English, the teacher, Mr. Englewood, looked up and frowned at us. "Mr. Booth, how nice of you to join us. Who's your new friend?" He smiled warmly at me, almost creepily.

"Temperance." I answered. "My name is Temperance Brennan. I'm new here."

Mr. Englewood nodded. "Very well, Miss Brennan. Go ahead and take a seat anywhere you like." I nodded and followed Booth to his seat, spotting a seat next to it. He smiled at me.

I smiled back, my heart thumping wildly. This time around, school really didn't seem so bad.

That's what I thought anyway, until a cold, nasty voice interrupted my thoughts. "You're in my seat."

I looked up and saw a blonde girl about my height standing there with her hands on her hips and a scowl etched on her face. "I wasn't aware there were assigned seats." I shot back. I remembered this girl. Her name was Amber...Amber Something and she was the captain of the cheerleading squad, and all around bitch.

"Well, they are, and that's my seat."

I was about to retort when Booth jumped in first. "Amber, these are not assigned seats and you know it. Now, go sit somewhere else before you get us all in trouble."

"But, Seeley, I-"

"Now, Amber." Booth ordered.

Amber shot one more glare at me before moving over to a seat in the front row, next to a boy who I remembered liked the pick his scabs. I had to force myself not to laugh.

I turned to Booth next to me. "Thanks." I whispered.

He smiled back. "No problem." He gave me that infamous charm smile before turning back to the front of the class.

After class had let out, I walked out with Booth, laughing at a joke that he told me that I'd actually understood.

I was about to tell him one of my simpler jokes when Angela walked up behind me and hugged me around the waist. "Sweetie!" she startled me with her voice, causing me to jump.

I turned and hugged her back. "Hi, Angela." I greeted.

"Hey, Ange." Booth said.

Angela smiled at Booth. "Hey, Studly, what's up?"

I smiled. Even here Angela had that silly nickname for Booth.

"Nothing much." Booth replied. "Just talking with Brennan here, seeing if she wants to come to practice after school."

I was about to tell him I'd love to, but Angela interrupted.

"As fun as that might be, Booth, I'm afraid Bren is gonna have to decline. You see, me and our friends are throwing a birthday bash at my place for her, and-"

"It's your birthday?" Booth asked.

I nodded, shyly, wishing that Angela hadn't revealed that little tidbit of information just yet. He grinned at me. "Well, happy birthday, Brennan! I'll have to stop by the party later to give you your birthday punches, if that's all right?" Booth asked Angela.

Angela nodded. "Of course! The more, the merrier! I actually just invited Cam too."

"Saroyan?" Angela nodded. "Awesome! She's pretty fun to be around...sometimes."

Angela nodded in agreement. "She can be a little bit too serious sometimes, but she's the life of the party once you get her going."

Booth nodded in agreement. "Cool, so practice ends around five. Can I come around then?" he asked.

Angela nodded. "Of course. We probably won't get through with the party until like nine, anyway. Dad's on tour right now."

"Cool. So, I'll see you all then. Bye, Angela. See ya, Bren." Booth smiled charmingly at me, before walking away.

The second he was gone, Angela pounced. "What was that all about? Are you two a couple now? Oh, Amber's gonna be sooo pissed. She's had her eye on him all year. You two are so great together!" She seemed to squeeze the life out of me when she hugged me.

"Ange!" I squeaked out. "Oxygen is necessary for life!"

Angela let go. "Sorry!" she said, sheepishly. "I'm just so happy for you, Bren. Booth is such a good guy!"

"He is? He seemed sort of like a jock to me."

"Nah...he's sweet. Sweeter than most guys, anyway. He's a real gentleman, too. Never forgets a thing any girl tells him and always stands up for everybody."

"Really?"

Angela nodded. How could that be? Booth once told me that he was a jerk in high school, that he laughed at other people's pain, but now it turns out he was a pretty nice guy? What was going on here?

I didn't have time to figure it out, though, since Angela grabbed my hand and began to pull me towards the Home Ec. Room to get my birthday cake.

"Is there any way I can persuade you against a party at this point?" I asked.

Angela shook her head. "Not a chance, Babe. Now, come on!"

I relented, following her wherever she wanted me to go.

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