When lunch came around and I got my lunch, I immediately felt like I was looking at a zoo. If I wasn't told where to go, I would be lost. There were the rich girls, the popular girls, the jocks, Asians, nerds, geeks, ghetto, and the kids who spent too much time talking with staff. I found Dave and his friends sitting in the back corner, and I was about to head off towards them when a girl stopped me.

"Hi, are you new here?" she asked nicely. Her clothes were clean cut, a skirt and a well fitted sweater, and not a hair was out of place. I saw her Tiffany necklace and knew she was the type to have money. "I'm Claire McDonald."

"Oh, nice to meet you," I said, more interested in making my way towards Dave. "Yeah, I'm new."

"Well, let me be the first to formally welcome you to Westwood High. Home of the bulldogs. Do you know anyone here yet?" she asked curiously.

"One person," I answered. "Dave."

She stood there quietly, as if I hadn't said anything.

"Dave Lizewsky," I said. "He's over there with the curly brown hair and glasses."

She stood on her toes and looked at where I was pointing. When she saw him, disgust hit her face. "You mean, of the geek trio?"

I shrugged. "I guess so."

"Trust me…"

"Beth."

"Trust me, Beth. I can show you around the school and get you into where real socialization occurs," she said. "Why don't you follow me?"

I shook my head and apologized. "Sorry, I promised my friend I would sit with him."

She looked at me with disbelief and let a chuckle. "You've got to be kidding me."

I simply walked away and forgot about her. Who cared about some air brained daddy's girl when you have a job to do, and that job is to find Kick-Ass. I dropped my tray playfully and sat down. "Hi, Dave," I said, looking to my immediate right.

He smiled back and appeared to be the only one comfortable with me. All the other guys sat there with their eyes wide open again. "Ignore them," Dave said. "They did the same thing when Katie first started hanging around."

Hand in palm, I looked at him. "Katie?"

"M- my girlfriend," he said.

"She thought he was gay," Todd said. Dave shot him and evil glare. "Well she did."

"Aww, how sweet," I said, taking a bite of the greasy school pizza. "How long have you been seeing each other?"

"Few months," he said. "Anyway, that's not important. How did you find yourself at Westwood?"

I shrugged. "I dunno. Dad moved, mom got a new job."

Cody interrupted us. "Here's the real question: How do you two know each other?" he asked pointing his finger back and forth the two of us.

"We knew each other in middle school back in Brooklyn," I answered. "He moved, however, right after the eight grade. This little S-O-B," I said, giving Dave a light slap on the head, "Left me all alone."

"Oh come on. We're all here now," he insisted. "Why don't you meet up with us over at this comic book shop we hang out at. The 'Atomic Comic.' You can meet Katie there."

"Sounds great. I'll just have to ask my-" I paused at my mistake.

"Your what?" Todd asked. "What's wrong?"

"My boss," I asked. "Uh, he knows my dad, so I tend to be able to get flexible schedules. I'll just call him and tell him I'll try to go to work tomorrow instead." Shit, I'd have to watch myself a little better later.

The rest of the day went smoothly. If they didn't wear glasses, have asthma, or carry a book bag covered in X-Men pins, then I didn't talk to them. That left a good five to ten percent of the people I came across.

I left school and looked for the minivan that would pick me up and take me to the

comic book store. I had called Chris ahead of time, and he was feeling pretty ecstatic that I had already been making friends with the right group of people. He chattered on about how Kick-ass would rue the day, or some shit like that. After five minutes of him ranting on the phone, I hung up.

When I was dropped off at the comic store, I noticed that there were even more people staring at me from the inside of it than my entire high school combined. I found Dave and four or five other friends standing by a statue of Kick-Ass while they read some various comics. As I opened the door, a small bell chimed, and Dave and his friends saw me.

"Hey, Beth," he said, motioning for me to come over. I straightened my sweater and walked over. "This is Katie." Katie was a pretty girl, and I could see why Dave would like her. No offense, but a girl like Katie rarely ever dated guys like Dave. "Katie, Beth."

"Nice to meet you," I said, giving her a wave. "I'm just an old friend. Moved here just a few weeks ago."

"I know," she said. "Dave here's been ranting since sixth period. 'My old best friend is back', 'I can't believe she's here', 'Wow, she's changed'. He won't shut up!" she said with a smile.

"I'm sorry," Dave apologized. "I just can't believe she's back."

I rolled my eyes and suggested that we sit down at one of the tables. When we did, I carried on the conversation. "You two are very lucky," I told them. "Not all relationships are this simple."

"Trust me," Dave said. "Our relationship was never simple."

"Beth," Katie said, "Are you having guy troubles or something?"

Dave cocked his eyebrow. "Katie, when a girl talks about relationships, do you always think she's talking about her own?"

"Yes."

"No."

Our answers contradicted, leaving several confused geeks. "Okay," I said, "Often she is. Just not this time. I don't want any sort of relationship right now. My life is crazy at the moment, and I don't it to be more so."

We spent the next few hours talking about everything from the strange lunch ladies who stare at us, Jessica Alba's crappy acting, and eventually Homecoming. I had never been to Homecoming when I was in high school. I dropped out half way through my junior year, so I had three opportunities; I guess the want never came around.

Within the next two hours, Chris texted me and said that I had to come back 'home'. I apologized to my new friends and headed out the door. However, before I was able to make the small bell chime, Todd stopped me. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked nervous. "Beth…"

I waited for him to say something else. "Yes?"

"Beth, I just wanted to ask you- to- to ask you- if you- you'd like- if you'd like to go to the Homecoming dance next week. With me. Together-" I was about to give him an answer, but he wouldn't shut up. "I know you said you don't want a relationship right now, and I'm not asking for one. All I want is for us to go to the dance together. Marty and Dave are already going with their girlfriends, and I'm single- not that I mean I want you to be my girlfriend- I mean, there's nothing wrong with you. I just-"

I clasped my hand over his mouth. "I'll go to Homecoming with you, Todd. Okay?"

I had a date for Homecoming; I was never able to say that before. Even though Todd was no Johnny Depp, I seemed excited at the idea. It was definitely not Todd; I was obviously getting excited about the party. I hadn't been to a dance for years.

When I reached the building and the elevator, I saw Chris standing right there. "How'd your day go?"

I shrugged, slinging my book bag over my shoulder. "I'm in with the geeks," I said almost proudly. "Turns out I went to middle school with one of them."

"Really?" he asked, amused. The elevator doors opened and he motioned for me to go first. "That makes things easier now. Anything else?"

"I'm going to Homecoming with some Todd kid," I answered. "Tall, slightly muscular, just like Kick-Ass. He's a possibility. Nervous as fuck, though."

"He's a geek, of course he is. And good job on Homecoming. It'll give us a chance to show off her."

"Who's 'her'?"

He slyly smiled as we stopped at one of the highest floor. We stepped out into a clean white room. The walls were finely polished, not a spec on them. In the center of the room was a mannequin wearing one of the most ridiculous costumes I've ever seen. Chris looked at it and at me proudly. "Your welcome."

"For me? It's like a glammed-up version of a Power Ranger's suit, Chris."

"C'mon, Beth," he said "Try it on, It was specially made for you."

"It better have," I muttered. "With all those stupid measurements…"

"Just put it on," he said, shaking the mannequin.

I looked around. "Here? In a room full of mirrors."

"Put it on."

"Close your eyes."

He sighed and covered his eyes with both hands. "Happy?"

I put my fingers over the material. It was plastic-like, but the inner part was warm. I don't know what kind of material it was made out of, but I had never seen it before.

After a few of annoying pulls and stretches, I was able to get the suit out off of the mannequin. I held the suit against my body and looked at myself in the mirror. It was a metallic white-silver color with a deep grey lines that drew down the things and arms. The neck, right above the breasts, was lined in a clear material. I knew that it was Chris' personal touch and gave him an evil look that he couldn't see.

I changed out of my jeans and sweater and slipped on my new suit. It fit strangely perfectly along with my body. I struggled with the back zipper. "Chris, can you help me?"

He opened his eyes and looked at me spinning around in my suit like a dog chasing his tail. He laughed, stopped me, and then zipped up my suit. "There," he said, "You look great."

I stared at myself and put both hands on my hips. "I look like a cross between the Emma Frost, a spacewoman, and… Christina Aguilera in her last music video."

Before I realized it, Chris held up a long, straight platinum blonde wig.

"Or Hannah Montana." Chris instructed me to tie my hair into a quick bun. After that, he put the wig on me, and I straightened it. "No, Lady Gaga." He then gave me a pair of black sunglasses laced in diamonds. "Definitely Lady Gaga," I said, putting the sunglasses on.

"You look good, and no one will ever know who you are," he assured, running his finger through my hair to straighten it out. "Perfect," he said as I put on the sunglasses.

He was right, about the identity thing anyway. It was ridiculous looking though. I looked like a superhero out of a bad comic book.

"C'mon. I'll show you how to use it now."