CHAPTER THREE: NO ONE TOLD ME

It turned out that Trent and Jimmy had the next class together, so they headed that
way and met up with a couple of other guys who would be in class with them, Craig Manning
and Marco DelRossi, as well as Jimmy's girlfriend Hazel Aden. Jimmy had explained to Trent
that Marco was gay, but not to make any trouble with it or anything if he had a problem with it
because he had been through enough with Spinner last year.

"Guys, this is Trent Miller, he's from Tennessee and he's got a redhaired twin sister running
around here somewhere," Jimmy introduced, "Trent, this is Hazel, that's Marco, and that's
Craig."

They all exchanged friendly hellos and walked into their classroom, Jimmy grinning to Trent.

"I think Mr. Miller here has a crush on our very own Miss MacGreggor," he said quietly
to the small group.
"Aww, that's so sweet," Hazel said, touching her heart.
Trent got a little shy when Jimmy nudged him on the shoulder, "Ya do, don't ya?"
"Kinda..." Trent shrugged, trying to pass it off.
"Look at him, they're almost a perfect match!" Craig said with a spontaneous laugh, "they're both like, shy."
"Well yeah, but there's no telling how Terri feels about this, and there's still Rick we gotta
watch out for," Jimmy added.
"Who's Rick?" Trent asked, ultimately confused.
"Her psycho ex that abused her and put her in the hospital," Hazel replied, "that had Paige
and Spinner torn up for the longest because they thought it was their fault."
Jimmy scoffed, "Yeah, and I'd still like to get my hands on him..."

Boy, Trent had a lot to think about; not only Terri, but Terri's ex. With that kind of experience, there was no telling what she'd say if he ever DID ask her out...

Emma walked beside JT to their next class and nudged him with her elbow and a smile, "JT, you seemed awful taken with Miss Trixie..." she said in a sing-song voice.
"What? You're seeing things, Emma," JT replied, trying to brush the subject off.
"I'm only seeing what's as plain as the cowlick you have," Emma said, causing JT to start trying to smooth down his hair, "just admit it, you kinda like her."
"Kinda like who?" her boyfriend Chris Sharpe asked as he put his arm around her.
"This new girl in Grade 11, her name's Trixie Miller... she's got flaming red curls, big green eyes..." she said with a grin, knowing she was getting to JT.
JT turned to her, "Okay, so what if I DO kinda like her? She's a GRADE 11!"
"So? JT, you never know what might happen..." Emma replied as she and Chris went to
their next class.

JT sighed and shook his head and waved to Paige as she passed with Ashley.

"So, what do YOU think of Trent?" Paige asked her friend.
"He's cute... very cute, actually," Ashley replied in her quiet way, then smiled, "what, have
you been asking every girl in Grade 11 that?"
"Well, not everyone..." Paige tried to act innocent, but she and Ashley burst into a fit of
giggles.

Toby, meanwhile, was walking with Trixie and talking to her.

"So your mom's with an insurance agency?" he asked her.
"Yeah, and pretty much she got transfered up here for her work rather than staying down
there," she replied.
"Well, I gotta go right here, but I'll see you in class tomorrow," Toby said with a friendly
wave.
"Bye, Tob," she replied with a small smile, walking on and bumping straight into someone,
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said politely, but was met with a snicker.

She looked up and saw that it was the guy that Mr. Simpson had held back at the end of
class... the guy who had snickered at her and her brother.

She tried to go around him, but he stood in her way, "Hey little miss farm girl, why don't
ya watch where you're goin'?"
"I said I was sorry, now will you please move?" she asked, her voice raising a little bit.
Jay just laughed, "Man, you really crack me up, you know?"
Trixie glared at him hard, "Please just move asside," she said through clenched teeth.

Yet again, Jay only laughed, about to say something else when a voice from behind him
spoke up.

"Yo, Jay, back off," a guy in a grey hoodie said in a deep voice, then looked to Trixie.
"Hey Sean, you ought to hear this girl, she's a riot! Come on, Farm Girl, say something!"
Jay taunted.

Trixie refused to speak and tried to go around, but once again Jay blocked her path.

"Hey, I said say something," Jay repeated.
Sean rolled his eyes, "Jay, let it go."
Jay looked at him like he was crazy, then to Trixie and rolled his eyes, moving asside so she could go.

Tears sprang to Trixie's eyes as she walked along, but she swallowed them down; oh how she wished she were back home.

"Hey, wait up!" a voice called after her. She didn't have time to wait, she was almost late
for her next class thanks to that fucking jerk back there.

After a moment, someone was by her side; the grey hoodie guy, Sean.

"Hey, didn't you hear me back there?" he asked quietly.

Trixie sighed as she walked, not giving an answer.

"Nah, I didn't expect you to talk to me, no one does," Sean said, his feet shuffling along.
Trixie gave him a look, "What, you trying to just hear me talk, too?"
"No... I was actually coming up here to apologize for Jay being such a dick," Sean replied
defensively, "but if you're going to be that way about it..."

"No! No, no, I'm sorry..." Trixie stopped and looked up at Sean, "I appreciate you getting
me out of that, but I can fight my own battles."

Sean nodded with a slight smile, "Ah, you're a lot like my girlfriend," he put his hand out
to shake, "Sean Cameron."
"Trixie Miller," she replied, shaking his hand, the two then continuing to walk.
"You're from Tennessee, aren't you?" Sean asked.
"Yeah... hey, weren't you in my Biology class?" Trixie wondered.
"Yeah, but I didn't notice you then, not until we walked out; you're good at hiding," he said.
Trixie laughed, "Yep, I'm doing my job then, I guess," she replied.
"But why? Because of people like Jay?"

When Trixie didn't answer, he sighed.

"Look... people like that can be jerks, believe me, I've met plenty... but don't hide because of it," Sean said, then added with a smile, "besides, you don't look like the type that should
be hiding herself from the rest of the world."
Then, they stopped at the door that Trixie had her next class in, "Well, thank you for bailing
me out... and for the talk; I needed it."
With a slight smile, he replied, "Yeah; hey, my girlfriend Ellie's in this class, you two should meet," he said, then walking off with a wave, "later."

She got inside to find Paige, who saw her walk in and gestured to a seat near her.

Trixie got the seat and smiled to Paige, "Hey."
"Hey, Trix; um, this is Ashley Kerwin, she had Mr. Simpson with us this morning, and this
is Ellie Nash sitting beside her," Paige introduced.
They all exchanged hellos and Trixie turned to Ellie, "Ellie... Sean's girlfriend, right?"
"Yeah," Ellie replied in a quiet, but a little suspecting tone.
"He's really nice," Trixie said, "he helped me out of a jam."
Ellie nodded, "That's cool," she lowered her voice some so Paige and Ashley couldn't hear
her, "most people don't know him like I do, they all think he's some awful monster... I'm
glad you don't," she said with a smile as the bell rang and everyone took their seats.

Trent found out that Jimmy, Spinner, Marco, and Craig all had a band together that played
in Craig's stepdad's garage for practice.

"You should stop by one afternoon, watch the miracle as it unfolds," Marco said.
"Uh, Marco, we're not THAT good yet," Craig pointed out.
"But hey, we're getting better all the time," Jimmy said, leaning back in his seat and stretching.
Hazel rolled her eyes and looked to Trent, "This is all they ever talk about when they're
together."
Trent chuckled, "Well if I were in a band, I would probably be the same way."
"Hey, do you play any instruments?" Craig asked him.
"Nah, I just listen pretty much; besides, if I ever got my hands on a guitar I'd probably find
some way to break it," Trent replied, causing a bit of laughter.
"Well, what DO you usually do?" Marco asked curiously.
"Well, I was taking Karate back home; I'm like, four belts away from being a blackbelt,"
Trent answered, "do they have it here?"
"Sure they do," Jimmy replied, "and that's pretty cool."
"Oh, Paige told me about you and your sister and how you guys moved here and everything; she said you guys are closer than any brother and sister she's ever seen," Hazel spoke up.
"Well for the longest, all we ever had was eachother; plus I mean, we both knew the same people, went through the same kinda thing; it's kinda nice having someone around like that
all the time. She's more like a best friend than anything."
"I'm pretty close with my little half sister, so I kinda get what you're saying," Craig replied
with a nod.

One more class and lunchtime would roll around; boy, would the twins have a lot to tell eachother!