Roxie grabbed her lunch tray and turned to the crowded cafeteria, and then wrinkled her nose in disgust as she stepped around a smashed hamburger on the floor. She glanced around, and spotted Craig waving her over to his table. Roxie sighed and pretended not to see, not really feeling like sitting with a bunch of boys. She quickly headed over to an empty table in the back. She set down her tray, sat down, and began to eat her burger.

"Hello. Does God know there's an angel missing in heaven?" she suddenly heard a voice say, and she turned to see a gangly boy with longish brown hair sitting next to her. She looked around, wondering if he was talking to her. It appeared he was, and Roxie tried not to laugh. Not only had that been a horrible pick-up line, but it was also poorly delivered. She took another large bite of her hamburger, trying to appear as unattractive as possible.

"You should get a better pick- up line," she said, chewing as she talked. She took another bite and continued talking with her mouth full. "That one sucked. Tell me, does that actually work?"

The boy looked at her, slightly surprised. Then he looked into his lap. "No," he said in a small, defeated voice. Roxie nodded. She gave him the once over, and decided he didn't look like the large, aggressive football player type who used only one-syllable sentences. She decided that, for once, she was going to try to be nice. And if it didn't work, that was just too bad.

"I'm J.T," the boy said a minute later. "Was that better?"

"Slightly."

"Are you new?" he asked. Roxie nodded. "Gee, I guess no one warned you about this place. They watch you like a hawk." J.T pointed to his eye, and then to Mr. Raditch, who was walking aimlessly around the cafeteria, eyeing students suspiciously. 

"Oh yeah?" Roxie asked. "I was thinking about leaving after lunch. Think it'll work?"

"If you can get by the armed snipers on the roofs," J.T said with a large, goofy grin. "After that, you're home free." Roxie allowed herself to laugh slightly.

"J.T, sweetie," Roxie heard someone else say. "Stop hassling the new student, will you?" It was Paige, who was standing in front of their table, eyeing them thoughtfully. "Hun, we sit here." She was talking to Roxie now, and the disdain was practically dripping from her mouth. Roxie set down her hamburger and shrugged. She gestured toward the mostly vacant table. "Ok. Have a seat. I don't mind."

Paige rolled her eyes and threw her lunch bag down on the table, glancing at her friends. "Whatever. I can't find Spin, so I'll guess we'll be sitting here. Oh, and we can't forget the fact that Ash refuses to even sit at the same table as Craig." Paige sat down directly across from Roxie and glanced at Craig's table. The boys were engaged in a thrilling game, which consisted of tossing popcorn at each others mouths and trying to get it in. Another girl with long dark brown hair sat next to her. A pale girl with red pigtails took a seat next to Roxie, and the girl who Roxie assumed was Ashley, considering the face she made after Paige's last comment, sat down next to her. Roxie shifted uncomfortably in her seat. This was….awkward.

"Paige. Don't be rude to my new friend," J.T said, grinning Roxie. "We were just getting to know each other."

"Ew, J.T, stop being creepy. I'm sure- Roxie, is it?" Paige asked a bit scornfully, looking at Roxie. Roxie nodded and then Paige continued. "I'm sure Roxie is already frightened of you. But how was your vacation?" She went from insulting to nice in a matter of seconds, and Roxie only half listened as J.T launched into a narrative about his vacation. She picked at her apple and glanced around.

Roxie spotted Angel walking toward a table across the room, and she narrowed her eyes. Of course, Spinner was trailing her like a devoted puppy. Angel might as well have had a leash on Spinner-it wouldn't have been any different. Roxie glanced at Paige, who was laughing at J.T, and who apparently hadn't noticed her boyfriend's devotion to her sister. Roxie watched as Angel and Spinner sat down side by side.

"Are you serious, J.T?" she heard Paige say, and Roxie tried to make eye contact with her sister. When she did, her sister simply grinned at her and gave her the finger. Then she stood up and walked over to get a drink, so Roxie quickly jumped up and hurried over.

"Are you and Spinner going out?" she demanded quietly. Her sister completely ignored her, so she sighed loudly. "Fine. But I'm sitting with his girlfriend over there, so just….I don't know. Don't embarrass me." With that, Roxie turned and stomped over to her table. Paige gave her a curious look, but Roxie just ignored it. She glanced over at her sister, who was looking at her. Angel smirked slightly, and then leaned over, grabbed Spinner by the face, and proceeded to kiss him in front of everyone. Not just a peck on the cheek, but a real, long, kiss. Roxie's mouth fell open in surprise. 

"Oh, my, God!" she heard, and turned to see Paige jump up from her chair. Roxie watched in horror as Paige stalked over to the table where her boyfriend was currently making out with her sister, and clearly enjoying it. Then Roxie sighed, realizing she stepped right into that one. Why did she have to tell Angel she was sitting with Spinner's girlfriend?

"Spinner!" Paige yelled, slamming her hand down on the table. Spinner tore himself away from Angel and turned to Paige with a look of horror and shock on his face. Angel, meanwhile, sat back and smiled like a coy cat, clearly enjoying the scene she had created in front of her. Spinner began sputtering.

"I…I…she kissed…but…" he began, but Paige cut him off.

"I can't believe you, Spinner!" she yelled, then glanced around, as if realizing that she had drawn the attention of the whole cafeteria. She leaned in and lowered her voice. "I can't believe you." Then, she grabbed Spinner's milk carton, held it up, and poured it over Spinner's unruly golden locks. Then she tossed the carton on the ground and trooped out of the cafeteria, head held high.

Manny leaned against the sink, and glanced around slyly. Class had just started, but Manny was standing in the bathroom with Sadie, one of her new friends. Sadie glanced in the mirror and ran a hand through her long, dark red hair, and then looked at Manny.

"Looks like no ones around," Sadie said, reaching into her bag. She pulled out a bag of pot, and tossed it at Manny. "Just because I'm your friend doesn't mean you don't have to pay me." She turned back to the mirror to apply some lip gloss. Manny nodded and cautiously placed the bag into her backpack.

"You know I don't have money now. Besides, it's for me and Carter and that party this weekend. He'll pay you," she said, shrugging. She made a mental note to inform Carter that he owed Sadie some money. Manny also turned and looked into the mirror, scrutinizing her appearance.

"Oh. Whatever. So, how are you and the Carter stud?" Sadie asked. Sadie had known Carter since practically birth, and Manny knew that Sadie understood Carter better than anyone. At times it made Manny a little uneasy, but Sadie wasn't the one Carter was attracted too. Manny shrugged casually.

"Fine, I guess," she said, and bit her lip, hoping Sadie didn't notice her expression. She was a little rattled by her encounter with Craig the other day, and she wondered if it showed. She had tried to be cold to him, but she couldn't ignore the pounding of her heart whenever she was around him. It worried Manny. She thought she had been over Craig, but now she wasn't so sure.

"I can't wait for this party. It's going to be….fun," she said, deciding to change the subject. She grinned at Sadie in the mirror. "Carter and I are going to have a fabulous time."  Sadie gave her a look, and she smirked slightly.

"I bet you are. Planning to wear your sexiest lingerie and seduce Carter in one of Charlie's thousands of bedrooms?" Sadie teased, poking Manny in the arm. "It's so typical that Carter is getting some. No wonder he went out with you." She was joking, but Manny bit her lip and glanced at the floor. "What? Is Carter not up to your standards? Is it not…good?" She was still wearing a goofy grin, but Manny was frowning at her feet. Sadie looked at her and frowned, too.

"No. We're not….having sex," Manny said, finally looking at Sadie. "I know he wants to. But I don't know. It's like I haven't gotten there. I don't think I'm ready. I mean, I am. I am now…" Manny trailed off.

"Wait…you're a virgin? I'm surprised."

"No," Manny said, thinking back on her first time with Craig. It had been so spontaneous and random that Manny hadn't known what to expect, but Craig had been a complete gentlemen about it. Of course, once it was over, he started stuttering and looking guilty, and then had finally told Manny that he "thought she should leave." She had, and then had gone home, completely confused about the whole thing. "I've been with….one guy."

"Oh. Do you want to do it with Carter?" Sadie asked, and Manny thought for a minute. She did, but at the same time she was afraid that what happened with Craig would happen with Carter.

"Yeah," Manny said, looking at Sadie. She made an immediate decision. "I'm going to do it with him after the party this weekend." Sadie looked surprised. She opened her mouth to respond, but the door to the bathroom suddenly opened, and Emma walked in. Manny tensed up as Emma walked up to the sink next to her.

"I've got to go," Sadie said, picking up her bag. She gave Manny a meaningful look and then walked out, leaving Manny alone with Emma.

"Manny," Emma said, looking at her in the mirror as she washed some paint off her hands. Manny looked back.

"Emma."

Silence. Manny decided to just leave, so she picked up her book bag. As she did, her bag of marijuana fell out of the front pocket, and landed at Emma's feet. Manny gulped and froze, waiting for Emma to run out of the bathroom and tell the nearest teacher she could find. Emma looked down and stared at the bag, then looked up at Manny.

"Manny, what are you doing with that?" she said slowly. Manny rolled her eyes and quickly bent down to pick it up.

"It's none of your business, Em," she said, wincing as she let her friend's old nickname slip. She was about to turn and leave when Emma spoke up.

"I want some," she said quickly, as if afraid she was going to back down. "I'll pay."

Manny turned, sure that her jaw was brushing the floor. Perfect Emma Nelson was offering to pay her for some pot? Manny had now seen everything. Maybe Emma was trying to be less of a….nerd? Manny wasn't sure, but she was about to blatantly reject Emma's offer, when she stopped and thought twice. She did need money…and Emma did need to live a little.

"Ok." she pulled out the pot and then pulled out another small Baggie, and set it down on the sink. She gave Emma a reasonable amount, and then handed it to her. Emma stared at it for a second, and then gently took it from Manny's hand. Manny smirked.

"I don't have any money with me, but I promise I'll pay you tomorrow," Emma said. Manny nodded; sure that Emma would be true to her word. Manny picked up her book bag again and turned and headed out of the bathroom. She turned just before she opened the door. "You going to the party on Friday?" Emma nodded, and Manny nodded, too. "Maybe I'll see you there." Manny exited the bathroom, still smiling.

Emma was taking a walk on the wild side, and Manny was about to make a hefty sum because of it. It all sounded good to her.