We pulled up to the school. Oh god…school. This was it…the final year of torture.

"Welcome Back To Hell." Gabe turned towards me.

"No…Welcome To Paradise." I smirked.

We walked down the hall to the homeroom postings. Once again, I was put in a separate class as Gabe.

"Hm…Let's see….Johnny Davis, Melissa Wells, Allison Cox, Alex "The Manwhore" McCarthy…and William Beckett." I read out the names.

"Will Beckett? Who's he? Must be new…" I looked at Gabe, who just shrugged.

"I don't know, but…DAMN! YOU'VE GOT ALEX!" he yelled.

"Yeah…I unfortunately have Alex…you keep forgetting…I'm not the one with the man crush." I sighed. Alex had been friends with Gabe and I since grade seven. He was annoying at times, but along with Gabe, he would always know how to cheer me up and keep me entertained.

I felt someone place their arm around my shoulder.

"Oh you're very fortunate to have me." Alex smirked, licking the side of my face.

"Ew! I've got Alex germs on me!" I yelled, cleaning the spit off my cheek and wiping it on Gabe's shirt sleeve.

"Hey Alex, want me to go reserve a room? You might as well fuck her already." Gabe laughed.

"Very funny…" Alex said sarcastically, glaring at Gabe.

"So who've we got this year, my dear?" Alex leaned on the side of the board, and examined the list.

"Who's Will Beckett?" Alex asked, looking at Gabe and I, who in exchange just shrugged.

We sat around exchanging our summer stories with each other. I told them about my summer working at the local Dillard's, Alex told us about the skate video he made with his old friend back in San Francisco, and Gabe told us about his trip to visit friends and family in NYC…what he could remember that was. The bell rang- 8:15. Time for class, and time to go figure out just who this Will Beckett was.

"See ya at lunch Gabe!" I said kissing him on the cheek.

"Mucho Amor, babe." He waved, as he walked down the hall. I loved Gabe. He was my best friend, and he was a rebel. He would go against his religion- disobey his parents- any chance he could get, and nothing would stop him.

"Pretty soon I think I'm gonna be the one reserving for you and Gabe." Alex chuckled.

"Yeah…sure…" I said rolling my eyes.

Alex and I walked into class and sat in the back. There were three empty seats, the empty one being on the other side of me.

"Okay…looks like everyone is here…" the teacher said, sitting at his desk.

"William Beckett…" The teacher began taking attendance. There was no reply.

"…Jonathon Davis…Alyssa Kilbourne…Alexander McCarthy…Allison Wells…" he continued.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* The door opened. A boy standing about 6 ft 3, with medium length brown hair stepped inside.

"Sorry I'm late…I got lost." He said out of breath.

"What's your name son?" the teacher asked.

"William Beckett." He said exhaustedly.

Alex and I exchanged glances.

"Skinny jeans…long hair…studded belt? This guy'll do." Alex said smiling at me.

"Alright, take a seat Mr. Beckett." The teacher sighed.

"Hey…can I sit here?" he asked me, pointing the seat next to me.

"Yeah, sure." I smiled.

"The name's Will." He whispered.

"Alyssa. This is Alex." I said introducing the two of us.

"…Alex "the manwhore" McCarthy, that is." Alex said, shaking Will's hand.

"…Pleasure to meet you." Will grinned.

Mr. Johnson began to hand us our schedules and ask us about our summers…the same crap we did every year.

"So…Mr. Beckett…how was your summer?"

Will looked around the room like he was afraid to tell us.

"I spent the summer in LA with my dad, and packing in Chicago." Will said quietly.

"Oh…Los Angeles…that must have been nice!" Mr. Johnson said. He walked to the front of the room, and began giving us the normal lecture. Will pulled out a sheet of paper from his bag, writing a message and giving it to me and Alex.

Hey Guys…FYI there was more to my summer story. I'm just afraid to go into details in front of everyone. I'll tell you two during lunch. You guys aren't half bad. I think I can trust you.

Alex and I looked at Will, who just smiled. Something about him was peculiar, but I just couldn't put my finger on it.