Okay, so for some odd reason, Mystic Force wasn't on tonight, but I'm still going to add a chapter. So, here goes, chapter 11.

Chapter 11—Mon Ange en Qui Je Crois

"Can't I just get a lobotomy? I mean anything that would get me over him,"
A blond teen wondered half-jokingly as he slammed his locker shut and leaned against the metal door.

"Casey, It's a new year, and a new you!" Vida pulled a book out of her locker and shut it. "By the way, you and blonde...way cute," Madison rose from the floor, books and

schedule in tow. It was the start of a new year and she was right where she always was, under a stack of academia.

"Thanks. But seriously. I have been crushing on Alexander Bly since he transfered here Freshman year and I am so over it."

The blonde teen pushed some hair out of his eyes. He had gone through a total transformation over the summer. He had started off for a summer in London with his school's theater company frumpy and with coffee brown hair. Now, thirty pounds lighter and newly dyed locks, he was almost a different person. "Crushes suck."

"That's why they're called crushes Case. Getting crushed ain't exactly a party." Vida slipped her bag over her shoulder and the three headed down the hallway. It was crowded with the students of Briarwood High School.

"Yeah I guess. I just don't get it." Casey said, looking from girl to girl. They had been his neighbors since grade school and his best friends for what seemed like forever.

"What?" A familiar voice spoke, making them cringe from behind. "Oh wait, let me guess, you don't get why you're just fooling yourself with the hair? Honey please, just because you have blonde locks doesn't mean Xander will notice you."

"I guess you would know, wouldn't you Leelee?" Vida flashed a quick smile, totally trumping the peroxide blonde's retort.

"Whatever." Leelee tossed a curl over her soulder. "You freaks should really be put in a separate hallway from us normal Juniors."

"Oh go slither off and eat your young." Casey continued walking, Madison and Vida chuckling past Leelee, who was stunned.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nick sat through his grueling first block. Lucky for him, he didn't have any of his 'friends' in his first class—Home Economics. Maybe he'd find out how to make some new friends? On top of Jeremy that is…

That guy seemed genuinely nice…Maybe this school won't be so bad.

Jeremy brought an immediate smile to his face…but Nick was still thinking about Xander. He hadn't meant to come off so asshole-ish, but Xander really did break his trust, and he should've known it would take more than an apology to get it back. He had to prove himself.

"Another year, another teacher," a blond boy sighed.

Nick turned a bit in his seat to see the male sitting next to him. He had side swept blond hair and startling green eyes.

"You mean there's a new teacher every year for this class?" Nick wondered curiously.

"Yep, normally they break down in the middle of the year…the preps put her through the ringer last year," the classmate laughed.

"That's bad," Nick laughed almost to himself.

"I haven't seen you around here before, you've got to be new. Name's Casey, and you?" the male now named Casey asked.

"Nick Russell," Nick replied, shaking the hand that was offered.

Casey nodded but before he could respond, a rough looking man entered the classroom with the look like he hadn't shaved in maybe a week, and his hair looking like he'd just flown here on a broom…though Nick knew that wasn't entirely absurd.

"Evening class!" he shouted.

"Um, excuse me…it's morning," a girl replied, her attitude obvious.

"Oh, right, sorry bout that. Morning!"

"Good morning," the class said drearily.

"Oh this should be so much fun…" Nick said solemnly as he pulled open his notebook and began to doodle.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Xander had no problem charming up to his Calculus teacher, lucky for him she happened to be easily moved by accents. After second block, he headed off to lunch, sure to hear all about everyone's day and hoping against hope to see Nick.

"Hey Case, loving the hair, mate." Xander took a seat between the lovesick teenager and his best friend Madison. Casey just blushed and smiled.

"Yeah, it makes you look brighter. Like…uh…" Madison was trying to find a way to help Casey out. Nick was being a butt lately. If it wasn't meant to be with him, then there was still a chance for Casey. "I dunno...What do you think Xan?"

"You shine. Like Madds said, bright." He gave a quirky smile and turned to Vida, who was across the table. She returned his look with sweet eyes. It was really nice of him to have said something like that. Xander wasn't oblivious. He knew Casey liked him, just not to the extent of how much. Don't get him wrong, Casey was sweet, but almost breakable. Xander knew he would hurt him somehow, and couldn't stand the thought of it. So he decided to change the subject.

"Have you guys seen Nick?"

"Oh uh, that new guy? Motorcycle and such?" Casey pulled his hair behind his ear and gave Xander the big green eye treatment. "I have him in my Home Ec class."

Xander looked over to Casey and it was like he saw him a little bit differently. "Really?" There was a bit of flirt in his tone. "Did you...uh..talk?"

"Yeah, I asked him if he would want to eat with us, but he said he had to do something. Why? Do you know him?"

"Yeah, we uh..." Xander wanted so bad to just tell him, and the rest of the school how they were together and his heart sang for the Red Ranger. But after the day before, he didn't quite know where the two stood." We work together."

"Oh wow, he didn't mention it." Casey turned back to his apple. "I guess he thought I was talking about another Alexander."

"You said Alexander?" Madison smiled. She knew that Casey was the only one to call him by his full name. "That must be it."

"Of Course." Casey sensed something off about Xander. He was kind of staring off into space a bit. "Do you want me to go get him?"

"No need, 'him' just walked into the lunchroom." Vida motioned with a fork full of rubbery macaroni. Nick was walking in with Chip. The two guys quickly saw the group, but as soon as Nick saw Xander he gave Chip a pat on the back and turned back down the hallway.

As Chip approached the table and dropped his lunch on the hard wood. He looked a bit confused. "Odd."

"What?" Xander asked a little too eagerly. "What did he say?"

"He said he forgot something in his locker and would meet us at work." Chip opened the brown paper sack and pulled out a tuna salad sandwich. His favorite.

"Yeah, I bet." Xander sat back in his seat and inhaled deeply. Something caught his senses. Casey's hair smelled like honey. "New shampoo?"

Casey turned to face the Aussie with a mouth full of apple. Through the chunks of fruit he finally managed to muster "Pardon?"

"Nothing."

The green ranger rose from him seat and decided to get out of the lunchroom. Casey was clouding his thoughts. Was it the new look. He definitely was beyond adorable, but he never thought that way about him before. It was just Nick getting on his mind. He had to get out before he did something. "I gotta go get to my next class. It's physics with Mr. Monroe, I dun wanna make him mad at me on the first day."

"Oh hey, I have him next too. Mind if I come?" Casey looked up from him with those big green eyes.

"No, I uh, sure." Xander wanted to be alone, but he couldn't bring himself to say no. The two stepped into the hall and were off to class.

New OC. Hope you liked! Later, review!