CHAPTER ONE

Josie shot up in her bed the next morning. "I'm late!" She exclaimed fearfully.

"Actually, you're awake on time," Corrine replied from the other side of the room, pulling on her Blake Holsey jacket over her shirt.

"I am? I must be sick," Josie said, falling back in the bed.

"What are you doing?" Corrine asked.

"Going back to bed. Wake me up when I'm going to be late," Josie mumbled.

Corrine rolled her eyes, before lacing up her shoes. "You might as well get up now. You didn't bother to do your Math homework last night."

"I didn't!" Josie asked in a panic, sitting up quickly. "Wait, how do you know I didn't?"

"Because I know you," Corrine said with a smirk. "I also asked you what you got as an answer to number fifteen when you were half asleep last night, and you told me you didn't do it."

"Sure, catch me while I'm half asleep," Josie grumbled, climbing out of bed and searching through her clothes.

Corrine let out a soft laugh. "You wouldn't have had to worry about it at all if you had done your homework yesterday," She pointed out. Josie only groaned in reply.

"I'm heading down to breakfast, okay?"

"Fine. I'll meet you there as soon as I … finish my homework. Hey Corrine? Can I copy your -."

"No," The other girl replied, before closing the door. After she had thrown on her uniform Josie started darting around the room trying to find her textbook. Now she really wished she had straightened up her room last night like Corrine had asked her to. She moved over to Corrine's desk to see if that was where she had left the book. Quite unfortunately, no. She let out a disgruntled groan before pulling her textbook out from under a pile of clothes. She quickly filled the homework out, and then darted down to the cafeteria to meet up with her friends.

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"Alright class, today we're going to begin our unit on the human body, starting with the brain. Can anyone tell me the brain's prime function?" Professor Z asked, looking around the room.

Marshall's hand shot up.

"Marshall?"

"It provides communications between the body. Sort of like the command station of the body," He explained.

"Excellent. Can anyone name the four lobes of the brain?" Professor Z asked.

"Frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital," A voice said from the doorway. Everyone turned towards the door to see the owner of the new voice. There stood three teenagers dressed in Blake Holsey High uniforms.

"Eh … who are you?" Professor Z asked in confusion, fiddling with his glasses.

The single girl stepped forward, handing a note to Z. "Transfer students from Stonebridge Academy. It's part of a new program here at Blake Holsey. We'll be staying for a few weeks," She said, flashing a quick smile.

"Oh," Z said, reading quickly through the note. "Well then, um, class, I guess we have new students. Would you like to share with the class -?"

"No," The girl said quickly. For a moment Josie was certain she saw the girl's eyes darken as she looked around the room. But within seconds any trace of the dark look had disappeared, and she was smiling again. "Allow me to introduce myself, then. I'm Jovee Preston."

"Finley Grant," The tall boy who had given the answer said softly.

The short boy gave a little wave. "Douglas Ripley."

"Great. Looks like we've gotten ourselves a new elf. Hear that, Trent?" Madison said from the back of the room.

Josie turned around, temper flaring. "I am not an elf!" She snapped. She blinked, however, when another voice said the same thing. She turned back in her seat to realize the new boy, Douglas, had said it at the same time as her, his fists clenched at his side.

"Freaks," Madison muttered under her breath.

"Madison," Professor Z warned. "Alright, then, why don't you take a seat?"

Douglas moved quickly across the room, taking the empty seat next to Lucas. Finley moved to the far back, and Jovee reluctantly took the last remaining spot next to Stu Kubiak. While they took their seats Z turned back to the projector, fiddling around with it.

"Hey, are you -," Stu started. Without looking, Jovee held her hand up to silence him.

"Don't talk to me," She said.

"Anyone else think they're a little weird?" Josie whispered to Corrine and Vaughn.

"Besides the superiority rolling off that girl, Jovee?" Corrine asked.

"I don't know, guys. She seems okay," Vaughn said.

"She's like a robot," Josie said. "They all are."

"You have to admit, the elf thing was pretty funny," Corrine said, only to receive a glare from Josie.

The red head nibbled thoughtfully on her eraser, studying the back of Douglas' head. "He doesn't look that short to me."

Lucas glanced over at Douglas out of the corner of his eye, to see the boy staring at him intently. "What?" He asked, slightly creeped out.

"Sorry," Douglas replied. "You just look a lot like someone I used to know. I'm Douglas."

"Lucas Randall," The other boy replied, holding out his hand.

Someone jabbed Douglas in the back. He turned back around, looking angrily at the culprit.

"What do you want?" He demanded, meeting Jovee's gaze.

"No talking," She replied.

"Here or there you're still a pain," Douglas muttered under his breath.

"What's up with her?" Lucas asked, looking back at the girl with instant dislike.

"Jovee's a bossy, arrogant cheerleader," Douglas replied.

"Ah," Lucas answered. "That explains everything."

Douglas smirked. "I figured it would."

Professor Z stood up. "Marshall, could you get the lights?"

"No problem," Marshall replied, getting up and doing what was asked of him. Professor Z turned the projector on, revealing a drawing of the human brain.

"Alright then. Who can take a lucky guess as to where the medulla is located?"

Both Marshall and Corrine's hands shot up, along with Finley's.

"Alright, Finley," Z said.

"The medulla is located in the stem connecting the brain with the spinal cord. It's in between the cerebellum and hypothalamus. I would say the Pons, except the Medulla and Pons are connected. Might I add as a minor note that the medulla is most commonly responsible for respiration?"

Everyone looked at the quiet boy with surprise, while Z grinned. "Wow. That is correct. You must be ahead of us over at your school."

Finley ducked his head nervously, not enjoying the attention he was receiving. "Yeah, something like that," He murmured.

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Josie quickened her pace to catch up with the others. "Guys!" She called. Corrine stopped, turning around to wait. The others did the same while Josie caught up.

"What was that all about?" Marshall finally asked.

"Z wanted to ask me about our paper. Which we really need to get to work on," Josie said, looking pointedly at Marshall. The other boy nodded with annoyance.

"I know, I know. How about we work on it after last class?" He suggested.

"Randall!" Someone called. The group stopped, turning to see Douglas coming towards them, followed slowly by Finley. He quickened his pace. "Hey," He panted.

"Oh, Douglas. And …?"

"Finley," Douglas filled in quickly. "So I heard you guys were a part of the science club. Any particular thing you have to do to get in?"

The others exchanged nervous glances. "I don't … think so," Lucas said slowly.

"Great! Hey, have you guys studied wormholes yet?"

Corrine's eyes widened in surprise, while Josie blanched. The others looked around nervously.

"Wormholes?" Josie asked. "Why would we talk about those?"

"Douglas is a science geek. Really interested in space," Finley said quietly.

"We'll see you guys later, then? At Science club?" Douglas inquired.

"Yeah," Lucas said, narrowing his eyes at the back of their retreating figures.

"Okay, that was weird," Corrine said.

"You don't think they actually know about -," Marshall started.

"No way," Josie said quickly. "It's just not possible … right?"

"Just coincidence," Vaughn agreed.

Lucas shook his head. "I don't believe in coincidence. There's something weird about those new kids. And I'm going to find out."

"Lucas, stop jumping the conspiracy train, okay? Maybe this Douglas kid really is interested in space. Wormholes occur in space," Josie said.

"Maybe," Lucas relented. He was still watching Douglas and Finley move through the corridors, whispering to each other. Douglas stopped for a minute, and looked back, his eyes meeting Lucas before he disappeared around a corner. "Maybe," He repeated softly, turning back to follow his friends to class.

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CHAPTER TWO

"Okay, so basically the large intestine helps in … breaking down food?" Josie's nose scrunched up with disgust.

"It mainly absorbs water and salt," Marshall replied. Josie groaned, resting her head on the table top.

"Why do Vaughn and Lucas get the easy project?" She muttered.

"This shouldn't take too long, though," Marshall said with a grin. "All the information we need is right here."

"Yeah, well," Josie murmured. She swiveled in her seat to glance out the window. The football team was practicing out on the football field. She could vaguely make out Vaughn's figure as he prepared to throw the football across the field.

"Hey, what are you – oh," Marshall said, catching the glimpse of Vaughn. Josie looked back at him. "Why are you mad at him now?"

"I'm not mad at him," Josie replied.

"Well you're reluctant to speak to him. Even in class you seemed a little edgy," Marshall pointed out. "Did he say something?"

"No. I guess I just had … an epiphany," Josie mumbled, quickly turning the pages of the book in front of her.

"An epiphany?" Marshall asked.

"Yeah. You know, a sudden realization -."

"No, not that. I meant what was your epiphany?"

Josie shrugged. "Whatever, it's not important. What is important is that we finish this research project. The sooner we get it done the less I have to worry about it."

"If you say so," Marshall said with a shrug. "So you mentioned you got some stuff done."

"I started the introduction," Josie said, looking hopeful. "Oh, and I got some of these notes. Here." She handed him the paper with little stuff scribbled across.

"Thanks. Now I just need a decoder," Marshall joked, looking over the sheet. Josie narrowed her eyes at him.

"Hey, how's the paper coming?" Lucas asked, approaching the two.

"It's okay," Marshall said.

"It would be going better if we stayed on topic," Josie replied.

"I saw Corrine in the halls a few minutes ago," Lucas said to Marshall. "She says Z thinks we need to have an important meeting."

"When?" Josie asked.

"How's twenty minutes?"

"I've got no problem with it," Josie said.

"What about our paper?" Marshall asked.

Josie snorted. "I welcome the distraction."

"So I've noticed."

"Oh Lucas, I found this for you," Josie said, handing some pages across the table. Lucas took them, looking them over. "For that research you're doing. Hope it helps your friend."

"What friend?" Marshall asked.

"Lucas is gathering information on wormholes for … someone. Hey, you're not getting this stuff for that Ripley kid, are you?" Josie asked.

"No," Lucas said quickly, tucking the papers away in his notebook. "I just met him today, remember? Anyways, this stuff looks interesting. I'm gonna have to look it over later tonight."

"No one's going to answer me, are they?" Marshall grumbled.

"How's your paper going?"

Lucas snorted. "No progress from yesterday. I'm hoping to work on it later today. After Z's meeting. I really hope this is as important as Corrine was making it out to be."

"I feel so left out," Marshall murmured.

"Well I better head out. Durst said she wanted to see me in her office … for some really strange reason," Lucas said, getting up. "I'll see you guys in Science Club, okay?"

"See ya," Marshall said, waving at his friends back.

"Later," Josie said.

Marshall frowned, turning back to Josie. "Did any of that conversation make sense to you?"

"Why wouldn't it?" Josie replied, beginning to sift through the textbook again.

Marshall shook his head. "Never mind."

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Josie rushed quickly into Professor Z's room, Marshall was right behind her. "Sorry we're so … late?"

"Hey guys," Douglas said, waving his arm. Jovee rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair, while Finley offered up a small smile. Corrine was murmuring with Z while Lucas had his head down on the table. Vaughn hadn't shown up yet.

"Whoa," Josie said. "What's with the new kids?"

The girl sat up, glancing over at Z before replying. "Principal Durst thought it would be an excellent idea for my companions and me to follow Lucas around for the day – to get a taste of our new, temporary, school." She sounded kind, yet at the same time mocking. What an unusual combination.

"It's okay," Douglas said, grinning. "We know all about the science club."

Josie nodded slowly, before finishing her trek into the room, Marshall right behind her. He took a seat next to Lucas. "So that's what Durst wanted to see you about."

"Mghffh," Lucas mumbled from the table.

Corrine turned around. "Where's Vaughn?"

"Football," Jovee and Marshall said at the same time. Everyone looked at the girl, who simply grinned.

"Someone mentioned he was on the football team. I saw them practicing outside," She said innocently.

"We'll just have to go on without him, then," Professor Z said, glancing at the new students. "Maybe Lucas, you could …"

"Anyone for a tour of the school?" Lucas inquired, sitting up.

Douglas propped his foot on the lab table. "Not me. I'm very interested in hearing this. So what's the news, Professor Z?"

"Don't start that again," Jovee grumbled looking at her nails.

"I'll go with you," Finley said, standing up slowly.

"That's okay," Lucas muttered, sitting back down when he realized he wasn't going to get the group out that easily. "I can give it to you later."

"So when are we going to get the show on the road? We've been here for about -," Douglas glanced at his watch. "Six minutes. What are we going to learn about today?"

Corrine and Josie shared a frustrated look.

"Alright, then," Z said slowly, moving to his chalkboard. "Today we'll be continuing our unit that we started in class on the body."

"Yawn," Douglas said.

"Do you mind not doing that? Every time you open your mouth something unwanted comes out," Jovee snapped.

"Was I talking to you?"

"There's something severely wrong with those two," Corrine murmured to Josie.

"Must be an old rivalry or something," Josie replied, looking unsure.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. Did we -?" Vaughn froze, looking around the room in the same quizzical manner Josie had earlier. "Guests?"

"Lucas was put on new kid duty," Marshall explained.

"Oh great, he's here," Douglas muttered.

"Will you cut it out?" Jovee demanded, now looking angrily at the other boy.

"How about both of you cut it out," Finley suggested.

"Guys," Professor Z said quickly. "Take a seat, Vaughn. Looks like we're continuing our work from class."

"No need to stop your regulars just for us," Douglas said.

"Oh, you know what?" Jovee demanded.

"Outside?" Douglas suggested, looking unfazed by her glare.

"Most definitely. Let's go," Jovee said. The two quickly got up and disappeared on the other side of the door.

"Looks like trouble," Finley said, getting up quickly. "We'll be back." Then he, too, moved outside.

"Okay, I'm getting serious vibes from those guys," Josie said.

"They definitely know something," Lucas agreed.

"No time for that. Look, before they come back I have something I think might interest you guys," Professor Z.

"What is it?"

"Last night, just after the blackout, there was a swell of energy in the science office," He said.

"You think the wormhole was opened?" Marshall asked.

Lucas shifted nervously. "You don't think that -." His head gestured towards the door.

"Oh, no," Professor Z said quickly. "There's no reason to think that at all. I'm not even certain if the wormhole did open up. I just know that there was an extreme surge of energy. It was measured here." He took out a few papers and handed it around, the group looking through them thoughtfully. So what unusual thing was going to happen this week at Blake Holsey?