Nicki&MorePips

Chapter 2

Ray Ray hoped that seventh grade was going to at least challenge him. Maybe he could pour himself into learning to combat his boredom. He stepped into his class and was met with the sound of screaming girls.

"Oh my God! Your rap track is so cool Ray Ray." Some hyper blond said rushing up to him.

Other girls were crowding and touching his hair. "Thank you . . . Okay that's enough . . . don't pull my hair." He said trying to get away. So far school was annoying.

He tried to pick out a seat. A lot of guys were motioning to him to sit next to them. And most of the girls were making googly eyes at him. He wished Princeton was in his class. He didn't want to sit next to someone who would distract him. He spotted a boy who was too busy smiling into a comic book to notice he entered the room.

"Is this seat taken?" Ray Ray asked politely setting his things down on the desk next to the boy.

The boy looked up and smiled hugely. "Oh no it isn't. You can sit."

"Thanks." Ray Ray sat heavily into the chair. He went over what he wanted to do this school year in his mind. He would probably join the basket ball team –though he was still pretty short for his age . . . overall he just wanted to make Nicki proud.

"I'm Ashton by the way. Ashton Irwin." The boy interrupted Ray Ray's thoughts and put out his hand.

It was only then Ray Ray noticed the boy had an Australian accent. How strange. "Oh I'm Ray Ray." He shook Ashton's hand.

"Oh I know who you are . . . and it's a real pleasure to meet you." Ashton pretty much gushed.

"The pleasure is all mine." Ray Ray said politely. He started methodically organizing his stuff according to his schedule; deciding what he'd put in his locker and what he'd take home when the day was over.

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"Hi my name is Leigh-Anne Pinnock and I'm ten years old. I love to sing, write, cook and rap. My favourite colour is green and my best friend is Jesy Nelson." Leigh-Anne introduced herself to the class when it was her turn to do so. She, Jesy and Princeton had picked seats at the front of the class. Well she and Princeton picked seats in the front –Jesy just didn't want to sit by herself at the back.

Leigh-Anne had grinned hugely hoping that everyone in her class would like her. She didn't want a repeat of what happened the last time she was at school when she had been bullied a lot and Jesy always beat people up. Her introduction was met by awed mumbling from most of the other children in the class. Some boys were whistling while a few girls groaned in irritation. When she sat she nudged Jesy since it was now her turn.

Jesy stood and frowned at the class. All that talk about being too good for school was just her way of avoiding the fact that she was really scared. Being on the set of a TV show where Chloe told her what the director wanted and where Chloe was the only person she really had to talk to was very different from being on your own with a class full of kids who stared and whispered and most likely already hated her for various reasons. After all this time she was still insecure. She couldn't really hear the voices because she took several medications regularly and had sessions with Garvin every three days but she was still so insecure about herself.

"I'm Jesy Nelson and if any of you touch Leigh-Anne I will ki –I mean hurt you." Jesy said quickly then sat with folded arms. There, this way the kids will know not mess with her or her friend. She wasn't going to try to make friends. Leigh-Anne was all she'd ever need for her entire life. Other people would only cause pain and confusion.

This was met with silence. It seemed the teacher wasn't sure if she should have commented or not. After a while Princeton stood and gave his introduction. "Hi I'm Princeton and I like the colour green. It's nice to meet all of you." He sat hastily and shot Jesy a look asking if she was crazy.