Hey, the few people that have came back. I know you thought I abandoned. I didn't, obviously.

A/N: PM me ideas!

"Cuts?" Stevie asked as she put on her best smile.

Zander nodded and stepped out of the way. "So you wanna try band practice again after school?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry Zander," Stevie said as she moved up in line, "I guess I wasn't realizing me and Kacey's fighting affected everyone. It's safe to say we've reached an understanding now."

"What understanding?"

"Well… it's sort of complicated," Stevie tried to explain.

"Complicated like Rubik's Cube complicated or complicated like 7th grade English complicated?"

"7th grade English complicated." Stevie stated in a matter of fact tone as she grabbed her lunch and sat down.

Zander raised an eyebrow, "Girls."

"Well at least we have the band back together, and just in time for our rocking new song." Nelson fist bumped Kevin.

"Which is?" Stevie asked.

"Well, I haven't thought of anything yet... but since we can effectively rehearse today," he paused to throw a look at Stevie, "we can flesh out some ideas after school," he whipped out his ukulele, "I've had this awesome melody—"

"Hey guys," Kacey said casually as she sat down in between Zander and Stevie.

"Hey." "Sup." "Hey Kace." came the cacophony of replies.

"Hey Kacey," Stevie mumbled, taking a sudden interest in the nearest ketchup packet. What if Kacey took back what she said the other day? Not that Stevie remembered exactly what was said, but they did reach some kind of level playing field. The distinctive scent of vanilla filled her nose and she wondered how long she could hold her breath and not faint.

"You're not hungry?" Kevin asked as he gestured to the non-existence of a tray in front of Kacey.

Kacey frowned and shook her head, "Who would ever be hungry for the schools lunch?"

Kevin and Nelson's hands shot up.

"And today is pizza day—that reminds me; I need to go back for thirds." Kevin stood up with a flourish as Nelson followed suit.

Kacey nudged Stevie gently, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, never better," Stevie answered hurriedly, spooning pudding into her mouth.

As soon as her spoon hit the tray Stevie realized a second too late that she was breathing through her nose. The heady scent of vanilla enveloped her. She closed her eyes and attempted to get her bearings before giving a Kacey a better answer, but that smell… it totally screwed up every bodily function considered effortless.

Oh dear god, thank you she thought when the bell rung, signaling the end of the lunch period and the start of a new one.

Kacey grabbed her purse and school bag from under the table and swung it over her shoulder, "Are you sure, that you're alright? You're acting a liiitle weird. Even for me." Kacey clasped her hands together. "Me," she reiterated.

"I'm just not myself today, I guess," Stevie laughed nervously as she hurried from the table and in the direction of the gym. "Oh wait," she called out to Kacey, "What did you have to ask me earlier?"

Kacey turned and smiled as she continued to back away toward her locker, "I think I can show you better than I can tell you."

"Okay," Stevie answered simply as she slowly turned away and made her way to the locker room.

Gym was one of her better subjects. She was naturally hand-eye coordinated and she could run the mile in under eight minutes since the 5th grade. The other girls never tried too hard, or at least hard enough to sweat. Molly had been in her class last year and she had mastered the art of looking like you're putting in effort when you really weren't.

As she pushed open the heavy oak door she wrinkled her nose. The locker room always reeked of Pure Seduction, steam, and shower sweat—a heavenly scent if you were a guy but irritating if you've had to inhale it every day since the beginning of your high school career.

Stevie kept her eyes low and counted the tiles until she reached her locker. The girls at this school were a little too comfortable with being scantly clothed. Ever since Kacey had told her about that bogus rumor, it would be way too easy for someone to say they caught her staring.

"9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 14 tiles," Stevie looked up and came face to face with her combination lock. She spun the dial but the locker had no give. After a serious of kicks and bangs the whole row on lockers opened.

"Think you can teach me that trick?" Kacey asked, laughing.

Stevie plastered herself against the wall, "Where did you come from?"

"This is my gym period now. I dropped German II so they had to rearrange my schedule to accommodate this period."

"Wait a minute, that's what you were trying to tell me at lunch?" Stevie contorted her features into a look of confusion, "But we have less than two months of school left this year, why would they change it now? And doesn't that mean you get a failing grade for the rest of the semester? "

"Not exactly, see I haven't taken a gym class since elementary school," Stevie rolled her eyes, "And the principal told my mom she'd barter with me if I took gym these last few weeks."

"And what exactly are you getting out of this?"

"My C average, as of two days ago," Kacey dug through her bag for her yoga pants, "So what dances do you do in class?"

Stevie's eyes grew large as she grasped the fact that Kacey was going change right in front of her! "Uh, actually today is a fitness day. We're going to the track."

Kacey held up Stevie's gym uniform, "These clothes are so… unflattering. Good thing I brought my own."

Kacey laid out a gray sleeveless shirt with 'Simon #1' on the back in felt letters and a pair of puma shorts, "I guess if I'm gonna sweat, I have to sweat in style."

Stevie kicked off her shoes, "Trust me, there is no way to sweat, 'in style'." She whipped off her shirt and replaced it with her gym shirt in a flash.

"Well if somebody is going to figure out a way, it's probably going to be me." Kacey reached out and grabbed Stevie's wrist. "Can I borrow one of these?" she popped one of the many hair-bands on Stevie's arm.

"Yeah," Stevie breathed as Kacey grabbed one.

"You still wear those jelly bands?" Kacey commented as she pulled her long brown tresses into a ponytail.

"Sometimes," Stevie discreetly unbuttoned her jeans and pulled them off. "I don't play the game anymore. It's kinda junior high now."

Kacey nodded and pulled off her skirt and matching (of course) blouse. Stevie took caution not to look, moving a few steps down.

"Kacey can I wait for you outside?" Stevie blurted before laughing nervously, "It's kind of humid in here."

Kacey quirked any eyebrow, "You know, you've been like, freaking out since our talk the other day.."

"I am not freaking out."

"Then why are your hands shaking?"

Stevie wracked her brain for a logical answer but nothing came. "Just put your clothes on Kacey! Please!"

Kacey smirked, "Does my being naked bother you? Well.. semi-naked."

Stevie crossed her arms and cleared her throat defiantly, "Yes, it does bother me and it's not cool for you to be flaunting it all over my personal space."

"Flaunting it!" Kacey laughed, "I'm changing into my gym clothes." That's a first Kacey thought to herself.

"I'm waiting outside," Stevie left no room for a reply before taking off.

"Stevie!" Kacey yelled.

Her answer was the slam of the heavy oak door. It took mere seconds for the giggles to erupt and spill into the air as Kacey had to sit down because she was laughing so hard. When the fun was over and she realized she was going to be really late for attendance, she reluctantly pulled on her shorts and reached for her t-shirt. As she glanced at it she made a horrifying discovery.

"I didn't bedazzle this!"

Yeah, I know. So many things have been going on this past month and I haven't really been into it, but here's your eleventh chapter. I hope you liked it. PLEASE REVIEW.