"Hello, Matthew." A small voice was heard echoing through the hallways. Even though it was his new school, since he had only just started sixth grade a few weeks ago, he felt dominant over the entire place. Sure, he was a few inches shorter than most of the other sixth grade boys, but it didn't matter to him. However, a bump in his way, known as one of his rivals, was ready to tear down his confidence.

"Hello, Wallabee," a dark-haired boy exclaimed. "You know you can call me Matt, right?"

"So long as you call me Wally."

Matthew Baterwhield chortled, "Oh, that's hilarious! Wally...it sounds so feminine. No offense."

Wally's hands clenched into fists, but his face remained smiling. "You're right, Matt! And yours sounds like a cruddy floor rug, don't it? I'd love to just come home on a rainy day and wipe my feet off on your face...no offense."

"And this is the same kid who get an F in all his classes? Why, I'm rather surprised," Matthew retorted, imitating Wally's Australian accent.

Wally decided to remain silent. There wasn't anything he could say about Matthew. Matthew always made the A and B honor roll, he was a basketball jock, and he was outgoing, otherwise known as an attention grabber for eleven and twelve year old girls. Everyone thought he was the perfect role model for kids like Wally, yet behind everything, he was just a big bully.

"Where's your girlfriend?" the jerk asked. "You know, your beloved Kuki that you never let me even talk to."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Wally yelled. "She's just my friend, and the reason you can't talk to 'er," he pouted, pointing a finger at Matthew, "is because you're just going to make her your girlfriend as soon as I let you."

Matthew laughed, and began to walk toward his homeroom. "So what? In case you haven't noticed, Beetles, your friend is a very attractive girl. She may not be popular with the guys right now, but I could make her into one of the most desired girls in the sixth grade."

Wally trailed behind him, anger pasted all over his face. He couldn't believe what Matthew was going on about. How could he even suggest turning his best friend into a popular girl? She was just fine the way she was right now, as his friend, and only his.

While he pondering this, Matthew suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Besides, she'd probably be out of my league, I could make her so popular. If you want, I can leave her in my 'popular' group, which is about where she is right now, but hey, I wouldn't want to destroy your feelings, eh? You wouldn't want a repeat of last year, would you?"

That got his attention.

-transmission interrupted-

-transmission temporarily replaced with previous footage-

"Oh, come now," Matthew urged, "The teacher's late. Let's just do one Spin the Bottle spin, and whatever the dare is will be what entertains the entire group until she comes back." He was always a leader. Stopping the other whining kids from destruction of the classroom was his job. He had to keep everyone in line, if no one else would do it. Sure, there were a couple other boys who took control every once in a while, but Matthew wanted to be the supreme.

"Okay!" Kuki agreed. She dug into her backpack and pulled out a small, plastic yogurt drink container. "Sorry, this is all I have," she said sheepishly, "and I kinda need it for lunch."

"It'll do," Wally grunted, yanking the bottle from her, slapping it on his desk and giving it a quick spin. He wanted to get this game over as soon as possible. He hated the way Matthew was looking at Kuki. It made him want to vomit.

"Hey, Wally! It landed on you!" Sometimes, Kuki's peppy attitude was a little bit unnecessary.

"Looks like you're our entertainment for the morning, Beetles," Matthew yawned.

"Ah, crud," he muttered.

"You have to pick dare," Matthew reminded him. "I'll pick your dare, if you don't mind."

"Oh, I mi--" Wally was cut off by a glare from Kuki, and most of the other kids in the class, who were about ready to collapse from boredom.

"Good, good," Matthew said as he clapped his hands together. "I dare you...to let your girlfriend kiss someone of her choosing."

"WHAT? Kuki can't--I mean, I ain't got no girlfriend," he blushed, sinking down into his chair.

"Yes, I meant your friend, Kuki Sanban. It seems only fair that you follow the dare, since you did spin the bottle." Matthew winked at Kuki, who gave a small smile back.

"IT'S PLASTIC, YOU IDIOT!" Wally cried.

All the students began to giggle, and covered their mouths so their "leader" couldn't scold them for it. "Kuki," Matthew mumbled, aggravated. "Who do you want to kiss? And it can't be Beetles."

"Well, can I kiss Wally?" she questioned, being a tad bit air-headed again.

"No. You can not kiss Wally, Wallabee, Wally Beetles, or Wallabee Beetles. Or Numbuh Four," he added, smirking at his victim. Wally just sulked.

"Can I kiss you?" Kuki asked. Wally grew very pale. He did not like Matthew one bit. How could Kuki ever suggest to kiss him--of all people?

"Sure," Matthew said, fake surprise in his voice.

"I--I don't know how to kiss."

"Well, Kuki, you just turn your head like this," he said, not noticing that the rest of the class was hiding their eyes, grossed out by everything. "And you hold my hand like this, and..."

-end footage-

-transmission continuing-

"Just because you kissed her doesn't give you the right to make her popular," Wally complained. The bell rang, and a few students ran through the halls to get to their class.

"Oops, looks like I'm late for class, Wallabee," Matthew grinned, a twinkle in his light blue eyes. "We'll discuss this later." And with that, he walked to his class, never once looking back at Wally.

Kuki passed him too, but she didn't seem to pay much attention to him. Why couldn't he just go up to her and kiss her like Matthew had done? It didn't look that hard. But would he be risking his friendship with her?

"Wait, Kuki!" Wally called, running to catch up with her.

"Hi," she breathed. "I'm a little late for class."

"Me too," he said, "but I wanted to ask you something."

"What?"

"Oh, uhm, do I look better without my glasses?" he asked, and slipped his glasses on. "Or with?"

"You're adorable either way," she simply replied, giggling a bit. "Come on, Wally, let's walk to class together!"

As they both walked to their homeroom, which was the same one, although he received a little more attention due to his lack of common intelligence, he thought for a minute. What if Kuki liked him more than Matthew? That would definitely be fun to rub in Matthew's face. And what of the upcoming school dance in a couple weeks?

"Ugh, why'd I have to like Kuki? She's so complicated to like--"

"Wait, what?" Kuki said, shocked at what she had just heard.

"Oh, nothing," Wally said, his face flushed.

"You said something."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't."

"Uh huh!"

"Nuh uh!"

That's why Wally had decided that they made a perfect couple.