Maureen POV

Damn, I feel so stupid. Joanne should have dealed with this herself. She's going to be a fucking lawyer, and I'm going to get expelled. On my first day at this damned school.

But, I really do love her. I think. Why else would I take the blame for her own stupidity? I don't understand love at all. I barely loved Mark, he was just someone I dated out of sympathy. Joanne, well, she's the first and only person I would truly die for out of the 19 people I've dated in my lifetime. Oh shit, that made me sound like a slut.

"Maureen Johnson? Git ova here NOW," screamed the principal, with a strange accent. Get ready for hell...

"Wazz up?" I pop my gum and sit in a chair, flicking my hair back seductively but then realizing that was totally creepy.

"We called your parents," he said slowly, "They really are mad at you, Johnson. However, since it is your first day here, you will not be expelled. But the next time we catch you doing something as terrible as that, you will be gone from this school. Do you understand?" I stop chewing my gum. Shit. Mom and dad know I got in trouble for smoking. Damn, they are so going to raid my room for all of my cigarettes. And they were so expensive to buy, dammit. I'll have to borrow some from Collins or Angel, I know they have loads they'd give me.

"Miss Johnson, are you listening to me? Go back to class!"

I stalked out of the office and back into my classroom. It was all so quiet. I looked around the room. Joanne looked like she was going to cry. Mimi and Angel did too. Roger and Mark were just sitting there like petrified carrots or something. Jennifer was smirking, and a Latina girl was snickering slightly but glancing at Roger. This one ugly girl named Alison I think was looking at me like I was some kind of sex offender. What the hell.

I slid into my chair, not looking at anybody.

The bell rang. Class was over. Everybody flooded out and I clumped back in with my gang of friends.

"Dude, Mo, you expelled or what?" Roger questioned. I shook my head and put on a fake smile. Damn I need a cig.

"Ang," I chose the nicest person, "You have any cigarettes with you? I'm dying over here." Joanne blushed and turned away.

Angel glided over and handed me something, "Collins told me to give it to you, says its better than tobacco." I looked at it, it was pot.

"Dayyyymn, Thomas, where did you get that?" Mimi asked. Collins shrugged and handed over a lighter.

I smiled and asked, "Y'alls want to skip English? I'm not up for school today." I shrugged.

Joanne looked like she was sick, "I have to go. Y'know, to class. Can't skip, heh." She ran off.

Fuck.

Mark went after her and made an apologetic face. I sighed, and led my group of people outside.

I found the lighter in my pocket, and lit everybody's cigarettes except for Collins.

"Yo, I thought you had better things than cigs, my dear Tom, drugs," Roger tried to joke. I knew he'd be scared of that word. Me and Mark almost put him in rehab for being addicted to smack. I have no idea what kind of shit I'm getting into with pot.

"I do, but I think Mimi and Mo took the last two," Collins said lightly. A blank look crossed Roger's face, and he looked at Mimi. Mimi shrugged and pulled out a tiny plastic bag.

"Roger, babe, pot is nothing compared to this," she waved it in his face, and I realized what that was.

Mimi found heroin.

I don't think Roger could move, so I grabbed Mimi's sleeve and pulled her away.

"Mimi, girl, what the hell? That shit is terrible for you!" I hissed, "Roger was effing on that last year, it almost killed him!"

Mimi shrugged and put the baggy back in her pocket, "It's ok, I'm not addicted."

"But how the fuck did you get it?"

"Slept with him."

"Slept with-wait, what? You slept with the dealer? Why?" Mimi's such a whore.

"'Cause it feels so good, orgasmic," she almost sang.

Fuck, she's addicted.