Shane and I were sitting at our lunch table on Monday just messing around and talked when I saw someone sit beside me. I looked over to see May looking at me shyly. "Hey… could I maybe sit with you?" We both just kind of sat there for a minute stunned. She looked uncertain "Um… I guess I'll just leave…"

I finally snapped out of it said "No, No! I mean of course you can sit here. I was just surprised." She smiled and sat back down.

"No offence but why are sitting here. I thought you were part of that group that hates us." Shane said to her.

"Well the thing is... I don't really agree with how they treat you guys." she said "I would like to hear what you told Brooke... about your brother." I smiled at her. Change starts with one person, and May was first. Shane told May the same thing he told me the first time I asked him about the murder of his brother.

When he finished explaining May just sat there with a look of mostly guilt but a little pity. "Shane I'm so sorry. We have treated you bad all these years... You didn't deserve any of it. I don't know what to do to make it up to you but i will any way i can."

"Thanks May, it means a lot that you said that. You don't have to repay me or anything, the apology's enough." She gave him a grateful look.

"Okay, so back to our former argument." I said "I think it would be best for graduated high school students to take a year before going to college."

"What is the point in that? You would just do nothing for a year instead of getting a head start on college. That is one year earlier that you would get out." He said

"But waiting a year would give you time to get everything you need ready and spend time with family before you either have to leave again." I looked over at Shane, he was holding a spoon full of pudding, like he was going to fling it at me. I Flinched, "You wouldn't." he raised his eyebrow and laughed

"Try me." he said. Of course I didn't believe he would so I put a defiant look on my face. He shrugged and let the food fly. I managed to duck right before it hit me. And of course because we have such good luck it hit one of the jocks that were going to beat Shane up.

"Hey!" the kid said as he turned around to see where the food had come from. His eyes landed on Shane, he faced twisted in rage. The kid picked up some of the mystery meat on his tray and threw it at Shane, but of course Shane dodged it and it ended up hitting another random kid. From there it was like dominos, which started a food fight. May, Shane, and I hid under a table. Shane was laughing, I shook my head at him, trying to look disappointed in him but I couldn't keep myself from smiling.

I looked at the clock. The bell was going to ring in about two minutes. I motioned for Shane and may to follow as I headed toward the door. We crawled most of the way but at the same time trying to dodge the flying food on the way.

As soon as we got out of the cafeteria the bell rang and we rushed to our classes.

When class started I looked around at the rest of the kids who all seemed to be covered in food. It was all I could do not to not to bust out laughing. They seemed to notice that I didn't have anything on me and glared at me.

About half way through the period an announcement came on "Would Brooke Waters, Shane Collins, and Josh Avery please report to the principal's office." Everyone looked at me. As I was walking out I heard people snickering. Who was Josh Avery? That was my question.

When I was about to open the office door I someone walking down the hall seeming to be heading the same place as me. I looked and saw that it was the jock from the cafeteria, looking very pissed off. That must be Josh Avery.

I walked in the principal's office and saw Shane was already in there. I sat down next to him and Josh sat 2 seats away. I looked over at Shane. He was smiling!

I elbowed him "It's not funny!" I whispered.

His smile got bigger "Yes it is, and you know it." I just shook my head looking away so he couldn't see my smile.

The principal walked in and we instantly sobered. He didn't say anything, just sat down on his desk and started moving papers around.

Finally he looked at us "I want to know what the hell you were thinking." He stopped. Trying to calm himself down, because he was yelling. He took a deep breath. "Why would you start a food fight in my school?" None of us answered. "Well since you are so fond of playing with food, it will be the job of you three to clean the cafeteria." He handed us each a slip that said that right after school today we were to report to the cafeteria.

As soon as we got out the door Shane and Josh both started running, Shane from Josh and Josh after Shane. I could run faster that both of them so I went after them and managed to get a few feet in front of Josh and Stopped. He skidded to a stop right before he plowed into me.

I slapped him across the face then said, "You need to calm down. We all have the same punishment. It is as much your fault as it is ours. And the punishment would be a lot easier to deal with if you weren't trying to kill Shane every time you get near him. Got it?" I didn't even know where that came from. I guess it was that protective thing again. It seemed to work though. Looking very surprised but a little annoyed he walked away to his class.

I looked at Shane and realized he was already looking at me with and expression that I couldn't identify mixed with a little shock.

"What?" I asked him.

"Wow." He said "That… was… Awesome!" I laughed "Seriously, did you see his face? Holy crap, I've never seen anyone stand up to him like that. And slapping him? Impressive." I smiled "Any way I'll see you after school" he walked away.

After school Shane, Josh, and I met in the lunch room. There was a teacher there ready to give us instructions.

They already had the stuff set out for us. A mop, rags, buckets. The teacher told Shane to clean the tables and gave him a rag and bucket. They instructed me to do the floor and handed me the mop and a bucket. Then Josh was left with cleaning the walls.

After a while our jobs became automatic and I didn't even have to think about what I was doing. In what seemed like no time I finished and looked over to see Shane finishing up too. I looked over at Josh and kind of felt bad for him. He was only half way finished. He had had the hardest job and the most to clean.

I motioned for Shane to come over to me. When he got there I pointed at Josh.

"What do u say we help him?"

He raised an eyebrow at me.

"C'mon it's the least we can do. We were the ones who actually started it."

"I can't I have homework and we've been here for an hour already" I knew he was lying about having homework but I went along with it any way.

I sighed "You go and ill help." He looked like he didn't want to leave me with Josh but I said "I'll bee fine. Trust me."

"Okay, but let me know when you're safe back in your dorm."

I rolled my eyes "Fine" I said and went over to help Josh. Josh looked over at me a confused look on his face but he didn't say anything.

It went much quicker with two people working on the walls so we were done soon after that.

I started back to my dorm. I grabbed out my phone and dialed Shane's number. When he answered I screamed into the phone.

"What the hell!" Shane said

"Just letting you know that I'm alive." I said laughing

"Did you have to do it so loudly? Jeez I think I might be deaf now." I laughed

"No, but it's not as fun being quietly."

He sighed "What am I going to do with you?"

"You should keep me."

"And why is that?"

I ignored his question and said "So did you get your "homework" done?"

"I lied about having homework."

"No dip. I knew that, I'm not completely stupid."

"So why didn't you call me on it and make me stay and help?"

"It's simple, now I get to find a way for payback."