Kate entered the gym slowly. She could hear the people behind her sighing impatiently, but she didn't care. She always hated these kinds of assemblies. True, they got everyone out of class for awhile, but they were a lot more trouble than they were worth.
Kate began her climb up the bleachers to the sophomore section, searching for someone to sit with. She had been in World History, a boring class on all accounts. She didn't really have any friends in there, either.
"Kate!"
Kate looked to her right. Shannon was sitting among her usual admirers, but got up eagerly when she spotted Kate. Shannon stumbled down the row towards her friend, tripping on an insignificant mousy-haired boy.
"Excuse you!" the boy yelled over the din at Shannon.
Shannon shot the boy a dirty look, repeating, "Excuse you."
"That's right. Step on the little guy, just because you can!" the boy retorted angrily.
Shannon considered him a moment. "Who're you?"
"Ben," the boy looked shocked at being addressed without hostility.
"Right, Ben," Shannon said, "I'm really sorry for tripping over you." She smiled at him in an exaggerated, fake sort of way before turning back to Kate. "Let's find a seat, shall we?"
Ben muttered under his breath once again. Stupid girls. They never liked him and never would. No, they were too immature for him anyway. Not the kind of people he wanted to surround himself with. Ben looked over to the section of the bleachers reserved for the juniors. All he had to do was wait. She would come.
As if triggered by Ben's thoughts, the intercom came on once again. "Please send all juniors down to the gym at this time."
"Oh, I'm sorry are you all right?"
Ben looked behind him. He had been kneed in the back, but he hadn't taken any notice. It was strange though. The girl guilty of the crime was apologizing and asking after him. He nodded and turned back to look for her, puzzling all the while the strange nature of the opposite sex.
Charlie, too, did not say a word. He silently raised his eyebrows at Claire. She shrugged.
"Ben," she mouthed, pointing to the boy in front of her. She leaned closer to Charlie to whisper in his ear. "He doesn't have many friends. Not really good with people, I think."
Charlie nodded his understanding. He opened his mouth to reply verbally, but Claire turned away when she heard her name called. Charlie sighed and turned his attention back to the bizarre boy in front of him. Ben was watching the doors intently, obviously waiting for someone to walk in. Charlie looked too, keeping an eye on Ben. They both watched silently as many people filed in with their friends. Charlie didn't recognize most of them. He assumed Ben didn't either, since he gave no physical indication of recognition to the various faces. Charlie slouched down in his seat, suddenly wishing he had a cigarette. Creepy kid did not interest him anymore.
"Teachers, send all the seniors to the gym at this time."
"Hey, Charlie. My friends are sitting a couple rows back. Would you mind if we went to sit with them?" Claire shouted in Charlie's ear.
"No need to yell," Charlie flinched away, covering his ear. He noticed, then, that Ben was suddenly sitting up straighter and his focus seemed more direct. Charlie waved a hand at Claire to keep her quiet for a moment. He scanned the crowd below him again. The last of the juniors were walking in. Among the stragglers was a dark-haired girl. Charlie recognized her as the one he had met in the office that morning. Ana. Charlie's eyebrows rose. He was impressed. This kid has some high standards. He supposed for a moment that he could be wrong; Ben could just be observing the crowd. Perhaps he wasn't giving Ana the attention that Charlie thought he was.
"Charlie?"
"Oh, right. Yes, yes, that's fine, Claire." Charlie decided to make this assembly worthwhile. He was going to keep an eye on Ben.
A few rows up, Shannon and Kate waited for Claire to come back. They were both curious, though Shannon in particular, to see who Claire's new male friend was.
"Oh, look, there he is!" Shannon exclaimed in Kate's ear. Kate rolled her eyes and slid down the bleacher to make room for Claire and her friend.
"Shannon, Claire, this is Charlie," Claire introduced when she was within speaking distance. "Charlie, Shannon, Kate."
Charlie bobbed his head in greeting. Shannon smiled eagerly and pulled him down to the seat next to her. "Hello, Charlie. So where are you from?"
"Um…" Charlie looked desperately at Claire. She stifled a giggle and quickly shoved herself between Charlie and Shannon.
"No, seriously, though, Charlie," Kate yelled down the row. "Where are you from?"
Down on the floor, Boone entered the gym all alone. He had a lot of friends, but lately they had been blowing him off. The reason behind it eluded him. And so here he was. He found his eyes wandering of their own accord to the sophomores. He found Shannon instantly. Her bright blonde hair always caught his eye. She was beaut-
Wait. What was he doing? He shouldn't be thinking those things. She's going to be his sister. Stepsister, yes, but-
"Move it, kid," a blonde girl snarled as she shoved past Boone. He glared after her. It was Sarah Bowen and her partner-in-crime Juliet Burke. The two had been friends since they met in second grade. Boone had never known them to be apart; he should know. In eighth grade, he had been one of their best friends. They had liked to call themselves The Three Musketeers. That was the year he met Shannon. Two years younger than he, she'd had the gall to call him gay for hanging out with only girls. Boone had been shocked and immediately severed ties with Sarah and Juliet. Apparently, they hadn't gotten over it.
Whatever, though. He'd made new friends in high school that were much better. Boone concentrated on that thought as he ascended the bleachers and found a seat. He wasn't there long when Michael sat down next to him.
"Hey Michael," Boone acknowledged.
"Hey man," Michael returned. "You have any idea what this is for?"
"Nope. As long as it gets me out of class though," Boone joked. Michael glanced his way with raised eyebrows.
"Right. Well, I hope it's something interesting. I just about had Mr. Don convinced," Michael said.
"Convinced about what?" Boone asked.
"Oh, ah, the mural. The one I'm trying to get Mr. Don and the principal let us paint as the senior gift," Michael said. He was scanning the crowd now, apparently looking for someone.
"Ah, yes. The mural. Well, I'm afraid that's not gonna happen, boys."
Boone looked apprehensively over his shoulder. Goodwin Cullen was smirking at him from the row behind.
"Hey, you wanna mind your own business?" Boone snapped. He would have loved to see that look slapped from Goodwin's face.
"Actually, this is my business," Goodwin replied in an amused voice. He leaned forward on his knees so he was closer to the two boys. "You see, I had a talk with Coach Weaver and the principal. They both seem to agree with me that the perfect senior gift is new football uniforms."
"Football uniforms," Michael repeated, obviously disbelieving the words. He shook his head and waved Goodwin away. "Yeah, yeah. I'll believe that when I see it."
"Well, trust me. You'll see it," Goodwin replied. "Being the football and baseball captain has its advantages. Just you wait." Goodwin laughed good and loud and sat back in his seat.
"Damn, does he sound like the wicked witch of the west or what?" Michael remarked dryly.
Boone sniggered. "Or what. Hey, I'll back you up though. A mural sounds way better than new football uniforms."
"Yeah, thanks, man," Michael said, glancing at him oddly. "Oh, look. I think they're about to start this shit."
Boone hummed his agreement, looking down at the floor below them. The principal was the one holding the mike and most of the teachers were standing around the perimeter.
"Good afternoon, boys and girls," the principal said into the mike, which only served to make it screech.
Sawyer sighed at the lameness of the adults employed at this hell-hole they had the audacity to call a school. "Hey, Ana."
Ana, who was sitting in front of him with her friends Hurley and Libby, either ignored him or didn't hear.
"Ana." Sawyer tried again, this time tapping her on the shoulder.
"What?" Ana hissed, looking over her shoulder at him with raised eyebrows.
Sawyer slid his signature dimpled grin into place. "You should speak español more often, sweetheart."
Ana rolled her eyes. She knew he was waiting for her to ask why. "Why?"
"Yeah, why?" Libby echoed. Her keen blue eyes along with Ana's coffee colored ones studied Sawyer intently.
"Why? Because it makes you sound good," Sawyer smirked.
"You mean it makes her sound hot," Jack said, leaning forward to join the conversation. He was sitting next to Sawyer. Now, it was Ana's turn to smirk. Sawyer glared at Jack.
"Just thought I'd point out the obvious," Jack shrugged. "You know, it's interesting how you continue to flirt with Ana here, but on the weekend you date Kate."
"You're dating Kate?" Ana asked, her eyes darkening.
"Do you even know Kate?" Sawyer inquired.
"Kate Austen, right? Yeah, she's in my Architecture class," Ana replied.
"You know, that is interesting," Libby said suddenly. She had yet to take her eyes off Sawyer, whereas Ana had lowered hers, unexpectedly finding her fingernails fascinating.
"What's interesting, Betty?" Sawyer asked, glaring at Libby now. He'd only met her today when she sat down with Ana, but his dislike for her was growing as time went on.
"That you aren't able to keep your attention on any one girl at a time," Libby said. She blinked several times and shifted back around in her seat. She muttered something in Hurley's ear that made him laugh. Then she began to listen to the principal talking.
"Girl's nosy," Sawyer muttered under his breath.
"What was that, cowboy?" Ana said.
Sawyer ignored her and turned to Jack. "You're one to talk, geek squad. You and that Sarah chick have a date Saturday, don't you?"
Jack flushed. "Well, yeah, but-"
"She's a senior, isn't she?" Sawyer continued on.
"You sure you're ready for that, Jack?" Ana mocked. She was feeling irritated at Sawyer, but for some reason felt the need to mock Jack's lack of dating skills.
"I'm sure it will be fine," Jack said slowly. Sawyer only laughed.
"So, are any of you listening at all?" Libby asked, her attention slipping away from the tall, graying man with the microphone.
Sawyer, Jack, and Ana all shook their heads.
"Well, he said they're gonna let us have a Homecoming dance this year," Libby said. Those listening to her remained silent. "Ok, then…" She turned back to discuss the upcoming events with Hurley.
"Homecoming. Whoop-de-freakin'-doo," Ana said as she turned back to the front. She, Sawyer, Jack contemplated the impending horrors in silence. Some fifteen minutes later, the people around them got up to leave.
"What, time to go already?" Jack said. "Oh, hey, Sayid, wait!" Jack ran off to talk with Sayid. Hurley and Libby left too, oblivious by that time of Ana.
"Looks like it's just you and me, chica," Sawyer said. Ana rolled her eyes at him, but still let him walk with her down to the doors.
"Ana! Hey, Ana!" Ana and Sawyer had just reached the level floor again when some brunette guy came barreling up.
"Um. Goodwin, right?" Ana said unsurely. Sawyer looked again and recognized the guy from his Spanish class.
"Yes. Hey, listen," Goodwin barely so much as glanced in Sawyer's direction. Sawyer was tempted to put his arm around Ana just to get this guy to go away. "You wanna catch a movie or something on Saturday?"
Ana looked taken aback for a moment. "Yeah. Sure."
"Great. See you in class," Goodwin smiled and touched Ana's arm briefly before taking off in the other direction.
"Seriously, muchacha?" Sawyer asked, stepping up next to Ana. "Goodwin?"
"You're sounding a little jealous, there, Sawyer," Ana smirked. She glanced away, then back to his face. "Oh, look. Here comes your girlfriend."
Ana was gone before Sawyer could comment on her bitter words. He forgot his formidable opponent for the moment to greet Kate.
On the other side of the gym, Jack and Sayid were still talking.
"That's great, Jack. Sarah's a wonderful girl," Sayid said.
"Yes, but-"
"Sayid! Just the man I was looking for!" Boone walked up behind Sayid. "I was wondering if I could get you to take a look at my car for me."
"Sure, Boone," Sayid said, nodding his head. "When will you be available?"
Boone opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a yell.
"Boone! I have been looking for you everywhere! Are you ready to leave yet?" Shannon too walked up behind Sayid.
"Shannon-"
"Who's your friend?" Shannon asked Boone, sizing both Jack and Sayid up.
"Sayid, Jack, this is my-this is Shannon," Boone said in a dull voice.
"Sayid," Shannon repeated slowly. "That's different."
"Come on, Shan, let's go," Boone said, shoving Shannon away. He looked apologetically at Jack and Sayid. "Sorry. Sisters, you know. How 'bout tomorrow for the car?"
"Tomorrow is fine," Sayid replied. Boone nodded, waved good-bye, and walked off, dragging Shannon behind him.
"So that's Adam's daughter," Jack speculated.
"Pretty, isn't she?" Sayid commented, watching Shannon's retreating form.
"What?" Jack said, surprised.
"Oh, nothing. See you later, Jack," Sayid said, walking off to the door. Jack shook his head.
Ok, so I know the second half of this isn't very good - pretty choppy, I think, but this chapter was taking me entirely too long to write so I had to hurry up and submit it. Also, forgive any discrepancy you may find between this chapter and the others before it. I completely forgot in those first two that I didn't want all the characters to be the same age.
Let me know if it was too confusing to figure out who was in what grade. Later on, I'll try to make all these relationships clearer, too.
Something to think about: Boone. Should he have a girlfriend or what?
