{{ON HIATUS}}

Chapter 1

24 Hours Before

    Being the new kid at a high school isn't as easy as one might think. The place isn't all puppies and rainbows when you're cursed with a birth date that forces the nickname 'Kid' on you. But nicknames are only the beginning of the dilemmas you're faced with as a newbie.

    "You really think she'll say yes?" I asked, shoving my way through a wave of seniors, to the cafeteria.

    Alex was never the best with girls. In grade one he had this mad crush on a girl named Pamela Monte. She was pretty - or, as pretty as one nose picking six year old could be - but I never knew what he saw in her. She had a horrible temper, and even the kindergarteners could tell she would never make it as teachers pet.

    One day, at recess, Alex and I where playing tag with a couple other guys from class when Pamela strutted up and planted herself right in front of us. Alex stopped in mid-step, almost trampling her, and I rammed into him, sending me flying backwards into the dirt. The other guys must have sensed some tension as the whole game was cut short to watch the disaster unfold.

    "Hey, Alex," Pamela said, flipping her hair over a shoulder, nonchalant.

    Alex's face went pale, and his eyes took focus on a place past her head. He didn't make a sound.

    Silence didn't please Queen Pamela. She crossed her arms over her chest and started a rhythm, tapping her foot against the gravel. "Is something wrong?"

    That was when his skin turned an unidentifiable colour. His cheeks went pink, and his face turned a dark green as he uttered, "I don't feel so good." and projectile vomited scrambled eggs, pizza, and a granola bar all over her Tinkerbell tank top.

    Everyone burst out laughing as Pamela screamed bloody murder, and Alex crumpled to the floor like a deflating balloon. I quickly brushed myself off and rushed to a teacher, one of the many things I learned from the bullying lectures my mom gave me, and shoed Pamela off.

    From that point on, Alex and I agreed to keeping a reasonable distance from girls. That is, until now. Brampvalley High school is our next shot at giving new life to a beautiful beginning, and at the first sight of hope Alex jumped. Now he has his sights set on Roxanne Joyce — I recalled seeing her around back in elementary school, but I never really gave her any thought. She was always shy, and never had many friends. She basically didn't exist. But seeing her now — hair all done up, rocking the jean jacket and sky blue converse — it was obvious she had begun her new beginning before we had even stepped through those big glass doors.

    At the moment, Alex felt the need to make a proposal to Roxanne, "I think she'll consider me."

    I watched as sweat collected around the brim of his sideburns and dribbled down his temple. "Are you up for it?" I snuck a glance at the group crowing around Roxanne's table, "I mean, maybe we shouldn't rush into things. We just got here, and don't you remember the last time you encountered  a...girl?"

    That word 'girl' hadn't been spoken since we made our vows to stay away from them, and merely uttering it now was like letting a load off my shoulders.

    "Vividly," he replied, shifting in his seat.

    The crowd began to withdraw to their tables leaving Roxanne, and three other girls I didn't recognize, alone. "Now's my chance," he sighed and patted my shoulder, "wish me luck."

    I watched him as he psyched himself up and set off to potential doom, and four more years of loneliness. I was proud of Alex. He had always been so brave and adventurous; taking on insane dares, and climbing trees — which I never felt the need to do since I have an extreme phobia of heights — but, even though he could be so audacious, I always knew he wasn't fearless. No one's fearless. Having a fear is part of being human, and even if you claim to be so brazen, you're really just hiding your true self behind an invisible mask. That's why I take extra close attention to what I say about the popular people, or the 'big-shots'. I know they all have their secrets, they just need to find the right person to hold half the weight for them.

    My train of thought wandered to a couple kids I recognized from school, mixed with some unfamiliar ones. It's so weird seeing people from different places. You get so used to the people around you that, when the new come around, they're like a whole different race. They look completely different from the ones you have come to know so well. I guessed I'd just have to learn to get used to my new peers, or become what Roxanne Joyce used to be. Either way, I knew Alex would stick with me. Though he could be a complete and total pain sometimes, I knew he cared.

    Around me everyone began to move, stacking trays and chugging the last of their drinks. I glanced at the clock. It was 11:53. Lunch was over, and it was time to count Alex's scores with Roxanne.

    I stood to retrieve him when a puberty induced voice stopped me from behind, "Daniel Burke?"

    I whirled around to see a giant man — or boy, or whatever he was — towering over me. I suddenly felt tiny and helpless in his shadow as I cleared my throat and swallowed a lump. "That's me."

    He got right to the point, obviously not too great with smalltalk, "Did you send your pathetic friend to steal my Roxie?"

Roxanne has a boyfriend, I thought. My head swung in Alex's direction a little too quickly, dizzying me. Roxanne's head was tossed back, and Alex flashed me a grin. He had that same sparkle in his eyes as when he found out his parents won the lottery, but was later disappointed when everyone yelled, "APRIL FOOLS".

    I had a feeling history would repeat itself.

    "Um," I murmured, searching for words that wouldn't end in a knuckle sandwich. "I didn't know she had a boyfriend. I-I mean, she looks too young to have one, especially you." was all I could come up with.

    I mentally kicked myself. My cursed talent of speaking what ever it is that's on my mind took over for my nerves, and I had to cover my mouth with my hands to keep myself from spilling anymore thoughts.

    Something in this guys eyes turned, or maybe it was just all his muscles flexing as he raised his fist to connect it with my face, but I saw some sort of pity before I threw my hands in front of me like it would stop him. I was sure he was going to hit me as two guys took position by his side, but, instead, he and the other less-brooding gentlemen took me by my wrists and ankles and started for the cafeteria door.

    I was too shocked to attempt escape as the doors flew open and people started chanting gibberish. The last thing I saw before my view was blocked by bodies crowding the halls was Alex's face, pale with worry, his hand intertwined with Roxanne's.

    And I thought, You ignorant asshole.