The room was filled with momentary silence as Kristina shook hands with the new girl. Ella's jaw dropped and their nosy classmates began gossiping again. Daniella was slightly surprised with the president's greeting. She lit up and smiled, gripping Kristina's hand tighter.

       "Oh! I see," she shook her hand real-quick. "So you're the infamous Poopy!"

       "E-Eh?" Kristina muttered, giving a quick glare at Daniel. She politely took her hand back and grinned at her. "Well, I don't know what that idiot's been saying about me, but they aren't true."

       "How would you know?" she asked, her tone showed a hint of teasing.

     Kristina shrugged her shoulders. Why was this girl teasing her now? Didn't she just introduce herself as his fiance? "Forget it. Urn, Daniella--"

       "Call me Anne," she corrected.

       "Right," she sighed. "You can sit at Daniel's right. I'll show you around school later--"

       "I want Danny to show me around!"

       "Anne," Daniel interrupted their little argument. He gave her an intense stare and then an apologetic look at Kristina. "Just listen to what the president says."

     Daniella giggled and smiled cheerfully, "Okay!"

     Confusion began stirring Kristina's mind. She didn't get this girl. When the new girl went to her seat, Kristina sat down as well. Ella was processing the quick events that had just happened. And as usual, she made a plan. It was her and Lizzy's mission to get Kristina and Daniel together, but with the new players in the game, namely: Kristopher and Daniella, this was going to be tricky. She had to tell Lizzy about this later.

     Ms. Stanford began her lesson in Greek Literature, nobody was paying attention. Daniella was jotting down notes, her concentration was fully occupied. Daniel was deliberately reading his comic book, Kristina was writing some things in her record book, Ella was thinking of a new plan, Sean was staring at Daniella like an idiot and the rest of the class kept observing the three people in front of them.

     A few chairs behind, Kristopher was also staring, he tried to avert his eyes but he couldn't. It was at least three years since he's last seen his childhood sweetheart. It wasn't a lie, he still loves her, and now that she's here, he was more than happy. But the reason for her being here in the first place, it slightly broke his heart.

     Those three years he spent on building his career and making a name for himself, it was all for her. Just her. Why couldn't she notice him? Why does she keep clinging to Daniel? What does he have that he doesn't? Kristopher also couldn't hate him. Daniel used to be his only friend, his best friend. It was all too complicated, too confusing.

     He glanced at Kristiina, she was scribbling furiously on her record book. That wasn't a rare sight, so he wasn't surprised. Didn't she feel jealous? Another girl just marched in and claimed herself as her fiance's fiancee. Why did she even let her sit beside him? Does she really not care about him?

     He thought about his actions. He loved to tease her, her expressions were always so interesting and adorable, he knew Daniel thought like that too, but he kept denying it. The only reason why he continued bothering Kristina wasn't because he wanted to "make her fall in love with him," like what he said to Daniel. He was simply trying to irritate him.

     He didn't plan on going this far though, so why did he continue? He questioned himself. That wasn't part of the plan. This wasn't good. In the end, he might be the one who's going to fall for her instead. But why now? Daniella's probably not going to talk to him after what he did-- that cruel thing he told her when he left the mansion for his acting career.

     Kristina was pretty, smart, athletic and despite her way of handling students (or her way of expressing her feelings--scary) he knew she had a good heart. She was adorable, selfless, responsible-- he could fall for her right on the spot. But he couldn't. Why? She belonged to Daniel. And Daniella? Her heart belonged to Daniel as well. Life is so unfair.

     He vigorously shook his head and groaned loudly, earning the attention of their teacher and the rest of the class. Daniella peered over her shoulder and quietly sighed. "That idiot."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

       "Danny!" Daniella quickly hugged Daniel when everybody left the room for recess.

       "Tinz!" Kristopher chirped as he jogged towards her desk.

     Both Kristina and Daniel sighed in unison. She glared at the moron running towards her and yelled, "Stay where you are you octopus-head!"

     Kristopher didn't do as said. He linked his arm on hers and smiled sheepishly at her. Kristina tried to punch him, but he already took a hold of her other hand. "You're annoying. You're impossible. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?!"

       "I just wanna spend more time with you, Tinz!"

       "Shut up!!!"

     Daniella frowned at the sight. She looked at Daniel between her arms, he was also staring at them with completely no emotion on his face. But she read his eyes, she could definitely tell he was not that happy. She forced a smile and interrupted the two's silly little quarrel, "Aaw. You two are so adorable to look at!"

       "We're not!" Kristina barked.

       "Thanks!" Kristopher cheerfully replied, but it was forced. As expected, he couldn't look at her face. Daniel made a really, really, really, deep, frustrated and heavy sigh.

       "So noisy."

       "Are you jelous, Danny?" she giggled.

       "No," he replied. Kristopher pulled Kristina's arm. "Let's have recess together Tinz! I have food!"

       "Really?!" her eyes glinted. When she noticed her embarrassing reaction, she awkwardly cleared her throat. "I mean, no! I'm going with Ella--"

       "But she's already gone!"

       "I'm still going with Ella!"

     Kristopher happily sighed. "Okaay fine. What about you two?" he asked, only looking at Daniel. The new girl's arms were still wrapped around his neck, it bothered him a bit but was polite enough not to point it out.

       "We'll eat later, right Danny?" she said. Then, she looked at Kristopher, he gave her a warm smile. The young celebrity slightly jumped when their eyes met. She still looked the same, her dark-brown eyes were so enchanting that he couldn't help but lock his eyes on hers. Kristina glanced to him, she noticed his questionable reaction. For the first time, she was actually aware of that.

       "I don't believe we've met," Daniella said, reaching out her right hand. "I'm Daniella."

     So she wanted to act like it was the first time they've met? Fine.

       "Kristopher," he shook her hand. All the hairs in his body stood up at once and his heart raced. Just like the old times, she never failed to make him feel that way.

       "Oh!" she acted surprised. "No wonder. You're Kristopher Walls the actor, right? You came from my country, why are you here?"

     Kristopher felt a bit hurt. Why was she doing this to him? Is this payback for what he did back at the old mansion?

       "I..." he said, barely a whisper. "...came to see my old best friend."

     Daniella grimaced at Daniel, he looked quite surprised as well. "I see..." she mumbled.

     This was ridiculous. Too ridiculous. These three used to be best friends, why were they acting like it was the first time they've all met? There were four players in the game now, but one person was completely oblivious, Kristina. She had no idea what was going on. She could only quietly stare and listen at the two's awkward discussion.   

       "You two," Kristina started. She looked at Daniella first, and then at Daniel. It was such an irritating sight to see that girl openly clinging to Daniel, but she didn't even understand why. She just tried to ignore that feeling. "Do you... know each other?"

       "Uh-huh! Danny and I were really close since then!"

       "And, you're his real fiancee?"

       "I'm--"

     She didn't get to finish her sentence when Daniel quickly grabbed her arms and pulled her outside. "Anne, I need to talk to you. Alone."

     A few seconds later, they were gone and Kristina and Kristopher were left alone inside the room, left hanging. She took the chance and withdrew her arm around Kristopher. She expected him to be persistent and hold her hand again, but he didn't. Surprising indeed.

     He was staring blankly at the door where those two just left. Like a soulless body, he continued staring and staring and staring without blinking his eyes. Kristina found it unusual, but she didn't question him. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke.

       "Tinz..." his voice sounded like it croaked.

       "What?" she decided to soften her voice. He sounded different today. What was going on?

       "Does it hurt?"

       "What?"

     It took another five seconds for him to talk again. "Hurt. It hurts. This is stupid."

       "What are you talking about?"

       "Don't you feel uneasy at all?! Your fiance just stormed off the door with that... that new girl!" he cried out.

     Kristina widened her eyes. Did he just shout at her? His eyes looked like he was going to cry. "W-Why should I?" she looked down at her feet. It wasn't true. She was strangely bothered with that girl. Why does she keep on clinging to him? What was their relationship? "I don't care."

       "Do you really now, Tinz?" Kristopher was serious. His tone was so dull that she felt a bit scared to reply. It wasn't even a whole month yet, but she was able to feel all these new emotions stirring inside. And it was all because of those three new students.

       "I don't... care."

       "You don't feel jealous at all?"

       "I don't!" she replied almost too quickly. She couldn't understand the situation and where this conversation was going, so she dropped it. She clutched her wallet and went for the door. "Kristopher, stop talking nonsense. Now if you'll excuse me, Ella waited long enough."

     After the door closed, Kristopher collapsed on the chair. He laughed at himself. What a complete idiot he was to say something like that to her. And what a complete fool he was for doubting Daniel, his best friend. What will he do now? Where did Daniel and Daniella go? Where did Kristina storm off to? What was he going to do with his life? "Damn. Damn me," he mumbled upon punching the desk.

     Ella immediately found Kristina walking alone in the hallways. She sprinted towards her. She wanted to shout her name but when she saw her best friend's troubled and confused face, she stopped and walked slowly. "Tina?" she patted her head.

       "Huh?" she replied, snapping back to the real world.

       "What's bothering you?"

       "Daniel."

       "Danny!" Daniella yelled. They found themselves behind the school with no one around. Perfect, they can finally talk alone. "Danny!" she repeated, wriggling her wrist off his hand. "Where are we going?"

       "No where," he coldly replied. He stopped and let go of her hand. He faced her and knitted his brows. "Why did you do that?"

       "Do what?"

       "Don't play dumb with me Anne. You know what I mean."

        "Oooh!" she laughed. "You mean my introduction? Nothing, just a joke! Haha--"

       "It wasn't funny Anne. You literally almost gave Tops a heart-attack."

       "So? Serves that idiot right."

       "Anne--"

       "Whatever! Let's not talk about him right now, okay?!"

       "Fine. Then let's talk about Tina. Why did you say those things to her, no, to the entire class?"

       "I told you it was a joke--"

       "Daniella Jennings I am not fooling around!" he raised his voice. He sighed and held his head, he was really troubled right now. Daniella also sighed.

       "I just wanted to see how she would react, Danny. I'm sorry."

     Daniel shuffled his hair and folded his arms, giving his best friend a disapproving look. "Next question: What are you doing here? What are you scheming?"

     That made her grin wickedly. She laughed hard. Daniel shook her shoulders back and forth, crazy woman was still laughing, small drops of tears trickled down her cheeks. He wasn't sure if those were 'happy' tears or 'sad' ones.

       "What else?" she rubbed her wet cheeks with her sleeve. "To test that Poopy of yours, of course."

..................................................................................................................

A/N: Don't hate me for always leaving you with a cliffy. I ran out of ideas. BWAHAHA. Not sure if you understood this chap, it was, yes again, rushed. I didn't give much away, I know that. I reserved some of the most important details on the next chapters, so please be patient with me.

P.S

I know y'all hate Daniella. Well, I'm not stopping you, but her story hasn't been revealed yet. Kristopher's too. Although both of them sound like leeches in the story, they play a really big role. And I promise, they're not evil. =)))

Help me get upto 14,000 reads! That's my new goal. XD