"She is most definitely not okay," I informed Kim as we walked towards History class. I felt slightly guilty when I had only just recentlydiscovered that Kim happened to be in the same History class as mine. It made me feel like a bad friend.

In your defence, she does sit in the back corner and is quieter than a mime.

"Really? She seems fine to me." Kim sounded doubtful about my statement.

"Nope." I said, popping the p. "She is so not okay."

"I don't think so, Aria. Lexi doesn't seem so different. In fact, she seems happier about the whole thing. And she's absolutely committing herself to the 'plan'." Kim finger-quoted the last word, rolling her eyes. The plan to her was ridiculous and immature, so she had made a point at every chance she got how it was both childish and pointless.

You should expect as much. Kim doesn't have a mean bone in her body, which, could be fatal in itself. What if she's suddenly caught in a last-minute gangster word-off fight? What would she say? "Uh... um... you have bad taste in socks!"? As if that would win a last-minute gangster word-off fight. Sometimes it pays to be mean.

I resisted the urge to roll my own eyes. Clearly Kim wasn't in the loop about how friends work when they're upset. "That's the point. Lexi is acting like everything's fine. And she's throwing herself into the plan," I mocked, "to distract herself. Trust me, she's not okay."

Although I thought I had explained everything clearly and in an understandable manner, Kim still looked like she didn't believe me.

Looks like Kim doesn't believe many people. She's probably one of those people who doesn't believe in Santa Claus! Pft, well it's her loss. She'll be sorry when she gets coal for Christmas.

Well, at least I knew that Lexi hadn't taken Embry's rejection well.

After all, she had spent a week looking for him and almost losing her mind in the process, only to be refused by him after she declared her love for him when she finally found him?

Lexi was destroyed. She had gone home that day with a look so heartbroken that I felt the need to hunt Embry down and slap him across the face – preferably with a rotten fish, like off those movies. Lexi was always reluctantly to let her real emotions show, and I knew now she'd may never show them again after what had happened to her when she finally had.

Although it was obvious that she was cut up about the whole situation, the next day she arrived at my house to drive me to school with her head high.

As soon as I got in the car, she started talking about our 'Revenge on Paul Plan'. She was even carrying around a notebook with all the things she's come up with. According to her, the plan could go two ways: I somehow dug up some dirt on Paul and we tell everybody OR, we could go with ultimate humiliation John Tucker Must Die style.

I knew that she was only throwing herself into the plan to distract herself and try to convince everyone that everything was fine, but it wasn't fooling anyone.

Well, except for Kim, that is. But she doesn't count, since she doesn't believe in Santa.

On the bright side, Kim had been sitting with us since I first asked her, and I was surprised to see that she funny and observant and a little sarcastic. She was the opposite of plain (unlike what Lexi had said) and she definitely was not quiet, when you got to know her.

After shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I realised we had just walked through the classroom door. I frowned slightly when I saw Jared already there and then scowled deeper when I noticed Paul sitting next to him, who hadn't been seen since the diner incident. I was starting to think maybe he had died or something.

Or something, unfortunately. Now that you know he isn't dead, the plan is back on.

Great. I had been getting more nervous about the whole plan-thing. It was a lot easier to talk about something in theory than actually doing it.

I literally dragged Kim across the room, searching for a table that was the furthest from Paul and Jared. Just as we sat down, the history teacher, Mr Dale, walked in.

He stood in front of the room and cleared his throat, demanding our attention. "It has come to my attention that there has been a great deal of chatter and not enough work being done in the past week..." He began, pushing his glasses up his nose as he spoke.

Most of the class turned to glare at Kim and me, who had been talking quite a lot since we had become friends.

"So, therefore I have arranged a seating plan!"

The class groaned and I blanched.

"Yes, I know, I know. It's such a fantastic idea; I have no idea why I didn't think of it earlier."

"Sir, please!" Kylie James yelled from the back of the room, her and her clones sending daggers our way.

"Begging won't get you anywhere, Miss James. I have drawn up a seating plan already and I'm sure that it will prove effective." Mr Dale said, sounding extremely proud of himself. "So..." He cleared his throat and glanced at the sheet in his hand. "Kylie James and Nathan Smith." He spoke, pointing at a table. "Kim Conweller and Jared Cameron"

I looked at Kim in sympathy as she got up to move. Jared was hard to deal with, but I suspected Kim wouldn't mind.

I'm surprised she hasn't had a breakdown yet. It must be extremely depressing sitting next to Jared.

I zoned out whilst Mr Dale called out the seating plan, until he called my name. "Aria Cameron and Marcus Zirrini." I blew out an annoyed sigh. Marcus Zirrini. Track team captain, extremely good-looking, ex-Paul follower, and A-class jerk.

And to think he used to consistently give you Valentines gifts in grade school for a solid four consecutive years.

After a few moments, I felt and heard someone sitting next to me. I sighed and turned in my seat, fully ready to reintroduce myself to Marcus, when I came face-to-face then none to other then Paul Lahote.

I temporarily forgot the plan, and instead hissed at him. "What the hell are you doing? Where's Marcus gone?" I questioned, scanning the room for the track star.

"I swapped seats." He told me, sounding slightly sheepish, but not that ashamed that he hung his head and refused to look me in the eye. In fact, he was staring at me intently, with an indescribable look on his face. "Marcus had no problem with it."

Scanning the room, I found Marcus sitting next to one of Kylie's posse.

Of course he'd jump at the chance to sit next to that Barbie than little ol' Aria.

"That's... cool, I guess." I said slowly, deciding it might be easier to carry out the plan if I sat next to him for a lesson.

He smiled so large that I wondered if it hurt. "Yeah, it is cool, isn't it?"

"Yep, it's cool." I responded in monotone, unsure of where the conversation was going. I looked at Paul's face, which was looking disappointed. I suddenly felt bad, although I didn't know why. "I mean, I know! It's so cool that it's colder than ice-cream, right?" I tried again, putting on a bright smile that probably made me look demented.

'It's so sool that it's colder than ice-cream'? Uh, ok. Where's the nearest mental hospital?

Thank God that Mr Dale saved me from further self-inflicted humiliation by talking about our newest assignment. "So... you will all be studying the history and beginnings of a historical landmark. For example, the pyramids, the Eifel tower, Big Ben or the Statue of Liberty are just some options. I am expecting an in-depth report with a minimum of ten references."

That sounds like geography to me.

"You'll be working with your new table-buddy..." I mentally snorted at his choice of words. Like Paul would ever be my 'buddy' for anything. "...on the assignment together. It is worth twenty-five percent of your overall grade, so I advise that you will need to meet after school hours to make sure you get the best grade possible."

At first, I didn't look at Paul. Instead, I glanced around the room at everyone else. My eyes rested on Kim's table, where she sat blushing and staring at the table.

What's made her resemble a tomato?

In a moment I realised why.

My dearest brother was staring at her – with his mouth wide open – in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable.

I was about to go over there and tell him that staring was rude, when Paul spoke. "Uh, so... What do you want to do the project?"

I thought for a moment, before speaking. "Well... I've always liked Italy. So, how about the Leaning Tower of Pisa?"

Paul blinked. "You like Italy?"

Is that all he got out of that sentence?

"What's not to like?" I asked. "Italy has pizza and pasta and lots of bread."

"That's a little stereotypical and offensive," Paul chuckled. "And doesn't the rest of the world have pizza and pasta and lots of bread?"

"You know what I mean."

"Do I?"

I glared at him, annoyed at him for teasing me. "Yes. And if you don't, then when I am living in Italy I shall send you Italian food… and then your tastebuds will die from happiness."

Paul blinked. "When you live in Italy? You want to leave La Push?" He sounded and looked upset, his hands beginning to shake slightly.

I stared at his hands, wondering if he had a disorder where he randomly trembled. "Uh..." I started, still watching his hands as they started to stop shaking. "Yeah. I want to travel the world. At least go to every continent, that sort of thing." I looked up at Paul's face, which now looked angrier than before.

"But... why travel? Why?" He asked, assessing my face closely.

"Uh, why not?" I shrugged.

I had been thinking more and more about travelling the world since I had spoken to Lucas. He wanted to get somewhere in his life, follow his goals and dreams. I had only ever considered travelling to be a dream on the sideline and not an actual goal, but when I did, I found it exciting. I wanted to see new places, meet new people. Life was just too limited in La Push. I didn't just want to be that girl that lives in her hometown for all her life

Are you going all Eat, Pray, Love on me?

"Wouldn't you miss it here? If you went away?"

I shrugged again at Paul's question. Would I miss it here?

I'd miss mom and dad. I'd miss how they baby me and want to know every single detail about my day. I'd miss how they joke and even their lectures.

I'd miss Marley and my other sibling yet to be born. I'd miss how I would look after them. I'd miss how they'd wake me up at indecent hours. I'd miss telling stories and not being there to comfort them when they're sad.

I might even miss Jared. I'd miss those few awkward - but special - moments we occasionally had.

I'd miss Kim and how she cares. I'd miss how she'd make funny faces and could laugh about everything.

I'd miss Lexi and her crazy schemes and outlook on life. I'd miss how she ropes me into things and could cheer me up instantly when I'm upset. I'd miss how she seemed fearless and tough, but she was a big softie on the inside. I'd miss her weird sense of humour. I'd miss how although she may sound like a bad friend to some people, she was the best person and friend I had ever had.

But would I miss La Push, in general?

I didn't think I would.

...

"Where did you get these from?" I exclaimed, examining the small device in my hand.

"That is irrelevant." Lexi informed. "But if you must know, I bought them from eBay for ten bucks. Anyway, the point is" she plucked the earpiece from my hand "that with this I can give you all the right answers and tell you what to say at lunch, so everything goes according to the plan."

Lexi and I were in the currently empty girls toilets. After History, Paul had suggested I'd sit with him and Jared to discuss the project, since in the lesson between my zoning-out and Paul's weird shaking; we hadn't gotten any work done. It was almost lunchtime, which meant that soon I would have to go to the cafeteria and sit with Paul and Jared.

Thank God that Kim agreed to come with me.

I gave Lexi a weird look. "You're really committed to this, aren't you?"

"Yup." Lexi grinned. But her smile was too bright with too many teeth. It was fake.

"Now..." she mumbled and reached up to slip the device into my ear. I flinched when the cool metal touched my ear. Lexi then pulled some of my hair over my ear to cover up any evidence of the device underneath.

"Now," she repeated again, clipping a small microphone into the neckline of my jacket. "I'm going to stay in here. Don't speak into the microphone too often; only when you need to. Your main job is just to listen." She finished, fitting her own earpiece into her ear and picking up her microphone.

I sighed and got ready to leave. "And I'd never thought I'd listen to you." I stated, shaking my head in mock disappoint.

"Just go, Cameron." Lexi teased, sitting against the wall and getting comfortable for what was going to be a very long lunchtime.

I sighed dramatically. "If you insist."

I could still here Lexi laughing as I walked down the hall towards my nightmare.

You're right. Cafeteria food is pretty scary and could be considered a nightmare. Maybe even scarier than the nightmare from Elm Street.

"Whatever you say." I mumbled, not caring if I sounded like a loon talking to myself.

...

"Hey!" Jared yelled eagerly, standing up. He waved enthusiastically from across the cafeteria as soon as Kim and I had walked in the cafeteria. This made most people look at us and Kim blush red. Paul hit Jared on the shoulder and gave him a look.

"Heeey?" I replied to Jared's greeting after we'd gotten our lunch and arrived at the table.

"Hi." Paul grinned, while Jared just stared at Kim.

What a weirdo.

I slid into a seat. "Stop staring, Jared. It is creepy and weird and it just confirms that you were dropped on your head as an infant."

Jared glared at me as Kim sighed in relief, glad that the attention was off her. I absentmindedly patted the seat next to me, signalling for Kim to sit next to me and not run away, which I'm sure she was thinking of doing.

Paul started to rattle on about something that sounded suspiciously like meeting at my house after school to continue the project while I fought the urge to fiddle with the ear piece, only half-listening. I was more interested in the amount of food Jared and Paul were consuming. They were eating more for lunch then I could in a week.

"I feel like Inspector Gadget." I muttered under my breath, low enough for the microphone to catch. Paul and Jared looked up simultaneously from their food, eyebrows raised and looking confused, as if they actually heard me.

Inspector Gadget? Really? I was thinking more along the lines of James Bond...

"Aria, focus!" The speaker sounded in my ear for the first time with Lexi's voice, making me wince slightly when I heard a slight screeching sound from the high frequency.

Jared had begun talking to Kim, but Paul was still staring at me, his head cocked to one side and a baffled look on his face.

"Focus-schmocus. I just want to eat my muffin." I mumbled quietly, picking at the cake in my hand. Anyone watching me would think I was just talking to myself.

"You are not backing down now! I spent ten dollars on these wireless ear pieces! And that's not including the shipping!"

"I'm not backing out. I just want to eat a muffin without being hassled!"

Seriously! Nothing ruins eating a perfectly tasty muffin then constant nagging.

"Are you talking to yourself?"

"Great. Now look what you've done."

I glanced up and tried to look innocent as I answered Jared's question. "I'm pretty sure only crazy people talk to themselves."

"...And?"

My eyes narrowed. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but it does sound like to me that you're implying I'm messed up in the head, Jared."

"And if I were?"

"Uh oh..." Kim muttered, scooting her chair a good few inches away from me, whilst my eyes literally narrowed into slits and I gripped my muffin in my hand.

A second later, the muffin was flying through the air and toward Jared's face. He easily dodged it, and we watched in horror as it sailed toward the back of the head of the teacher who was on cafeteria duty.

Another few seconds later, I watched as Paul was led to the principal's office by the angry teacher, after he took the blame for the whole thing.

Oops.

...

I watched from the living room door, truly fascinated by the scene in front of me. Lexi had just dropped me off back at my house, making sure to lecture me on my 'immature' behaviour at lunch.

Immature? Says the one who went all 'spy' on me with freaking ear pieces!

She had been annoyed that I wasn't taking the plan seriously. She had even given me her notebooks to read to 'inspire' and 'motivate' me more. I had just shoved it deep in my backpack without a second thought.

But imagine my surprise when I had walked into my house and when I was passing the living room, I see Marley playing dolls with none other than Embry Call.

"Arr-ee-aa!" Marley screeched, finally looking up and noticing me. She got up unsteadily and ran towards me, half-hugging and half-falling into my legs. Embry's head whipped around as he spotted me, and stood up, rubbing the back of his neck, still clutching a daggy teddy.

"Oh. Hey, Aria." Embry said, sounding sheepish.

I smiled sweetly back. "Oh, hey Embry. You know, I don't believe you were at school today. I mean, why would you be? After all, you have mono, didn't you?" I quipped, remembering the rumours going around. "Aren't you too sick to leave your bed? But obviously you're not too sick to come visit my dear family and contaminate Marley's toys. Now we're going to have to burn them to keep the germs from spreading, which will upset her greatly. How could you do this, Embry? How could you do this to the children?"

I wasn't stupid. I knew that mono wasn't contagious in the sense that it was airborne. But if Embry didn't know that, that meant something strange was going on.

Embry dropped the teddy quickly and opened his mouth to talk, but closed it when Jared flew past me into the room. "Hey, have you guys seen my history book anywhere?' He questioned, rummaging through the many books on the coffee table, not bothering to ask why the supposedly 'sick' Embry was in our house.

Is it just me, or has a lot of muscle guys been in your house in the past three weeks or so?

"Um..." I said, walking over and picking up the dusty book that was half hidden under the couch.

Jared looked up and rushed over, muttering thanks and attempting to clean up the book.

"What's up with you?" I inquired, temporarily forgetting about Embry and Marley. Embry seized his chance and put Marley on his shoulders, walking to what sounded like the kitchen.

"I'm going over Kim's to work on the history assignment." Jared paused from cleaning to look up at the ceiling dreamily. "Isn't she just so smart? And, she's just... just perfect." He sighed.

"Kim? Kim Conweller? My friend, Kim?" I asked in disbelief, my eyebrows rising so high that they were almost in my hairline. It wasn't that I didn't believe that Kim wasn't pretty or intelligent; it was just that this was Jared talking. About Kim.

If anything, I would have expected this type of talk to come from her about Jared, not the other way around.

It's a tad disturbing.

Jared glared at me, looking annoyed. "Yeah, Kim. Kim Conweller." He gazed out the window, looking distant again.

"You have issues." I informed him, giving him a weird look, just as the doorbell rang.

Paul was here.

And it begins.

. . .

Good? Bad? Okay? Meh? This chapter was sort of a filler/lead up to the next chapter, which has a MASSIVE twist. Want a clue? It involves Lexi and it's NOT what you think it'll be… any ideas to what it could be?

Question of the chapter: Who is better out of 007/James Bond and Inspector Gadget? I know this is completely random, but whatever. I'm actually curious. :)

Pancakes to all who review! Who doesn't like pancakes? It's a universal love.