"so tell me, what's the deal with the shades?"

I'm walking with Emma through the halls after the end of lunch bell has rung.

"Is it a fashion statement or do you have some kind of hideous case of pink eye?"

"Neither. It's just this condition I have" I mutter "Photophobia. My eyes are just really sensitive to the light"

"Right. So you have to wear them constantly when your outside?"

I nod "And inside too. Fluorescent lights are really bad, the ones they use here at school. If I don't wear them I have to squint to see anything and it only takes around ten minutes before I start to get a killer headache and I feel lightheaded and stuff"

"Hm. Interesting. I've never heard of it before" she says as we head up the stairs.

"Not many people have. Take the next flight up as well" I tell her as she walks up the steps in front of me.

I happen to raise my head at the precise moment the back of her skirt flipped up just enough to see a flash of white cotton underwear. I look back down to my feet quickly.

"So, um, why did you end up transferring here anyway? Not many people change schools through senior year, and especially not from Massachusetts prep to Xaviers" I ask as we reach the top and keep walking.

"Do you think I was kicked out then?" she smiled.

I don't answer straight away "Well, I didn't say that"

"It does seem like the only smart explanation doesn't it?"

I shrug. She shrugs back. Mimicking me, not answering the question.

"Sooo... were you kicked out?"

"Yes"

She says it bluntly and without a clear emotion that is surprises me.

"Really? Why? What did you do?" I raise my eyebrows at her as we reach the door to the classroom and she turns to face me

I wouldn't say i'm a nosy person, I generally mind my own business, but I was genuinely curious. I'd never met anyone who was actually kicked out of school before. Plus Emma didn't look like the type to start a punch up in the cafeteria or vandalise school property, but for all I knew maybe she could be.

Emma just shot me a devilish smile "I was simply too fabulous for them. That's why" and she pushes the door open and strides in ahead of me.

O0o00o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

We've been in study period for half an hour and I still haven't found out why she was expelled. Granted I only tried asking one more time and again she just smiled a poker-face smile and told me she already answered that question. So I drop it. Maybe it was personal. Maybe it was embarrassing. Maybe she's joking about the entire thing.

I don't have anyone I talk too in this study period. I usually just sit up the back and actually do work instead of sit around and text or chat or watch the latest episode of how I met your mother on someones i-pad, which is what everyone else does. Were in one of the science classrooms for the lower years so the benches are long and white, with high chairs that your feet dangle off of unless you can get one of the non-broken ones that still have a footrest. Emma sat next to me at my usually exclusive table, getting out a fancy leather bound notepad and pen that came in it's own silk lined case. In comparison I had a two dollar exercise book that was falling apart and a biro. We worked in a mutual silence, occasionally asking questions. I asked her about her family. Her parents were still together and she had two sisters, one older, one younger, and I told her I was the same but with brothers. I happen to mention that they're both kind of asshole, then I worry if that sounds a little harsh to tell someone you just met but she then tells me that her sisters are bitches. The coincidence is kind of funny. Apparently her dad was head of a company called Frost international. I said that was a weird name for a company that didn't sell ice or fridges or anything. She then told me Frost was her family name. My bad. I tell her my Dad is a writer, not going into any detail about Captain corsair and the space jammers and their war against the Shi'ar empire. She doesn't have any pets because her mothers allergic but says she wouldn't mind a cat. I tell her a bit about Cable. We settle back into silence.

I glance over at her as she writes. Her handwriting is neat and all in perfect cursive, with lots of little loopy bits and she draws circles above her i's instead of just using dots. She writes slowly and stays completely on the line. I look at my own handwriting. Its barely legible. I write tiny and cramp up my words so tight you can barely tell them apart. My maths notes are just a wall of text with the occasional triangle or circle stuck in the middle like islands.

"So are you friends with Warren?"

The question comes out of nowhere.

"Um, yeah" I say, only half lying. Which means I don't particularly like him but he doesn't particularly know that. But why go into that now "Why?"

"No reason, I've just always wondered why he chose to come here instead of Massachusetts since I know he did consider it. Thought you might know if you two were close" she asks, still writing in her notebook.

"Well, were not close so yeah, I dunno. I've heard Jean say it was because of the whole boarding school thing that put him off"

She nods "Hm, I always guessed it was something like that, especially since I know his parents always coddled him. Didn't want him away months at a time I guess"

I pause and frown.

"Wait, I thought you said you didn't know him?"

"I know"

"So you do know him and you do remember him?"

"I do"

"So you were lying back there?"

"I was"

She was so non-chalant about her answers.

"Why?" I ask.

She smiles"I thought it would be funny. Is that bad?"

I stare at her incredulously for a second before I let out a laugh. She cracks and laughs a little too.

"Did you see his face though? He was devastated!"

"Oh, I know!I'm awful. I couldn't help myself though. I know you said he's your friend but god, the few times i've met him he's just been so...you can just tell he thinks he's gods gift to women can't you? He plays the nice modest guy so well but I can tell he secretly agrees with every compliment he ever gets and well...I don't think it's that bad to take those guys down one little peg or two occasionally"

I get myself under control but theres still a smile on my face. The idea that at least one girl at this school is immune to Warren Worthington the thirds charms just makes my day.

The rest of the lesson went by pretty quickly, so did chemistry next period. We didn't talk much in that class, the teacher was actually strict and expected us to read quietly from the textbook while he flipped through his i-phone under his desk.

Emma was a little different. Not weird different. Just...not the usual.

I really have such a way with words don't I?

I don't know what I even mean exactly, I just know that she seemed alright. When the final bell rang and I said goodbye to her I actually felt good. As sad as it sounds, theres not that many people I can talk too easily and that goes double for girls.

I walk down the hall and turn the corner to see Jean already waiting at her locker and packing up her books. We say Hello and share a kiss before I lean back on the other side of the lockers and wait for her.

"So how was the rest of your day? Oh and thank you sooo much about taking Emma off my hands by the way, I owe you one" She laughed, shaking her head, as she crammed an english lit book under a pair of her cheerleading sneakers.

"What do you mean?" I say cluelessly.

She shut the locker door and turned to face me "Seriously, I couldn't take another hour with that girl"

Well that's not what I expected to hear.

"what, why?"

Jean seems to find my genuine surprise baffling as she frowns at me "Are you kidding? Little miss princess barbie, Paris hilton wannabe? The first thing she did when she met me was look me up and down and ask if this was my natural colour. Not even a hello first or a smile. Oh and apparantly I might 'benefit' from some de-frizz shampoo. My hair is wavy, not frizzy! Theres a difference. I could straighten and burn my hair to hell and back like she does if I wanted too, but I happen to like my hair"

I don't know what to say, but she's looking at something Summers. Quickly

"Oh. That's kind of rude"

This was the right thing to say.

"I know! And the entire time i'm giving her a tour of the school, using up my own personal class time voluntarily by the way, she's on her phone or staring off into space or saying something obnoxious like 'Oh, are these the biggest class rooms you have? The one's a M.A. Were at least twice the size' or 'The water fountains you have here don't look the least bit sanitary'"

I watched as Jean got herself worked up, even putting on a fake British accent to imitate Emma. I feel awkward. I should ay something again.

"That sucks"

Jean nods "Such a nightmare. I really hope she gets used to the school quickly because I do not want to be her guide longer than I have too" I think this might be the end of it but her eyes widen like she remembers something "Oh and what about today at lunch! The way she totally put down Kitty's bag right to her face! Like so what if it's fake, nobody cares! You shouldn't be spending thousands of dollars on a stupid bag when there are people starving in the world!"

I flash back to this morning when Jean had said something about how it would be nice to own one of those thousand dollar bags, but luckily my parents didn't raise me stupid so I keep my mouth shut.

This is probably a good time to mention that while being one of the most genuinely kind and caring people you will ever meet, Jean did have a fierce side to her. It mostly showed itself when standing up for her friends, like for a instance there was a time when we were all out seeing a movie and some guy hollered something gross at Betsy on the street and Jean literally walked up to him and gave the guy a stern talking too about gentlemanly behaviour, no fear. She also made him apologise. You didn't even have to be her friend either. If she see's someone push in front of another customer in line for her checkout at work, she will call you out and send you to the back of the line and take her sweet time putting your items through. And forget your bags being packed, she'll make you do it yourself. She just had a strong idea of what's wrong and what's right, that's how i've seen it.

"And when she was bragging to Alison about all those other designer bags she had? I'm glad we got away or we probably would have had to hear the entire inventory of her closet"

We begin walking down the corridor among the throngs of people heading to the exit.

"Alison did kind of ask her about it though" I say, shrugging "And I don't think pointing out that her bag was real to Kitty was meant in like, a mean way or anything"

Jean thinned her lips and looked up at me sternly.

That was not the right thing to say.

And i'd been doing so well too.

"No offence Scott but that is such a boy way to see it. You don't get how girls work. Were subtle. There are layers to things girls say. Emma technically only said 'but my bag is real' but what she actually meant was 'but my bag is real, so this makes me better than you. I am also richer and I know it so bow down to me with your inferior knock-off bag, you peasant'"

I frown trying to let that sink in "Um. Ok"

"I know it's hard to see but it's there. We see it. She was being totally rude right to our faces"

"And what were you doing then?" I ask without thinking.

"what?"

"That whole 'you wait here Emma while I go and talk to my friends mysteriously instead of introducing you to all of them'. I dunno, it was weird. I didn't mind having her sit with us but don't you think she'd have been more comfortable meeting all your girlfriends?"

Jean looked a little sheepish "Ok, so I kind of wanted the opportunity to vent to everyone real quick and tell them about what Emma was like first before I had to do the whole fake smile thing with all the introductions and blah blah blah. It was like a fair warning"

"Or you decided you didn't like her and you wanted to make sure when you introduced Emma that your friends wouldn't accidentally end up liking her instead?"

I don't say it to be super accusatory. Sometimes Jean is quick to step into a way of thinking, especially when her temper flares, and sometimes you just needed to put it into perspective so she can be objective and take another look at whats in front of her.

Jean screws up her face "When you put it like that I sound like a bit of a bitch don't I?"

I am back to being smart enough to know that is a rhetorical question.

"You've only just met her. She rubbed you the wrong way. It's her first day at a new school that's obviously different than anything she's used too. Maybe she isn't acting herself"

Jean sighs as she crashes into me and I put my arm around her as we walk "Urgh, Scott. Stop being so sensible. You make me feel like an ass"

"I do what I can"

"Ok. I'll give princess prep school another chance" Jean submits, her voice calming "But she better watch herself. She's on edge. And I can't promise anything from the other girls either. You know what kitty's like. Once you piss her off there's no coming back"

"Alison seems to like her"

"Please,Alison seems to like the prospect that she might be able to try on a pair of borrowed designer shoes" Jean laughed.

As we reach the exit we stop on the steps. She stays two above me so she's just as tall and were face to face.

"You wanna come over? Alex is out late so he wont be annoying and Moms on a long shift. We could order a pizza"

I try not to let any ulterior motives other than pizza cloud my mind. Jean can always seem to read me when I do.

Her nose scrunched up and she immediately put on an apologetic voice "Aw, I'm sorry but i'm kind of just beat from today. Monday-itis. I just want to go home and sleep"

"Yeah, no, that's cool"

Damn, she totally read that.

"Maybe tomorrow after school at yours then?"

"Cheer practise. Sorry"

I try not to let any disappointment show as a I shrug "Well I guess i'll just see you tomorrow in Lit class then"

"Yeah and I swear we'll hang out soon. Promise" She gives me a kiss that's way too short for my liking before breaking away "My Mom's car's probably out the front by now, I better get going"

I steal one more quick kiss on the lips before she pushes me away with a smile, heading to the car park.

I pull out my i-pod and headphones and walk home alone.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

The next day in gym class I was off my game, which was clear when Jamie Maddrox hurled a dodge ball right into the side of my rib cage.

I'm generally pretty good at sports and i'm one of the people at school who doesn't actually mind the mandatory phys ed lessons. But as I say that, I like more sports than others. Baseball especially, soccer is good too and all those athletics things like long jump and track I do pretty well at too. I'm not the best but I used to be on a couple of teams before junior year when I dropped it to focus on exams.

Then there's those bullshit lessons they try and pull with you.

Like dodgeball.

God I hate dodgeball.

It's not even a real sport, it's just a kids game. People have tried to convince me that it does have some sense of strategy to it and requires skill...but lets be real. They just chuck a class of us in the gymnasium and make us ditch balls at each other until one side wins.

So yeah, i'm of my game because A. I have other things on my mind and B. This game sucks anyway.

I clutch at my side and walk over to the side bench as I hear Jamie holler about his victory. As the game continues I take a seat next to Hank, who had gotten himself taken out in the first few seconds on purpose so he could sit and read his book.

"God I miss Coach Harper" I mutter "I even miss those laps around the oval he made us do every lesson. Anything better than this"

Hank nodded "Hm, can't say I miss the laps, but I know what you mean. Mr Howlett isn't the best teacher"

The sports department had a bit of a scandal just last term when a bag of weed was found in three different lockers. Three teachers lockers. Coach Harper was one of them and he was fired immediately along with the others. Now the school had too many gym classes and not enough teachers, so we got stuck with Mr Howlett. Me and Hank both look over to the other side of the gym where the stocky, muscle bound Mr Howlett stood with his arms folded and a scowl on his face, surveying the players and barking at anyone who wasn't actively trying to beat anyone else with a ball. Everything he said he growled in a voice of a chain smoker. He was hairy and unshaven and ..and...Canadian! The only reason I know that last one is because someone made a canada joke once and they almost got pushed up against the wall and threatened. Even the few times he's let slip an 'eh?' nobody even dared point it out. To sum him up quickly, he was just a moody bastard.

Also he hated me.

He hated a lot of kids, he seemed to dislike most teenagers in general, but he would always single me out.

He'd taken to calling me 'slim' which I hated. He laughed about my glasses even after I explained about them and he asked if I made it up since it sounded so stupid. Next lesson when I showed him my medical certificate he said he didn't even care and told me not to be so sensitive and to take a joke. I wasn't being sensitive, I was being practical. Plus he said I had girlish hips. What does that even mean? I don't feel the need to point out that i'm actually a head taller than has to look up at me just to yell in my face about how pathetic my push ups are. Plus when ever I volunteer to be a team leader he never picks me. Ever. Even when i'm the only one who wants to be one he'll automatically pick someone else. If I try to do well he tells me to stop trying to show off, if I don't try he tells me to stop slacking off. I can't win with this guy.

I'm glad when the bell rings and the lessons over. As I head back to the locker room to change quickly for next class I hear someone call my name.

"Scott!"

It's Jean and Betsy at the gym doors.

"Hey" I say as they walk up. Bobby and Hank keep walking.

"We got let out of our free period early and I thought we'd all walk to Lit together"

I smile knowing she thought of me but before I can answer he comes up to us.

"Slim! If you don't hurry up and get changed quick you'll be late to your next class. I don't want any other faculty member bitching to me about holding up students so don't make that my problem" he says as he saunters up.

"Hi Mr Howlett" Jean chirps, smiling and clutching her book to her chest. Betsy smiles quietly beside her.

"Hey there darlin's. How are you girls doing? Alright?" he has one of those lazy half smiles. It looks more like a snarl to me.

"Yeah, good thanks" They both say brightly.

"Good to hear. What have you got there?" He nods at the book she's holding.

"Oh, it's just what were reading next for class. The Great Gatsby. I just got more than half way through it" she shrugs but he holds out his hand to see it. She hands it to him and he has a quick flip through.

"Pretty thick book, probably couldn't get through it myself. But then I wasn't a smart girl like you in high school" he says as he passes it back.

Jean smirks "Aw i'm sure you were a very smart young girl in your day"

I freeze, wide eyed, thinking that Jeans just poked the sleeping bear...but he says nothing. Instead he just makes what sounds like a sniffing noise through his nose and I think that's his way of laughing. Jean and Betsy are actually giggling at him even.

"Pfft, I gotta watch what I say around you Jeannie"

And that was it. There was no anger. No growling. No lectures. If I had made the same joke I bet i'd be tossed up through the hanging basketball hoop head first and he wouldn't let me come down till next week. Sometimes i'm glad to have my glasses since no one can tell when my eyes are bugging out of my head.

"Summers, what did I just say? Hurry up so you don't leave these ladies waiting much longer for your slow ass" I get barked at and I quickly turn on my heel.

Asshole.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

I make us late.

The bell rings just as were rounding the hall and we quicken our steps. Betsy lets out a very un-subtle sigh of annoyance which I can tell is directed at me. Our teacher, the elderly Miss. Perkins, hates when students are late.

Jean cracks open the classroom door and peers in "Sorry" she winces and Miss. Perkins just looks down her glasses at us as we sheepishly slink into the room while all the other students stare at us. She doesn't even say anything and keeps her lips pressed thin.

"...As I was saying, I wanted to ask if any of you had made a start on the book since I handed it out last week?"

We took out seats, Jean in the middle of both me and Betsy, as only a hand full of students raised there hands.

Emma was one of them.

I hadn't noticed her when I walked in and had forgotten we had this class together. She sat a couple rows in front of us, her long hair slightly curled today as it hung over the back of her chair. She had a long sleeved white top on with a matching pleated mini skirt. I quickly wondered if she was going to wear white everyday?

"Ah, you're the new girl they'd told me i'd be getting" Miss. Perkins sniffed, scanning over her roster "Emma wasn't it? Are you sure you should have your hand up dear? Maybe you misunderstood the question .Do you even know what book we are currently reading?"

I couldn't see Emma's face but her voice came out sharply "Considering most of the other students have a copy of the Great Gatsby in front of them, I think I can take a wild guess. And yes, I have read it before. A few times"

I smile and a few other students chuckle. Miss. Perkins was a miserable old women who talked down to everyone, served her right. She didn't look amused though.

"Well aren't you a smart girl" she said in an unsavoury tone "But i'd appreciate it if you could do us the courtesy of still reading along with us in class time, hrm?"

Emma didn't say anything in reply. Smart move.

A few moments after Miss. Perkins started taking the roll, we were instructed to start reading quietly while she went and got an extra copy of the book from the English office for Emma. I hadn't even started the first page when I heard Betsy turn to whisper to Jean.

"I was talking to Warren the other day and you wont believe what he told me about Emma"

I keep my eyes down at my book, listening in as I heard Jean ask "what?"

"Apparently she had a boob job"

I pull a face but manage not to look up.

"What! No way... that can't be true" Jean says dismissively.

"No, no, he told me! A couple of years ago at some charity gala event they both went to with their families, one of those rich people things or whatever, and he saw her and she suddenly had massive ones when she had always been totally flat before. Boom, just like that, sprung up over night. Plus you can tell since they're so well placed and don't go up and down when she walks" Betsy talked like she was some kind of expert on the subject.

I have to try and get the image of Emma breasts out of my heads I stare intently at nothing at my open page. I could still hear the scepticism in Jeans voice. Good on you Jean. Don't fall for stupid gossip.

" I thought you had to be at least over 18 to get them?"

"Not when you have parental consent, then you can get them at 16"

"Really? Wow. I mean when I saw her I just thought she had some kind of ridiculous push up bra on but now that you mention it, they do look fake. They're too...round"

"Yeah, and I heard guys hate them. They feel different and they lose, like, total nipple sensation"

God how can girls just discuss this stuff in the middle of a class?It might be fine for them but it is flat out dangerous for a guy who has not gotten any in two months. I have to try really hard to block out anything to do with 'roundness' ' the feel of them' and the words 'nipple sensation'.

"You know maybe you shouldn't just automatically believe Warren" I butt in, making them both turn to me in surprise "Maybe he's just pissed that she didn't remember him yesterday and he wants to start a rumour"

Jean and Betsy both frown at me

"Warren wouldn't lie about that"

"Yeah, and he didn't even say it to be rude. It's just stating a fact"

I regret even opening my mouth as they both jump down my throat. I quickly throw up a hand in submission "Ok, sorry. Never mind"

God forbid I forsake the sacred name of Warren Worthington the third. Holy diety and idol of Xavier high who can do no wrong.

"Just...why don't you ask her first before you start talking about it?"

They look at me like i'm stupid.

"You can't just walk up to someone and ask about their breasts!"

Oh but discussing them at length behind their backs is? Girls.

I decide to give in and a second later Miss Perkins returns. The rest of class is a non- event but I can see Jean and Betsy pass notes back and forth from behind their books, laughing.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 o0o

At lunch I didn't see Emma. She didn't sit with us again and I couldn't see her over with Jean either. Not thinking much of it I assumed she must've met someone in a different class and was sitting with them somewhere. Half way through physics Hank reminded me she was supposed to be in our class but it didn't look like she'd shown up. I think a little more of that.

After last period ended and the final bell rang I head straight over to the gym to watch Jeans cheer practise. I haven't been to one in awhile but this time she had actually asked me too, which I was pretty happy about.

When I get there a few of the girls are warming up and stretching and messing around. Jean wasn't there yet. I'm a little early. Not many spectators around anyway though, usually there are more friends and boyfriends hanging around to watch. Though I do see Warren there right up the front joking with Betsy about something. I head straight to the back and pretend I didn't see them.

When Jean and the rest of the team emerges from the locker room and into the gym she spots me and waves. She breaks off from her friends and comes up the steps to say hi.

"Scott, can you watch my stuff? I don't want to leave it in the locker room since last week at practise Alison said her i-pod was stolen. I kind of think she might have just lost it again but I don't want to take chances"

Well she at least kisses me on the cheek when she dumps her backpack and gym bag on the bench next to me.

"Uh yeah, sure"

"Thanks!" she's about to run back down the stairs again but as I look up I spot him walk in the doors. Mr hairy canadian asshole himself.

"What is he doing here?' I ask out loud and Jean stops and turns back.

"Who? Mr. Howlett?"

"Uh, yeah" I watch as he walk up to the girls and blow the whistle hanging around his neck. I can hear him bark out an order for the girls to run around the gym for a warm up. I am trying to comprehend this.

"Wheres your normal coach? The woman with the spiky ponytail and always wore velvet sweat pants?" I frown.

Jean looks at me blankly "...uh, Miss Stone was one of the teachers that got fired? Remember?"

"You didn't tell me that"

"Scott, the whole school made 'Miss Stoner' jokes for weeks, how could you have missed that?" She rolls her eyes.

"...oh so that's what that was about"

"Anyway, Mr. Howlett was the only available gym teacher so he's our coach 'till they find a replacement" she explained, ready to head down to join the others who had already set off running.

"Wait" I stop her and she turns around again, this time looking impatient "They couldn't have gotten you guys a girl teacher? What does he even know about cheer leading anyway?"

"Mrs. Cliffton and Mrs Rogers don't know anything about cheerleading either so it wouldn't have made any difference. Plus they were both busy and wouldn't agree to it, Mr Howlett did. We know all our routines and stuff anyway, we just need a teacher ti supervise because of school policies. Why, do you have an issue with it?"

Because he's an asshole. Because I don't think it's fair the you have to get stuck with him. Because he's probably just a pervy old man who wants to watch all the girls in their cheer uniforms. Because I hate him.

"I don't have an issue with it"

Jean looks like she's about to say something back to me but she's cut off by a voice calling out across the gym.

"Jeannie"

We both turn around as Mr. Howlett is glowering up at me, his arms folded.

"Jean, you need to get to training with the others. Summers. Get out" He says it bluntly. An order.

"What?"

"You heard me. Get out. You're a distraction"

I glare behind my glasses "I'm just sitting here?"

Arguing was obviously not the response he wanted to hear. He actually steps up to the bleachers and begins walking up to us. Jean looks back at me with wide eyes and a thin mouth, as if silently telling me not to start anything.

"Look, I know you must wanna come her and oggle your girl in her little cheer uniform like the hormonal little boy you are, but see she has others things she needs to be doing. And right now you're wasting her time and my time. So get out. Not at your leisure, i'm not asking, I mean now. Can you get that or do I need to say it again?"

I actually gape at him. Who talks like that? Does he think he's a drill sergeant? I'm glaring so hard he would be able to see it even through my glasses.

Jean isn't saying anything, she just stands behind himand is watching all of this happen. I can see the whole rest of the cheer team is watching too, having over heard. They're all waiting to see what happens.

I want to punch him in the face.

I want to stand up right now and push him down these stairs.

He could probably take me but i'm so mad I actually seriously consider that socking him one in the face would be worth it.

But of course after several tense seconds, that's not what I end up doing.

"Ok"

I grab my bag and get up, stalking past the both of them on my way down the steps. Everyones looking at me and I try not to make eye contact with any of them. As I get to the door I hear another whistle being blown and the asshole tells all the girls to fall in and get in their first formation. I half hope Jean would suddenly rush out after me, appalled over what just happens and saying she couldn't believe what a jerk he was. She'd say she could never be on the team when someone like that was running it and she would go on strike, then we would leave together hand in hand. I even slowed down my steps just in case.

But of course that didn't happen. I ended up making it to the end of the hallway and by now I could hear their loud dance music start up.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 o0o0o0o0o0o00o0o0o0oo0

Feeling particularily sorry for myself, I head out the front doors of the school and down the concrete steps. As I pull on my jacket I spot a blonde girl sitting on the railing near the bottom.

"Emma?"

The girl turns her head and I was right. It was her.

"Oh, hello" she doesn't smile.

"You waiting to get picked up?"

She nods.

There's a silence where I can't think of anything to say, but i'm standing here like an idiot. I should say something.

"So, ah, I didn't see you at lunch. Did you find someone else to sit with?"

" I kept my own company" she said sharply.

"Oh. And I didn't see you in chemistry either-"

"Probably because I didn't go"

I shut my mouth. She seems pissed. Granted she hadn't seemed like a peppy kind of person when i'd first met her, but I remember that talk in free period. It was just a slight change in the air around her, the way she said things. I should probably just leave her alone.

"...is the Great Gatsby actually any good? I haven't even started it. This term'll probably be really easy for you since you already know it so well anyway"

She gives me a look. God that was a dumb thing to bring up. Why do I even talk. Stop it Summers, just walk away now.

"You know they're making that new movie with Leonardo Dicaprio in it. I don't know when it comes out though, I just know my Mom wants to see it. I'll probably end up having to go see it with her since my Dad hates those kinds of movies"

Did I really just bring up going to the movies with my Mom? Jeez, I really did. Somebody stop me. I'm digging a hole for myself and I can't get out.

"I liked him in that blood diamond movie though. Everyone said his accent sucked in it but I actually thought it was pretty good considering-"

"My breasts are fake if you wanted to know"

I pause mid sentence. That shut me up. Emma is looking me right in the eye. I'm looking right back.

"Um, excuse me?"

"My tits. They aren't real. I did get plastic surgery when I was sixteen. It was a birthday present"

"Oh... "

What the hell do I say to that?

I panic. I think back to that class when Betsy and Jean had been talking. I try to remember if they said anything really bad. I try to remember if I said anything bad.

"So...you, um, heard us in Lit class"

"Obviously" she sniffs.

Theres a tense silence.

"I...I'm really sorry about that"

I feel so awkward I want the ground to just open up and swallow me now but Emma actually smirks like she finds it funny.

"No offence, but that doesn't mean anything coming from you. You can't apologise on their behalf"

"Still, we shouldn't have really been saying that stuff..." I trail off "Was that why you ate lunch alone and didn't come to chemistry? Because...you know..."

"What? Because I was sad that ginger and her little goof troupe didn't like me and my fake tits, so I went to have a cry in the bathroom instead because I just couldn't face the day?" she smiled like it was meant to be funny but I didn't laugh. I just looked at her and she dropped her head to inspect on e of her nails.

"You know I don't even care if your girlfriend hates me, but I really do care if you start to feel sorry for me. That kind of thing makes me sick"

I end up dropping my bag down and taking a seat next to her on the railing.

"I wouldn't...I don't thing she hates you-" I start but Emma scoffs.

"Oh please, i'm surprisingly used to people hating me and i've gotten pretty damn good at finding the signs by now"

She's smiling but theres no happiness behind it.

We sit in silence for awhile.

"Changing schools hasn't been that easy then, huh?"

She doesn't answer me straight away.

"I was practically the queen of my last school" she says with no trace of modesty "I wouldn't say everyone liked me but they were at least scared of me. This is a different game though. You're all so different here at public schools. I actually over heard one girl showing off the fact that her shoes only cost $3 at k-mart"

"You know i've been here for four years almost and I still don't feel like I 'fit in' that much, and it's only your second day"

"Oh god, don't give me the after school special talk. This isn't Degrassi junior high" she snaps dryly at me and I can't help but laugh.

"Ok, yeah, that was cheesy. Sometimes I can't help it" I shrug "But i'm just saying, in a way, I kind of get it. The people here...aren't always the easiest. Especially the girls. They all have their little groups they've had for years and I can imagine its hard to even try and get in there with them. Not that I claim to understand girls but I has to be hard"

She smirks "Don't try and understand girls Scott. Only girls can understand girls and that's why we all hate each other"

I smile and continue "And don't even feel bad if they don't end up liking you. They don't like me much either. I'm pretty much a certified loser in their books"

"A certified loser? What does that mean, you have a little certificate to authenticate how much of a loser you are? Is there a sign up sheet?" she jokes.

"What, to the officially certified loser club?" I smirk.

"Yes. Do they have that at this school? Listed right after the AV club in the school newsletter?"

"I dunno, so far it only has one member so I don't know if it really counts as a club yet"

I'm surprised that I am actually managing to keep a joke running. I'm usually the one who kills it.

"Well maybe you had better start it since it looks like I might just end up being its newest member" she says in mock seriousness "Do I get a membership card to this certified losers club?"

"You know I actually have my own label maker at home so I could probably make them"

She raises an eyebrow at me.

"...It's pretty lame to have your own label maker isn't it?"

"It really is"

A sleek black car pulls up in front of the steps and Emma pulls her purse up onto her shoulder.

"Your ride?" I say, admiring the car I know is a newer model Bentley.

"Good guess" she says as she stands up and heads over to get in the back seat.

"You don't want a lift?" she offers but I shake my head.

"No thanks, I only live a ten minute walk away"

She shrugs "Suit yourself" but before she leaves she turns to me again"And Scott?"

"Yeah?"

She smiles that same devilish smile I recognise from yesterday

"You can tell Betsy and Jean that I do still have a lot of nipple sensation, thank you very much"

And with that she opens the door and slips into the car, leaving me staring after her as it drives off.

Well.

Ok then.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 o0o0o0

When I get home I notice Mom's car is in the driveway. I kick off my shoes on the porch and walk in, pulling off a sweet slide in my socks as I go around the floorboards of the hallway into the living room.

"Hey honey" Mom smiles up at me as she folds laundry in front of the TV.

"Hey" I call out as I immediately go to the kitchen and grab a coke from the fridge "You're not working tonight?"

"It was quiet today so they sent me home early. Technically i'm still on call but unless theres a five car pile up on the freeway I won't be going anywhere" she chirps, still in her blue scrubs as she sorts one of Dads old Hawaiian shirts into a neat pile. "How was school?"

"Good" I say automatically as I flop down on the sinking part of our ancient brown leather couch "What are you watching?"

"Dr Phil"

I should have guessed by the fat lady crying on stage. "Why do you even watch this?"

"You wanna try and find something else decent on at three thirty in the afternoon be my guest" she threw me the remote and I flipped through the channels. Greek news. Some pre-school show. The View and some french movie with subtitles. I click back to Dr Phil.

"If Dad ever hits it big with one of his novel can you promise cable will be the first thing we get?"as I say it , Cable limp into the room with his ears perked "Not you boy" I pat the spot next to me and he comes over and jumps up next to me so I can scratch him behind the ears.

"Oh, Scott, you know I don't like it when he gets on the couch. He malts everywhere" Mom only lightly scowls at me so I screw up cables face in my hands and point him at her.

"But how can you say no to this?" Cable let outs a little noise of annoyance.

"Hrm, fine. This time he can sit there"

She doesn't know that I let him sit there every time she's out of the house. He sleep on my bed too.

"And Dad's just gone out to meet with his publisher this afternoon and he's coming back with pizza. Because I don't feel like cooking on my night off"

"Sweet. Meatlovers from Sarpino's?"

"Do you boys eat anything else?"

I rest back into the couch with Cable curled up next to me and sip my coke, watching as Dr Phil tells another red neck women to 'get real'. We sit in silence for awhile until I notice Mom keeps glancing at me from the corner of her eye.

"What?"

"What?"

"you were staring"

"No I wasn't"

I pull a face at her and she shrugs, balling together a pair of Alex's socks.

"It's just that you seem in a good mood, that's all. You've seemed a bit down the past week and I was wondering if anything interesting happened at school today to, I don't now, cheer you up"

I take this in. I liked to think I never moped around the house like some generically depressed teenager but I think mothers just had a sense to them. First I thought back to the cheer practise and Jean and Mr Howlett. It was like I had forgotten it until now.

Then my mind flashed to Emma.

"I can't think of anything" I shrug at her.

She seems to accept this answer "Well either way, I like seeing you a little happy so I hope it keeps up, whatever caused it" she smiled and picked up one of the many piles of neatly folded laundry, dumping it in my lap "Now go hang these up in your closet"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

A/N: I don't know why a lot of fics I read leave out stuff with families. I love writing about families! Its just me and Mum in my house and I like the idea of the strangeness and clashing personalities of a big family. Plus it's such a huge part of your life, your home and the people you live with.

God I love writing Emma. She's arguably my very favourite comic book character so I hope I do her justice too.

And please know that I don't hate Jean and I wont be throwing her under a bus character wise. I'm not going to make her a crazy bitch for no reason, she and Emma are just going to clash.

And hey heres another playlist:

The horizon has been defeated- Jack Johnson

Intuition-Jewel

Gossip folks- Missy Elliot

Diamonds on the inside-Ben Harper

She's so mean-Matchbox twenty

Outsiders- Franz Ferdinand

Stick together- The Super Jesus