It's High School. Need I say more?

A few minutes before the afternoon classes, Lisa still wandered the third floor of the school's main building, trying to find the Physics Laboratory. She did not want to ask for directions because she’d rather do things on her won. She’d refuse to ask for help, period. She walked on, checking every room that she passed by.

Luis Mendoza was chatting with his teammates from the football team along the corridor when he once again saw the girl who already passed by twice. Well, she looked lost, as Luis recognized as the new girl in History Class this morning. Apparently, the girl needs help with which rooms to go to. Luis excused himself “I’ll see you guys later”, he said slapping each of the guys’ shoulder. “see ya”, the three said randomly. Luis jogged through the throng, oblivious to the stares of the girls in the hallway.

“Hey!” Luis called out to the girl as she continued walking, not minding the voices around her. His “hey” caused several girls to turn however; he glanced at them and smiled before he continued walking. Within seconds, he reached her side. “You seem lost”, he said without any introduction. The girl literally jumped, surprised with the new presence. Luis chuckled. “Sorry, I did not mean to scare you”, he apologized. The girl just nodded once clearly saying “it’s okay” and continued walking. Luis continued to walk beside her. “May I borrow that?”, he asked as he pointed at the schedule in her hand. Lisa gave him a quick side glance, obviously weirded out with him. As she does, Luis instantly noticed her pretty green eyes. She was wearing a red baseball cap and her long reddish brown hair was all over the place but her eyes as she looked up seemed to stood.

Well, the pretty green eyed girl gave him a look which said “Why are you talking to me?” even without her talking. Luis smiled and took a peak at the schedule which she did not give. ‘Let’s see Physics Lab on this floor left wing, last door to the left. Room EL is on the fourth floor, middle wing, and first door by the left stairs. Room N4 is that one”, he said as he read, pointing to a nearby room. |he girl finally stopped walking and faced him. She gave him a small polite smile. “Thanks”, with that she left without even hanging for a second, even before Luis can answer “You’re Welcome” and even before he can introduce himself. He just smiled to himself and turned to the other direction.

One of his best friends, Trina, was watching him from behind. She greeted him with a grin. “You know for a supposed hot shot, you can be pretty perky at times. I’m surprised you didn’t wear your ‘hello, my name is Luis how may I help you button’” Trina teased. “Shut up Lorenzo, you and your Harriet the Spy ways” Luis retorted his arms crossed over his chest, now walking side by side with her. “Oh My God, I can’t believe you remember that film!” Trina squealed as they walk to class. “How can I forget about it? You made all of us watch it over and over again in 5^th grade” Luis said chuckling, not even noticing that people around them kind of stepped back to let them pass.

That night: “So how was your first day?” Jenna Matthews asked as she entered the kitchen the kitchen where Lisa and Jeremy were huddled over the kitchen table, enjoying a pint of fudge brownie ice cream. Jenna’s twin Jeremy looked up. He too, just got home. He loosened up his tie. “I guess it went well” he answered for Lisa. Lisa smirked as Jenna plopped at the chair next to him. “I am not asking you” she stated as she took his spoon and helped herself with the ice cream. She then looked at Lisa, sitting across from her, raising her perfectly plucked eyebrows.

Lisa gave her a smile. “Well, it’s high school. Need I say more?” she said with a chuckle. She then continued eating. The twins looked at each other and as they did Lisa took a quick glance at them. She could never be thankful for having such cool, awesome and loving guardians. They are twins, thirty three years of age; Jenna owns a clothing line while Jeremy is a young and fierce lawyer. Lisa moved in with them in their middle sized home in Ridgepoint Avenue,West Shore, California a week ago.

Lisa absent mindedly rubbed the back of her neck as she sighed “I got a job” she said as she smiled with excitement. The twins gave out twin skeptic expressions with their rich chestnut brown hair and light blue eyes. “Job?” Jeremy echoed. Lisa nodded enthusiastically “Yes, in a cozy little bookstore called Old Pages” she said as she ate more ice cream. The twins’ eyebrows shot once again, giving her the most puzzled look ever. “What? You guys don’t think I can handle it?” she said chuckling suggestively. “I can do this. Come on. I’ll just be organizing books and stuff” Lisa said.

Then she added, “How hard can it be?”

Lisa, Josh and Luis.

1

Lisa Thomas breathed a heavy sigh as Jeremy Matthews pulled over his blue Mazda convertible in front of West Shore High. Lisa turned to look at her thirty-three year old guardian as if to find some assurance. Jeremy gave her a supporting smile. “Good luck”, he said. Lisa pulled the brim of her blue baseball cap lower to cover her face as she let out a smile. “You sound like I’m about to enter the boxing ring”, Lisa said, opening the car door just after she saw a couple of girls look at their direction then carried on with their chitchat. Apparently, flashy cars are not new in this town. Most students from West Shore High own Mercedes convertibles, Porsches, and BMW two-seaters. Jeremy, a young lawyer, could not help admit that he feels a little jittery for the girl on her first day. “It’s a good thing you still humor yourself”, Jeremy replied. Lisa got off the car before answering. “It keeps me from drowning in the sea of cynicism.” she said with a wink. She pulled the cap’s brim lower yet again. Jeremy furrowed his brows to her. “It’s not like you’re not gonna take that off inside class”, Jeremy noted.

Lisa smiled. “This is what you call the non cliché disguise. Why you want me to wear glasses and dye my hair blonde?” she said.

Jeremy shrugged “good point”, he said. “See you later”, Lisa said tapping the car door and stepping back. Jeremy nodded, bid goodbye and finally drove off. He checked his side mirror as he drove farther away from the school. Lisa then turned and faced the front lawn of West Shore High. Nobody seems to be paying attention to her. Her old black tee, tattered jeans, yellow sneakers, red baseball cap, and messed up reddish brown hair created no buzz. She smiled to herself. Just what she was wishing for: to be ignored. She walked on. They did not give a damn. Neither did she.

The bell that signaled lunch break rang. It seemed like a scene off a teen flick. Joshua Traven enters the cafeteria carrying the calm air of invisible confidence that girls adored and fellow guys usually loathed. He looked around the cafeteria and spotted his friends who sat at their usual table and walked to them. Just then, he was blocked by his girlfriend Margaret Hayes. He looked at his hot babe from head to foot. “What’s up?”, he was about to lean in for a kiss when Margaret shoved him away. They started to draw attention from people who sat at nearby tables. Johnny, being one of the most notoriously popular guys in campus, never fails to catch attention. He let out an exasperated sigh, as if he’s used to drama queens. “What is wrong with you?” he asked, calmly, running a hand over his short and mussed brown hair which always look perfectly tousled in whatever state. Margaret placed her hands on her hips and flipped her curly blonde hair back. “You think I wouldn’t find out about you and Maria note passing a while ago?", she said haughtily.

Josh fell silent for a moment. He is the type of guy who'd talk less in whatever situation. His actions are far more significant than any word.

"Does this mean you're breaking up with me?", he said, his hands coolly inside his shorts pockets. But before Margaret can answer, Josh rubbed the back of his neck and walked past her nonchalantly. "Then I guess I am breaking up with you too", he added. He then strolled to their table where his friends are all waiting for him.

"Tre harsh Josh.", Trina Lorenzo, one of her only two girl friends said as he fell on the seat next to her. He smiled. "it's okay Trin. You don't even like her, remember?", he answered. "Well yeah, but you shouldn't have embarrassed her like that", Keisha Gilmore, their other girl friend answered instead. Ru Watson and Matt O'Connor laughed heartily. "You can't argue with the feminist, Josh.", Ru said. Josh chuckled serenely. "Ooookay, now, come on Keish. Are you guys really willing to spend the lunch break talking about my ex?",. he asked grabbing the roast beef sandwich from Matt's tray to which he was spanked in the head by the football running back, but Josh took it anyway with a laugh. Keisha sipped on her cranberry juice. "You have had three exes in the past month", Keisha pointed out as she and Trina looked at him in disapproval. Josh chewed in silence, looking at the two. Matt and Ru looked at him as well, as they both enjoyed their heavy lunch.

"So?", he asked, wondering if this friends' meddling will come in just now, after more than a decade of knowing him. Trina and Keish smiled. "it's actually an achievement. You average four", Trina said, causing their table to erupt in chuckles.

"what's up guys?", Luis Mendoza, their other friend suddenly fell at the seat next to Josh, carrying a bulky lunch bag. The table erupted in "heys" as Luis slapped hands with his boys and gave Trina and Keisha a peck on the cheek. The six of them are practically brothers and sisters: the IT crowd that other students wish to be part of. They miss out the part though, that these kids are friends not because all of them are popular, but because they go way back--- kindergarten days. Ü

"We were just talking about Josh's functional lovelife", Ru, who's half Japanese by the way, commented as he chewed. Luis shrugged off his varsity jacket. "What, you broke up with Margaret?", he asked as if the whole thing is expected. Josh was chewing so he just nodded. Luis grabbed his bacon sandwich and turned to Josh. "I thought you like Margaret.", he stated. Before Josh could swallow the dibs, Matt spoke: "Yeah but he also like Maria, Shelby, Taylor and Ashley", he butted in. They all chuckled.

"Yeah, i figured", Luis said chuckling. "So how about you, Lu? any plans of following the footsteps of THE Traven,? God knows if I have both of you guys' sex appeal, I'd be freakin' Hefner", Ru joked. Trina and Keisha giggled. True enough, most of the female population would nod their heads in affirmation that friends Josh and Luis are the hottest guys around. Luis, who waved warmly to a groups of freshmen guys slash "we want to be just like Luis Mendoza when we reach senior year" guys, grinned at Ru. "I am seeing someone, in case you forgot all about her", he answered.

"Speaking of the Bride of Dracula..", Trina commented loudly as Rachel Queens, co captain to Keisha of the cheer leading squad and Luis's girlfriend sauntered towards them with her two friends in tow.

"Hey guys", she greeted, flashing her perfect Malibu Barbie smile as she flipped her long blonde hair. The group gave out reluctant "heys", they never really liked Rachel for Luis. She does not exactly have a squeaky clean image and Mr. Nice Guy Luis deserved more than her. Anyways-- Rachel leaned to kiss Luis. "I will see you later after practice?" , she asked him. Luis gave her one last peck on the cheek. "Yeah, see you", he said. With that, Rachel and her friends left to get their Diet Coke.

"What do you guys do every afternoon, after practice?", Ru joked again. They laughed as Luis threw a crumpled ball of table napkin to him as he laughed along. Most of the people inside the lunch room looked on. They do not know they rule the school.