I'm back, and on time this week! I seem to skip through time pretty quickly. Mainly because school is boring and hard to write interesting things about. Also, this is supposed to be in Austin, Texas, (because RT), but I know NOTHING of the American school system. So if you see anything wrong, please tell ^_^

York was in a hurry. If he was to talk Carolina into working with Tex before lunch ended, he needed as much time as possible. Therefore, when some blonde kid refused to get out of his way, he became irritated quickly.

"Move it! Can't you see I'm going somewhere? God."

"Yes, I realise your haste indicates you have little interest in speaking with me. I do not care."

Ok, weird robot voice. Who was this guy anyway? York took a closer look at the boy in his way, noting green eyes and a slightly familiar face. Great. One of the O'Malley nutters. "Can you hurry up and tell me what you want, then?"

"I want you and your gang, North especially, to leave my brother alone."

"Brother? Omega?"

"No, Theta."

Oh, right, the little one with the weird purple and orange hair. Wait... why would Delta want him away from Theta? York didn't give two fucks about the little weirdo.

When York told him just that, Delta replied; "North has been harassing him. You are North's leader. Logically, he would be doing so under your orders."

"Dude, North isn't my slave. If he wants to be friendly to your little bro, it's his problem, not mine."

"You have no interest in recruiting Theta?"

"He's a little kid. Why would we?"

Delta glared at him for a moment before stepping aside, muttering as York walked past; "I don't believe you."

"Yeah, well, I don't give a shit."

"And you'll be good on your own? Maybe Donut-"

"Grif, I've been home alone before. Stop freaking out."

"Ok. I just worry." Sister nodded. Of course he did. And he had a right to; he had replaced both her mother and father for the last few years. He needed to realise she wasn't a child, though.

"I'm fine. Go to Simmons' place, help out with whatever's up."

"Kai, I'm sorry. When he's ready, I'm sure Simmons will tell you."

"It's no biggie. Besides, mysteries are fun." Grif smiled slightly as he drove into the driveway of their rundown house, waiting just long enough for Sister to get her bag out of the car before driving off. Simmons house was fairly close to school; he was probably there already.

His suspicions were correct; Simmons door was unlocked, Simmons himself waiting in the lounge. Grif was struck into silence at the state of the house. Sure, it was probably cleaner than the place he and Sister lived in, but Simmons' house had always been perfect. His mother had never let so much as a mote of dust settle on any of the furniture, and there was never any hint of untidiness anywhere.

"My mother doesn't have time to clean anymore. And I'm not that good at it."

Simmons seemed ashamed. Grif quickly wiped any suggestion of shock from his face. "It's fine. What are your usual chores?"

"Uhh... Why?"

"So I can help you, idiot."

"Oh, ok."

Grif sighed. Simmons was becoming more and more passive. Sister had done the same, when their mother finally left. "Simmons. Look at me."

Clearly surprised by Grif's firm tone, Simmons obeyed, meeting his boyfriend's dark brown eyes.

"You need to stop worrying. Your father was an asshole; he left you and your mum to care for yourselves, knowing how hard it'd be. Him leaving is not your fault."

"I know that!"

"Yeah, but you still think it is."

"What makes you an expert on what I think?"

"Sister acted the same as you did, back before she, y'know." Grif made a cutting motion across his wrist, which Simmons noticed with shock.

"I would never do that!"

"Yeah, I know." Grif lied. "Just get to studying, I'll clean up."

"Kay." Simmons was halfway to the stair when he turned, a glimmer of happiness warming his chest. "Grif?"

"Mm?"

"Thanks a heap, for helping me."

"You've helped me out heaps of times. I'm just repaying you."

"Church, it's you. Doesn't matter who Caboose was before, you won't last another day without snapping at him."

"What do you mean 'it's me', Tucker?"

"I mean you're an irritable bitch when it comes to people annoying you."

Church glared at his phone. "I am not!"

Tucker simply laughed. "Yeah, whatever. But still, can you see yourself sitting next to Caboose for the next few years without going insane?"

Ok, he had a point. One day had been hard enough. But it was Caboose... He owed the guy. And who else would he hang out with? Church envisioned Caboose becoming friends with Donut, Grif and Simmons. Grif at least wouldn't hesitate to use Caboose to get back at me.

"Look. You keep being an idiot. I'm going to call Sister."

"You want Grif to be pissed at you, don't you?"

"Well, that's kinda fun. But he's fucking Simmons or something; Sister's home alone."

Church hung up before Tucker could think of a way to throw in his catchphrase. He did not need details of whatever was inside Tucker's mind. He tried calling Tex again. No answer.

It was days like these which made Church wish he had a job during the week, just so he wouldn't have so much time to contemplate how much his life sucked.

"Can I help yo- Oh. It's you."

"Donut?" Church looked at his surroundings in surprise. He had been wandering around the town mall, bored out of his mind and not willing to go home, where his dad was and Carolina definitely wasn't. His legs had been on autopilot and for some reason had led him into a female clothing store. "You work here?" Church wondered why he was even surprised. It was Donut, for god's sake.

"Yeah, so what?"

"Nothing. Should have expected you to work somewhere like here. Couldn't get much gayer."

Donut rolled his eyes, trying to seem unfazed by the insult. "Unless you've hit your head hard and come to the conclusion Tex might like something from here, you obviously aren't going to buy anything. So get out."

"Yeah, whatever." Church walked out, searching up Caboose's number on his phone. He'd much rather deal with Caboose as he was than a Caboose under the influence of those fags.

"I can't believe York talked me into this."

"Yeah, whatever. Let's get moving." Carolina muttered something which sounded a lot like an insult. Tex let it pass, eager to get through this night without having to attack her new leader's crush. Just thinking of York as her boss made her scowl. At least it was only temporary.

Carolina followed Tex, glaring at her back. Why the hell did York pair us together? She despised Tex; Church had enough to worry about without Tex being the shit girlfriend that she was. It didn't help that Church had become notably more of an asshole once Tex showed up.

York had told her that if Tex was lying and leading them into some shit, she wouldn't bring Carolina into it, for Church's sake. Yeah right. She doesn't give a fuck about him. She joined Freelancer, after all.

"Carolina. Hurry up." Tex was already halfway up a ladder, much to Carolina's surprise.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

Carolina couldn't see her face clearly in the dark, but she was sure Tex was giving her a deadly glare. "The Insurrection used to have a base in this building. If we're going to see if they still use it without getting caught, we can't go through the fucking front door!"

"Fine," Carolina muttered, following Tex as she climbed. She couldn't help noting how easy it'd be for Tex to throw something down and knock her off the building.

The two moved quickly to the roof of the apartment block, neither being killed by the other. Carolina continued to watch Tex warily as she moved her head to the ground, clearly trying to hear through the concrete.

"You won't be able to hear anything. It'll be too thick."

"It's a cheap building. Now shut up."

Carolina decided it was best to do as she said, crouching to make it harder for anyone to see her. She was in black clothing, and there wasn't much light in this area, but it was still possible for her to be seen, and someone randomly standing on the top of a building was pretty suspicious and sure to draw attention.

"Ok. I hear voices, but can't tell what they're saying."

"Well great. What now?"

Tex pointed to the ladder. "Check the window."

"Why do I have to?"

"Because if they see me, they won't hesitate before shooting. Now move!"

"Ok, fine." Carolina retreated to the ladder, climbing down a few rungs. A tiny ledge jutted from the wall, level with the floor inside. Carolina shuffled along it, one hand still gripping the ladder, the other trying to find suitable handgrips against the smooth concrete.

A window lay about a metre from the ladder. To say Carolina was unwilling to let go of the ladder and move across so she could see though was an understatement. She was terrified, really, not that she'd admit to anyone, Tex especially.

"Hold onto the window frame."

"Alright," Carolina muttered, reaching out and gripping the frame. Gingerly she let go of the ladder, leaning into the wall to help her balance. At last she was able to look inside.

Three people were in the room, one wearing red and black, his muscled arms bare. Another one wore a frowny-faced mask and held a knife. He, or she, Carolina couldn't tell, was someone she wouldn't be comfortable being in the same building with, certainly not in the same room. The third had a very short black mohawk, and was currently speaking.

"Where the hell are Sharkface and Sniper?"

"I told you." The sleeveless man has a low, gravelly voice and seemed bored. "They got caught up."

"And why the fuck did you leave them?"

"You said to get the fucking Intel. I got the fucking Intel."

"Ugh, Ok. Frowny, where's your- Wait. Who's that?"

"Well fuck." Carolina guessed that that wasn't good. She half-jumped, half-stepped back onto the ladder, indicating to Tex to climb down. Tex got the message, swearing creatively.

"Did you see them?"

"Yeah, I'll describe them later, if we get out of this." Her response was followed by a creepy sobbing, and then glass began to shower down, along with bullets.

"FUCK! Frowny. Quick!" Tex pulled herself and Carolina beside a dumpster, the metal box being the only cover nearby. "Well, it's definitely the Insurrection," Tex muttered.

"What the fuck do we do?" Carolina was trying not to freak out, but some psychopath was covering the area with bullets and she was trapped behind a dumpster with a bitch that she still wasn't sure didn't want Carolina dead

"Calm down. Text York- no wait. Don't. He'll just freak out. See that alley?" Tex pointed, and Carolina nodded. "I'll cover you. As soon as the firing stops, run for your life. Got it?"

"How are you going to cover me?" Her question was answered as Tex pulled a pistol from her boot, much to Carolina's surprise. "How'd you get that?"

"I used to work with these maniacs, remember? I'm not going to go near them unarmed. Now go!"

Tex's aim was spot on; somehow she hit close enough to the sobbing psychopath to halt his/her fire, at least for now. Carolina bolted, waiting for the moment bullets would rip through her flesh. It never came; she made it safely to the cover of another apartment. Tex followed close behind, firing until she couldn't see the window anymore.

"Ok. Now call York. Tell him to meet us where he dropped us off."

"That's three streets away!"

"So? Start running. Don't want to be here when the cops come looking for whoever made all the noise."

[Linebreak]

Grif was an amazing cook, or so he claimed. He'd have to be, else how would he get any food? Takeaway was far too expensive. When Simmons' mother had finally come home, he had ignored all protests from her, claiming that she and Simmons deserved a break.

There wasn't much food stocked in the kitchen. Grif managed to get enough ingredients to make an ok stir-fry, but he'd definitely need to make time to do shopping. He needed to ensure Simmons and his mum had as little to worry about as possible, so they could get through this easier.

"Wow, Grif. Smells nice." Simmons was notably happier than he had been all day.

"Thanks. How's studying?"

"I caught up on all my homework, should be good for now."

"Cool. Can you set the table?"

The three ate dinner in the lounge. Grif tried watching the news for a while, but once a grim story about gunshots heard earlier that night began, decided to turn it off and just chat. It was cool having Simmons' mum there, it'd been a long time since he'd hung around any adults outside of school. It was like having a mum again.

Hope you liked it! Please review with any critism, suggestions, ideas or comments you have.

Oh, one more thing. What is it with the weird reviews? I mean, I appreciate them, and all, but are people trolling me? So many one word/incomprehensible reviews. I have to point out something, also. I KNOW high school AU's have been done a million times. I love the challenge of trying to break a cliché. If you don't want to read this story just because it's not a completely unique story that you've never heard of before, then fine. Go away. My hope is that it beats most other stories of this type, and besides. High school AU's are cool!