Disclaimer: I do not own anything identifiable as Terminator.

Chapter Two: Nic Carson

It had been around a month since the day John Connor had first seen Nic Carson. True to his word, he had forgotten about her and moved on. He continued hanging with his friends and getting into trouble. After all, somethings just couldn't change.

While he actively had forgotten about Nic Carson, he would occasionally see her in the halls. No doubt, the curiosity was still there. He wasn't sure if it would ever leave, but he stayed away. He was trouble all on his own. The last thing he needed was doing something really bad that finally got him thrown into Juvi.

However, it was on May 14th that this would all change. It was a Monday, the most dreaded day of the week for nearly all students. And it was on this day that John woke, finding himself in a strangely good mood. He felt rather refreshed and Todd and Janelle werent even awake yet, so he had the whole kitchen to himself. He ate happily before he jumped on his motorbike and rode of to school.

Once there, he quickly locked the bike up and headed into the building. He made his way to his lockers, noting that Tim hadn't arrived to school yet. Then again, this wasn't so strange as John was a tad earlier than normal. Shrugging it off, John quickly opened his locker and pulled out his History book and his gym wear, which he would need for his first two blocks of the day. He did a double check of the locker before accepting that he had everything and shut the locker.

He turned around then, to head off to the locker room and crashed into a human barrier, their heads clashing. He shook his head as he heard a few books tumble to the ground. He looked down to see a girl bending down to pick up her books. Giving a heartbreaking smirk, John bent down and snatched the books up, beating her to it. They both stood up and they looked at each other for the first time.

John was slightly shocked to see that he was staring at Nic Carson. She was wearing sweatpants and a tank top, which he vaguely noticed looked rather good on her. He immediately handed her books over, smiling warmly. Despite his friend's warning and his better judgement, he addressed her, deciding it to be a perfect time to introduce himself and perhaps assuage these nagging thoughts that plagued him.

"I'm John Connor. I don't believe we've met," he said, holding out his hand to her. She stared at him for a time and he had the vague feeling that she was sizing him up, judging him. She continued staring at him for several moments and John began to feel more and more awkward. He began having nagging thoughts, wondering if Tim was right about her. Just as he was about to pull his hand back, she reached her own out and shook his hand.

"Nic Carson," she replied. "And no, we haven't met." She pulled her had back after she shook his and she continue staring at him for a moment. Nic was a bit of an outcast. She generally tried to stay out of trouble and didn't do anything wrong. She was quiet and did well in school, garnering her favor with the teachers. Nic was a little rough and Tom-boyish. She didn't like obsessing over her hair, make-up, and clothes like the other girls. She preferred to skateboard, ride motor bikes, listen to rock music, and spend quality time with her dad. This quality time would generally consist of camping, hunting, going to the gun range, and going to the archery range.

"Well, it's nice to meet ya Nic," John replied, smiling. Nic wasn't your average girl, of course, and she was very cautious after the incident that occurred two years back. Frowning, she continued to size John up, trying to analyze him. He appeared nice but she knew his delinquent type. She knew that they were, stereotypically, insincere yet she faltered upon looking into John's eyes. They had a light in them and he appeared sincere.

"You too, John," she said cautiously, uncertain of whether she truly meant those words or not. She hesitated, her mind telling her she didn't mean them, and yet, his eyes made her want to give him a chance. She felt as if, perhaps, she should trust and give a boy other than Lance a chance for once. Perhaps, she should try to get to know him.

"I'm sorry for running into ya. I wasn't paying attention. You alright?" John asked her sincerely. He was surprised to find he meant it. Generally, he would shout a stream of curses and blow the person off but she was a mystery and it was completely his fault he ran into her. He felt distinctly uncomfortable under her distrustful gaze yet he smiled. There were a few seconds of awkward silence before she smiled. It was the first smile he had seen in a month that was directed at anyone but that strange boy, whom he later learned to be her brother Lance Carson.

"It's fine, John," she replied, smiling, and he sighed in relief, glad she seemed to be giving him a chance to get to know him. "So, are you new here? I know mostly everyone in our grade. It's odd I haven't met you before," she told him, causing him to smile slightly. He answered her question honestly, explaining his foster situation though carefully skirting around the issue as to just why he was in a foster home. He wasn't sure if he could trust her enough or not to tell her as much.

They continued talking for a while, discussing bits about themselves. He learned that she enjoyed camping and motorbikes. That had been common ground for them and led into a discussion of past experiences and of their very own motorbikes. Unlike John, Nic wasn't allowed to ride hers to school and hers was at home. John, however, began to tell her all about his and how he was saving up money to get a new one soon. He neglected to tell her, though, just how he acquired said money he was storing. Details, he decided, weren't necessary.

After nearly ten minutes of talking in the hallway, John finally grew a pair and decided to ask her the very question he was dying to ask. "Hey, do you want to cut out of school," he asked bluntly. She blinked in surprise at him before the corner of her mouth turned up in a smirk.

"I can dig it," she replied, and he opened his locker, dumping his shit in it before stuffing her books in his bag. With a shared grin, he pulled his bag onto his back, shut his locker, and they ran out of the school together.

As they dashed out, John was oblivious as he ran past Tim. Tim sighed and shook his head as he watched the two run out of the school. Glaring and sighing in frustration, Tim stalked off to PE alone, pissed at that dickwad for ditching him to go with the outcast. It was a PE day and they were playing tennis! What would he do without his partner?!

A/N: Chapter Two is up! I have no idea where I'll be going with the next chapter so please bare with me! I hope you enjoyed and don't forget to review!