Author's Note- As this story begins, I decided to release two chapters- one after the other- to set the plot a little more.

Thanks again to Lauren, for looking over these chapters for me. Loves you deary!

Comments, questions, or concerns? Feel free to review or PM me. I promise to reply to all notable reviewers, and comment to all anonymous souls as well.

Enjoy!

What's happening to me, and where the hell am I?

Chapter 2- Innocence or Manipulation

To Derek's displeasure, the first two hours passed by rather quickly- the time period shortened due to the upcoming assembly. He winced inwardly once the bell sounded and there was an eruption of cheers, chatter and laughter throughout his AP Histories of America class. How could they all be so happy and enthused? Wasn't there possibly anything more important than blatantly evading reality by expressing such excitement for something they will never even think about ten years from now, when life truly mattered?

Surprisingly, the answer is yes.

Regretfully, the topic of more important interest was Derek himself.

All throughout the short hours of his English 12 and AP Histories of America classes, Derek became the subject of side-conversations and careful glances. Derek was used to this. He was a big guy. Big and rather intimidating actually. He always wore baggy sweatshirts and jeans to make him look thicker in a less defined way. And through the majority of his moves, this tactic seemed to work. Other students tended to find him less intimidating and, well, less scary.

But this time was different. Rumors had been flying through this school at the speed of light. Derek simply entered the school little over an hour ago and yet students were cautiously waiting for him. He could see it. He could see the change in atmosphere once he entered a room that was so different than how it used to be.

People used to look at him, make their assumptions, and then return to their own lives, not even giving him the time of day.

Now they kept their eyes open, searching for any sight of him so they could find the quickest route out of his way. Because this time, they were actually afraid. And God only knows what kind of story the truth had become by now.

And it could stay that way.

Derek didn't want to know, nor did he care what the rumor was. No one was there, no one knew him, and no one knew anything. They could spread their rumors and whisper their gossip. They could fear him, hate him, whatever…

He was still the one who had to live with the guilt.

Relief washed over Derek when he spotted Simon's blonde spikes produce from a crowd of spirit induced students standing in front of the school's gym.

Simon looked like their dad- Derek had no resemblance whatsoever for he had been adopted- lean, tall, strictly angular facial structure and light brown, almond shaped eyes. And a smile that spoke a thousand words. Simon was typically an open book to anyone who knew him. He was just that way. An all-out friendly person without even trying.

He was Derek's brother, and more importantly, Derek's best friend.

"Hey bro! Get a load of this school. Extreme spirit huh?"

Derek grunted in response, a sense of tension that he hadn't been aware of lessening at Simon's smile. He was already adapting and, if anything, that made Derek feel better. Simon wasn't one to hold a grudge, and though he rejected the idea of being mad at Derek for what had happened- which Derek doubted- he was sure whatever ill feelings he held were gone now.

This was Simon's kind of environment.

"I rather not be here," Derek stated slowly. The group of students around Simon quickly maneuvered their way into the gym, throwing nervous looks over their shoulders in Derek's direction.

"Yeah, I know. But lighten up, Derek. You've been-" Simon was cut off by a small group of girls hustling into the gym behind him. In their haste, a blonde stumbled out of the pack and barreled right into Simon's back.

"S-sorry," She flustered, pink gracing her rather pale cheeks. Before the two boys could make anything of her, she was pulled by her friends into the boisterous gymnasium. And just as she vanished into the sea of students she glanced back over her shoulder, eyes filled with apology towards Simon before they traveled-

Baby blue eyes locked with Derek's and sparked into- curiosity?

And in an instant they were gone. The moment passed.

"Familiar faces. Finally! God this school is practically sweating with enthusiasm. What the hell did we just walk into, High School Musical?"

Tori pushed through a mob of adolescence, shooting glares at whoever protested in her wake. She approached Simon and Derek heatedly, her lips twisted in an annoyed scowl.

"And if Zach Efron were to bound through the doors at this very moment you wouldn't leap at the chance to break into song with him? However will you convince him that you two are soul mates," Simon teased, mock horror masked his face. Tori's cheeks heated in anger, her fingers flexed threateningly at her sides as if she were refraining from slapping him.

So both Tori and Simon were back to their normality. Derek released an amused and slightly relieved grunt before he cautiously took hold of Tori's sleeve and pulled her into the gym, his plan to kill a coming farce between his siblings before it occurred.

"Gooooooood Morning Buffalo High!"

There was an eruption of cheers and whistles throughout the gym. Several stood, causing a clatter to echo against the walls and rebound off the very bleachers that triggered the noise.

If it continues like this, Derek thought as the chanting ceased to end. A small ringing produced in his ears, making his head throb. His claustrophobia tickled his insides uneasily, his consciousness becoming wary and anxious. We're never getting out of here.

"Alright, alright." The boy on the microphone stood in the very center of the gym. His tousled blonde locks fell over his temples flawlessly, giving his jaw and facial bone structure a good frame. His very look screamed preppy.

Senior class spirit counselor. A class idol and senior heartthrob no doubt.

He flapped his arms unevenly, mimicking for the commotion to end. The gym cooperated as if he were God.

"So I have one question for you Bison's. Are you all pumped and ready for tonight's game!"

The wave of screams was uncomfortably louder than before. What was the fucking point of telling them to shut up if you were going to have them scream again? Derek growled in displeasure.

"I can't hear you!"

Was it even possible for the confined teenagers to shout louder?

Unfortunately, the answer was yes, and because of this, Derek was ready to stab himself; though he knew too well that no pain would be greater than this.

"Great, great! Alright, that's what I like to hear! Now without further stalling! Let's give a mighty Bison welcome to our Bisonette's, Buffalo High's dance team!"

Derek watched impassively as several girls, wearing the same blue and white uniform as the group of females who had bumped into Simon earlier, pranced across the gym floor animatedly, including the blonde who rushed out with an awkward, shy skip. They bounced into a diamond formation, jumping and kicking and cheering as they riled up the already excited audience.

Derek leaned back against the seat behind him, as no one was sitting there, and crossed his arms, finally giving in and mentally preparing for the horrific event. Simon on the other hand did the opposite. He leaned forward eyes bright with interest. It wasn't so much that he was checking them out or anything, Simon was more respectful than that. No matter how many girls he had wrapped around his magic fingers, he always seemed to keep a level head. He was merely intrigued, his interest particularly caught by the girl who had ran into him.

Derek found himself watching her too, only because she was attention grabbing in an agonizingly painful way. She looked out of place but seemed to have the power to fit in at the same time. Yet it was blatantly obvious to Derek that the small girl did not belong in this picture at all.

She had a small build in just about everything, and her skin was a pale porcelain shade. Her hair was rather flat in its high ponytail, where the only distinct characteristic about it was the hint of a strawberry red tone peeking through in the right light. Compared to the others around her, she was fairly underdeveloped and, all together, extremely youthful.

And her stature, the way she held herself with high levels of self-consciousness- not that Derek was one to judge about self-esteem- it just made it all the more clear that the girl was misplaced.

Derek came to the understanding that, to her misfortune, she looked too innocent and vulnerable for her own good. He instantly pegged her as easy prey for the predators of high school and the real world, and for some reason beyond him, that was upsetting and unsettling.

The team stopped fidgeting and jumping around finally and took a neutral position that silenced the gym with anticipation and excitement. The aura licked at Derek's senses, making his caged feeling increase. Now it was just too quiet.

It was as if the entire student body shut down in waiting.

The speakers screeched before unleashing a blare of outrageous nonsense that happened to be so called, 'music,' and, in reaction, the team jolted back to life, moving swiftly with locked transitions and precise movements as a roar erupted from the crowd.

"Wow. She's really good," Simon muttered in awe, his eyes locked onto the petite blonde on the dance team. Derek couldn't deny that she was on cue and moved just as evenly as the other girls. In fact, she looked really good out there, older even. But it still felt wrong.

Tori- sitting between Simon and Derek on the bleachers- snorted as her lips curled into an unpleasant sneer. She had followed Simon's gaze, the newest target of her bitchiness came into her line of fire. The poor thing was doomed.

"Yeah, I've heard stuff already about little miss blonde, perky, and perfect. Rumor is that with a single bat of her big blue eyes, she can have any guy wrapped around her finger instantly. What a joke."

Witnessing how engrossed Simon was with the girl in prosecution, not to mention that annoying pure innocence facet tagged to her identity, led Derek to believe such a trivial piece of gossip. To an extent that is. Because he wasn't impressed and could honestly care less.

"Tori, you're making judgments about an ability you only wish you had," Simon exclaimed. His tone expressed humor but his eyes lit up in a small fire of agitation.

"You shouldn't get too worked up about it anyways," Derek noted as he knew Tori all too well. "It's only a stupid rumor-"

"Oh, I'm not denying that she has it. It's not just talk, I mean look at her. I'm just disappointed that everyone falls for it."

"Don't exaggerate, not everyone-"

"You're denying it," she asked disbelievingly. "Oh, well then tell me something Derek." Tori emphasized the 'K' at the end of his name with a sinister twitch of her lips. Her eyes sparked menacingly.

"Why haven't you taken your eyes off of her since she pranced out onto that floor?"

Derek rolled his eyes to the ceiling and opened his mouth to retort.

But nothing came out.

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