Mrs. Rose stood up in the center of the classroom, clapping her hands together. "All right, children," she addressed the group, "Today, we're going to work with finger paints!"

The combined classes cheered loudly. Mr. Bernard stood nearby, having been setting up newspaper all over the room. All of the children stood around the tables, paints lying before them.

Jack stuck his finger inside the red paint, cocking his little head to the side. "Is this blood, Mrs. Bernard? Daddy keeps it in a baggie at the hostiball," he asked, the paint dripping off his finger.

Ben furrowed his eyebrows, glaring at the other boy. "It's not blood. And blood is NOT in baggies, DUH," he growled. Jack shrugged, as he wiped his finger on his Crayola smock.

"No worries, Jack, that is not blood. There's a lot of really pretty colors, and I want to see you all make lovely pictures to take home to your parents. Paint what your house looks like!" Rose explained, as the groups began dipping their fingers into the paint.

Sawyer studied the paint, sticking his hand all the way into the paint. He held it there for a moment, then dropping a fistful on the paper. "It's attacking goo!" he crowed, rubbing his fingers viciously into the paper. Kate blinked from a nearby table at his cry, wondering why he thought that he needed a handful.

She meanwhile had been making the rough outline of a square with a triangle on top. She brushed her tiny fingers against the paper. She made flowers around the door, she decided, that would look just right.

"That's really pretty, Kate," Mrs. Rose commented, kneeling beside her. "Who are all of the little people?"

"See, that's my Mommy and Daddy. Then these are all of my friends. See, there's Jack, Sawyer, Claire…" she answered, listing off all of her classmates.

"Good job." She wandered across the room to admire other children's works. Juliet looked up from across the table, glaring.

"Teacher's pet," she mumbled, as Kate frowned.

"That was mean," she stated, not wanting to fight with the other girl.

The two shot angry glares, as Claire poked Kate's arm. "Uh oh, I think Aaron's getting dirty," she whimpered, motioning to the green paint on the doll's arm.

"Aw, just get a new one," Juliet scoffed, grabbing the doll out of Claire's hands. "This one needs a better home."

"Give him back!" she cried, tears flowing down the smaller girl's cheeks.

"No!"

"Stop it!" Kate yelled, tackling Juliet to the ground. The girls squealed, wrestling on the ground. Juliet dumped a can of green paint on Kate's head.

"Haha!" Juliet crowed. Kate grabbed two cans of blue and yellow, pouring the paints on her.

"BLUE AND YELLOW MAKES GREEN!" the brunette snapped back furiously. Charlie snatched Aaron out of the way, wiping the doll off on his Wiggles Rock! shirt and handing it to Claire.

Jack and Sawyer stood right in front of the fight. The two little boys were fascinated, watching the girls tug at each other.

"Should we stop them?" Jack asked uneasily after Juliet started whacking Kate with a paint brush.

"Nah. It's more fun watching, doc," Sawyer replied. He pushed his hair out of his eyes, shocked.

"You're right, Sawyer. This WOULD be better with pie!" the other boy squeaked, Sawyer nodding excitedly.

"You go get 'er, Freckles!"

Ben watched the two feud, laughing. "Fight her to the finish, minion!" he cackled to Juliet.

"AYE, Boss!" Juliet mumbled, wiping paint out of her eyes.

Mrs. Rose and Mr. Bernard rushed over, each grabbing a girl. Kate kept slugging her arms at Juliet, growling.

"Cut it out, you two!" Mr. Bernard ordered, as Kate stopped her wrestling to get free.

"Kate, go sit outside of the classroom. Juliet, Mr. Bernard will escort you to your classroom," Mrs. Rose stated sternly.

"Yes Mrs. Rose," the two girls chorused, going to where they were ordered. Kate stomped out the classroom, sitting on the pavement.

The girl hugged her knees, as she watched the children flood out of the classroom and onto the playground. A familiar boy walked towards her, sitting at her side.

"Hi," Jack greeted, smiling warmly. She looked up, forcing a smile.

"Hi," she replied numbly. He gazed across the playground, gripping his medical bag.

"Did she give you any boo boos?" he asked, seeing the red paint on her arms.

"No. But thank you for checking," Kate replied cheerfully despite her situation. She sighed, as she gazed at the pavement.

"Okay. Well, I haveta go check through my baggie, but if there's anything I can do, tells me," he shrugged, getting up and walking towards the playground. From a distance, you could easily spot Sawyer leaning against a plant near the sandbox, thick brown glasses shielding his eyes as he read a 'Peter Cottontail' book upside down.

Though Kate was in trouble, she watched Jack go. At least she could count on one true friend.

Hello again. Kate and Juliet War…wow…I couldn't resist, okay! But who will clash next? Desmond vs. Charlie? Jack vs. Ben? Tell me!

Thanks for the lovely reviews (you all are the best!)!

Do me a favor: keep reviewing.

Gracias (thank you)!

-Fall Out Guirl

P.S. I changed the screename, but still the same author!