A/N: Heeeey everyone! SOOOO sorry I took so long. Its because of my beta! She apologizes for making everyone wait. I still love her! Thanks soooo much for all of the reviews. I love you all! Thanks so much for reading. It inspires me to new levels everyday! :) Here is chpt 4. Its short...sorry! But I'm working on chpt 5 now!

0o0o0o

Getting home the night before with a black eye and a cut lip on your first day back to school is not something that goes unnoticed by parents. However, you are lucky if your parents are barley home. But when you have such luck like Hao, your parents decided it was too cold to go out that day and saw you the second you walked in the door since they waited to greet you. Of course you lie, saying you ran into a pole or got hit by a passing biker (in the snow?) because no one will believe that your principal did this to you. At least not when you've been put on probation in school and any little thing you do can end your chances at a diploma. But for the second day, you best watch out for those bikers or poles, whichever one you went with. Keiko woke early to get Hao cleaned up, in hopes of covering up the black eye some, but he pushed her hand away and refused any help. Hao figured he'd show that he didn't care what that psycho principal did. It wasn't gonna stop him from going to school. Though he did have a few tricks up his sleeve.

The teens left the house together, meeting up with Lyserg down the road and then making their way towards the school. Manta and Chocolove caught up to them, and conversation quickly boasted. Lyserg couldn't help but notice that Hao acted as if nothing happened. Which, of course, he had come to realize that it meant he was up to something. Choosing to ignore it for a later time, he listened in to the conversation. Chocolove told of how he and Horo were both trying out for the basketball team, in high hopes that Lyserg was as well. "Why me?" Lyserg asked, snapping back into the conversation.

Hao squeezed his hand slightly and smiled at him. "You're an amazing player! Remember the first time we got to play in gym class with you?" He asked, his smile never fading.

Chocolove threw his arm around Lyserg's shoulder and laughed. "Dude! You made about, what, four three pointers in a row?" He asked loudly enough for the whole neighborhood to hear along with other passing students making their way to the school.

With a shrug, Lyserg didn't answer right away. He thought back to that game and how it was a fun game. But he was never one for the sport. Sure, he may be good at it, but didn't have enough passion to go and try out for the team. He let the conversation slip out of his mind until everyone around him was talking about something else. Yoh had begged Anna to take up the cooking class. She resented it at first, but checked it off as an option. Her second choice was to cover sports for the school news paper. They laughed how Yoh and Hao picked the same exact classes. Once approaching the school, they met up with Horo and Ren before entering and going to their lockers. Yoh followed Hao to his, keeping an eye on him since it was right next to Principal Marco's office. But nothing happened. Hao simply gathered his books, put his jacket away then closed his locker.

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"Settle down!" Miine said calmly. Luckily, everyone seemed to like her and listened to her every demand. The class settled down and she did a quick run of attendance. Then she pulled out a single sheet of paper and began telling everyone which extracurricular activity they were accepted into or when tryouts were for others. Also stating if they fail the tryouts, there second option will be their class. " Try-outs are today guys! Basketball is during lunch indoors, baseball outdoors. Soccer is after school outdoors, tennis, indoors. Band in the auditorium during lunch, and drama auditorium after school. " She finished and sat in her chair. The class began talking amongst themselves, trying to finish up homework they decided not to finish the night before.

Yoh made his way over to Hao, Anna and Manta following close behind. Hao rested his feet on his desk and sat back in his chair. "So bro, looks like we got the arts together." He stated. Yoh nodded and smiled. "Congrats Anna, you get to write about all the sports in the news paper. And you get to learn how to cook!" She scolded him and crossed her arms. He knew deep down she was a tad bit happy about learning how to cook so she could do so for that special someone, who at the moment sat on the desk swinging his legs while he listened to music. "Manta, what did you get again?"

He blushed a bit and looked down. "I'm in the book club and I'm going to try out for band. I know how to play the trumpet! And if I don't get in, then I'm on the yearbook committee."

Hao yawned unintentionally, though he regretted it when the little person in front of him sighed and refused to look up. "I think that's cool Manta." he stated, causing the boy to look up at him, searching for hints of lies. But if there was one thing Hao was good at, it was lying. He smiled a reassuring smile at the boy. "I mean it. You've always liked books, and maybe you can get some idiots to read. And band? Well, hey it's music right? That's cool." He rested his chin in
his palm as he watched Manta become happy once more. When the bell rang, Yoh gave him a small nudge and smiled. "Yeah, I know. I am a good guy." He said through a sigh, but smiled in return.

0o0o0o

The day seemed to go by smoothly. Lunch arrived and Hao was disappointed to see it consisted of a veggie wrap, corn on the side, and the only two drinks available was either white milk or water. They weren't joined by many their friends since half of them were at tryouts. Lyserg had been missing too, so Hao figured Chocolove and Horohoro must have dragged him to try out for the basketball team. He spent the whole lunch hour complaining about it and its small portions until the period finally ended, bringing about gym. They changed into their red sweats and white T-shirts with the school logo on it and headed into the gym where their teacher, Chris, already stood there with his arms crossed and whistle around his neck. There were a bunch of students already there looking tired from basketball tryouts. Horo quickly ran over to Ren announcing that he made the team. Hao sat next to Lyserg on the floor. "So? How was tryouts?" He asked.

Lyserg smiled and leaned his head on the others shoulder. "I made it. And I'm in the judicial club." He said just above a whisper.

The gym teacher made his way around counting off the students and making little marks on the attendance sheet. "Alright!" he said in a booming voice, so it sounded more like a yell. "Since I don't know many of you, we are doing the physical! All the basics. Push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, rope climbing, rock climbing, crutches, squats, track, and high jump." He received a groan from the class, but he ignored it and began dividing everyone into separate stations.

By the end of the class, everyone was tired and sweating. "You know," Ren began, feeling irritated then more so often, "they should put gym at the end of the day!" He yelled, taking a seat on the floor, then lying down.

"I agree." Yoh said, but still had a smile on his face. He sat with his legs crossed, leaning back on his hands as he tried to catch his breath. "And we start our extracurricular today. Thank goodness I have art today. If I had to do martial arts after this…I probably would have skipped." They all shared a laugh as Hao walked over with some other friends, taking a seat. Kanna, Matilda, and Marion sat down along with the group. They shared their hello's and conversation took off. Hao, however, was quiet. His features were unreadable as Lyserg watched him. He looked happy since there was a smile on his face. Tired since he was sitting just like his brother is, his chest heaving as he tried to relax after the workout. Lyserg noticed though that he made no indication to the conversation at hand. When everyone laughed, he snickered or giggled, but it's as though he wasn't paying attention. No, he was thinking deeply. But about what?

"Diethel!" Chris screamed, causing Lyserg to nearly jump out of his skin. He looked over and the teacher motioned for him to go over. With a sigh, he got up and went over to him. He stood there as he checked the list, soon calling over a few other students along with Horo and Chocolove. "Since I'm your coach and you all made the team, there is no time for rest! Let's go! Warm ups!" He said rather loudly. Chris reminded everyone of an army captain, yelling out every command, even if he spoke in a whisper, it was like he barked. They all regretted making the team at that moment. But of course, only Horo is the one to say anything. "Sir, we just did warm ups." He said, looking around at some of the students finishing up the physical exam, much of them stuck on the ropes.

Chris took note of that and nodded. "Do them again." He said, then walked off to the class.

Hao sat there waiting for the class to end thinking hard. He wanted to get revenge on Principal Marco without a doubt. But whatever he did, the punishment would be ten times worse. All he had to do was stay clear of the man. But knowing that man, it was going to be a difficult task. Marco enjoyed picking on him. It was a hobby of his. Hao looked to his three friends, getting along with his brothers group. Ever since the events of last semester, everyone agreed to try and put up with each other, and things were working out fine. Hao could always use them as bait. Do something and get them into trouble. That's what he would have done if he was the same person from a few months ago. But ever since Lyserg came into the picture, things changed. He didn't care to be this bad ass anymore. Didn't want to be. What was the point of it now that he actually wanted to graduate? Hao watched his boyfriend practice with his fellow team mates.

No, he will not try and get revenge. He will let Marco do what he wants. Hao was going to focus on getting the hell out of this place with as few beat downs and pain as possible.