'Stupid alarm,' Gwin thought, throwing a pillow in hopes of the alarm clock breaking. Unfortunately, it knocked over her favorite game character statue instead. She shot up instantly, placing it back in it's original ordained spot and then realized, that, yes, the alarm clock had won. She DID have to get up.

Mornings were never any high school student's specialty, Gwin included. She got a shower, managed to get dressed and eat, only to find she was still exausted. She figured out that she did stay up too late the night before, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

Since she lived about a mile from school, she usually hiked the distance on pretty mornings. The sun was up and she had time to spare, so she turned on her CD player, snatched up her bookbag, and walked out in an effort to make the day the best it could be. Though she had a sweeping suspicion things were going to go a tad bit wrong.

*
- 2nd Period - Art Class

Today was the day of presentation. Everyone had been working on ant art project for three weeks, and now they had to showcase it for their class. Some students really went out of their way to make it great and expensive looking, but only three didn't seem to really 'showcase' much wealth.

"Gwin you're up next," the art teacher declared promptly. "Don't be nervous. I'm sure it's wonderful."

She gulped, carrying her portfolio up to the front to pull out her completed project. An entire chapter of an original manga she wrote, planned, and and drew by herself. "My project is a doujinshi, which is Japanese for 'self published comics'," she explained. "My story is about a battle between angels and devils on the control of Earth, which is a common story, but this is different: the devils aren't really devils - they just look like devils to the angels, and it messes with their heads a lot."

A student raised his hand. "Hey, I don't see any action or even any heroes in your comic." he complained.

Gwin cleared her throat before explaining. "Japanese comics cover everything from actoin, drama, and open sexuality to romance, adventure, and even biography. It's an art from called 'manga'."

Another student poised a question. "Why're the eyes so big?"

And yet another: "Why don't you draw American comics, you're American!"

Her face grew redder with each racist, uncultured, uniformed question until she finally burst out in anger, "AMERICA IS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY ON THIS OVER-POPULATED, UNDER APPRICIATED HUNK OF PLANETARY ROCK!"

Many students were horrified. They never had any idea that Gwin could be... loud. Or angry.

The teacher quickly pushed Gwin to the hall, and that's when she knew she actually said what was on her mind. LOUDLY. Her mind froze: surely they'd suspend her for violence! Then she'd be grounded! Or WORSE.

Oh. Shit.

Those were the only two words she could find in her mind.

"Hey, don't be upset," a voice came frm the other side of the hall. "I heard your speech. Very nice."

Gwin looked up to find Emily, a tough, quiet girl with long chesnut brown hair. Even though they were of completely different social positions, Gwin believed Emily reminded her of Randi somehow.

"N-Nice?"

"Yeah. Not often do the shy and quiet types speak their mind. Somewhere in there, you are very brave," Emily smiled. "My name's Emily." In the back of her mind, Gwin imagined Emily weilding a scythe. For an RPG fan, you could learn a lot about someone if you figured out the weapon and style of fighting someone would have.

"You really think so? I know I'm going to be punished..."

"And you knew it when you exploded, too. But that still doesn't change the fact: you still had an outburst. Don't worry, you'll most likely only get a warning. Especially if I'm sent in with you," Emily said, giving a thumbs up. "I'll keep you under my wing if anything goes wrong."

"Thank you, Emily, but not even you can save me from my parents," Gwin repsonded.

"Not unless you empancipate 'em," Emily laughed outloud, causing a teacher to send them both to the office. "Ah well. Don't worry. I know everyone in the office, you'll be fine."

"Give that back, you cold hearted son-of-a-bitch!" RAndi screaming, throwing a right handed punch. "I've had that all my life!"

"This necklace'll pay a bundle," a cruel student laughed. "This jewel is beautiful!"

"You've no right to touch something that doesn't belong to you," a voice said behind the sniveling twirp. The guy stood taller than Randi, and had superior strength. "So... give it back?" he asked peacefully.

"E-Chan!"

"I'm giving it to the local pawnshop!"

-THUD!-

"No, you aren't. Returned the pretty to it's owner and forget about this little trinket, would you?"

-SMACK!-

"You there! Stop this fighting!"

Randi turned around, and two words came to mind.

'I. WIN.'

So, four adolesants sat in the office. Gwin, for 'disrupting class'. Randi and E-chan for 'fighting'. Emily for... they didn't know why Emily was there yet, she didn't seem to talk much about herself.

Randi noticed Gwin there, which surprised her. "I didn't think you'd be in trouble, Miss Club Founder," she said quietly.

"They're going to kill me," Gwin muttered.

"I keep telling you, they aren't going to kill you, kiddo," Emily retorted with a slight laugh. "Guess you've never made trouble before, then?"

Gwin shook her head. "No..."

"I can get you out of this mess," Randi said proudly. So we all can meet by the Giant Ash Tree together!"

"All of us?" Emily asked, an eyebrow raised suspiciously. "I find that hard to believe."

"You don't know how big of a distraction I can be," Randi said, pointing to herself. "You'll be in here fifthteen minutes, tops."

E-Chan laughed. "You're useful, at least."

"At least, my ass!"

Mr. Reyes was a unique principal, not many every thought the way he did about punishment. He never, ever made kids write sentances or do detention after school. He was more into hitting a psycological spot for each kid, usually that entailed something they abhored doing.

He strolled in the office with a smirk on his face. "Well well," he said with a shrug. "Four members of society, all of different standpoints, but all of you the same personality type. All of you are in here because you are anti-social. Fighting, disrupting, and backtalking... all of you..."

Gwin cowered, visibly. Mr. Reyes could tell just how fearful she was, and he almost felt sorry for her, as she was going to have to confront her own behavior.

"Am I antisocial for doing the right thing?" Emily thought aloud. "Because I don't take bribes like SOME people around here? I just wanted to save that girl, you KNOW that Mr. Hombre is a pedophile."

"Dude, the special ED teacher?" E-Chan asked. "You must have been... lucky to be his TA."

Emily grunted. "You can't punish me, I did nothing wrong. Gwin stood up for herself amongst a bunch of racists, she can't be punished, either."

Mr. Reyes crossed his arms. "But, Randi, you can definately take the punishment for fighting. As you have yet to ever be punished for anything..."

Randi stood up to look him in the eye. "If you could touch me, you dirty son-of-a-bitch, then I'd be scared. You know full well I can have your ass FRIED. You even dare try something on my friends there and the next thing you know, I'm serving you on the side of a greasy burger at Jack in the Box!"

"I am not going to punish ANY of you," Mr. Reyes replied smoothly. "I am hereby nominating you all to be the student coordinates of the formal dance on Friday. If it's a smashing success, then I won't tell your parents of your crimes OR put them on your record. Oh yes, and you DO have to go."

E-Chan sighed. "Friday I won't be in town. I have a trip planned with the Spanish Club to go to South America next week, and we leave Friday morning."

"...I forgot about that. Well, fine, you're off the hook. Girls, you'll be doing this together. You might want to become great friends by the end of the week!"

What Gwin didn't know, is that it would take less time than that for the girls to really bond. And, yes, Randi was right. At fourteen and a half minutes, they were walking out of there with confused faces.

"What kind of punishment is THAT?!" Emily asked.

Randi sighed. "I think he's trying to get at our 'antisocial' behavior, but the problem is..."

"I have no money, I couldn't afford a formal dress. I'm screwed." Gwin muttered.

"No, you aren't," Randi said with a smile. "And Emily, you're covered, too. I'll take care of everything. Dresses, food, and the works. Don't forget, I have money to spare, and I'm only going to one dance in my entire career, I might as well make it the best I can!"

Emily's eyebrow went up yet again. "I'm sure. You're a strange one."

"No more than anyone else. Let's make it a gamer theme then!" Randi said loudly. "If I'm making it, I'm going to make it a... gaming cosplay formal!"

"...you have to be joking..." E-chan said quietly. "Mr. Reyes wouldn't go for that."

"IF things get out of hand, I'll have someone off his ass," she replied.

END CHAPTER 2