Chapter Four – All grown up

Caroline jumped out of her brother, Elijah's, car and ran into school to meet Collin Chang. Carol is 15 and this is her freshman year, the first day wasn;t going to scare her a bit, especially because she kind of already knew Collin from all those family get together her parents have with all their old friends and the two decided they'd hang when school starts. Actually those get togethers meant she knew quite a few people, as well as her brother Eli.

Eli watched as Carol sprinted, surprisingly elegantly, towards the double doors of the school. He has never been that excited to get in there before. Eli was very similar to what all his parents' friends say his dad was like. Loved football, music and girls, disliked school, authority and especially math. The only difference was he actually had to go, given that Mr Chang was his teacher and one of his dads good friends. Damn fate he though, slowly making his way from his car to the glass doors.

Nick had seen Eli from the car, and jumped out while it was still moving, his sister, Lizzie, was busy trying to reverse park, and Nick was sick of waiting, he ran to catch up and fell instep with his best friend.

"Yo, Puckman, what's happening"Evans asked as he slowed to the walking pace of Eli.

"Nothing, man, just a little nervous you know…" Eli was staring at his feet, and Nick had never seen him like this before.

"What's going on? Nervous about what?"

Eli stopped to a halt and turned to face Nick, unlike his father, Eli had never had issues talking about some of his feelings with his close friends. Neither noticed Lizzie running past.

"Dude, Carol's first day as a freshman, means I have to spend my first day as a junior, making sure she doesn't get slushied or ridiculed or go forbid… hit on" On the last words, Eli through his arms up and started towards the doors again.

"Oh, my god… Those goddamn dance classes my mum made her take has kept her in shape, and all those stupid gym classes have made her flexible a shit and…" Eli turned and noticed Nick's eyes had glazed over, and Eli knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Dude, get my sister out of your head, right now!"

Nick noticed that if there was anything Eli got from his mother, Rachel, it was her damn dramatics.

"Nothing will happen to her dude, she's got us looking out for her, and Collin Chang's in there somewhere, and you know he's gonna make the football team. Those two as friends and she'll be sweet".

Just as the pair entered the hallway, they witness a small group of cheerios throw a slushy on both Caroline and Collin. Eli and Nick watched as Nicks twin sister (and Eli's pretty secret, not-even-told-his-best-friend-nick, crush) Elizabeth walk away with Rachel-Lily and some other skanky bitch both Eli and Nick have screwed in the girls locker room.

"Fuck" was muttered by both Nick and Eli as they rushed over to help Collin and more importantly Caroline into the closest bathroom.

Carol's eyes were tear filled, and she had streaks running down her cheeks as she was scrubbing at her jeans. Nick was attempting get soup off Collins shirt while Collin was scrubbing at his pants. Eli was washing out Carols' hair.

"I don't get it" Carol said, through her sobbing, Eli looked down at her with a small, sad smile.

"I mean, she's known me since I was born, we're practically sisters, or at least cousins or something, why does she always have to be such a bitch"?

None of the boys knew what to say, they've all known each other most of their lives, and they felt the same way. Why could Liz just be friendly?

Caroline and Collin spent the rest of the day in colourfully stained clothing. But when Eli and Nick went to football practice, and Collin changed to get to the tryouts, Carol put on Eli's shirt he was wearing that day.

Eli took Carol home, the ride was silent, and Eli knew she had a less that perfect first day of high school.

"Hey, C, don't let them get to you. It won't happen again, I promise. I've got your back, and Nick and Collin do too. Now that Collin's on the football team it will all be ok"

Carol just nodded and went to get out of the car, she turned back and looked at Eli.

"Please don't tell mum or dad who it was…"

Eli smiled and nodded, he knew his parents would know she got slushied, but he also knew it could start some giant family feud with the Evans.

The siblings entered the house and dumped their things, making their way into the kitchen.

"Hey dad, where's mum?"

Noah turned from the stove and his smile faltered when he saw his daughter sitting with her head in her hands and wearing her brothers shirt.

"Umm… she's just making some calls to organise some things for temple, while the Rabbi's away" His answer was half hearted, because he couldn't keep his eyes off his daughter.

"Sweetheart… what's wrong?"

Caroline looked up and Noah was met with a pair of angry teenage eyes.

"I hate you, I hate you and your stupid slushy's, how could mum ever forgive you for doing something like that", with that Carol turned and stormed upstairs, slamming the door behind her.

Noah turned to look at Elijah, a look of guilt and confusion plastered on his face, "What happened today?"

Eli gave him a small smile in return and replied "Just a bit of phasing of the freshman's, nothing harsh, just a slushy"

Noah looked towards the stairs and then turned back to the stove to finish dinner.