Oh My GOD! I can't believe I uploaded this in January. Good lord it's been a long time and I sincerely apologize. I was all ready to update this story, I was working so hard on this chapter, and then I hit a snag. That wouldn't have been that much of a problem but other things started to get in the way as well. Again I'm so sorry, but I'm back now (yay!) and you can probably expect some quicker updates at least for the next few months or so.

So without further ado, on with Chapter 2!

Chapter 2: Set the Wheels in Motion...

Hoagie Gilligan was convinced that six in the morning was an ungodly hour, one that no teen should have to see on a daily basis.

But despite his beliefs, he grew up in a world where school was a necessity for what society deemed a tolerable life. This made having to get up at six in order to get ready for said school, a usual occurrence.

He hated it.

Disregarding his hatred the six foot tall teen slowly, and with all the early morning energy he could muster, pushed the warmth of his bed away from him and immediately regretted it. He laid there for a moment letting the cold air settle on his skin before he slid his legs over the side of the bed and let them touch the soft carpet of his bedroom floor. Above him he could hear his younger brother snoring away on the top bunk.

He thought the younger boy to be lucky as he stood up and stretched. Tommy didn't have to be up for another hour. 'Oh to be young again,' Hoagie thought as he began searching through the pile of clothes on his floor until he found a shirt, pants and underwear that didn't smell. With his outfit for the day acquired, he trudged out of his room and down the hall to the bathroom he shared with both his brother and grandmother whenever she was there. It seemed impossible to keep that woman in a nursing home. They all kicked her out eventually.

Hoagie entered the bathroom while saying a silent thank you that his grandmother wasn't in there and started the shower. He prepared his toothbrush as he let the water warm up. While he brushed his teeth, he examined his face in the mirror.

Sky blue eyes gazed back at him. They looked tired and a little…edgy. His shaggy brown hair was swept in all directions and barely covered his "largish" ears which sat at the top of the strong jaw line he'd recently acquired in his last growth spurt. His mother had been mentioning more and more lately how much Hoagie was starting to look like his father. Not that he cared though. He'd barely known the man.

'He must have been a handsome beast though if I look like him.' Hoagie thought, then chuckled as he spit into the sink. The water in the shower was warm enough now if the steam on the mirror was any indication. Hoagie slowly peeled of his boxers and pulled his wife beater over his head before stepping under the warm water. He let it run over his body and through his hair for a minute before picking up the shampoo in the corner. As he started the every day routine of "lather, rinse, repeat", he let his mind wander…

His morning showers were the highlight of his day.

"It is way too early for this crap." Hoagie muttered as he trudged up the front steps to the school. The effects of his morning pick-me-up shower having dissipated, he slowly navigated his way to his locker, opened it and began grabbing books.

'History…boring. Statistics…please. Biology…' Hoagie smiled to himself as he finished grabbing his stuff and shut his locker. When he turned around he was greeted by a mop of messy blonde hair and green eyes. Hoagie rolled his eyes.

"What do you want Beatles?" He asked as he walked past the boy and towards his homeroom.

"Ay, who says I need something? Maybe I just want to catch up with an old buddy." Wally planted a huge dorky smile on his face as he followed after Hoagie.

"We have never been "buddies" Wally. I'd say…acquaintances at best."

"Okay well still, I can't say hi to an acquaintance? …Oof!" Wally let out a sound of protest after running into Hoagie. For some reason the boy had stopped short and Wally being the curious one he was peeked around Hoagie's shoulder for a better look.

A little ways ahead of them in the hallway was Abby, and she was talking to that British exchange student whose name Wally could never remember. He moved to stand beside Hoagie and when the taller boy didn't say anything, he spoke up.

"She's been spendin' a lot of time with him lately. I can't seem to remember his name though…"

"Nigel Uno.", was all Hoagie said before he started walking again. He sounded…upset? No, agitated was the better word.

"That's right. Well that Uno kid must be pretty funny because she's laughing really hard."

Hoagie looked up at the two ahead of them again and Wally was right, Abby was laughing seriously hard and her hand was on Nigel's shoulder…Hoagie's fist clenched without him realizing and he stopped walking once again. Wally was paying attention this time though, and quickly moved in front of him.

"Did you want something Beatles?" Hoagie ground out. He sounded impatient and his eyes never left Abby. Wally noticed and began nervously.

"Well…I actually need your help. You have kind of a reputation around here as a …well…umm…that's not important…but-"

"God! Just spit it out!" Abby and Nigel had walked around the corner so Wally had Hoagie's full attention again and the sputtering was getting on his nerves.

"Oh, well…I need you to break up a couple for me." Wally stated. Hoagie just looked at him for a moment trying to figure out what the boy meant.

"What?"

Wally went wide eyed and began twiddling his thumbs. You'd think he was trying to ask Hoagie out the way he was acting.

"I need you to 'steal' someone from her boyfriend…ya know…charm her and whatnot…" Wally said quickly.

"Who are we talking about here? Abby?" Hoagie asked. Wally couldn't quite place it but the boy looked…hopeful.

"Eh…no." answered the Australian. "It's someone else…"

"Ugh! If I have to find the derivative of one more equation I think I might lose it." Abby groaned. She couldn't stand calculus and it only made things worse that Nigel was so great at it. It seemed to come naturally to him. As Abby finished packing up her stuff, Nigel came up and patted her shoulder.

"Oh cheer up! At least we have lunch next. A little something to eat always makes you feel better. I even think they have ice cream today…" Nigel trailed off, not quite able to remember if he was supposed to know about Abby's fondness for ice cream, or anything sweet for that matter. It wasn't a problem though since Abby was gone. He figured she'd gone on ahead of him so he started toward the cafeteria. There he found Abby talking to someone…

'Kuki? Why is she talking to Kuki?' Nigel thought to himself as he walked up to the two girls.

"Hey Abby. Long time no talk huh?" Kuki started rather quietly.

"Umm…yeah." Abby replied. Nervously, she began messing with the hairs on the nape of her neck. "So…how are…things?"

Kuki suddenly found the floor very interesting and she looked slightly ashamed as she answered.

"Things are great. Just fantastic." She said as she forced a smile to try to make it believable. Abby didn't really buy it, but she had no intention of dragging out this conversation and she noticed Nigel standing off to her right.

"Oh well that's awesome Kuki. I've got to go now though. It was nice…catching up I guess…"

"Oh yeah, it was nice. Bye Abby."

Abby didn't reply as she grabbed Nigel's wrist and dragged him inside the cafeteria.

'Well that was certainly uncomfortable.' Nigel thought, but he couldn't help but feel bad for Kuki. She had been his friend once too after all, even if she didn't remember that.

It seems I just can't stop saying sorry today. It's like I'm channeling the 10th Doctor...

And I realize that the ending was a little...meh. Honestly I may come back and edit but I was just so anxious to get you guys the next chapter that I didn't really rush this but I probably could've thought up a better ending.

But anywa, this chapter in its entirety is a bit more...er...filler than anything else I guess. It wasn't intended to be that way but unfortunately it seems I have a lot of background to cover before I get to anything really juicy. I'm hoping to get to some action as fast as possible though. Trust me, I'm just as anxious as you are.

So yeah, please review and all that jazz. I would very much appreciate it.

Again, sorry for the wait! X3