To anyone who is still reading this (*cough*Lexi and Zoe*cough*), I'm re-doing this story. New plot, same school. I don't know when I'll update that, but hopefully soon. As it is Lexi's birthday today, I've given my paucity of readers (*cough*Lexi and Zoe*cough*) a hint of that. I haven't changed the names, so it's painfully obvious as to who most people are. Brandon and Aurum are OCs. For the new Iles story, I will be changing names so that all my Iles readers get to figure out who they are! You're welcome! Enough rambling, here lies the first draft of Aurum Bella and the following chapter/epitaph.

As I scanned the faces of my classmates, memories flooded through my mind.

"Ready?" Autumn asked the inevitable question. Nods and weak 'yes's came from around the circle. "On the count of three."

An eleven year old Ashi nervously stood in the crowd of middle-schoolers on the first day of seventh grade. Angel walked over, simply directed her to the right line and a wave of relief and gratitude washed over the newcomer as a new friendship was made.

After Angel introduced Ashi to the teachers, they sat down together in the front. In one breath she pointed out the rest of the group. Every name stuck. Just from one glance at the group, you could tell everyone was a unique individual that made up the most interesting class.

"I'm from Kalamazoo, Michigan." Jace's words caused Ashi to snap her head up.

"I'm from Michigan too." she mumbled.

After Ms. Miller explained how Intranet wasn't working, Axel shouted in a sing-song voice, "'Cause that's what Springfield's like!" Which resulted in the kids erupting in laughter, including the Jace and Ashi. It was their first class joke.

"One." Autumn spoke into the silence to the grim faced teens.

"You seemed intent on writing squirrel in every sentence... unfortunately, you misspelled it..." Ms. Childers informed.

"Yeah! Team Duck!" Jace shouted in agreement.

Jazz ran towards the flag, with Jake following close behind. As a red reached out to tag her, Jake jumped in front of her, surrendering to getting tagged, but letting Jazz get the flag. Completely unplanned teamwork.

"America and Britain were at war." Ms. Olson read as half the girls stifled laughs. When the teacher made it clear that she was confused, even more started to laugh.

'Like Kirkland.' Ashi thought, then realized she'd spent so much time with the other girls that she could make references to their favorite show that she'd never seen.

Cora said she could tell that someone was seriously sad in class. Like almost suicidal sad. It wasn't hard to figure it out. If one person was sad and quiet, it subconsciously affected the rest. Obviously, it was Aurum.

"T-two." Autumn stammered, unable to focus on anything beside the button.

"Hey you can go ask Carter to dance." M suggested with a coy smile.

"BYE!" Ashi had to try not to run away from M and the ridiculous idea. If he wanted to ask her, he would. However small and insignificant the social rankings were at Iles, Carter was higher than her.

Emma had been crying in the corner. In the darkness, you couldn't see her face. As Ashi came over concerned, the boys bickered behind her.

"You made her cry! Go talk to her!" Jace scolded.

"She's not actually crying!" Brett pleaded.

"Dude, that's mean."

"I'm serious!" Brett would not be fooled by a simple prank. However, Jace could.

Nico was... gay? And had a crush on... Percy? She needed to talk to somebody after she found out that her all-time favorite character for years had been gay. She didn't have anything against it, but still...She decided on Jazz.

"Why the hell would you trust me?" Aurum coughed.

"How could I not?" Brandon responded, as Ashi stood on the other side of the hospital bed. Maybe there was hope for the broken family.

For the last time, I looked up at the faces of friends that had become family. Because, whether or not they liked it or cared, we were a family. Yes, one that had many falling outs and people drifting away, but like broken china glued together, we were still "One."

Happy Birthday Lexi! (Most of those little flashback/memories are real, which is why they're from my/Ashi's POV)