A/N: This is merely the introduction to a ficcy filled with insanity, plotholes and so on ad infinitum. I want to introduce the two main characters, Jess and Lora into this story before things start happening and all hell breaks loose. Literally.

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My first day in a new school. Well, technically, our first new day in a new school, in a new country. Me and my sis had just moved over from England, and so far there was absolutely nothing to write home about.

"Berenson, Jake." The teacher was calling the register. Oh, goody.

"Here." I looked over. Blinked, and looked away again.

I sank back into a stupor as the register continued. There was no point in learning names. Time enough for that later. Right now, I was tired. And I needed sleep.

"Maritas-Fohrer, Marco."

"Here."

"Maxwell, Lora."

My name at long last. "Here."

"Maxwell, Jessica."

"Here."

Jess leaned over and nudged me in the shoulder, indicating the other boy sat directly in front of us. "Now, he is cute."

I considered him. From the back he didn't look that good. Dark hair, olive skin, probably Spanish. He was the boy who'd answered before us.

"You think he's cute?" I blinked at Jess. She has such weird taste in men sometimes. As I said it, the boy turned around.

"Hi. I'm Marco. Marco the Magnificent. So. You two new, huh?"

I opened my mouth to retort, but Jess got there first. "Marco the Magnificent…what? Marco the Magnificent…Midget, perhaps?" She asked in a sarcastic-sweet tone.

Marco winced. "Beautiful and mean. I like you. "So, seeing as you two are both new, how about I give you ze grand tour?" (I kid you not about the French accent he tried at the end.) He looked at the two of us expectantly.

I looked at Jess. She looked back at me. I shrugged. "Sure." Why not?

The lesson dragged on, not that I was fully awake for all of it. The bell rang, and I was definitely glad when it was over. Marco came sauntering over from where he had been talking to a tall, blonde girl. "Come on, ladies. It is time for ze tour." I shuddered. Not the French accent again…

Next to the blonde girl, I saw Jake shake his head slightly and smile. The blonde girl just looked furious.

Marco showed us the toilets, the library and most of the classrooms. After he had tried repeatedly to ask Jess out. And I mean, repeatedly.

Outside the chemistry lab: "Jess, you like movies?"

Jess: "Not with you."

Beside the entrance to the cafeteria: "Do you like going to concerts?"

Jess: "With my friends, yes."

Marco: "Am I your friend?"

Jess: "No."

By the entrance gates: "After school, do you fancy going bowling?"

Jess: "With your head, sure."

Out on the field, where he was showing us the rubbish bins (what fun), I saw a hawk zoom by. A red-tailed one; my dad's really into birds, so we get to go bird watching at weekends. Nowhere as fun as it sounds.

I watched it land on top of the school building, and stare straight at us unblinkingly. Weird. I turned back to Marco and Jess.

"…and over there is the gym where we are forced to do tortures such as basketball and gymnastics. Well, that's our school. What do you think?" Marco asked, looking at Jess.

Jess looked back at him. "I think it's time Lora and I got to our lesson. C'mon, Lora."

We walked away, leaving Marco in the middle of the field.

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A/N: Disclaimer -- I don't own the Animorphs, much to the relief of my friends. Neither do I own Jess and Lora…they are my friends…

Lora: Damn right, girlie *looks at text* So, Jess, what's this with you and Marco, then?
Jess: *scans text* WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!?!?!?!!?!?!? Oh, Stephanie!
Stephanie: *looks up from typing second chapter* What?
Jess: I'm going to kill you *holds up brand-new Lochabar axe*
Stephanie: Why?
Jess: I just am! *aims axe and charges Stephanie*
Stephanie: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! *runs away*
Lora: *tuts* Immature children…
Jess: *changes course, aims axe at Lora* SHUT UP!
Stephanie: After that 'enlightening' conversation, I would like to add that Lora operates on ff.net under the name 'lora-helen' and she writes some great Gundam Wing fics, albeit a bit on the weird side…Jess is 'DigitalJessie' and has some Jak and Daxter fics in the pipeline…*mutters* What am I, an advertising service? Oh well, tell us what you think and we'll see you next chapter!