AN: I actually liked that last chapter. Usually, chapter two is the hardest to write for many reasons. Like, you have to follow up with chapter one's reader hook style. But, I just thought of it like a show, and it flowed!

Lyrics of the moment: Whatever you want. I don't feel like it.


Flirting with Danger

Kristen—

Everyone in the world – no the universe – knew one simple thing, Josh Hotz, star forward of the Hotchkiss Tomahawks was private property. No girl dared to brush against him in the hallways, as that was a danger zone. He said 'hello' to a girl, she asked where Massie was before speaking to him. He was like a horse with blinders however, when Massie was around, holding her hand and pretending she didn't see anyone else. Once his girlfriend was gone however, he was Mr. Popular. (Behind Derrick Harrington, Cameron Fisher, and comedian Kemp Hurley.)

I was signing my death wish just to walk over to him without proper protection.

"Where are you going?" Dylan asked, slightly annoyed that I was leaving her to rot on the bleachers, while Claire and Alicia learned how to open and close their new gym lockers. Gym, science, lunch, and free period were those rare classes we all had together, and I was glad for that. Dylan knew that, and she probably wondered why I was leaving her behind.

"I have to talk to Layne first," I replied, immediately changing course to go and cower behind Layne. I could already hear her calling me a chicken, and showing me how to ask a guy out. Before Massie could even swivel her amber orbs in my direction, I rushed over to Layne, looking like I'd just run for my life.

"Coward," Layne shook her head sadly. She pointed an un-manicured nail at Massie. "What is she going to do to you? Nothing unless Olivia gives her the orders."

"She'll claw my eyes out with those acrylics, throw things like paint buckets and apples at me, with the fact that she's on the good side of every teacher, and hire a hit man to kill me with her connections."

Layne just blinked at me, like I'd made a stupid suggestion. "Do I have to demonstrate how to talk to people for you again? Do I have to follow you to college?"

Always the dramatic one.

Grabbing my arm forcefully, Layne pulled me over to where Josh was standing, away from Massie, who'd gone to 'get some water'. Coach Keelson should've at least been smart enough to realize that Massie Block, sidekick of the great Olivia Ryan would never deign as to touch a water fountain. No, that was code for meeting up with her snobby friends. (Unless Keelson did know that, and just wanted to get rid of her.)

"Hey, what's up?" Layne was in her 'forte', as the music teacher put it when making corny puns. She looked completely casual, bangle-covered arm leaning on the bleachers, head tilted to the side. The only obvious sign were her eyes, which as usual, flickered.

"Nothing much," Josh nodded in my direction.

"So, are you two still going out?" Layne looked back at the exit door for about a second, before fixing her eyes on the target. My target. I felt invisible. "Because you're actually paying attention to other girls."

He actually laughed. A real, laugh, like he actually found his hostage situation humorous. I smiled a little, but didn't even try to make a sound. Because, if he laughed like that again, it may have been at me.

"Yeah, I guess. But Olivia's always saying that it won't last. According to her, nobody can stay that faithful forever. But that's probably because she and Derrick have an 'open relationship'." He put little air-quotes around the 'open relationship' part, and still managed not to look feminine.

My family has a superstition. Or at least, my dad's side does. My mother thinks it's nonsense, and that the only thing they should believe in is the cross. No matter how many times she tells us that it's just in our heads, my dad has led me to believe that the Gregory family is cursed.

Everything always seems to go wrong for us. My dad was a rich art dealer, but he was fired because his paintings were 'losing creativity' since he married mom. So, we moved out of our large house, to a small apartment. Under normal standards, it's pretty nice for an apartment, but when you look next door at the huge fancy building – you'll feel like you're living in the ghetto. My aunt's lazy-two-faced-good-for-nothing husband was arrested under false charges, and she can't afford bail. So she spends most of her time weeping about how she was going to become Mrs. Lazy-two-faced-good-for-nothing. My uncle-in-law is Dwayne Abeley, who apparently 'shamed our family name' by behaving like a 'night owl', and passing on his genes.

Normally, the curse prefers to pick on the older Gregory's, waiting patiently until the younger ones come of age, so that they may have trouble with relationships, careers, and things like that. But, it seemed like our family's bad luck had been waiting for that exact moment, because something happened.

Olivia Ryan, Cookie Elson, and Massie Block walked back into the gym. Immediately, Massie headed for me.

"Oh hey, am I interrupting anything?" Her eyes bored into my head, as if I had dragged Layne over to talk to her boyfriend. She never trusted me – the idea of Josh and I practicing the sport we loved together horrified her, and I think she was convinced we'd had our kiss under the bleachers. "Because, I need to talk to J…" she trailed off when Olivia grabbed her arm.

"Come on Mass, we have something to tell Skye Hamilton, remember. I have a hall pass to go to the sophomore wing." She looked at me coldly, but still kept her cool overall.

Massie nodded politely at Layne, squeezed Josh's hand in a possessive gesture, and turned to look at me. "You're dead." Her lips mouthed. But, she obliged to Olivia's commands and followed her out of the gym.

"Thanks Layne," I muttered sorely. "Thanks a whole lot."

--

At the beginning of Claire Lyon's first and only relationship, her mother (a good friend of the Gregory's) presented her with a chastity ring. Of course, Claire immediately gave Cam his own, a simple one in fake gold. Of course, many failed to notice the fact that on that day, the ring was on the wrong hand.

--

Dylan—

"Hey," his voice made me look up from the health forms I was signing, and scrunch my face in confusion. He must've sensed my bewilderment as he chuckled lightly, and sat down next to me, not seeming to care that Olivia Ryan could come bursting through the gym doors with Massie Block and Cookie Elson walking two steps behind her.

"Derrick, no amount of money is going to get me to do your homework. Sorry Plovert quit and all, but…" He put his finger on my lip, silencing me. What was this, Titanic? There were no suggestively romantic gestures allowed as far as I was concerned.

"Come on Dill, do you think I'd come and talk to you for homework?" Oh that's right. I forgot the inevitable fact that Derrick Harrington doesn't care for his academics. While his soccer buddies crammed for tests, he rendezvoused with whatever girl he was cheating with, and his girlfriend rendezvoused with the captain of the football team. "I just wanted to talk to you."

I closed my folder and shoved it back in my bag, determined to get out of there as fast as I could. I'd heard stories from heartbroken girls who'd all fallen victim to Derrick's so-called charm, and they all started when he wanted to 'talk'. Of course, the minute after he said that sentence, his lips were too busy to actually get any talking done.

"You've had years and you've never even said 'hi'," I sniffed, getting up and starting to walk away. He grabbed my arm.

"Oh come on, don't be that way, Dill. I just wanted to ask what happened this summer. I don't remember you looking this beautiful before." He smirked slightly when he said that, his favorite pick-up line. Unfortunately, for him, fourteen was when kids got to heavy to be lifted. I wasn't going to be picked up so easily.

"Since when did I say you were allowed to call me Dill?" I asked simply, trying not to make any eye contact. "And I have things to do." Making sure he could see me, I walked off to where Claire was coming out of the locker room.

"Feisty," was the last word to come out of his mouth.

Alicia –

Vanilla Bean was the safe haven. The small tables in assorted shades of tan, dark brown, and cream provided excellent meeting spots, no matter where the tables were located. The floor was covered in miniature tiles, and modern looking black lamps hung from the ceiling. While most people preferred Starbucks as it was more 'brand name' than Vanilla Bean, my friends and I almost always met there after school.

Usually, Dylan or I started with a story of our own, and Kristen followed up with more of the adventures she and Layne seemed to have constantly, even though we all knew Mrs. Gregory didn't approve. Last, Claire would say something she and Cam did (as they were almost Siamese twins), and then we'd all groan dramatically, and finish up the lattes we'd ordered. That time went a little differently.

"Does anyone know why Cam is acting so strange?" Claire blurted out, unable to contain herself any longer. Kristen practically choked on her coffee, and I thumped her back as hard as I could. "I mean, I hope nothing bad happened to him, we have a promise!" She held her hand up, showing the tiny ring for all to see.

"I don't know," Dylan offered. "Maybe it's his time of month." Kristen and I snickered awkwardly, but Claire was serious.

"Well, anyway, do you think it will be over soon?" Claire sighed. "He hasn't even replied to any of my texts. Is that a bad sign?"

As the world knows, Claire Lyons does not speak boy. In her perfect little world, when a guy says something, he usually has a deeper meaning behind it. However, this is not the case. When a boy says something simple, he means something simple. Girls like Claire, and Kristen for that matter tend to over process the sentences from a guy's mouth.

"Did he say anything to you?" I had to ask, mentally crossing my fingers.

"No, he didn't. Do you think he lost his voice?" She was desperate for an answer. And as her sky blue eyes darted frantically at the rest of us, she seemed to realize something. The answer was right under her nose; she just had to find it.

--

Massie Block is easily described as territorial. She fights for her spot behind Olivia Ryan, and attacks for what she wants. But, we can't forget the fact that she will say anything to protect what's rightfully hers, Josh Hotz. What a catch…

--

Claire

From: MASSIEKUR (Massie Block)

To: CLAIREBEAR (Claire Lyons)

Hey Claire, I have a deal for you.

If you will keep a close eye on Kristen and her friend Elaine for me, then I'll do something for you. You see, I've heard something that alarms me, and it's that Kristen could be using my innocent boyfriend – who did absolutely nothing wrong to her – to hide something. Cookie, Livs and I have some theories, but you know us. We like to find things out for real before gossiping – or we might hurt somebody.

So, if you can tell me if there's anything weird with Kristen, I promise I'll pay you back. Rumor has it that Cam's been strange; I believe I can straighten him out for you. It would be a tragedy if this went on, so I'm offering to help you out. Girl to girl, you know. (See, that rumor is true. I only spread things I believe.)

Sincerely,

Massie Block.

I'd made my decision the minute I saw the first sentence. Smiling as a typed a reply, I wondered why people thought Massie was so mean. She seemed perfectly nice to me. And this letter was proof. And, she was only worried about her boyfriend. I would've probably done the same thing if I had the backbone. And Kristen was probably doing absolutely nothing wrong, so I wouldn't have to worry.

From: CLAIREBEAR (Claire Lyons)

To: MASSIEKUR (Massie Block)

Sure I'll help you! :) It was really nice of you to offer, and I accept! I scratch your back, you scratch mine?

--

If only Claire knew how sharp Massie's nails were.

--

EN: I apologize for the fillerness of this chapter, but hey, what can you do?