Disclaimer: I do not own Meagan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys or any of its characters.

BRING!

The shrill sound of the first bell sounded in my ears. I collected the last of my books from my locker and closed it shut. I strolled brainlessly towards the classroom, ignoring the few students that were milling around their lockers. Being late for class didn't really affect me much. Being late to class increases my rep and none of the teachers even try to contradict me.

I had only gone halfway towards my homeroom before the bell rang and I had to turn around again to the other side of the hall towards my first period class. By the time I reached the classroom our substitute teacher had already started his lecture but even the sub teachers knew better than to scold me for coming late to class; there was no point, I was always late no matter what they did. I took my seat at the back of the classroom next to Aimee and put my headphones on, not bothering to be conspicuous about it. I leaned back in my chair and stared at nothing, the deafening music screaming in my ears. My thoughts wandered, just as they always did, drifting from what a waste of time school seemed to what Finn could possibly be doing now.

Finn...

What was up with that anyway?

*Flashback

"Okay if you say so. But if he ever tries to harm you again I swear on my life I'm not going to stand by on the sidelines watching it happen."

"Thanks again."

"I'm always going to be here for you Megan. Through whatever no matter what."*

Jeez that boy really needs to set his priorities straight.

*Flashback

Rummaging through my locker, I sighed. What was the deal between me and Finn? As I was reaching for a folder, I heard Finn's voice. He's laughing...with his friends. Without me.

Don't be so stingy Megan, I tell myself. He's allowed to have friends besides you.

"Hey Finn! Wha-"

But I stopped in the middle of my sentence. I really had no idea what to say. Finn was there, walking with a bunch of other people. But what surprised me the most wasn't the fact that Outcast Finn was surrounded by people. No, what surprised me, and shocked and hurt me too, was that his arm was linked with this other girl. She was a tall brunette with honey blonde streaks waving down the length of her hair. She and Finn were all smiles. They must have been talking about something really intense because Finn, not even looking in my direction, turned to her, laughed and kept on walking right by me.*

Zoning back into the class discussion I felt a tear roll down my cheek. What the hell?

Why was I crying? Why should I feel bad? Why should it affect me that Finn was with another girl?

Its definitely not because I was offended. Why should I care? No, it wasn't because I was offended. It was because my feelings for Finn weren't just friendly anymore. My need to be close to him wasn't because of my rep anymore. It was because I really, truly started caring for him, more so than I originally planned.

Great. I sound like a love-sick, obsessive stalker.

I groaned and allowed my head to fall heavy into the palms of my hands. A few heads turned to face me but the majority of the class didn't even bother looking back. Constant interruptions from the back of the classroom was a normal thing.

BRING!

The shrill sound of the school bell rang once more, signalling the beginning of our next class. I got up, not bothering to wait to hear the homework and walked out the door. Aimee walked beside me, knowing better than to ask me at the present moment what was bothering me. It was useless anyway, with the mood I was in. All around us kids were strolling to their next class, no one bothering to rush.

"Meg! Aimee! Wait up!"

Aimee and I stopped in our tracks and turned around to see Jenna and Ria walking towards us.

"History's in the next building yes?"

Aimee nodded and slowed down to walk beside them. I continued my normal pace, walking just a few steps in front of them.

"Hey whats up with her?" Ria called loudly, wanting me to hear.

Normally I would've turned around and explained. Or maybe given her a dirty look. But today the feelings circling within me was to confusing and hurt to much that I didn't have to will power to turn around.

"Hey! Megan! Wait up!"

"Ria! Can't you tell that shes not in the mood?" Jenna said exasperatedly.

"Guys! I'll explain, can you just please! Keep your voices down!"

The two of them shut up as they strained in to hear Aimee's hushed whispers. Not bothering to try to listen to my best friend's frantic explanations I sped up my pace a bit so I was already sitting in my usual back seat of our History classroom by the time the three of them walked in. The classroom was already full by the time we arrived, everyone yelling and shouting. Gossiping and throwing paper everywhere. Our History teacher, Mr Palento, was the sort of pushover teacher that no one listened to. I settled in my seat watching as the three of them leaned in towards each other, busy gossiping away about my current mood. I put my headphones on and closed my eyes. I hooked my black hoodie over my head and closed my eyes. Mr Palento may be a pushover but he was the only teacher who made me do the work. Not that I minded, it was a nice change but I decided to enjoy my last few minutes before the hard work that was sure to come.

The figure of our teacher brought me to attention. I sat up and paused my Ipod mid-song and put down my hoodie. I sat there waiting for instructions. History was my favorite subject after all. Unfortunately I couldn't say the same for the rest of my class.

"Class! Could I please call your attention!"

I watched, amused, as our teacher frantically tried to keep the class under control. Feeling sorry for him, I sighed and stood up. The sound of my scraping chair shut the whole class up.

"Hey! Can all of you just shut it for two seconds? Jeez."

I sat down as Mr Palento shot a grateful glance at me.

"Thank you Ms Meade. Now just as I was about to say, we have a new student here with us today."

New student? What the hell?

"So class could you please welcome Ms Jessica Abrams."

A familiar head of brunette hair walked into the class. A face that I saw earlier this morning smiled to the class.

"Hi! I'm Jess!"

I felt Aimee's gasp of shock next to me, which caused my heart to freeze. It couldn't be her. Could it?

"Welcome to the class Jessica! Maybe you can tell us a bit about yourself?" Mr Palento said smiling.

"Umm...okay!"

She walked to the centre of the front, the exact spot Mr Palento was standing a few seconds ago. She turned to face the class and she smiled.

"Okay, so I used to come down here every summer, to visit my friends and some close friends of my family. I stopped coming down here for a while, since a few years back because of some tension between me and this certain friend. But its all worked out now."

She looked at me, staring me right in the eyes. I saw the gleam in her eye as she smiled and continued to stare me down.

"This certain friend is the reason that I came back. I was worried that I was going to lose him so I decided to come and stay here for a while to make sure that doesn't happen."

She smiled at the class as a few kids started whispering and as she walked down the centre aisle to sit about 4 desks away from me, more than a couple of wolf whistles broke out. Everyone turned to her and started asking questions. Who was this certain person she came back for? How did she make her hair so beautiful? Some guys even had the nerve to ask her out. I could barely make out her politely declining, saying she has someone else in mind when Aimee nudged me. I looked to her and she gestured towards the new girl. She mouthed 'that's her' and slouched back in her chair and faced the front.

God, how I seriously wished I hadn't shut the class up. I couldn't have given her a more attention-giving introduction even if I tried.

Megan, you stupid idiot.

So so so? Again I know its super short but I'm in the process of writing the next chapter so don't sweat your pants off :) as always feedback is greatly appreciated.