Author's Note: Aww thank you guys who reviewed so much! You were all so sweet. And since it was so long since I was posted it gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling again to read your reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter too and just to warn you this one is a tad boring/explanatory. But it gets more interesting very soon:P

Chapter 3: Get To Know You

Richard slouched into English scowling. He had just had a particularly unpleasant morning and now he had to put up with his ridiculous seatmate.

How irritating.

As he got to his seat he stopped surprised to see her already sitting down and scribbling something in a notebook. She looked up, flashed him a bright smile and went back to her scribbling. Richard ignored her as he slid into his chair. He didn't care what the ditz was doing, she could be writing love poems for all he knew. As long as she was quiet he was happy. She turned to him and he groaned inwardly. Obviously he had spoken too soon. "Do you happen to have a-,"

"A pen? Do you never bring anything to class?" She opened her mouth to argue but he rolled his eyes and turned away. Kori frowned, this was going to be harder then she thought…and she already thought it plenty hard enough. Still frowning she closed the book, slipped into her bag and straightened up just as the teacher entered the class. Immediately silence fell as Ms. Robinson walked up to her desk heels clicking on the floor. She indicated the board with a tapered finger. "Your work as usual is up there. Begin now please. Oh and Miss Anders I would like to have a chat with you." Kori gulped, wondering what she could have possibly done in one day, but then relaxed seeing the warm smile on Ms Robinson's face. "So you are Miss Anders are you?"

"Yes, but feel free to call me Kori!"

The smile twitched. "Pleasure. Now no need to look so frightened child, I'm strict but I'm not a monster. The only reason you're up here is because I heard English is not your first language?"

"No…my parents spoke French. It was my brother who taught me English."

"Do you feel you can grasp it well enough to keep up in this class?"

"Oh most definitely! I love it. I love the way the words just come flowing out of you when you try to write something. I love the way it can mean so many things in one sentence. I love the way those heaps of words called 'poems' are really just as amazing as the masterpieces of art in museums. I love how-," She stopped, the dreamy look on her face fading as she realised where she was. "I…I have always enjoyed English."

Ms. Robinson looked thoughtful as she stared at Kori. "I look forward to reading your work…Kori. You may sit down now."

Beaming with her small triumph Kori walked back to her seat and glanced at her pale acquaintance just in time to see a small smile on her face. Maybe Raven did not hate her after all.

XOXOXOX

Terra and Jinx sat on the side wall swinging their legs. They had both abandoned their uniforms for jeans and t-shirts and were looking so relaxed Kori almost didn't recognise them. "Hello friends!" she called out hurrying over. "What is up?"

Terra laughed and patted the place beside her. "Well apparently we are," she teased. Jinx just smiled and checked her watch. "Why aren't you on your way home?"

"I walk most of the time," said Kori shyly. "And today I had a lot of exploring to do. This school is so big!"

Jinx shrugged a dismissive shoulder. "You get used to it. It doesn't seem big when there are a hundred sweaty kids trying to grab a shower."

Kori made a face. "School showers have never…appealed to me."

"Then you're normal," assured Terra. "School showers should appeal to no one."

Jinx handed round some gum from her pocket before lying down with perfect balance on her stomach. "So tell us about your life Kor. About the place where you didn't have any 'groups.'"

Giggling Kori bit a nail as she tried to remember. "Well I lived in France for most of my life. My parents spoke French of course but my brother left for America to stay with an uncle and he was home schooled. On the days he returned we had such a great time making fun of each others accents and voices! We were very close." She stopped and collected herself. "My sister and I however were a different case. Kristina was a very…dominating person. She was also beautiful, talented and smart. Besides her I was nothing, just Kori the little sister, who was clever but not quite good enough." There was no trace of bitterness in her voice, just a quiet resignation, but it still shook as she began her next sentence. "Then one day it h-happened. My parents-," she paused and Terra laid a concerned hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to tell us if you don't want to Kori."

"No I think I should 'get it off my shoulders' as you say. There was a car crash, a drunk driver…" she allowed her hair to cover her face. "They didn't make it."

Even Jinx sat up. "Oh my god Kor. We're so sorry."

"Do not be. It is over. That part of my life is over. After that, well legally Kristina could take care of me so I was in her charge for a couple of months. It was not the best time of my life." Terra raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt. "Eventually my brother wrote me from America and said he had found a place in a school here. I came as soon as I could and…that's about it."

Jinx scoffed. "You make it sound so easy!"

"What?"

"Leaving, coming here, starting over…who do you live with for goodness sake?"

"I am flatting at the moment with my brother's friend Roy."

Terra straightened immediately eyes shining. "Is he cute? Hot? Is he single? Oh my gosh does he have green eyes? I'm a sucker for a guy with green eyes!"

Jink pushed her off the wall dryly. "We all know that Terra."

The blonde looked up from her spot on the ground and poked out her tongue. "Since I'm so conveniently down here I think I'll be going then. Nice talking to you Kori!"

"It was certainly a pleasure. But do you not wish to tell me about yourself?"

"Me? As if my life has had anything interesting in it! Catch you later!"

Kori found herself turning to Jinx. "What about you? Surely something must have happened…"

Jinx hopped off the wall gracefully. "Perhaps another time Kor, I should be heading back. But just a tip before I go. You said you walk right? I know for a fact that so does a certain Mr. Grayson. And it would be such a pity for him to walk alone huh?"

Kori's eyes widened. "Um…"

"Think about it. I'll see you tomorrow then." Pink pigtails flying Jinx hurried off in the direction of the gym leaving Kori angry, frustrated and helpless.

Authors End Note: Sorry the chapter ending sucked but I think it'll be more interesting next chapter. And Im sorry about the lack of romance but it'll defintiely be heating up very soon too! (Like 'cough' next chapter 'cough') So don't worry about it. :D

Crystal