Yesterday was a disaster, today though was going to be better I could feel it. It was closer to the weekend and I never dwell on the same thing very long. Plus I knew for a fact that Eric would not be in the classes I was going to be in today, they were mainly Honors classes. My first morning class was Art, a new safe haven now that my original Creative Writing class ambushed. There were no popular pricks or anyone connected to Eric whats so ever, I could just relax and be myself...that was until I took a step in the class and almost dropped my books. Sitting between two other kids was a girl I was all too familiar with, Pam Northman.

Was God, Jesus, or even Buddha after me this year? What have I done to deserve this?

Sitting as far from her as possible, our Art teacher Mr. Gauthier began the class by letting people get in pairs of two and do a life portrait of each other. I didn't know a lot of people in there and was just about to get out of the way when Pam plopped down next to me with a smile on her face.

"Hello," she spoke, being chipper for some reason…she was not known to be chipper.

"Hey," I replied, looking like a deer in the headlights…but I tried not to let it show.

"We're gonna be partners," she said, she wasn't making a request, she was stating a fact. I simply nodded as she took out paper and black chalk, beginning drawing me without even announcing which one of us was going to start.

"I didn't think I was ever going to have a class with you. I was afraid I was never going to get the chance to chat either! I'm Pam." She continued looking up slightly before going back to the paper.

"Yeah um, I know who you are…you wanted to be in a class with me?" I asked totally stunned.

"Mmhm! I saw you when you transferred and thought you were pretty cool, Eric always got you in his classes and it bummed me out I never got to," she went on.

"Well um…I…I'm glad you finally get to talk to me…I guess," I replied, I was seriously getting the mind fuck of a lifetime.

"Well I could have in the beginning but I was forbidden to," she said, sounding like she was commenting on the weather or something but it caught my attention…Eric didn't want her talking to me? What was I to him a leaper? "But I got information about you through Laffy so I got a good idea about you." Stalker much?

"Everything?" I asked, hoping Lafayette didn't reveal too much.

"Oh no not everything, just the basics. You moved here from the Carolinas because your mom had a promotion. Your grandma died when you were in the 7th grade, you have a dog named Scarlett, and you spend most of your time with him and Tara because you don't like your mom's main squeeze," she listed everything but my bra size and what kind of underwear I wear.

"Well…guess you got it all, no mystery," I commented.

"Oh no, there's some mystery. Like, why do you hate your mom's new boyfriend? Why are you so quiet? Why aren't you dating?" she went on and on, I was so stunned she wanted to know all this much about me I was left speechless.

"Why do you wanna know that?" I asked, really curious at what her deal is. Pam shrugged and smiled.

"Like I said you look cool and might be fun to talk to," she finally looked up at me again. She had dirty blonde hair with piercing blue eyes like Eric, she was wearing purple eye shadow and bright red lipstick dressed in a mesh top that was saved by a black tank top underneath along with a worn out jeans, fishnet tights, and boots. You could say she was punk but I have caught her at times where she would be easily mistaken for a popular if it weren't for hanging out with her brother so much.

"So are you coming to the party tonight?" she asked out of the blue, thankfully changing the subject about me. I knew about the party she was talking about, her friend Stan always held parties in his basement every time his parents left for a month long vacation, typical high school movie scenario but it was true. Almost everyone except most of the populars went, the ones that do go in secret.

"Oh I don't know, I never went before," I replied.

"Well maybe you should! They are so much fun and you'll like it I promise!" she assured me but I knew better. Everyone went, including Eric and I was not about to make a blubbering fool. Instead I told her I was going to think about it, getting a pleased giggle in response. This was the first time I talked to Pam Northman, and I have come to the conclusion she was the oddest person I ever met in my life. The rest of school day seemed normal, no sign of Eric at all and I was more then relieved about that. I didn't have to be camera bitch to The Lorena Krasiki Show and I wasn't even teased about my irrational to just hide under a rock. The day seemed too good to be true…and it was, by the time I got home I noticed John's car there…perfect.

I didn't stop to say hello, knowing full well mom would be busy, so instead I went to my room and locked the door. Placing the headphones in my ears while starting on my homework I quickly escaped the world by the clever music of Mika's Grace Kelly. The lyrics seemed to fit what was gnawing at me since Pam told me she was forbidden to talk to me. Eric must not like me…at all, not even in friendly terms, but then again Eric was known not to be nice to anyone. Just then I somehow heard the door knock gently, causing me to stop the music and look at it, I was done with my homework anyway.

"Yeah?" I asked, my way of saying "Come in", quickly regretting it because stepping in was John.

"Saw the door closed, hoped to chat with you," he said with a smile, a smile I was not buying at all. "How was school?"

"Fine," I said getting up to pack my stuff back in my book bag, I was really not in the mood.

"What kind of homework did you have?" he asked leaning against my doorway.

"Stuff for anatomy," I answered, not really getting his deal.

"Ah Anatomy, studying the human body. What subject are you on?" he asked.

"It was actually testing to see if we read the procedures about Lab and stuff," I replied. John nodded, getting creepy to me.

"So you'll be learning about how the body works and the names of parts," he said stepping in my room further. "Will you be learning about organs?"

"It's Anatomy, we'll learn everything," I told him, what kind of question was that? John nodded again.

"That's good, so…how come I don't see you with a boy yet?" he asked out of the blue. I shrugged and shook my head indicating I didn't know. Why did he?

"That's a real shame; a girl like you should have had a boyfriend by now. Especially one as pretty as you," he continued, looking at me up and down in a manner that I found not appropriate. "Are you planning anything tonight? Mom was hopping we had dinner together." I had to think fast, I was not about to deal with him all night.

"Can't, going to a party," I replied. He looked slightly disappointed, like what he was planning wasn't going to fall through or something.

"You mom will be disappointed, you haven't been staying home for long lately. It can't be because of me is it?" Duh, it had everything to do with you! Instead I said I had to be ready so I could pick Tara up. John nodded walking away while I came to close the door and quickly locked it…I felt dirty. Changing to another pair of jeans and a black shirt I grabbed my purse and spare clothes sneaking out the window, I was not about to walk past hearing mom's nagging and John hidden agenda to undress me with his eyes. Driving off to Tara's house I drove up to the driveway and ran to knock the door. Lettie May opened the door with her nightgown on and a hair net.

"Sookie? Are you alright?" she asked, I must have looked nervous.

"I'm okay, is Tara here?" I asked.

"Yeah hon, she and Lafayette are in her room getting ready to go to a party," she replied, perfect! After she let me in and walked straight to her room and barged right in, Lafayette was standing behind her fixing her hair while she sat in a dining room chair, jumping at my intrusion.

"Fuck! Have you heard of knocked Sook?" she yelled rolling her eyes at me.

"Sorry girl," I said crashing onto the bed. "So you're going to Stan's party I take it?" I wanted to get my mind off of what happened at home so badly.

"Mmhmm honey child and it's going to be a good one too! Why you wanna come?" Lafayette chimed into out conversation.

"Yeah, it'd be nice to get out of my shell," I replied.

"You know Eric will be there right? Are you actually going to try to have a good time or are you going to cower in a corner?" Tara asked giving me a look.

"I promise that I will try to have a good time and not cower," I said holding my right hand up like I was on trial. Both Tara and Lafayette looked at each other then back at me.

"Okay, but if I see a shred of a freak out and we're leaving do you understand?" Tara asked pointing a finger at me. I nodded in reply with a smile on my face. "I also take it you're spending the night huh?" she continued. I shrugged and we all laughed slightly, I knew what they were thinking.

The girl never wants to go home.

Driving to Stan's party we saw a sea of cars already there, he lived in the middle of nowhere so there was no chance of neighbors calling and you can park just anywhere. We got to the entrance of the basement, knocking the door and was greeted to a crack of the door and Stan's face peaking out.

"Password?" he asked in his gruff Southern accent.

"Chicken Shit now let us in!" Lafayette yelled, Stan opened the door letting us in and we were introduced to the party lights and loud music. There was a good sized crowd of almost everyone we knew. I just happened to glance at where he kept the couch and saw Eric with a girl on him, trying to mark him on the neck with her mouth. I sighed and went to where the drinks were, no they didn't have to worry one bit about me cowering because I was all levels of bummed out. Reaching the table of endless beer and sodas I looked, wondering if I should be bad and drown my sorrows in beer or just stick to soda.

"What would you like?" Stan's brother Charles "Longshadow" yelled at me through the music.

"I don't know yet," I yelled back turning back to the dance floor, Tara finally found Eggs and danced with him while Lafayette was trying to flirt with a straight boy. All of the sudden I heard something that I was sure it was meant for someone else.

"Can I get you a beer?" a medium, smooth as honey with a slight unknown accent voice yelled through the music.

Gasssp! Yes I'm evil leaving it hanging like that. But the next chapter will be even better! I will not give out details though…it's a surprise. Please, please, please leave reviews. Reviews make Vikings happy.