[A/N: Well, this story might sound a *liiiittle* familiar to you, if you've been around the block a few times. Yep, I posted this story under another account, but I don't remember why I did it. Anyway, that account was and it's still up there but from now on, I'll be updating it here. So if you haven't already read this, sit back, relax, enjoy. Recognize.]

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Joshua slumped down in his chair. The beginning of his second year at Hillridge was finally here. His first year there had been decent, but he was finally realizing that it would all be over soon. It was comforting to think of it as the end, but in reality, he still had a whole 'nother 3 years to go.

It was an assembly. Principal Morris was talking to the 10th grade about guiding the freshmen through the transition from junior high to high school.

Teddy: Yo, Josh.

Josh did nothing.

Teddy: Josh.

Teddy nudged Josh in the rib cage with his bony elbows

Teddy: Josh, I think you should wake up. Ms. Hughes is glaring at you.

Josh woke with a startle to find that practically the whole row in front of him was staring at him. He laughed nervously until they all turned around again.

Josh: Thanks, I uh, guess.

Teddy: Dude, it's the first day of school. I don't want you getting in trouble already.

They both turned their attention to Principal Morris once again.

Josh Gordon and Teddy McCallister couldn't have been more different. Josh had short spiky brown hair; Teddy had long, shaggy blonde hair. Josh was barely 5'3"; Teddy was pretty tall, about 5'11". Josh had dark brown eyes; Teddy had light blue eyes. People had been laughing at them ever since they became friends in 4th grade, but they had hoped that people were over it by now. The only thing they both had in common was that they were good kids. Sure, there was the occasional burning-of-household-items, and Josh tended to do the unexpected, but nothing serious ever happened.

The two boys stood outside their lockers, peering at their schedules.

Josh: I can't believe you got Seaton for History. I got.Hughes?! Holy sh

Teddy sarcastically gasped.

Teddy: There are children in our presence!

Josh: Like that's going to stop me.

Teddy: Dude, don't worry. Seaton hates me. Remember last year when I accidentally lit the US map on fire?

Josh: That was you?!

Teddy: Sorry, it was knee-jerk reaction.

Josh: Isn't that some form ofcommunism?

Teddy turned his attention to Stewart, who was looking pissed and walking towards them.

Teddy: Wassup, Stew-ART?

Stewart: I can't believe you're still calling me that.

Josh: What are we supposed to call you? Aimee?

Teddy and Josh looked at each other and cracked up.

Aimee Stewart was Josh's other best friend. She came to Hillridge from Pennsylvania in 6th grade. For a couple months, she sat by herself at lunch and refused to talk to anyone, but after a few threatening phone calls, she got the message that they wanted to talk to her. And the rest was history.

She constantly was preaching about nonconformity, and how you shouldn't care what other people think about you. She obviously didn't, judging by her knotty light brown hair, and her baggy pants. She can pull it off, though, Josh thought. If she were ugly and she tried to do that, I wouldn't want to be seen with her. Haha, JUST kidding.

They had started calling her Stewart when a new girl came to their school in 7th grade. Of course, her name was Amy, and she was a cheerleader, and there was no way in God's name that you could ever confuse the two, but for convenience's sake, they called her Stewart. Most of the teachers would, too. Everyone would laugh whenever a teacher would call out her name as "Aimee", and she'd have to quickly correct them.

Stewart: GOD, I am having such a bad day.

Teddy: Yep, PMS will do that to you.

Stewart: UGH! Why do guys always assume that just because we're angry, we're PMSing?!

Teddy: Because you usually are.

Stewart just gave him a dirty look.

Stewart: Do you guys know if there are any new people this year?

Josh: Oh, man, don't tell me you're recruiting for the drama club AGAIN.

Stewart: Come on, guys, you HAVE to join this year. There's not going to BE a drama club this year if no one auditions.

Teddy: I think it's much more entertaining to see you try to play 5 different parts than to see an actual play.

Stewart: You're not helping, Teddy.

Teddy: That's what I'm here for.

Stewart: Auditions are on Sunday at 2:00, in the auditorium. Maybe if you're feeling generous, or something, you could come.

Teddy: Fat chance.

Stewart just stomped away as she had entered: pissed off.

As soon as she left, Josh started talking again.

Josh: I don't know, Teddy. It doesn't sound that bad.

Teddy smacked him in the back of the head.

Teddy: Dude, I don't know what you're talking about, but we were just talking about DRAMA club. DRA-MA. As in acting. Acting, and prancing around. Like a fruitcake.

Josh: Yeah, but we couldmeet people, or something.

The bell rang for 1st period.

Teddy just rolled his eyes. They both walked in different directions, to their different classes.

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Josh sat in the back of the classroom, near the windows. He was taking notes like a good little boy. He felt like a nerd, but he needed to do good this year. Sophmore year, or so the story goes, is the hardest year in high school. And he was reasonably intelligent, so he thought he'd do okay.

He sat next to this kid Max. Max was a strictly in-class sort of friend. He was a junior, actually, but he was pretty cool. From what he told Josh, the preps spent days during their freshman year working their little brains and trying to classify him, but they just couldn't handle the complexity. Josh asked him what he considered himself, and he'd never answer. Josh liked to call him a punk goth surfer/skater, which makes no freaking sense, but it was the best he could come up with.

Not even 10 minutes after the bell rang, some unknown girl walked into the room. She looked as though she belonged there, even though no one in the room had a clue who she was.

Ms. Hughes peered over her glasses.

Ms. Hughes: And you are?

Girl: I'm Cyrus. Cyrus Young.

Ms. Hughes: Oh, the new student. You can gosit somewhere.

Cyrus: Um. Thanks.

Cyrus sat down in front of Max.

Wow. She iswow, Josh thought.


For the rest of the period, all Josh could do was stare at her Rapunzel-like blonde hair, and drool.

It really sucked for Josh that he had to go to 2nd period then. He wanted so badly to talk to her. He hoped and hoped and hoped that she would be in his 2nd period class, but she wasn't. Damn.

But as she passed him on her way to her next class, she said something to him.

Cyrus: Hey sexy.


Cyrus giggled, and walked away.

But then when lunch finally rolled around, Josh had almost forgotten about beautiful Cyrus. He was sitting with Teddy and Stewart, as usual, and he had other things on his mind, until Teddy started talking.

Teddy: Dude, there's this really hot new girl in my Chemistry class. I think she wants me.

Stewart rolled her eyes.

Stewart: I need some girl friends.

Josh: Cool, man. There's this new girl in my History class, and she is likebeyond sexy. She is definitely hot for me. What's your girl's name?

Teddy: Uhh. Lemme thinkit was something weirdsomething likeCyrus?

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[A/N: Gasperooni! Could Teddy like the same girl as Josh? How will they survive? And will Stewart ever find some female friends? Find out....next, on Joshua Gordon.]