Hello, lovely readers! I am BACK!

Sorry for the long wait. You know how I am. School's been really busy this year, but I just can't stay away from this story for too long. Every time I get onto the computer my fingers want to type out "clique fanfiction" on google.

The other excuse is that I've published two other oneshots (The city is at War and Dancing to the beat of My Heart.) After reading the Outsiders and watching Step up 3, I was kinda obsessed with Dallas Winston and Kid Darkness. So now that I've written them, I should be okay. But I still love Kid Darkness. :D If you have'nt watched Step Up 3, you should totally watch it. Especially the last scene (World Jam). It was too awesome. Too bad the judges had bad taste, the Samurai should seriously have won. I keep on rewatching the part where Kid Darkness grabs Luke's hat, throws it up into the air, jackhammers, and then catches it and wipes his butt with it :P.

Plus, I'm kinda working out the story backwards. I've got a good idea of what will happen in the end. I've already written the main chapter that leads into the fight. In that chapter, you find out Landon's ability! :) I know. Finally.

Landon's character was based on a few other male characters from awesome stories/movies that I really admire (Luke Castellan from Percy Jackson, Kid Darkness from Step Up 3, Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter, and Dallas Winston from The Outsiders.) You know, I'm kinda thinking of doing a Draco Malfoy/Ginny Weasley story or a Marauder's Story.

Okay, enough with the rambling.

Enjoy!

"Hey."

Claire pranced along beside Landon, looking obnoxiously cheerful. Way too cheerful for a Monday morning at eight o'clock, if you asked Landon.

"So, wassup?"

Landon's only response was a weak grimace.

"Landon!"

Massie skipped up to him from behind Claire and tapped in on the shoulder. Claire noticed that she kept her hand on his shoulder, hovering almost possessively to shield Landon.

"What?" He didn't seem to show any revulsion to being touched by her, only annoyance.

"Um." Massie's eyes darted around, noting Claire's position. "Can we talk in private?"

"If it's about what we discussed last night, I want Claire to hear it as well." He answered flatly.

Claire suppressed the childish urge to stick her tongue out at Massie and pull a face. Instead, she smiled a smug smile and gestured with her hand for Massie to keep on talking.

Massie sighed, rolled her eyes and began.

"I was thinking – it is plausible that Josh did it, but what were his motives? Why would he want to hurt me?"

"Because you have information." His eyes bored into hers.

"Wait. What?" Claire looked around, shaking her head. "I don't get it."

"Lan thinks that Josh made me climb the building because I quote "have information", unquote."

"Do you?" Claire glared at the brunette.

"Maybe. I don't know. It could be anything. But still, Lan. It's not like I'm a threat to him or anything. If anything, you're the powerful one."

"But he can't attack Landon." Claire answered quietly.

"True." Massie lowered her head and tried to think straight.

There was a brief silence as the trio walked together

Landon's sardonic laugh broke the silence. "I have a favour to ask of you two."

"What?" the girls asked simultaneously.

"Watch each other's backs. I can't be around all the time. Try to bury the hatchet. Make friends or something, but just stay away from danger."

Claire scowled. Massie glared at Landon.

"Whatever." She whirled and stomped away.

Landon grabbed her arm as she tried to stamp away.

"Massie. Listen. You two can fight it out when Josh is out of the way. But right now, Josh could be trying to take you down again. If you stay with Claire and the girls, it'll be less likely for you to get hurt."

Massie pouted.

"Fine, Lan. Just don't blame me if I accidentally kill Claire in the process."

Claire glared at her.

"Fine, Lan. Just don't blame me if I accidentally turn Massie into an ice carving." She mimicked.

Landon looked at the pair with faint amusement.

"All right. Now that that's all done, I'm going to class."

Alicia sat in the very back row of the class, watching Landon as he slumped across his desk, scribbling on a piece of paper.

From beside her, Josh winked and smiled, then pointed at the teacher, who was writing on the board, and pulled a face.

Alicia giggled quietly, batting her eyelashes.

It's about time you got over the new kid, Alicia. Time to move on. Take Josh while you can!

She pointed at the blackboard, then her textbook, and mimed falling asleep.

Alicia felt the silent quake of laughter emanating from Josh, and she beamed at him again. He bent down over a sheet of paper and started writing. After a minute or so he was done, and when he held it up, Alicia could read the handwriting.

"WAKE ME UP IF I ZONE OUT FOR MORE THAN FIVE CONSECUTIVE MINUTES. THX! :P"

She took her own stack of lined paper out, and scrawled a message too.

"THE SAME GOES FOR ME. TELL HER I DIED OF BOREDOM."

Josh grinned at her, and suddenly Alicia felt lightheaded and slightly dizzy, but in a pleasant way. She could imagine herself flying, in Josh's arms as he cuddled her and told her how much he loved her…

Landon's voice cut through her reverie, bringing her back to reality like a slap on the face.

"The Reichenbach shield. It shields the user from mental attacks."

"Yes, that's correct." The teacher turned back to write on the board, and Landon turned around quickly, staring frostily at Josh for the smallest fraction of a second. His gaze travelled to meet Alicia's then lingered for the slightest moment before he returned to his work.

Alicia felt herself shivering at the intensity of his glare, her feelings wavering between fear, suspicion and an intense attraction to the boys who both seemed to hate each other with a burning passion.

Josh and Alicia exited the building together, laughing and flirting. Massie, Dylan and Kristen walked after them, with Claire trailing them reluctantly. Massie was pointedly ignoring her, and doing her best to make her feel unwelcome. The tension in the air was palpable, only broken occasionally by Alicia's high-pitched giggle, followed by a coy "You are so funny, Josh!"

Massie watched the pair quietly. There was something weird about Alicia today. She was a lot more optimistic than usual, and her laughter seemed almost hysterical. She stepped up her pace, then grabbed Claire by the arm, pulling her roughly forward.

"Josh!" she hissed, before Claire had time to protest.

Claire stared dumbfounded, watching Alicia throw back her mane of wildly curly, dark hair and slap Josh playfully.

"Oh, no. Massie, we have to help her."

"You're telling me!" Massie hissed, "Come awn!"

The girls sprinted towards Alicia, barreling into a stunned Josh. His concentration slipped for the slightest moment, and Alicia blinked.

"Hey, Mass! What are you doing with Kuh-laire?" She wrinkled her nose and glowered.

Massie ignored the question, pulling her away from Josh.

"Hey!" protested Alicia.

"Sorry, we have to go now. Girl stuff, you know." Massie mumbled and dragged Alicia along, Claire pushing her from behind.

"Wait. I'd just like to talk to Alicia for a little while. Please, Mass?"

Josh stared into Massie's eyes, willing her to obey. Massie tried to look away, then wavered and dropped Alicia's hand.

"Let her go!"

Claire sent a flurry of ice chips at Josh, making sure he wasn't controlling Massie before she relented. Josh narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"Claire, what are you doing?"

His voice was smooth and compelling, mocking her for not daring to meet his eyes. Claire looked away anyway, ignoring Josh's silent taunt.

The next thing she knew, Josh was sprawled out on the floor, bleeding from numerous cuts across his face. He glared up, murder in his eyes, then turned and ran.

"What is going on?" Claire and Massie turned together, leaving a slightly dizzy Alicia slumped against a tree.

Principal Burns was standing with her arms crossed, glaring down furiously at them.

Massie and Claire gulped, looking down at the undeniable evidence on the grass. Broken rock, mud, and shards of ice littered the field.

"You realize that you will have to be kept under supervision and suspended, do you not?"

Massie shuddered, holding her hands up in a placatory gesture.

"Listen, Principal Burns! I can explain!"

"I'm sure you can, Ms. Block. You and Ms. Lyons will do so in my office."

Claire looked around wildly, trying to clue Massie in to think up a cover story that would save their butts.

"It was my fault, Principal."

Massie and Claire looked quizzically at each other, both half-hoping that their hunches had been correct.

"Mr. Crane?"

Even the Principal looked skeptical, but Massie figured that she'd take any chance to get Landon into trouble.

She did.

"Mr. Crane, stop leaning against that tree and take your hands out of your pockets when you address me! Did you or did you not start this confrontation?"

Landon leaned against the tree, as if to irk Burns even more. He shot Massie and Claire a mocking smirk for the Principal's benefit, but his eyes held a clear message.

"Play along, or else."

"You see," began Landon, "I was bored after class and rather pissed at the Coach for keeping me in after school, so I attacked the girls. It was really funny, actually. Plus, I figured you'd rather me attack them," he jerked a thumb in the girl's direction, "then pick a fight with Coach, right?"

Massie and Claire played along perfectly, both glaring at him and nodding.

"So you attacked them for fun?" The Principal's tone rose incredulously.

"Sure," Landon shrugged, "it was just for kicks."

"All right, then. Girls, back to your dorms for self-study and homework time. I'll be watching you two. And Landon, you will come to my office and we will decide on your punishment."

-gasp- THE OFFICE AGAIN! Poor Landon! Review and tell me about it!