I was inspired to write an Arthur based story while watching the show with my 4 year old cousin whom I was babysitting at the

Disclaimer: I don't own Arthur or any of the characters; however I do own the plot of this story.

A/N: So I decided to hold off tryouts until the next chapter any how this chapter involves mostly Muffy…a bit of a nicer side to Muffy. Oh yeah and I made Emily Buster's cousin, I just thought it would be cute.

"Need a ride?" Muffy asked as soon as Francine had caught up with her. Francine shook her head, "I brought mine, and I have soccer practice after school today anyhow."

"Yeah I have our first cheerleading meeting with tryouts and with me as the captain I have to be there."

"You love saying that don't you?"

"Just a tad," Muffy grinned showing off her immaculate white teeth, "and being student council president."

Francine hugged her friend, "I missed you all summer."

"So did I, no more summers away from each other."

"No soccer camp and no trips to Paris."

"Deal," Muffy giggled, "where are you headed?"

"History with Lanter, you?"

"Same," she said as the two turned a corner.

"Hey Muffy, notice anything strange about Buster?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because he's been unusually quite this morning," she said following her friend into the classroom.

"He's probably just tired, Buster isn't exactly the morning person," she replied ignoring the feeling his cold stare this morning had given her as Francine nodded in agreement.

Muffy sighed staring at the clock ticking away on the wall as the teacher continued to lecture about what to expect in this history class. She could feel senioritis clawing at her already, which certainly wasn't good if Mr. Ratburn was going to be teaching her Physics. Besides, senioritis wasn't something she could factor into her life if she wanted to be admitted into Yale. She turned her attention out the window remembering a conversation she had had on the phone during the summer with Buster while she was in Paris visiting her grandparents.

Muffy was seated under an umbrella lit table outside of a tiny French café when her cell phone had gone off. She hushed her cousin Colette and flipped open her cell phone, "Bonjour, Muffy…"

"Don't begin to rant in French I don't understand," came the familiar voice she could recognize a mile away.

"I offered to tutor you. That B would have become an A if you just paid attention."

"Yeah, yeah, how's your trip so far? Meet any hot French boys?"

"It's been great and no, you weren't there," she laughed.

"Funny!"

"I'm here at a café with my cousin Colette sipping on the best cappuccino I've ever tasted, but something tells me you didn't phone me just to ask how my trip was going."

"I'm not shallow, Muffy, I just wanted to talk." Muffy could sense the frustration in his voice. She paused and switched the phone to her other ear, "What's up?"

"I'm at a hotel in Miami right now…"

"Stop bragging," she smirked, and even though Buster couldn't see her he knew that was exactly what she was doing.

"You're in Paris," he reminded her.

"Right," she grinned loving when people reminded her of that aspect.

"Stop gloating. Mom came too."

"You're parents came on a trip together, how is that possible?"

"Dad invited her to come along with us when he were at the Rocky's mom objected at first but dad said she could use a break, so she accepted. Then, they started getting along, so here she is again."

"Buster that's great, how cool would it be if your parents got back together?!"

"Don't be silly Muffy that just wouldn't be possible they still have a tendency to argue."

Muffy shook her thoughts aside as soon as the bell rang. Gathering her books she placed them into her brown messenger bag and followed Francine out the door. "You feeling ok?" the darker haired brunette asked the lighter haired one.

"Yeah," Muffy lied, stopping before the door to her English classroom, "this is my stop."

"Alright, I'll see you later," with a wave Francine headed down the hallway and out of sight. Muffy sighed she knew for a fact that she had this class with Buster, and now she had a hunch as to why she had earned that cold stare.

She stepped into the classroom with the grace of a ballerina and took her seat next to the blonde haired boy that she was dreading to see. He was busy copying notes the teacher had left for them on the board, and had already sensed her presence, but still he didn't bother looking up.

This in fact was a very un-Buster like thing to do, for one thing Buster wouldn't be copying notes until told twice and instead would be warming up the class with jokes before a long lesson and in the process the hearts of the teacher as well. Maybe that's why he had become such a heartthrob, he had the ability to make anyone laugh, and feel better. "You're staring," he muttered without so much as a glance.

Muffy put her head down, facing him, "nice of you to finally notice." Caramel tresses covered her tea colored orbs.

"What do you want Muffy?" he sighed letting his pen drop onto his notebook.

"I missed you Buster," she answered, "thanks for calling me when you got back."

"You could have done the same," he retorted.

"I did, you didn't answer." He sighed again reaching over for her hand, which she let him take, "I've had a lot on my mind."

"I can tell," she said, "So how was your escapade." If a moment was there it was long gone now. Muffy realized her mistake all too late; she felt his hand leave hers as hers fell to her side.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"Because of the way you're acting…God Buster why are you acting this way?"

"Acting what way?"

"Different." She said quietly, Buster turned away from her and instead faced forward catching Fern as she entered the classroom as the teacher closed the door behind her. A light smile played at his lips, which Muffy noticed. Following his gaze she only found the door, and therefore ignored his sudden odd behavior.

Buster had ignored her during the duration of the class and instead occupied himself in a conversation with Fern. Muffy rolled her eyes as she exited the classroom at the end of the period, she really didn't understand why he was taking this all out on her, its not like it was her fault, besides she didn't even know if his parents were back together, he hadn't said a word to her. She sighed just about to turn the corner when she felt herself being yanked. "Oh my God!" Sue Ellen squealed a little too closely towards her ear.

Muffy pushed the girl away, "What the hell, Sue Ellen!"

"Sorry," the redhead replied, "but did you see that new math teacher, Mr. Davis, sigh I just had him for Calc."

"No," Muffy replied clearly irritated as she smoothed down the wrinkles on her top.

"Well take a look," Sue Ellen said urgently pointing towards the classroom across from them. After rolling her eyes Muffy did as she was told and surely enough she spotted the black haired teacher sitting at his desk.

"Wow," Muffy said breathlessly, "I think my heart skipped a beat."

"He seems to be having that affect on everyone," Sue Ellen added, "…so um lunch?"

"Yeah, I'm starved."

Fern sat besides Muffy at the lunch table Arthur had picked according to Muffy's specific instructions. "I hope this is to your liking, princess," Buster teased setting his tray opposite to her.

"You're in a better mood," Muffy replied watching him open his bottle of iced tea with blatant curiosity.

He glanced at her for quick second before turning to the Brain, "Why would I be any different?"

Muffy didn't push the subject further and instead turned to Fern. "What happened to you?"

"I'm exhausted," the girl responded with a yawn, "I can't believe they gave us homework on the first day."

"I hear ya!" Buster grinned slapping his hand on the table and leaving Brain off in mid-sentence. Fern flinched and lifted her head up off the table. After a glance at Buster she turned her gaze to her food. She twirled some spaghetti onto her fork, trying her best to keep her eyes on the wormy substance that was supposedly pasta when she could feel the blonde's eyes on her.

Clearing her throat she turned to look across the table, at everyone in the range of her peripheral vision expect Buster, "So what are everyone's plans for after school?" she stuck the fork full of spaghetti into her mouth and began chewing slowly, it tasted like paste but she ignored it, and immediately swallowed.

"Why don't you just bring your own?" Muffy asked bearing a disgusted look after seeing Fern's expression.

"It isn't so bad," Fern interjected unsure of her words. Muffy shrugged her shoulder turning away from her.

"I have tryouts to deal with," she sighed running a hand through her long tresses of honey.

"Honor society meeting," Brain replied

"Same," Sue Ellen added nodding her head.

"Soccer," Arthur replied twisting the cap off his water bottle. Fern turned to Buster hopeful that he was free after school despite the fact that she knew very well he wouldn't.

"Basketball," he shook his head with a frown, "You know Fern you really should join something."

"Like what?" she asked knowing very well that she didn't have much in the area of extra curricular activities, that wouldn't settle well with college acceptances.

"Um…cheerleading," Buster offered scratching the back of his head.

Muffy turned to him, nearly spitting out her water, "You're joking right, Fern a cheerleader?"

"Just a suggestion," he added with a hopeful smile.

"No it's ok," Fern whispered poking her fork around in her tray, "it's not really my thing." Buster stared at Muffy a pleading look etched upon his face and mouthed, 'college.'

The brunette sighed, "Fine, you're more then welcomed to try out."

With that said she kicked Buster under the table and narrowed her eyes at him, "You owe me."

Before Buster could answer Francine had arrived on the scene and interrupted, "Hey, Muffy, D.W. going to try out for cheerleading."

"Wonderful," Muffy replied smacking her forehead, but maybe D.W. wouldn't be so bad.

"And Emily."

"Emily?" Buster and Muffy said in unison.

"Awesome," Muffy smiled.

"No," Buster added, "I do not want my cousin parading around in a mini skirt."

"Um, she already wears mini skirts, Buster," Muffy replied rolling her eyes, "besides the outfits are cute."

"My point exactly."

A/N: So next chapter will hopefully feature some Buster and Arthur and possibly Francine, we'll see how things pick up.