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As the alarm clock sounded Dan rose from his bed, annoyed at the fact he had to awake once again. ‘Why did 7:30 ever have to come around?’ he would always think, the loud beep would drive him to near insanity. Quickly he raced to the clock and hit the off button, ‘Finally, peace’, Dan made his way over to the computer that didn’t sit too far away from his bed. Turning it on, Dan opened his i-Tunes player and put his favorite track by Stratovarius letting the music wake him up. Just a regular routine, Dan slipped on his uniform…what a stupid looking black shirt, and the grey pants didn’t help out very much. Dan was an averaged hight boy, about 5'10 and not bad looking, though he never seemed to have a girlfriend. The semi-long hair on the top of his head seemed to suit him quite well, it made his green eyes stand out like gems in coal. Dan stared at his seemingly empty room, no posters, pictures…just the three different colored walls, bare and untouched. He opened his bedroom door and made his way to the bathroom, to wash his face with cold water to try and wake him self up. As Dan splashed the water on his face he looked up in the mirror and stared at himself, and began to wonder why no one really talked to him. The thought crossed his mind that he was just too ugly, and no one really wanted to be seen with him, which seemed fitting to him. Ever since grade one, all the girls and other boys had made fun of him for being ugly…guess it just stuck with him. Dan never really noticed how most of the girls at school looked at him, perhaps that would have changed his mind.

The cold water trickled down his face and sent a sensation through his body, he still stared at himself in the mirror for a bit…but then his mother called him and broke his concentration. “Danny, come down. You’re going to miss the bus again!” she almost seemed angry with him. His mother was the only person in the world that called him ‘Danny’, and it kind of annoyed him. Dan went back to his room and grabbed his bag and MP3-player off his desk. His back-pack was a little on the small size, he never really seemed to have homework so a bigger bag would have been pointless. Rushing over to his computer, Dan hit the standby bottom on his keyboard stopping the music. Dan made his way down the red carpeted stairs, and saw his mother standing at the bottom waiting for him to get there. “If you’re late one more time, I’m not driving you in. You’ll have to walk.” Mrs. Frost put her hands on her hips, trying to be serious. She always used that line, but every time Dan missed the bus she would drive him in, it was almost like she felt guilty if she didn’t. Dan let out a small out a small sigh, he was getting tired of hearing his mother say that…ever thing seemed to be annoying him lately and he could figure out why. He slipped his MP-3 player into his pocket turning it on, he then put the ear-buds on and walked out the door. Most kids would say goodbye to there parents, and at least wave, but Dan never seemed to do what most kids did. He was always this way, maybe that’s why no one seemed to want to be around him.
As he made is way down the street the music finally started to play, and Dan could no longer hear the sound of the cars going by, or anything else that he didn’t want to hear. The fences the blocked the front yards of the houses off had trees and vines growing through them, one could tell just by looking at the chain-link fences that this wasn’t the best place to live. Dan looked at the occasional tree as it went by his site, there was nothing better to look at. Just up at the corner Dan could see all the other kids waiting to catch the bus, and there stood the people that hated him most. It was a shame that the “leader” of the group lived only a block away from Dan. Kevin Hamilton was his name, and he didn’t like any one at all…he didn’t even like the people that he hung around with he just used them to get what he wanted. Riley Jones seemed to be Kevin’s right-hand man, since he knew almost everyone in town. John Strife just seemed to be there, and Mark O’shea was the kid who just didn’t belong in that group, Mark was only there so he knew that he was accepted. Back before high-school, Mark and Dan were good friends, but then Mark started to get picked on for hanging around Dan and just left him. John and Mark were the quiet ones of the group, they only talked when spoken to, and even then they didn’t say much.

As Dan walked closer to the stop he passed the one tree that always seemed to caught his eye. Half of the tree was dead, with names of old lovers carved into it with hearts around their names...and the other half curcled its-self around the dead part of the tree. It's Fall leaves and deep brown truck made it seem as though it did not belong in its place of growth, funny to see two things such as this mingle with eachother...the living and the dead. Before Dan even stepped foot beside the other boys, he could hear them already start to talk about him, and they looked at him as though he was no more then dirt. Dan hung his heda to the ground trying to ignor what was going to be said, or perhapes to just see if Kevin would leave him alone for once and let the day go on with out an insalt. "Frost, why did you bother getting up, just ******** off back home f**!" Kevin said almost smile with discuse on his face, as he looked Dan up and down. The other boys just laughed and joined in, "Yeah, you should have been home schooled...no one wants you around here." Riley always had to help Kevin out, it was like he would have been beaten if he didn't.

As the others threw insults at Dan, Mark stood there and watched and listened with a sad look upon his face. He had always felt bad for leaving Dan, maybe if he hadn't then things wouldn't be like this...and Dan would be just a regular kid. Dan just stood there and tried to drown out their voices with the sounds of his i-pod, but that seemed to be failing him as it always did. Though Kevin knew that his words were affecting Dan, he wanted to make sure he was getting the piont aross that he didn't want him around. Bending down slightly Kevin picked up some small stones, and began to throw them at Dan. Dan just stodd there and let the stones hit him, and was thankful for the ones that missed...and the ones that hit his head made him feel like sinking into a hole. "Hey did you here me? Go back home f**, we don't want to see your face." Kevin continuded to throw stones at Dan, and soon Riley was joining in with him. Finally Kevin's sister walked infront of Dan and put her arms out, getting hit by some of the rocks, "Thats enough, leave him alone. Whats wrong with you guys?"

Emilie was always standing up for Dan when the guys picked on him, but she wasn't always around to help him out. Dan looked up at Emilie standing infront of him, he was very thankful that Kevin even had a sister...though he would like there to be no Hamiltons period. Emilie was a very nice girl, in grade 10 she always helped out the people that no one really wanted to be with. "Move it sis, or the next one is going at your head." Kevin was not too happy about Emilie walking in the way, he was never happy with anything Emilie did.

"Throw that rock and mom is going to find your stash." Emilie began to smile, if her mother found out that Kevin did drugs then he would never see the light of day. Kevin and Emilie lived in one of the most abusive houses on the street, one slip up and there backs and arms would be all brused. Kevin seemed to be use to them by now, and kept himself out of trouble quite well. Now Emilie hardly ever got touched by her mother, and her father was always too druck to do anything.

The stones in Kevin's hands dropped to the ground, and he turned away his face almost red, "You better watch your a** sis." Emilie didn't seem to threatened by Kevin, he said things like that too often. Emilie turned her attention to Dan, whom still had his head half hanging to the ground. "Are you okay?" Emilie ask putting her hands on Dan's shoulders, she tried to look into his eyes but his hood blocked them off. "Dan?" Emilie seemed conserned, but just then the bus showed up. Dan didn't feel much like talking, he was already feeling bad...and he could never seem to talk with Emilie. His words always messed them-self's up, and he was always afriad of getting made fun of for anything that he said. Dan just let out a brethe and took a step back so that Emilie's hands weren't on his shoulders anymore. Facing the ground again Dan made his way onto the bus, moving his shoulder so the his pac stayed there. The other boys got on the bus first, and then Dan slowly fallowed after them. Emilie gave out a small sigh as she grabed her bag from the ground and ran opn the the bus, the doors closing behind her.

As the bus started to pull away the loud talking and mumbling of the students on the bus could be heard louder now. As Dan sat down in an empty seat he turned the volume on his i-Pod up so that he wouldn't need to listen to the other people. Th engine could be heard reving up as the driver switched gears, for an old bus it ran quite well. The paint on the out side was falling off, and some kids had spray pianted "Welfair Bus" on the side...the name suited the bus well. As Emilie walked down the isle of the bus she looked at the people in the seats, most of the seats were filled at the back (not that she wanted to sit there) and there were only two seats left. The first was beside a boy with short blonde hair and glasses, whom seemed to be stairing at something out the window though nothing was there. And the Second was with Dan, who always seemed to be alone with the fact that no one would sit with him. Emilie walked back to Dan's seat, and sat down putting her bag on her lap and looking at Dan with a smile. Dan lookes over at Emilie almost surprised, she might have been the only person willing to sit with him, which made him wonder why she was sitting with him. "I'm fine, just to let you know" Dan said with basically no emotion, he thought that was why Emilie had sat with him, just to see if he was okay.

"Well thats good to hear!" She said with a smile, she always seemed to be happy. As Dan looked closer at Emilie, he could see how her hair shone in the light, and how she seemed ot be the only person that looked good in the uniforms that they had to wear. The only reason why any kid on this bus had a uniform was because they all had them donated, none of them had enough money get there own. "Why do you let him do that?" Emilie out of no where "Kevin I mean, you haven't done anything to him, and yet he picks on you. Why do you just stand there, if you say something he might stop."

"Might." Dan replied, might didn't seem like good enough chances to him. As he looked at Emilie's eyes he could see that she really did care about how he was treated. Her green eyes seemed as though they were ready to brake out in tears, they seemed to sparkle and Dan found him self lost in them. Just as they were both stairing into eachothers eyes, Kevin threw a ball of paper at the back of Dan's head. The moment was over as Emilie turned around and staired at Kevin, "Don't you know how to stop!?" she was almost yelling, but no one on the bus seemed to care...it was like this happened everyday. Stupidly Dan turned around to see what Kevin was doing, it was a rather hesitent turn because he wasn't to sure what to expect. When he meet whith Kevin' s eyes, he could tell that he wasn't too happy. Sure Kevin didn't really like his sister, but if she was going to like anyone he was going to make sure that it wasn't Dan. Dan turned back around, but a bit faster this time...just to make sure that Kevin didn't do anything else.

Emilie turned around and sat back down in her seat, "God I hate him, he is so imature." she said slightly shacking her head looking up. Dan just sat there quiet, he wasn't sure if he wanted to say anything. If he said something towards insulting Kevin, then some one on the bus would surly hear him and then word would get to Kevin. Now the last person that had found them selfs in a fight with Kevin, also found themselfs shortly being rushed to the hostpital. This was the fith school Kevin had been to, and had almost killed some one at his last school...plus he was also found running drugs and guns for one of the inner city gangs. There was rumor going around the school amung the students that Kevin might be trying to get into another gang, he had great connections through out the city. Thats why no one really wanted to cross with Kevin, no one every really knew if he was in a gang or not...so no one really wanted to take their chances.

Dan looked out the window at the houses going by, they were now going through the part of city where all of the rich peoples live. Almost every house had a pool, and two expensive cars, one could never figure out how these people copuld afford things like that. "Wouldn't it be nice to live in a place like that? I bet those people don't have to worry about having food for the next day, or if they have enough clothes." Emilie staired out the window with Dan. It was like she knew exactly what he was thinking, and in Dan's thoughts she was right. To have money where they lived would be a big deal, just to find 20 dollars laying on the road could make your whole month because it would last that long...or sometimes even longer.

"Yeah, probaly nice." Dan belicly responded, after turning a few courners and a long drive down the road they finally arrived at the school. 'Our Lady of Sanctuary' carved in large brick walls hung of the main doors to the school. The main doors were white and rose up atleast 15 feet, and the windows above them when an extra 20...their paint was half gone and the exposed wood looked as though it would give out any minute. The rest of the school was a light brown color, and the stairs that lead to the school were old and wore down...much like the school its self. The hand-rails that lead up the stairs left rust marks where they lay, and much of the paint was chipping off of them. The wet fallen leaves of Autumn lay all over the grounds of the school, and when the wind hit them they rose slightly in the air and began to dance. And when it died the leaves would fall again to the ground like they were falling once again from the trees that they once grew from. Most of the students were already at the school, and they crowded the stairs and the front grounds of the school.

One could tell simply by looking at this seen that the school (like another school) was split into clicks. You had your preps, the pretty and not so pretty rich stuck up people, whom would only show care for something if it involed their own image and well being. There was a the punks, probably some of the nicest people you would ever meet...as long as you didn't get on their bad side. Not too far off of them was the goth's, smart and well dark with so many percings that it makes you wonder how they sleep at night. There was the stoner, who always seemed to be in a happy or pissy mood, usually dumb as a post and it was a wonder that they were passing any of there classes (with an exception of a few). The nerds, once again some of the nicest people, smart of course most of them scrony, but others were average in every way. As usual you had the posers, those kids that always seemed to be dressed in the latest fashion and would say that they though of it and everone else way copying them, some would say that these people were the biggest assholes of them all, stupid in their own way and com plete ignroent. And then there was the Odds and ends, the people whom just seemed to be together, there is no real name for this click but they are in every school...they are the group that will take anyone and wouldn't ask questions. And of all of these groups, Dan could not seem to fit into anyone of them.

Most people would push him away, the one kid in the school that no one wanted to be seen with. Not even the odds and ends wanted him, even for them he was too different. Dan was one of those kids that could do anything that he wanted to, he was good at everything and always had the highest marks in his classes. His mother was always proud of that fact, but always wished that he would get some friends, she hated to see that sad look on his face every morning. Each day Dan would come into the house and hang his head down, throw his shoes off at the door, lock himself in his room, and he would be seen again until diner and then he was gone again.

The bus pulled up to the spot into front of the main stairs, and the doors opened up as the engine gave a sigh of releaf. All the kids on the bus started to pile off in a hurry, all but Dan. Every time he when to get into the isle he was shuved out of the way and forced to sit back down again. Dan just sat there as the other students made their way by him, and he looked out the window at the school. After he heard the last foot steps on the bus he slipped his back pac back on, and stood up to exit, but to his surprise Emilie was still there waiting with him. "What are you doing?" Dan asked.

Emilie turned her head to Dan with a smile, "Waiting for you silly." she said this like Dan already knew the answer, but he was just ignoring it. Emilie rose from the seat and made her way into the isle placing her bag back on her shoulders, "I just though you might want to leave before someone for a change." she said almost blushing. Dan looked confused at the girl, but took her up on her offer. While making his way into the isle Dan actidently hit the pause buttom on his MP3 player, and as he walked an odd feeling went through him. It was weird, hearing the sound of someone walking behind him on the bus...it was a noise he hadn't heard for years. When Dan exited the bus he looked at all the faces in the yard that surronded him, they all seemed dipleased with him, like he had just spilt ink on their new clothes. Dan quickly lowered his head and began to walk, he hit play and began to walk faster through the people infront of him. Right after Dan stepped foot off the bus Emilie fallowed shortly after, "Dan can I talk..." un forcinetly for Emilei Dan's music was too hight for him to hear her. Emilie threw her hands down at her sides and desided that she would try and fallow Dan, but then the bell rang, "Dammit" she said disappointed.

Slowly but surly the students made their way through the big white doors into the school, yet another day to spend in hell. With the other groups of students, Dan made his way through the doors and down the hall to his locker...though this did take quite some thought for him to do. The pale green lockers always looked cross with the odd comdination of white and pale yellow floor tiles that ran down the hallways. In the middle of each hall way a teacher stood out side their classroom, monitering the students to make sure that there was no fights or gang deals happening. The teachers had been tought what to look for on the students, bandanas on the rists, hodded students or anything that seemed out of the norm. As the teachers scanned the spray paint locker halls, the students went about grabbing their things and conversing with their friends.

Dan softly made his way through the other students to his locker, which luckily for him was located just outside his hime room class. Mr. Chai Chung (Chi Chung) stood in the hallway next to Dan's locker. Now Mr. Chai Chung was one of those interesting chartacters, well for a oriental Jamacian man one would susect no less from him. His voice had a slight Jamacian accent to it, that only seemed noticable after he told you about it...which would come as almost a shock as he told you. "So Dan, tomorrow is Friday...are you doing anything?" Mr Chai Chung seemed to be about one of the only two people in the school that actually enjoyed talking to Dan. He and Dan would some times stay at the school late and discuss surtain things about their chemistry class, or they would talk about whatever. And Mr. Chai was only of the only two people in the school that Dan liked to talk to.

"No sir, just going to sit at home a read?" Dan replyed in his normal monotone vioce. Chai Chung looked at Dan kind of confused, ever after 3 years of high school Dan had still not found anyone that would talk to him after school or call them selfs his friend. "You know Dan, perhapes you should try and see if anyone is interested in your paintings. They are really good, I'm sure that some big company will like them." Chai Chung hated to see Dan when he was down, so basically everyday they saw eachother he hated to see Dan in his normal state.

"Probably not." Dan reached out and opened his locker, 39-21-7 that was the combination. As the door opened Dan's locker was revealed, it was quite empty just huis school books...even when he placed his sweater and pac inside it still seemed so blane. All of the other students would have pictures of celebrities in their locker, or just bands and things that they liked. But all that lay in Dan's was his basics for school and nothing more, there was no point putting anything else in, not like anyone would care. Just as Dan closed his locker, after grabing his Chemistry books, he placed huis lock on and forced it shut. Just as the click came the second bell went off, and Dan turned to the door way and looked over at Chai Chung to see that almost sad look about Dan on his face again. Soon the halls were clear and the students of the Chemistry poored their way through the room shuving past Dan.