A/N: Chapter 12 and 13 are going to be uploaded one after the other because they both tie into each other and both somewhat shorter chapters.

"Now, remember tomorrow is not a field trip, nor is it an excuse to goof off. I had better receive perfect reports from the faculty at the high school about each of you." I was only half paying attention, typical of my attention span in Mr. Jones's presence. But unlike most of his class or even his announcements in homeroom, spacing out wouldn't have been noticed.

The entire eighth grade was gathered in the one of the small classrooms, all 38 of us, crammed in listening to Mr. Jones the self-appointed faculty advisor of the eighth grade blab on about an exciting event that would be occurring the following day.

Most times, I question the intelligence and even sanity of the school board, but one matter makes perfect sense to me.

Every March, eighth graders invade the high school. We're paired up with a junior and shadow them around for the entire day, not only getting out of our own classes for the day, but getting to know the ins and outs of the high school.

Not only does it give us a heads up on what to really expect next year, but it also gives us a connection with a soon to be senior.

Next year, that senior is expected to watch out for the freshman, sort of a buddy system so we wont be overwhelmed on the first day. To be honest I thought it was a ridicules idea when I first heard about it, but the more I thought about it, the more it made perfect sense. I'm surprised other schools haven't caught onto the idea.

Last year, Jasper's name was picked to have a eighth grader shadow him, but Carlisle made up the excuse that Jasper wouldn't be in school that day, all of us knowing full well that Jasper would not be ok with it, last year he was really struggling.

Rosalie stepped up and took his place allowing some freaked out eighth grader to follow her around.

Now it was my turn to shadow someone and I was hoping it was Edward or Alice, I know it's a long shot, but hey I can hope.

Actually, it's not a random selection, from what I can tell, the teachers pull names consisting of as many juniors as there happens to be eighth graders, since my class has only thirty-eight, only thirty-eight names were selected…two in thirty-eight, my odds were getting better.

From there, the teachers here, and the teachers at the high school collaborate and pair up kids they think suit each other best.

For example, the kid that would've had Jasper was quiet, laid back, and loves to read and learn, a pretty good match to shadow Jasper overall.

So my chances of getting either Alice or Edward were getting better and better, what better way to do this than pair a Cullen with a Cullen.

Some poor junior doesn't have to spend the day freaking out when they obviously do not want anything to do with me, and I don't have to be annoyed at said junior for treating me like the plague.

Not to mention, being with Alice or Edward definitely means less chances of seeing and thereby profiling Edward's own living nightmare… Bella Swan, but that would be my luck, her name gets picked to be my senior friend…that would be bloody swell. I groaned at the thought of that before another thought crept into my mind, maybe Carlisle had talked to the school, insisted that I be paired with my brother or sister, I mean he hadn't said anything to me, but I can hope.

"Ok, tomorrow the busses will take you to the high school, we will meet in the cafeteria and from there you will meet your mentor. For those of you who walk, busses will be picking you up, for those of you who get rides in, make sure your rides know to take you to the high school. This observation day is not optional ladies and gentlemen, anyone who is not present for roll call tomorrow will receive detention with me and I can assure you, it will not be pleasant. Dismissed."

We stood up and headed towards the exit, where the busses/rides were waiting. Marie jogged to catch up with me and slowed down at my side. She looked absolutely terrified, I tried to give her a reassuring smile, but she looked ready to cry.

"I don't want to do this Chris, I really don't." she admitted, her voice choking.

"It'll be ok Marie, it's not like we're being dumped in the middle of Olympia Park to learn survival by ourselves. It's high school and all of us are going no one is going solo, I guarantee even though there's not a lot of us, you will not be without friends in all the classes. And if I'm wrong, even once tomorrow, lunch for the rest of the year is on me."

Marie didn't look convinced, nor did she smile at my offer, in fact I'm pretty sure wilderness survival sounded pretty good to her if it got her out of going to the high school tomorrow.

"Of course you're not scared, you have your brothers and sisters. What if I'm paired with someone…" she looked over at Janet who gave her a grin that was meant to be friendly and to anyone else would be, but I could see right past it and saw the resentment and disgust in her smile, probably because Marie was talking to me, heaven forbid.

I instantly saw where Marie was going; she wasn't as close to Janet as she pretended, she saw right into her snotty and even cruel persona, but because Marie tries to see the good in everyone, she could over look it, even if she didn't agree with it.

Aw man, I hope Marie isn't paired with someone like that, I hope the teachers have more sense than that.

"Tell you what. If that happens or you feel uncomfortable, at lunch you can come sit with me, no matter what ok?"

She raised her eyebrow

"Really?"

I nodded

"Yeah, I'm sitting with my family no matter who I get paired with, if you want you're more than welcome to join us."

She nodded

"Thanks Chris."

I sighed as she ran to her mother's car and I headed towards the Volvo, tomorrow was going to be a long annoying day.