----- Next chapter! Thanks for the review, Twilite Addict! Hope you like this chapter, too! -----------

I already knew who was in my homeroom, because we had found out a couple days before. I already had my schedule, too. But there's a big difference between comparing classes with your friends and seeing them in the same class.

"Niomi! Heyyy!" Lillian Jackson, a girl I've known since kindergarten, calls out my name and waves me over. I walk towards her and sit down in the desk beside her. Our homeroom teacher stands at the front of the room. He looks strict and stern – I wonder if we'll get away with anything in his class. Probably not.

"Look what I'm reading," she grins and holds up a paperback copy of Twilight. "Great. But I didn't think you liked to read…" I say unsurely. "Exactly – I don't! But so many people are reading this, I thought I'd give it a try." She explains. I nod, "Good for you, I really love it!" I laugh, "And if you don't finish it, the movie is coming out soon!" I add. "How soon?" she inquires. I shrug, "Winter time or so."

By now everyone has sat down at a desk. "My name is Mr. Kane. Today is a day zero, in order for you to get a handle on things. Alright?" he bellows. We all nod mutely. "Good. Today you can sit where you are. Tomorrow, I'll have a seating arrangement for you." He grins in what I take to be an evil way.

"How old are we?" I hiss to Lillian. "I know." She rolls her eyes. A seating arrangement?We haven't had those since seventh grade. Sure, only a year or two ago. But still – it feels almost like Mr. Kane has taken us back to pre-school.

"Now, we're going to go around the class and introduce ourselves. First and last name. Go!" Mr. Kane orders and points at Melissa Trellis to begin. Melissa bats her eyes and flips her hair in a purely Melissa way. She's one of those beauty-queen girls. You know the type – the ones that believe the sun shines just for them. "My name is Melissa Trellis." She says, her voice confident and loud. Mr. Kane glowers, "We don't need you to yell. Everyone can hear just fine." He tells her. Melissa blushes. Catty and selfish as she is, I almost feel bad for her having to endure Mr. Kane's fury on only the first day of school.

Actually, I'm extremely tempted to tell Mr. Kane that I practically know every kid in this class and have known them for at least two years now. There's only a few kids I don't know – either because they've just moved to the area or went to a different middle school for some reason – and other than that, each kid in this class has spoken to one another once before, if not more.

By now, Mr. Kane's name parade has gotten to the fifth kid in the third row. I smirk when I notice that it's Kennedy's crush-boy. He mumbles something that none of us hear. This angers Mr. Kane incredibly, "Speak up! We need to know who you are!" he yells.

Now I'm taking everything in about this guy. That way, I can give Kennedy all the facts. She'll probably be jealous he's in my class. Maybe her and I could switch – she has Jayden in her class, anyway. Or maybe she could switch with Melissa – I wouldn't miss her all that much.

Damn it! I yell at myself inside my head as the first kid in the fourth row starts to talk, You missed it! You missed his name! You idiot!

"Lillian," I whisper, "What did that guy say his name was?" "Dunno. 'M not paying attention. What's the point?" she shrugs, feeling the same way I do. I sigh. Whatever, I'll just have to figure it out for Kennedy some other day. News that he's in my class will surely be enough.

"My name is JJ." The girl on my right says and looks at me to continue. "WAIT A MINUTE!" Shouts Mr. Kane, "Your real name. Not some silly kid name!" he glares. JJ hates her name, everyone knows that. If you were named Jon Janith you probably would too. Especially since she's female. She mutters her name with a sorrowful expression and then it's my turn.

"I'm Niomi Lem." I tell the class. Crush-boy looks over at me with angry-looking eyes. I'm taken back and look over at Lillian hastily, who concludes our class. I shiver, and when I look up, crush-boy has turned back around. What a creep – I should tell Kennedy to stay away from him.

***

Jayden, Kennedy, Lillian, JJ, and a few other girls all crowd in at one table during lunch. I sit next to Kennedy as she goes on and on about how her homeroom teacher, Ms. Hayes, is the best. "She even let us listen to music during third period. Which is great. Even if it was only the Jonas Brothers – who are terrible, I know. But still, Mr. Hayes is pretty cool." She bubbles.

"I have some news for you." I tell Kennedy, "Your first crush is in my class."

"What!?" she squawks, "No way! What's his name?" "I didn't hear." I admit, shrugging sheepishly, "Sorry." "Will you go ask him?" she begs. "What? No way!" I protest. Lillian overhears, "Who is it you like, Ken? I'll go ask him for you." She offers. "Really? He's over there." She points. Lillian gets up from the table and skips over to him, as if it's no big deal.

When she returns she says to Kennedy, "He told me his name is Edwin Kullun." Lillian tells Kennedy. The table falls silent and we stare at her in disbelief. "He must be messing with you." I say eventually, "That's just to much like Edward Cullen. It can't seriously be his name."

We all look over at him at the same time. And there he is, this 'Edwin Kullun' staring right back at us.