Hey everyone!

So... I'm really sorry - I know it went from Valentine's Day to the start of junior year, but I couldn't do another chapter in between without it being INCREDIBLY boring. So... I'm really sorry, but you'll like this chapter (I hope!).

Disclaimer and Copyright.

So, as always, read, review, and enjoy!

The alarm went off and Allison rolled over to turn it off, effectively landing herself on the floor.

"Ouch…," she whimpered, as she rubbed her back and stood up, stretching her arms, legs, and back. She headed to the bathroom and turned on the faucet, splashing warm water on her face, in an effort to wake her up. Allison washed her face, did her hair, and put on her makeup, a task that took less then a half an hour. She headed to her closet, having forgotten to put out an outfit for her first day of junior year. Allison sighed, running her hand through her newly cut, layered, long hair. She let the last few moments of summer wash over her. It had been a perfect summer, full of late nights out with Rob, sleepovers with Lisa and Remy, and hanging out with all of her friends. It was the epitome of perfection, contrasting with last summer of sadness and sitting out by the pool. She rooted around in her closet for a moment, before finding a fuchsia long sleeved shirt and a grey skirt, which she paired with a strand of faux pearls that she looped around her neck. Allison looked at herself in the mirror after she changed, toying with her new bangs – she had parted ways from side bangs to more chic straight across bangs.

She grabbed her black tote bag and headed downstairs, where she grabbed an apple out of the fruit bowl. It was quieter at her house; now that John was gone, starting his first semester at the University of Illinois in Chicago. She opened the door, sitting on the steps, letting the sun wash over her as she waited for that familiar blue, shiny, Ford truck to pull up into her driveway. Allison pulled out her iPod out of her bag and scrolled through the songs, not sure of what to listen to, when the truck pulled up and Rob stepped out. She smiled, putting her iPod away as she jumped up to greet him, putting her hands on the side of his face, and giving him a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her.

"You excited?" She asked childishly as she hopped up onto the seat, putting the seatbelt around her.

"For what?" He asked, putting the car into drive and backing out of her driveway, making his way through her neighborhood in the direction of school.

"It's junior year! You're not excited?" Rob laughed, running his fingers through her hair as they drove to school.

Her dad woke her up at seven, almost in tears at the sight of his daughter growing up so fast. Remy always rolled her eyes when he did that, annoyed with his constant reminiscing. She wasn't 21 yet – no need to get emotional, she always had thought. She ran a brush through her hair, dabbed some concealer under her eyes, lightly brushed some mascara and eyeliner, and threw on a white loose fitted t-shirt with skinny jeans and a yellow headband with yellow flats to match. Remy grabbed a pop tart and ran outside, just in time to hop on the bus. She rode alone for a few stops, then sat up when she realized she was by Eric's stop.

"So tell me this," Remy said, as Eric slid into the seat next to her on the bus. He greeted her with a kiss and put his arm around her.

"We're juniors now - Why are we still taking the bus even though I could pick you up with the car? I do have one, you know," she teased. Eric nodded as he looked around for a distraction.

"Come on, I've never even been to your house – Do your parents not want you to date or something?" Eric smiled, shaking his head.

"It's not like that."
"Well, then, what's it like?"

"You'd…. have to go out of your way to pick me up." Remy shook her head.

"That's a bad excuse. The bus picks me up first."

"You don't want to know." Remy was now upset, her lower lip stuck out in a pout as she crossed her arms.

"Why can't I go to your house?" Eric sighed as he turned to her, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"We'll go to your house after school and then you can drop me off at home, okay?" Remy smiled triumphantly.

"Thank you," she said with a proud nod and he laughed, kissing her one more time.

The alarm went off at six o' clock and Amber rolled out of bed and into the shower. She washed her hair and then blew dry it, so that it lay in gently layers over her shoulders. She then put on her makeup and outfit that she had carefully chosen the other night, an orange scoop necked sweater with a colored scarf, tight khakis and wedges.

"Mom, I'm going to pick up James!" Amber called, grabbing her bag and heading down the stairs as she grabbed a bagel.

"Okay, sweetie – have a good day," she said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Amber headed to the garage and got into the car that she had gotten for her sixteen birthday, an adorable little 2009 Kia Soul. She loved it; it was the perfect size and very fashionable.

James had been up since six too, helping his mom get his two younger brothers ready for school. He, himself, was throwing on a collared blue shirt when the doorbell rang, and he ran downstairs to get it before his little brothers did.

"Hi," he said, pulling her in for an intense kiss. It had been a couple of months and he still couldn't believe his good luck.

"Your mom still home?" Amber said, stepping into the house. She loved being there – despite her upbringing of just her and her mom in a big house with lots of space, she loved the homey feel of James' house with him and his two brothers, his mom, and dad. His dad was usually away on business, but was around enough for it to feel like a real family.

"Hi, Amber," James' mom said, stepping away from the boys just long enough to give her a warm embrace. She always said that Amber was like the daughter she never had and always told Amber she was welcome.

"We're going to head to school, Mom," he said, giving his Mom and two brothers a kiss. "See you tonight," he called as he left, shutting the front door tightly behind him.

"Here," she said, giving him half of the bagel she had left in the car.

"Thank you," he replied, leaning over the console and giving her a kiss. Amber kissed him back with a smile as she backed out of the driveway. She had long been over her fear of people caring about the popular girl with the not-so popular smart boy. She always figured that even though she lost a few "friends," she got something so much better.

Lisa headed through the front door, wiping a band of sweat off her forehead. She pulled her iPod out of her ears, once more cursing Greg for turning her onto bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Lisa smiled, however, as she thought about Greg – she never realized that while she was pining over Jimmy, that this great guy was right there all along – he was infuriating and a pain in the ass most of the time, but somehow she felt connected to him.

Lisa picked up a note on the kitchen counter, letting her know that her parents were already at work and that they wished her a good day at school. She rolled her eyes as she crumpled it up and tossed it into the garbage, heading upstairs to shower. Lisa showered in fifteen minutes and stepped out, looking at the clock in her bedroom that read six o'clock – she realized she had been up for over an hour now. Tryouts for varsity volleyball were tonight, and even though she had been a starter on the J/V freshman year, and a starter as well as captain, last year, she knew she had to work to prove herself for the team.

Lisa blew dry her hair and curled it, letting her long hair fall in ringlets over her shoulders. She put on her makeup and a pink drapey tank top with a long skirt and stiletto heels. She ran downstairs, the clock now reading seven and grabbed a yogurt out of the fridge as she sat and ate as quickly as possible, wanting to escape the huge empty house.

She got into her car, drove the few minutes to Greg's house, and pulled into the driveway, honking to signal her arrival – she hated going inside, because his dad kind of scared her and she always got the impression that his mom never liked her. He emerged after a few moments, his hair still wet and wearing his favorite Rolling Stones t-shirt with the pair of jeans she had gotten for his birthday in June.

"Hey," he said simply, hopping in the car and giving her a kiss.

"Hi," she said, giving him a big smile, and pulling out of the driveway.

They drove to school in silence, not an uncomfortable one, but merely silence, just two people enjoying the company of each other. Lisa pulled into the junior parking lot and they jumped out of the car, intertwining their hands as they walked into school together.

"Hey, do you mind stopping with me in the office? I have to give them the paper so that I can register my car."

"Sure," he said, tagging behind her as they headed down the hall to the office. He stood outside, leaning against the wall as she headed inside, bumping into a taller girl with jet-black short hair.

"Sorry!" Lisa exclaimed, patting the girl on the shoulder.

"It's fine," the girl said, in a Southern drawl that took Lisa by surprise – obviously a new student. Lisa gave a reassuring smile as the secretary grabbed her attention, with a paper that needed one last signature. The girl turned, and Lisa watched her go, wondering how in a collared blue shirt and simple khakis, someone could still be so beautiful. The girl walked out of the office and almost into Greg, who was heading inside to see if Lisa was done.

"Sorry...," he said, holding out his hands to steady her then froze as he locked his blue eyes with her light brown ones.

"I knew I'd find you around here somewhere," she said with a smile, and rested her hand on her hip. He stood, frozen, staring between the doorway where Lisa was sure soon to walk through and this girl. "Aren't you going to give me a hug? It has been two years."

"You two… know each other?" Lisa asked, as she walked back outside, finding Greg talking with that same mysterious girl. She turned to Lisa with a smile and an outstretched hand.

"Oh hi! I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Stacy. Stacy Warner."