Sup, lovelies? This took awhile, because I still feel guilty about how short, if needed, the last chapter was. Plus I had crap to do. (By the way. I've gotten many splendid reviews from the splendid Malteser24 & the wonderful potatoes-are-not-for-sex. You two are amazing. Thank you so much for your ego-boosting reviews!) I spent some time reading and came up with remarkable plot ideas for future chapters, so I have plenty of raw material to write with. (0v0) S'okay, here goes. Chapter 5. I can't believe I've made it this far... (Oh. And for that guest review, the plot twist is so much deeper than that. *evil grin*)

Mondays are always a bit sluggish in the Lester household. But today, Mrs. Lester wasn't going to allow anyone to slack off. She would get Liz to school on time if it kills her. Walking down the hall, she first banged her fist against Phil's door. Then Michael's.

"GET UP!" She hollard. "You will not be late today!" Mrs. Lester stood silently in front of Michael's room. Listening for movement. She almost jumped when the door behind her opened unexpectedly, and precious Lizzie stuck her head out the door. Fully dressed and wide awake, she noticed.

"What time do we need to leave?"

"The doors open at 7:20. And class starts at 8." She replies. Much sweeter then she will be regarding either of her sons this morning. "There's some breakfast in the morning whenever your done getting ready. You're welcome to take some with you on your way to school."

Elizabeth says her thanks and starts to head back into the room when Mrs. Lester remembers something, and asks, "Will you need me for any paperwork?"

Lizzie pauses, and purses her lips slightly in thought. "You shouldn't... Mother usually makes sure things are set perfectly, but I'll tell you if there are any inconveniences." Lizzie gives Phil's mum a smile before she retreats into her room, once more.

What a sweet child. Thinks Mrs. Lester.

Fifteen minutes later, and she's managed to get both of her children up and dressed and out the door. With a contempt smirk she calls, "Have a wonderful day!" after them. Lizzie is the only one awake enough to bother waving at her while they walk down the porch steps and towards the direction of Dan's house.

Maybe I can get them out of the house this early while Lizzie is here... She muses.

Lizzie

"I'm gonna walk ahead. See ya later Liz."

"Later Michael. Sorry you're too cool to walk with us."

He laughs. "You know it."

I wave to Michael, and link my arm with Phil's. "So...what?" I ask him. "Do we just knock on his door or something?"

Phil was still tired. But the bite from the cool breeze was quickly waking him up, and he takes a tighter hold of my arm. "Yeah." He yawns. "C'mon." He pulls me along up the steps of Dan's porch. And then knocks loudly. We wait a few moments before we can each hear someone rumbling about behind the door. He places a hand on my elbow (reminding me of an old English couple) then guides me as he takes a few steps back. I'm silent as follow in step beside him. After a few seconds a hurried Dan rushes out of the door.

"IM LEAVING!" He calls into the house before he shuts and locks the door. He turns to us with a smile. His eyes wavering on or joined elbows for just a second. "You could warn a guy before being so early, ya know." He jumps down the stairs with me and Phil following closely behind.

"My fault." I say. "I get over jet lag pretty quickly."

"Yeah well, I guess it's fine. No rushing today while we walk."

We walk in silence the rest of the way. Or at least I do. Only coming into the conversation once every few minutes. I hum some songs under my breath; enjoying the walk.

We reach the school just as the doors are opening, it seems. When we get inside I release my arm from Phil's. "Can you guys point me to the office?" Both of them point simultaneously to our left. "Thanks. See you later, I hope."

"By Lizzie" says Phil.

"Later." Adds Dan.

/_\-/_\-/_\

I have a thing against disorganized schools. They just bother me. I enjoyed that year of online classes I had when my mother was too busy traveling and didn't want to leave me behind for too long. Everything was how I needed it and all my work was organized.

I refuse to admit to having OCD.

Apparently this school gives little care to who they hire, because the secretary paid me no mind for a good five minutes.

"Hello. Ms.?"

I swear she rolled her eyes at me behind those glasses of hers.

"Do you need something?"

Yes, actually. For the past five minutes while I was the only person standing in this bloody room!

"Yeah. I need my schedule. I'm a new student."

She lets out an exasperated sigh as if I'm purposely being an inconvenience towards her. Which I'm not. But I'm starting to wish I was. "Name?"

"Elizabeth Rice."

She taps obnoxiously slow at her keyboard, and I bring my hand to my face and rub at my closed eyelids to keep calm. "Okay. I've got it." She looks up at me.

It takes a few seconds of her just staring at me before I realize just how much I dislike her, and I'm just about done being polite. I give out an aggravated sigh. "Could you maybe print it out for me so I can not be late, please?"

After a few more exaggerated sighs, she prints off the sheet and then hands it to me. I leave the office without another word, and head to my first class.

Chemistry Honors: Room 207- Mrs. Poal

It doesn't take long to find it. On the second floor, and almost directly across from the library. (Thats good. Now i don't have to search for it.) I'm the last one in, it seems. If the blurred sound of multiple people talking when i open the door is any indication.

It gradually quiets as I calmly walk in. I don't see a teacher, so she must not be in yet. A quick scan of the room shows that there are three empty tables. One of them fairly to the back, and next to a wide window. Perfect. I smile a little while I make my way to the table. Perfectly aware of the eyes following my movements. I ease back the stool and lay Squirtle across the lab table. I don't really have anything to do, so I guess I should just fill my time. I pick up my schedule and begin to fold it aimlessly.

And now I'm done. And still have nothing to do. I lift my head up, and look around curiously. There are still a few eyes on me. But no one seems to want to ta- Oh. Nope. I was wrong. A small group of three; consisting of two girls, and a guy; are starting to approach me.

"Hi." Says one of the girls. She's got light brown hair pulled into a ponytail on the side of her head. She smiles at me. But there's something about it that's a little...unnerving.

"Hello." I widen my smile a little more at them.

"Are you new?" Asks the guy. He's wearing a jersey that must be for the school's football team. ((Soccer, guys.))

"Straight to the point, I see. Yes. In a way, I guess I am."

"Then you probably shouldn't sit there then." Says the last girl. She's wearing a flowy green dress and yellow open-toed sandals. Which is a bit too summer-y for this Autumn weather for my tastes.

"I'm sorry. Is someone sitting here?"

"No." She starts. "It's open. It's just that-"

"It's just that the guy who sits there is a bit of a nutcase weirdo. And not the safest person to have around chemicals." The guy interrupts. "him and all his friends..." I hear him mutter under his breath.

"You could come sit with Amber or Sam here. They've both got an empty seat available." Says the first girl.

"He can't be that bad, can he?" I ask. I really hope this isn't one of those quick-to-judge schools. "Surely he wouldn't be allowed here if he's done something dangerous."

"Well he hasn't done anything." Says Amber.

"Yet." Interjects the first girl; crossing her arms. "Better to be safe than sorry."

"Yeah. And a pretty face like yours should stay safe." Says the guy. Sam? I'd say it was sweet, but the look on his face is anything but.

That's it. Time to close the conversation down.

"Thanks but I'm sure-"

Before I can finish my statement, I'm interested by a loud, Scottish voice.

"What are you all doing clouding around my table?"

Amber jumps slightly, and they all start to move away from the voice. The first girl rolls her eyes. And Sam gives me a look that obviously means now you'll see what I mean. I start to brace myself when-

"Lizzie!"

The accent is wiped away, and once again I'm drowning in a pair of familiar arms.

"Hey Chris. Isn't thisa pleasant surprise?"

He pulls away from me and pulls over in the stool beside me. But as soon as he's seated and comfortable, he slings his arm over my shoulders.

"Meeting my classmates?"

"Yes. They had some very interesting things to say."

I grinned at the three and leaned slightly into Chris; enjoying their discomfort.

They looks on their faces are simply priceless. There's a mix of pity and disgust in the look the first girl is giving me. Sam appears to be incredibly confused. Looking frantically at Chris. Then at me. Then at his arm around me.

Amber looks scared and unsure. But it seems she's the only one brave enough to speak. But not brave enough to look directly at Chris. "So are you two..." She lets the question hang off, and slowly wags her finger back and forth at the two of us. But It doesn't take much to see where she was going with that. I contemplate setting them straight or just letting them assume. Chris catches my eye with a questioning look and a mischievous glint in his eyes that i'm starting to question might be a permanent feature of his. I shrug. Making my expression impassive.

"Go ahead." I say.

His grin widens. And he pulls me closer to kiss my cheek; causing me to laugh softly. "Thanks, Babe."

I glance at the still-nameless girl. And all pity has left her expression. Leaving only confusion and distaste.

"So yeah. Me and Liz are a thing. It o-ficiall!" He says the last bit sarcastically, in the voice of some over-eager teenage girl.

"Oh." Is all Amber can say.

It's then that I notice just how silent the class has gotten.

The first girl finally gives her input. "Wait. But aren't you and that PJ kid supposed to be a thing?"

"Well, yeah. But she doesn't mind much."

It takes years of controlling my emotions to keep me from bursting out laughing once I realize where he was going with that. Instead I just shake my head, and smile at her.

"It's not really an issue. I like Peej, too."

I can't stop the giggle (Ugh! I really need to stop that. It's getting annoying.) that escapes my mouth when I hear some of the gasps and frantic muttering around the classroom.

I'm sure she would have said something else if the teacher didn't just walk in.

"Grace, Sam, Amber. To your seats." I guess i now know nameless-girl's name.

They muttered 'yes ma'ams' in her direction and scuttled off to their own tables.

Me and Chris turn around and re situate ourselves. He doesn't put his arm back around my shoulder, but he lays his arm on the table, palm facing upwards. I take it casually and lean my chin in my other hand; smiling over to him. When I turn my attention to the head of the classroom I notice that the teacher is silently staring at me. A look of confusion on her face. I return with a questioning one. It goes like that for a while. No one says a word. The class is slightly on edge wondering what will happen. Except for Chris. Who is playing with my rings, and the bracelets on my arm. I doubt he's oblivious. He just doesn't care for the "drama" as his classmates seem to.

"Who are you?" She asks slowly and unsure.

Wow. She actually has no clue who I am.

"I'm a transfer student."

Still getting a blank look.

I smile politely. "I have my schedule, if you need to see it." I hold up said paper in the air slightly.

She makes no move to reach for it so I let go of Chris' hand and scootch back from the table. I make my way behind him and proceed to walk towards the head of the room. I hand her the paper and just wait. I glance at her desk while I'm up here. And to be honest, I'm not that surprised, from the state of her work area, that she's seems to be clueless about this. Organizing shelves stuffed with pops haphazardly. Crumpled sticky notes scattered everywhere. Coffee stains in every crevasse you could imagine. It made me itch.

No. I don't have OCD. Stop thinking that.

Looking back at her face, I see some form of recognition. "Oh yes." She hands me back the slip of paper and motions for me to stand beside her. "Everyone. This is Elizabeth Rice. I expect you all to treat her well." After a few more muttered 'Yes ma'ams', she scans the class once again. "Does anyone feel like helping Ms. Rice get caught up on the unit?"

A few hands are raised. But I have to say that the most enthusiastic of them was Chris. I roll my eyes at him. But I do nothing to hide my grin. And I start to walk back to him.

The teacher (Ms. Poal.) gave Chris a sour look. "I'm sure someone else would work just fine."

"No need to bother. Seeing as me and Chris have already been acquainted. As I'm sure you could tell. We're quite close." When I reach my seat, I gave her my brightest smile.

"Yeah." Adds Chris. "As close as two young, hormonal teenagers can get." He wrapped his arm around my waist; giving her a very suggestive smile.

Her cheeks flushed. And she coughed a little to clear her throat. "Yes. Well... That's fine, then."

I smiled at her casually. For once not caring about appearances, and deciding to just enjoy myself.

Danyul

To be honest, I wasn't expecting to share any classes with her. But there she is at the front of my third period class. Talking to my history (guess now its our) teacher without even a hint of first-day nerves. After they exchanged a few more words, she stood beside him while he called the class' attention.

"Okay. Listen up. We've got a new transfer student." He stopped looking a bit confused; and whispered something to Liz. She answered him, looking slightly annoyed. "Her name is Elizabeth Rice." He finished. "Would anyone like to give her a hand?"

"I sure would." I heard Richard say under his breath before he lazily rose his hand saying, "I don't mind." The jerks around him start to laugh. I look up at Mister Briggs to see if he heard them, as well. As usual, he "hadn't noticed". But by the disgusted look and eyeroll Liz gave, she heard them just fine.

"Helpful as always mister Jones. Why don't you go find a seat over next to Richard there?" Mr. Briggs started guiding her towards where Richard is. However her expression said that was the probably last thing she wanted to do at the moment. Her eyes quickly scan over the rest of the class. She looks like she's about to give up when her eyes lock onto hold each other's gaze for just a few seconds before she breaks out a grin that could rival Phil's.

"Actually. I wouldn't want to bother you." She says to Richard.

"You wouldn't-"

"Not when I already know Dan."

Oh. Okay, then.

I freeze under the combined bewildered looks from everyone in the class. Even Mr. Briggs is looking confused. Not only has she turned down, but she chose me in favor. The biggest nobody in school. The only thing i'm known for is being "That crazy kid Chris' friend" I'm not even sure half the people in here knew they shared a class with me before now. This is something that just doesn't happen.

"Yeah, sure. That would be fine, I guess." I figure I better speak up before the silent staring causes me a mental breakdown.

So she comes over, and we start talking about class for a good chunk of the time before she asked about my schedule. She was really excited when she found out that we shared an English class with Phil after lunch. And then that was just kind of it. We didn't really talk much about Phil after. I mean sure. He was mentioned every once in awhile; but she didn't seem to have any problems just talking to me about my interests. I've never really had that. Or at least not fom the start. Not since i was thirteen. It's really...good. I'm just being comfortable with her like the close friends we never were.

Till now, at least.

/_\-/_\-/_\

"Hey! Dan, wait up!"

I jump slightly at the sound of a very feminine voice calls out to me on my way outside. I turn around just as Liz and Chris reach me. Exhausted smiles on their faces.

"Hey." I say. Smiling in return.

We chat a bit until we reach the cafeteria, and we split up. Me and Liz walking out the side exit our usual area under the school's large tree; and Chris to the lunch queue to pay for his slightly-decent meal.

Phil and Peej are already there. And once he spots the two of us, Phil eagerly waves us over. I'm not sure if he's excited about Liz, me, or the combined effect two close friends can have on one's happy meter.

Probably just his personality.

PJ has his back against the tree playing on his Gameboy; his legs crossed and stretched in front of him. He smiles at us when we approach. Liz returns his smile with an even brighter one and lays her backpack against the tree next to him.

"Sup, Peej?" She crouches down and leans over his screen a bit. "Oh yes! I love that one. I lost mine to the airways a few years back."

They chat a bit before settling into a comfortable silence. She eats her food out of her Spider-Man lunch box and rests her head on his shoulder. Looking out at everyone else.

We go like that for a while. Contempt with our quietness. Once she's finished with her food, Liz packs up her backpack then leans away from the tree, and gets up. But she doesn't go very far before she lays down crosses her legs, and links her hands together over her stomach. Having laid her head in PJ's lap. I look at Peej. But he doesn't say anything about it. Just glances down at her, and goes back to his game.

Soon after that, me and Phil have finished off our meals as well. And I'm watching with a smile on my face while he attempts to braid together the long blades of grass around us. Our peaceful silence is interrupted, however, when Chris walks over to us. When he sees Liz and Peej he he pulls on a mock-pout and tosses a fry in Peej's direction.

"Dude. Lay off my girl."

PJ picks up the fry currently residing on his chest. He looks at it, then at Chris. Then he pulls on a smirk and feeds Liz the fry in the most dramatic way he can muster, with Liz playing along and moaning as she chews. "I think you will find that she is laying on me."

Chris looks as if he was about to retaliate, but then he just grins at them. "Then I hope you don't mind me getting in on this action."

At this, Liz giggled. (And man. If it wasn't one of the cutest things I've ever heard.) she grins up at Chris and pats her stomach.

"Be my guest."

Of course, Chris just has to take the opportunity to go into song.

"Be our guest. Be our guest." He starts.

"Put our service to the test!" Sings Liz, in turn. I'm a bit surprised. No one ever really humors Chris with his antics. Aside from the occasional instances that PJ will.

I tune them out (haha tune) And nudge Phil slightly with my elbow. "Phil?"

"Hmm?" He doesn't look up from the odd mess of green in his hands.

"Are Liz and Chris dating or something."

He looks up at the sound of the word 'dating'. "No." He says; confused, yet thoughtful. "But now that you mention it..." He turns his head towards their direction. "Hey Chris. What's this I hear about you dating Liz and PJ?"

What?

"Oh that's right." Says PJ. Closing his Gameboy and laying it down beside him. "Apparently, me and Liz are your bitches."

Liz laughs. "Is that what they're saying?"

Phil joined in on her laughter. "I heard you were all over each other in Gym."

"Already?" We watch as she sits up from PJ's lap. Holding herself up with her elbows. "Man. Word sure does travel fast here. That was last period."

"What'd you guys do?" I ask.

"Apparently we share Gym class with that Richard guy." She sits up completely, and pushes Chris down to her thighs. then she looks at me with a pleasant smile on her lips. "He was pretty quick to walk me there too. You should have seen his face when Chris ran over and scooped me up from beside him. He carried me bridal style to the girls locker room. And he might've gone in, too, if he wasn't caught by the gym coach."

"My finest moment." Says Chris.

"Dork." Says Liz, before she continues. "I realized I didn't even need to dress out because my usual attire is leggings, shorts, trainers. So I just came right back out and waited. Turns out, we were playing dodgeball today." She says with a grin. "And Sir Christopher here, was my very own 'Knight in shining armor'. It would be swoon-worthy if it weren't so funny."

"What did he do?" Asked Phil.

"I protected her virtue!"

"You made a fool of yourself after i told you repeatedly, I am very capable at sports."

"I still don't get it. What exactly did he do?"

She gives me an apologetic smile. "Sorry. I'm off track. Do you know the rules for dodgeball here?"

I shake my head, no. I've had the good fortune (Or misfortune, if you want to mention the slight belly flab i hide under my shirt.)

"Okay. Well as long as you still have teammates in the game, you can tag-in even if you got hit already. Chris thought it would be a great idea to tag-in every chance he got and run in the path of any balls coming my way." She shoots a hand over Chris's mouth just as he opens it to speak, and puts him under an intimidating glare. "No comments about my choice of words."

Phil chuckles at them. Tossing his grass-chain-thing to the side and putting full attention on the two.

Liz removes her hand from Chris' face, and continues speaking. "Soon enough everyones out and its just me, Chris and that Richard guy from History left. He got this real smug look on his face, and then he threw the dodgeball at me. Barely making an effort. I could have easily caught it." She looks down at Chris as if she's annoyed. But the smile on her face betrays her real feelings on the subject.

"So Chris was out. Which had the gym coach looking relieved. And it was just me and Richard. It was all anime fight scene then. Everyone got quiet and Richard smirked. All its over now. Your protector is nowhere to be found. We each grabbed a dodgeball, then i just waited for him to do whatever. He put his arm into it, and shot me a fast one. He aimed it just low enough not to get in trouble for hitting my head. I almost caught it, but i really just wanted to wipe the smirk off his face by that point. So i dodged it, then i threw my own at his thigh before he could react. It hit him just above the knee and we won. There were some cheers, and then out of nowhere I'm being dipped, saying 'Woah shit!', and having my lips friend-pecked by Chris. Which is probably where the rumors are coming from." her grin becomes sheish, and she glances at PJ. "That, and the fact that we might have hinted at us having a polyamorous relationship first period to mess with some people."

"How did that come up?" Asks PJ.

Chris and Liz explained what happened during their first period class, bringing the rest of us to laughter.

"Oh wow. It's happening again, isn't it?" Says Phil suddenly.

At this, Chris and Liz joined in with snickers.

"Again?" I ask.

It's a while before anyone can answer me. But eventually Liz calms down enough to speak.

"Sorry. Yeah. Back when we were like what? Six or seven?"

"Seven, I think." Says PJ.

"Back when we were seven, everyone was convinced that Chris and PJ liked me. This was before anyone had any clue about sexuality, and it was just the ancient battle of boys versus girls."

"It was fun." Says Chris, with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Liz smacked Chris's head lightly. "It was horrible!" She looks back at me. "Once, a couple of the boys asked Chris something about my cooties. And he said that he was immune to girl-cooties. And even if he weren't, that mine would probably smell good."

"It was that stupid lotion you had." Chris says defensively. "It made you smell like blueberries. Freaking love blueberries!"

"Whatever numbnuts."

"There ain't nothin' numb 'bout these these nuts, darlin'" Chris drawled.

"Ew. Gross. Too far."

"Yeah. Well it wasn't as bad as those adventures PJ had us go on." Remarked Chris.

"I still don't get what was so bad about that. I mean, sure. We disappeared during recess, but we always came back in one piece, didn't we?" Asked Liz.

Chris snickered some more.

"What?" Said me and Liz, in unison.

"We went off for long periods at a time. And when we came back, we were always covered in grass stains. And had twigs in our hair." Says PJ, n a tone that would suggest he was trying to explain something simple to aair of toddlers.

Then it dawns on us.

"We were seven!" Says Liz. And her voice pitched slightly at the end. "How could they... What?!"

Once again, we're all lost in a fit of laughter.

And I have a very good feeling about the rest of our time with her.

And finally! We have dialogue from Peej! He'll get some more next chapter. I promise.

Guys, I'm changing the time to Fall. It gives me more to work with. Sorry. Really. I'll be editing the first chapter. Obviously.

I've had some beez-nus to deal with. Not to mention the bouts of writer's block i've had with this chapter, and the multiple rewrites of half of it. Most of it, actually. But its longer now, so there. I'm really proud of it. Theres a definite difference between this chapter, and other things i've written. Im getting a better clutch on time/human interactions. Always fun to see your own skill progress. (0v0)

This is still later than i would have liked, though. And for that, i am sorry. But this is my longest chapter yet! So yay! Accomplishments!

Oh, and Chris does say Babe! It's a thing. He says it.

The rest of the day will be done in the next chapter because this was getting pretty long. So that's good! I've really gotten better at writing with this chapter. I've rewritten it twice. And it's really good.

What did you guys think of it though? And how do you like the people introductions? Or the OCs in general. Crap. I think that gym story was too long. And I'm really disappointed with the first part of Dan's POV. (0_0) (what is this? reflection time?)

[explanation: Phil was not in the same class as PJ, Chris, and Liz in pre-k. But he and Liz were practically raised together, so he remembers that stuff as well.]