Sorry for the formatting mistakes on the previous chapter! I tried editing it three times and it still hasn't worked out well... Then again, I'm using the app and they just recently added the story publisher thing, so hopefully it'll be easier to edit after the next update. Anywho, on to chapter two!

Finally, after two more classes, it was lunchtime. July got her food and started going back towards the halls. Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks. She never even asked where the library was! Looking around, July hoped to find a friendly face who could show her where to find it.

Suddenly there was a shout, "Hey, new girl!" A boy was making his way over to her, catching her attention with a big wave. Being singled out like that made her face feel hot with embarrassment. The boy had short, light blond hair and blue eyes, and wore loose pants with several pockets along the legs and a black long sleeve under a plain grey short sleeved jacket. He came up to July, panting hard. After a few moments, he asked, "You're July, right?" He must have heard her name from someone in her class, because she didn't recognize him from any of her classes so far, but he pronounced it as Julie.

"Yeah." She frowned for a moment. If he knew her name, why cause a scene by calling her New Girl?

The boy didn't notice her frown, and continued, "I'm James. I'm part of the school newspaper committee. Kayla said you're probably not going to know where the library is, so she sent me to get you."

"Oh, well thanks," she said with a small, half confused smile.

As he turned around, he said, "Come on, I'll show you." She followed him as he started walking back through the halls, making sure to memorize the route they were taking.

As they walked, he explained some things about the group. "I'm the photographer and reporter for public events and special stories. Kayla's the sports reporter; she plays soccer, so most of her stories are based on that, but she also does reports on martial arts influence in New York—due to her obsession on this one guy, Chris Bradford, or something like that." He spoke fast, which surprised July.

He's even more hyper than me when I get excited, she thought.

"Amy's the lead editor- oh, and our newspaper is a web page, did I mention that yet? Anyway, she's in charge of the stories that go through and, just between us, she's pretty strict, but don't say that to her face! Then there's Andrew, Drew for short, who- oh, hang on a sec." James broke off mid-sentence as they reached the door to the library building. He opened it for July. "After you," he said with a slight bow, smiling at her. She smiled shyly in return before ducking through the door.

Inside, the library was rather big, in school terms. There were a lot of books, as well as open places to sit and study or read. As it was lunch, July saw a few students; most seemed to be studying, while a couple were free-time reading. In the back, off to the side in a semi-closed off room, was a small group of teens sitting around two combined tables, speaking in hushed voices. James led her there.

At one table, a tall girl was standing behind a boy who was typing on a computer. They were looking at the screen, while the girl whispered things to him, pointing at something every once in a while. At the other table, Kayla was standing as well, and leaning over a magazine, talking seriously with the boy sitting next to her.

"Hey, guys," James said a little too loudly.

The tall girl shushed him and whispered harshly, "Do you want us to be kicked out again?" She had her long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her light brown eyes narrowed in annoyance. July guessed that was Amy.

James winced and whispered extra quietly, "Sorry." July gave him a sympathetic look. She was usually the same, too loud and very talkative. She felt that she could understand him in a way.

With a sigh, Amy went back to looking at the computer screen. She continued whispering to the dark haired boy. He was a little on the stout side, but he seemed nice. He was moving the mouse around a lot as Amy said, "Yes, change that. We need our news page up to date on those subscribers and share gadgets. Give more ways to spread what's going on locally and around school. Don't forget to add our new logo design."

James leaned close and whispered, "That's Drew. He works as the technical webpage designer."

James and July moved to sit next to Kayla and the other boy. They didn't notice the newcomers until James found an opening in their conversation to get their attention. He cleared his throat quietly. Kayla looked up at them, frowning slightly. Then she smiled when she realized who they were.

Kayla looked toward the others and called out quietly, "Fellow reporters, may I have your attention, please. This is July, a new student at our school. She says she's interested in journalism, so I suggested that she come to this meeting." Everyone greeted her back, while introducing themselves. It turned out that Amy also did reports on school announcements, interviews with the student council, and stories on any teens worth mentioning. The boy who was talking with Kayla introduced himself as Devon. He also worked in sports, but would help with any other story that the group wanted to follow up.

Amy gave July a critical look of appraisal. "Got a portfolio or anything you've worked on that you can show me?"

Feeling nervous, July replied, "I have a journal I used when I stayed in Japan. It has some things you might find interesting." She shrugged off her backpack, rummaged through it, and pulled out a half battered notebook.

Amy took it, and as she opened the book, the others grouped around her to see the things July wrote as well. There were stories of July's thoughts and feelings as she experienced life in the Japanese city. She didn't go to a popular place like Tokyo, but more of a city surrounded by the ocean on one side and a mountain on the other. She shared what life was like in a country where tradition mixed with modernity. Holidays in festive kimonos and demon masks, with parades that had marching bands and dancers and baton twirlers. Cherry blossoms in bloom all over the mountainside. She also taped pictures of the things she described on the pages, allowing the readers to see for themselves the beauty of Japanese culture.

The group was quiet as they took in the pages and stories. Finally, Amy was the first to look up from the notebook and brake whatever spell they were under. "This is really good," she said slowly. "Alright, you're in."

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