Ya-haw! Been awhile everybody! (well to those in the FF13 & Persona series anyways!) It's been a reallllllly looooooong time since I've updated my other stories cuz well, life caught up to me. moving out, going to classes and all the other jazz. Nyway I'm trying my hand in the Kingdom Hearts fanfic now! (Don't kill me o' reader of my FF13 story, i'm only on hiatus for the fic for awhile! Promise!) Well I dunno how well you guys (meaning readers0 are gonna receive this cuz I'm making Aqua (Heroine of KH:BBS) as the main character of my fic! W-ell we'll see how well this story goes hrm? If there are sum positive reviews then I'll be stoked to continue otherwise...well we'll jes see huhu. Nyway R&R plz! Enjoy! Ya-haw!

HIGHSCHOOL FIC! After getting kicked out of her house by her dad, 17-year old Aqua transferred to her cousin's school in Destiny High, hoping to make a fresh start. But everything's not peachy perfect as her new school is not what it seems to be. A battle between students and boundaries of classes separated the students into 3 factions. So what happens when Aqua somehow picked the worst side she could be on? Befriending a red-haired troublemaker, a super-elite soldier-trained girl, a bullied freshman, a spooky drawing-loving dormmate, a Ninja-wannabe cousin, a talented guitarist and many more to come! This story actually aims for self-confidence and all those mushy stuffs. Hilarity, chaos, romance and exams awaits our nerdy-going-to-be-beautiful-just-like-ugly-duckling-to-a-swan heroine!

CHAPTER I: Jocks, Culties & Outcasts

The wind blew past her face and scattered strands of hair in front of her eyes as the young girl walked out of the bus. Adjusting her blue hair slowly, she picked up her luggage bags and dragged them to the side of the road. It had been a long trip to get here and she needed to know that she was at the right place. She quickly unzipped her sleeveless jacket and adjusted her jeans, smoothing out the crease lines. Noticing a signpost, she quickly made her way towards it.

Pop music was blaring in her ears as she turned the volume of her IPod louder, just to distract herself from everything else. The blue-haired girl looked up at the signpost and read;

Destiny Island

Yup, I'm at the right place alright, she thought absentmindedly and scanned her surroundings. She was on the outskirts of town from the looks of it as she could see buildings ahead of her and smelled a faint scent of the sea in the air. Right beside her is some sort of field and she could see a few people farming around the area. Wow, never seen farmers before though... She thought interestedly and adjusted her glasses to see better.

Checking her watch, it was already evening and she could see the sky darkening. Sighing, she pulled out a map from her jeans pocket and frowned. Lesse' now, where the heck am I... From what her cousin had mentioned, there was supposedly some sort of dormitory around the town's beach area. Her frown became more prominent as she couldn't find the said dormitory on the map.

Please don't let this be another one of Yuffie's pranks... Sighing again, she decided to check the beach anyways, hoping that the dormitory would be real. Dragging her heavy luggage bags, she watched the town apprehensively and inhaled, "This is where you're gonna' be staying now Aqua..." She took out what looked like an aquamarine brooch from her pocket and clenched it tightly in her free hand, walking into the town

"This-Can-NOT-Be-Happening!" Aqua stared upwards in disbelief. Having spent an hour to find the beach, she had not expected to find the dormitory to be all the way up on a hill. "Near the beach my foot!" Technically it is near the beach but Yuffie didn't mention that I need to climb a mountain to get there! There was a road that curved like a snake all the way up to the dorm but Aqua knew the road would definitely ruin her sneakers.

Aqua grimaced slightly as she lets go of her bags. She sat on a bench and massaged her sore arm. She had been dragging her bags with her right hand while looking at the map with her left hand. She could have asked any of the townspeople to help her out but she was too shy to do so.

"Now what am I supposed to do..." Aqua sighed. She couldn't possibly take all her luggage up the hill and the sky was already getting dark. "Maybe I should call Yuffie and stay at her place for the night..." Aqua quickly denied that idea. She really adored her cousin, almost like a sister to her, but Aqua had already set her mind to not depend or burden anybody. Not since dad kicked me out of the house...

Again, she forcefully denied that thought to linger. Trying to think positive, Aqua lightly slaps her own face and stood up. "Alright! Time to put these muscles to good use!" She jokingly pumps her muscle and grabbed her bags.

A snort and a muffled laughter were heard and Aqua turned around in surprise. There was a person sitting on a bench next to hers and she had not noticed it until she heard the sound he, or she, makes. Aqua could tell that it was actually a he, from the looks of it. The stranger was wearing a jacket with his hoodie hiding his face. A single cigarette stick was sticking out of it and he was playing with his lighter, flicking it open and then closing it a few times. His other hand tucked in his jean's pocket.

Aqua stared at him for a while before deciding that it was probably not a good idea to approach that man, let alone ask for his assistance. She quickly turned around and pulled on her luggage bags when she suddenly felt dizzy and lost her footing. Aqua dropped to the ground as her vision was blurring and spinning around.

Migraine...Aqua grimaced as she massaged her forehead meekly. She had forgotten the fact that during the long bus ride she had not eaten anything since last night, skipping breakfast and lunch altogether. Her stomach growled and she pushed her hand against it. Again, the stranger snorted and snickered. Aqua blushed in embarrassment as she tried to stop her tummy from making any more noise. Geez, hush you! When we get to the dorm I'll fill you with lots of delicious treats now hush up! However, her stomach continued growling and she heaved a sigh of defeat.

"Here." A voice suddenly said, making Aqua jump. Her heart did a double-take when she turned to saw the smoking man holding out a bar of 'Snickies' at her. Slightly scared of the man, Aqua watched him nervously without doing anything. She knew better than to take treats from a stranger.

"Don't worry it's not poisoned." The man rolled his eyes and shoved the chocolate bar into her hand. Seeing him up close, Aqua realized that he was not that old. Probably around my age...She thought as she unwrapped the sweet and took a bite out of it. Instantaneously she regained her strength back and made a cartwheel jump to stand up.

The hooded boy whistled in amazement and clapped his hands in mock applause. "Thank you, thank you." Aqua humoured him and pretended to bow lowly. Now back to business... Aqua grabbed hold of her bags and pulled them with all her might. The rollers under the bags squeaked but hardly moved an inch.

Just great... "Move, you!" Aqua demanded pointlessly as the bags didn't even budge. Why do I have to bring all my junk from home? Sure, clothes were OK but toasters and oven? Living in a cave much?

"Need a hand?" The boy was squatting on the ground, his acid green eyes watching her with interest. Aqua realized she had not yet thanked the boy for the chocolate. Biting her lips nervously, she was contemplating on how to actually thank him. Should I say it casually? Just "Thanks for the meal!"? That sounds a bit weird...Maybe just "Thanks" would suffice? No no, the chocolate did help me a lot, how about "Your chocolate saved my life!"...That's weird...

"Yo! You still with me?" He snapped his fingers in front of her eyes, snapping Aqua out of her daydream. "H-Huh?" Aqua blinked. The boy sighed and stood up. W-Wow he's tall! She observed him for a while. He was tall and lanky, not really slim, average she could guess. Aqua watched him as he moved closer and grabbed the bags from her hand.

"H-Hey!" Aqua made to protest. She didn't want to burden, let alone depend, on a totally unknown guy. However he had already grabbed all of her stuffs and was walking towards the hills. "You were going up there right?" He turned around for confirmation.

Aqua nodded silently and he smirked. "Great, let's get a move on then!" However, instead of taking the uphill road, the boy made a left turn from the beach. Aqua jogged to keep up with his speed. Boy is he fast. "U-Um, where are we going?" She was totally clueless as to where they were headed. As far as she was concerned, the dormitory was the other way around.

"Huh?" The boy wheeled his head back to see her. "Oh, we're taking the stairs up. That road's only for cars and such y'know? You gotta be crazy if you wanna walk up a slide right?" No sooner had he said that they reached a set of stairs going up the hill. Aqua could tell that the stairs go directly to the dorm.

Wow now I feel stupid... She mentally kicked herself for not realizing that the upward road was not the only way to get to the dorm. I mean, how else would the other girls living there go back right?

The boy had carried all her luggage in both his arms and had ascended the flight of stairs. "What da' hell is in all these bags? Granite stones?" He was grimacing a bit from the weight.

"N-Not really, just my...whole room?" Aqua answered the last part a little unsurely and nervously. The boy cocked his eyebrows but merely said, "...Whatever."

The rest of the trip was filled with an uncomfortable silence. Aqua was following the boy closely. Unsure of what to say or what to do she didn't start any conversation with her helper. However after a while, she started humming her favourite song, My Hands, by Leona Lewis just to break the quietness of the surrounding.

"Hey I know that song." The boy said interestedly, turning to face Aqua. "My Hands right? Damn, I like that catchy tune of da' song." He said with a grin.

"This song is absolutely beautiful, and the way she sings it is really spectacular! The lyrics especially! They sound so right and I mean..." Aqua stopped talking right away and quickly looked the other way, blushing slightly. "I sound like a dork don't I?"

The boy continued to look at her with interest. "Not really, jes' unpredictable." He gave her a smirk and hummed the tune too. Glad to have broken the silence, Aqua hummed together with him, synchronizing with his humming splendidly. The harmony between their two voices matched so well that even the birds, which supposedly should've gone to bed by now, began chirping as if it was early in the morning.

"~Hm~Hm~Hm~" Aqua hummed peacefully until they reached the dormitory. Aqua scanned the building. It looked quiet old and none of windows on the second and third floor are lighted. That's weird, maybe they all went to bed early or something?

"Well, here we are, the Haunted Dorm!" The boy dropped the bags and clapped Aqua's shoulder. "The what?" Aqua looked at him quizzically. He did not just say... "Haunted Dorm." He repeated simply. "This place's been abandoned since forever, but I think da' owner's granddaughter still lives here or something...as a ghost." He made an 'oooo!' sound and wriggled his fingers as an added effect.

Aqua gulped involuntarily. She was not good with spectral beings, and whole lot of other things at that. "S-So you're saying that there's absolutely no one living here?"

"Absolutely no one~." He repeated with a smirk. The boy lit another cigarette and turned around, heading towards the stairs.

"W-Wait! You're leaving already?" Aqua looked at him, aghast. Don't leave me here with the ghosts!

"Course' I am, wouldn't want the ghouls to eat me now would I?" He gave her an evil grin.

"Y-You're mean! At least accompany me into the building or something!" Aqua looked at the old dormitory and then towards the boy.

He looked at her for awhile before shrugging, "Nope, no can do. You're on your own doll." He gave her a small wave. Aqua slumps her shoulders in defeat, but then the boy turned around and asked her, "Hey! Which school are ya' goin' to?"

"Destiny High..." Aqua muttered quietly. What's that got to do with ghosts?

"Really?" The boy looked at her with interest as Aqua merely grabbed all her bags drearily.

"Yeah...I'm enrolling tomorrow..." If I can live that long anyway! Look at the dorm! It's practically screaming 'KILL YOU!" right in my face! As she looked up again she was surprised to see the boy practically inches away from her, his face directly in front of hers. "W-What is it?" Aqua pushed his face away, blushing furiously.

He stared at her for awhile before shrugging, "Nothing. By the way, sup' with the goofy glasses?" he pointed what was on Aqua's face.

"T-They're not goofy!" Aqua consciously adjusted them. True, in this day and age, one can hardly go around wearing a pair of big, round spectacles with thick black frames without being laughed at, but Aqua had liked the glasses. It made her feel safe from the world.

"Whatever." He shrugged again and walked towards the stairs. Then, he turned around again, "BTW, the name's Axel. A-X-E-L, got it memorized?"

Aqua gave him a confused look. "Why'd you tell me that?" She really didn't get the young man. First he was laughing at her, and then he gave her food, then laughed again, then helped her with her stuffs, then laughed again, then teased her, then this...

"I dunno, maybe cuz' I got a gut feeling I'll see you again." Axel laughed a bit and ran down the stairs.

What's that supposed to mean? Aqua watched him leaves and turned her attention towards the dorm. She gulped and exhaled deeply. "OK...Let's do this!" She summoned up all her bravery to enter the old dormitory.

Aqua

"H-Hello?" Aqua squeaked as she peeked inside the dorm. Gripping a tennis racket which her cousin had given for her 13th birthday, she peered anxiously inside and scanned the area. No ghosts here... She slowly entered the building, pulling her entire luggage at once.

Aqua was immediately brought into a hall room. The room was decorated in an old English-style where the room was painted a lavish brown colour, antique sofas, and a grand tea-table in the middle of the room. The only thing that did not match the surrounding was a huge, plasma screen TV set.

Aqua looked left and right anxiously, not a single soul was seen. She let out a sigh of relief but did not drop her guard. Okay get a grip Aqua! There couldn't possibly be any-

Suddenly, somebody coughed behind Aqua, making her shriek and jumped violently out of shock. "Please Please Mr. Ghost don't eat me! S-Spare me please!" Aqua kneeled on the floor, begging for her life.

However instead of a gruff and sinister voice, a small, soft voice was heard instead. "What on earth are you talking about?"

Aqua looked up, pulling a confused look on her face. It wasn't a ghost but a young girl sitting behind a counter. She has blonde hair and blue eyes (just like me!) She was wearing a white dress and was sitting on a chair with her legs close to her chest. She wasn't looking at Aqua, rather she was quite fixated with her sketchbook, drawing something with a dull and uninteresting expression, as if she had been doing it for hours without stopping.

Aqua watched her for awhile, not wanting to disturb her concentration. The only sound that could be heard in the hall was of the girl's pencil scratching on the sketchbook furiously. A while past and the girl finally sighed and put down her sketchbook.

Aqua flinches a bit as her eyes met the girl's. Her eyes were dreary and Aqua shuddered a bit at the thought; lifeless. She looked sickly and her pale skin seemed to emit a grey aura than surrounds her, making her looked all the more like a ghost. She beckoned for Aqua to come closer to the counter.

Aqua stepped forward hesitantly, her eye contact with the girl did not break. She coughed slightly and held out a form towards Aqua.

"...You must be the new tenant of this dormitory right...?" She asked in a low voice. Again she held out her hand to her mouth to cover her cough.

Maybe she's a sickly girl...Poor thing... Aqua thought sympathetically.

"Well...Are you...?" She asked again in a soft voice, her expression did not change. Aqua nodded and the girl took out a pen from a drawer. "Then I need you to sigh this form please...It's sort of like a terms and agreement contract..." She closed her eyes sleepily as Aqua took the pen.

She skimmed through the contract paper. Keep the dorm clean...okay...Always check the door is locked after midnight...still fine...Do the chores and clean the bathroom?...Eww... After finished reading the contract she finally signed the paper and looked up to the blonde girl. However, she wasn't in her seat.

"H-Huh?" D-Don't tell me she's a real ghost! Aqua checked behind the counter quickly.

"Let's show you your room now..." A voice sounded directly behind her.

"E-Ep!" Aqua squeaked involuntarily and turned to see the girl was standing behind her. "D-Don't do that!" Aqua frowned at her.

The girl looked at Aqua, puzzled. "Do what?" She tilted her head slightly.

Aww, she looks sooo cute! Aqua gave an 'aww' look at the girl. True, she was spooky and Aqua had her reservations of her being a spirit but she couldn't help but to notice how cute the girl looks. "You-are-so-ADORABLE!" Aqua hugged the girl tightly and ruffled her hair furiously.

The girl looked perplexed but she did not push Aqua away, only because she didn't know what to do. "U-U-Um Miss..." She tried to get Aqua's attention but Aqua was busy checking the girls' face.

"You're like a living doll! Your skin is so smooth and your cheeks! Ooh, so squishy!" Aqua squashed the girl's face and rubbed her cheeks around.

"M-Mishhh..." The girl tried to get Aqua's attention again but Aqua was preoccupied with her squishing. Finally Aqua stopped and let out a sigh of satisfaction.

"You have very soft skin, you're like a cuddly jelly bear!" Aqua's eyes twinkled as she imagined her in a teddy bear suit. "Oh I forgot to ask! What's your name?" She beamed at the blonde girl.

She stayed quiet for a moment as she massaged her red cheeks. Then, "...Naminé..."

"Naminé." Aqua repeated happily. "So do you go to Destiny High too?" Aqua looked at her expectantly.

Still massaging her cheeks, Naminé nodded and gave Aqua a confused look. "...You are very weird Miss..."

"Aqua." Aqua gave her name and hugged Naminé again. "I just can't let go of you! ~"

Aqua

My room was much neater and nicer than I had imagined. There was a clean bed, a desk and chair for me to do my studies, and a cupboard to put my clothes in.

I wasn't really feeling up to unpacking my stuffs so I just threw my bags at the corner of the room and jumped onto the bed. I stared at the ceiling for a while, wondering if Naminé had gone back to sit behind the counter in the hall. (She had wanted to get to know Naminé more, to which the girl had shaken her head vigorously and ran away as soon as she showed Aqua's room.)

"Tomorrow's the first day of school huh? My first day at school that is..." I mumbled to myself. The first semester had started about a week ago. I hope Yuffie keeps her promise to meet me tomorrow...

Unconsciously I took out my brooch and held it over the light. The aquamarine gem sparkled. I always enjoyed watching it shine, it kinda reminded me of a shiny star. But the downside is his face will pop out whenever I see this brooch.

"...No use thinking about him now..." I frowned at the brooch and tossed it aside.

The brooch had represented some of my happiest memories and also my worst. I wanted to forget what he did to me but somehow I just couldn't bring myself to throw it away. Not this brooch...or my memories with him...

"Maybe I should get some rest...It's been a long day..." I couldn't help but yawn. It's really been awhile since I got a decent bed to sleep on. I fluffed my pillow and before I know it, I was already sleeping.

Aqua

Destiny High was a couple of blocks away from the beach from what the map had shown but somehow I still managed to get lost! I had to go around the neighbourhood a few times before a kindly old man showed me the right way. I ran as fast as I can and barely beaten the arrival bell (yay!). I noticed some of the other kids staring at me and then they walked away, sniggering.

No doubt laughing about my outfit... I was wearing the school uniform; a white shirt with a black vest and necktie, and also a black skirt (which I find a bit uncomfortable cuz' it's a bit too short to my liking!). The problem is that my uniform is a little too big for my size.

It was a stupid mistake I made cuz' I trusted Yuffie to buy me my uniform. I was horrified when she had bought a size 'L' (Large!) I mean, what am I? An elephant?

I guess it doesn't help much that I'm wearing my, what Axel had named them, 'goofy' glasses and a fisherman's hat to cover my hair. I had a very horrible memory from my last school when the kids made fun of my hair colour. Not that I bleached it or anything, I'm born natural!

I pulled on my hat and looked around for the Principal's office. It took awhile but I finally found it (after getting lost again) with the help of the school janitor.

All I know about my new principal is that his name is Ansem. He was some kind of a genius professor from some university with his theories of 'The Heart' and its many uniqueness. From what I heard (meaning Yuffie), he had stopped his research altogether after finding a flaw in it and settled down to become a teacher to teenagers instead.

I knocked on his door a few times before I heard a deep voice, "Enter." I opened the door slowly and saw Mr. Ansem sitting behind his desk, looking quite busy with his paperwork. He was an elderly man with blonde hair and clean facial hair. He was wearing a long red scarf and a white robe (I guess it's from his time back when he was a professor).

Actually he looked pretty strict, what with his stern face and the imperious aura he's giving off. I was surprised when he looked at me and gave me a smile. Like, his frown line totally disappeared!

"Ahh, you must be Aqua, sit down sit down..." His voice was a lot less gruff then before as he pointed to a chair in front of his desk.

I pulled up the chair and he coughed as he prepared to give me a speech. He explained about the school, what year it was established, their objectives, their expectations of the students, their examinations date...Okay it's getting a little bit too boring, even for me...

He handed me my class assignment – 2F. He gave me a fatherly smile as I thanked him, leaving his office.

I checked my timetable and...First lesson's History. I hurried to my classroom as class had already begun.

Axel

"Can you guys be quiet for one sec! I'm trying to give an announcement here!" Kairi shouted exasperatedly over the noisy classroom.

Fat lot of help that'll do... I snorted.

The whole class is being an ass as usual too, it's no wonder the teach's gave up teaching. I didn't really feel like getting involve with their riot since it's way early in the morning (save my bad-ass behaviour for the final bell). I just played with my lighter, flicking it around and watched the flames dance.

"You're gonna get caught one of these days y'know?"

I turned and groaned. Tifa.

"What's it to ya' if my ass got burned huh?" I'm seriously not in the mood to hear some goddamned lecture in the morning too.

"That" She pointed at my lighter "can get you in trouble with Headmaster Ansem. Seriously why don't you think before doing something? Be more like Te-"

"You want to be big, burly bullies like him and the crowd you hang with?" I snorted. "No thanks, now please go away. You're bothering me."

Tifa made a hurt expression but it was quickly replaced with a frown. "I'm only looking out for you y'know..."

"Ain't your beeswacks to go buttin' in my life, so you do your thing with your posse' and I'll do mine. Comprende?" I was really getting annoyed by her complaining on how to live my life. Every day is the same shit; Clean your ass and be more like Mr. Popular Big-Ass Terra.

Tifa looked really angry when I said that. "H-How can you say that! Axel! We've been friends since kindergarten, of course I'm gonna be buttin' in your life!" She put her hands on her hips. Oh boy, here we go with the 'We're-childhood-friends-so-I-care-about-you' shit.

Truth be told I don't hate Tifa or anything, it's just the idiots she hang out with. We were doing fine up till' middle school when she suddenly got her calling to join the jerk squad, the 'Jocks'. The biggest clan around, they practically run everything and rule this stupid shithole we call a school.

"-Hey Axel are you listening to me?" Tifa's words snapped me back to the present. I blinked a few times before shrugging.

"Whatever..." I looked out the window and continued flicking my lighter. I knew Tifa must've been hurt because she didn't start nagging again and left me alone. No doubt going into the toilet to weep or sumthin'...tch...

Crappy start for the day, I knew I should've checked my horoscope today...not that I believe in that crap anyways...

"What the hell am I even doing in school anyways?" I slapped my face to cover my eyes. To any teenagers that are normal like me, going to school wasn't one of my favourite hobbies. I usually just cut school and have either Zexion or Kairi to give an excuse to the teachers (Kairi didn't approve of the idea but she also didn't want to see me get my ass kicked outta' school). Zexion has been the biggest help, usually giving the teachers a fake medical note issued from his dad's hospital.

"...This place sucks...Wonder if there's anything to make it more exciting..." I burned a bit of my table hummed a tune randomly. Waitaminute... I continued humming the tune, somehow it was really familiar. Where the hell had I heard it? Pretty recently too...

Before I could even muse over that piece of memory the History teacher, Sazh Katzroy, entered the classroom. He wasn't affected by the war that's ongoing in the classroom. Guess he's used to it.

"Alright, alright siddown' now the lot of ya'! We got a new transfer student joining us today so I want you all to be in your best behaviours got it? That means no blitzballing in the class! Tidus!" Sazh pulled out his customized paintball gun (is it even legal to bring it to school?) and shot at the blitzball Tidus was throwing in the air.

The ball rolled away as Tidus yelled "What the hell?" and Sazh gave him a detention for that.

"Anyone else?" The history teacher looked around the class. All of them had gone strangely silent, mostly out of fear of being shot by the gun and not by getting detentions.

"That's better. Oh Axel, I just noticed you there. Feelin' better son?" Sazh gave a thumb up to me and smiled.

"A-Okay now sir, appreciate the concern." I grinned back at him. Sazh was cool. He wasn't like any of the other pain in the ass teachers and he was quite laid back about a lot of things. He knew how I roll in class and in return I show him a certain degree of respect, with sincerity. At least he doesn't call the rest of us 'Outcasts' losers...

Kairi raised her hand up to get Sazh's attention. "Mr. Katzroy I thought you said we have a new classmate coming here?"

Sazh nodded and called out to whoever's outside the door.

The door slides open and whoever, or whatever, had made her way into the classroom. I merely gape at the girl.

"Whoa, sup' with her?" The kid sitting behind Kairi (what's-his-name Hayner?) pointed at the new kid.

I kinda get why he was surprised and all. The transfer student was odd in every way. If it weren't for the skirt I wouldn't have known she was a chick.

Overlarge school uniform...weird hat...goofy glasses... I yawned and turned away disinterestedly. The new kid sure is weird alright...sup' with the goofy glasses...waitaminute, goofy glasses? My neck turned 180 degrees back to the new girl.

Holy crap it's her! I couldn't help but stare at her with my eyes wide open. The chick from yesterday!

She was fidgeting away in front of the class. Prolly' nervous or sumthin'.

"H-Hello...?" She said nervously. No one said anything. Damn snobs...just say 'hi' back! What're you guys' problem anyways? They were just staring at her, transfixed.

The new girl took another brave attempt. "E-Erm my name's A-Aqua. I transferred her from Departure High." This time around, the class reacted towards her words.

I let out a whistle. Everyone knows the crowd at Departure High. The place's supposed to be where all the elites hang out. You gotta be a somebody or knows a somebody to get in that place.

Somehow the new kid didn't fit the picture. Prolly' why she transferred here in the first place...

"I-I hope we can all be friends...?" She added the last part a little too unsurely, because the kids are now staring at her, some with a frown on their face.

I smirked at the girl. Guess she's the innocent, naive type...different from all these suckers anyways.

I clapped my hands a few times. "Good speech there kid! Nice meeting ya'." I wanted it to be welcoming, but I'm guessing it came out a bit sarcastic. I gave her an encouraging smile and continued clapping. Then some of the others began clapping too, and the class broke into their normal chaos again.

Sazh motioned for the new girl to find an empty seat.

"Oh Oh! Over here, over here!" I waved enthusiastically, pointing at a seat beside me. Nobody else wanted to seat with 'Bad Boy' Axel, so the seat's been vacant for some time.

She made her way towards me, passing the other kids. Some were sniggering at her but I gave them a death glare to shut up. Idiots.

The girl sat down beside me, adjusting her hat unsurely and gave me an anxious smile. I couldn't help but grin at the innocent girl. Man is this gonna be fun or what?

Aqua

Oookkkaaayyy the whole class thinks I'm weird! They were all staring at me like I'm some kind of bug...which I wished that I was right now so I could be squashed and get it over with.

I'm glad he helped me though. I stared at my new desk partner. He was still grinning at me and watching me. It was making me nervous though, is it my glasses?

"Sup' new girl?" He was still grinning at me. I studied him for a bit; He had really long and spiky red hair, acid green eyes and tattoos of an upside down teardrops underneath both his eyes. He was kinda familiar actually now that I think about it...

"So you survived the haunted dorm huh? Glad to see you made it to school." He whistled.

"H-Huh?" I thought for awhile on what he just said. Now who'd said that to me yesterday? Then it clicked. "You're the guy that helped me with my stuffs yesterday! The chocolate guy!" I said happily.

He nodded energetically. "Hey I have a name remember? Axel."

"I remembered." I found my anxiety vanished tight on that spot thanks to him. He sounds like a wise-crack but I kinda get the feeling that he's a nice guy.

"Ya' don't have to mind what these guys think bout' ya', you'll get used to the murmurs after awhile." He made a dramatic wave with his hand and rolled his eyes.

However my heart sank when he said that. "It won't stop?" I practically squeaked. Am I going to be the subject of everybody's joke for the rest of my high school year?

"You kidding me? No way~!" Axel said laughingly. That did not comfort me in any way at all. I stared at the whiteboard glumly, noticing the kids still talking about me.

After History was English, it was taught by Mr. Cid, a blonde-haired man that has a stick in his mouth (he had explained it was a cinnamon stick, for health reasons). Despite teaching English, he was NOT the type to speak with sophisticated words.

"Siddown you #$%& kids! Class is starting!" He yelled to us. The class seemed unperturbed by his foul language, Axel was even laughing as if he had told a joke.

"Right right, so we're learning how to write a freakin' goddamned essay today. Hell, I dunno why we even need to learn how to write. Those dumbasses from the higher-ups just wanna make our lives miserable don't they?" He cracked a smile. His language might be a bit...crude but at least he's nice.

Next was Maths. Axel had warned me beforehand not to mess with this teacher. His name is Saix. I immediately knew why after I had accidentally gotten the answer to a geometry problem wrong. He had made me stand in the classroom hallway wearing an "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO SIMPLE MATHS" sign.

It was humiliating! But at least I earned a few sympathies from my classmates. They had experienced the same thing too. Weirdly enough Axel joined me in the hallway a minute later wearing an "I WILL NOT CALL MY TEACHER A DOUCHEBAG" sign.

I stifled a giggle while he goes around showing off his sign to the other students walking past us.

Then the bell rang, a sign to show that it's recess.

I arranged my stationery nicely as Axel was making his way towards me. It would be nice to have someone showing me how the cafeteria rules work (and show me where the cafeteria is exactly!) but just then an announcement was heard from the PA system.

"E-hem, would Mr. Axel from class 2-F kindly make his way to the Principal's office? Principal Ansem is waiting for you. I repeat..."

"What? What'd I do this time?" Axel swore loudly and gave me a disappointed look. "Sorry newbie, guess I can't show you around the cafes'."

"It's alright, I'll survive I guess." I gave him a confident smile. Surely the cafeteria wouldn't be that bad right?

Axel was still in a bit of a bad mood as he made his way out of the classroom. However he quickly wheeled around, giving me a sharp look. "Hey, whatever you do, don't get in one of the Jocks bad side kay'?"

The Jocks? Does he mean those guys that play sports? "What do you me-"

He cut me short. "Just don't, kay?"

I merely nodded my head. What did he mean by that?

Aqua

I soon found out what he had meant.

While walking towards the cafeteria I saw a bunch of kids circling around in front of the lockers. There were some shouts and then laughter. I couldn't resist going there so see what is happening (I mean, COME ON, who wouldn't?).

There was another group of kids crowding the locker. They seemed to be the main attraction of this little show.

"C'mon brat, jes' get in there already!" A blonde girl with antennae-like hair was laughing. She was pushing a small boy into an empty locker.

"C-C'mon Larxene, don't do this! This is the hundredth time this week!" The boy pleaded, pushing against the girl with his legs against the inside of the locker.

"Aww, I thought you're well acquainted with your lil' room here?" The blondie didn't show any mercy. A few of her friends went to her side and helped pushed the boy into the locker.

The boy gave a yelp as they locked him in, laughing.

"H-Hey, lemme' out!" He banged against the locker door.

None of them paid attention to his pleading. I can't believe it! They were even high-fiving each other! And why doesn't anyone say something? I gave the other kids a dirty look. I mean helllooo! Kid in trouble here, helping much?

"Hey! Let him out!" I looked at those kids crossly. The crowd immediately divided into two, leaving me in the middle of the attention. Great, real big help guys!

The bullies stared at me hard. I stood my ground and glared back, no way am I losing to you hoodlums! Then they burst out laughing.

"WooHooHoo! W-What are you s-supposed to be? The Nerd Police?" A guy wearing a black beanie laughed at me, banging his fist on the locker.

"C-Careful Sei', or she'll make you wear those stupid glasses!" His friend, a feminine-looking, silvery-haired guy with ponytail chuckled.

What's so funny with what I wear anyways? Sure it's not the latest trend or anything but it's not THAT weird.

The blonde-haired girl approached me with a cruel smile etched on her face, her two friends following suit. Now that I think about it, I'm kinda outnumbered in this situation.

"So wutcha' gonna do about it huh? Four-eyes?" She jabbed me with her finger roughly. "Don'tcha know who we are? We're with the jocks sweetum'."

I remembered Axel warning not to mess with these guys but... "Let him out of the locker now...or else..." I muttered under my breath.

"Or else what?" She openly challenged me.

"I'll tell Principal Ansem about this." I finished quietly.

The girl bursts out laughing when she heard me say the principal's name. "Hahaha, you think that using that old senile fart's name is gonna scare me?"

Before I knew it my body was slammed to the wall, hard. Oww.

"Listen here four-eyes, you jes' made it into my black book, and people who's in my black book, like sweet lil' shrimp there, are gonna get hurt. Know what I mean?" She said with a cold smile and took out a pocketknife.

OMG OMG she got a freaking knife! I felt my courage seeping out of me as she pointed the knife delicately in front of my chest.

"Wouldn't want those sweet bosoms to get scarred now do ya'?" She poked my chest lightly. I could feel the heat from the embarrassment rising to my face.

"What's going on here?"

Suddenly a voice rang behind the blondie's two minions. She winced and quickly let go me, chucking the knife back into her pocket.

"Larxene." A boy appeared behind her.

"Terra." She said his name in a false sweet voice.

The boy was taller than she was, towering over her with an air of authority. He had long, spiky brown hair and (I was mesmerized by this!) well-kept, muscled body. He was practically buff! I can feel the heat rising again, but this time not from embarrassment.

He eyed the scene quietly. His eyes shifted from Larxene, to the still banging locker, and finally me. My heart gave a quick jump as he flashed me a warm smile, but his smile quickly disappeared as he stared back at Larxene.

"What did I tell you about bullying freshmen?" His voice wasn't angry, but somehow it still made Larxene shifting on her feet uneasily.

"And you two" He pointed at the other two "get your butts into the club room. Now." His voice had such forceful command that they both muttered an 'okay' and disappeared.

"I'll have a word with you later Larxene." Terra crossed his arms while Larxene looked perplexed.

"What, you wanna preach to me to be buddy-buddy with the freshies now?" She jabbed me on the chest with her finger. "In case you've forgotten Terra, we've both been through the same shit that we're doing to them."

"Nevertheless I don't approve of it. Let her go Larxene." Terra's voice suddenly grew tense.

Larxene had grabbed me by the collar and pushed me onto the ground. Whoa she's like, strong! I couldn't break free from her grip. She was squeezing the oxygen out of me!

"Screw you and your ideals Terra! I've been through shit to earn this badge." She pointed to a pin on her left collar. I noticed it had the symbol of a yellow nymph on it as she's strangling me.

"I can do whatever I want with this fresh meat!" She raised her free hand up. I knew what was coming, a big fat slap print would be prominent on my face any moment now. I closed my eyes to endure the pain.

I didn't know what happened next. All I heard was Larxene shouting "What the hell?" and next thing I know I could breath easily again.

Air, sweet mother air! I inhaled deeply as I was on all four on the ground. When I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was a flash of pink jumping around the hallway. Larxene had taken out her pocketknife and seemed genuinely worried.

"Dammit, Lightning!" Larxene hissed and threw her knife straight at the ceiling.

My mouth had typically fallen to the floor by now. There was a girl hanging upside-down on the ceiling. Spider-Girl? I squinted my eyes to see better. Oh, she was just hanging on the ceiling light of the school...Very big deal!

Twirling in the air again, the Spider-Girl caught Larxene's knife in mid-air and landed beside me. Wooooow. I studied her appearance out of fascination. Strawberry-pink hair, slim figure and quite tall. Her school shirt and vest was practically hugging her skin, and her skirt was really, really short.

"No knives allowed Larxene." Spider-Girl spoke with an annoyed voice, as if the girl was wasting her time.

Larxene's face shifted from worry to anger. "Y-You bitch! Think you're all high mighty cuz' you stopped my knife?"

"That...and the fact that I beat you every time. It's been getting really annoying BTW." She answered with a bored tone.

Before Larxene could retort Terra had gotten in-between the two girls.

"Enough." He faced Larxene. For the first time he looked really scary, even Larxene seemed to have lost her will to fight. Terra continued to stare at Larxene, forcing her to leave the scene.

The blondie muttered curses under her breath as she stalks away, not before giving me a very dirty look.

I'm not afraid of you! Well, that's what I would've said but somehow I don't really want to provoke her any more. Spider-Girl has done enough of that.

The herculean boy then turned to face us. "I'm really sorry about Larxene, I'll make sure to talk to her later Lightning."

Lightning nods her head. "Just make sure she's not making anyone else her victim." She pointed at the locker behind him. It seemed like the boy had stopped asking for help.

"Ohmygosh I forgot about him!" I slapped my forehead and quickly approached the locker. "Hey! Are you alright?" I asked the silent locker.

"...Is somebody out there?" He asked meekly, his eyes peering through the gap of the air vent.

I flashed him a smile. "Don't worry I'll get you out. Hang on a sec..." I don't know how exactly am I gonna' get him out. Picking the locker's combination was out of the question...maybe I should pry it open... I looked around for something to help me crack this metal box open.

"I'll help." Terra suddenly appeared beside me. I looked at him sceptically. Well, he was one of them. The ones Axel had called The Jocks.

Should I trust him? Well he did help me out just now... before I could give a reply a familiar voice crept into the scene.

"Uhh, I don't think so Mr. Popularity." It was Axel.

"Axel." Terra muttered his name.

Axel was glaring at him before he grabbed my arm and shielded me from Terra's view.

"I'm not here to create trouble, I just want to help." Terra said earnestly.

"Don't need any." Axel answered simply. He kicked the locker door hard and it swung open. The boy came tumbling down, groaning on the floor.

"You alright?" I pushed past Axel and bends down to him. I gave the boy a gentle pat on his head (what? I can be caring too!).

"Thanks." I smiled at Axel.

The frown quickly disappears from Axel's face, replaced by a joyful look. "No probs' newbie, us outcasts gotta protect each other y'know?" He gave a toothy grin before glaring back at Terra.

"We got him out, so why dontcha' move along and go stink someone else's life?" Axel 'shooed' him with his hand.

Terra remained silent for awhile, and then he looked at me straight in the eyes. "...I'm really sorry about Larxene. Trust me, not all of us are like that."

He seemed to be really sad for some reason. I couldn't help but to wonder what kind of person he really is. He can't be that bad can he?

"...My name's Aqua." I said quietly. OOOKKKAAAYYY I don't even know why I just gave out my name randomly.

However, the boy's face relaxed and he smiled. "Aqua. I'm Terra." His eye contact didn't waver and I couldn't help but look back.

"Okay stop with the mushy scene now." Axel suddenly came between us, again. "Fair warning friend, any of your funnyboys do anything to her I'll make sure there's hell to pay." He stared at Terra.

I was really touched by Axel's somehow scary threat. Nobody had really stood up for me before, not even my own dad.

Terra remained silent and nods his head. He turned around and began walking away, but not before saying, "It was nice meeting you Aqua."

Aqua

The cafeteria was jam-packed with students. It was just like my class! The students were causing havoc and the others looked like they don't bother much. I silently followed Axel as he was busy explaining about the school's true nature.

"Right. Basically the school's divided into two groups, the jocks and the cultural clan. The big guns that're practically pulling the strings in this school are the jocks. They own like, 80% of the school's budget and all that." Axel explained as he ducked to avoid a flying Frisbee.

"You need to watch out for them, though they're what you'd call sportsmen and athletes that had brought honour to this school are jes' a front for their more...illicit activities." Axel's face darkened.

"You mean, they do drugs?" I asked quizzically. Hey it could happen! Maybe they're using steroids and such!

"Some of them do." Axel answered seriously "But most of them are jes' bullies. Not that Imma' busybody or nythin' but I jes' don't like the way the roll y'know? And you already know this; you screw with any of em', you're as good as dead for the rest of your school year."

I nodded in agreement. Bullies are the worst. I shot a look at the blond boy beside me, he was also another victim...poor thing. I ruffled his hair and smiled at him. The poor boy was surprised for a moment but he returned my smile with his own grin. Aww...

"Next we have the cultural gang. Not really a gang though, jes' clubs really...They're more known as Culties. They don't really do much actually, and I'm friends with some of em'. They do things like origami and all da' other crap. But under the radar they're in charge with keeping the school in order. Y'know? Balance the power between their clubs and the jocks'." Axel continued.

Okay I'm totally confused now. Bullies? Powers? Seriously is this school even normal? I gave him a strange look and he laughed.

"You'll get used to it." Axel flashed a toothy smile "Oh, and then there's the third unlabelled group. Us." He pointed to me, the blond boy and then Lightning.

I jumped in surprise when I noticed that Lightning had been following us ever since the incident just now. I didn't even feel her presence! What is she, some kind of elite, super-trained soldier?

"U-Um...hi?" I tried my best to be friendly and gave a nervous wave. She returned my greeting with a quick nod. Lightning...what a weird name...

Axel seemed to have noticed me wondering. "Her name's not really Lightning though. Last name; Farron. First name; anyone's guess." Axel laughed heartily.

I shot him a quizzical look but then decided to shrug it off. The school is weird enough anyways. "So when you said us, what'd you mean by that?"

To my surprise, Lightning was the one who answered my question.

"We're outcasts." She began with a tensed tone. "We're not committed to any clubs or on any of the two sides. Put it in simpler terms; we're losers." Her tone ended a bit too sarcastic.

Axel and the blond boy nodded in agreement.

"And what made the jerks pick on you?" Axel turned to him, only noticing the boy had been following them until now.

The boy contorted his face, thinking deeply. "I, uh...spilled my lunch all over Larxene on the first day of school..."

Axel laughed at this and Lightning gave the boy a 'good job' pat on his shoulder.

"And my life's gone from normal to hell after that. Every day it's 'Say Hello To Mr. Locker' day for me..." He hung his head low sadly.

Axel snorted. "That sounds like something Larxene would do. So what's your name kid? You a freshie?"

The boy nodded his head. "My name's Ventus, but you guys can call me Ven." He introduced himself.

A few seconds later we arrived to the furthest table in the back of the cafeteria. I noticed the place was strangely empty, as if avoided from the masses. There was a strange black line painted between the rest of the school and here.

"The kids won't go near here cuz' this is where we hang out." Axel said matter-of-factly. I noticed that there were only two people sitting in the 'blacklisted' zone. One was a blond boy holding a guitar while the other one...

I recognized immediately who she is.

"Yuffie!" I called my cousin.

The brunette spun around and her face shone in delight. She did a cartwheel and crashed/hugged me.

"Cuz! It's been ages!" She laughed as she brushes her face against my chest furiously. Then she frowned, looking at my chest. "Hey...have they grown again?"

Oh. She was referring to my boobs.

My face lit a bright colour of red as I shake my head furiously. However Yuffie gave me a dirty smile.

"You can't fool Ninja Yuffie! Lesse' how much these beauties have grown!" As quick as lightning she got behind me and grabbed my boobs.

"Y-Yuffie! Stop that!" She's groping me in public! I tried to push her away but she's clinging onto me like a monkey to a tree.

"G-Guys, help!" I turned to my three friends for help. Axel lets out a wolf-whistle while Lightning merely shrugs and Ven was looking away awkwardly.

"Hehehe I was right! They've grown a lot since I last saw them." Yuffie grinned and finally let me go.

"Sob* That was cruel, Yuff..." I sobbed and massaged my chest.

Yuffie looked a bit guilty and patted her cousin's head adoringly.

"Aww I'm just playing around cuz. It's really been a long time and I really missed you!" She grinned again.

I pouted a bit. I'm not gonna forgive her anytime soon but she pulled out her special trick; the sad puppy eyes and I groaned. Yuffie has always been like this. Pretending to be a ninja, cheerful and energetic, she never seemed to run out of steam. Unlike lil' ol' me, she's very adventurous and a bit of a tomboy.

"Ugh, not the puppy look..." I tried my best to resist but she puffed her lips out for the ultimate finisher. "Ark- Fine, fine... You're off the hook this time..." I grumbled.

Yuffie lets out a cheer and hugged me again.

"It's really nice to see you too Yuff...watch your hands!" I warned her as her hands had sneakily made their way to my chest again.

"Never knew you two were related." Axel said from behind. He took out a bag of potato chips and sat in front of the other teen, a boy with blond hair sported into a mullet.

"You just knew me." I rolled my eyes.

Axel merely snorts and turned to the mullet boy. "Sup' Dem? Met the new girl yet?" Axel pointed to me. The boy merely shook his head, a little too sadly perhaps.

Axel frowned at his reaction, finding there's something wrong with his friend. "Yuff, sup' with Dem? Someone ate his dog or sumthin'?" Axel made a joke but the boy didn't even respond. Instead he played his guitar glumly.

Yuffie stood up and patted him sympathetically. "Demyx here is jes' sad cuz' his band kicked him out."

"Seriously? But Demyx's the best guitarist around! Why'd he get the boot?" Axel was shocked to hear the news. His friend, apparently, is one hell of a player that can play through one full song with his eyes closed.

"Seymour." Yuffie rolled her eyes. "He got jealous when Yuna flirted with Demyx during their last gig. Heard he used his Jock Authority to kick Dem out." She looked at the still downcast Demyx.

Axel's face darkened and I could see Lightning winced from the mere mention of the word 'jock'. Seriously now, why do they have to be such assholes?

"Hmm... I've been hearing rumours that the jocks weren't too happy with Demyx being in their sponsored band because he's an Outcast..." Lightning scratched her chin meaningfully, relaying that piece of information to us.

"So now Dem can't enter the Spring Battle of The Bands competition. They replaced him with Seifer." Yuffie continued.

"The bloke who's always around Larxene?" Ven suddenly spoke up. Realizing all eyes were on him now, he quickly looked at the ground. "Err, sorry..." He apologized.

"What for?" Yuffie gave him a grin. "Yup, that very bloke alright. Turns out he always wanted to take Dem's spot so he can hit on the ladies." Yuffie was quick to get acquainted with Ven afterwards, putting the boy in a headlock and laughing.

"Sorry to hear that man, wish there was something we can do for you." Axel gave a look of sympathy to Demyx.

Demyx hung his head low. "Nothing you guys can help...not unless you can find another band for me before the dismissal bell. The deadline's today."

No one said a word. We knew it was impossible to find a new band in time. Everyone was feeling down and out. But somehow I was boiling up with anger.

Don't the teachers know that there are students being mistreated? And what's with the Jocks having all those insane powers over the other students? What makes them so special? And us 'Outcasts' being treated like dirt? There must be something that we can do...

And an idea clicked to me. I quickly ransack my vest and pulled out the school rulebook. I skimmed through it at high-speed and found the article I needed. I read through it then...

"Guys..." I closed the book and looked at the others.

"What'd you say if we make our own club?" I gave them a mischievous smile.

Time for a revolution...

Ya-haw! Well...wutcha guys think? The fic's still in experimental stage so I dunno how you guys r gonna react...flame me if you want! :p Ya-haw!