"Isn't the new girl nice?" Grace asked her sister, Jo. "Bubbl—er, Abberleigh, I mean."

"So you aren't upset that Blue obviously likes her?" Jo questioned.

"Please, I'm so over him," Grace huffed. "Besides, he won't get far if she's rooming with a guy. And she is; he's a first year too, named Deidara? Have you met him?"

Jo nodded. "He's pretty, isn't he?"

"I heard that."

Grace turned. The subject of their conversation was positioned leaning against the auditorium walls. He was obviously waiting for his roommate. "Oh...hi, Deidara!"

"You think you can just be all friendly after such an offensive comment, un?" Deidara sniffed. "I'm a guy. We don't like being called pretty."

"You aren't the only one," Grace pointed out. "There's Shun too!"

Someone put a hand on her shoulder. Grace turned. Shun had arrived.

"He was right. Being pretty is not a compliment to a guy," he muttered, blushing slightly.

"Thank you," Deidara called.

"But it's true!" Grace giggled. "You, and Deidara, and even those new boys? Jasper and Raven? You're all pretty."

"That's offensive!" Shun and Deidara complained at the same time. Grace laughed.

"Speaking of Jasper and Raven..." Jo pointed out the two boys.

They both had black hair. Raven's eyes were an amber brown and Jasper's were bright green. The two were only 14 years old. The two of them had already slowly started to get along with Shun, but for almost everyone else, everything about them was a mystery. The only thing most people knew was that Jasper and Raven were best friends.

"He's so short. He's only...what, four feet tall?" Grace whispered.

"I think he's 4'11''," Jo responded. "That's what I heard."

"From who?" Grace wondered aloud.

"The school nurse. Remember, he tried to kill himself last night? So Raven brought him to the nurse. She gave him a check-up, declared him perfectly abnormal, and sent him off. I talked to her in the morning because I felt like a tulip, remember that? I don't know, my brain died...so, when I got there, the nurse told me he was only about 4' 11''."

Grace chuckled. "I remember that. Your brain died and you thought you were a tulip. What did Nurse Heather say?"

"That I'm insane."

"Oh. Did she help you?"

"She gave me six shots, but I don't think any of them did anything. Oh yeah, and she gave me a lollipop. I felt better after that."

"You."

The girls turned from their conversation. Grace blinked. She hadn't expected the small teen called Jasper to have such a low-pitched voice. His head was down as he spoke.

"You're in my way," Jasper muttered. "Move it."

Something in his commanding tone made Grace want to obey. Silently, she stood aside and watched Jasper walk in. Raven followed after him without a word. Grace watched the boys find their seats in the back corner and sit beside each other. They were roommates, Grace realized. Good for them.

"He's so cute," Jo whispered in Grace's ear. "Jasper is, I mean."

"I know," Grace giggled.

"Oh, there you are, Deidara! I was looking for you," came a voice that sounded like Abberleigh's. Grace turned, and sure enough, the brown-haired, green-grey-eyed Abberleigh was racing down the halls.

"Bubbles! It's you!" Grace cheered. "I'm glad you found this place. Go find the chairs marked with your room number and sit there, OK?"

Deidara pushed off from the wall and stared down at Abberleigh. "Did you get that? Let's go find 334."

Abberleigh nodded and followed her roommate inside. "You know, I'm not that much shorter then you..."

Grace blinked. "Oh, Shun...I'm so glad we're roommates again this year! I was scared. And poor Jo got Kyoya."

"Poor me? I'm thrilled! I love Kyoya," Jo pouted.

Kyoya suddenly appeared behind her. "I kind of heard all of that."

"Oh...you're welcome," Jo said. She threaded her arm around Kyoya's and dragged him inside. Kyoya whacked her arm away and stalked off by himself to search for their seats.

Grace turned to Shun. "Should we go in?"

Shun was staring into space. "I wanted to room with Irene this year..."

"...too bad. And I don't think you're going to want to say that around her," Grace pointed out.

"Why not? She feels the same way..."

"Well, yeah, but you guys are dating now, and a comment like 'I wish we were roommates' could easily be translated into 'I want to-"

"I GET IT."

Grace nodded. "Good. Because I did not want to finish that sentence."

Shun sighed. "Let's just go find our seats," he muttered, grabbing Grace's hand and dragging her inside. Grace found their seats first and discovered that they were in between Jo & Kyoya and Deidara & Abberleigh. Grace sat next to Abberleigh. She had done so purposely so that Kyoya would be forced to sit next to Shun. She saw him desperately try to change seats with Jo, but Jo wouldn't budge. Finally, Kyoya gave up and collapsed next to his enemy. Shun grunted. Kyoya grunted back.

"Communication is the first step to friendship," Abberleigh said, shrugging.

"So you two are on a roll!" Grace added.

For the rest of the time Shun and Kyoya didn't utter a sound to each other.

Jasper and Raven were right behind Grace and Shun. Grace turned around and faced the small emo teen and his strong, silent friend. Raven eyed Shun until the older boy turned. The two stared at each other for a moment before Raven grunted and broke eye contact. Grace smiled at Jasper.

"Hello, Jasper," she said brightly.

"I hate it when people say hello," Jasper muttered. "So shut up."

"But you're so cute and short!" Grace squeaked. Jasper's head shot up and his eyes flashed fury.

"First of all, I am not short. I'm just...small. And second of all...Raven, can I kill her?"

Grace let out a tiny, scared cry. "K-kill me?" she stammered. Abberleigh swallowed.

Raven turned to his friend. "Jasper, that's not the good thing to do," he said quietly. His voice was hoarse and scratchy. Grace blinked, surprised that such a young boy could have such an adult-sounding voice. Even Shun jumped slightly when hearing Raven speak for the first time.

"His voice is lower then mine," Shun whispered to Grace. Grace nodded.

"I know," she said.

"I don't even care," Jasper complained. "She called me short!"

Raven nodded. "That doesn't mean you can kill her, Jasper. Remember our exercises..."

Jasper moaned. "Fine. But if her roommate wakes up and she's not there, don't be surprised."

Grace slowly turned around. "This should be...interesting..."

Miss Raven was now onstage. "Welcome, school-goers. I am Miss Raven, and I've come to tell you our rules."

"We definitely haven't ever heard this before," Kyoya said in mock brightness. "Lemme guess, she'll start with..."

"Rule number one; no killing anyone. Jasper? Do you understand?"

"Well, that's new," Kyoya commented.

"If I must," Jasper called sarcastically.

Miss Raven nodded. "Rule number two: I don't want any bullies in this school. We have many new students this year and I want them to feel welcome. Understood...Kyoya? Shun? Chazz?"

"WE'RE NOT BULLIES!" all three mentioned boys cried.

"That's just not fair, Miss Raven! You know me. I'd never hurt anyone," Chazz called from the front row.

"And we may hate almost everyone here, but Shun and I will really only 'bully' each other," Kyoya pointed out. Shun nodded agreement.

Miss Raven shrugged. "Last rule. And you know this one from past years. NO GIVING YOURSELF DETENTION. Kyoya, do you understand?"

Abberleigh frowned. "Why on Earth would he want detention?"

"So that he can bug Miss Raven," Shun explained.

"It doesn't work most of the time, though," Kyoya added. "Miss Raven has stopped allowing herself to give me detention. Apparently she's out of Asprin money."

Abberleigh nodded. "I think I get it."

Deidara chuckled. "Do you think she'd let me do that?"

"Maybe. I mean, you're new here, so she might not know..."

"I'll give her lots of headaches."

"You'd do that for me? I'm flattered. Good boy."

Miss Evangeline, the principal, was now onstage. "Good morning, students. I am Miss Evangeline, principal of the school. I have a special announcement. Now, at this school so far, how many couples do we have out there?"

The first (and only) person Grace could hear was Irene, down in one of the first rows. "I'm in a couple! I'm the girl, and Shun is the boy! We're a couple!"

Grace turned to Shun. "Aren't you gonna say something?"

"Trust me, she's cheering loud enough for all of us," Shun moaned.

Grace giggled. "Yeah, I know."

Miss Evangeline smiled. "Yes, and how did you show your affections, Irene?"

"I called him honey?"

Miss Evangeline frowned.

"Oh yeah! The harmonizing thing! Well, Shun sang a song, so I harmonized."

Kyoya chuckled. "That was funny..."

"Hey!" Shun complained. "At least I did something."

"Anyways," Miss Evangeline called. The crowd fell silent. "What Irene did was the right thing. Here at Miss Raven's, you don't display affections through simply telling the person, you harmonize. Wait for a moment when the person you love is singing, and then harmonize. Understand?"

"Yes," the crowd droned.

"Hey, Bubbles, do you get it?" Grace asked Abberleigh.

Abberleigh nodded. "I think so. So, say I had a crush on Deidara..."

Deidara sat up a little straighter and seemed to be listening closer.

"I'd have to wait for him to start singing, and then harmonize?"

"That's what Miss Evangeline said," Grace laughed.

"Deidara! You're ignoring me," someone suddenly said. Deidara blinked.

"Hm?" He turned around. A red-headed boy with brown eyes was frowning at him, arms crossed. He was seated next to a boy with chin-length black hair and blue eyes. "Oh...Sasori. I didn't see you there."

"I've been trying to get your attention for...I don't know. A long time...half an hour?" the red-headed boy huffed. "But you ignored me."

"I didn't hear you..."

"You were too busy flirting, that's why."

Deidara blushed. "I'm not-"

"Anyways," the boy interrupted. "So...how are you...?"

"That's it? Well...I'm fine, I guess. How about you, Sasori?"

The boy shrugged. "Right about now, I'm lonely and ignored. Thanks to you."

Deidara gave an exasperated sigh. "Look, I'm sorry, OK?"

"Sorry doesn't help. I have a heart, you know..."

"You do?" Deidara gasped.

"You knew that!" the boy whimpered.

Deidara laughed. "I know, I know. I'm just kidding with you. Hey, have you met my roommate Abbi?"

Abberleigh waved. Grace waved too.

"No. Anyway..."

"Then you have to meet her," Deidara announced. "Abberleigh, meet Sasori. Oh, and this is Grace."

"Hi. Anyway..."

"Nice to meet you, Sasori," Abberleigh cut in. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you."

"That's very nice. ANYWAY..."

"Say hi to Grace!" Deidara pouted.

"Hi to Grace. I mean, no...just hi...Grace. Yes. ANYWAY...!"

"Now say hi to-"

"PLEASE shut up." Sasori insisted.

Deidara blinked. "No. Say hi to Shun."

Sasori moaned. "Hello Shun. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to talk to my...friend."

"But we haven't met your roommate!" Grace whined.

"Roommate, this is these guys. These guys, this is my roommate. There. Now, I'd like to speak with you..."

"What's his name?" Abberleigh asked. "Sorry again...!"

"I'm Yamioko Kohaiah. Call me Yami or Yoko. And you're Abbi, and she's Grace, right?" the black-haired boy confirmed.

"Yes. Oh, and I'm Jo. I'm going to call you Yokak, OK, Yokak?" Jo said.

Yamioko blinked. "No thank you...Jo."

Sasori's eyes narrowed. "Everyone SHUT UP."

Everyone fell silent. Until...

"ONCE I HAD A DREAM WHERE I WAS ON MY BUNK PLAYING BARBIES, AND I FELL OFF."

"DEIDARA! SHUT UP."

"Yes sir..."

Abberleigh laughed. "You have weird dreams, don't you?" she asked.

Deidara nodded. "Yes, I do."

Sasori moaned loudly. "Stop ignoring me..."

"Do you have weird dreams too, Sasori? Consider yourself un-ignored," Deidara said,

Sasori nodded. "Yes, I do. Now, if you don't shut up, I'll...um...tickle you."

"NOO! I'll shut up, I promise! Just don't tickle me!" Deidara begged. Sasori chuckled.

"Good. Now, anyways...I wanted to talk to you. We haven't spoken since we got here. I'm lonely," Sasori admitted.

"Hey, guys! Who likes chocolate ice cream?" Yamioko asked suddenly.

"Shut UP, Yokak!" Sasori ordered.

Yamioko sunk into his chair. "Fine then, Mr. Negative."

Sasori sighed. "I'm not negative, I'm annoyed. Now, everyone hush, so that I can have my conversation in peace," he said calmly.

Everyone nodded. Everyone, that is, except for Jasper, who suddenly sat up in the chair.

"You guys are all idiots, and you're bugging me. Go converse somewhere else," he commanded.

"Shut up, you stupid ant!" Deidara half-hissed. "My buddy here is trying to talk!"

Jasper frowned and stuck his toungue out at Deidara.

Deidara looked back at him and stuck his toungue out in reply.

Sasori nodded. "Thank you. So, then...how's...it?"

Deidara looked at him with a shocked expression. "You're seriously asking about 'it'?"

Grace and Abberleigh shifted uncomfortably. Deidara noticed them squirming.

"Oh, no, not that...that's not it...I mean, we have this mission thing, kind of...and that's what 'it' is," he explained awkwardly. Sasori nodded slowly.

"But anyways, how is it going?"

"I don't know."

"How can you not know? The mission was to make at least 5 friends who don't think we're freaks. So far I have one. How are you doing?"

Deidara shrugged. "Um..." He looked at Abberleigh, who nodded.

"We're your friends, guys," Grace added, taking Jo's wrist across Kyoya and Shun.

Deidara nodded. "That's three for me, and four for you. Wow, we're almost done already!"

Sasori chuckled softly. "Just wait...I said they had to be friends who didn't think we were freaks. Just wait. Oh, hey, I think it's over...Yamioko and I are going back to the room, now, alright? See you around, Deidara. You'll be in art class, right?"

"Duh, un!" Deidara laughed. "I'll see you there, then."

With that, Sasori rose and left, motioning for Yamioko to follow him. Raven gently coaxed Jasper up from his seat and the two best friends wandered away to their room.

Grace watched them go. "They seem nice. Sasori and Yamioko, that is. And Raven is OK...but I'm scared of Jasper," she admitted.

"So am I," Abberleigh agreed.

"I find him interesting."

Grace turned around. "Huh?"

"Over here."

Grace spotted the girl who'd spoken. "Oh...you do?"

The girl nodded. "Hm...he's adorable, too."

Grace blinked. "Yes...he is..." She trailed off. The girl's hair was dark brown, almost black, and her eyes a silverish color. When she angled her head to catch the light, her eyes seemed to change to a lilac color. "Um...what's your name?"

"Kurayami Yume," the girl answered. "As for my age, darkness only knows."

Grace slowly turned to face ahead. "Darkness...yes..."

"Yes, darkness. I like darkness. It fills my heart with joy." Then Kurayami stood. "Well, I should be going. That was your 'Kura-Kura Fun-Fact' for the day. Oh, and you're Grace. I heard them...that's what they were calling you, right? Nice to meet you." Then Kurayami left. Someone followed after her. It was another girl, with long black hair pulled in a ponytail and blue eyes. She turned as she left.

"Ain't she mysterious? Jus' like Takane! Oh, I'm Hibiki Ganaha. Nice to meet ya. Oh, Kurayami...wait up!"

Grace smiled. "Hibiki seems nice. I'm not so sure about Kurayami," she said. Jo nodded.

"We'll find out later, when we see her in class," she suggested. Grace smiled.

"Yes, we shall. And we'll meet more people too! I'm excited." She took a deep breath and stood. "Second year...here I come."