‘God I hate this!’ Stephanie thought to herself as she watched the puffy white clouds wiz by her window. She was on a plane with her family on the way to Irvine, California. They were moving there from Alabama. Stephanie didn’t want to move. She’d miss her friends, her house, everything! They had to move because her mom got a great job offer in Irvine. She was happy her mom got the job, and she knew they’d all be better off because of it; but she hated to leave.

They left during the Christmas holiday’s so Stephanie could start back to school when everyone else did. Stephanie didn’t even get to have a birthday party with her friends because she had to leave before her birthday; which was December 30th and she just turned 15. She is in the tenth grade, and is really nervous about starting a new school. She shook off all her thoughts when they had to get off the plane.

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A few hours after the plane landed they had all their things and went to get a taxi. They loaded the car and went to their new house. After about fifteen minutes they arrived at their new home. They got out and looked up at the beautiful two story house. Their furniture and stuff had already arrived. They all went inside to unpack and get settled.

After about five days of unpacking, they finally got settled in. Stephanie’s new room was just as pretty as her old one and it was a lot bigger, but she still didn’t feel right in it. She had just hooked up her computer and was online talking to her friends when her mom came in and told her, “Steph, you have ten more minutes. You need to get to bed. You start your new school tomorrow!” she said and left. “Great!” Stephanie mumbled sarcastically to herself. She told her friend Savannah about how she was starting her new school.

StEpHy87: I have ten mins. I have to get to sleep cuz I start my new school 2morrow. Blah!!

VaNnAh10: Ok...what school is it?

StEpHy87: Irvine High School---original name! lol

VaNnAh10: ha ha yeah

StEpHy87: Ugh...I’m not gonna kno n-e-one there!!

VaNnAh10: yeah, but you’ll make friends

StEpHy87: I guess...but I have to go now...tell everyone I say hey and miss them!!

VaNnAh10: ok will do lylas bye

StEpHy87: lylas---I’ll tell ya how it goes 2morrow--and get to sleep girl--it’s midnight there! lol bye bye

VaNnAh10: lol ok bye

After she shut down her computer she got ready and got in bed. She lie there thinking about the next day until she fell asleep.

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“So are ya nervous?” her mom asked as they drove to the school. “Very!” she said as they pulled up in front of the school. “You’ll be fine. Have a good day!” her mom told her. “I’ll try!” she said; she kissed her mom and got out. “Here I go!” Stephanie said to herself as she started up the stairs. All around she could see people talking and reacquainting, since they had been out for two weeks. ‘Man it is cold enough to snow out there!’ she thought as she went inside. She looked around for the office. After about five minutes of looking, she finally found it. She looked at the list and decided her extra class would be drama. She had always wanted to act, ever since she was little. Later, she got her locker number and schedule; she went to find her locker.

The halls were clearing and only a few people were wandering around. “232, 233, 234...Ah here it is locker 235.” she said looking at the combination and trying to open it. She pulled and pulled and even re-entered the numbers but the locker still wouldn’t open. “Ugh!” she said. “You must be new!” she heard someone say. She looked up and saw a dark haired girl. “Yeah! How’d you know?” Stephanie laughed. “The locker. Only the new people don’t know the secret to opening these lockers.” she said. “Oh. What is the secret?” Steph asked. “Do the combo, push up on the handle, hit right below the handle, then pull open.” she said. Steph tried it and it worked, “Hey! Thanks...” “Melissa, but my friends call me Mel.” Mel said. “Cool, I’m Stephanie, my friends call me Stephanie.” Stephanie said. Both girls laughed. “So where did you move from?” Mel asked. “Alabama.” Steph replied. “Dang!! All the way across the country huh!” Mel said. “Yeah.” Steph said. “Well hey why don’t you hang out with my friends and me. We’re not the popular kids, but we’re not the geeks!” Mel laughed, “I can help you find your classes and tell you which people to avoid and which people are nice.” “Thanks!” Stephanie said, “I feel a heck of a lot better!” “Ha ha! Good. Can I see your schedule?” Mel said. “Sure.” Steph said handing her the schedule. Mel looked at it then said, “Almost all your classes are with me. All except French, drama and lunch. But my friend Tiffany is in the French class. But I’m afraid none of us are in your drama class or lunch period.” “Yay for French; bummer for the others.” Stephanie laughed. “I bet you’ll handle it!” Mel laughed. “I hope!” Steph said as two other girls came up. “Oh Steph, this is Amy and Tiffany. Girls this is Stephanie, she’s gonna hang with us!” Mel said. “Cool! Nice to meet you!” the girls said. “Same!” Steph said.

“Move!” a girl yelled at Stephanie. “Excuse me!” Stephanie said moving over, “Rude!” Steph whispered to her new friends. “Yeah...that’s Kate. A girl you should stay away from.” Amy laughed. The girls were talking and waiting for the bell when Stephanie saw this real cute guy. “Hey! Who’s that?” she asked pointing to the dark haired guy who was opening his locker. “Oh, that’s Jack!” Tiffany said. “He’s cute! And he looks familiar!” Steph said. “Well you make up thirty percent of the girls who think he cute, we think he’s nice, but cute, no.” Mel said. “Only thirty percent?” Stephanie asked. “Yeah!” Amy replied, “And he looks familiar because you’ve probably seen him on the show ‘All That’.” “Yeah that’s right!! Cool, but shouldn’t he be at the studio filming?” Stephanie said. “They aren’t filming until summer.” Tiff said. “Cool! One more question before I start crushing too hard; is he single?” Steph asked. They all laughed and said yes. “Yes!” Stephanie laughed. Just then someone bumped into her. “Oh I’m sorry!” she heard a guy say. She looked up and saw Jack, “It’s cool!” she said. “Ok see ya!” he said leaving and the bell rang. “He’s in our first class, English.” Mel said as they walked into the room. “Cool!” Stephanie said, “Is he like the class clown?” “Oh yeah!!” the three girls laughed.

They all sat down and the teacher came in. “Please don’t let her introduce me! Please!!” Stephanie whispered. “Mrs. Shepard always does it! Sorry!” Mel whispered back. “All right class! We have a new student! She came all the way from Alabama. Come on up Stephanie dear.” Mrs. Shepard said. “Aw!” Stephanie said under her breath; but she went up there smiling. “Ok Stephanie, tell us a little bit about yourself.” Mrs. Shepard said stepping aside. “Well, I was born in Alabama; I just turned 15 on December 30th; and I don’t know what else to say.” she laughed. “Ok, welcome Stephanie.” Mrs. Shepard said and the class clapped. As she was walking back, everyone was still clapping and Jack stood up and threw out his arms and yelled, “Welcome!!” Stephanie laughed as she sat down. “Ok Mr. DeSena, get down off your chair and sit in it like the rest of us.” Mrs. Shepard said laughing a little, “Ok let’s get started.” English went by very slow. Finally the bell rang.

“Ok where do we go next?” Stephanie asked as they walked down the hall. “Chemistry.” Amy said. “Ok.” Steph said opening her locker to put her English book in it. “This class is so fun! It is all about experiments.” Mel said as they all went in to get a table, “Lab partners?” she asked Steph. “Sure!” she replied as she gave the teacher the slip saying she was new. “Ok class, as some of you may know, this is Stephanie; she’s new.” Mr. James said. She smiled and waved. She looked for Jack, but then figured he wasn’t in this class. When class started Mel and Steph were doing a good job on their lab work until Mel spilt the whole tube of baking soda in. It started overflowing and smelled really bad. “Oh my god!” Mr. James said. “We’re sorry!” the girl said. They cleaned it up and got to try again. After about ten more minutes the bell rang.

They went to Advisement and then had a break. “Ah! The next two things I’ll be alone!” Stephanie laughed. “You’ll be alright. Drama is next for you, and Jack is in that class.” Mel laughed. “All right!” Stephanie said. They were watching people go by and the girls were telling Stephanie who everyone was. Stephanie saw Jack walk by and she smiled at him; he smiled back. The bell rang and the girls grabbed the backpacks. “We’ll see you in P.E.!“ they yelled. “Ok!” Stephanie yelled, “Hey wait! Where’s the...drama class?” Stephanie yelled but they didn’t hear. “Well.” Stephanie said. Then she saw Jack coming. ‘I’ll ask him! It’ll be a chance to talk to him.’ she thought. “Excuse me.” she said stopping him. She smiled and asked, “Could you help me find the drama class, I’m new.” Stephanie said. “Sure!” Jack smiled, “Stephanie right?” “Yeah.” she said. “Cool! I’m Jack!” he said holding out his hand. She shook it and then he said, “This way.” She followed him to the class.

They got to the class just before the bell rang. “Thanks.” she whispered as she sat down. “No prob!” he whispered back and winked at her. ’Ah!’ Stephanie thought. “Ok, everyone knows our new student Stephanie.” Mrs. Smith said, “Ok now class you need to pair up. We are going to do some readings.” ‘Aw man!’ Stephanie thought, laughing as she buried her face in her arms, then she looked up and around. Then she heard someone say, “Partners?” She turned around and saw Jack smiling. “Yeah. Thanks!” she smiled. “Anytime!” he said. Jack and Stephanie went over to where they had to stand and waited for the teacher to give them lines. “So, do you know anyone yet?” Jack asked Stephanie. “Yeah. I have three friends, Mel, Tiff and Amy. They’re lifesavers!” she said. “Cool. Do they not take this class?” he asked looking around. “Nope, or in my lunch period, and only Tiff is in my French class; but they have P.E. with me.” she replied. “Oh. All the tenth grader are in one P.E. class and I’m in the French class.” he said. “Neat!” she said. ‘Oh I wish I had lunch with Mel and them! I can’t wait to tell them about this.’ Then the teacher came up and gave them their lines. They studied them then said them aloud. After the class when Stephanie was leaving, Jack yelled to her, “Hey Steph, wait up!” She turned around and he asked her, “Hey since you don’t know anyone at lunch yet, I was wondering if you wanted to sit with my friends and me? It’s mostly guys, well all guys but, yeah.” he laughed. “Yeah! Thanks again!” she replied and they headed to the lunch room.

They got there and went to get their food. “Hey! We’re right over there.” Jack said walking toward the tables. “Ok.” Stephanie said getting her drink. She got it and then walked to the table. “Hi.” she said sitting down beside Jack. “Hey!” they said. “Guys this is Stephanie. Steph this is Jim, Sean, and Alan.” Jack introduced them. “So.” Stephanie said trying to start a conversation. “Yeah...we heard Jack thinks you’re cu...” Sean was about to say when Jack kicked his leg, “Cool, I think you’re cool.” Jack finished looking at Sean. “Oh...ha ha thanks. You’re cool too.” Stephanie said blushing. Just then someone pushed her over. “Hey Jack!” Kate said then gave Stephanie a mean look. “Oh hey Kate.” Jack said rolling his eyes, “You know that was rude!” “So.” she giggled, “So I was thinking maybe you could take me to the mall and then to dinner and...” “Um...no. Please leave.” Jack said. “Ugh! Fine I’ll leave you and you’re little girlfriend alone.” she said getting up, giving Steph a little push. “Uh.” Steph said. “She’s...” Jack said looking at Steph. “Ha.” Steph said looking down. They finished eating then took their plates back just as the bell rang.

“See ya man!” Jack’s friends said to him. “Later!” he said walking up to Steph. “Hey, I’m sorry for what happened with Kate. She’s just a snob.” he told her. “Oh it’s ok. She was a little forward. ‘You can take me, you can take me.’” Steph laughed. “Ha ha. Yeah I don’t like her.” he said. “Me either.” Stephanie said as they came out of the lunch room. They went to the gym.

That's all for now---more to come!! Hope you enjoyed it!! Here is a picture of Jack just so you'll know! He's 15...