The first day of school finally came. It was a new day and a new start. Around seven thirty, Cody and Zack entered Cheever's High through the front doors. They scavenged for their newly assigned lockers for the school year and found them two lockers apart both of them were on the top. As Cody and Zack were putting in classroom materials that they wouldn't need until later, Max and Tapeworm came to greet them from behind. Max walked up between Zack and Cody.

"Hi, guys."

Zack turns to Max. "Hi, Max. How are you?"

"I'm good. How was your summer?"

"It was good. I'm not thrilled about this school year though."

"I hear ya. We may not be Freshmen anymore but we're still at the bottom of the food chain as Sophomores."

"I know. Are you excited for basketball?"

"Yeah. What about you?"

"I am."

Tapeworm decides to talk with Cody while Max and Zack are busy talking about the new basketball season.

"So, Cody, was there anything new that happened to you this summer?"

"Not really. Mostly the same thing."

"That's nice. I didn't have anything new happen to me this summer."

"Oh wait!"

"What?"

"Something did happen. I made a new friend over the summer."

"Ooh. Who are they?"

"She's new to the city and we became friends when I came over to a café that she works at."

"You have a new female friend? Do you think she'll be company for Max?"

"Maybe."

"Do you think that she'll make Barbara jealous? Will she catch Zack's attention?"

"I hope not but I can't stop anything. All I can hope for is that I can protect and help her."

"What's her name?"

"Her name is Bailey Pickett."

"That's a nice name."

"It is. Her name goes well with her personality."

"So, she's a nice person."

"Yes."

"Cool. I hope that I will get to meet her."

"I hope so too, Tapeworm."

At the very moment that Cody finished talking to Tapeworm, Bob came walking by. As he got closer, he had a wide grin forming on his freckled face.

"Hi, guys! Nice first day back, huh?"

Zack turned to Bob. "I guess so but our classes haven't started yet."

"Oh. Right. Sorry."

"Whatever, Bob. Come on over to the group."

"Okay."

Bob waves over to Cody as he approaches Zack and Max. When he gets to them, he just melts into a comfortable conversation with each other. Meanwhile, Cody and Tapeworm slip into a rally of small talk. This sort of routine goes on until Barbara shows up after five minutes. By this time, everyone is ready to go to class but they still have ten minutes before the five minute warning bell rings. Barbara has a decent smile plastered on her face and walks up straight to Cody.

"Hi, Cody! How are you, today?"

Cody lamely turns around and sees Barbara. He smiles back at her.

"Oh, hi, Barbara! I'm fine. Thank you for asking. How are you, today?"

"I'm fine, Cody. But I'm just a little sad that you couldn't spend some more time with me over the summer."

Cody felt guilty for not spending time with Barbara but he just was so excited about spending time with his new friend Bailey. She was a pleasure to be around with. Cody didn't mind being with Barbara but Bailey was different from her.

"I'm sorry, Barbara, I was busy."

"What were you doing that kept your hands full so much?"

"Well, I spent most of my days both keeping myself and Zack out of trouble and brushing up on some science, math, and history at the library. Other than that I was taking tempt jobs at the grocery market."

"Oh. Okay. Well, next time, we should spend time together."

"Okay, Barbara."

"What's your first class of the day?"

"It's history with Mr. Johnson."

"Oh…Maybe we'll see each other in a class, Cody."

"Maybe we will."

"Okay, Cody. See you later. Meet me at lunch at our usual spot."

"Okay, see you then Barbra."

Barbara gives Cody a curtly smile and then walks away. When she's gone, Cody lets out a huge sigh and Zack makes a fake gaging noise.

"Ugh! Gag me much."

Cody turned around and glared at Zack.

"Zack, leave me alo-"

Cody paused as he studied Zack's face. Cody was bemused as he saw Zack jaw slacked and wide eyed. Bob had the same expression on his face as Zack. Max looked at what they were looking at and raised an eyebrow. Tapeworm didn't know what to do so he looked in their direction. Just as Cody was about to turn around to see what the whole deal was, he felt a sudden yet gentle tap on his left shoulder. Cody turns around and sees a delightful `smile across Bailey's graceful face. Cody forgot about his anger towards Zack as his mouth twitched into a desirable smile.

"Oh, hello, Bailey!"

"Hi, Cody. Ready to go to class?"

"Sure. But do you need help with your locker?"

"Oh, don't worry. I went to the office and asked for help there."

"That's great! Soon enough, you're going to fit in here just fine."

"Thanks, Cody."

"You're welcome. Now before we go, let me introduce you to my brother and friends."

"That would be great."

Cody's smile widens even bigger. He turns around and gestures everyone to Bailey. He goes from left to right starting with Zack.

"Bailey, I'd like you to meet my brother, Zack."

"Nice to meet you, Zack."

"Nice to meet you too…"

"And this is Max and Bob."

"Hello."

Max head nods to Bailey. "Sup."

Bob lets out a quick and nervous laugh. "Hi."

"And then there's Tapeworm."

"Hi, Tapeworm."

"Hi."

"May I ask how you got the name Tapeworm?"

"I got the name after eating twenty hot dogs under a minute."

"That's neat."

Cody then gestures Bailey to everyone.

"Guys, this is Bailey Pickett. She's my new friend and she's new to the city. It would be helpful if you accepted her into our group."

"Sure, Code Red. We'd love a new member be added to our group."

"Thanks, Zack. Well, see you guys at lunch. Bailey and I have history together."

Bailey smiles at everyone. "It was nice meeting all of you guys."

Everyone choruses a 'you too'.

Cody and Bailey leave together to go to their history class that will be taught by Mr. Johnson. Just as Cody and Bailey are out of earshot theories begin to churn in accusation mill. Max feeds the mill first.

"When Cody meant that he and Bailey had history together, did he mean that they've met more than a few times or did he mean that they history class together?"

Zack scoffed. "I don't know and I don't care. What I want to know is how did Cody pick up such a hot girl?"

"I don't know, man. Maybe they really are just friends."

"Besides, Zack, Cody has Barbara. It's not like Cody is in love with Bailey."

Tapeworm waits until everyone had said their piece about Cody and Bailey.

"I don't know. I think that Bailey is a nice girl. Let's give her a chance."

Max looks up at Tapeworm and then back at Bob and Zack.

"Tapeworm's right, you guys. We should give her a chance. After all, Cody did say that she was new in town. Let's see how she fairs. Let's try to get to know her."

Zack hesitated. "Alright…"

Just then the five minute bell rang. Everyone had dispersed in different directions to go to their separate classes. When the tardy bell rang, every student was in their seats. All the teachers greeted their new students and handed out syllabi in each class and went over the pieces of paper that were considered the classroom agreements. Once the syllabi were read over, some teachers either started classwork or just lectured to their students what they expected out of them while in class and how they should act in the hallways.

To Be Continued…