Disclaimer: I still own nothing.
Notes: Nothing really new to add, working out pairings in my head slowly but surely... and um, that's it.
~&~
While orientation hadn't been intimidating by any stretch of the imagination, it hadn't exactly been pleasent either. Thanks in part to the student handbook and the headmaster of the academy; all three Dumas siblings fully realized what they were in for during the upcoming year. For starters, all of their visible facial piercings ... except the ears ... needed to be taken out as that was a strict dress code violation. And as a precaution, both Christy and Amy removed their tongue piercings, but left their naval piercings in; what the administration didn't know wouldn't hurt them, after all. The three siblings were also thankful that they hadn't gotten any new tattoos like they had planned before leaving Europe... the school uniforms providing ample covering. And the uniforms really weren't that bad either, if Amy had to be completely honest with herself... they were pretty similar to their previous school uniforms ... upperclassmen like themselves, wearing a blue and green plaid skirt with a navy blue blazer, white dress shirt, white stockings or knee highs and oxfords or Mary Jane's to complete. Scott, of course, would be without the skirt; their brother in a navy blue suit or khaki. They did at least find some relief with every Friday being casual dress day, but once the three siblings read over what was allowed and what was not allowed... well, they knew they'd be in for a possible day or two of detention. The only real good thing that they'd gained from orientation was Scott's parking spot in the Senior lot. And even that wasn't in a great location in the parking lot, but at least he had one. Still, after all was said and done, they'd basically wasted the entire morning at McMahon Academy; the afternoon used to get the necessary school supplies before they'd gone home. That hadn't been a total loss either, the Amy and Christy meeting one of their fellow classmates while they were out.
And now, here it was, the first day of the new school year at a new school in the town they'd been born in but hadn't grown up in. All three siblings feeling more than a little apprehensive as they left the comfort and safety of their home and headed off towards the school.
First floor hallway, East Wing, McMahon Academy
Sixteen year old junior, Maria Kanellis, straightened her skirt as she made her way down the hallway; the teen looking for her new locker... The East Wing, of course, was reserved strictly for upperlassmen and the South Wing was for the lowerclassmen. West Wing housed the English, Foreign Language, History, Mathematics and Art departments while the North Wing housed the music building, the athletic department, Science and the main audtiorium. All four Wings lead into the courtyard and cafeterias while only the North Wing lead outside. And it was as she was making her way towards the row of lockers designated for last names starting H through M, that she ran into the first familiar face of the day... after taking a quick peek around to make sure that no one else could see, she tapped the teen boy on the shoulder.
"Hey!" Jeff Hardy greeted with enthusiasm, "how was your summer?"
"Same old," Maria replied with a shrug, "how was yours?"
Jeff also shrugged, "not too bad I guess, kinda boring though. Matt and I spent most of the summer in the country with our aunt and uncle."
Maria tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "well that doesn't sound too bad, at the very least pretty relaxing?" Clearing her throat, she shifted nervously from foot to foot, "look, I'm not sure how long I'll have to talk to you right now but--"
He held up a hand, "I gotcha, Ria. Just would be nice to be able to talk to you more..."
Her nose wrinkled as she nodded her agreement, "I wish things could be different, but you know how they are."
Jeff smiled wryly, reaching out a hand to her face, "I know how they can be, but I also know that you aren't like all of them." Before she could step back, he stepped forwards to kiss her cheek, "who knows though, maybe things'll change."
Maria smiled sadly, but didn't reply verbally, instead waving goodbye so she could find her locker. Even though it took some level of wealth to even be a student at McMahon Academy, there were still definite social lines and groups amongst the students. Maria was a part of the Elitests or Power Trippers as their enemies dubbed them... and Jeff was part of the Outcasts or Freaks as their enemies dubbed them. And it seemed that every student in the Academy was in one of the two groups. Certainly there were a few subgroups amongst them ... Jeff, in particular, a part of the art freaks, while Maria had been on the cheerleading squad since her freshman year. And although they got along and it clearly obvious that there was a mutual attraction.. she was always a little hesitant to cross the line. Added to that, her parents despised the Hardy family and she didn't want to take the risk of rebelling against them that much.
Heaving a sigh, Maria resumed her task of finding her locker; eventually locating it and putting her things away. She really didn't want to stay around her though... the pretty redheaded teen quickly leaving once she had put away her afternoon notebooks.
"Good thing she left," Alexis James smirked, "it'd be a shame for that pretty face of hers to be all bruised up before first class."
"That little toothpick wouldn't stand a chance against us again," Victoria Varon agreed, "and she best keep her nose out of my business this year."
Alexis nodded her agreement, the brunette opening her mouth to say something when she spotted three unknown teens; there was something familiar about them but she couldn't quite place her finger on it.. "Hey Vi, I'm gonna go say hi to Chris and Rob," she pointed to where the two step brothers were standing, "I'll catch you in class, right?"
Victoria nodded, giving a wave to her friend before she left to another row of lockers further down the hallway; the darker haired teen eventually disappearing around a corner on her quest.
"Hey Lexie!" Rob Daniels, the more outspoken of the two step brothers, greeted first. "What's up?"
Alexis rolled her eyes, "Rob ... school hasn't even offically started yet." She smiled to the taller of the two, "hey Chris."
Chris, despite knowing her for the better part of their lives, offered a smile; "Hey Alexis."
The brunette teen girl grinned, "so ... how was your summer?"
As they continued to chat, the Dumas siblings set about with putting away their afternoon things ... and it wasn't until the boy that they'd run into at the store came up to them that Alexis realized how she knew them.
TBC
