Yeah. Second chapter. Not much to say since it goes with chapter one.

21ST CENTURY BREAKDOWN

The first day of eighth grade Gloria stood at her locker applying eyeliner like an artist. The result made her look fucking hot. She always wore her eyeliner like a guy; smudged, thick, and resembling shadows. I walked right over.

"Hello Christian." She said glancing at me in her mirror. "Did you have a nice first day of high school?"

"How do you know my name?" I asked.

"You kissed me under the basketball hoop in kindergarten." She said turning around to face me and slinging a backpack over her shoulder. "People actually use your name as a term because of it. 'My younger brother likes this girl. I told him if he pulls a Christian with the girl on Valentine's Day, I'd give him five bucks.' You don't forget the name of a person who kisses you under a basketball hoop Christian Armstrong."

"Fair enough." I said. "And my first day was fine."

"That's good to know." Gloria said walking through the crowd of middle schoolers. I followed her. "We're rotting in this dump, it might as well be enjoyable, or as you put it 'fine'."

"This is why I want you to join us." I said. She walked out the front door and I caught it still trailing her.

"Why do you want me to join what?" Gloria asked heading towards the bus stop, slowing down for me.

"You can speak your mind and you won't let other people hurt you." I said. Gloria stopped to look at me. "I want you to join The Class of '13."

"Me? You want me to join The Class of '13?" She asked. "Why?"

"Because." I said. "Born into Nixon I was raised in hell

A welfare child where the teamsters dwelled

The last one born, the first one to run

My town was blind from refinery sun

My generation is zero

I never made it as a working class hero

21st century breakdown

I once was most but never was found

I think I'm losing what's left of my mind

To the 20th century deadline." Gloria stared at me for a long time.

"Take me there." She said finally. "I'm not saying I'll join, but let me check it out."

"Follow me." I said leading her towards the Underworld. "I was made of poison and blood

Condemnation is what I understood

Videogames of the tower's fall

Homeland security could kill us all."

"My generation is zero

I never made it as a working class hero." Gloria sang.

"21st century breakdown

I once was lost but never was found

I think I'm losing what's left of my mind

To the 20th century deadline" I sang back. She smiled at me. "Here we are." I said. "Guys, I got Gloria to at least come here." Everyone mumbled.

"Gloria, this is Nicole, Annabel, Theo, Jason, Tyler, and Angel."

"Cool." She said.

"Occasionally St. Jimmy will join us, even though he's not technically in the class of '13. I mean, he dropped out of high school awhile ago." Angel said. "But we get most of our stuff from him."

"St. Jimmy." Gloria echoed. She was impressed.

"I love him." Theo whispered creepily.

"Watch out for Theo. He's strange sometimes." I whispered to her.

"I like strange." Gloria said. "So you guys just do drugs and drink while complaining about what was once America the beautiful?"

"Basically." Jason said. "But we play music too. Tyler kills it on bass and I play drums. But we don't even compare to Christian's guitar playing gift."

"Oh really?" Gloria asked raising an eyebrow. She fell into one of our crappy chairs. I walked over to the piano and pulled my guitar out. Jason walked over to the drum set and Tyler began tuning his bass. After a few moments I burst into song.

"We are the class of '13

Born in the era of humility

We are the desperate in the decline

Raised by the bastards of 1969" I sang. Gloria smiled again. I returned her smile. Annabel and Nicole whispered and held out a lighter to her. Gloria didn't even look at it. Her eyes were locked on me.

"My name is no one

The long lost son

Born on the 4th of July

Raised in an era of heroes and cons

That's left for dead or alive

I am a nation a worker of pride

My debt to the status quo

The scars on my hands

And the means to an end

Is all that I have that I have to show

I swallowed my pride

And I choked on my faith

I've given my heart and my soul

I've broken my my fingers

And lied through my teeth

The pillar of damage control" At that point Theo looked at Gloria.

"Still thinking about it?" He asked. Before she could answer I came back in.

"I've been to the edge

And I've thrown the bouquet

Of flowers left over the grave

I sat in a waiting room

Wasting my time

And waiting for judgement day

I praise liberty

The 'freedom to obey'

Is the song that strangles me

Don't cross the line" I looked at Gloria. Everyone did. "Are you in or not?" I kept playing waiting for an answer. She stood up and walked in front of me. Gloria turned around to face the others.

"Dream, America dream,

I can't even sleep

From the light's early dawn" She sang.

"Scream, America scream

Believe what you see

From heroes and cons?" We waited for her answer. "Fuck yeah. I'm in."