Ooc: I wanted to start off by saying sorry, I didn't relise some people were confused about the age shifts. From now on I'm going to put how old they are at the beginning of

each chapter so people rember. At least until they are sixteen . Also, thanks for reveiwing and continueing to read this story even though my upadates are not so frequent. Just know that if I had time (and sometimes inspiration) then I would gladly update weekly or even daily. But alas, I get writers block and life jumps up way too much. One last thing, you know how when you turn 11 things start to change right? Well, don't go all crazy on me when you see the chapter kay? I thought I was being quite subtle.

As for updates, now that I have a break from drama it will be consistent! Yay, this story lives! I told ya I wouldn't quit on it. Sowie for the wait.

The Age: 11 years old.

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There was excitement all around as he passed by people as blurs. Ron the Rent-a-cop had given him hell over his habits, but he had for a long time now. The need for speed was not the real factor in his obsession. It was the need for freedom. That feeling of freedom was represented through speed and like a caged bird he craved it. People told him it was dangerous, irradical, unmannered to be going along like this in a public place but he didn't care. He made his way dodging the obstacles in front of him as he heard a few shouts of protests when he knocked something over. Okay, so he wasn't perfect... But you know what they said with practice... Oh boy, and how much he'd practice...

There it was, and in his line of sight. He grinned as he approached the fountain. He remembered three years ago how he got splashed trying to do his first trick ever. In fact, he still had that same skateboard up on a mantel in his room. It was his very first skateboard... Though it was small and just for precise. Jen had bought him a new one as soon as he even mentioned it was getting small. As bossy as she was, she sure was considerate...

Kicking the board up he slid across the rim of the fountain and leaped off it as he approached it's end. By that part he was met by applause by his ever so supportive friends.

"Nice one Jude..." Jonesy said as he ushered his friend over to their table. Jude kicked up the skateboard to his hands, one of the first tricks he learned as he walked over with a smile on his face. There they were waiting for him as always on a Saturday noon. He didn't' know anyone else who would be so kind as to spend three years of their weekends to make sure he wasn't lonely.

He sat down beside Wyatt and Jen, grinning goofy at his Latin friend. "Thanks's dude... Hahaha! That rhymed..." Jonesy nodded and slurped his soda. Apparently they had all gotten sodas before he met up with them and Jen handed him his that they had reserved. "Thanks..." he said and drank up as he wore of his adrenaline.

"You know Jude, a rhyme as sweet as that should have some kinda handshake.." Jonesy said casually.

"Yah it should, and I promise I'll work on one with you sometime later." Jude said in agreement, still smiling. He looked around and noticed a person missing. "Dude where's Nikki?"

Jen coughed into her soda as she remembered, putting it down to explain. "I called her to see if she needed a ride or something and she sounded freaked out over the phone." Jude's eyes widened so Jen quickly added the last part to quell any worries. "But she told me she was defiantly coming and to just wait for her here." The four sat and pondered over what could have happened. Nikki was a tough chick and usually she didn't freak out about anything... Or at least anything small. So they figured it had to be BIG. But what?

"You know, maybe it was just something with her parents? We all know how they drive her up the wall. They could be forcing her to wear some ugly outfit or getting her to accompany a Chinese foreign exchange student or something..." Wyatt said wisely as some of the ideas were getting way out of hand. The other three nodded in agreement. There was a part Wyatt played and that was the rationalist. He was calm, cultured and always had a reasonable answer for everything. The others were great too, smart and had good ideas... But still their imaginations and wacky personalities (each wacky in their own sense) tended to blow things way out of proportion. He brought them back down to earth and normality.

"I think that's her now, OI NIKKI!" Jonesy shouted standing up. The punk Asian looked up as her friends questioning eyes bore into hers. Something was different. Her hands were folded over her chest and she was sporting a baggy extra large t-shirt and jeans that hung off her hips. What was wrong with her?

She approached them cautiously and sat down beside Jen in the vacant seat. She saw her friend's worried eyes and anticipated the bomb of questions as it fell on her.

"What happened Nikki? Why'd you sound so panicked over the phone." Jen asked and then her eyes bulged over the clothing choice. "And what's THIS? Spill, what's going on." Nikki looked pleadingly for Jen to understand she couldn't just come outright and say it. Her hands were still over her chest as she tried to close herself off. Jonesy and Wyatt leaned forward to hear and all Jude had to do was peer over Jen's shoulder.

Suddenly there was an unease as tension filled the air. Nikki was special to each of them and if something bad happened they wanted to give their help as much as they could. Nikki noticed how worried they were, even Wyatt who could play the rational hero and Jude who was the mellow Zen skater. Even the reactions of her childhood friend the Male Drama Queen and her female best friend the Crisis Helper shocked her slightly. She blushed, knowing she could not put this off any longer.

Leaning in to Jen's ear she started to whisper to her about something. The boys watched as her eyes went wide and she turned to Nikki with raised eyebrows. "Seriously?" was all the Jen said and with a nod from Nikki she stood up. Facing the boys to address them as Nikki got up as well, Jen only gave this in response to their

questioning stares. "We gotta go and we'll be back." With that and some protest, Nikki and Jen had left the table hurriedly.

"Woah, what just happened here?" asked Wyatt with a glance at the other guys. The two boys could only shrug, their shocked expressions still on their faces.

"How about we like, try and make her feel better when she comes back? Ice cream usually helps girls with that." Jude said as they started to fork out their change from their pockets. Jonesy nodded and put out two dollars.

"Let's get her a supreme double fudge ice cream combo, with the little rainbow chocolate chips. That's her favourite and it fits any girl's desperate situation. Wether being dumped and/or relieving stress it's the thing to give." He recited like a sale's person, giving his sparkly tooth grin at the end of the sentence. At the weirded out looks he was getting she raised his arms to the air dramatically. "What? Okay so I maybe read that out of a chicks magazine but I swear to you I was just scooping!" Wyatt and Jude just shook their heads silently and made their way over to the sweet shoppe to buy her the most biggest, grandest yet most expensive (Hey, four bucks for an

icecream combo, imagine that.) Though they made sure to get five spoons since they'd all get their little tastes.

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Jen and Nikki had quickly rushed to the bathroom where the two girls got into the stall. Jen had locked the door and turned to face Nikki who was sitting on the seat with her arms still around her chest. She sighed lightly, not out of annoyance or fatigue but just because it bothered her about how much of a deal this was to her best friend. She'd never seen her like this and she wanted to make her feel comfortable. To do this, she chose her words carefully not wanting to push Nikki farther into her shell.

"Okay, so when did you notice this happening?" She asked and leaned against the door slightly as she awaited the answer.

"Well..." Nikki started out, looking up at Jen. Knowing that her friend wasn't going to act horribly or make fun of her she let herself confide in Jen. "I noticed it was starting when I was ten and for awhile it was barely noticeable. Even yesterday there was barely any change. I mean, I knew that it was going to happen but..." she stopped, looking down at the tiled floors with a blush on her face. Jen raised her eyebrows lightly but the crouched down in front of her, showing without words she was offering her support.

Unable to explain what had happened without embarrassing herself she took in a deep breathe and spread out her arms.

Jen was confused. The baggy t-shirt showed nothing but well... It's bagginess. "Umm, okay?" Nikki rolled her eyes and then reached to the back of her shirt and pulled so that the material was tight against her. Jen's eyes widened, now she could see what she was talking about. For a second, she didn't know what to say. Nikki quickly let go when her insecurities reached it's peak and she covered her face with her hands. "Well... I gotta admit that's not how you looked a few days ago that's for sure..."

Nikki groaned at this. "I know! It just happened overnight! One minute they were normal and the next boom! They're big!" Jen gave her friend a comforting pat. Suddenly the situation dawned on her and she gave a smile, trying not to laugh at how scared her friend was over something so small.

"Nikki, listen to me." Jen reached up and took her hands so that Nikki would look at her. "It's normal, you're eleven and things start to happen at this age. It's just as Mrs.Heather said it would and it's not that big of a deal." Nikki looked at her with a doubtful look in her eyes so Jen tried another aproach. "You know what? One: They arn't

that big anyway... It looks as fine as it should be. Two: You'd be lucky to have.. You knows... Since they attract so much attention in a positive way! Did you see my sister and how much boys like her for that?" Nikki started to look a little better now, but she was still not sporting a smile as Jen had hoped. So Jen got up from her crouching position and spread out her hands. "Look at me! I'm a STICK! I have nothing and guys call me a boy all the time for that. I'd love to trade any day for what you've got."

There it was, Nikki cracked a smile. Blushing at how stupid she had acted she still looked up timidly. "What if someone... Comments on it?" She asked quietly, her arms had now eased up and Jen was able to take one and lifted her up into a hug. "If they do..." she said beside her ear comfortingly "I'll kill them and kick them so hard they won't be able to sit down for a week." Nikki laughed out loud and finally got over it. Jen unlocked the washroom stall door and stepped out, holding her friends hand.

They walked back to the table where three worrywarts and a grand icecream supremo was awaiting them. Jen sat down in her seat before next to Jude and Nikki sat down beside her, a smile on her face. Jonesy couldn't contain himself, even though the boys had agreed not to pressure it out of their spunky best friend. He leaned in like he had before as Wyatt was distributing the spoons and giving Jonesy a look that clearly said "Don't do it!" but when did Jonesy ever listen to other people's advice?

"Okay, what was the big emergency? How come you threw your fashion sense out of the window and was acting like a shy four year old?" he asked demandingly, almost standing up now. Jonesy was only eleven as all of them were yet he had a voice that was strong instead of boyishly cute. No, he hadn't hit that voice change yet but when he wanted answers you could swear his voice got a tad bit deeper. For awhile there was a pause and the two just glared at each other. Nikki was clutching her spoon and with an act of stubborness she shrugged and dug into her fudge and rainbow chipped icecream.

"Nothing of your business. But since you bought me this I guess I can say it was a girl emergency that's all." Relief flooded Jude and Wyatt's feature's and they smiled at their friend, noticing that she was back to her cow-like stubborn attitude. Jonesy on the other hand looked abashed at the reply. "That's it? A girl emergency? We just blew four bucks on nothing!" he said and slapped his hand on his forehead in disbelief.

Wyatt kicked Jonesy's foot underneath the table and shot him a glare. "Jonesy! Just be glad things are back to normal and that she's okay. Chill." Ah.. More wise words.

Jonsey humphed and reached his spoon over to the sundae, taking out a gigantic scoop of the heavenly flavoured icecream. "Hey!" Nikki said as she watched her beautiful vanilla and chocolate go messily into the mouth of her offender.

He gulped down the wonderful coolness and said as his mouth was coated in vanilla "That's what you get." he said and smirked, wiping away the mess with his backhand.

"Eew! Jonesy use a napkin!" said Jen and pushed one forward to him. He took it and wiped off his hand with a nonchalant shrug. Heck, he didn't care what he did. His parents weren't around to see.

So they dug into the big bowl and ate their cinnasticks and strawberries waffles happily. They had a few discussions about their day and classes, seeing as how each was in a seperate one. Middle school life had started out tough, it still was, but what made it worthwhile was that hey had each other (Insert sappiness here). Jude looked around as he was starting to get bored but noticed something very odd...

"Umm, who's here like, supervising us?" He asked and they all stopped in their consumption of food. Nikki looked at Wyatt with raised eyebrows. "I told my mom that your mom was going to supervise us..." She said as she could have sworn that that's what he told her yesterday. Wyatt shook his head and looked at Jen with a wondering expression.

"Jen told me that her sister was going to take care of us." It was Jen's turn to look shocked as she shook her head, her brown hair that was in a ponytail swishing back and forth with the action. "I was told that Jonesy's dad was going to supervise us..." she then cast a hard glance at the once again abashed boy as he quickly raised his hands up in the air in defense.

"No no no , you see I was told that Nikki's parents were going to supervise!" he said and the two glared at each other for the second time and Nikki leaned in to puch him in the arm. "Liar! I said no such thing..." she hissed to him and sat back down in her seat as he soothed his aching arm.

Jude looked confused at them as they started a heated discussion over who was supervising who and there was nonsense all over the place. Slowly, the gears in his brain started to turn as he relised what that meant. He looked down at his skateboard and a grin came to his face, not that much unlike a bad boy's. He placed his hand on the table and let them have a few more minutes of argument. When it had passed he bellowed out a "STOP!" The four turned to face him with shocked expressions as there was nothing but silence. They also noticed the grin that he was wearing and each of them (even Jonesy) was freaked out. Satisfied he had their attention he began his little insight. "Dudes... Do you know what this means? We're at the mall unsupervised, without parents or anyone! We can run around and do whatever we want!"

Finally, they now understood. But Jen understood something else aswell. "How much cash do we have? I got seventy dollars from my birthday." The friends looked at her as if she had just declared she won the lottery. Seventy bucks of spending money? Wow.. They took a look in their wallets. Jude found thirty dollars which was cool, Jonesy found ten, which for him sucked. Wyatt had a job as a paper boy so he had forty bucks. Nikki opened up her own and found a twenty. Sweet.

Jen quickly took Nikki's hand again, pulling her up from her chair. "Come on Nikki, we'll go to some sales and get you another shirt and jeans 'cuz there's no way you're wearing that for the rest of the day!" Nikki nodded and they went off to find some clothes while the guys knew what they'd hit first: The video game store...

The boys hit it there, challenging each other with masculine competitiveness. Well, actually it was more Jonesy then the others, Wyatt indifferent and Jude too spaced out to care. So naturally, king of games won. Unfourtunatly, he went crazy with his ego and did a little dance whilke whooting, embarrassing the three boys very much. To regain some pride, even though he didn't really care about it, Jude went and schooled all onlookers and taunters with DDR.

Jonesy was impressed and Wyatt was being Wyatt with his indifference and just casually sipped another soda that he bought while watching. Yes yes yes, Jude was the champion in moving his tushie and feet, though with much training from Nikki, the grasshopper won the teacher... Or something like that. No wait, it was surpass... Blah. Anyway he was just glad Nikki wasnt here or else he would have gotten beaten by a girl. Though some confusing thing according to Jen was she would be more ashamed for losing to a boy. Huh? Now poor Jude was lost in thought...

" Jude, JUDE!" Cried Wyatt as the young boy waved his hands in front of his face. Jude looked at him startled, wondering what was up. "You are still standing on the DDR pad even though you're done!" Wyatt's words took awhile to process before Jude looked down with relisation. "Oh!" Jude jumped off the DDR machine and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Goofy grin and all, it was as if these things naturally happened. No biggie.

Wyatt sighed and shook his head. While Jonesy was reading--er, scoping through a few girl's magazines. "I wonder what Jen and Nikki are up too?" he said more to himself, just kinda voicing his thoughts out loud as he flipped a few pages. He stopped and just stared at one particular page with his cheesy grin. Yes, we know that they all have their little grins that can be labelled...

"Like they said, shopping for clothes..." Jude remarked lightly as he was battling with Wyatt on a Japanese fighting game."Ichi Ni San Tournament". Jude was the blonde chick since she was so cool and flexable. Wyatt was just some random dude as the two really started to get into it, giving their own "Hiyahs!" and "Whoopas!" as they hit one another. Jonesy just smirked.

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"Okay, so which Tee do you like, the blue or the red?" Jen asked, holding up two t-shirts in her hands. Nikki put her hands up and shrugged, they both looked fine. She just didn't know how to choose. With a sigh Jen put back the two shirts on the hangers, looking at some more that were on display. There had to be something! She took out a white t-shirt that was semi tight and showed off the arms. On the front across the chest area was a big grey skull. "What about this one? I know it's more your style."

Nikki looked it over and then went to the back label. Immedietly she scoffed, pushing the shirt back to Jen. "A small? You think I can fit in a small!" her voice snapped disbelievingly. "There is no way I'm wearing a small Jen! I don't want to be in a meduim let alone that!" At the look Jen was giving Nikki, she felt bad suddenly... All her best friend was doing was trying to help and all she did was be a cow. A Big. Fat. Cow. Guilt took over and Nikki bit her lip, wishing she could take back her words. Taking the shirt back and putting it on the display bin without much regard, she took the same one in meduim size. "Hey look, I'm sorry--"

"--It's okay, I understand. Hey you just go into the changroom and I'll be right here waiting." Jen said sincerely, a smile gracing her face. There were times Jen was the wicked witch of the west and it just happened. Although it kinda stung seeing her friend jump out like that it was okay. Nikki was her best friend so she could forgive and forget. Nikki shot back a grateful smile and walked into the changeroom. On that note, Jen started to look for some jeans.

Shopping for Nikki was a little tricky, seeing as how their tastes varied a lot. Nikki liked dark, baggy, loose jeans that showed a bit of personality. Jen would prefer it comfortably fit and faded, though she liked it when the ends flared out at her shoes or ankles. Not wanting to make the same mistake with something too tight or small, she looked at the sizes carefully and pulled out what she thought would go with the jeans.

Making her way back to Nikki's changeroom, she lightly rapped on the door with her knuckles. "Hey Nikki? How's it going in there with the shirt?" she asked through the door. Hearing some shuffling and a curse or too, she nearly laughed at Nikki's answer. "Just fine! Be out in a sec" More curse words... Jen could only guess what type of battle Nikki was having with that. Probably because it was her first time trying on a shirt that didn't hang off her. "Okay then, but I want you to try these on too!" Jen answered back and stood on her tip-toes. She handed the jeans through the top gap where Nikki took it from her.

Chuckling at Nikki's foul mood with clothing, Jen sat down in a plush chair and awaited her friends arival.

Nikki came out, peeking behind the door as Jen looked through a magazine with a bored look. Okay, so she had taken a little longer with the clothes than she should have... But oh well. Taking in a breath she cleared her throat and stood casually, trying not to show that she was nervous.

Jen's gaze shot up to her asian friend and the moment she saw her she squealed. "Ooh! Nikki you look so pretty in that I swear!" She jumped up off her seat, discading the magazine as she took her friend's hand. "Okay, we are going to pay for that nd then go spend out unsupervised day!" she exclaimed. Nikki smiled ands allowed herself to be dragged around, allwong the weekend to start over on a better note.