Wow! Two reviews, already; I didn't expect that!

Utilarianshark: Sorry, but when all was said and done, I decided to stick with the Brenda and Thomas ship. I like both for different reasons. But one of the reasons I stuck with this one was because I already have one or two people who like this particular story line. Plus, I already resurrected Newt, so I don't want to alter the original story too much. So yeah...sorry.

Aunica raced through the field and toward the path that was created to go through the woods to the other side to where the school was.

Kids from all around the county were filtering toward the path including one of her best friends, Chan Park.

"Chan, wait up!"

Chan turned around with a smile with his book satchel slung across his back. Tall and handsome, he was every bit like his father, Minho, full of sass and sarcasm, but with a good heart to temper it.

"Hey, Aunnie," he teased as she ran toward him. She decided to ignore her most detested nickname that he called her.

"Hey," she slowed down next to him and they both walked side by side.

"You're running a little late," his teasing smile didn't disappear, "I'm starting to think living so close to the school has made you a little lazy. Makes you think that you can sleep in a few more minutes."

Aunica decided not to tell him that that was her father's theory as well.

"So you have any plans for Paradise Day?" she asked.

Every year, the town got together and celebrated the day they escaped the Flare-infested world and came to live here, where they aptly named it Paradise. They would play games, hold contests, and would dance until the sun went down where they would then shoot off fireworks to end the holiday.

Chan shrugged.

"I'm going, of course."

"You have a dance partner yet?"

Chan hesitated.

"Well…I was thinking about asking a girl, but she already got a partner."

"Oh. That stinks. Who was it?"

"Oh. No one in particular."

"Mhm."

"You don't believe me."

"I didn't say that." her laughing eyes told him otherwise.

Just then, Brianna and Cameron Edison appeared behind them.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" Briana came up next to Aunica and linked arms with her. She was, after all, Aunica's best friend.

"Oh, nothing much," Aunica winked at Chan, "Just trying to figure out this mystery girl that Chan was going to ask to the dance."
"Hmm. I wonder who?" Aunica couldn't tell if Cameron was being serious or not.

Chan sniffed the air.

"Dude. Are you wearing… sandalwood cologne?"

Brianna burst out laughing.

"Yep! He swiped it from Dad's bathroom!"

Cameron blushed.

"You trying to attract a lady?" Chan's teasing smile was back…and this time, it was aimed right at his best friend.

Cameron shrugged.

Brianna smiled devilishly.

"Hmm. Who is it this year? Is it Sadie? No, wait, Rebecca? Nope? Lily?"

"Has to be." Chan smirked, "He's had a thing for Lily a little while now."

"I knew it!" Aunica snapped her fingers.

Cameron glared at Chan.

"How about I exploit your crush, Chan?"

"Whoa, man," Chan help up a hand, "Don't bring me into this. Your sister started the conversation."

"Has to be that mystery girl," Aunica smiled, "I'll figure it out."

Brianna rolled her eyes.

"You know, I kind of envision her with blonde hair…"

"Blue eyes…" Cameron continued while Chan alternately glared daggers between the two of them. The Edison twins had inherited a double douse of their mother's impish tendencies.

"I can picture you with a blonde," Aunica said thoughtfully. Beside her, Brianna palmed her forehead though Aunica didn't notice. Cameron just shook his head.

"Well, whatever the case is," Chan was getting desperate to change the subject, "you better watch your step, Cameron. After all, her mother's the history teacher and her father's the PE teacher. Getting on the wrong side of Lily could earn you an F- in once class, and a pole jump in the other."

"Harriet's a nice woman," Cameron pocketed his hands, "And Mac loves me."

"For now, shuck face, for now. Just like your dad and Aunica's dad, Mac has a high level of OPDS, and Harriet was the leader of Group B for two years, so do not underestimate her. She's liable to kill you while you sleep."

" 'OPDS'?" Brianna and Aunica asked at the same time.

"Overprotective Dad Syndrome," Chan and Cameron responded in unison.

"Ahhh…" both girls responded.

"Yeah, our dads have got that pretty bad." Brianna tilted her head in agreement.

"No kidding." Aunica looked at her best friend, "My dad may walk with a limp, but he can use a gun like a pro."

"And what about mydad who's not injured?" Brianna's eyes widened, "He's the nicest guy in the world until some dude gets it in his head that he can be buddy-buddy with him dad to get to me."

"My mom tends to cushion him."

"My mom joins him."

"And Brenda would," Chan nodded towards her.

"And she does."

"So you don't have a dance partner?" Aunica raised an eyebrow toward her.

"Oh, they're fine with that as long as the guy's not grabby. It's just a dance and they would like me to have a partner for that, though I don't yet."

"Chan doesn't have a partner yet."

"No offense, Chan, but…"

"Not taken. If I was going to have a partner, it would've been that girl I was going to ask, but she got asked. I'm not that into dancing anyway."

"You're so good at it though." Aunica looked back up at him.

Chan shrugged.

"Doesn't mean that it's my favorite thing in the world to do."

"True."

The school came into sight and they were silent as they made their way out of the woods and into the front yard of the school.

"Brianna!"

They all turned to see Gary Carter come up to them with a rose in one of his hands. His intent was obvious.

Like his father before him, Gary wasn't the most attractive person in the world, but he wasn't exactly ugly either. By the way, their teachers talked, Gary was 50x nicer than Gally was at that age. Gally would agree.

"Hey, Gary, what's up?"

Aunica unhooked her arm from Brianna's so they could talk.

Gary looked uncharacteristically shy as he looked down at the ground and kicked an invisible pebble.

"Well…Paradise Day is only a few days away…and I don't have anyone to go to the dance with. I know you've probably been asked already…but, er…" he held up the rose, "Would you like to go with me?" he blushed and forced himself to look up at her.

Brianna blinked.

"Um," she laughed almost nervously and took the rose. Gary was obviously surprised she did, "I'll think about it."

Gary blinked a few times.

"Alright." he smiled, "Guess, I'll see you in science." he walked away.

"I think you just made that guy's day," Chan remarked moving his satchel to his other hand.

"He's kind of sweet, don't you think?" Brianna looked to her friends and brother for feedback.

Both Chan and Cameron shrugged.

"Sure, I guess," Cameron said, "He's…Gary."

"He's not a bad guy," Chan agreed.

"I think he's kind of sweet." Aunica smiled.

Brianna smiled and studied the rose.

"Maybe I'll say yes."

Now that, Aunica thought, would be the most mismatched couple at the dance. Pretty, popular Brianna with quiet, not-so-popular Gary. But stranger things had happened before.

Lily came into sight, and Cameron smiled.

"Lily!" he waved and the pretty dark skinned girl walked over to him.

"Hi, Cam," she greeted, "Chan, Aunica, Brianna."

"Hey." everyone responded.

"Listen," Cameron grinned in a suave sort of way, "I was wondering if you…"

"What's that smell?" Lily covered her nose.

"Huh?" Cameron blinked, "What smell?"

"It almost smells like sandalwood."

"Huh?" Cameron blinked again, "Oh. I am wearing sandalwood cologne."

Lily's eyes widened and she took four big steps back.

"I'm sorry, Cam, but I can't be near you right now. I'm deathly allergic to sandalwood!"

"Wait, you are?"

"Uh huh."

Beside him, Chan started to snicker. Cameron glared indirectly at him.

"See you in history."

"Wait. Lily!" she ran into the school.

Chan burst out laughing.

"Oh, man," he covered his face, "Oh, man! You really messed that one up!" he continued to laugh.

Cameron glared at him.

"Ha. Ha. No one would happen to have a bar of soap, right?"

Everyone shook their heads. The girls looked sympathetic while Chan continued to look smug.

Cameron sighed.

"It figures."

"There's always tomorrow," Brianna encouraged.

"Maybe," Cameron shrugged, "Or maybe not."

The school bell rang.

"Well, we'd better get inside," Chan shifted his satchel as the four of them walked up the front steps.

Please review and comment. But please, no foul language and/or character bashing.