Dedication: This is for Molly Bowden, a cop who died last week in a town very close to mine. While I never met Officer Bowden personally, it has brought our communities closer together and has shown how people can put difference aside to help with a problem.

A/N: Okay, I took the day writing this while I had headphones BLASTING in my ears so I wouldn't have to listen to my parents fight, again. So, I'm not sure the mood of this, just remember before you try to kill me, teenage girls, no matter how "sweet and nice" can be VERY bitchy. It is a fact of life. And while it does seem completely out of character, if you have ever been around teenage girls, you know its true.

A/a/n: The pairings in this are very awkward, but again, this is a high school. Relationships are never black and white. There is always that guy that doesn't fit the boyfriend category, or the girl you just love, but would never be more than a friend. I'm sorry for justifying myself constantly, but some shelter people do not know this and it seems totally foreign. Oh, and there is a class schedule at the end of the chapter. I wanted to clear up for my stupid mistakes along the way. Once I finish the story I will redo it, so… until then… don't mind the thing on the first chapter.

Must Read of the Week: As it Seemsby AmandaL

Fin looked across the street as he packed his bag. It was kind of stalkerish, but he was waiting for Abbie to leave so he could walk to school with her. He hated how they left everything and knew he had to apologize. As he saw her literally storm out of the house, he opened his door and called out to her.

"Bad morning?" he asked, catching up to her.

"Yeah, my dad found out I skipped. I'm sick of him, he's such a…"

"Prick, jerk…"

"More like self conceived ass. He only cares about his job or stuff that makes him look bad," Abbie said, looking down the road and then to Fin. "I mean, I know it could be worst, but still…"

"Abbie, you're beautiful, smart, and very talented from what I know, and if your dad doesn't see that… well, his lost. You, no one, deserves that."

"Thanks," Abbie said as they reached the lawn.

"Well, I better get going, see ya," he said, walking off, leaving Abbie to the library.


Alex was sick and tired of her parents. They hadn't been home for a week, and when they did get home yesterday, they spent all last night out with friends. "And they wonder why I'm so screwed up?" she said to herself as she rolled her eyes.

"Hey babe, um…" Tim said, stepping in front of her.

"Yeah?" she asked, confused why he hadn't kissed or hugged her yet.

"I'm sorry, but yeah… um… it's… we're over," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets as he looked around uncomfortably.

"Wha… what?" she asked, not believing what she was hearing.

"Alex, I'm sorry, but… it's just, with Kyie not moving… I'm sorry, I really am…" Tim looked down at her with a tight smile. He couldn't believed that he actually felt that bad, but he knew there was something wrong with Alex, so it left a pound of guilt there.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Alex said harshly, looking at him with nothing less than evil eyes.

"Alex, I swear…"

"Whatever," Alex mumbled with bitter hatred as she left him, trying not to let herself start crying as she wonder how she could be so stupid and believe that a popular guy like Tim would like her. Those where Olivia and Clair's boyfriends, not hers.

She looked down at her bagel she was munching on. Ripping off larger pieces at a time, she quickly stuffed in her mouth as she made her way in the school, pissed.


Olivia looked around the school yard, slowly judging each of the students. She never really took the time to study them, never really tried to figure out their stories, so while she sat there, under her tree. There was Jennie, a girl she used to be best friends until Jen's brother was murder and she became all gothic. Jen introduced her to a lot of stuff, both good and bad, and she missed her, but as she watched her hang off her boyfriend with the complete black wardrobe she didn't miss her that much. Her eyes then sat on Vic, a sophomore. He hung out with himself but was usually well dressed. He wasn't ugly by any stretch but after the year being gone, no one really talked to him.

"Hey girl, whachaupta?" Olivia looked up to see Marco standing above her.

"Hi," she said meekly, looking down at her bag. He was no doubt one of the cutest guys in the school, and right now, the closest thing to Elliot. Deciding on a new approach, she looked up at him with a smile.

"Where's Sammie?" she asked in a flirtatious voice.

"Sammie who?" he replied in the same tone, sitting down by her.

"Awe," she said, smirking at his response.

"So, there's this dance this Friday," he started, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"So I've heard…"

"Well, got a date?" he asked, brushing her hair back.

"Um… I do now," Olivia whispered in his ear before getting up and walking into the building so Marco could stare at her backside.


Abbie walked into class five minutes before the bell rang and took a seat, watching the people around her. Most of them were either working on their homework or talking in groups of two or three. Sitting down at her desk, she got the pages of homework out and then looked up at the board as she copied down the homework for the day and opened her book to it.

Rolling her eyes, she started to work on it, only to get stopped two problems later by the bell.

"Everyone," Mr. Flick started, looking at the room, "get out a pencil and send your homework to the front. No one talk and every desk cleared off," he said in a bitter tone. "Now, as some of you may have already guessed, most of you failed the quiz yesterday. So now, you have another quiz today worth 300 points, which, since I know most of you can't figure it out on your own, will be about 20 your term grade." He started handing out different papers back, most of them containing an F. "You're lucky," he said in reply to the groans, "I was going to make the quiz you took yesterday worth 79," he said as he walked down Abbie's row and then stopped at her desk. "There was, however, one perfect paper," he said as he handed her a paper with an A on the top, "so, Ms. Carmichael, you are excused from the test."

Abbie quickly got a lot of evil glares with that's not right, but just ignored them.

"Actually, you know, you're right, it's not. I shouldn't let you redo the quiz," he said, glaring at them when he finished passing back the quiz. "Here is how it works: If you get an 90-100 it is worth 20 points, 85-89 its worth 50, and if you got a 80-85, it is worth 100. Everyone else, it is worth 300. Now, get to work," he said, handing the 5 page quiz back.


As Olivia walked outside the cafeteria doors, she looked at the different groups. She smiled as she passed people she knew from junior high waved at her. It was part of the routine; she was expected to be nice to everyone, which usually, she didn't have a problem with, but lately, it was becoming more of a hassle.

She saw Abbie and George sitting on the hill with a few of the softball girls. Smiling, she walked towards them while looking for Alex.

"Hey," Olivia said with a smile. She got a few hellos but mostly the cold shoulder from everyone but Abbie. The lunch period was spent like that and it made Olivia very uncomfortable. She usually could go anywhere and be welcome, but it was awkward and she still wasn't sure while she sat by these people. None of them were really her friends, and Claire and Eli were both under the tree, but she still felt connected to Abbie.

After the softball girls left to play catch and while George was taking Abbie and her tray, Olivia took the time to talk to her.

"Where were you yesterday?"

"Fin's," Abbie said with a surprised smile.

"Fin's? What were you doing there?" Olivia asked, surprised.

"Talking…"

"You ditched? You know that is five days…"

"My dad gave me a note last night after 'grounding' me," Abbie said with a shrug.

"How long?"

"Um… two weeks, but he's probably already forgot, and even if he hasn't, he doesn't pay enough to notice," Abbie said with an annoyed tone.

"I see… So, who are you going to the Spring Fling with?"

"Um… I hope George will still let me take him up on his offer," Abbie said right before he sat down.

"Seriously?" he asked, smiling ear to ear.

"Forgive me?" Abbie asked with a fake puppy dog smile.

"Seriously?" he asked again.

"How cute," Olivia awed.

"Hmm… after school we are going down to the café, wanna join us?" Abbie asked, looking at George while asking Olivia.

"Seriously?" Olivia asked, mocking George.

"Yeah," Abbie said in her preppy voice.

"Only if you will come to my sleepover after the dance," Olivia said. Abbie hesitated but agreed.

"What, I'm not invited?" George asked, hurt.

"No," Olivia said, standing up and waving goodbye as she left to hang out with some of her usual friends.

"So, is she your friend?" George asked.

"Not sure, I mean… she nice and all…"

"But?"

"It's just I don't think I'm New York 'popular' type. I mean in Texas, a party was out at a barn with beer and country music. The more of a country girl you were, the better. Here… it's just…"

"Yeah, you're fitting in fine," George reassured her.

"Sure, and that's why I'm the school slut?"

"While, screw them… okay, bad pun," he said with a slight chuckle as they stood up.

"Thanks George," she said as they left for inside.


Alex couldn't stand to eat anything. She felt so sick that she just wanted to lie down and die, but she knew she wouldn't be able to go home. To go home, your parents would have to come get you, and no way in hell would they. So, instead she headed to her third block class to get the education she needed even though she completely despised geometry.

As she walked into the class room, she looked around. George, surprisingly, wasn't here yet. Watching for him, she saw him walk up with Abbie. They were laughing at something and before she left, he gave her a hug.

Alex couldn't believe it. She was completely infuriated by the fact George would even think about hugging Abbie. For Christ sake, she was a complete slut. Alex was so surprise that someone as smart as George would fall for that kind of trap. Looking around the room, she found the first group she knew would listen and walked up to them.

"Hey," she said.

"Hi," Katie and Emile said in unison.

"You guys, I haven't told you about the party, have I?"

"What do you mean?" Katie, the world's most dedicated gossiper asked.

"Kathy's party, about Abbie?"

"Oh with the whole Marco thing, everyone heard about it," Emile informed her sweetly.

"Yeah, and you believe a bunch of rumors?"

"Ha, and why do I see the irony of this conversation?" Katie asked with a sly smile.

"Hey, I was there!" Alex started in defense. "Anyway, I walked in on them, you know…"

"So, it's true? Marco actually did it with a freshman?"

"Yeah, but I don't think he had too much of a choice. She was all over him at the party when she wasn't off flirting with another guy," Alex said, rolling her eyes for affect.

"That explains a lot," Katie said with a smile.

"And damn, I was hoping to believe the dyke one," Emile said, disappointed.

"Sorry babe, you're stuck with me," Katie teased. Emile, like most people knew, was a lesbian, but Katie wasn't. They were just best friends and Katie always teased her. Alex started giggling at their jokes, but quickly took seats when Mr. Flick came into the room. He wore a worn smile as he looked around the room. Writing problems up on the board, he sat down at his desk without a word.


Abbie walked into the Chem. room only to get stopped by Elliot as he pulled her back to the corner, making her jump.

"Excuse, you have no right to…" Elliot quickly cut her off.

"Do you know who Olivia is going to the Spring Fling with?" he asked frantically.

"What? No," Abbie said confused because she just figured they were going.

"Good. I was afraid you did and were not going to do anything."

"What? Who? What are you talking about?" Abbie asked, very confused.

"Marco." The statement was so hard and it hurt both of them when he said it. At about that time Olivia walked into the room and moved over to them but only received the evil eye.

After class started, she ripped out a piece of paper and passed it to Abbie.

What's wrong? Did I do sumthin?

-You freakin idiot. Not only is it bad enough to go out with an ex, marco is really not the guy you wanna date.

I don't know what kinda issues u 2 had, and I know its harsh to go out with an ex, but from what I recall, you hate him!

-For good reason.

Ur just jealous

-Of what? Marco and you? No, but trust me, you don't wanna go there! he's an ass!

Mmkk….

-I'm serious

What'd he do then?

-I can't… you no it is none of your business!

When Olivia got the last part, she just glared at Abbie and threw the note paper awayOlivia couldn't believe Abbie was being such a prune about it. I mean, she was clearly over him, so, noting the odd behavior she stop to talk to Abbie at her looker after class.

"I'm not sure what the deal is with you and Marco, but…"

"Rule one: never date an ex," Abbie said simply as she stuffed her things into her bag with a grunt.

"You hate him?"

"More than anyone." Abbie stopped and her hatred turned to compassion. "Olivia, Marco is not the kind of guy you want to get involved with, just trust me. I don't want him to hurt you too." Abbie shut her looker and walked off, leaving Olivia speechless at her own.


Freshmen

Olivia: Trig (T); Juvi Law; Chem.; Spanish

Alex: PE; Juvi Law; Geometry; Civic

Abbie: Trig (F); English Lit; Chem.; Spanish

George: Civics; English Lit; Geometry; Psychology

Sophomores

Fin: Drivers Ed; Spanish; Geometry; Civics

Juniors

Marco: Trig (F); Yearbook; Speech II; Creative Writing

Tim: Trig (T); PE; French II; Creative Writing

Seniors

Kathy: Trig (T); Yearbook; AP Chem.; AP American History

Elliot: Trig (T); Yearbook; Chem.; AP American History