CHAAAAAAAAAAPTER TEN! I can't believe that I've updated three stories' milestone chapters! In Hidden Sacrifice, I just updated Chapter 10, and Blackout's on Chapter 5! Things are really getting intense in all of my fics right now.

This is the chapter right before the first dance. I hope you're all excited.

I've been thinking about the alcohol at the dance . . . I've had mixed reactions from you guys. I'm thinking of going on having them bring some . . . it won't be too bad, I promise. I just want it to symbolize a few things . . . that will show up later.

And like always, there's swearing in this chapter. Since nobody seems to really mind it, it'll be getting a bit worse.

In this chapter, I'll cover two days, not one. You'll see.

Alright, so here we goooo!

Chapter Ten: Meetings and Feelings

Wednesday, September 10th

[Jay's POV]

I just heard that there's a dance on Friday. My first thought . . . complete and total terror. My second thought . . . I could ask Nya. My third thought . . . that's a terrible idea.

Zane looks over at me curiously.

"What?!" I ask, seeing his expression.

"Are you all right, Jay? You seem stressed."

"I'm fine, Zane, really!" I laugh. "Just thinking, that's all."

"I was thinking too," Zane says, stopping in front of his locker. "I'm thinking of running for Student Council." He shoves a few books into his locker, and pulls out his Health textbook.

"That's awesome!" I grin. "I've kinda always wanted to . . . but no one would vote for me. Besides, I'm new. And I have no idea when elections are."

"Next week," says an unknown voice. I turn around to face a young girl. She's probably another Sophomore, by the look of her. She's got dark black hair, bright blue eyes, and glasses. She smiles at me. "I'm sure you'd get votes. You seem nice enough . . ."

"Uh, thanks . . ." I reply awkwardly.

"I'm Becky by the way. Becky Aulta. Pronounced Ul-tah." She reaches out her hand to shake mine.

"Um, hi." I shake her head carefully. I'm just not really a handshake person. Zane turns to face Becky, his books under his arm. He steps forward.

"Hello, I am Zane Julien. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He sticks out his hand to shake, and drops one of his books on the floor. His face turns pink.

"I'll get it, Zane," I say quickly, reaching down to pick the book up. Becky shakes Zane's outstretched hand.

"Nice to meet cha!" She then looks at me. "I think you could run for Student Council. You do things for people like pick up their books! People must really like you!" I gulp.

"Uh, not really. I'm kinda bullied a lot . . ."

"Same . . ." murmurs Zane. Becky looks at us curiously.

"Why? You boys are really nice!"

"We're just weird," sighs Jay.

"And I have braces . . ." mumbles Zane. Becky frowns.

"How is that something to be teased about?" she says. "Besides, when they come off . . . your teeth will be perfect!" She flashes him a white-toothed smile. "I used to have braces, and now look at my teeth." Zane smiles.

"They look wonderful." She beams.

"And yours will too, Zane." She suddenly changes the subject. "Are you going to run for Student Council?"

"Possibly," my friend replies. "Are you running?"

"For Vice President," she beams. "Vote for Becky Aulta to get rid of poor law!" I blink.

"Um, okay . . ."

"Sounds like you are prepared," Zane smiles. "If I ran for Vice I would have no chance against you," he says, awestruck.

"Aww, thanks!" Becky grins at him. "Gotta dash! Tootles!" And with that, she turns on her heel and skips down the hall. Zane and I stare after her.

"Man, she was interesting," I remark. Zane doesn't reply. "Zane?"

"Yes, she was," he answers softly. Silence falls between us for a second. "What class is next again?" he suddenly asks.

"Umm, P.E. and Health, remember?" I reply.

"Right." Zane doesn't sound so sure. There's something bothering him, that's for sure. I decide to change the subject.

"Hey, are going to the dance?"

"Probably not," Zane replies. He turns to look at me. "Why?"

"It'd be awkward without a friend there," I say, and I mean it. Zane frowns.

"Why don't you just ask Nya to the dance?! I'm sure she'd love to go with you!" He says this so harshly and suddenly that I jolt. That was unexpected. He even spoke in contractions! There was something terribly, horribly wrong . . .

"Zane . . ." I begin, "what's bothering you?"

"Nothing," he says shortly. "Leave me alone, please." I swallow.

"Okay." And so, the walk to Health class is completely and totally silent.

[Kai's POV]

"I don't want to go to this fricking dance," I groan to Lloyd, sitting down across from him on the bench with a loud thump.

"I dunno if I want to go or not," Lloyd sighs, sliding an extra lunch across the table to me. I grab the lunch quickly and peek inside.

"Thank everything you remembered to bring this, hot lunch was bean burritos . . . they're probably made with shit." As I'm pulling out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich I spot Matt making his way towards us.

"Hey! Matt! Over here!" Lloyd shouts, waving his arms. Matt collapses in the seat next to Lloyd.

"Ugh, the dance is in two days and I don't have a date," he whines.

"Just go with us," says Lloyd, opening a huge thing of Pringles. "As friends of course."

"I'd rather get a date," sighs Matt, biting into a chocolate chip cookie.

"I feel so loved," I say sarcastically.

"It's nothing against you guys, I just want a date!" Matt shouts. "I'm a Sophomore! I'm fifteen years old! Can't I just get a girlfriend?"

"You can't just 'get a girlfriend'," snorts Lloyd. "It's way more complicated than that." Matt groans.

"I know that, Green Bean, but that doesn't mean I can't try." He shoves another cookie into his mouth.

"Hey Kai?" says a girls voice from behind me. I turn around to face. Nya stands behind me, looking very pale. She was dressed in almost all black again today, with a bit of blue.

"Need a place to sit, sis?" I ask. She nods, sinking into the seat next to me. "Where's Kasey and Mindy?"

"I don't know!" Nya cries. "They should be here!" She puts her head on the table.

"It's okay, sis," I whisper to her. "You'll be okay."

"Uhhh . . . h-hey . . . uh . . . can we sit here?" We all turn to face the speaker. I recognized him as the new kid. Standing next to him was Zane Brain the Nerd. Lloyd raises his eyebrows.

"What makes you think you can sit here?" The new kid's eyes widen.

"Uh-uh-uh I don't have a place to sit sooo . . ."

"Sorry, you're not allowed," Matt sneers. Nya suddenly looks up at the boys.

"Jay, Zane, c'mon, we'll go sit somewhere else." She stands up quickly and leads the two boys to another table across the cafeteria.

"Oooookay then," Matt says. "Weird chick."

"That's my little sister you're talking about!" I say angrily, throwing a plastic spoon at him. Lloyd laughs.

"Wow, you guys. Just . . . wow." Shaking his head, Lloyd takes a huge bite of chocolate pudding. I just groan.

Thursday, September 11th

[Nya's POV]

Tomorrow's the dance. Half of me is screaming with joy, and the other half of me is exploding with nerves. I'm also a little disappointed . . Jay hasn't even spoken to me (well, alone) since the day of the incident. I was hoping that he'd ask me to the dance. Obviously he's nervous, but still, doesn't he understand that I'd say yes?

I saw Kasey and Mindy yesterday hanging out with the jock boys. When I tried to get their attention, they briefly glanced at me, then went back to they were doing.

I don't understand why all of a sudden everyone hates me! It doesn't make any sense to me at all. I'm still the same girl I was at the beginning of the year . . .

"Nya!" I spin around when I hear my name, a smile on my face. Thank gosh someones paying attention to me. But when I see who it is, I'd almost rather be alone.

"Hi Blake," I say flatly. He sidles up next to me.

"What's up, Nya?"

"The ceiling," I reply cooly, not looking him in the eyes.

"Oh come on, Nya, don't be like that," he responds smoothly. "A girl like you should never be so blue."

"Back off, asshole," I snap, tearing away from him. My book bag falls to the floor. He picks it up and smiles a flirty smile.

"You wanna go to the dance with me?"

"I've already been asked!" I lie quickly, snatching my bag from him.

"By who?!" he says angrily.

"None of your business!" I scream. I run as fast as I can down the hall, tears streaming down my face. Gosh, I've been waaay to emotional lately.

I guess I'm not paying attention to where I'm going, because I suddenly slam right into someone.

"Ouch!" I yelp. In front of my stands a girl with her black hair in two braids.

"Hey, can you pick up my glasses for me?" she asks. I reach down for the glasses on the floor, wipe them off on my shirt, and hand them back.

"Thanks," the girl replies. "I'm blind without them. I'm Becky by the way. Becky Aulta. Pro-"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm kind of in a hurry," I say in a rush.

"Oh, right!" Becky laughs. "Sorry 'bout that. What's wrong?"

"Trying to get away from someone," I say quickly.

"A guy?" she asks. I nod. "Girl's bathroom then," she says. It's not a suggestion. She grabs onto my arm and pulls me down the hall into the nearest girl's bathroom.

"Thanks," I pant breathlessly.

"No problemo," she grins. "What's your name?"

"Nya."

"Nice to meet ya," she beams. "Are you okay, Nya? I've seen you looking really upset in the hallways."

"Just a bit depressed, that's all," I sigh. Becky raises her eyebrows.

"Depressed? There's no need to be depressed! Be happy, like me!" She grins as she says this.

"Thanks, Becky. I'm also a bit nervous about tomorrow."

"Oooh, you got a date?" She waggles her eyebrows.

"No, and that's exactly the problem. I don't want to be the one to ask him to dance." She places a hand on my shoulder.

"You'll be fine, trust me. C'mon, it's almost third period. I think you're in the class next to mine." I nod, agreeing even if she's wrong. I don't care anymore. I just want to be away from all of this . . .

I wasn't originally going to end there, but I ran out of ideas. What do you guys think of Becky? XD I kinda love her.

Dance next chapter! The update may take awhile, tho. I've got a two big end-of-the-year projects for Algebra and Science.

OH! And you guys seriously need to look up 'ninjago lloydxpillar' on deviantart. t's the funniest thing I've seen all day! Be sure to read at least the first page of comments!

See ya all soon! Please review!

~ForeverDreamer12