"And then lightly sprinkle the top with icing sugar and," Mrs Cooke, the home economics teacher threw both hands up in the air, "ta-da! You're perfect, classic-home made style brownies. Cooke family recipe. Now, I'd like you all just to get straight to work on that. There are eggs in the fridge, and obviously if you are allergic to nuts, then don't add them."

As Mrs Cooke busied herself off to the front of the class to read her 'Home and Leisure' magazine – the usual routine – Zoey fished out her apron and her bowls from the cupboard to her right.

"I haven't made brownies since I was like, seven!" Kristen mused, tying her own Louis Vuitton monogrammed apron around her back, a big grin spreading across her face. "This'll be so awesome!"

Zoey smiled back politely. It wasn't exactly that she didn't like Kristen, she had no reason to, but ever since Chase told her what a milestone in Chase's life Kristen was, she'd been aware of how she'd flirt with him constantly, how she'd always look good no matter what she did, how she'd always laugh at his jokes and how she'd always speak in a deep sort of English rasp that drove the guys at PCA wild.

"So…you and Chase, right?" She asked casually, while extracting the large, steel whisk from the cupboard.

"Wrong," Zoey replied, fishing out the same utensil, "And we never have been."

"I see…" to Zoey's relief, Kristen left the table unit for a brief moment to find a bag of flour and some sugar. As half the guys in the class immediately realized they all needed to get sugar and flour at the exact same time as Kristen at the exact same dispenser, Zoey had a little quiet time to herself.

What does she mean by 'I see…'? No, in fact, what did she mean by asking the question in the first place? What is she up to?

A little voice in Zoey's head began laughing.

She's up getting flour, that's what she's up to. Calm down. Why are you acting so freaked out? You obviously don't care that much about Chase considering what you did last year.

Zoey didn't want to think about what had happened last year. Even though she forced herself to come to terms with it, she was still pretty messed up. Even now, at 16, Zoey didn't really understand it all.

It seemed Kristen was now three steps ahead of Zoey. Zoey, usually being the best in class at home economics, decided to get straight down to work.

"So you met Chase when you moved here, right?" Kristen asked, sliding in a slab of creamed butter with a butter slice.

"Yeah."

"He's really cool," she continued, now cleverly heating it slightly with a hand held mini-food iron before beginning to whisk, "all the guys here are. Michael rocks. I had a lengthily conversation with him yesterday about Doom X. He even let me try a little bit. It's alright, but I prefer my platform action games."

Zoey didn't know what to say to this, in all her time at PCA she had not once talked about video games with Michael. A whole lot of other things, but not his burning passion.

And Kristen had been here, what? A week?

"What about Logan?" Kristen got out the hand-held whisk and plugged it into the other side of the unit, "I mean…well…" she laughed lightly as she slid on a pair of clear goggles, "I suppose I met him at a bad time. Him and Dana were…well, who knows really? I think I interrupted it right before they were about to fu –"

Brrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmm.

Kristen's word was droned out by the loud rumble of her hand held whisk, but her throaty cackle rose above it eerily.

Zoey took this as an opportunity to try and decipher what Kristen had just told her. By the look of pure innocence on her face as she whisked away at her brownie batter, Zoey assumed Kristen didn't know about what had happened the year before either.

The year before was an estranged one, but Zoey didn't want to delve into that part of her memory. She'd locked it up for good. She didn't intend on visiting it again.

Zoey didn't want Chase, but she didn't want Chase with anyone else. Especially not Kristen, who she was sure he would jump at the chance of. Fair enough, if Chase started dating a total mouse with boring hair and average looks, or even a stupid common bimbo, but Kristen was neither of these. Kristen stopped people in the street with a flick of her hair. All the boys were sneaking glances at her as she whisked away, trying to work up the courage to say something. Kristen's teeth were perfectly straight and painfully white. Kristen's eyes were the same emerald green as her step-brothers. Kristen was – quite frankly – to die for.

And I'm not.

"So what do I write here?"

Chase stared at Harry disbelievingly.

"Are you having a laugh?" he said weakly. Harry just blinked at him. He took this as a no.

"Your name," Chase pointed down to the paper, "that's why it says 'insert your name here.'"

Harry looked at the paper blankly for a few seconds before suddenly nodding.

"Ahhh! I see!" He smiled, knocking Chase in the ribs sharply. The people who Harry would usually do this to, i.e, Art, Nate, Jackson etc would have six-pack steel re-inforced ribs cages and could take the blow. To Chase, the blow stung like he'd been set on fire. He rubbed it sheepishly.

At least I'm having a better time than Bee.

Ten minutes ago, Rebecca had realized trying to discuss any subject that didn't involve mindless violence or naked girls with Logan was a complete disaster. She made him promise to meet her in the library for regular sessions in studying. At least, in the library, they wouldn't have to talk. Now, the two were sitting not that far apart, Rebecca seemingly asleep on the desk, looking opposite Logan and Logan trying to talk to her.

"I bet you'd look nice in yellow," he said, "in fact, wear that yellow and grey jumper tomorrow and that really short denim skirt and then we're alright."

"And how about," she said into her arm, but loud enough so he could hear her, "you wear that delightful little gingham frock of yours with the cute little Spanish tap shoes?"

Even from where she was sitting, she could tell he was glaring at her.

From across the room, Dana could tell that Logan and Rebecca weren't working on their life science project. In fact, they just weren't working at all, just exchanging cunning banter, each more insulting than the next.

That's supposed to be me he insults! It's our little thing. Not Princess BitchBecca…

Dana knew she was being spiteful, because Rebecca had done nothing to Dana, said nothing to Dana, to call her names. She refused to accept she was jealous as well. Jealousy was a sign of weakness, and Dana was not weak.

For a second, it looked like Rebecca and Logan both laughed together, then, noticing each other laughing, set themselves into stony silence.

She's gone way too far.

As Kingsley Correster wrote out a questionnaire for Dana to fill in at certain points of the week, Dana allowed herself to speculate a little. Besides, Logan and Rebecca had retreated to turning on their laptops and staring at the screens. There was nothing interesting to hiss about.

She supposed it was part of her doing that caused Logan and her to be so estranged now. She knew really, it was both on their parts, but if she'd maybe softened up a little, then…

It's useless thinking of hopeful dreams. What's been has been.

Last year was a disaster.

Rebecca thought she'd take another crack at that love essay thing. She hadn't progressed any more on it that night she'd gorged herself out on gummy worms. She was about to open the file when a window popped up on top of it.

PCA Messenger…………..(close pop-up)

YouKnowYouWantMe says : I need to

know what you know.

She double clicked the top bar so the message extended.

About what? Lion taming? Hair styling? The Pythagorean Theorem?

BeautifulLoser : About what?

Rebecca tried to look quizzically over at Logan, but he continued to stare at his screen.

YouKnowYouWantMe : About Dana, and Zo, Nicole, Chase, Me…last year.

BeautifulLoser : Well I wasn't here last year, was I? YouKnowYouWantMe : Your brother too.

BeautifulLoser : …

YouKnowYouWantMe : I bet he came home all upset and distraught.

BeautifulLoser : That's none of your business.

She went to sign out of the conversation, but Logan must have seen her.

YouKnowYouWantMe : No! Don't go, I need to talk to you.

BeautifulLoser : Then talk to me.

YouKnowYouWantMe : I am.

BeautifulLoser : I mean to my face. I'm sitting right next to you Logan.

YouKnowYouWantMe : Can't be overheard.

BeautifulLoser : By who?

YouKnowYouWantMe : Chase, Dana...Harry…etc…mostly Dana, cause she's got a mean left hook.

BeautifulLoser : Alright then. Speak.

YouKnowYouWantMe : Surely you know just a little about last year?

BeautifulLoser : All I know was that Zo dated my brother for a bit.

YouKnowYouWantMe : Well, do you want to know the whole story?

BeautifulLoser : Why? Why are you doing this?

YouKnowYouWantMe : If I tell you the story, then you get your friend Kristen to drop the slave deal –

BeautifulLoser : Oh wait, you were skulking about under her bed weren't you, you weirdo.

YouKnowYouWantMe : You tell Dana you don't like me -

BeautifulLoser : Gross, I don't like you anyway!

YouKnowYouWantMe : - and you owe me a massive favor when needed.

BeautifulLoser : Sounds like a stankball deal to me.

YouKnowYouWantMe : I'll tell you why Kristen knows about the shoebox, and what some people really think of you.

BeautifulLoser : ...

BeautifulLoser : shoebox?

BeautifulLoser : ...

BeautifulLoser : Okay, but you better hold up your end of the deal.

YouKnowYouWantMe : It's alright, I'll tell you right now, it was last year, well, last Easter term, edging onto Summer…