As Faye walked to school the next morning, she pulled her sweater and scarf closer to her. It was freezing outside, and her feet crunched the newly fallen snow. Chris usually drove her to school in the mornings, but his truck was broken down and he planned to fix it that weekend. So, Faye was stuck walking in the cold while Chris happily caught a ride with Gordie.

As Faye approached the block in which her school was on, she grinned when she saw Grace running towards her, a smile plastered on her rosy face.

"Whoah," Faye laughed. "You look-erm-very happy this morning."

Grace giggled and Faye shook her head. Falling into stride with one another, the two friends linked arms and continued walking to school.

"I had the best weekend ever!" Grace laughed. "That's why."

Faye squint her eyes at the girl suspiciously and put her hands into her pockets.

"Oh?" she arched an eyebrow. "An-ahem-how so?"

Grace continued to giggle and Faye became worried. Grace was never this giddy, especially during the holidays. Around this time, Grace usually sulked around her house missing her mother or feeling sorry for herself. But she was never giddy like a little girl on Christmas morning that had just gotten her first bike.

"Sigh," Grace said, and Faye once again, arched an eyebrow. "Well-Friday night me and Gordie...a-let's just say had a very pleasant night."

Faye screwed up her face in disgust and shuddered. "Ewww!" she shrieked and Grace laughed harder. "What does that mean?! You -you guys didn't-"

Grace nodded energetically and clasped her hands together. "Yeah we did!"

"Oh my God!" Faye squealed, swatting Grace playfully. "Wootwoot, go Grace. I can't believe it. My little Gracie is growing up so fast! And Gordie-I'm going to have to have a talk with hiiiiiiiiim," Faye said hurriedly and the two girls laughed as they walked into the unwelcoming-but nevertheless warm- doors of Castle Rock High.

***

English had to be easily Faye's favorite class. She loved reading and writing and once she got started she never stopped. The tales of stories that were told entranced her and her hand ached after laboriously writing for hours on end without stopping. But when it came time for essays and assigned reading-Faye didn't enjoy it as much.

Sitting in the second row, she scribbled absentmindedly on her notebook and tuned out Miss Hancock's droning voice. The woman had a scratchy, strained kind of voice that gave the impression she needed to clear her throat. It hurt Faye's ears and even made her cringe sometimes, especially when Miss Hancock would repeat the same things over and over, making her sound like a broken record.

"Ladies, ladies, ladies," she would say. "We need to start the essay. Start the essay, ladies, ladies!"

It made Faye so irritated she couldn't wait until the old bat would shut up so she could get on with reading. Gordie and Chris were also in her class, however, which made the gruesome voice somehow more bearable, as was Grace. The seating was in alphabetical order backwards, she Chris was two in back of Faye. Kristie Cardelli, one of Faye's friends, sat in between them.

Miss Hancock's voice somehow drilled deep into Faye's exhausted mind and she reluctantly tuned herself back in, for fear of regretting it later.

"Now," Miss Hancock said. "I will split you into groups and you will be assigned a poem to analyze and outline. Now-these are done completely randomly, so no buts!" She cleared her throat and began reading from a list. "Morgan-Corteni-Sardin," she said, pursing her lips. "You are group number one. Come here and take your poem, then go to the back of the room and begin."

After the trio had obtained their needs, they headed to the back of the room and Miss Hancock continued reading. "Chambers-Donahue-Hanlon. You are group number two." Faye saw Chris and Gordie exchange looks of dread. Anne Donahue and Chris in the same group. Faye also felt a bit uneasy. The three of them got their supplies quietly, and headed to the back of the room. Faye turned her attention back to Miss Hancock. She waited patiently for her group-which was group number twelve. "Berry-LaChance-Lousan. Group number twelve."

Faye, Gordie and Betty stood from their seats and went up to retrieve their poem. They got assigned the poem, 'The Road Not Taken', which happened to be one of Faye's favorites.

They retreated to the back of the room and took a seat in the corner. Faye looked hesitantly up at Betty. She had always hated the girl, for she was a bit of a slut and very popular and chewed bubble gum constantly, her earrings dangling down her ears all the time.

"So, ladies," Gordie began, leaning against the wall. "The Road Not Taken, eh? Pretty easy."

But Faye wasn't really listening. She watched Betty who was looking back at her, popping her gum loudly.

"Faye," Betty said, chewing her pink gum. "I hope you don't hold anything against me. 'Cause what happened in the library-I head no idea you were with him. I'd beat the shit out of anyone who came onto my guy."

Faye laughed slightly relieved. "No, it's okay. Chris and I are together now, we weren't before."

Gordie looked between the two girls, confused. He had not known what had happened in the library. Shrugging his shoulders, he figured Faye would let him know about it another time.

"So," Betty sighed, glancing up for a moment in Chris, Anne and Grace's direction. "Your boy looks like he's having a bit of an ex front."

Faye frowned and looked up sadly. "Yeah."

Gordie noticed Faye's worried eyes and leaned into their little circle. "Faye, Chris is a good guy, you know that. He'd never hurt you, and plus he's like crazy for you."

Faye smirked and leaned back against the wall, folding her arms. "Of course he is."

Gordie shook his head and sighed. "Well, we had better get working, or we're gonna have to come after school."

So with that, the three of them went back to analyzing the poem.

* * *

Faye sat across the table from Grace and the two girls talked animatedly before the guys showed up. It was just those two girls who sat at the table, and so far Teddy, Gordie, or Chris was nowhere to be found. Vern hadn't even shown up who sometimes sat with them.

"Graccccccccccccceeeeee," Faye whined, playing with her pudding, eyeing it suspiciously. "I know I can trust Chris and I know he wouldn't mean to hurt me...but I don't trust Anne. I know she dumped him and everything, but I know he still has feelings for her, no matter how much he likes me. Anne was like his, I dunno, first love and whatnot."

Grace looked emphatically at her best friend and nodded. "I don't trust Anne either, obviously. However, Chris cares about you a lot. I'm not so sure he had feelings for Anne anymore."

Faye shook her head and looked into Grace's eyes, seriously. "I know he does. I can tell by the way he looks at me, and then I catch him looking at her sometimes, and I know. And the worst part is...sometimes I wish I could have been Anne. I wish I could have been Chris' first love."

Grace looked at her best friend. What Faye didn't see was that while Anne was Chris' first love, deep down, Grace knew Faye was going to be Chris' true love.

* * *

Sorry that was so short. But it took me like 3 days to write, I've been incredibly busy. Sorry for the longer wait for updates. But exams are coming up and I've been busy studying, doing my Science Fair project, HOMEWORK!!, working and somehow fitting in play practice and swim practice. Also there's the school dance approaching rapidly and I still need a dress! And then there's got to be time for my River Phoenix look- alike (can't stop glancing at him during swim meets) and also I've discovered a new Punk I'm in love with at my lunch. Pity he's a senior. But he's a DMX biker for X-Games. Holler!!

Woops, sorry I'm babbling. Dude, Tuesday night, holler, I'm going to the Linkin Park concert w/ Story of the Year, The Distillers, and P.O.D. Can't wait!!! Hehe. So I won't be having another update for a week, at least.

Okay. Thanks to StormShadow21 for her dedicated reviewing. Also I have heard of Little Nikkita and I've been wanting to see it, but my video store does not have it. So I gots to order all my Rio Phoenix shit online. Also- omg I just was on this website my friend gave me about River and it showed him in his coffin. It was so scary and disturbing, I cried. Just thought I'd share that with you... You rock! Also to SleepIsFun-yes, I LOVE the Breakfast Club. Thanks for reviewing. The Breakfast Club is above all my favorite movie, closely followed by Stand By Me. : )

Anyway, here's to a new chapter, and my new obsession! My punk!

: ) Here comes the sun, ya'll.

Love and Strawberries, The Good GiRl