"Looks like you're in all of my classes," Gi said, leaning over Wheeler's shoulder at the breakfast table and gazing down at his timetable.

"Sweet," he said, shovelling another spoonful of cornflakes into his mouth. "Can I copy your homework?"

"No," she shot back immediately.

He shrugged. "Okay, so I just won't do it."

Linka rolled her eyes, stabbing another strawberry from her fruit salad with her fork. "I am actually looking forward to it a little," she said. "I enjoyed school."

"Nerd," Wheeler muttered.

"The next time you are in a tight spot, do not ask me to help you," Linka replied, narrowing her eyes at him slightly. "Use your own brain."

He grinned. "You won't stay mad at me forever."

"We had better go," Ma-Ti sighed. He still looked a little pale.

"It might be a good idea for us to go to the school as two groups, instead of one," Kwame said, speaking up. "Wheeler and Gi, you have classes together, so you go ahead. We will follow and try to catch up with you later."

Wheeler shrugged and grabbed his backpack. "Come on, then," he said, slinging his arm around Gi's shoulders. "See you guys later."

They waved half-heartedly, finishing their breakfast and gathering their own books together.

Linka stacked her books in her locker, feeling nervous and self-conscious as students swarmed around her. A few of them sent curious glances towards her, but she was largely ignored.

She caught sight of Gi and Wheeler further down the corridor, chatting together outside of their homeroom class.

"Hey."

She jumped, and turned. "Hello."

The girl stowing books in the locker beside her smiled. "You're new, right?"

"Da, I – I mean, yes. I am." Linka blushed.

"Where you from?"

"Russia."

"Cool." The girl snapped her bubblegum and sucked it back into her mouth. "I'm Jacinta."

"Linka."

"You need someone to show you where to go?"

Linka smiled and handed her timetable over. "That would be nice."

"You're on the same schedule as me," Jacinta said. "Grab your math book."

She led the way up the corridor as the swarm of students began to thin out. Ma-Ti smiled at Linka as she passed him, and she felt a small surge of courage.

Jacinta showed her into a desk just behind Kwame.

"You're new too," she said, looking at Kwame in surprise. "What's with all these kids showing up, like, in the middle of the semester?"

"This is Kwame," Linka said, introducing them. "Kwame, this is Jacinta."

Jacinta seemed to melt a little as Kwame smiled at her. "Hi."

"Hello," he answered.

"Are you in all of my classes as well?" she asked, reaching for his timetable. She gave him another wide smile and scanned his schedule as the rest of the class filtered in.

"Sup, baby?"

Linka flinched back as one of the boys tried to tickle her under the chin. He laughed, and was quickly echoed by two or three of his friends.

"Beat it, Dog," Jacinta snapped. "Keep your hands to yourself."

"Jealous?" he smirked. "Shut your mouth, Jacinta."

She glared at him and he wandered to the back of the class, throwing himself into a desk and dropping his books heavily.

"Don't mind him," Jacinta muttered. "He thinks he's better than he actually is."

"Who is it?" Linka whispered back, remembering the name Dog.

"His name is Raymond, but he likes to call himself Main Dog. Don't pay any attention to him." She sent another glare back to Main Dog, and he grinned at her.

Linka bit her lip and resisted the urge to turn around and get a good look at Main Dog. Thinking quickly, she realised her best bet on gaining information rested with Jacinta. She smiled at the girl next to her.

"It sounds like you have a history," she said.

Jacinta rolled her eyes. "Worst mistake I ever made."

Linka shrugged, and turned to the front of the class. "We all have those."

"Don't try and rush things," Wheeler warned Gi. "It might take a few days for us to gain any progress at all."

"I know," Gi whispered. She glanced towards the framed picture again. It had been set up outside of David's homeroom – a framed picture of him, with two candles and a vase of flowers that looked like they needed changing.

"No news this morning?" Wheeler asked in a low voice, stuffing his history book into his backpack with little regard for its welfare. Gi heard the crumpling of pages and sighed.

"No. Brian said he's still the same."

"He'll pull through," Wheeler said, hoping he sounded comforting. "Come on. We gotta go."

She followed him into the classroom, glancing around at the other students nervously. Her eyes landed on a group of boys at the back – slung in their seats lazily, chatting and laughing amongst themselves. They looked bored and confident, and in charge. Even the teacher seemed afraid of them.

Gi knew Clayton the moment she spotted him. The others treated him with a silent sort of reverence, and he looked around the classroom with eyes that appeared half-closed. Though she had no proof, and though there had been many gang members with guns that night, she instantly began to think that Clayton had been the one to shoot a bullet into David's chest.

She forced herself to concentrate on her history text book, but it wasn't easy. She kept thinking, bitterly, that David should be the one teaching the class. She kept thinking that she should have visited him, or made more of an effort to recognise his struggle against the violence there, and come to help him earlier.

"Next page, toots," Wheeler whispered.

She flicked the page and forced her eyes on the text again, deciding that class was a waste of time. All she really needed was a chance to talk to the other students.

Ma-Ti was in class without any other Planeteer with him – but he was also the least nervous. He did, however, seem to be suffering from the same headache that had plagued him the day before.

"Are you okay?"

He looked up at the boy looking down at him in concern.

"Just a headache," Ma-Ti assured him. "Stress, I suppose."

"You're new here, right? I'm Ronnie."

"Ma-Ti."

"Hey." Ronnie smiled. "Sure you're in the right class?"

Ma-Ti smiled back. "Afraid so."

Ronnie laughed. "Come on then. It's always good to have someone new around. I'll introduce you."

"Thanks," Ma-Ti sighed. Ronnie's friendly presence seemed to be easing his headache a little.

"So where are you from?" Ronnie asked. "You transfer here?"

"Yes," Ma-Ti said, going with what seemed to be the easiest explanation.

"Why would you come here?" Ronnie asked. He laughed, and apparently didn't require an answer as he pushed the door to the classroom open and led Ma-Ti inside.

"This is Ma-Ti," he announced to the room at large.

Ma-Ti gave a slightly embarrassed wave, but everyone appeared welcoming. He relaxed slightly.

"So has anyone shown you around?" Ronnie asked.

"Not really," Ma-Ti admitted.

"Well, it's pretty easy anyhow," Ronnie said. "This is the only classroom you need to worry about."

"What about the other students?" Ma-Ti asked with a smile. "Do I need to worry about any of them?"

Ronnie's smile faltered a little. "What do you mean?"

"Well, nothing, really," Ma-Ti said. "It's just that... I heard about that teacher. Mr. King."

Ronnie paled, and nodded. "Yeah. He's in hospital, I think."

"What happened?" Ma-Ti asked.

Ronnie shrugged. "No idea," he said. "We'd better get ready for class." He sat at his desk and took his books out, his mouth pressed into a thin line.

Ma-Ti dropped the subject, but something told him Ronnie knew more than he was letting on.

Kwame rested his head in his hands, his elbows on the kitchen table. "I have a headache," he complained.

"Is it the homework or something else?" Linka asked sympathetically.

"All of this," he said, gesturing about him. "I can feel hatred and prejudice in the air. I cannot imagine how Ma-Ti must be feeling."

Linka nodded wearily. It was exhausting her, too. It felt as though a heavy weight had settled across her shoulders and around her heart. She had looked at her ring several times, wondering if it was worth taking it off. All she could use it for was lifting scraps of paper or bowling leaves along the pavement. Silly, useless little games. She wondered what would happen if they tried to summon Captain Planet. She doubted it would even work – and if it did, he'd feel the same dread and exhaustion the rest of them were suffering.

"I am not sure what we should be doing," Kwame continued slowly. "Nobody seems to want to talk about the shooting. I do not want to question people too hard in case it arouses suspicion."

"Da, I know," Linka agreed. "I am hoping that Jacinta will open up a little and talk about Main Dog. Learning more about him and what he thinks of Mr. King could be a help to us."

Kwame nodded in agreement. "Perhaps Wheeler and Gi have learned something. Though, from what I saw of Clayton today, he seems less approachable than Main Dog. Everyone seems very afraid of him."

"I did not see him," Linka said, sitting opposite Kwame with a cup of tea. "Do you think Wheeler or Gi will be in danger?"

"No more than the rest of us." Kwame rested his head down on his arms, pillowed by a science book.

It was dark, and rain was pattering against the windows. In the living room, the Planeteers were gathered on sofas and armchairs, watching the television or reading, feeling quiet and weary.

Ma-Ti stretched out on the couch with a sigh. "If one more person calls me Marty, I will throw a textbook at them," he said, slinging his arm across his eyes.

Wheeler snorted. "I'd like to see that."

"You call him Marty, then," Linka said sweetly.

Gi stretched, her eyes fixed on the television, but unfocused. "So did anyone learn anything today?" she asked tiredly.

"That algebra is just as stupid now as it was when I was in high school," Wheeler muttered.

Gi punched his arm lightly. "You know what I mean."

"Main Dog is in our class," Linka said. "I am making friends with a girl named Jacinta, and I think she knows know him quite well. I am hoping to learn more about him."

Wheeler bit his tongue, fighting the urge to make a remark that would probably earn him a much harder punch.

"Well, Clayton is about is approachable as a cockroach," Gi said miserably.

"We cannot expect to make much progress on the first day," Kwame said gently. "It will take a while."

"I think Ronnie knows something," Ma-Ti said slowly. "He did not seem willing to talk about it, though. I will have to be careful when I ask him my next questions."

"Keep trying, Ma-Ti," Gi pleaded. "Anything we can learn about what happened to David will help us sort these gangs out."

"I will do my best, Gi," Ma-Ti promised.

She nodded, looking exhausted.

"Did you see David again today?" Kwame asked.

"Yeah," Gi whispered. "I sat with him for ages, hoping he'd wake up. The doctors said there hasn't been any change."

"We'll get there," Wheeler promised her confidently. "And he'll be okay."

"I hope so." She looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry for dragging you guys into this. I just feel like I owe him something for being such a friend to me for so long..."

"Friendship does not incur any debt, Gi," Ma-Ti answered gently. "We are doing this because we want to, not because we have to."

She smiled at him.

"I had not prepared myself for such a feeling of fear and suspicion," Kwame said, leaning his head back against the armchair he was sitting in. "I can feel it all around."

"You have to focus on the little things you see," Ma-Ti told him. "When people smile at you or try to help you. It is still there – it is just forced under the cloud of everything else."

"You still look pale," Gi said to him in concern. "Are you sure you're okay? We can all feel it but –"

"I'll be okay," Ma-Ti promised.

She nodded again and flipped her English book open. "Shakespeare," she sighed.

"Again," Wheeler grumbled. "Seriously, if the teachers know we're not really students, do we have to do our homework?"

"Enough to fool the other students," Gi answered. "You can't hand in blank pages."

"I'll just take the fail," he moaned.

"You are studying Macbeth, Yankee," Linka said, sounding a little jealous. "It is a wonderful play."

"You read it then," he said with a grin. "Tell me what happens."

She rolled her eyes. "I have my own homework, thank you."

"Have you heard from Brian, Gi?" Kwame asked. "Are there any concerns coming across from the teachers at the school?"

"Nothing we haven't already figured out ourselves," Gi said. "They've all warned us not to underestimate Clayton. I haven't heard much about Main Dog, but if he was there the night of the shooting, he's likely to be just as bad."

"It definitely feels like Clayton is the one that has to crumble if we want to bring it all down," Wheeler agreed. "He's got three or four friends with him all the time – members of his gang, I guess."

"How big is his gang, Gi?" Kwame asked.

She bit her lip. "Three or four members, I think? From what the teachers have told Brian, anyway. I guess they know just as well as anyone, unless he has friends who no longer attend the school."

"And another three or four on Main Dog's side?" Kwame asked.

Gi nodded. "We're outnumbered, I guess," she said softly.

Wheeler reached across and squeezed her hand gently and she sighed and shifted her attention back to her textbook, trying to distract herself with something a little more pleasant.

"I am tired," Linka sighed, closing her book. "I think I will have an early night. See you all tomorrow."

"Night, Linka," they all echoed. They felt like zombies – their eyes seemed glazed and unfocused.

She waved over her shoulder and headed for the stairs.

Wheeler waited a full three seconds before he followed her quickly.

"You okay?" he asked, bumping Linka's shoulder gently on their way upstairs.

"Of course," she said in surprise. "Why?"

"You're quiet," he reasoned. "Didn't wear your brain out today, did you?"

She laughed softly. "Nyet. It is just so overwhelming. I cannot help but think we will be here for a long time, yet."

"Yeah, it seems like it," Wheeler agreed. "Don't let it get you too down. You're the one who likes school, after all."

Linka stopped outside her bedroom door. "My high school was a little different to this one." She gave him a small smile. "Goodnight."

"You're going to sleep already?" Wheeler asked.

"I am tired."

"Nah, come on. You go to bed now and you'll be awake at 4am."

"Well what do you suggest?" she asked, preparing herself for a lewd answer.

"Strip poker?" he asked with a grin.

"Right on cue, Yankee," she sighed. She pushed him away lightly. "Goodnight."

He shrugged and shook his head with a smile. "Okay, no strip poker. How about we study for a while?" He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Romance 101?"

"Bozhe moy," she groaned.

"Come on, don't go to sleep yet," he said, taking her hand and leading her to his room. "Today sucked and I need a bit of distraction from it."

"It was not a good day?" Linka asked.

"Course not," he muttered. "I was at school."

She laughed and sat on the end of his bed. He sat against the headboard, propping pillows up behind his back. The bed creaked and groaned as they shifted.

"So you think you can figure all this out?" Wheeler asked, watching her.

She shrugged. "I am not sure what good any of us can do." She looked down at her hands. "I feel a little intimidated."

"You, intimidated?" he asked. "No way."

She smiled at him. "It happens. And these boys have done terrible things. It is frightening. I feel out of my depth."

"You'll be okay," he said comfortingly. "Anyway, you made a friend today, right?"

"Da, Jacinta. She seems nice."

"Well there you go. Remember Ma-Ti said to focus on the positives."

She smiled. "I know."

He stretched. "I know what you mean, though," he said. "I feel pretty on edge around here."

"Nervous?" she asked, needing clarification.

"Yeah."

They sat there in companionable silence for a while, listening to the rain hit the windows.

"How did you know which card I had picked?" Linka asked curiously, noticing the pack of cards on his bedside table.

"Oh, I knew," he sighed. He gave her a smug look. "Course it was going to be Queen of Hearts."

She rolled her eyes, but couldn't help a smile. "Tell me – please?"

"Where's the fun in that?" he asked with a grin.

She sighed, and thought for a moment. "Will you show me if I teach you a trick of my own?"

"No promises," he said.

"Do you have a nickel?" She held out her palm.

"What, I have to pay to see this trick?" he asked, digging around in his pocket.

"You will need to give me a matchstick, too, if you have any in your pocket."

"Jeez, rob me blind why don't you," he muttered, tossing a packet of matches and a nickel onto the mattress.

She smiled and balanced the nickel on its edge on his bedside table. "Be still," she warned him.

He watched silently as she balanced the matchstick horizontally along the coin, before tipping his empty water glass over the top, trapping the objects underneath.

"Now, without touching the glass, make the match fall off," she said. "But do not knock the nickel over."

"That's impossible!" he exclaimed. He blew towards the matchstick, but the glass sheltered it from harm. Linka laughed, and he grinned at her.

"I can't knock it off by ramming the table?" he asked.

"You can try, if you think you can do it without knocking the nickel over."

"And if I can't do it, I have to show you my trick?"

She nodded.

"What happens if I can do it?"

She smiled, fully confident. "You will not."

"A kiss," he demanded.

She flushed. "Wheeler!"

He laughed. "Still confident?"

She thought for a moment. "Da, I am still confident," she said. "If you can knock the match over and keep the nickel standing, I will kiss you. On the cheek."

He laughed. "A nickel for a kiss is a fair price, I think." He squinted at it through the glass. "Do I have to get something in under the glass to knock the match off?"

"Maybe you should listen when you are at school," Linka said impatiently. "Your problem-solving skills are nothing to brag about."

"Hey, this is hard!" Wheeler said, shuffling down and looking at the glass closely. He blew again, but nothing happened except a giggle from Linka.

He examined the glass closely. He tapped the table gently, but figured anything too hard would knock the nickel over as well. He tried to imagine sliding something underneath, but that didn't help either.

Finally, he sank back against his pillows. "I can't do it," he complained. "Which kills me, because I was really looking forward to that kiss."

Linka smiled. "You give up?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "Show me how it's done, genius."

She took his comb from his bedside table and ran it quickly through her hair before holding it against the side of the glass. The match quivered and followed the plastic comb as she waved it back and forth. The match fell beside the upstanding nickel.

"Magic," she whispered, giving him a smug smile. "Goodnight, Yankee."

"How did you do that?" he asked in amazement.

"I told you," she said, handing him his comb. "Magic."

"Wait," he said, sitting up as she stood. "Don't you want to learn the Queen of Hearts trick?"

She shook her head with a smile. "Some secrets are worth keeping. I like that one."

He smiled back. "Night then, babe."

She nodded and closed his door gently behind him. She stood still for a moment, trying to sort her feelings.

Somehow, she was a little disappointed that he hadn't won her kiss.