Shoutouts!

Kid Blink's Dreamer: I hope it's interesting, because I have no idea where it's going!

Charlie Bird: Sammy! I know, I know. Sorry about the Blink thing. But he's not gay...Yet, anyway. (I just rhymed!)

sheepshead-jockey-4: AHHH! EVIL POETRY! ((grin)) Haha

koodles4you: Hmmm...That's a very good question. But it is one that I can't answer (for more reasons than one!).

mushs-grl13: I know! I would too! But, you know, you don't expect an old guy to backhand you!

time is a waste of life: Grazie

Margie Drsicoll: Ahh...You're a sharp one, aren't you? Well, it takes place in present time, but you shall see.

Pancakes: Grazie!

XBeLLaViTaX: Si. Modern time. Blink winked...blinked...Who can tell these days?

Unknown-Dreams: I know. I'm going to have to kick his ass or something, because he just can't get away with it!

"That sonuva bitch!" Spot hissed, infuriated. "I can't believe he did that to you! There are laws about that, you know! We could file a complaint for abuse, sexism, something!"

"You can't complain."

Like synchronized swimmers, the twelve of us turned around. I nearly died when I saw her, and I knew immediately that she was going to be my best friend.

She was my height with brown hair streaked orange. She wore baggy, faded blue jeans and a black tee shirt that said "A Pirate's life for me." I almost hugged her, but I refrained from doing so.

"Why not?" Jack demanded, trying not to be rude, but still ticked off at the man.

"Because this school has privileges. Few people know this, but Manhattan High is a boarding school. And boarding schools are allowed to do anything within limits. Just be glad he didn't use the cane," she said, nodding at me. I winced at the very thought.

"A boarding school?" Kid Blink exclaimed. "I thought this was a public high school!" The girl nodded.

"So does every kid who gets thrown in here. But here're the rules of the game: the guy that hit you is Pulitzer. No relation to Joseph Pulitzer, they just share the name. He's the headmaster. He can do whatever he likes. No girl is allowed to address him, or else they get whacked. First time a girl addresses him, they get a backhand. Any other time it's the cane."

I felt the boys stirring in anger. "And who are you?" I asked, ignoring their infuriated whispers. She held out her hand to me.

"Boomerang." I shook it.

"Wizard." We grinned at each other for a second; she looked just as pleased to meet a non-prep as I was. She glanced over my shoulder.

"All these yours?" she joked. I laughed.

"We're orphans. We grew up together. Guys, this is Boomerang. Boomer, this is Snitch, Crutchy, Skittery, Bumlets, Jack, Spot, Mush, Specs, Dutchy, Swifty, and Kid Blink," I introduced. She nodded at each of them, then said, "Well, it's lunchtime. Probably the only good thing about this place is that the food is real, not cafeteria 'food.'" She held up her fingers in quotation marks.

We got our food and sat down at a table together. "So, why don't they tell people that this is a boarding school?" Specs asked. Boomerang smiled, sardonically.

"They do. They tell the parents, or guardians, in your case. They just don't tell the kids. Parents send their kids here to 'reform' them. If they think there's something wrong with you, it's off to Manhattan High. This place specializes in reformation. That's why everybody here is a prep."

I looked around and, sure enough, every single person was a prep. I switched my gaze back to her. "So why aren't you?" She smiled, proudly.

"Because they're never going to reform me. Even the teachers think I'm a hopeless case. I guess I wouldn't really be bragging if I said I was the school rebel," she replied. I laughed.

"It's something to brag about, though. Fat chance they'll turn any of us into preps. They haven't been able to turn me into a prep for seventeen years!" There was a murmur of agreement around the table.

"They started giving her boy clothes when she was seven because she kept ruining her dresses," Crutchy put in. Boomerang laughed.

"Well, if Pulitzer knows that, they'll probably work extra hard on you, so watch your back."

"Pulitzer said he could touch her whenever he wanted," Specs said, thoughtfully. "Can he really slap her for no reason?" Boomer grimaced.

"And more. Few girls here have kept their virginity through the first year. Stay away from Pulitzer if you know what's good for you," she warned.

Kid Blink opened his mouth, and I knew what question he was going to ask. Before he could speak, I stood on his foot. He shut his mouth, obediently and studied Boomer's dark expression.

There was definitely something seriously wrong with this school.