~Joey's POV~

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of 9th period, I got up and gathered my things. Anissa and I had made small talk throughout the class period, introducing ourselves and getting to know a bit of one another. From what I knew, she seemed like a nice girl, and I already liked her for teasing Chad throughout History for his foolish mistakes.

She seemed funny and goofy,and wasn't shy like most girls were when they first talked to me. Occasionally we'd ask each other questions about the randomest things, and laughed a bit at lame jokes we made. It was nice, until we had to get back to work.

"Bye Joe," she said at the end of class, pushing in her chair.

"See you Anissa," I replied, zipping up my backpack. She waved and turned to leave and Chad pulled her hair playfully.

"Arizona, you better watch your back for all those jokes you made today," he warned her.

Anissa snorted and shoved him to the side. "Oh no, I'm so scared." Essence laughed at Chad.

"Ha, even the new girl knows not to like you. You're just unlikable Chaddy." I chuckled under my breath before walking off.

Moments later, I saw Chad, Essence and Anissa walk pass me and realized why she seemed so familiar. It was her from this morning who was asking Essence for help finding our English class. Anissa waved goodbye to Chad and Essence as the other two went their separate ways, and looked around shyly.

As if she new someone was watching she smiled over at me. Just as I made to go over and see what was wrong and try to help, I was suddenly stopped from doing so.

"Joseph, Joey, Joe, Joey buggin Stamper," Donald was calling from down the hall. I turned my head to the side and saw my older brothers walking towards me, Kenny looking down at his phone.

"Do you have any money on you? I want to grab something at McDonald's, and this one," he nudged Kenny at his side, "Ate my pizza bagel." I laughed lightly and then paused.

"Wait a minute," I began, "That was my pizza bagel."

Donald pressed a finger to my lips, shushing me. "Hey now, remember what Ms. Gardeners told us in kindergarten? 'Sharing is caring.'" I rolled my eyes and pushed his hand away from my lips, snorting.

"Still, Don, you didn't have to take it when it rightfully belonged to me." I gave him a reproaching stare as I crossed my arms out of annoyance. He's always done this. Taking my food and such and then tells me some witty remark.

Donald chuckled, dropping his hand at his side. "And then it was mine until this weirdo next to me ate it," he motioned over at Kenny who was still looking down at his phone, smiling as he was tapping away on the screen. I frowned, my eyes flicking to the phone in his hands out of curiosity.

Dropping the conversation with Donald momentarily, I looked over to my other brother. "Who're you texting, bro?" I stood on my toes to try to look at his phone screen but he shut it off before I could look at it.

"That," he paused and ruffled my hair, smiling. "Is none of your concern." I made a face and smoothed down my hair as Donald laughed.

"Not the hair bro, you know how much Joey loves his hair," Donald teased, chuckling. I smacked him in the chest, causing him to yelp in surprise.

"To answer your question from earlier, Donald Duck, I do have money but it's for me. Not you," I turned to walk away, but Donald had grabbed a hold of the back of my backpack and pulled me to him.

He put a hand on my shoulder to keep me in place as he spoke. "Woah woah woah. You have money and you're not going to share with your older brothers that love you oh so dearly?" I snorted and grabbed his hands, taking them away from my backpack and shoulder, dropping them at his side.

"Nope!" I walked off, chuckling to myself as I shook my head at my brother's behavior.

"Remember," Donald called out to me, "I know where you live."

Lost in my own thoughts, I hadn't noticed Anissa try to move in front of me until again we almost knocked into each other. I stumbled as I tried moving away before either of us collided, but grabbed onto the corner of a door just in time to avoid falling onto the floor.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she apologized, her hand immediately reaching out to grab me, attempting to keep me from falling. I smiled at her, leaning up against the door.

"Wow, getting revenge huh? That's just cold," I teased, trying to show her that it was fine. She laughed softly and dropped her hand, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. I could see her eyes were apologetic and that she was slightly embarrassed.

Patting her hair in a teasing manner I tried again to reassure her. "Hey now, don't worry about it. I fall a lot, and that's on my own record when I do." Anissa snorted and straightened her back pack.

"Can I ask you were a room is Joe?" I nodded, smiling at her kindly. Taking out a folded up paper she showed it to me. It said that she would be invited to join orchestra if she pleased, and if she wanted to join to meet the orchestra teacher in the orchestra room. "Do you know where this is?" She asked.

Nodding, I pushed myself off the wall and waved her to follow. "I do, just come follow me little Clumsy. So you play an instrument?" Visibly relieved she had gotten help she began to follow me, walking up beside me.

"I do," she said with a more upbeat tone, "I play violin, piano, and guitar." I nudged her playfully at that.

"Hey, me too! Except the violin part. Oh nono, don't put a bow and violin in my hands. You'll regret it real quick." She laughed at that, smirking over at me.

"Now I gotta do it. You never tell someone not to do something, it just makes them want to do it even more. what's wrong with you Joey?" She smacked my arm softly, the two of us making a turn to lower E wing to take the stairs to the band hall above.

I chuckled at her words and actions. "Oops?" I faked a look of apology, making her wrinkle her nose. I really did like talking with her.

~Anissa's POV~

*Time skippy*

The more and more people I met at Holy Oaks, the more and more I thought that living here wasn't so bad. I slowly learned to let my bitter feelings of living In Nashville and having to leave my entire life back in Phoenix go. I slowly learned that just because something was different, didn't mean change was bad.

Everyone I met was so kind, so helpful, made me feel at home... not to say there weren't the typical jerks and snotty high schoolers at Holy Oaks. Sadly, you can never get rid of those types of people no matter where you are. But more often than not, I found myself talking to a really nice girl in Biology, or a funny guy out in the halls.

I've never been the kind of person who was slow to make friends, but I never expected that I'd make friends with a group of people so easily like I did with Chad, Essence, Joey and the others. In a matter of just a few weeks, they were already treating me as if I was part of their group.It was crazy how we all seemed to click just like that. All of them were so goofy and fun to be around, and I couldn't help but smile whenever I was with them.

Essence was quite a handful, but I loved her. She was so cheerful and bubbly, always the one to have the others laughing until their sides hurt. She was kind and outgoing, but could get sassy at times with others. Spencer sometimes had to stop her before she said anything she would regret.

Spencer was a very nice guy. He was the kindest person you could ever meet, and he had the biggest heart ever. He was caring and sweet, and knew how to be the life of the party. One thing that will never fail to amaze me, though, is how he could somehow keep up with Essence's shenanigans. Seriously, she's nuts.

Chad was so sweet and nice, but very sarcastic. He and Essence were constantly teasing each other. Sometimes, it seemed like they never ran out of weird insults for one another, going back and forth for what felt like forever with their clever remarks. It was very amusing for the others when the two would do that. Joe or Caleb joining in or offering them some of their own insults at times. Chad's playful nature was the reason why I loved being around him. He just made everything better.

Caleb was adorable. He was such a sweet guy and a gentleman when it was just us two. But when we were with the others, he would crack lame jokes and comment witty remarks. And I mean really lame jokes! He was filled with them... He's just so understanding and the 'Go with the flow' kind of guy.' He just liked to have fun with his friends.

And finally, Joey, the last one of the group. He was such a sweetheart and very awkward, which made him so adorable. He put His friends before anything else, and he treated everyone kindly. He never failed to have a smile on his face either. Everyone loved how friendly and sweet he was, and I can't tell you one bad thing I've heard about Joey Stamper... if there is any. He's one of the nicest guys on this planet, and so down to earth. Not to mention crazy talented as well.

"Earth to Anissa," I heard Essence's voice, then the snapping of fingers along with her chuckling. I blinked, looking at her in a daze.

From the table behind me I heard snickering and I turned to see Spencer and Caleb standing there, arms crossed over their chests. "Day dreaming I see, Rier," Caleb remarked.

"Bro, not cool, don't tease her," Spencer said to his friend then turned to me, "So, what's your favorite kind of pillow? Cause someone clearly was going nappy wappy."

I snorted but couldn't help but laugh along with them. "Fluffy pillows are the best," I replied, playing along with him.

"I so agree," he nodded in approval at my choice in pillow type, "Any particular preference in stuffing?" he asked, cupping his chin.

I hid my smile with my hand, staring up at him, eyes filled with humor. "Not really, but I can not stand pillows with feathers in them. They poke me and I am not about that life."

Spencer let out a long sigh, sounding as if he had faced that problem way too many times. "This struggle is too much. Why must it happen to the best of us?" Beside us, Essence bursted out laughing, unable to hold back her laughter anymore.

"Yeah, and you say I tease the girl," Caleb commented, pulling out the chair across from me and taking a seat, chuckling lightly. Essence plopped down beside him, blue eyes bright as she smiled.

"What got you in a good mood today, Essence?" I asked, smiling also. She had that kind of smile that rubbed off onto everyone who saw it.

Spencer spoke up for her, the same smile on his face as he sat down next to his girlfriend. "She's always like this. A beautiful smile on her beautiful face for no reason. Always happy. Always upbeat. I love her for it." He gave her a wink, smiling.

"Eww! Get a room, ya love birds!" Caleb chuckled, dodging the eraser Essence chucked at him, her cheeks pink.

Spencer kissed her cheek, chuckling himself. "My little ray of sunshine," he said to her in a loving voice, wrapping his arms around her.

I chuckled at the face Caleb made. Patting his hand, I spoke in a whisper so Essence and Spencer wouldn't hear me. "No worries Caleb, we'll tie them up later in a room so they can embrace and kiss all they want."

He grinned and nodded at me, agreeing with my plan, then took out his chromebook and started working on an assignment. I looked back down at the worksheets I had abandoned once the boys had entered the room.

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I am so so so soooooo sorry!! AAAAHH!! I feel soooo bad about this super late update. We totally procrastinated!! XD So sorry again! We will be sure to get Chapter 10 up real quick! Fast like a bunny!! Heh.. As soon as we can! Pwomise! Aaaanywhosers... enjoy!! 

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 asosa29 wrote most of dis.. I had NO idea what to write.... XD