She turned around to face a green-eyed thief with mussy hair. With a blade pressed against her throat, Alanna could only stare angrily back at the thief.

"Let's make this easy girlie. Just give me your wallet and I'll let you go. Simple?" George smirked mockingly.

"As IF!" with all her strength, Alanna diverted her anger into a hard kick between his legs.

Wincing and moaning in pain, George dropped to the ground, holding his manhood tightly. "Why you little-" he managed to gasp in pain.

Alanna took this chance to run as fast as her legs could carry her. Not caring about a single thing, she sped along streets and finally reached home. Panting like a mad pardon the expression dog, she clambered up the steps and collapsed at the doorway.

Coram jumped slightly when he heard the thump at the door. He opened to find an EXHAUSTED Alanna sitting in a crumpled heap at the doorway. "Ye Gads! What in the name of the god's happened to ye?" he yelped as he helped her in.

"I was nearly robbed." She said, still panting slightly as Coram handed her a glass of water.

Coram grinned. "So did ye hit 'im where it hurts?"

Alanna nodded, finally breathing normally. Coram chuckled and slapped her on the back, knocking the wind out of her. She coughed slightly and dragged herself up to her room.

"I don't think I'll be having dinner today Coram. I'm far too tired. And how's Thom?" she asked tiredly.

"He's been better, to be honest with ye." Coram said to her, a hidden worry behind his eyes. "He keeps coughing and spitting out green stuff. I shudder to even think about it."

"Is he that bad?"

"Go have a look at him."

Hurriedly, Alanna ran up the stairs and into her twin's bedroom. Her eyes widened when she saw Thom's green face peeking from under the blanket. A bucket was beside his bed and he was sweating profusely. Alanna placed her palm on his forehead, only to flinch and pull her hand back instantly. Thom was burning hot!

"Thom, what happened to you? You feeling alright?"

"Do I look like I'm alright?" came his grumpy cracked reply.

"My god Thom, since when did it get so bad?" she replied, pulling down the blanket.

"Since this afternoon I guess, I'm not too sure. The neighbour's kids have it too. Seems like the whole block has it." Thom sniffed, wiping the sweat away weakly.

"Guess who I met this morning?" she asked, trying to cheer her twin up. It pained her to see him like this but she couldn't do anything against this sickness. She hated not being able to look after him but she knew she couldn't help him.

"Won't you take me by the hand take me somewhere new…" Alanna murmured as she headed towards her locker. With one swift and firm kick, her locker opened, spilling all it's contents.

Grumbling, Alanna started to gather her history notes and her math books, only to see a male hand reaching for her wallet. Quickly she snatched her wallet with one hand and twisted the guy's hand with her other hand, dropping whatever she was holding in the process.

"Hands off!" she yelled at the guy's face, only to widen her eyes in shock as she faced the robber from yesterday. "YOU!"

"Ouch! Take it easy girlie. I study here you know. I'm an innocent student here just like you." George's eye twinkled and he winked as he said this.

"You expect me to believe you study here? You are like four years older than me!" she yelped as George pulled her to her feet forcefully.

"Like it or not I've spent a good seven years in this torture chamber." George sighed as he leaned against her locker.

"Seven years? But you rob people! You're a robber and a thief!" Alanna accused, fetching her subject book out.

"It's what I do for a living. It's tough living in Redwood. My mother's supermarket job ain't enough to feed both of us. So I borrow whenever I can."

"Borrow? Steal is more likely! I haven't forgiven you for the near-robbery yesterday! So leave me alone! I just want to spend my high school days in peace." She slammed her locker and walked off, leaving George to stare at her.

Sliding into her history class, only to have everyone stare at her. She had totally forgotten about time and she was late! Her history teacher didn't look too happy.

"Er… sorry Mister…"

"I am Mr. Olau and I do not like to entertain people who are late for my class." Mr. Olau looked stern but his mouth was twitching. "I expect you to be on time or even earlier next time Miss Trebond."

"Yes Mr. Olau." Alanna scurried to her seat at the corner. Trying to hide her face which had turned tomato red.

Jonathan, who had been flirting with Delia at the back, turned his attention to Alanna. He had always made a point to flirt with the new girl, let her be his girlfriend, then dump her the next week. Yes Jon is a great big jerk here…

Alanna didn't have the looks of a beauty queen like Delia but she was naturally beautiful all the same. Delia, who noticed that Jonathan's attention was wavering, turned an ugly shade or purple when she saw who he was looking at. "Jonathan…" she whispered seductively, 'What do you say we head over to my house tonight and I dunno…" she got even closer, "Have some fun?"

"Uh maybe not tonight Delia… I've got other plans." Jonathan muttered, not taking his eyes off Alanna. "Why don't you go back to your seat. I've got other things to think about…"

Fuming, Delia could only slide back to her seat and sit there angrily as she watch Jonathan stare at Alanna dreamily. What did he see in that plain-faced girl anyway? Why did he choose her when he could have Delia, the most wanted girl in school? She just couldn't understand it. No matter what, she had to seprate them as soon as possible…

Yes everyone I'm back after two years of hiatus! I sincerely hope everyone will stand by me and Read & Review! You know what to do! ;)

Arianla