Wow. I haven't written an actual, full-fledged fic in a long while. But here I am.
Of course, this is for those who supported my original idea to write an alternate universe about the gang's high school life. You all know who you are.

I'll say it now, just so I don't have to mention it later. This story is rated T for numerous reasons:
-Course language
-Mentions and consumption of drugs and alcohol*
-Mild sexual scenes
-General high school drama
-Religious affiliations

*I don't support or approve of the use of illegal drugs or underage drinking, but for the purpose of characters and storylines, an author has to do what an author has to do.

There is also major out-of-characterness, which can be for the better or for the worse, however you take it. Names have changed, but I think everything should be fairly simple to figure out. Of course, if there is any confusion or questions, let me know and I will do everything I can to clear things up.

Now, enjoy!

-Chapter One-
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do.
~Confucius

It was the shrill buzzing of the alarm clock on the far side of the room that jerked her from a deep slumber. A kitten calendar, nailed to the back of her bathroom door, had the first of September circled in red magic marker.

She rolled over to stare out of her balcony window, eyes drooped with the lingering remnants of sleep. The sun had yet to breach the horizon, and a small voice in the back of her mind wondered why she was even awake.

The thought was a constant reminder, replaying and playing again, like a broken cassette tape. And then she remembered.

With a defeated sigh, she shimmied out from beneath her blankets. It was the first day of her final high school year; it was also five in the morning, still dark out, and she had bags under her eyes.

The heat that flooded in from her cracked windows, though, suggested that the prime weather of summer was not ready to relent.

From her closet, she withdrew one of her cerulean wrap-around skirts, ruffles freshly pressed, a white blouse- the emblem of senior-hood, for she no longer had to wear the hideous yellow shirts- and a fresh new pair of black loafers. They all ended up on top of her crumpled comforter.

Outside, a bird chirped the world awake.

Before she headed for the staircase, she peaked into her parents' room. Her mother's stomach, rounded with five months of pregnancy, rose and fell steadily. Her father was clattering about in the bathroom.

The nursery across the hall was already crowded with teddy bears and kiddy toys. They were lined up on the shelves of the walls, strategically placed and angled. She stepped into the room only to smooth a ruffle in a baby blanket.

Downstairs, a plate of muffins sat on the kitchen table, fresh from yesterday. Serena crinkled her nose, and instead, pulled open the fridge to retrieve a pudding cup.

"Now, now, Serena," her father, Kenneth, appeared in the living room, a sock flung over his shoulder, belt undone, and shoes held in one hand. "Your mother doesn't like it when you have sugar in the morning." He was working on buttoning his cuffs, hair matted to his forehead.

She snorted and pulled the foil lid back anyway. "She won't even notice." Licking the cover clean, she grabbed a clean spoon from the dishwasher. "Besides, this hardly counts as sugar. In fact," she turned the lid so he could read it, "it's sugar free." She took his hand and dropped it into his palm, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss his cheek. "Nice try, Daddy."

He lifted an eyebrow, watched her retreat back up the stairs. With a sigh, a small shake of the head, Ken crumbled the lid and tossed it toward the trashcan.

She sat playing with her hair in front of her vanity, a splendid hand-crafted gift from her grandmother, delicately painted with pastel roses. Her blouse, still unbuttoned, fluttered as a breeze danced in through her balcony window.

Last year, when she was nothing more than a junior, she had always worn her hair up atop her head in an absurdly messy, half done bun. This year, she wanted something different, for her hair had grown a generous foot over the summer, and she was still unwilling to cut it.

With a hard yank, she separated her hair into two separate strands.

Her mother's reflection appeared over her shoulder, one frail hand anchored on her round belly, her smile wide. "Oh, my baby girl is growing up so fast. Where did all the time go?" She wobbled over to retrieve a brush, and carefully, she combed her fingers through the pale strands of her daughter's hair.

Serena picked up a hair tie and handed it to her mother. "Pigtails this year, I think." She decided that it was best not to acknowledge that she was no longer the baby girl her mother so dearly loved, but a woman, now.

Ilene nodded, smoothing her own hair away from her face. "Who you got this blonde hair from, girly, I will never know. But your eyes," she smirked, running a hand quickly through Serena's fringed bangs. "All mine."

Serena couldn't help but glance down at the moon of her mother's stomach. "Do you know if the baby's a boy or girl yet?"

At the mention of the child, her eyes softened to a dewy blue, the corners of her mouth smoothed, and for a second, she looked ten years younger. "No, not yet. We want to be surprised." She paused, thinking back to many, many years before. "You know, we thought you were supposed to be a boy."

Which would explain all the dinosaurs and Tonka Truck t-shirts she had when she was little. "Yeah. Thank the Lord I wasn't." She shuddered, appeasing her. "What would I do then?"

Behind her, Ilene finished off the second pigtail and moved to the drawers of her vanity, searching for some nonsensical thing. "Absolutely nothing. You wouldn't notice the difference."

Serena sighed, leaning forward to dig through her cosmetics bag. She was right.

Ilene tied two white ribbons overtop the hair bands. When she looked up into the mirror, her brows furrowed together. "When did you start wearing makeup?"

She picked up her eye shadow and applied the nude crème and thought for a moment, considering the question. "I'm not sure." She looked to the floor to sweep the stick across her right lid, with a steady hand, which she was quite proud of, for it had taken her weeks of practice to finally get the skill down. Then, she moved to the mascara. "Not that long ago." Ilene nodded slowly, and on the nightstand, the alarm clock began to trill again. Serena capped her lip gloss, smacked her lips together, and tossed the makeup into her cosmetics bag. "Well."

Her mother bent down to kiss her daughter's forehead, lips pulled into a small smile. "Ready for you first final day of school?"

Serena laughed, hurrying to pull her white knee-highs on. "Is it June yet?" The sun flooded the room with rays of pink and orange, and as she hefted her backpack over her shoulder, she beamed. "See you downstairs, alright? I still have to call Mina and wake her up." She hooked her purse into the crook of her elbow before she silently slipped past her mother.

She pulled into the parking lot, windows rolled down and voice loud as she sang along with the radio. A pack of gummy bears sat in her lap, and as she tapped her fingers along the steering wheel, she took a handful and jammed them into the cave of her cheek.

A wide-eyed pack of freshmen that had just descended from their bus scurried past her, terrified.

"Serena Tayse? Is that you?" The excited shout came from across the lot, and as she swallowed the wad of gummies, she turned to watch someone jump out of a still-moving red Mustang. "Holy crap it is! When did you get so sexy?"

Serena's face split into a smile as she fumbled with her seatbelt. She was barely out of the car before two tan arms pulled her into a crushing hug.

"Mina Anderson," Serena hugged her back with as much vivaciousness. She pulled away, and the sun reflected in the pupils of Mina's blue eyes. "Gummy bear?" She reached back into her car to withdraw the package.

"Oh, gosh yes." She took the bag and shoveled a few onto her tongue. She chomped down a few times before her mouth widened into a smile. "I missed you so much!" Red and green goo spurted all over the place. "You have to tell me all about your summer!"

Serena couldn't help her fluttering frown. "My summer? Please, you went to Europe. You have to tell me all about it." Her enthusiasm was flat, but Mina didn't seem to notice.

She popped another bear into her mouth, skin golden in the afternoon sun. "I will, but after we get all settled and whatever. Besides, I think Jake jacked my iPod."

Serena pulled open the back door of her car to pull out a tote bag. Mina stuffed the bears into her pocket to heft it up. "Geez. What is all this junk?"

"Not junk," Serena corrected. "They're like pamphlets. Sister Laurel and my mom were talking, and my mom said she'd get all of these random packets for her."

"Junk," Mina bumped the door close with her hip. "But anyway," she fell into step beside her. "We've got many, many stories to share."

Their shoulders touched as they crossed over the parking lot, voices rising and falling with the excitement of reunion.

The foyer entrance was crowded with a staggering amount of lost new students, and in the middle of the chaos was the front desk, occupied by a middle-aged woman with rhinestone glasses, typing away on her computer.

Mina led the voyage, elbowing past the huddled sea of students, shouting over the excited chatter. "Move, people! Seniors coming through!" She said it repeatedly, loud and demanding, until everyone got the hint and moved without her say-so.

"Well, well, look who grew an inch over the summer." From her left, Jake sauntered over, threw an arm over her shoulder, and tugged her against him. "Looking good."

Two wide-eyed freshmen stared at him, and with a withering smirk, he winked in their general direction.

Serena lifted an eyebrow at him. "Why did you do that?"

"Oh hush, young one," Jake turned to offer her a smug smile. "Just being kind to the fresh meat, is all." He released her and shoved an iPod into his sister's hands. "It's dead."

"Fabulous, really. I'm pretty sure I told you not to use it, anyway."

"Whatever, Mina. Stop nagging." He turned back to Serena. "How was your summer?"

The secretary's desk finally appeared before her, and she passed the tote over the counter. "We went to Disney World again."

The corner of Mina's mouth lifted.

The three of them turned and began heading toward the neighboring courtyard. "I had to get another picture with Prince Charming. Honestly, I don't know what kind of fantasy my parents are trying to create."

Mina threw a glance at Jake. "Maybe it's a sign," her big, cerulean eyes widened into two identical rings as they passed through the open doors and into the Quad. "You know, Prince Charming..."

Serena's face bloomed red. "Stop."

"...Charming's tall, got a nice butt... He even has black hair, too."

Her cheeks burned. "Really, Mina, I should have never said anything."

"Well," her voice was indignant, "it's hardly my fault that you told me freshman year, and you're still rocking the single boat."

Serena lifted an eyebrow. "And you're not single?"

"I'm not single." She examined her manicured fingernails. "I'm exclusively dating."

"Meaning," Jake interjected, "her and Kennedy hooked up before we took off for Europe."

Serena's eyebrows shot up.

Mina turned and punched him hard in the arm. "You keep your big mouth shut." Then, turning to Serena, she batted her eyelashes. "I didn't have sex."

"Alright, so what did you have?"

"Anyway," she took a step forward, a stride ahead of them. The silver cross hanging around her neck caught the sun and cast a glow across her blouse. "Did you know you're allowed to drink beer in Germany when you're only sixteen?" Her smile was wide. "And, get this, I kissed the Blimey Stone. Just wait until Sister Margaret hears!"

Jake rolled his eyes.

"Oh, and Jakey here got wasted in London one night and ran through the town butt-naked."

Serena's jaw dropped. "Did you, now?"

He shot his sister a wicked look and hoped they didn't notice his reddening face. "It wasn't through all of London," he jangled his car keys to distract himself. "It was only through a park or something. Nobody was out, either. It was one in the morning."

Serena looked over to Mina. "You got pictures, right?"

"What kind of twin sister would I be if I didn't?" Her smile was deliberate. "Internet, anyone?"

They exchanged high fives and laughed at him.

After a moment passed, Serena sighed. "You guys are so lucky. Your parents send you all over the world. It must be exciting.

Mina snorted. "Please, you mean they get rid of us all over the world. They think just because our grandparents live in Ireland or Scotland or whatever, they can just dump us on a plane and kiss our heads sayonara." She cast an accommodating glance over to her twin. "I think next year is Australia, actually. Right, Jake?"

"Correct." He touched Serena's shoulder as he spotted someone across the yard. "I'll catch up with you later, alright?" He broke off, jogging across the grass and toward someone waiting in the arch of the breezeway.

She had stupidly forgotten her backpack in the trunk of her car, so she was forced to trek back to the senior lot by herself, for Mina had insisted that she hunt down her friends from the cheerleading squad.

When she got to her space, she stopped and gaped at the man leaning against her car. "Kennedy... what are you doing?"

Her cousin let his eyes flicker in her direction. "I had I feeling you would come back, so I decided to wait around for a couple of minutes." He sat forward and dusted off his hands. "Guess I was right."

"Alright then." She unlocked the trunk. Across the parking lot, Sister Laurel, Dean of Discipline, hounded a group of juniors who thought it would be funny to dye their hair the colors of the rainbow.

Kennedy scratched at his neck, just below the ponytail, and smiled. Every summer, he let his hair grow out, kept it neatly tied back, and dared the nuns to order him to cut it. But, when one of them did, he came back dutifully with it all chopped off.

"So," he fell back against the car. "I hope you're still intact after the long, gruesome summer."

She lifted an arm to examine it before lugging out her bag. "I think I'm good. And you? Any bumps and bruises?"

"A few bumps." His mouth curled into a grin. "But no bruises. Yet."

Serena snorted as he pushed away to straighten to his full height. "I've heard some stories about you, mister," she said as she fell into step beside him. "Would you care to explain?"

She stumbled over a loose rock and dropped her bag on his foot.

He jerked away with a wince. "Correction," he mumbled as he picked the backpack up for her. "One bruise."

She feigned a smile and took it from him. "Sorry."

Father Paul, an old withering man with a bushy white mustache, welcomed her into his office, feet encased in brown leather moccasins and propped on his mahogany desk. "Ms. Tayse, welcome back." His eyes were warm, and he motioned for her to take a seat. "The summer faired you well?"

"Oh, yes," she smoothed her hands over her skirt, smiling. "It was splendid. And you?"

He lifted his shoulder. "I went to the beach to work on my tan, but other than that, most of my time was spent here." He sighed. "Did you see the new tables in the cafeteria? They're round now, which I think it better."

Serena chuckled. "No, I haven't. But I'll make it a point to check them out."

Father Paul nodded, laced his fingers over his pudgy stomach. "I hope you've worked on your welcome back speech. As president, you're expected to be completely reliable when it comes to this stuff."

She smiled at him. "Oh no, you know I don't work like that. I say whatever comes to my head." Then, to appease his anxious expression- which she had seen only once before, when last year's seniors threatened to burn a bible- she tapped her temple. "I did it last year, and I won the election, didn't I?"

His thick white eyebrows relaxed. "Alright, I trust you. You can get ready for first announcements, I suppose. My receptionist should have your notes prepared." As she stood, his feet plopped onto the wooden floors. "And Ms. Tayse?"

She stopped, hand on the doorknob, to look back at him.

"Let's make this a good year with my seniors, okay?"

Her eyes crinkled when she grinned. "I couldn't agree more."

"Hello beautiful." Zane, curls golden in the sunlight filtering in through the windows, beamed a smile at her. "Did you miss me?"

"Not enough," she stopped beside him, elbow propped on the receptionist's desk. "Keeping yourself out of trouble?"

"Ah, I got arrested once, but it was a total hoax. The 'rents were trying to teach me a lesson or something." His eyes, two gleaming emeralds, held an air of mischief. "They thought I was smoking dope."

Serena sighed. Zane was a goof. She knew it, everyone knew it. And he was usually up to no good. She had known him since grammar school; she had been the core to many of his pranks. The dead spider in her pencil case, the Whoopi cushion, and, her personal favorite, the 'Kiss Me' sign tapped to her back.

She had nightmares for a week.

But, what really put the icing on the cake was, now, he was the vice-president to her presidency, and she would be spending an excess amount of time in his lovely presence.

"Okay," Mrs. Stanley appeared behind them, coffee mug that read #1 Secretary in her grasp. "Who'd like to sound the first bell of the year?"

Zane elbowed Serena out of his way as he walked behind her desk. "I would, thank you." He plopped down into her swivel chair. "Which button is it?"

Mrs. Stanley placed her cup onto a coaster. "The green one, next to the outlet. Push it once, please."

Zane jammed his thumb into it three times.

"Thank you so much for that, Mr. Graham," Mrs. Stanley barked over the trilling bell. "Now, if you would kindly move," she reached over him to grab the telephone. "Hello, and welcome to the 2010 school year. I am Mrs. Stanley, the Dean's receptionist. We welcome you all back with the hopes of a splendid year. So, please, kindly report all problems to me. I will do my best to handle them appropriately and efficiently." She paused and pulled open a drawer to retrieve some note cards. "Before we let Father Paul speak, we're going to start off this year with announcements from your student body president."

"Ahem."

"And vice president."

She handed Serena the receiver and a stack of cards. "Go ahead."

Serena cleared her throat. "Hello, AHA, I'm Serena Tayse, your president. Firstly, I'd like to welcome you all back. Let's make it a good year."

Zane poked his finger in his mouth and gagged.

She shot him a glare. "There will be a meeting tomorrow at lunch for all girl soccer players. Coach Warren asks that you bring your physical forms and cleats for inspection. Thanks." She fumbled with the notes, and they scattered across the desk. "Oh, no. Sorry, guys. Just hold on a..." She picked a card at random, cheeks red. "If someone has complaints about the new locker arrangements, kindly report your issues to Father Paul. If you do not have a legitimate reason, he does not want to see you within one hundred feet of his office. "

Zane snorted. "I've got my locker next to Skanky Sally. Get what I mean, Mrs. Stanley?" He outlined Sally's curved in the air and waggled his eyebrows. "No complaints from me."

Mrs. Stanley took the receiver. "Alright, that's been painful enough. I'll just let Father finish them up." She collected the strewn cards. "You can report back to your homerooms now."

The far corner of the classroom was disturbingly secluded, stuck right beneath the air vent, leaving her shivering and confused as she stared at her schedule. She had hinted strongly to Father Paul about what classes she wanted. The outcome wasn't as satisfactory as she hoped.

A finger tapped her shoulder twice, right on the sharp point of the blade. "You can borrow my blazer if you're really that cold."

She twisted around, eyebrows lifted as she processed the voice. "What?"

Darien's mouth quirked as he leaned toward her. "I just noticed you looked a little cold. And you have goosebumps on the back of her neck." He motioned to her face. "So, do you want to borrow it?"

"Uh... No. No thank you." She folded her schedule and smiled. "I'll just remember to bring my sweater tomorrow."

His nose crinkled. "The sweater? Those things are hideous." He shrugged, pupils dilated as he examined her. "You're wearing makeup."

She frowned, drawing away as her cheeks began to burn again. "Oh, yeah," she smoothed a pigtail. "I was trying something new, I guess," she said, averting her gaze. She could still feel his eyes hooked onto her.

Over the loudspeaker, the bell rang.

Darien's smirk was the same teasing tilting of lips she had grown so accustomed to. The expression hadn't changed a bit, since that moment they collided in the middle of a hallway, freshman year. "I like it," he said, and she made to stand, but he held out his hand. "Schedule, please."

She feigned a grin and handed it to him, sliding back down. Instead, he stood, depositing his backpack on his chair. Long, thin fingers unfolded the paper. "Hm." He pursed his lips. "Well, it looks like we have a few classes together. Home economics, gym, and chemistry."

Serena accepted her schedule back, standing and cradling her books in the crook of her arm. "Well, then I guess I'll see you."

He nodded, one corner of his mouth lifting. "Until then." And he left her standing there, smiling after him.

A spitball nailed her in the back of her head.

There was a bout of laughter from behind her, and she shifted around a bit, grip tight on her pencil.

"Just ignore them," Lita prompted, chewing a piece of her hair. "They'll back off."

First period independent study was always, always the worst.

Especially when the teacher was late.

"Do they ever grow up?"

"Nope," she doodled a cupcake on the corner of her paper. "Hey, do you think Father Paul'll let me open up the greenhouse a month early?"

Serena dropped her pencil to drag her laptop closer. "I don't know."

"Probably not." She let her gaze slide out the window, where a gym class was busy with a game of soccer.

A paper football skid across the desktop before it settled next to her hand. In scribbled handwriting, it said read me.

She sighed, picked up her pencil to scoot it away from her. "Nice try," she twisted around in her chair to face the two boys with their own desks pressed up against each others. "I'm not going to fall for the same trick twice. Zane."

"Alright, class," the door opened and in walked their teacher. Ten minutes fashionably late. "Turn around, be quiet. Get to work."

Serena shot a glare at them before turning back forward.

"Did you notice Nathan's hair?" Lita whispered from the corner of her mouth.

"What?" Serena brought up her Internet browser before twisting around to glance at Nathan, where he sat beside Zane. "What about it?"

"He cut it."

"Yeah? And?"

She chewed on her eraser. "It looks weird."

"Ms. Kane. Ms. Tayse. Work."

"Sorry."

Serena, with her lunch tray in tow, strolled past the cafeteria tables and toward the exit. Outside, in the courtyard, Mina waved to her, half a cookie hanging from her mouth. Beside her, Raye, and across from Raye, Lita.

"A vending machine had this really weird pastry or something. I saved you half of it," Mina patted the grass beside her and immediately swiped some of Serena's fries. "It's pretty good."

"Any food is good." She bit into her meatball sandwich. "Why are you here?" She jutted her chin out toward Raye.

She forced a tight smile, eyes dark beneath the sun. "Mina invited me."

Mina smirked. "I don't like feuds. Unless, of course, I'm a part of it. You two should grow up."

Lita nodded, rolling onto her stomach as she spit out a cherry pit.

"She dumped Kool-Aid on me. I smelled like artificial grapes for a month, and I was never able to save that uniform."

Raye's mouth twisted into a sinful grin. "Sophomore year was my best year, definitely."

Serena wiped some dribbling sauce from her chin with the back of her hand. "I hate you."

"Ah, the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Mina wrapped her arms around their necks and tugged them in sharply. Their foreheads bonked together. "Now, what you're going to do is exchange the best thing you have on your trays as a sign of peace."

Raye's brow lifted. "That's idiotic."

"No. It's called peace. Embrace it." She released them and pulled her opposite ankles over knees. "Serena, would you like to start?"

She looked over to Lita for help. She was too bust dunking sushi in soy sauce. "Oh, alright," she huffed, examining her tray. She had a fruit parfait, a bitten meatball sandwich, and a brownie.

Maybe the parfait.

"Here," she dropped the brownie onto a napkin and handed to her. "I don't hate you anymore."

Raye took it and handed her a bag of ladyfingers. "And I guess I'm sorry for the whole Kool-Aid skit." She shrugged. "So. Yeah."

Mina pulled the wrapper off a lollypop and put it in her mouth. "That's what I like to here."

"Okay, okay, Ken," Jake spoke through a mouthful of meatball and dropped his fork. "The moment you knew you just had to tap it."

Kennedy smirked. "I'd tell you, but you'd probably move me up on your hit list."

Zane snorted and pinched his nose to keep from spewing Gatorade. "Dude, you know you couldn't tap her even if she was dozed up on booze and the best narcotics around."

He ignored the jab and bit into a celery stick. "Nathan, the moment you knew you had to kiss and ditch."

"As in... a date gone wrong?" He thought about it. "Freshman year, took Molly Baker to a Pizza Hut or something. She wouldn't shut the hell up and I told her I had to go to the bathroom. Never came back." He laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back, smiling. "I remember slipping her a twenty before, though, so she wouldn't have to pay. Still gives me glares every time she sees me."

The sun beamed off Kennedy's water bottle as he lifted it. "True badassery, I must say."

"Why, thank you." They knocked their drinks together. "Alright, Darien, tell us, when was the moment you knew... Hey. Are you paying attention?"

"Hm."

Nathan's brow furrowed. "Earth to Darien." He waved his hand in front of his face. When he received no response, he turned back to the table. "Houston, we have a problem."

"Let me see." Jake stood and leaned over the table. He honed his eyes and traced Darien's gaze to the group of girls huddled beneath a tree. His lips slowly curled into a smile. "Darien, Zane is running around naked again. We need you to catch him."

"Hm."

"Zane is also unmistakably gay and has been pining after you for three years. He wants you to perform explicit acts that involve many- Where are you going?"

Darien's eyes snapped back to them. "What? Oh. I'm just going... I'll talk to you later."

Kennedy watched with a tight mouth as Darien lifted his books and headed toward the entrance.

Serena was surprised to see Darien appear beside her. So shocked in fact, that she nearly stumbled and had to catch herself against the wall. "What are you doing?"

He shook his head, innocent, and buried his hands into his pockets. His head nodded to the books on her arm. "You're going to chemistry now, aren't you?"

"Well, yeah," she played with the hem of her skirt as they crossed through the Quad and toward the school.

"So am I," he reached over to grip her stack of books. "Do you mind?"

She nodded her head, watching as he shoveled her things atop of his. "I can carry my own books."

His shrugged. "I don't doubt that you can. Just being a gentleman, is all."

Serena entwined her fingers in front of her stomach. "I... Whatever," she muttered, lowering her eyes to the floor.

Darien pulled open the door to the building. "I know you can, in fact," was his simple reply. "But that shouldn't stop me from being a gentleman."

She paused, just outside the doorway, but he continued to hold it open for her. Their eyes caught, held, and her neck reddened. "How very chivalrous of you."

His lips twitched until he was almost smiling. "All I need now is my white stallion."

Serena breath snagged, heart skipped a bit. But she hurried past him, head dipped to hide her embarrassment.

Prince Charming, indeed.

The chemistry laboratory was large, sectioned in two separate rows, each rectangular table occupied by two stools. White lab coats lined the far wall, a cabinet full of designated goggles right beside it. Beakers and microscopes, rubber gloves and cotton swabs, so many supplies all organized into a carefully planned system.

At the front of the room, angled in the farthest corner, was a metal desk, currently occupied by a head of pale hair. Serena, stopping alongside Darien in the doorway, knocked on the doorframe.

The man glanced up at them over the rim of his glasses. "Hello."

Serena smiled. "Hi." Looking around, she asked, "This is Chemistry-IV, right?"

He stood, slapping closed his agenda. "Yes, yes, come in." This man, eyes a milky blue, motioned at them. Serena entered first, then Darien. "I'm Mr. Devine. I'm filling in for Sister Margaret this year."

They both nodded, shifting awkwardly on their feet.

Mr. Devine scratched the back of his neck. "You can sit anywhere. I haven't assigned lab partners."

Darien looked at Serena. Serena looked at Darien.

"Do you... want to be my partner?"

Serena slowly blushed. "Alright."

Mr. Devine smiled at her as she strolled past. Watched her as she choose a table in the third row. "So," he wiped his hands on the leg of his trousers.

Serena decided to give him some mercy. "Are you new? You seem awfully young."

His eyes caught hers for a moment before they quickly looked away. "Oh yes. I just graduated from Johns Hopkins last year."

Beside her, Darien slid her books in front of her. "What was your field?" he asked, unbuttoning his cuffs to roll up his shirtsleeves. Serena glanced at him.

Mr. Devine patted his pockets, as if he was searching for something. "I, ah, majored in Earth and Planetary Sciences, minored in Chemical Engineering."

"Very interesting," Serena played with a ponytail. This man was terribly fidgety. "Are you nervous? I mean, being a new teacher and all must be stressful."

From the intercom, the bell rang, and Mr. Devine's gaze floated to the clock. "Well, back into teacher-mode, I guess." He offered her a smile, and when she returned it, his eyes danced away.

The classroom suddenly began to fill with ruffling skirts, flapping ties, chatting and the eager smiles of students. In front of them, a girl plopped onto a stool. Her blouse rode up her backside.

"Hey, Darien," her lips, painted pink, separated into a pleased smile.

He nodded in her direction. "Adrianna. How was your summer?"

"Oh, just fabulous." She waved her hand around, and her bracelets chimed together. "Wonderful." Her gaze slid over to Serena for a fraction of a second.

His grin was closed, eyes not as blue as they usually were. "That's great."

She giggled- she was so eager to please- and turned back around, resting her chin against the heel of her palm.

The second bell gonged over the speakers, and Mr. Devine dutifully took his place at the front of the classroom.

Behind her, Zane and Nathan flicked paper footballs at each other. Mr. Devine cleared his throat.

Everyone ceased their chattering, as if they had just noticed his existence, and turned their wide eyes to stare at him.

Now, however, he did not appear to be nervous. In fact, he seemed confident, with his shoulders squared and jaw set. Serena found it to be the most peculiar thing.

"I'm sure you're all wondering where Sister Margaret is..."

"Old hag," Zane muttered under his breath. Serena could not control her smile.

"...Well, she is currently vacationing in the Barbados. So, you're stuck with me until she decides to come home. Now, we're going to start with role call."

To her left, Darien shifted in his seat. When she glanced at him, his smile dimpled.

"Adrianna Ardire? Gregory Bonner? Nathan Downen...Zane Graham..."

"Present." Zane shoved his hand into the hair, and Nathan shook his head and nudged him away.

He jabbered off more names.

"Darien Shields."

He lifted a hand in the air.

"Serena Tayse."

"Here," she raised a hesitant hand. He looked at her, a second longer than she was comfortable with.

He closed his attendance book. "Alright. I'm Mr. Devine." He turned to the white board behind him to scrawl out his name. "You are my class. I am your teacher. Remember that. Chemistry-IV will not be a walk in the park. In fact, it will be hard." He knotted his arms behind his back. "Some rules. All clothing must be contained. No bracelets should be worn. No chewing gum." He stopped in front of Arianna, lifting the garbage bin to her face.

She poked her tongue out, watching as the spearmint fell into the bag.

"You are required to cover your textbook, you must have two notebooks. One for labs, one for class notes..." He stopped beside Serena. "And I ask that all hair be held away from your face," he lifted up one of her ponytails, "for we will be in the laboratory daily."

His eyes were playful, but her cheeks burned anyway.

Finally, after he released her hair and continued his orbit around the classroom, Darien leaned so close to her, his body heat permeated against her. "I think your pigtails are cute," he murmured, and lifted a hand to tug on one.

With twenty minutes left in eighth period, Father Paul called all students and staff down to the auditorium. The student council, however, had to meet at the stage entrance. Serena weaved her way through the flowing body of students and toward Sister Laurel, where she stood next to a heavy oak door.

Zane, because he had last period literature with her, looped his arm through her own. "Mr. President, what are your views on the economy?"

"Shut up," she tried to pull her arm away, but he only tugged her closer, smiling that goofy smile of his.

"What about male prostitution? Because personally, I believe that our government system shouldn't reflect such random acts of-"

She shoved him away sharply and stopped beside the treasurer, Leslie.

The student council consisted of ten students, the president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, charity conveners, parent council representatives, and the fundraising team. Father Paul and Sister Laurel stood waiting for them.

"Is everyone here?" Father Paul counted, and then recounted, the heads. "Alright. We've got over a thousand students waiting in there. Don't back down, don't give in, and do not let the sophomores scare you."

Serena disentangled herself from Zane as he pursued her again. "They're not a rabid pit of dogs, Father."

His eyebrows met at the center of his forehead. "That's what they want you want to think."

Sister Laurel reached into her tote bag to withdraw the nameplate pins. As she handed them out, she brushed lint from one of the fundraiser's sweater. "Proper etiquette, now. Don't slouch in your chairs."

Father Paul pulled open the auditorium doors and the loud, obnoxious talking of bored students flooded into the empty hallway. He smoothed down his cassock before strolling out onto the stage. The front row of the raised auditorium was filled with the teachers, and behind them, the seniors. The rest of the students occupied whatever chair was free.

As he led them in an opening prayer, Serena peaked into the crowd. Behind the teachers, in the fifth row, Mina, Raye, and Lita sat. Behind them, Jake, Nathan, Kennedy, and Darien. Her lips quirked as Kennedy bent over the chair in front of him to whisper something in Mina's ear.

No matter how many times they've raved and ranted about how annoying and immature those boys were, they could never seem to get enough of them.

"And to end the first day of a new year," continued Father Paul, glancing over in her direction, "let us all welcome the 2010 student council."

Serena stepped aside to let everyone pass by her, and as the applause, which was more polite than anything else, reached her ears, she found that she was smiling.

Sister Laurel gave her a gentle push, urging her out into the spotlight. Serena, with a large exhalation of breath, strolled to the podium to take the microphone from Father Paul. As she lifted it to her mouth, she looked into the crowd again. But, this time, she didn't see only her friends. She saw the bright, new faces of freshman, the keen, calculating faces of the sophomores, the almost-there gazes of juniors. And then there were the seniors. She didn't know how to classify their expressions.

"Welcome back, Holy Angels," she started, and looked over each row. Her voice resonated back to her ears, and it had a dizzying, outlandish effect. "I'm Serena, for those new faces out there," she pointed to a group of unfamiliar students, watching with a teasing smirk as they sank into their chairs. "Let's not worry about that, right now, though." She cleared her throat and took a few steps to loosen herself up.

"Academy of Holy Angels is not a joke," she shoved a pigtail behind her shoulder. "You don't walk in here in a uniform and expect to walk out a masterpiece. You have to earn it. You have to work for it. Trust me, I would know." She lifted an eyebrow. "It might make you feel superior now that you're a sophomore, or a junior, or a senior." She let her gaze slide over to Zane. The teachers couldn't hide their laughter. He stood and bowed.

After she waved his nonsense away, she smoothed her free hand over her blouse. "There's only a hundred and eighty days left to this school year, ladies and gents. That's it. You only get to be here, in this spot, once, so let's make it the best. Father Paul bought us new lunch tables, for crying out loud."

The auditorium decided it was a good time to applaud.

"We've got new teachers, too." Mr. Devine let his eyes follow her as she moved across the stage. "This school year is a new start, guys. A brand new beginning."

Her eyes twinkled brilliantly underneath the spotlights, and she glanced at the clock to her left. "Hey, seniors. In about ten minutes, there's only going to be a hundred and seventy nine more days until we're out of here. Let's live those days like there's none left, okay?" She switched the microphone to her other hand. "Academy of Holy Angels, let's make this school year something we'll reminisce about at our fiftieth reunion."

From the back of the auditorium someone hooted, and that provoked a raunchy round of applause and laughter. Serena took it in, relished it, loved it and felt a smile crack across her face. Father Paul rejoined her up on the stage, patting her on the back and reaching for the microphone. "Alright, give it up for your student body president, Serena Tayse!"

Mina stood and jumped about. "That is my best friend, people!"

Serena, with a sigh and a rueful shake of the head, took her rightful place beside Zane.

"Sit down now, please, Ms. Anderson."

"Sorry, sorry," Mina plopped back into her chair and motioned her drivel aside. "Do continue, Father."

He nodded at her, mirthful. "Thank you." He moved back to the podium. "Before we head out of here," he eyed the students, "let us pray."

Father Paul blessed himself, and as everybody else followed, Serena stared ahead.

Beside her, Zane did not speak, but merely laced his fingers in his lap, eyes blankly hooked to a spot on the far wall.

Voices melded together, and it was an odd sensation; everyone talking as one. Their monotonous tone poured out from the core of the room. "...And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

Serena glanced around, looked out into the crowd. Darien was gazing at her.

He didn't look away when their eyes connected. "Amen."

Thanks a bunch for reading! Leave a review and let me know what you think, and definitely keep an eye out for chapter two, which should be out within the next few weeks.

-Chapter Two-
Preview

"Wake up!" The mattress jerked wildly, repeatedly, and she floundered about like a beached catfish.

A pillow smacked her in the face, and then again, until a body fell on top of her.

"Hello, anyone in there?"

Serena groaned as the mattress began to shake again. "What time is it?" She rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hands. "And what the heck do you want?"

A hand gripped the corners of her mouth and squeezed. "It's like four-thirty and I'm here to sweep you away to Candy Land where we can frolic in our tutus and shove lollypops down our throats."

"Zane?" She peeled open her eyes and stared into his smirking face.

"Right-o." He sat back, still on top of her, and pulled out his phone. "I've got plans for us tonight. Let's go. I already called everybody and this shit is about to go down. "

She pushed him off. "How did you get in here?"

He looked around her parent's room, and then back down at her. "Well, I rang the doorbell, your mom answered, I complimented her, and then she told me you were in here." He turned his phone around and mashed his mouth against her cheek. Serena made a face and tried to pull away.

The phone clicked as it captured the photo and Zane let her look at it. "This is a keeper." He pulled her from the bed. "Go get changed. Something comfy. But still look like your sexy little self." He followed her down the hall, into her bedroom, then to her closet. "I called Mina like two seconds after you, and she told me you were being a little puss. Apparently you don't think we're best friends?"

"Apparently whatever I say gets broadcasted across the face of the universe for everyone to know."

"Of course it does." He leaned against her dresser and watched her head toward her bathroom. She locked the door behind her, so he walked over to stand in front of it. "You're life is just so interesting, we can't help ourselves." The water ran, and he crossed his arms.

She pulled open the door, toothbrush dangling from her mouth. "Where are we going anyway?"

He lifted a blonde eyebrow. "That's a surprise."

She paused, turned to stare at him. Toothpaste dribbled down her chin. He laughed. "Hurry up, will you? The faster we get there, the better."