Elle's transition to school went much more smoothly than everyone had expected. Her intense reading over the summer had helped her understand most of what the other students said. Her newfound driven, smart, and sassy personality and having three of the most popular girls in school as her friends had made her quite the people magnet.

The fact that she had shiny, chin length honey brown hair, big hazel eyes, and some rather rapidly developing curves had nothing to do with it. Or at least, that's what Mike told himself.

Truth be told, he was a bit jealous of her. She had acclimated so easily to the school she didn't seem to need any of the boys anymore. Or Mike. Of course she still sat with them and hung out every afternoon, but there was a tangible difference. All the boys knew Elle's social standing was far above theirs. They were just waiting until she decided she was sick of them.

"Hey Mike!" Elle chirped in Mike's ear, disturbing his dismal train of thought. He turned around to see her leaning against his locker in a pretty lavender dress and her arms full of books.

"Hey Elle." He was unable to resist smiling back, but she still frowned.

"What is it?" She leaned closer, dark eyes intent. Mike shuffled his feet.

"What's what?" He mumbled. Elle's eyes narrowed.

"Something is bothering you. Did Troy try to pull something? I can break his other arm." She declared.

"No, no, no." Mike protested. "Don't hurt Troy. You'll get in trouble."

"So what? I can stand a little trouble." Elle shrugged. "Tell me."

"Well, it's just... sometimes I feel like I don't deserve you. Like you're better than I am." Mike stammered awkwardly. Elle's eyebrows shot up and he flushed.

"I mean, obviously you are. But like, now you're super popular. Pretty much everyone likes you. Why would you want to stick with stupid little Michael Wheeler and his group of nerds when you could hang out with-"

Elle sighed. Of course Mike would think silly things like this. He was always second guessing himself. Why couldn't he see that he was the only one? The other kids were nice and everything, but no one else made her feel the way Mike did. All warm and tingly on the inside.

Elle cut off his rambling with a kiss. Mike's eyes widened before closing. This kiss was longer than the first, or even the few they had snuck in since then. Elle instinctively brought a hand to Mike's cheek as he put his hands in her smooth hair. Mike tasted good, Elle decided as she stroked his cheek. A happy sigh escaped her mouth as she gently moved her lips with his.

"You go Mikey boy!" A sparky voice broke the two apart. Elle just smiled, while Mike glowered at the offending voice-Amy.

"Hi Amy!" Elle smiled. The ginger tossed her hair casually.

"Book club is in half an hour!" Amy reminded them. "Room 3B."

"I don't think Buttercup can be counted as a heroine. She never does anything except for herself!" Amy declared as she passionately gestured with her copy of their selected reading material, The Princess Bride.

"I disagree. She's willing to jump off of a cliff for her love." Matt shot back with a look of adoration.

"Yeah but what does she do when she thinks he's alive? She acts like an utter bitch, that's what!" Amy growled, leaning froward in her seat.

Elle found their dynamic very interesting. They were always at each others throats, yet clearly adored each as well. She supposed they just showed their love in strange ways, like that one time Amy hid pears in Matt's banana smoothie because she knew he hated them, or when Matt had let his hair grow halfway down his back because she said long haired men looked 'weird'.

"All right!" Megan clapped her hands together cheerily, pushing Matt and Amy apart with a desperate look in her eyes. "I think we're done with the discussion bit. How about everybody goes and gets snacks, then we'll decide what to read for next meeting. Okay? Okay."

Mike heaved a sigh of relief from beside Elle. He had thought their argument would never end. Sure, he had enjoyed the reading bit, but this whole debate thing was so not his speed. Elle seemed to like it though, so he was stuck here for the foreseeable future. At least they had good snacks, he admitted, stuffing a Twinkie into his mouth.

"I like the drama. It's like TV." Elle giggled, plopping down on his lap. Mike froze with his cheeks full as the small crowd of children stopped talking to stare at the two kids doing one of the Things You Aren't Supposed To Do.

"Do you think we could read that new Stephen King book? Nancy says they're great. Real scary." Elle chattered, munching on her chips with an air of utter calm. Mike just got redder and redder.

"Hey Elle, would you come to the bathroom with me real quick?" Abigail appeared at Mike's elbow and quickly tugged the other girl out into the hall.

"What is it?" Elle frowned. She knew Abi didn't need her for the bathroom. "Are you... bleeding?"

"No." Abi shook her head. "Look, I know you were homeschooled and everything, but you need to know that you can't do that."

"Do what?" Elle was confused. Abi looked embarrased, though Elle didn't know why on earth she would be.

"You know... sit on Mike's lap and stuff." Elle did not know how that was supposed to clear anything up.

"Why not? I like Mike." Elle stated. Abi let out a snort.

"Trust me, we all know how much you like Mike, and how he likes you. It's written all over your faces." Elle guessed that must be an expression. "Honestly, that's why you can't be that... close. You like him too much. It makes the grownups nervous."

Elle decided that grownups were stupid, and she hated them.