Ava walked into school the next day dreading her first class.  Her first class meant she would have to see Jay again.  Last night after a lot a crying and beating herself up, Ava decided she would just have to tell Jay she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend.  Unfortunately Ava didn’t know Jay already had a girlfriend, and she was about to meet her.

Alex walked up behind Ava and gave her a hard shove.  Ava was rattled and turned to see who pushed her. 

“What’s your problem,” she said to the dark haired girl now in her face. 

“You’re my problem bitch,” the girl spat at her and gave another shove. 

Ava almost lost her balance this time.  “What did I do to be your problem?”  Ava asked annoyed. 

“You’re the STUFF Jay had last night right?” 

Suddenly, Ava remembered the phone call Jay got last night when he said he had stuff.  “Look nothing happened with me and Jay last night we just did homework,”  Ava tried to answer calmly. 

“Oh yeah right, do I look stupid to you?  Jay doesn’t do homework,” Alex yelled and pushed Ava again. 

“Look I did homework with Jay that’s it.  I don’t really care if you believe me or not but push me again and I’m going to push back.” Ava gritted the last part through her teeth. 

Ellie walked up and grabbed Ava’s arm just as Alex pushed her again.  “Let her go Ellie, mind your own business,” Alex screamed at Ellie. 

“Leave her alone Alex it’s her second day here do you really think she slept with Jay on her first day?” Ellie asked. 

“Ellie, why are you taking up for little Miss Perfect?  What is she your new best friend?” 

“Alex just leave her alone.” 

“Ellie I don’t need your help,”  Ava said and then looked at Alex.  “I don’t want your boyfriend and I don’t sleep with guys I’ve known 10 hours and have spoken less than 20 words too.” 

Alex just stared at her trying to decide if she was telling the truth or not.  “Whatever princess,” she said finally, “but watch your back and stay away from Jay.” 

Ava just turned her back on Alex and walked away with Ellie. 

“Okay so what was that?”  Ellie asked trying to keep up with Ava. 

“She pushed me I didn’t do or say anything to her.  I can’t help it if she is a psycho,”  Ava said. 

“So what, were you a badass at your old school?” Ellie asked with a smile.  Ava wasn’t exactly what she thought. 

“No I’m just not taking crap off people when I don’t deserve it  I gotta go Ellie.  See you later?”

“Sure I’ll be around,”  Ellie answered.

Ava walked into MI class and breathed a sigh of relief.  Jay wasn’t in class.  She turned in their project and sat through another boring lecture. 

As Ava walked into the Caf Paige motioned her over to her table.  “Hey there sexy,”  Paige greeted Ava.  “Where were you yesterday at lunch?  I was going to make intros then.” 

“I just looked around and tried to find out where all my classes were.  I so hate being lost.” 

“Well Hun one of us could have showed you to your classes.” 

“It’s cool I found them,” Ava answered a little shyly.  She didn’t really like being the center of attention. 

“Kay Hun let me introduce everyone.” 

After lunch Ava had a lot of names to remember.  Including Jimmy who was going with her to her next class; he would be easiest because he was in a wheelchair.  That kind of set him apart.  He seemed very sweet. 

“Let me try to get this straight,” Ava said as they made their way to class.  “You go out with Hazel right?” 

“Yeah and Hazel and Paige are best buds.”

 “Okay and Marco?” Ava said moving on.

“What about him?” Jimmy asked.

 “Who does he date?  How does he fit into the group?” 

“He’s not going out with anyone now.  He did date Dylan, Paige’s brother, but they split after Dylan went to University.   Marco, Me, Craig and Ellie have a band called Downtown Sasquatch.” 

“A band, cool,”  Ava said with a smile.

 Jimmy smiled back and said, “Don’t say that until you have heard us.” 

“I would love to hear you guys play,” Ava said as they went through to door of their next class. 

The rest of the day Ava was passed off to different people to help her get around to her classes.  Marco invited Ava to join everyone after school at the Dot, as they were leaving the last class of the day.  “Sorry but I have to get home.  Maybe another time.”

“Okay sure,”  Marco said a little disappointed.

“Hey she not going?”  Ellie asked as she walked over to Marco’s locker.

“No she said she had to get home.  So how are you?”  Marco asked.  He couldn’t help but worry about Ellie.  She was his best friend and he knew she missed Ash.  He knew she missed Sean too.  Even if she told him and everyone else she was over him.  Best friends just know.

“I’m good.  Can I talk to you about something?”  Ellie asked a little nervousness in her voice.

“Sure love, what’s going on?”  Marco was a little afraid of what he might hear.  Please don’t let her be cutting again.  He thought to himself as he waited for her to work up her nerve to tell him what was going on.

“I’m”

Then she was interrupted.

“Hey you two.  Let’s go!  Paige is out front waiting for you,”  Hazel said.

Marco looked at Ellie who said “Let’s not keep Paige waiting.”