Chapter 2

The boys followed Nick until he finally stopped. Then he slumped to the ground. He had stormed off all the way the 6th grade moral they had made last year. Justin looked up at it with pure admiration. They hadn't seen it since the last day of school. The moral brought back sweet memories of 6th grade, but Nick hadn't come for memories. He came for stress relief. They had all came to it during the last month together of 6th grade; to get train of thoughts or to get over things such as arguments or punishments. Alyson had came up with idea first and the group soon followed. Nick seemed to using the idea now before they had to go to class. Tyler finally broke the silence.

"I haven't been here in a while," Tyler said looking up at the moral.

"Yeah," said Justin. "I missed this thing."

"Yeah," Nick muttered. "I needed it allot to help clear my head this summer."

"Why what's wrong with you?" Justin asked.

Nick shook his head."Nothin. Come on let's go. Before we get in trouble."

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The boys entered the room to find the girls sitting at a table. There were three seats left. Justin was already making his way to the table to sit beside Tersa. Nick rolled his eyes. His cousin was in his own world. Nick and Tyler followed him. Nick sat across from Maice and Tyler from Alyson. The girls gave each other a glance. Alyson spoke.

"What do you guys think you're doing?"

"Sitting with you!" Tyler said.

"I know that! I mean is why?"

"It’s a free country!"

Alyson rolled her eyes. "I give up!"

"And the T Master always wins!"

"So who’s our teacher?"

"Ms.Carelston I think," Maice answered.

"Ms.Carelston?" "What kind of name is that?"

"Our teacher you dope!" said Tersa.

"I know that."

"Well I wonder if she's as nice as our teacher last year," Nick said balancing a pencil on his head.

"Maybe," said Tyler yanking it away. "Who bets I can't break it?"

"I do! That's my lucky pencil!" It can withstand anything!!"

"All right then. Let’s see!"Tyler held the pencil firmly in his hand and then slammed his head against it breaking it. Nick let out a gasp."Not so lucky now Nick! You owe me a $1."

"I didn’t bet you anything!"

The girls giggled at this. Tyler had started this just around summer break by trying to break things with his head. To prove he was hard-headed. Well, by the pencil breaking they sure knew he was.

"Ah ha! I got a laugh out of you Maice. I guess you’re better now?"

"Maybe..."she said looking away. Her gaze turned back on them and she said menacing."That Marcus just bugs me!!!!! I can't take it sometimes I just want to...AAH!"

"Calm down," Nick said. "Before someone thinks we need to go to rehab."

Maice said nothing. She pulled her notepad out of her book bag and began to draw.

All of them always took interest in her drawings. That was one of her talents. Tersa's was writing stories and Alyson's was many things. The boys never admitted there talents unless by showing off or by accident.

"What you drawing?"Nick asked.

"My anger!"

"Oh Maice," said Alyson. "You need to settle this with him. I mean this has been going on for a year now. You think he would have just given up."

"I know I know! How's this?" she said showing the drawing to the group. The picture was a drawing of Marcus in a pit of flames, burning to ashes crying and begging for mercy. The boys looked at each other. They were a little uncomfortable with the drawing. Would she ever draw them like that if she was angry at them? They shuddered.

"Aww, come on is it that bad?"

"No Maice!" It’s that bad!

"I don't get it." said Tersa.

"I mean it’s bad as in bad thing to think of."

"Well," said Maice."You don't know how I feel!"

"You don't know the half of it Maic," Nick muttered.

More students had appeared in the room. It was becoming crowded and louder by every minute. Tersa started writing a story while Justin and Nick talked amongst themselves. Tyler was counting the ceiling tiles. Alyson was reading and Maice was back to drawing. This time she decided to draw Nick. She hadn't drawn his picture in a while. She squinted at her outlining. It was messy but clear enough to see. She just needed more detail.

"I don't understand!"Tyler yelled.

"What?"Tersa questioned looking up from her tablet.

"First I counted 15 tiles then 18 then 14 now 21!"

"Maybe your counting wrong," Justin said. He looked up at the ceiling."Why not try the floor tiles?"

"That'll take too long!" Tyler complained.

"Well do something else to pass the time," Alyson suggested.

"Like what?"

"I don't know,"

"I know Alicia!"

"Here he goes again!" the group said. Alicia was the girl Tyler liked since who knows when. Maybe since kindergarten. The two aren’t going out, but Tyler loves her anyway. They were all thankful she wasn't in their classes, or they would have to go through this every single day. Once Tyler started you couldn't get him to stop.

"Ah, Alicia by any other name as sweet. Her laugh, smile, looks, and charms. I-"

"Now who's Romeo?"Justin questioned.

"SHUT UP!!"

"Boys!" said Tersa. "Calm down. You don't want to-"


"Excuse me!" said a voice. "I believe your suppose to be respectful to your classmates."

The group turned around to see their teacher looming over them. She was at least 5ft 7. With dark brown hair and a mole on her left cheek. She didn't seem like a pushover for a teacher that’s for sure. She also didn't seem to like to play around. "So," Ms. Carelston said. "SHUSH! Anymore noise from you six and I'll have to write you up on your first day!"

"You really wouldn't do that would you?" Nick asked.

Ms. Carelston shot him a glance. "Your one I'm going to have to put on my list that’s for sure."

"What?!"

"Ms.Carelston he didn't do anything," said Maice.

"You too young lady. Anymore questions? No? I didn't think so. Now keep quiet until I have to give you your schedules." she turned around and walked off murmuring. "The sooner the better,"

The group waited in silence until she was out of earshot.


"Testy!" Tersa said. "This teacher might be a hard one to get along with,"


The rest of them agreed to it. Ms. Carelston may sound like a pushover, but once you met her she wasn't one at all. That was for sure. The group sighed. This was going to be a long day.

"Now what?"Justin asked.

"I got nothing," said Tyler.

"What about summer vacation?"Alyson suggested. "I always like talking about that when we start school over again. You hear about everyone and what they did. Let's go around in a circle. I'll go first!"

"Then me!" said Tyler.

"I guess were going counter clockwise. Anyway....for my summer vacation Reggie and I are still a couple like we were before summer break."

"Awe," Maice and Tersa said with glee. The boys on the other hand groaned with disgust.

"Hey!"Alyson snapped. "I don't see you guys with a girlfriend, so you shouldn't be complaining."

"Who said we're complaining," said Tyler. "I have a girl-"

"But not a girlfriend! True or false. I think true!"

"She has a point there you know," said Justin.

"Keep your trap shut Justin!" Tyler shot back. "I don't see you with Tersa. You guys aren't a couple either. So don't be going against me."

"HEY!" Tersa said.

Nick laughed at this. Justin blushed, but quickly turned on his cousin. "What are you laughing at? You and Maice aren't together either. Am I right or wrong? Everyone thinks you guys should be together. You guys would make a great couple! But are you two together I think not!"

Nick gasped at his cousin retort. "You know that isn't true!"

"I call it as I see it,"

"How could you Justin? I don't even torture you about Tersa. Why you got to be like Marcus? You know all of that isn't true. Right Maice?"

Maice looked in shock. "Me?"

"Is there another Maice here?"

Maice hesitated. All eyes were on her now. Justin began to put a smug on his face. Maice started. "I say-"

"ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION PLEASE!!!"

Save by the bell," Maice murmured.

"Welcome back, everyone to Phoenix Middle. I, Principle H., welcome you all to a new start. I see many familiar faces today I must say so myself. Many of you may know that you should be receiving your schedules from your homeroom teachers. Once then you may start your new day with activities with your homeroom teacher. Your new schedule won't start until the third day of school for most classes except your A day classes. Be prepared I tell you. This is all. Have a great day of new beginnings!"

The whole group waited silently as Ms.Carelston passed out their schedules. When they were all passed out she let them open them. The group however waited longer.

"Well," said Justin. "Even if we don't have all the same classes were all still friends, right?"

"Of course!" said everyone.

"Well with that open them on three. 1.....2.....2 1/2......2 1/4.....2 1/8........2 1/16...."

"SAY THREE!!!!"

"Okay ok......................5!"

"JUSTIN!"

Nick hit his cousin for this."Alright!!! 3!!!!!!!!!"

They all opened them. Tersa took over from here. "First block ELT?"

"Mr. Williams," said the gang.

Tersa looked upset.

"What is it Tersa?" asked Alyson.

"No fair. I got Ms. Barlow!"

"Strike one!" said Tyler.

"Shut up! Second block? Language Arts (LA), or Math, or Science, or Social Studies?"

"LA Ms.Carleston,"they all said solemnly including Tersa.

"What a bunch of bologna," said Nick.

"Block three connections?"

"Band," said Nick, Maice, and Tersa.

"Orchestra," said Alyson.

"Technology," said Justin. "YES!!!"

"Same here!" said Tyler.

"B-day?"

"P.E.!" said Maice, Nick, Tersa, and Justin.

"No fair," said Tyler. "I got Art."

"Me too," said Alyson.

"Forth block?"

"Science A-day Mr. Wrust and Social Studies B-day Ms. Michael." said the whole group."

"Heheheh," said Nick. "Mr. Wrust is he really the worst?"

"Who knows-"said Tersa.

"But god himself," Maice finished.

"Fifth block math then for everyone. Who?"

"Ms.Peterson," they all said firmly.

"Well that's settled."

"Yup," said Nick and laid back in his seat."Now we just have to spend the day mostly with Ms.Carelston. Anyone got gum?"

"Nope," they said.

"Fudge..."

"Let's look on the bright side," said Tersa.

"About what?" Tyler asked. "I don't know if Alicia is in any of my classes."

"Forget about Alicia!" Tersa snapped.

"Why should I?"

"Guys calm down," said Justin.

"Yeah," said Alyson. "We haven't had this many arguments since the last few weeks of sixth grade!"

At once the group fell silent at this. They all remembered how they had become so different during the last weeks of sixth grade. So many arguments had happened their friendship almost had ended because of it. If it hadn't been for the moral they all wouldn't be friends this very moment.

"She's right," said Maice.

"I want to visit the moral again," Nick said.

"You just did!" Justin complained. "Besides Ms.Carelston won't let us!"

"Or will she?" said Tersa. "Ms.Carelston?"

Their teacher walked over. She seemed in a better mood. "Yes children?"

"May we go visit our sixth grade moral?"

"I suppose. Just be back at 10:30 ok?"

"Yes ma'am!"

The group set off at once. It didn't take them long to make their way to it. At once Nick sat down on the floor. Justin followed suit. Then Maice, Tersa, and Alyson. Tyler stayed standing. He sigh a pitiful sigh then sat with the rest of them.

"Now-"

"Don't say it!" said Tersa.

"Ok," said Tyler. He folded his arms and looked away. I don't like the stupid moral anyway,"

"That's not true," said Justin. "If it wasn't for this thing we all would not be together this very moment. Just think you, and Nick with jocks, Maice and me with the smart people castaways, and Tersa and Alyson with the drama people. Maice would also be with the stupid popular group."

"To this day I won't believe those seventh graders- I mean now eighth graders. I'm popular? Yeah right........."

Nick sighed. "Me, with the athletic people. I mean I like sports just not as much like them. They're so competitive. I feel like an outsider,"

"Same," Tyler agreed with Nick.

"Well...."Tersa thought hard."I just don't like any of those in that drama club."

"Me either!" said Alyson folding her arms.

"I guess this did help us then," said Tyler. "It helped us realized that we may be able to fit in with those people, but they're not our real friends. Not like the friends we got. The friends I'm with now. I love you guys,"

The group looked at Tyler.

"Not like that!!!!"

They all laughed. "We love you too."

They sat there for a few more minutes. Nick finally stood up. Brushing the dust off his pants he began to walk around the moral. Maice sighed and followed. Justin right behind her. The rest stayed put. Daydreaming away.

"What's the matter Scooby?" said Maice.

"Nothing," said Nick.

"Yeah right," said Justin spooking the two. "I know my first cousin,"

"Yeah your only first cousin, well besides my older sister."

"Morgan needs help!"

The two cousins laughed.

"Nothing isn't bugging me though; seriously,"

Maice caught a hint of worry in his voice but didn't pressure him. "You sure?"

"Positive!"

"100%?"

"Yes,"

"Positive?"

"Yes."

"Accurately sure?"

"Yes."

"15% sure?"

"Yes!"

"So the other 85% you’re not?"

"Maice!"

"I'm kidding. Come on or will be late,"

The boys followed her to the gang and they headed back. They made it back just in time. Their teacher eyed them with suspicion but said no more. They let out a sigh.

"That was close," said Justin.

"Thanks to my expert timing!" Maice said.

"Yeah," said Nick. "So our first class will be connections? Does that mean band?"

"Yup," said Tersa. "Why you ask?"

"No reason...."he said his eyes trailing towards the clock."That's not until noon so we still have a little time left."

"If Marcus even tries a move on me I'm going to-"said Maice but stopped. Someone had entered the room. This someone was no one other than Marcus.