Chapter 2

The red haired teen dashed off the bus and made her way into the mall as quickly as she could. She was already late and she didn't what to be any later than she was. She zipped through the crowd, being careful not to bump into any one. It didn't take her long to see her destination and to see the people that she was looking for. She made her way up to them, startling the two.

"Geez Sarah, why did you just run up on us like that?" asked the raven-haired teenager. Her hair was cut in a Japanese 'hime' style in the front while the back reached down to her neck. She had blue eyes and was wearing some pink lipstick. She wore a black and white stripped sweater with a pair of blue bell bottoms. She wore some sneakers of her feet.

"Sorry about that Ryder." Sarah said before straightening up and caught her breath. "I just didn't want to be late." Sarah wore her ginger hair in a braid and had pin colored eyes. She was wearing a jersey that had the band 'Lynyrd Skynyrd' and a pair of jeans. She also wore sneakers like Ryder.

"It's okay Sarah. We have all day to shop." the other teenager said with excitement. She was a blond, whose hair stopped at her upper back, and had green eyes. She wore a sundress that was orange and yellow and a pair of white, open-toe, platform sandals. She could pass for a model if she wanted to.

"Leave it for Melody to be so excited." Ryder commented. Melody just stuck her tongue out at her, making Sarah laugh. The three then decided to get their shopping trip started.

XXX

A young, sixteen year old was working on his HONDA CRF450R. It was his baby and he needed to keep it in top shape. It was a present that he got when he got his motorcycle license a year ago. His messy red hair wasn't in the way and his light green eyes were focused on the task. So focused he was that he didn't notice the person coming up on his left. He only knew when said person blew in his ear, startling him. The young man looked at the person in annoyance but he soften his glare when he saw who it was.

"You really need to stop doing that to me babe." he said.

"You need to stop focusing to hard Kev." The female said with a giggle. She then walked up to him and gave him a small kiss on the lips, which was returned. She stepped back and looked at him while he did the same. His girl was dressed really nice, wearing tan capris, a white button-up shirt and open-toe sandals. He saw that he hair was done up in a nice bun, which showed those teal colored eyes that he liked to look at. She was also wearing some make-up that really enhance her beauty.

"I take it you like my outfit?" she asked with a teasing tone.

"I do. Are you going out with the girls Nazz?" he asked.

"I was but things broke down at the last minute. So I came over her to see if my boyfriend wanted to take me around the town and show me off. What do you say?" Nazz asked coyly.

"Give me thirty minutes and I'll be back." He said and dashed into his house to shower and get ready. Nazz just stood there and giggled.

XXX

It was around noon when the three friends decided to go to the food court to eat and rest. Each of them had some bags of clothes and other things. As they got their food and sat down, they began to talk.

"I'm just so excited about this. In two weeks we will be in high school. We will be seen as mature." Melody said happily.

"I'm already mature for my age. To me, it's just another school. The only thing that's different is that it will be four years instead of three." Ryder said before taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Gee, do you not have one excited bone in your body?" Sarah asked.

"Show me something to get excited about." Ryder commented with a grin. "Besides, while we might get some sense of independence, you know the other guys will be checking in on us to make sure that we're okay."

"You're talking about Kevin, Nazz, Rolf, the Kankers and Jonny? Why would they bother with us?" Melody asked.

"Ryder's got a point. Nazz, especially, is going to be a mother hen to all of us. After all, it was because of her that we became friends." Sarah said.

"Yeah, it was. Probably wouldn't have been this tight if it wasn't for her or that prick Jimmy." Ryder stated.

"Yeah, you're right." Melody said. She turned her attention to Sarah. "Please tell us that he isn't going to Peach Creek High? I don't think that I can handle it if he was with us for four years."

"We don't have to worry about that leech. He's going to some school that's in the city. A twenty minute bus ride both ways. I say go riddance and good luck to him find any friends." Sarah said.

"You know who really needs to go? It's that weasel Eddy. How in the hell is he still in high school? I thought he failed so bad that there was no way he would be able to become a junior." Melody said.

"I really don't know how. My brother was in the same boat as him. Ed barely passed summer school from what I saw and he was allowed to go ahead. Eddy, I know he probably cheated in order to pass. He avoided school like a sickness." Sarah explained.

"Why does your brother hang out with that loser? He's going to get dragged down with him if he doesn't just cut the cord." Ryder said.

"You think I haven't tried? I've even changed how I treat him and he still follows Eddy around like a puppy. Maybe if Double D was here, it might have been different but that not saying much." Sarah stated.

"Oh yeah, you've mentioned this Edd before. He use to run with Eddy and your brother but he hasn't been in Peach Creek for four years right? Do you know where he went?" Melody asked.

"I think he's in Arizona with an uncle. The block doesn't really associate with his parents much. Wherever he is, I just hope that he's grown up unlike his those two." Sarah said. The trio continued to eat, talk and get some looks from some guys. After they finished and got refreshed, they went back to shopping.

XXX

It wasn't every day when people's walk were interrupted by something strange. Sure, there might be a small disturbance that turned a head or two. Today, however, was one of those days when you just had to look and wonder what the hell were they thinking. Everyone watched as security was dragging two teenagers from the area. The taller of the two was laughing as he was dragged out by three guards. It was as if he was having the time of his life. The shorter of the two was fighting the two guards and screaming at the unfair treatment. It did not stop the guards from tossing the two from the square.

"We've warned you before brat. We don't want you panhandling in the square again! The next time, we're holding the both of you for the police!" one of the guards shouted.

"Screw you pal! We've got rights!" the shorter of the two shouted back.

"Yeah, and what you're doing is illegal here! So get the hell out and stay the hell out!" the guard shouted and walked back into the square with his fellow guards. The shorter of the two gave the guard the middle finger before turning to his taller friend, fixing him with a glare.

"Oh man, that was fun, huh Eddy?" the teenager asked dimwittedly.

"Fun? You call that fun?! What the hell Ed?! I was making so good change before they caught up with us! Why did you lead them to our spot?!" Eddy shouted. Eddy was still quite short for a sixteen year old. His black hair was made to be slick, looking like one of those greasers. His blue eyes were angry and bore into his friend. He was wearing some old clothes that include a ripped up jacket, ripped jeans, an yellow polo shirt with stains on it and dirty sneakers.

"Oh, I'm sorry Eddy. The guards chased me form the well." Ed said with a grin. The red-haired, turquoise eyed teen still acted like a child and still did things that a child would do. He was also wearing old clothes that consisted of a baggy purple/blue pants, large black shoes, and a red and white striped T-shirt. He also wore a dark olive green jacket with brown lining on the inside and with white sleeve stripes on the outside. The whole outfit had holes in it. "They also took all the change I got."

"Because you were taking it from the wishing well, ya idiot!" Eddy shouted. The teen just sighed in anger and stormed off. Ed got up and followed him without pause. Eddy was steaming mad at his latest failure to make some cash. His father and mother had refused to give any to get him some new gear for school. It was as if he wanted to go back to that dump. However, it was either graduate high school or go to military school lie his father threaten. He didn't like either option but military school scared the hell out of him. It didn't work for his brother and it would not suit him.

Despite this, Eddy grumbled at the fact that he wasn't rolling in dough like he expected. He felt that if he made some good money, he wouldn't need his parents or Peach Creek. It wasn't as if he had any friends here. Everyone either disliked him or really disliked him. He was a social pariah that was constantly mocked. It got under his skin a lot and took up smoking just to calm his nerves. The only person he could count on was Ed and that wasn't saying much.

Either way, Eddy needed a plan to get him the money that he deserved so that he could leave this life behind him. He was going to make it big in this world and when he did, he was going to rub it in everyone's face.

XXX

Sarah made her way home, her arms filled with bags. It was a good day and she had brought a lot of cute clothes. She had earned herself that cash working for Eddy's father at his job. She enjoyed the small job and got a nice send off by the owners. She even got a bonus. She would have never thought of earning her money in the past but she had changed a lot from the brat girl who yelled at everyone and tossed them across the field with her strength.

As she walked home, he came upon the playground where she and Jimmy used to hang out. Those days of friendship were long gone now and she had no need to remember them. She did however see a familiar face just standing there, looking at the trees. He was a dark-skinned teen with a bald head. He was wearing a pair of baggy, jean shorts, sandals and a white tee. He was standing there, staring at the tree in front of him. This brought down Sarah's mood as she knew who it was and why he was doing this.

Two years ago, Jonny had a imagery friend, Plank. Plank was a piece of wood with a drawn on smile and eyes. To Jonny, he was his best friend in the world. However, a teacher was fed up with Jonny's imagination. Jonny kept disrupting class because the teacher refused to call Plank's name during roll call. It annoyed the teacher so much that they finally had enough. The teacher berated Jonny in the harshest of ways, calling Plank an object and not a friend. He then took Plank and tossed him in the garbage. Enraged, Jonny actually attacked the teacher, biting the man in the arm.

Jonny's actions nearly got him expelled but he would not be allowed back to school unless he was seen by a psychologist. Jonny refused to do this and actually attempted to run away. He didn't get far and was dragged to a psychologist. Jonny would not be seen for three months. When he returned, he was a changed person. None of them recognized this new Jonny. He kept to himself and did not hang with them as he did in the past. He was a loner in every definition.

Sarah felt sorry for him but there was nothing that she could do for him. Out of everyone in the cul-de-sac, she was the only one that he spoke to. She didn't know why that was but she listened to him as he talked. It was an odd friendship with a boy a year older than her. She decided to let Jonny have his time. She would seek him out this week and see if he wanted to do something. With that, she continued on her way home.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes

Here's a new chapter for everyone. Sorry that it took so long but this chapter went through several rewrites before I settled on this verison. It isn't my best but it will get better. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter.