Eric's POV

The next few days went along accordingly to my expectations. I read three new books that I hadn't gotten to read yet and had run at least five or six miles. I hadn't really talked to Astrid and her gang, except for a few hellos every now and then, and that's how I liked it.

When I walked into class four days after I arrived I had finally gotten the hang of things. Me and Astrid agreed to do our separate parts on the project we had been assigned to do, she would do the research part of it and I would write it up. She didn't seem happy about my way of distancing her but she accepted it.

"Eric! Guess what?" She suddenly said as she came up to me. What's this about, I was getting use to the schedule without having some girl annoying me. The second after I thought about that I felt guilty. Okay, fine even though you didn't hear that I'll make it up to you Astrid.

"What?" I asked humoring her, she looks excited.

"We're setting up a carnival! Do you want to help us?"

"Theres no way you can pull off a carnival by yourself"

"Its not by ourselves. The whole school is preparing for it! I was just asking if you wanted to help us out with our assignment."

"depends on the assignment."

"Decorations and one booth."

"Decorations for the whole carnival?"

"Yeah yeah, your gonna say we can't pull it off but we can. And for the last time I'm pnly asking if you want to help. Your not selling me your soul or anything."

I turned to her at this but when I met her eyes I looked away.

"Im not interested in carnivals." After I said that I sat down and tried not to think of the hurt look on her face when I clearly rejected her. She went and sat back down with her art partner and Im pretty sure I caught hi say, I told you so.

Shes not my friend no matter how much she thinks she is. I started working on the painting we had been assigned to do. What's with this school anyway? Half of the classes aren't even academic!

When that class finally ended I walked toward the gym. We were focusing on a rock climbing unit and for some reason whenever I got to the top I imagine grabbing onto one of the roof supports as it fell over...strange huh? I'm going to hope that doesn't actually happen.

He made a few of us climb up it but he had some type of paperwork to do so Jim didn't push us. By the end of the class period only Odd, Astrid, and I had climbed it.

Heres another conclusion that I have come up with by simply observing Odd and Astrid together. They are dating. Of course its no secret and almost everyone knows it. I'm also sure that there are a few disgruntled faces in the class every time Astrid starts talking to him. Ouch, poor guys.

Also there's a girl named Brynga and a girl named Sissi, don't ask me why but I think she chose that name herself, who are in almost all of my classes. it's also quiet obvious that brynga likes Odd and Sissi likes Ulrich.

I didn't think there would be so much drama seething and just waiting to be let loose at this school. Honestly it was kinda fun watching it in the cafeteria. And no I'm not a stalker who watches them all the time but hey, it was entertaining.

Astrid's POV

We walked into the cafeteria and immediately we started coming up with a plan to get into sector five tonight. My arms were still very sore and my hand stung. It was awful climbing the rock wall.

"We are going to the south east data base, the on closest to the start." Aelita said and we nodded.

"It's pretty straight forward then, aside from that we don't know what will be waiting for us so yay for winging it!" I said and they laughed. Then I heard footsteps behind me and then blonde blonde hair was cascaded over my face.

"Would you guys chill with you video games? Odd I come on you've got to help us with the carnival decorations." Brynga said and I look at odd sideways.

"Brynga I am going to count to three, if your hair is not out of my face by then it's all coming off." I said and she sighed with an annoyed tone as if I had been the one doing something wrong. thankfully, though, she removed her hair from my face and stood up straight.

"There is no way I am working on the carnival with you." Odd said and Brynga smiled mischievously.

"Well it's not just you and I of course we're working with your side group as well." dI'd she just say side group?

"Please just go." Yumi said but Brynga wasn't done.

She bent down next to me and pulled out a photo from her pocket. She whispered in my ear so no one else could hear her.

"Don't worry about Odd for now, I've got my sights set on some one else." she widened and flipped the photo so I could see who it was. Alex.

I stood up and faced her directly in the eyes. "Leave us alone. I'm not afraid to involve the principle, who's side do you think he'll pick?" I said with gritted teeth but she walked away with a smug look on her face. Still standing I glanced at my half eaten lunch.

i picked it up and started walking away from the table. "I'll see you tonight." Was all I said before heading outside. I leaned back against the rec room wall. I stood there and waiting while the lunch period drawled on.

Eventually I heard footsteps approaching me and I turned to greet them, Jeremy stood there.

"Look Im not in the mood to talk-" I started but was cut off as he pressed his lips to mine. I slapped him and spun around. I ran forwards a little to escape him but when I turned around I one was there.

:::::::::::

After classes, in which my body language had warned even Eric to back off, I went and tried to find the others. Finally I spotted Ulrich and yumi talking beside the soda machine. I wiped away my I'm p. attitude and smiled.

"Hey." Was all I said and they waved as I came up.

"We're waiting for the others to get here. Odd went looking for you by the way." Yumi said and I widened my eyes. I whipped out my cell phone, I love this thing, and quickly texted him. When I did I noticed seven text notifications. One from everyone including Eric.

Yumi:

If you ever wanna talk just say so. I'm sure we can come up for some good revenge.

Ulrich:

I think Yumi wants to get revenge on Brynga and Sissi for all those times, I'm in if you want. Dnot let them get you down, it's obvious that Odd would never leave you.

Aelita:

Feel better okay? Im worried but I understand why your angry. We're all here for you if you want to talk, how bout tonight? Hot chocolate?

Jeremy:

We're meeting by the soda machine after class. I don't know how to say this but...well Brynga was out of line and she's pushed you far...just...Brynga is mean, don't let her get you down.

William:

Brynga doesn't compare to you. Her Icelandic ways have frozen very thing about her, but you, you know the cold doesnt really bother you, so dont let her freeze you...how was that? Inspiring enough?

Odd:

Don't worry, eventually theyll get the message to not bother us, but for now remember I love you. Btw, do you want to boil you face? Brynga's hair was all over it. I'll still kiss your lips anyway though.

Eric:

Hey, you ran out of the cafeteria after that girl talked to you guys, are you okay? You were pretty distant in our project too. Cheer up.

I smiled at everyone's text and blushed at Odd's then I told him I was at the soda machine and then turned back to Yumi and Ulrich. They were staring at something behind me with horrified looks on their faces.

"What is it?" I asled and turned to look but Ulrich blocked my view. Yumi spun me around to face their way. I tried to turn back but Ulrich wouldn't let me see.

"Don't worry it's nothing. Um, here let's head to the factory right now." Ulrich said and he and Yumi grabbed me by the hands and led me there.

When we got into the elevator I turned to them and put on a serious face.

"Okay, fess up. What was it that I wasn't supposed to see." I asked and they shared a glance.

"Don't worry about it." Yumi said but she new by the look I gave her I was going to worry about it whether she liked it or not.

"Look, Odd...Odd was kissing Brynga." Ulrich said quickly. I widened my eyes and stood there frozen, standing infront of an open elevator door.

"He...What? Why would he..." I said quietly and turned away.

"thats strange." A voice said and Odd zipped down the cable with the others. "I'm not sure I exactly remember kissing a troll." He said but Yumi and Ulrich glared at him.

"There must be some explanation to this." Jeremy said and I looked hopefully up at him.

"Like Ulrich kissing Sissi?" William said and everyone turned to him.

"I did not!" Ulrich said outraged but more confused.

"We saw you." Aelita said quietly. yumi took a step away from him and suddenly sides shifted.

"How about you kissing Nicholas?" Ulrich asked and Aelita looked confused.

"What do you mean?" She asked

"We saw you!" Odd and Ulrich said at the same time. Them they both turned and glared at each other.

suddenly I got a beep on my phone and checked it. It was a text message from Our two school reporters Asking for a scoop on my...KISS WITH ERIC!?

"I did not kiss Eric!" I said out loud and indignantly. Everyone turned to me and I showed them the text.

"Eric?" Odd asked but I ignored it.

"What about Yumi? She kissed Mithias!" Jeremy said and suddenly everyone was pin pointed on...except..

"Your not innocent Jeremy." I said quietly and suddenly felt horrible about my attitude. I changed it quickly and as he looked at me surprised I searched his eyes.

"Jeremy what did you do?" Aelita asked and he shrugged.

"After I left the cafeteria?" I asked but he still acted clueless. "Seriously give it up! You kissed me!" I said getting annoyed at his innocent act. That was the last straw for everyone. We started into an argument where shots were fired at everyone.

Aelita was the first to leave and Yumi the second. Then Jeremy left and Ulrich did too. William left into the maze of hallways and it was me and Odd staring it down.

"Why?" We both yelled at once and when we realized it I spun around.

"Just...here." I said and tossed him the clay necklace. He looked surprised and I stormed into the maze of hallways after William. He hadn't kissed anyone but had been accused of just like the rest of us.

I found him in the spot we had sat the last time we were lost in here. He was throwing rocks at the wall and looked up when I came through.

"Hey." I said and sat down a few feet away.

"Hey." He said and left it for a few seconds. Then he looked back up and met me in the eyes. "Did you kiss Eric?" He asked.

"No! I don't know how they came up with it but I didn't." I said and leaned my head against the wall.

"Did Jeremy kiss you?" He asked

"Somebody kissed me. I'm pretty sure it was Jeremy but..well it looked a lot like him. I'm 99% sure it was! I don't know anyone else it could be." I said and he nodded.

"I believe you."

"Thanks."

"Let's go find the others." He said and stood up. He held out a hand for me and I took it. "We can always here each other out instead of arguing." He said and I nodded And smiled.

Odd's POV

The thing that annoys me most is that yes, I actually did kiss Brynga. No it wasn't anything to hurt Astrid, but Brynga had snatched the locket I was planning on giving to Astrid and would only give it back if I kissed her. And at tha point I was so fed up that I did. Then I snatched it away and saw Yumi and Ulrich leading Astrid away.

I feel like dirt. I couldn't even bring up the courage to admit it and explain everything. And not only dones Astrid have full right to hate me, she even tossed me a gift. I feel like dirt.

i paced around campus and avoided everyone everyone had gone to their rooms except for me and Ulrich. Since we had the same room we couldn't go through without meeting each other. So now I'm frozen dirt. Horray.

Eventually, though, I got a call from Jeremy that I didn't feel like picking up but did anyways.

"What?" I asked stiffly but Jeremy only spoke three words.

Tower

Factory

Now

after that he hung up and I cursed under my breath. I started running toward the factory. As I sprinted toward the porthole I past the kid named Eric. He jumped back as I ran but didn't say anything. I kept running and eventually went through the porthole. Are Astrid and William still at the factory? Has Jeremy warned them yet?

Hey guys! Looky looky! The next chapter! Are you proud yet? Anyway I hope you like it since you don't have to wait a month.