Rhonda was almost irritated that the bell interrupted her moment of rebellion. Truthfully, she wasn't normally a disruption in class, but rather a relaxed, yet slightly opinionated, student. She wasn't necessarily the best in any of her classes, but she was a bright girl. She always got her work turned in on time unless something completely unavoidable got in the way. Her eyes narrowed…that debutante ball was the only time she neglected her English homework. Otherwise, she was pulling a solid 94% in the class. Why Robbins hated her, well, she didn't know and didn't care. He was a pathetic, boorish man. Plus he wore the tackiest ties. Really, there was no excuse for it.

Yet, despite her dislike for the teacher, Rhonda had a feeling she would come to like her second period class a lot more than she had previously. That boy, D? Rhonda just couldn't get enough of him. He seemed so deliciously mysterious, yet somehow, safe and familiar. She couldn't put her finger on it, but whatever D was, it sure worked for him.

Lost in thoughts of D, Rhonda made her way through the hallway, dodging kids absentmindedly and side-stepping acquaintances who seemed like they wanted to chat with her. Suddenly, Rhonda felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Rhonda!" huffed Nadine, Rhonda's best friend. "Why are you ignoring me?"

"I'm sorry Nadine, I was day dreaming, I didn't hear you."

Nadine shrugged. "Yeah it's fine. Coming up with more ways to kill Harold? "

Rhonda turned away from Nadine and resumed her walk down the hall. Actually, it was more of a strut. Rhonda couldn't help but strut when annoyed. It just happened.

"Harold? Harold who?"

Nadine trotted alongside Rhonda, trying to keep up with Rhonda's long strides. Nadine was taller than Rhonda, but somehow could never keep up. "Oh, come on, Rhonda. You know who I'm talking about."

They rounded a corner and walked across the quad towards another building.

"Well, Nadine, it just so happens that Harold Burman, if that's even who you were referring to, is a complete waste of time. Besides, I met someone last period who I think will make the perfect romantic distraction." Rhonda grinned mischievously.

"What? Who?" Nadine said excitedly, then her demeanor changed darkly "Don't tell me Sid. Please."

Rhonda stopped and glared at Nadine. "Of COURSE not Sid! Good lord, Nadine, don't you know me at all? After all these years of being my best friend, you'd think you would KNOW by now that I have good taste!"

Nadine crossed her arms and smiled crookedly. "Oh, is THAT why you dated Harold?"

Rhonda flinched, but continued on robustly. "Ha-ha, very funny. You really have room to talk about taste, Nadine, when you're wearing the same two toned Mary-Janes you've worn since third grade. Anyways, I was not talking about Sid. I was talking about the new student!"

Nadine ignored the slight on her style, and pressed on eagerly. "A new student? Oh, Rhonda, what's he like? Is he cute? Funny? What does he look like?"

"Oh Nadine, he's gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! He looks like a total bad ass, but in the sexiest way, and his eyes just…"she shuddered happily, "smolder!"

Nadine giggled, the skin on her nose crinkling over the dusting of freckles on her tan skin. "Oh, Rhonda…"

"And what, may I ask, is so funny, Nadine?" Rhonda crossed her arms.

Nadine smiled. "This is just the way you acted when you first started dating Harold. All gushy and interested. It's kind of funny, and nice, to see you get like that over some other guy."

Rhonda straightened up. "Well, Nadine, I adapt to my surroundings." Rhonda turned to a door to her left as the bell rang. "Here's my stop, Nadine. Meet for lunch?"

Nadine shook her head. "I can't, I've got environmental club at lunch on Mondays, remember?"

Rhonda sighed disappointedly. "Alright. I'll eat with the other girls then. Bye Nadine!"

Rhonda entered the classroom and hurried to her back row chair. She pulled out a hand-held mirror and checked herself over. Satisfied, she put the mirror down.

"Hey, Rhonda." Came a voice from the seat next to her. "What's with the beauty check?"

"Can you keep a secret, Gerald?"

Gerald leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head. "Yeah, I guess. New crush or something?"

Rhonda bit her lip and nodded. "Something like that."

Gerald grinned arrogantly. "Well Rhonda I'm flattered but I've got to be honest with you and tell you now; it would never work out between us, baby."

"Oh, Gerald!" Rhonda slapped his arm annoyed. "You know I didn't mean you! You certainly aren't my type."

"Yeah, I'm way outta your league." He smiled back at her, clearly just messing around. "So who's the next unsuspecting victim of Rhonda W. Lloyd?" He looked around the room. Sid had just entered through the door. "Is it Sid?"

Rhonda exhaled angrily. "No! It's not Sid!! Good lord!"

At that moment, Arnold entered the room, his eyes on the floor.

Gerald stood up. "Hey man, how's it going?" Gerald extended his arm above Rhonda and the boys did their timeless handshake.

"Hey, Gerald." Arnold sighed and sat down on the seat to the right of Rhonda. "Hey, Rhonda."

"Hello, Arnold." She turned her attention to her left. "ANYWAYS, Gerald, as I was saying before, I am NOT interested in Sid. I am interested in the newest student to attend Hillwood High."

To her right, Arnold scoffed. "What, you mean 'D'?" Arnold's eyes darkened slightly. "You're not the only one."

Gerald sat forward to look at Arnold and laughed. "What do you mean, YOU?"

Arnold shot him an annoyed look. "No, I mean Helga. I just saw the two of them burst out of a janitor's closet, as he was complaining she was 'too rough'."

A full bellied laugh erupted from Gerald. "What you think they hooked up within minutes of meeting each other? Come on, Arnold. Use your head. Helga didn't kiss that dude Joey once, and they dated three months." Gerald leaned back in his seat, his voice dropping slightly as their U.S. history teacher, Mrs. Brown, walked to the front of the room. "I seriously doubt she'd hook up with the dude, especially that fast." Arnold nodded, somewhat relieved. He turned to face the front of the room with a small, nearly undetectable smile.

Rhonda's eyes narrowed. She thought Helga understood that Rhonda had staked claim on the new kid. Perhaps not, but whatever happened in that closet, Rhonda was certain it wasn't anything romantic.

Mrs. Brown began to lecture the class. Leaning across Rhonda, Gerald whispered to his best friend. "Besides, why would you care if Helga and the new kid were getting frisky in a supply closet?"

"Gerald!" Mrs. Brown's shrill voice cut through the air much louder than previously. "Is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?"

Gerald leaned back. "Er, not really. I was just giving Arnold grief. No problems here." He shrugged.

Mrs. Brown opened her mouth and closed it, as though she was going to punish him but couldn't find it in her heart to do so. Finally she said, "Please wait until I'm through speaking to commence conversations." She really was a nice lady. A total pushover, but friendly.

The lecture was long. Rhonda couldn't help but daydream about when she'd see D next, and theorize why Helga had been in a janitor's closet with him. Gerald couldn't help but wonder why Arnold was acting all bent out of shape over this new guy. Arnold couldn't help but obsess over what may have happened in that closet. Truth be told, he was sure it was nothing sexual, but still, Helga was his friend and he didn't want any new kid to get ideas about her. Arnold merely was feeling protective. Right?

Finally, Mrs. Brown stopped speaking, giving the students time to "work productively on schoolwork", which the student considered code for "Chill and do whatever, I don't really care."

Arnold turned to Gerald, immediately restarting the previous conversation. "I don't care if he's in there with Helga, but all I'm saying is this: If he can get HELGA interested in him this quick, Helga Pataki, one of the pickiest girls in the school when it comes to who she dates, then the rest of the girls don't stand a chance against him." Arnold looked almost scared, almost amused.

Gerald's eyes widened slightly, but he tried to play it off like it didn't mean a thing. "I'm not scared of this kid. I don't have anything to worry about. " Gerald's eyes darted across the room, towards Phoebe, who was chatting excitedly with Sheena.

Arnold looked too. "Dude, I wouldn't be too sure. You know how Phoebe can get. Remember her obsession with that pop singer guy back in the day?"

"His name is Ronnie Matthews." Rhonda added lazily. "I saw your face and wow…" She sang under her breath.

"Yeah, that guy. She was crazy about him. Why? He was attractive."

Gerald shrugged. "Yeah? So? I may not be Denzel Washington, but I'm no Mike Tyson either."

Rhonda leaned in. "Gerald, you don't get it. This guy is everything girls like. He's attractive, and he's all tough looking, and…he's mysterious…His eyes smolder." She shuddered happily.

"Yeah, that. It has nothing to do with you or what you look like."

Gerald raised an eyebrow at his friend. "Look, Arnold. You're taking this too far."

"Am I?" Arnold sighed. "I don't know, Gerald. I just don't know."

Gerald leaned back in his seat. "So, it's the seventh anniversary of Gerald Field next week. Are we having a party like last year?"

Arnold shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so."

Rhonda's eyes lit up. "Yes! Of course we will! And I'll plan it!"

Gerald and Arnold looked over at her, each with one eyebrow raised. Gerald spoke first.

"Uh, and may I ask why, Rhonda? You never seemed to care that much before."

Rhonda decided to cut the crap and go straight to the point. "It will be an excuse to have some social time with D."

Arnold sighed. "Look, Rhonda, if you want to get to know the guy, why not just ask him to hang out? He's in a new place, he's probably lonely."

Rhonda chuckled airily. "Oh, Arnold, you're so naïve about these things." The bell rang. "See you later, boys. I've got to go accidently bump into someone in the hallway so that this someone will ask to eat lunch with me. Au revior!" She wiggled her fingers and was off.

Gerald shook his head. "That's one sick girl."