NOTE: Rated T for bad language, gore and sexual references.

Chapter One

The two buses rolled to a halt in front of the large building of Greenboro High School. 150 or so students stood impatiently in front of the school's entrance/exit, waiting to board the bus for their field trip to newly built pier at the other end of town. The math department of the school had planned a small trip to the pier to get some mathematical insight on how the structure had been built. Most students had rolled their eyes and sighed when they were told, but the teachers promised junk food and rides on the pier afterwards. Also a full day out of school. It was a nice day after all.

Marnie Reeves waited with her best friends Aimee Walters, Delilah Evans, Hanna Meier, Lucas Hoss and her boyfriend Mason Wells. As soon as the doors of the buses opened, the students started piling onto them. The three uptight teachers trying to guide them all on without too much hassle. Marnie and her friends hurried to the back of the bus. The back of the bus was the best place to sit. Especially if you loved to bounce around while it drove.

Aimee sat down next to Marnie.

"How long is the mathematical part of this lame ass trip gonna take? I just wanna hit the rides and eat till I look pregnant." she sniggered.

Marnie giggled. "Hopefully not long. My brain is fried. I was up all night reading last night."

"You and yours books." Aimee shook her head.

People continued to pile onto the bus, some of them shooting nasty looks their way. They obviously wanted to ride at the back too.

Too bad.

Delilah craned her neck over Aimee's head. She sat next to Hanna whom she got a long with better in the group.

"Hey, Marnie. Mason wants to know if you've still got his iPod in your handbag." Delilah said.

Marnie picked up her small hang bag that she sat between her and Aimee, and sat it on her lap, raking through her things for his iPod. She found it and handed it to Delilah.

"Thanks." Delilah smiled and took it from her.

Aimee yawned stretching her longs arms up over her head. "Shit. I'm tired!" she relaxed back down on her seat.

Mr. Walker took his seat at the front of the bus, the doors closed and they set off to the other side of town.

Marnie rested her head against the cold glass of the window. She stifled a yawn. She was tired too. Aimee rested her head on Marnie's shoulder and they shut their eyes, trying to block out the chatter between Delilah, Hanna, Mason and Lucas. The bus started downhill and as expected, the back started to bounced up and down. Marnie's eyes shot open and she hit her head against the glass.

"Ow!" she straightened up, rubbing the side of her head with her hand.

Aimee shrieked as she came right out of her seat and almost went flying down the bus. Marnie gasped and grabbed the back of her tank top, yanking her back.

"Fuck." she rasped. "I didn't expect it to be so rough back here."

"You okay?" Marnie asked.

"Yeah, I-I'm fine." she stuttered.

Mason, Lucas, Delilah and Hanna looked at her with concerning eyes. She noticed and lifted her hands. "I'm okay! I just better hang on the next time the bus starts having sex with the road."

They all burst into laughter, catching the attention of some of the other students and Mr. Walker.

"Keep it down back there!" he called.

They quietened down.

"What a party pooper. All he's gonna do at this pier is sit on the benches at the side, hating how much fun we're having." Hanna said.

"God, tell us about it." said Lucas. "Last year, we had a beginning of summer mini-party in his class and all he did was sit there with a disapproving look on his face. If he hated it so much, all he had to do was tell us to stop. He's such a push-over."

"He must be lonely . . . or horny." Mason suggested.

They laughed again.

The bus started to bounced again. Aimee and Marnie gripped the seat in front of them tightly.

Once it calmed down, they relaxed.

"Yeah, just put him under this bus. He'll get plenty of action." Marnie said, blowing her black bangs away from her eyes.

The bus now travelled down the highway that lined the beaches. The pier was a few hundred feet ahead.

When it came into view, they could see the large roller coaster at the end of it. It was red, a decent size. Beside it was one of those rides that catapulted you up into the air. Only two thick cords that prevented you from from going anywhere.

Pulling into the pier's own parking lot, the buses ground to a halt. There were other buses that had brought students from all over California. They were having the same boring lecture of how the pier was built.

The doors of the bus opened and Mr. Walker stepped out, the students following him. Marnie and Aimee stepped out last. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. It was calm.

"It's so warm!" Marnie complained, looking up at the blue sky. She unbuttoned her black sweater and tied it around her waist.

Aimee smoothed down her blue tank top. "I wish I could take this off. But I'm afraid Mr. Osbourne will cream himself." she glanced over at the plump man with an almost bald head and glasses, watching the girls and they passed him onto the pier.

Marnie shuddered. "What a creep."

They walked on behind Delilah and Hanna. Lucas left Mason as he rushed off to talk with some other friends. He walked over Marnie and held her hand.

"How you doing, babe?" he smiled.

"Fine." she smiled back.

He lowered his face towards hers and their lips connected. It was soft, warm and minty. Their tongues slipped into each other's mouths. They pulled away and smiled at each other again.

"Hey." Aimee snapped her fingers. They turned their attention towards her. "Watch this." she winked.

Aimee strode on ahead of them, sticking her chest out and pulling down her shirt, showing more of her cleavage. Her butt wiggling from side to side.

"What the hell is she doing?" Mason laughed.

"I don't know." Marnie watched her. Then she caught on.

Aimee passed Mr. Osbourne, playing with her light brown hair. She dropped her hand from her wavy curls and stroked her right breast. Mr. Osbourne's eyes bulged. Marnie hid her face in Mason shoulder and laughed as they too passed the man, his mouth hanging open. He snapped out of it and smiled and them.

Marnie stepped onto the pier, a chill ascended up her spine. She shivered even though there was no breeze. She paused and Mr. Osbourne rounded her, starting up the pier after the rest of the students. Mason stopped too and let go of her hand.

"Woah, what's up?" he stood in front of her, putting both hands on her arms.

Marnie looked down at where she stood. How easily could the wood of this pier break?

Mason snapped his fingers in front of her face. Aimee came up behind him.

"Is she okay?" she crinkled her brow, her voice full of concern.

"Marnie!" Mason shouted and she snapped out of her gaze.

"Sorry,"she said. "I guess I got a little distracted."

"Over what?" he asked.

"Nothing." she shook her head. "Nothing."

Aimee and Mason shared confused looks and they shrugged. They walked on after the class. Marnie followed them and noticed one of few signs that were placed all along the pier, sharing some information that she was sure they would be learning.

One of them wobbled in a non-existent wind.

BUILT IN 180 DAYS, it declared. A yellow smiley face beside it, giving her a thumbs up.

Marnie grabbed Mason's warm hand and squeezed it tight.