March, 2002

Principal Cohen removed his glasses and used his thumb and index finger to slowly massage the bridge of his nose. He had always known that this day would come. For the past several months, the teasing and petty revenge tactics had been becoming increasingly frequent and cruel. Now, he was forced to decide upon a punishment for two students that had allowed their social and personal differences to make them enemies.

They weren't really bad kids, he thought. Well, actually, one of them was, but that was beside the point. The important thing was that neither young adult was entirely heartless or mean. Each had a warm and caring side but chose to keep it hidden.

Tossing Jason her coldest glare, Chloe attempted to avoid Principal Cohen's disapproving scowl. She tried to tell herself that she didn't care what her punishment was, because it had been worth it to get back at Jason. Still, there was a very annoying voice, perhaps logic, that told her that she was finally in over her head.

Jason, slumped down in his chair, tapped his feet together nervously as he waited for his punishment. He seriously doubted that it would be anything too serious, but with Cohen, you never knew. Glancing at the ice princess in the chair next to him, Jason was disgusted to see her as composed as ever. She appeared no more anxious than if she was awaiting her mocha at the Java Cafe.

Clearing his throat, Principal Cohen put his glasses back on and stared at the two students sitting on the opposite side of his desk. Jason Masters and Chloe Lane had spent their entire senior year finding little ways to make each other miserable. Though his students often felt he was entirely clueless, Principal Cohen had taken special care in watching Jason and Chloe. Once Jan was unable to seek revenge against Chloe because of the court's ruling, Jason had made it his personal mission to make Chloe sorry for ever daring to battle Jan. And, knowing that Jason was ridiculing her on behalf of his girlfriend, Chloe made up her mind to ensure that Jason's life was just as wretched as her own. Before long, both had completely forgotten why they began their war but kept fighting anyway.

Now, the day before their two-week senior trip, the two had finally crossed the proverbial line. Just when everyone thought that they could do nothing more to attack each other, Jason and Chloe took their spiteful game up another level.

"I am sure that you both understand that I can't allow your vindictive behavior to continue. Since the very first day of this school year, in fact since the first day you met, the two of you have been doing your best to cause each other pain. It's time for that to stop. I refuse to allow either of you to act in such a shameful manner. It is simply unacceptable. Until today, I have tried to be lenient and forgiving with the two of you. Well, I can assure you both that you have seen the last of my generosity."

Jason straightened himself in the chair as the older man spoke. He definitely didn't like the way the conversation was heading. Cohen seemed determined to not let either student get away with just a slap on the wrist.

"I've already spoken to your parents, and they agree that you have taken your retaliations too far. It's time for both of you to take responsibility for your actions."

Being made nervous by the principal's speech, Jason asked, "So, what exactly are you saying? What's our punishment?"

Principal Cohen, giving Jason and Chloe a stern glare, answered, "As you know, the two of you weren't scheduled to be in class next week because of your senior trip. That hasn't changed." Just as Jason and Chloe were preparing to sigh with relief, Principal Cohen added, "Instead, you'll be missing your classes next week because you're both suspended."

Holding up a hand to silence Jason and Chloe's protests, Cohen continued, "And, the following week is spring break, so that will give each of you two full weeks away from the usual school environment to consider your recent behavior and how to change it."

"Principal Cohen," Chloe began. "You can't do this. All of our friends are going to be gone that entire time on the class trip to Florida. You can't do this to us."

"I can, and I will. As I've already said, I've spoken to your parents, and they agree that this is best. I won't be changing my decision. You are both suspended from school for one week and are going to miss your own senior trip."

Anger filling nearly every part of him, Jason stood and loudly declared, "This isn't fair! We've worked our butts off this year to help earn the money paying for the trip! We deserve to go!"

"For once in his pathetic life, Jason is right. We spent hours working on the talent show, and both of us were there to help with the chili supper."

After telling Jason to sit back down, Principal Cohen responded, "And, I suppose both of you have forgotten the bucket of water that dropped on you, Miss Lane, while you were singing at the talent show? Or, how Mr. Masters' small bowl of chili was mysteriously laced with an entire bottle of hot sauce during the chili supper?" Seeing the guilt that was written on Jason and Chloe's faces, Mr. Cohen commented, "I didn't think so."

Slumping down in his chair once more, Jason muttered, "Those were just silly pranks. They weren't a big deal."

"You're right, Mr. Masters, those incidents were quite harmless compared to the despicable things the two of you have done to earn this punishment. Do you have any idea how much it sickens me to know that my own students behave this way? There is just no excuse for the things the two of you have done. No excuse whatsoever."

Just after the bell signaling the end of the school day rang, Jason and Chloe emerged from the principal's office. The moment he shut the door behind himself and Chloe, Jason angrily stated, "This is all your fault, Ghoul Girl! You've finally made me suffer. Happy?"

"Happy? Why would I be happy after you caused me to miss out on spending two weeks in Florida with my friends?"

Continuing the argument as they approached their lockers, Jason and Chloe were most certainly the center of attention. Other conversations in the hallway abruptly ended as Jason and Chloe walked past. Every ear was listening to their hateful disagreement.

Reaching her locker, Chloe turned to face Jason and stated, "I wish I had never met you! All you've done is try and ruin my life! You are the one to blame for this."

A few feet away, Mimi was standing with Philip. Looking over at her boyfriend, Mimi muttered, "Well, since my locker is right under Chloe's, I guess that I'll have to wait for her and Jason to end World War III before I get the stuff for my report out. I swear, I thought that Shawn and Belle's lovey-dovey attitudes were bad, but this is ten times worse."

Keeping his gaze directed at Chloe and Jason, Philip placed an arm around Mimi's shoulder and stated, "I wish those two would just get over it. Of course, I don't see that happening any time soon. They look ready to kill each other."

Mimi glanced up at Philip and pondered, "I wonder what their punishment was. Principal Cohen looked pretty mad when he dragged them into his office."

Oblivious to the stares they were receiving from various groups of students, Jason and Chloe continued their dispute. It seemed that they would much rather argue than attempt any changes in their own personalities.

While Chloe was retrieving her Calculus book, Jason yelled from his own locker several feet away, "We never would have gotten such a harsh punishment if you hadn't insisted on carrying things too far. You should never have messed with my Physics report. You knew that if I didn't get a good grade on it, my GPA would drop just enough to force me to give up all extracurricular activities - including sports."

Chloe slammed her locker door shut and approached Jason. Loudly, she declared, "You are the idiot that thought it would be a good idea to find a few of the old photos from and hand them out at school. That was sick, Jason. Of course, I should have expected it from you."

"Me? As I recall, you were the one that physically attacked me in the hallway earlier - after sticking that lovely sign on my back that proclaimed me the property of the school whore."

"Aren't you?" When Jason only responded by slamming shut the door of his own locker, Chloe continued, "Besides, I didn't attack you. I was just trying to get my photo back. You had no right to take it from me and tear it up."

Rolling his eyes, Jason stated, "Brady Black is over you, Chloe. There's no reason for you to keep a picture of the two of you together in your locker. Then again, no one can really blame him for dumping you. Why would a guy like that want to be with a freak like you?"

Sensing that Brady was still a sore topic for Chloe and that things were about to get out of hand, Philip put himself between the battling duo. Placing a hand on Jason's chest, Philip gave him a soft push away from Chloe. He doubted that an extra foot between them would help any, but it certainly couldn't hurt to try.

Attempting to be the voice of reason, Philip looked at Jason and said, "Look, Jase, I don't know what went down in Cohen's office, but you and Chloe really need to lighten up on one another. Why don't you just tell her that you're sorry for handing out those fliers from ? You know it was a really lousy thing to do."

Disgust etching itself upon Jason's face, he loudly responded, "I am not apologizing to that weirdo. She's seriously demented, Phil. After being under her spell for all of junior year, you should know that. And, now that you've hooked up with that loser Mimi, you should just let Vampira fight her own battles. Honestly, man, whatever happened between you and Mimi on that island must have been steamy for her to just sit around and watch you try to play Chloe's hero."

Before Philip could take his turn at verbally assaulting Jason, Shawn and Belle appeared. Seeing Jan at the opposite end of the hallway, Jason hurriedly walked away without even bothering to greet Shawn or Belle. He just wasn't in the mood to have them tell him and Chloe to play nice. He'd heard it before and didn't want to endure the same old speech yet another time.

Belle watched Jason walk away before looking at Chloe and asking, "So, what happened with Principal Cohen?"

Lowering her gaze to the floor, Chloe unhappily muttered, "He suspended me and Jason for all of next week. So, that means we aren't allowed to go on senior trip."

Belle softly gasped before pulling her friend into a hug. "I am so sorry, Chloe. I know how much you were looking forward to getting away from Salem."

"Man, that has to suck," commented Philip without thought.

Bumping shoulders with Philip, Mimi gave him a wide-eyed expression and nodded her head in Chloe's direction. In a whisper, she sarcastically stated, "Gee, don't worry about making her feel even worse."

Philip gave Chloe a sheepish grin before apologizing, "I'm sorry. You know, I bet the next two weeks will go by so fast that you won't even notice that we're all gone. It probably won't be very bad at all."

"I was just suspended from school and told that I couldn't even go on my own senior trip! How can it not be that bad?"

"Well," Mimi said. "Look at the bright side. At least Jan will be in Europe with her parents the entire time. You won't have to worry about running into her."

"No, I'll just have to worry about her sadistic sidekick Jason."

Jason bent down to give Jan a kiss on the cheek, but she stepped back before his lips got within a foot of her face. Frowning, Jason wondered why his long-time girlfriend was acting so strange. He knew that her mother was allowing Jan to join her in Europe while the other seniors were in Florida. Jason had been hoping that maybe Jan would decide to just stay in Salem with him since he would no longer be going on the class trip.

Keeping her face locked in a cold expression, Jan stated, "We really need to talk, Jase. I mean, I have totally been thinking about our relationship lately. To be honest, I just don't think we're working out."

"Jan, I just got suspended from school for a week because I was trying to defend you against Chloe Lane. How can you possibly say that we aren't working out?"

Sending Jason a look that clearly told him how foolish she thought he was, Jan stated, "Jason, in just over two months, we will be graduating from high school. Then, we are off to college. You know, the wild life away from Salem. It would be totally uncool for me to have you following me around after we leave Salem High. But, you already knew that, right?" Noticing the almost sad look on Jason's face, Jan laughed and commented, "You didn't think I was gonna leave for college still dating you? Oh my god, you did, oh no way, that's so sweet."

Sending Jason a self-assured smile, Jan gave waved goodbye to him before turning and walking out of the school. Watching Jan's retreating figure, Jason knew without a doubt that his first love had officially dumped him.

And, though they were separated by not only their beliefs, but a long hallway, Jason and Chloe uttered the same cheerless words at the same moment, "This is going to be the longest two weeks of my life."