A\N: Hello all!! This update didn't take as long as I guessed... This one is a little longer than my others for all you people who like the long chapters. I promise, this story will pick up the farther Logan and Layna get into the mystery! Now, enjoy!

Chapter 2

Band Versus Choir

Natalie walked several feet behind the two new kids, keeping a safe distance between herself and Carrie. She noted in disgust how loudly Carrie chatted about how magnificently the Band always did in competition. The choir was just as good as the Band! Why, they were better!

Logan looked around the hallway they were in, completely ignoring Carrie's long-winded explanation of the Band. On the walls were flyers for the Band and posters of the sections. There were sign-up sheets and schedules. Logan then turned, despite himself, to see if Natalie was still behind them. He was surprised to see that she had stopped about halfway down the hallway. "Hey Carrie, what's down there?" He asked, cutting across the brown haired girl's rant and pointing behind them.

Carrie turned and made a soft growling noise in her throat. "We don't go down there unless we have to for class or to get to our lockers. That's the choir's territory. This is Band territory, hence all the pretty posters…" Layna turned at this and gazed down the hall. All of the people milling around that part of the hall seemed to distance themselves from the invisible line splitting the hallway.

A few minutes later, Carrie deposited the twins at the office. "I'll see you guys at lunch then, unless we have some classes together today! I have Economics first." She said happily, waving at them and disappearing into the locker bay. The twins nodded and waved. "Well, Logan, what do you think?" Layna muttered, opening the heavy door of the office and stepping in. "This place is weird…" Logan whispered back.

A friendly looking woman with thick black spectacles opened the door to her office on the other side of the main office and waved the siblings over. "You two must be the new arrivals! Welcome to Westwood! If you'll just step inside, we'll make up your course schedules and you can start your first day!"

After several minutes of deciding on math, science, English and history classes, Layna raised her hand slightly to pause the woman's typing. "Mrs. Arthur? What does this school offer in the musical arts?" She asked, Logan nodding his head vigorously beside her. Mrs. Arthur paused and opened up the window on her computer for music. "Well, here at Westwood, we boast a very successful musical arts section. We have a concert Band, a Jazz band and a marching Band. Also, we have a choir, an All-state choir and a Jazz choir." The twins lit up immediately. "Sign us up for everything!" They practically shouted in unison. Mrs. Arthur raised a heavily penciled eyebrow. "In the choir or band?" It was Logan's turn to raise his eyebrow. "We meant everything, ma'am. We love to sing and make music."

Mrs. Arthur sighed. "I am surprised that you are doing this… Do you not know how powerful a feeling of dislike each group has for the other? I know you noticed the split in the hallway…" Layna nodded. "Why do they hate each other? They're from the same school… Wouldn't it usually be right for them to be friends?" Mrs. Arthur smiled. "That's what we used to think, my dear. I'm not the one to fully explain this, though. You should ask your friend Carrie. I know she knows the story. And she hasn't forgotten…"

The kids said good-bye to Mrs. Arthur and left to the locker bay. They had gotten lockers right next to each other. As Layna was putting her flute in the top compartment of her locker, Logan turned to her. "What've you got first, Layna?" He asked nervously. Layna glanced at her schedule. "World History 11, then I have Honors English. What've you got?" Logan sighed. "Well, I can tell you what I find out in Economics when I see you in English… I'll ask Carrie about the whole Choir versus Band thing then."

Layna hurried off down the hall to her history class, leaving Logan to go in the opposite direction. Without really realizing where he was going, Logan noticed he had passed into "choir territory" as Carrie called it. This place was decorated similarly to the Band half, except everything had to do with Choir. Logan then paused to look at his schedule for the room number. "Let's see…Economics is in room…1890…I am next to room…2341. Ah damn, I think I'm lost…" He muttered aloud, turning on the spot to take in his surroundings. A voice sounded behind him. "Was it normal to talk to yourself from where you came from?" It was not unkindly. Logan spun back around and saw the owner of the voice was a boy. He had extremely light blonde hair; in fact, it could've been white, and dark blue eyes. He was leaning against the wall, with his arms folded across his chest.

Logan laughed nervously. "We talked to ourselves all the time back home… My school had crazy people in it…" He joked. The boy smiled. "My name's Ryan Barter. People call me Trader. You?" Logan smiled back. "I'm Logan Brook." Trader nodded. "Hey, Trader? Could you, um, help me find my classroom?" Before Trader could respond however, someone yelled down the hallway. "Hey! What are you doing down here? This is Choir territory!" Trader's eyes narrowed. "I was talking to someone, Brian. Why don't you go practice your vocals elsewhere?" The one called Brian stepped up, grey eyes narrowed as far as Trader's. "You better be thankful there's a witness here, Barter. Otherwise, I'd kick your ass all the way back to your filthy Band room."

Logan jumped in as Trader took a step forward with his fist raised. "It's not worth it. Let it go, man." He said hastily. Trader looked very much like he wanted to disagree, but he allowed Logan to steer him away from the fight and down the hall. "Thanks, Logan. I'm gonna end up killing that stupid punk…" Trader growled. Logan nodded. "Now, how about getting to my Econ class?" He said, grinning feebly. Trader laughed.

With Trader's help, Logan finally made it to his Economics class. "Honors English is right down the hall and take a right. It's the last room at the end." Logan nodded his thanks.

Meanwhile, Layna was having trouble of her own. "Ok, World History was supposed to be down this hall… Why isn't it?" She grumbled, gazing hopelessly at the school map on the wall beside her. Suddenly, a dark hand appeared on her shoulder. "World History isn't even on this floor honey. You want to go upstairs and turn left. It's right there." Layna turned and saw a tall African-American girl smiling at her. She had the build of a runner. "Thank you. My name's Layna…" She said timidly. The tall girl laughed. "Don't worry, I don't bite. Just call me Hannah. Nobody can pronounce my real name right, so Hannah's just easier." Layna nodded.

Back in Economics, Logan sat down next to Carrie. "Hey Carrie, could I ask you something?" He asked in an undertone as the teacher passed out the course outline. Carrie nodded. "Why do the Choir and Band hate each other? We're all part of the same school…" Carrie looked up. "I can't explain that here Logan. I'm sure Layna will want to know too, so I'll just explain at lunch. Don't worry; you will get your answer." She said softly, a pained look in her dark eyes.

An hour and a half later, Logan and Layna met up again in English. He relayed the answer to his sister and sighed. "I wonder what happened. The look Carrie gave me- I've never seen someone look like that before." He said, more to himself than to Layna. Another person sat down beside Logan and it took him a moment to realize who it was. "It's Logan, right? The one who talks to himself?" Logan looked up and grinned. "Hey Trader. You didn't say you had English with me…" Trader shrugged. "Didn't even notice it myself."

"Well, this is my sister, Layna…" Logan said quickly, sitting back to allow Trader to see his sister. "Layna, this is Ryan. He says everyone calls him Trader." Layna's eyebrows shot up. He was hot! She wondered vaguely if he had a girlfriend… "Earth to Layna… Come in Layna, this is Space Command…" Logan said quickly, jolting her out of her reverie. "Trader was just saying he's in Band too." Logan said, a hint of amusement in his voice. He knew from her reaction that she liked Trader.

Trader laughed at the look on Layna's face. "I'm on the drum line during marching season and I play the sax for concert and Jazz." Layna grinned. "I'm flute, through and through." Trader nodded his understanding. When he turned away to talk to another friend of his, Logan passed Layna a note that earned him a death glare.

Easy there love bird. We have choir practice after lunch. From what I saw, I don't think you should say anything.

Soon enough, Layna, Logan, Carrie and Trader were making their way to the large lunch room. They sat down at a large lunch table on the far side of the room. "This is…" Carrie began. "Band territory." The twins finished, raising their eyebrows. Carrie nodded, smiling. "So, are you finally gonna tell us why there needs to be Band territory?" Logan asked, sitting down. Layna sat down beside him and Trader sat beside her. This made Layna absolutely melt. Trader and Carrie exchanged glances. Carrie cleared her throat. "Well, it all started about thirty years ago…"

There you go! Next chappy will include Choir practice and part of the explanation of the Band Vs. Choir thing. Anyone have any ideas as to how Choir practice goes? hint you've met two members of the choir already, and one of them knows Layna plays. (bum bum bum) I shall be away for a few days, so this might take awhile! Don't forget to review! Well, until next time!

Saxypit