"Do you really think he's going to go through with it?"

"I don't know? He said he would do it if his group kept up their end of the deal."

"Well, Kendra, Brandy, we helped Manny raise two hundred dollars and we beat Ms. Hatzilakos' group. So, I guess that should be a definite yes."

Nadia, Kendra, and Brandy watched along with the rest of their school as their MI teacher, Mr. Simpson, prepared himself for the haircut of his life. He had promised to shave his head bald in front of the entire school as a way to inspire his students to raise the most money in their fundraiser. Most of those gathered around the foyer didn't believe a teacher would humiliate himself in public for the sake of his students. But then again, Mr. Simpson wasn't like most teachers.

"I think Sheila is getting a bigger kick out of this, than any of us are." Brandy observed.

After some words of encouragement, Sheila took the clippers and proceeded to create her own version of living art. After only a few minutes of work, Archie Simpson looked like a new man.

"I don't know? His head sorta looks like a giant cue ball." Brandy pointed out.

"Maybe, but he looks like he couldn't be happier." Nadia noticed.

"His new stepdaughter seems to be less than thrilled." Kendra stated, as tears were rolling down the face of Emma Nelson. "I'll see if she's alright when I talk to her later."

"What's happening later?" Brandy asked.

"I heard that Emma's starting a new environmental club and I was thinking of joining." Kendra answered, "Why don't you two sign up with me."

"No thanks." Brandy quickly replied, "I'm busy enough with sports and the accelerated classes I'm taking."

"What about you Nadia?"

"I don't know Kendra, I may be able to participate on a part-time basis. But with the upcoming dance, I'm going to be spending most of my free time working with the planning committee."

Kendra looked and saw Emma and Mr. Simpson outside in, what seemed to be, an emotional conversation. She decided it would probably be better if she talked to Emma later in the day. Just as she was about to go to her locker, Toby walked by.

"Hi Toby." She greeted him.

"Hi." He replied in a less than enthusiastic voice. "Have you seen J.T.?"

"I saw him earlier in the foyer, but I think he went somewhere with Paige." Kendra replied.

"Thanks, I'll see you later." Toby said as he continued down the hallway.

Kendra stood there for a moment wondering what had happened to her and Toby. She remembered not too long ago when they were almost inseparable. But Toby wanted their relationship to move faster than she was ready for. Things had really been strained since the day she blew up at Toby, the day she found out he and J.T. had bought condoms at the local corner store. It didn't help matters that Spinner had publicly embarrassed J.T. by turning him into the "Human Glow Worm". Ever since then, Toby seemed afraid to even hold her hand in public. Sometimes she was glad to have an older brother that looked out for her, but most of the time she wished he would just mind his own business. Its not like she was that same six year old girl that would run to her room crying when somebody at the playground would say something mean to her…

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(Flashback about seven years…)

A young, eight year-old boy could hear muffled noises coming from his little sister's room.

"Kendra, what's wrong?"

"Nuthin' Spinner, just leave me alone!" she replied.

"Jimmy was at the jungle gyms. He said he saw you playing baseball at the park and you ran away and he tried to catch you but he couldn't, so tell me what's wrong." Young Spinner insisted.

"They…called me…a mean name." Kendra said in between her sobs.

Kendra told him about the events that had just occurred a few minutes beforehand. She wanted to play baseball with the older boys, but they told her that she was too little. But she was Spinner's sister. Anything he could do, she knew she could also do. They finally said okay and told her to grab the bat, which was almost as tall as her. They pitched the ball to her and they were shocked when she hit a homerun out of the peewee league baseball field. One of the boys told her he bet that she couldn't do it again. She grabbed the bat and steadied her small frame and waited for the pitch. The boy, who had doubted her, threw the fastest, hardest pitch he could muster. The results were the same, another boy was left with the task of jumping the low wired fence to retrieve the baseball. Kendra then asked which side she was playing on?

"He told me I got lucky and they didn't play with girls, especially-"

Spinner heard the words come out of his sister's mouth, but they hit him like a tidal wave. He knew what they meant, but they took on an entirely new meaning when some dummy used them against his sister. Ever since the day his parents had brought her home, they had taught him that some people might look at her or treat her differently. But those people were just dummies that didn't know how to understand that beautiful things come in all kinds of shapes, colors, and packages. Those few words Kendra repeated to him sent a rage in Spinner that he had never felt before. He picked up his baby sister from her bed and led her downstairs with him.

"Spin." Young Jimmy asked, "Is Kendra okay? Where are you two going?"

"We're going back to the park, there's something I have to do." He replied…

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Back in the present, Kendra had a slight smirk on her face when she remembered the sight of her brother running onto the pitcher's mound, tackling the pitcher from behind. He then proceeded to chase all of the boys around the diamond with a baseball bat, threatening to break all of their legs for messing with his little sister. It took Jimmy throwing Spinner to the ground and holding him there before he would calm down.

"Big, lovable, jerk." Kendra sighed to herself.

That night Kendra was in her room doing her homework, when she heard the doorbell ring. After the fourth ring her concentration was shot and she went to answer the door. She was somewhat surprised to see Paige standing on her front porch, this late in the evening.

"Kendra, can I come in?" she asked.

"Sure, is everything alright?" Kendra questioned.

Paige didn't answer and everything didn't look all right, judging by the expression on Paige's face. She had this look of hurt that made Paige seem extremely vulnerable, something Kendra had never seen before.

"Is Spinner still awake, I really need to talk to him?"

"Yeah, he's in the den, I'll tell him you're here."

Kendra walked to the back of the house where the family room was.

"Um, Spinner, Paige is here to see you."

Spinner jumped up from the sofa where he had been watching T.V., trying his best to fix his hair and look presentable for the love of his life. Kendra saw Paige's expression change to one of pure hatred, a look she hadn't seen since before Paige became close to Spinner. Kendra walked back to the kitchen where she could hear everything, but still remain inconspicuous.

"I just came to tell you. We-Are-Through!" Paige said resolutely.

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Heh, betcha didn't see that one coming. To be continued soon…