I stretched my arms and yawned.

"Caspian, hurry up or you'll be late!" Carly yelled from the kitchen.

I groaned and got out of bed. It was three weeks after the incident with Zander, and I had to start school now, thanks to my big mouth and having to fight so much.

Jason was going to pick me up and drop me off, or one of dad's other men would.

I got dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top and pulled on my leather jacket, which I never let out of my sight for one second.

"Jason's here!" she yelled.

I groaned. "I'm coming! I'm coming!" I yelled, rechecked my hair, and ran out of my room and into the front room, where Sonny, Carly, and Jason were all sitting and talking. "I'm ready! Can we go now?!"

"Here." Carly handed me my backpack, kissed my cheek, and left for work. "I'll see you around five!" she said as she left.

I looked at Jason. "Can we go now?!"

"Uh, wait." Sonny said, shaking his hand at me. "Here." He handed me an 8-inch switchblade. "Just in case anyone gives you trouble." He kissed my cheek and patted me on the head. "Off ya go."

I glared at him and turned to Jason. "You're just loving this, aren't you?"

He laughed and handed me a helmet. "Somewhat. Now come on."

I followed him to his motorcycle, got on behind him, and held on around his waist when he took off.

When we got to the school, Jason pulled up and stopped on that round-a-bout thing for drop offs. "I'll see you after school. Meet me right here the second you get out, ok?" Jason said.

I glared at him and slung my backpack over my shoulders. "Jeez Jason, the way you look out for me, you'd think I was important to you. I'll be fine and I'll meet you out here the second I get out, all right?"

He glared at me, and sped off.

I rolled my eyes and slowly went into the school. The whole thing was new to me. I hadn't been in a school since I was a freshman, now I was a senior, and at a strange school with no friends, or anyone I knew. I shifted on my feet and went to my locker. I put in the combination and opened the locker. I took a deep breath and put my books away, keeping only my first two period books.

I brushed my bangs back and put up my magnet mirror on the back of the locker. I gently touched my swollen purple eye, and then my now black one. My red eyes dimmed; this wasn't going to be a fun year.

I slammed my locket shut, turned around, and headed to first period. When I got there, most of the kids were already at their seats and the bell would ring in two minutes. I went up to the teacher, handed her a note, and she nodded.

She pointed to a seat in the front and turned back to the whiteboard.

I dropped my backpack on my desk and sat down.

"Well hello, who are you?" a Jock leaned his hand on my desk, a smirk on his face.

My eyes slowly looked up at him, and flared. "What do you want?" I asked in a monotone.

His eyes searched mine, and he laughed. "Hey, Halloween's not even here yet. What's with your eyes?"

I snarled, baring my teeth. I stood up from my desk, and clenched his shirt collar in my fist. "You looking for a fight, Jock?" he stared at me, and my red eyes glowed brighter.

"Hey, get away from me! You're freaking me out!" he fought my grip, but I wouldn't let go.

"Say anything about me again, and die." I whispered, and shoved him away from me.

He crashed to the floor on his butt, shaking.

I snarled, leaning over my desk. "Got it?!"

He looked like a ghost. He got up quickly and ran to the back of the room, where his desk was.

I snickered under my breath and sat back down just as the bell rang. "This should be fun…"

"Class! Class!" the teacher yelled, and everyone went quiet. "We have a new student today, her name is Caspian Catalyst Corinthos."

Whispers started at my last name, which made my fists clench and I snarled quietly.

"Caspian, why don't you tell us something about yourself?"

Sonny had told me that I could share freely at this school that I was a Radical, because gangs didn't exist here.

So I took him up on that offer. I stood up, walked to the front of the class, and leaned myself on the teachers desk.

"My name is Caspian, and don't forget it. I don't like people much, so you'd be wise to stay away from me. Do any of you know of the Radical Dreamers?"

Almost all the hands shot up.

"All right, who wants to tell me what they do?" I chose someone, and the girl smiled.

"The Radicals are a very small gang, but they are ruthless and there's this new one, that's an assassin! And she's already threatened to kill Asuka, leader of the Yakuza! I hear she's the Radicals right hand assassinator."

My lips curled into a smirk. "Well, thank you. That was perfect." She nodded. "So, if you all heard her, you'd be wise to stay away from me. That new girl, that new Radical, is CCC. Me. Caspian. I'm a Radical, the Boss's right hand assassinator. So I suggest you stay away from me, or be prepared to die." My red eyes searched them all. "Questions?"

One hand shot up.

"What?" I asked sharply.

"Are you planning on killing Asuka?"

The teacher was about to stop my answer, but I answered before she could stop me.

"She tried to kill me, so yes. I plan on killing her, but when and where I'm not sure now. I haven't been assigned to do it yet by the boss."

"What's it like to be in a gang? And an assassin?"

I snickered at the pale teacher. "It wasn't easy to get where I am today, I had to kill many people and steal a lot of things. But it's my job…and I love it."

"Thank…thank you Caspian. You may take your seat." Whispered the teacher.

I snickered and took my seat as she told me too. Apparently, after that huge speech, I still wasn't going to be arrested or murdered…yet.

But it got around school that there was a Radical among the senior class, and sure enough, by lunch, everyone kept clear of me.

Maybe they didn't have gangs here, but they sure knew a lot about them.

But there was one boy, a blonde. I heard the Jocks picking on him; his name was Simon Camden, the preacher's son.

They had him shoved against the lockers during lunch, and I was walking up the stairs when one was about to slug him.

"Uh hem."

They turned to look at me, and almost all of them lost their complexion.

"I suggest you let him go, now. Before you want to deal with me."

One of the Jocks came forward, and ruffled up my jacket. "What are you gonna do about it, kiddy?"

I snarled, baring my teeth and my eyes flaring. "Did you just touch my jacket?"

He laughed. "Yeah, so?"

I launched my fist into his face, and he went flying, knocking down two of his friends.

The rest backed up when I approached them. "Get lost, jackasses. And if you touch me again, you'll die. This is a warning, which I barely give. So get lost!"

They jumped to their feet and all ran away.

I laughed and playfully slugged the boy's shoulder. "Hey, you ok kid?"

He stared at me. "You're that Radical, Caspian, aren't you?"

I nodded and put my hands in my jacket pockets. "Words gotten around fast. You're Simon, aren't ya?"

He nodded.

"The preacher's son?"

"Hey, I resent that."

"And I resent being called 'that Radical'. My name is Caspian, as yours is Simon. That's how I want to be called, not Radical. Got it?"

He nodded. "So, you're just like everyone else then?"

I laughed, turned my back to him, and shook my head. "No, my dear boy…I'm far different from everyone else."

"You're new here…so what school did you used to go to?"

"None. I dropped out when I was a freshman. Then my dad wanted me to go back to school 'cause I wasn't using my head in my gang fights." I laughed.

He blinked at me. "That reminds me, you're dad is Sonny Corinthos, isn't he?"

"What's it to you?" I asked, taking a cigarette out of my pocket and examining it.

"What's it like to have your dad in the Mafia? Having Sonny for a dad?"

I laughed. "It's pretty cool. He understands my thirst for blood, so he lets me stay a Radical as long as I don't break anything anymore."

He stared at me. "He knows you're in a gang? And he doesn't care?"

"Dude, we're talking about Sonny here. Why would he care?"

"I don't know. I'd think he at least cared about you."

"You think he doesn't just because I'm in a gang?"

"I wouldn't think any parent would let their kids be in a gang willingly. It's so dangerous."

"I know. I've had my jaw broken, I'm missing a lung, and there's a huge gash in my skull. That's why this stuff is wrapped around my head…" I said, pointing at the white cloth wrapped around my head.

"You're what?! You're missing a lung?!"

I nodded. "Yep. In a fight with Asuka. She's also the one that cracked my skull open."

He stared at me. "How do you handle it?"

"With coolness. Plus I have people at my disposal."

He paused for a minute, looked at my bruised eyes, and sighed.

"What are you thinking?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow at him. Whenever someone looked at me like that, I knew they were thinking about someone beating me up.

"I was just wondering."

"Well don't go wondering anymore, because wondering leads to assuming. And when people assume things about me, my family gets hurts. So lay off."

"I have a feeling that this getting beat up thing goes far beyond just a few days. You've been beaten up all your life, haven't you?"

"You could say that."

"Is it your gang?"

"I get beat up, ok? Big deal. My first father beat the shit out of me, and then my second father did the same. My dad now, Sonny, he wouldn't lay a finger on me. Got it? Gangs have almost nothing to do with this."

"So your father beats you?"

"Would you listen?! My first two fathers did! Sonny doesn't! He wouldn't even if his life depended on it!"

"What about that guy on the motorcycle? You don't seem to like him too much."

"Just because I don't like him doesn't mean he beats me up! Where do you get these ideas?! Are you paid to think that just because someone has a black eye that either his or her family or friends are involved? Humph. Some priest kid you are." My lips twitched when I realized I was totally, utterly, and completely contradicting myself to the full extent.

He blinked at me. "I just…I didn't mean that."

"Sure you did. That's what you were thinking. 'Oh, poor girl, her father beats her.'" I snorted. "Well he doesn't, so leave my family and Jason alone, ok?"

"Sorry."

"Ya, whatever." I turned from him and opened my locker, which so happened to be right there.

"Um…are you doing anything tomorrow night?"

I blinked and turned to him. "Why?"

"Do you want to come to my youth group tonight? You don't have to, I just thought you might want to." He said slowly.

I sighed. "I'll ask my dad. Where is it?"

Sonny actually didn't think that it was a bad idea, but he didn't like the fact that I had told the whole school practically that I was an assassin. He told me to tone it down, and when he looked at me like that, tears streamed down my cheeks and I leapt up to embrace him.

He blinked down at me. He cared about me. He really did. He loved me and wanted the best for me, it wasn't just some charade…

"I love you, dad." I whispered.

He smiled at me and stroked my hair. "I love you too, honey." It took him a second to say honey, but I knew he meant it.

Jason thought it might be some setup, and he wanted to stay with me. And it took a while to convince him that I didn't need a bodyguard.

But Sonny suddenly butted in and told me that Jason was going, and that was that…

I sighed. "All right. But there won't be anything for you to do! It's high school, not a group of twenty year olds."

He smiled at me. "We only want the best for you."

"Mmm hmm, sure." I muttered sarcastically.

We went out to his motorcycle and left for youth group.

When we got to the building that held the youth group, I immediately jumped off the motorcycle and ran in. I peeked around a corner and smiled when I saw Simon shooting hoops.

"Hey." I said, and walked into the room, my hands in my jacket pockets.

Simon caught the basketball and turned to me. He smiled wide. "Hey Caspian."

Jason walked in right behind me and looked around.

"Jason, get lost." I snarled under my breath to him.

He looked down at me. "Why are you so anxious to get rid of me?"

I turned and glared at him. I cleared my throat, which only made him glare at me more. "Simon…" I hissed.

He rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. "Yeah, whatever."

Simon walked up to us and smiled at me. "Whose your friend?"

I rolled my eyes. "Simon, this is Jason. Jason, this is Simon, a guy from school I saved from those Jocks."

Simon flushed.

Jason laughed. "Don't worry kid, she does that with us all."

Just then an older looking man and a young girl walked in.

"Hey, dad!" Simon piped up. "This is Caspian, a new girl at school. Caspian, this is my dad."

I looked up at the man and nodded. "Hey."

"Hello." He said with a smile. "First time here?"

"Yep. Oh, and this is my bodyguard, Jason." I said, and shoved a thumb over my shoulder at Jason.

He snorted and punched me in the back.

I rolled my eyes and stretched my shoulder.

Simon's dad laughed. "Nice to meet both of you. And this is Simon's little sister," but before he had said her name, Simon grabbed my arm and led me to the other side of the room.

"Hey, I'm glad you decided to come." He said, and dribbled the ball.

My eyes were still swollen, and I wondered if he still thought that Jason did it. "Yeah. You just better hope this is worth my time, I could be out killing Asuka's men."

He swallowed and gave me a look.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't look at me like that. So, what do you guys do, anyway?"

"Well, we play games for a the first hour, then for the rest of the time we have a Bible lesson."

"I've had plenty of those," I muttered as he shot the basketball, missed, and it rolled to my feet. I picked it up, shuffled it in my hands, and threw it. It swooshed in the hoop and rolled back to Simon's feet.

"Nice shot." He said as he picked it up.

"So what happened to her?" Simon's dad asked Jason.

Jason gave him a look. "I'm sure Simon will tell you all about that later,"

"Na. Simon keeps things to himself. He likes to keep secrets."

Jason snorted. "She got in a fight."

"With who?" the little girl asked quickly.

Jason lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Asuka." I said as I walked over to them.

Simon's dad looked up. "You mean the Yakuza gang leader?"

I nodded. "She split my head open, gave me a collapsed lung, and a black eye. This other one," I glared at Jason. "Is from just another street fight."

Jason glared at me. "Sure. Whatever."

"I'm a Radical Dreamer." I stated firmly.

"Hey, what the heck are you doing here?!"

We all turned to the door and saw three girls walk in.

I shifted and became uncomfortable.

"I don't think you should be here, Radical." One of the girls snorted.

"Now Candice, you know everyone is welcome here." Simon's dad said firmly.

"Even, murderers? Assassins?" another girl asked as she circled me.

I narrowed my eyes and they started to glow.

Jason looked at me and quickly grabbed the girl away. He let go of her behind his back, and scowled at her. "Don't do that, unless you want a black eye and a slashed lip."

Simon's dad was frowning at the one called Candice. "Anyone can repent."

"Even if they did it all on purpose?" she asked, glaring at me. "Even if they still, and are right now, plan on assassinating someone?"

"All right, that's it!" I yelled, and threw my arms down. "You shut your hole, Ms. Candy cane!" I pointed my finger at her, and took a few steps towards her, which made her back up hastily. "Now, or never."

Jason sighed, grabbed my shirt, and pulled me back before I could get close enough to punch her. "Calm down, kid."

I growled at him. But I didn't want to start a fight so soon and make that impression on Simon's dad. I shifted on my feet, grabbed the basketball from Simon, and dribbled it slowly down to the other side of the room where the basket was. I stopped at the free throw, shot it, and made it.

Jason looked at Candice. "And for you, I suggest you should keep your mouth shut about that around here, or you'll end up on her long list of lost friends. Got it?"

She flared and walked away.

"Good." Jason muttered.

Simon sighed and looked at me.

"If you can help it," Jason said, turning to Simon's dad, "don't let anyone near her, ever. And I suggest she doesn't play in the games."

Simon's dad looked at Jason. "Why's that? Just because she's in a gang?"

Jason lifted an eyebrow. "For a priest, you sure don't care."

"I leave that to the parent's. I just prevent it from happening here."

Jason nodded. "As why I came." He looked at Simon. "She seems to keep calm around you, stay with her, all right?"

Simon blinked and swallowed. "Me?"

Jason lifted an eyebrow. "Why, is there a problem? She doesn't kill her own friends, you know. Only the ones that try to hurt them. Normally she lets people like those Jocks at your school pick on the weaker, like you. Why she helped you still blows my mind."

Simon's dad turned to him. "Are you being picked on?"

"I'm watching out for him, don't worry." I walked up to them, my arms folded. "They won't touch him if I'm around."

"And if he's around, you won't kill 'em." Jason muttered.

I snorted. "Watch it."

He shrugged. "Just the truth."

"Well, the truth stings, don't it?" I asked him sharply.

Simon swallowed and looked at me tensely.

My eyes shifted to look at him. "Don't even start to think it," I said to him, and looked back at Jason. "Are you planning on hanging around the whole time?"

"Well, considering the current situation and how you handled it, yes. I am staying."

I frowned. "Great." I looked at Candice, and her eyes met mine. "Thanks, thanks a lot." I snapped at her, and turned my back to them.

Soon enough, more and more kids came till there were around almost twenty in the room.

Jason was leaning on the far wall talking with Simon's dad and some other guy, and I was on the other wall, watching everyone as they played games.

"Do you want to play?" Simon asked, and tossed me a football.

I caught the ball and snorted. "I don't play, sorry. My only toy is my gun and switchblade." I shifted the ball in my hand and threw it. It soared across the long room, where a Jock from school caught it.

When the guy looked at me and smiled, Candice gave me a sharp glare.

I ignored her, as well as the boy.

Simon sighed and walked off back into the crowd.

"Hey!" Simon's little sister walked up to me.

I looked down at her and lifted an eyebrow. "What do you want, pep squeak?"

"I resent that." She snapped.

I lifted an eyebrow. "Am I supposed to be impressed?"

She lifted her own eyebrow and put her hands on her hips. "I don't believe you."

"About what?" I asked, leaning myself on the wall.

"About being a Radical. Radicals wouldn't come to youth group. Nope, sure wouldn't."

"How would you know?" I asked, leaning down to glared at her.

She snorted. "Because I know one."

"Really? Who?"

"Luke."

I blinked. "Luke?"

"You know him?" she asked curiously.

"Slightly. I met him at the mall. What's he to you?"

"He's a friend of my brother's, but he wouldn't ever be seen at church or youth group."

"Hmm…" I scratched my chin. "A friend? Does your brother know he's a Radical?"

"Yeah, but he doesn't like to hear about it or admit it. Dad doesn't like him hanging around people in gangs." She nodded firmly.

"What would make you believe me?" I asked, leaving back up against the wall.

"You're gun. Only Radicals have a special gun."

I lifted an eyebrow. "I don't think anyone here would like me to take out my gun."

She snorted. "Then I don't believe you!"

I snickered. "Am I supposed to care?"

She glared at me. "You should!"

"Why?"

"You see that man talking to your friend?"

"Yeah."

"He's Candice's boyfriend. He's in a gang, the Diablo's. And he hates Radicals."

"Which is one reason not to take out my gun."

"If you make trouble for Candice, he'll make trouble for you."

"Another reason. What does this have to do with anything?"

"Just let me see your gun."

"Why should I?"

"Just let me! Or I'll tell him that you're the Radicals right hand assassin!"

I glared at her. "Fine." I slipped my Falcon Silencer out of my pocket and handed it to her. "Happy?"

She smiled at it as she held it in her hands. "Yep, you're a Radical! Cool…"

My eyes peered up, but I didn't see Candice's boyfriend anymore…I looked around, and my eyes stopped on the boy. He was running across the room at me. "CRAP!" I snapped under my breath, and grabbed my gun back from Simon's sister.

The kids had to dodge the boy, and Jason and Simon's dad were watching him with interest.

Why the hell wasn't Jason going after him?! Then I got it. It was some sick joke of Jason's.

I shoved the girl behind me, snapped the gun loaded, and put it up to his head right as he came into my clearing. "Get lost, Diablo trash."

He snarled. "Look who's talking, Radical! Let Simon's sister go."

I bared my teeth and spread my legs into a fighting position. "Just get by me, Diablo."

He leapt at me, and I immediately saw his hand flash out a Magnum from his back pocket.

"Shit." I whispered. I grabbed Simon's sister's hand and threw her away from me. She went flying and crashed onto the floor out of the circle the boy had made around us.

He landed hard next to me, and was thrashing up his gun to pistol-whip me.

I dodged his gun and grabbed it. "Fool." I muttered, and smashed his hand with my gun. "I don't take kindly to people trying to kill me! Diablo or not, youth group or not, you have to be put in your place. At the lowest level of the gang charts!" I smashed my gun into his head, and he went flying backwards.

I spread my legs and pointed my Silencer at him. "Ready for the pain?"

"Caspian! Put it down, NOW!" Jason came running into the circle, and grabbed my wrist that was holding the gun.

A smirk curled on my lips as he screamed and pulled back. He had grabbed my wristband, the one with inch long, sharp spikes. That was why we wore the spikes, to keep people from grabbing our gun hands.

His hand was bleeding, but he wouldn't let me shoot the boy. "Put it away, now."

I snarled, and my red eyes glowed.

Everyone was staring at us, and no noise was made what so ever.

Simon came rushing into the circle, but he just had to go past that boy…Candice's boyfriend grabbed him and pointed his Magnum at his head. "Get lost, Radical. You aren't welcome here."

My eyes flashed and I shoved Jason aside. I stepped forward and clicked my gun. "Let him go, Jock."

He laughed. "You really are a riot, Caspian."

"That's Wraith to you, Diablo trash." I muttered, baring my teeth.

"Oh, right. I forgot. You're the Radicals right hand assassin!" he announced loudly.

I laughed. "That's right…now let Simon go, before I let my bullet go."

He snorted and pressed the gun harder to Simon's head. "What are you gonna do about it, Wraith?"

I looked up slowly, but only with my eyes. None of the boy's body was available for me to shoot, only his gun. That was too risky. He didn't notice my eyes climbing the ceiling, and finally rested on a metal plate on the ceiling…right in perfect aim. If I shot it, it would bounce off and hit the Diablo in the head. But, if it missed…I'd only end up shooting myself.

Jason's eyes shot up to me. "Caspian! Stop it, now!"

I grasped my gun with my left hand so it would keep my right hand steady, and my arms raised so the gun was pointing at the metal piece.

"What are you doing, girly? You going to shoot the ceiling?" he burst out laughing.

"Jason, I'm sorry…" I whispered, clamped my eyes shut, and fired.

Some of the girls screamed, but that didn't change anything…

The bullet hit the metal, and bounced off like I had planned. No one knew what was going on.

I fell to my knees, and aimed my gun at my head, just in case it came to something drastic.

The bullet zoomed at the boy's head, and sure enough, smashed into his skull at the very top. The boy yelled, then swayed. His grip went loose on Simon, and he fell backwards.

I opened my eyes and looked at Simon, who was just standing there, dazed. I leapt to my feet and embraced Simon. "Oh, thank God it hit its mark…I'm so glad it didn't hit you…"

He still didn't know what was going on, but he slowly hugged me back.

Jason looked up at me and walked over to us slowly.

Candice's boyfriend lay on his back on the hard floor of the room, blood pouring out of his head.

Jason swallowed.

"Oh my God…" Candice whispered, and ran forward. "No, Jake!" she knelt beside him, and tears went down her cheeks. She looked up at my back, and snarled. She grabbed Jake's gun and pointed it at my head, which was resting on Simon's shoulder. "You'll pay!"

"CASPIAN!" Jason screamed, and sprinted at me. He grabbed my neck and yanked me down.

I choked and shoved Simon the other way so Candice wouldn't hit him.

The bullet zoomed through the air and smashed into the wall harmlessly.

I took a deep breath. Magnums only had one bullet. I picked myself up, and found myself face to face with the Magnum. My eyes looked up to Candice, and I smirked. "Fool. Do you not know that Magnums only hold one bullet each?"

She flared at me, and pistol-whipped me.

I fell to the ground, groaning. I rubbed my head, and blood poured swiftly down my head from my previous rendezvous with Asuka's desk.

Simon leapt to my side and pushed the clothe back against my split skull, hoping to slow the blood flow.

Jason got up and crawled over to me. He picked me up and looked at Candice. He reached in my pocket for my switchblade, and flipped it out.

Candice freaked and jumped back.

Jason flashed the blade at her, then put the blade to my head and sliced off the cloth and some of my hair next to the crack in my skull. He walked out of the building casually, and looked back over his shoulder when he got to the doorway. "Simon, I'll pick you up here tomorrow after school." And he disappeared.

Simon swallowed and looked at his dad.