Part 3- Of Burping Contests and the New Kid.

A few years later

So it's finally here. All the kids are starting seventh grade. With the exception of Sayid and Eko who are in the eighth and Claire Littleton who is starting the sixth grade. Her family moved to Los Angeles the year before and she started hanging with Libby and Shannon.

Ana-Lucia, Sawyer, Libby, Sayid, Eko, Hurley, and Claire were all standing at the bus stop waiting for their new way of transportation to middle school.

"Alright Cupcake no fights the first day aye?" Sawyer grinned as the rest of the group chuckled.

"Same goes for you too, Cowboy." She said calmly.

"Deal."

"Deal." She mocked.

A few minutes later a tall boy with brown curly hair walked up and joined the group.

"Are you new?" Claire asked happily.

"Uh...yeah names Jack Shepard." He said.

"Well I'm Claire and that's Ana, Sawyer, and Libby…" She continued naming everyone until she was finished.

Sayid and Hurley took a liking to the new student instantly. Sawyer didn't however and kept giving him dirty looks in return Ana would punch him in the arm to make him stop. The bus finally came and the group boarded the bus. They were getting ready to pull away when they heard someone yelling.

"Wait!" Kate yelled running as fast as her feet would carry her.

Kate had changed in the last three years. She went from being miss popular to miss rebel/tomboy. All the guys still had their eyes on her but she didn't notice as much as she used too. Ana-Lucia never really liked her but she tolerated her for the sake of her friends. Now Ana-Lucia hadn't really changed. The only difference was she was starting to develop a body that made the guys trip over their feet. She camouflaged it well though; covering it up with baggy jeans and old band t-shirts she stole from Sawyer. He didn't mind though because he had a whole closet full of those shirts that he wore everyday with his jeans and old Chuck Taylors.

Kate walked onto the bus breathing heavily. She caught eyes with Jack making his breath hitch. She gave him a small smile and walked past him to sit in the back of the bus with everyone else.

They arrived at school twenty minutes later. The group all met up before their class.

"Hey Jack…this is Kate. She's always late." Shannon explained. Kate blushed.

"Hi…" He said. "Alright guys see ya." He said walking away.

"Okay Lulu, let's that schedule of yours." Sawyer grinned.

She huffed at the nickname and handed him the piece of paper.

"Hot damn! We have five out of six classes together. I'm gonna have to complain about that every class I have with you I fail." He playfully hit her.

"You fail regardless dumb ass!" She punched him back.

"Yeah, yeah come on short stack." He said putting his arm around her shoulder.

They both made their way to science class; the first class of the day. They both found seats in the very back corner, like every year. Sawyer started talking Ana-Lucia when she noticed Bernard walk in.

"Look…" She pointed.

"Oh damn…it's Bernard. What are you doing here?" Sawyer yelled out.

"Sawyer…" Bernard. "That's Mr. Nadler to you now. I'm your new science teacher." He smiled.

"Well Mr. B I'm glad you're here…right Ana?" He asked.

"Oh great I have both of you. How lovely." Bernard grinned at the pair.

Sawyer grinned his proud dimpled smile and put his arm around Ana's shoulder. She just rolled her eyes and shrugged his arm away.

Sawyer behaved for the next hour actually doing some of his work. Ana-Lucia was surprised…maybe he was growing up. Just then he burped. Okay maybe he wasn't. Ana shook her head with a small smirk on her face.

Lunch time finally rolled around at noon. The group was seated around the big round table. Jack walked up with his tray just as Sawyer burped. He looked confused and disgusted. The group chuckled.

"Come on Sawyer!" Sayid yelled.

"What are they doing?" Jack asked confused to no one in particular.

"Burping contest… Ana has been the winner since fourth grade. Sawyer just won't give up."

Ana sipped her soda and a minute later let out a burp that echoed through the cafeteria; making the whole cafeteria stop and look towards their table.

The whole table started cracking up while the popular girls were yelling how disgusting they were.

"Ana wins once again." Eko said grinning.

"Damn muchacha can't you let me win just once?" Sawyer asked annoyed.

"Hell no Cowboy." She said eating her food. "Maybe next time."