A month later, Roddy pulled on his new pants. They were a comfortable demin and Union Jack's on the pockets. Rita put them there. She called it, "her touch of style". Roddy liked it...he kinda had a piece of Rita wherever he went now. Even if they were on his pants. He walked into the hall, shirtless, across to Rita's room to see if she was up yet. Roddy knocked on the door.

"What?" Rita snapped, sounding frantic.

"It's Roddy! Can I come in?" he called through the door.

"Sure," Rita answered.

She unlocked the door and he walked inside. As he walked in he pulled his new loose soft-light brown polo over his head. He ruffled his hair to make it look cooler and posed grinning in her mirror. Rita laughed and pulled him over to the closet.

"Help me pick what to wear!" Rita insisted, "I need a guy's opinion."

"I think you look good in anything.." Roddy commented, smiling.

"Seriously, Roddy.." Rita said sternly, putting her hands on her hips and shifting her weight from one leg to the other, "I need to look perfect.."

"But you already do!" Roddy chuckled.

He was being serious, but Rita didn't believe it. She pulled out a tight, soft light green t-shirt and a short dark blue jean mini skirt. Roddy titled his head for inspection. He shook his head.

"You'd look good in it..but it's not really YOU," Roddy critiqued.

She threw the outfit to the floor beside her and searched for another one. She finally just pulled on a tight white and navy blue polo that showed a small bit of her stomach, with a Union Jack on the breast pocket, with a pair of light blue tight jeans that flared at the bottom. She tied her beer bottle cap combat boots and looked herself over in the mirror. Roddy smiled as she tied on a thick white belt around her pants. Rita smiled at her reflection. Roddy came up behind her and pulled off the rubber band that was holding her firey red hair back. She looked at him with a look saying "what are you doing?" through the mirror. Roddy held up a finger for her to wait a minute. He grabbed her brush and gently ran it through her hair. Rita blushed. Roddy was still grinning. When he was done, her hair was smooth and shining. He placed some in front of her shoulders and stepped back to admire his work. Rita nodded.

"How did you do that?" Rita asked, shocked at his salon-like skills.

"Well I used to watch Tabitha do her hair every morning, so I caught on," Roddy explained.

Rita looked back in the mirror, still not believing the girl she was seeing was her.

"Aren't you going to put on any make-up?" Roddy asked.

Rita shot Roddy a look. Roddy put his hands up in fake surrender.

"Not that you need any..." Roddy said quickly and nervously, "I just think a little mascara would bring out your eyes..that's all.."

Rita let out a "hmph" and looked back in the mirror. She put on a little mascara and turned back to Roddy.

"Satisfied?" Rita smirked.

Roddy grinned dreamily at her. She looked stunning. He couldn't talk. Her eyes wouldn't let him. The way they stood out left him speechless. Rita giggled and pushed him out of her room. He went back into his room and grabbed his brand new white sneakers. Roddy walked downstairs to find Mr. and Mrs. Malone trying to calm everyone down. They weren't very successful. Roddy helped out until the bus came to take the first 20 or so kids. Then the rest other than Roddy and Rita left. The pair had another 30 minutes till school started for them. They were going to walk. They grabbed their backpacks and books.

"Have fun at school," Mrs. Malone called after them.

"We will," Roddy called back over his shoulder, waving back.

Rita was quiet. Roddy sensed she was tense. He put his arm around her shoulder.

"Would you like a song to calm your nerves? 'Cause I have no problem singing for you.." Roddy grinned.

Rita shook her head.

"Hmmm.." Roddy thought of what he could do to cheer her up.

Rita sighed.

"Do you know why I'm so tense Roddy?" Rita asked.

Roddy shook his head.

"I'm going back to the same school as I did last time. That's where Hal is. And that blonde girl. Her name's Fiona. I'm gonna have to face them again.." Rita groaned.

"Well I'll be right beside you," Roddy smiled, "And I don't kno about any of your other friends..but I'll never leave you."

He said the last part softly, showing he meant it. Rita smiled up at him.

"Thanks, Roddy," Rita sighed, relieved, "But what if.."

"Think on the positive side!" Roddy cut her off, "You'll get back to a calmer life, a more relaxing life!"

"But I met you in the more exciting life!" Rita protested, "You think I'm gonna leave that life if I got something so great out of my new life?"

"But you won't completely leave you're adventures," Roddy insisted, "I'll tell you what. This weekend, me and you will take a nice, long, exciting ride on the Jammy Dodger II...ok? But you have to help me through today because I know, absolutely NOBODY."

Rita giggled as they walked through the school doors. They walked into the cafeteria for orientation. The team searched around for a space in the bleachers, but failed. So they decided to stand. Two minutes into the orientation, Rita felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Hello Rita Malone," said a deep, slick, dreamy voice.

Rita turned around and stifled a gasp.