Stoneybrook Ayr

That's it, they've GRADUATED!

The students sat in their seats, playing with their navy and white caps and gowns. Some turned to wave to friends and family, some whispered with classmates sitting near them, and some slouched in their chairs, ready for the ceremony to start.

It had taken four years, some felt like the time had passed in no time at all, others felt it had dragged out forever. All the winter lodge trips, boy toy auctions, homecomings, proms, dances, parties. The trips to Disney World, California, Australia. The hook ups, the break ups, the scandals. This class had been through a lot together, and this was it. The end. Graduation.

Cokie's mother had been on her case since she The Big News, as she insisted on calling it half the time.  It was frustrating to no end.  Finally, Cokie had had enough.  Throwing on her jacket, she grabbed the keys to her father's car and stood nose to nose with Mrs. Mason.

"I am sick to death of you telling me I'm not going to amount to anything!" Cokie said, shrilly.  Before her mother could answer, she was out the door and starting the car.

Without another thought, she drove to Logan's.  He was the only person who knew what she was going through.  Well, he kind of knew.  Sort of.

Pulling to a stop in front of his house, she sent him a text.

Hi.  Can I come in? 

Stacey hated these after school detentions. They were bad every day, but even worse when it was only the four of them. The sub who normally watched them had disappeared, yet no one had said a word. None of them ever did, what would they say?

It was only when Stacey felt something hit the back of her head from behind, that she spoke up.

"Ow!" she said, turning around to glare at Sheila, who was two rows behind her. She bent over to pick up the obstruction, and saw it was a note with 'Marty' written on the outside. She glanced up at Sheila, contemplating what to do. Marty sat in front of her, and she could pass it on, but what would be the fun in that?

Logan hadn't told any of his friends about Cokie yet, because telling his parents had been bad enough. He knew that Austin was going through his own stuff, the whole school knew about that, and Logan thought they could both use some time to either discuss their troubles, or forget them. So he'd invited Austin over to play some games in the Den. He felt nervous, but he knew that if anyone knew about messing up, it was Austin.

He heard the bell ring, and took the stairs two at a time to beat Kerry to the door, because he knew she thought Austin was 'sooooo hot!'

"Hey man," Logan greeted his friend. It was a little strange, because he hadn't spoken to Austin much since the stuff came out about Sheila, but Logan didn't want to let that be an issue.

Stacey had had the worst night of her life, not helped by a massive hangover this morning, and haunting memories of what she had done with King. She wanted more than anything to call in sick to school, but she knew she couldn't avoid school forever, although she could avoid Austin. She'd thought she could avoid Sheila too, but when she finally saw the girl at lunchtime, in the Cafeteria, she was overwhelmed with anger, and she just couldn't stop herself. Dropping her fork, she marched over to where Sheila stood with Darcy, and gave her the deadliest look she could muster. "Are you happy now you got what you wanted?" she asked Sheila, crossing her arms, "it's what you wanted, right?"

The weekend had flown by and Sunday night had arrived before Austin knew it.  For the first time ever, he wasn't looking forward to Stacey visiting.  He didn't know if he was going to tell her about Sheila, but he still felt guilty about the whole situation.  Stacey would understand, right?  He had a sinking feeling she wouldn't.  He didn't even understand it.

When the doorbell rang, he swung open the door and gave Stacey a grin when he saw her standing on the stoop.  "Hey," he greeted her, leaning forward and giving her a kiss.

Stacey was worried about Austin. Senior Year had barely started, and he'd been distracted all week. She knew not to push too much, but she was getting a little concerned. She'd decided to talk to him about it over lunch, and put her tray down next to his, with an understanding smile. Austin didn't seem to notice her.

"Earth to Austin!" she said, waving her hand in front of his face, as she took her seat.

Hyde Park http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_Sydney

Evening

Eureka Skydeck
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Skydeck

After Marty told her to get out of his room, Sheila had started running. She ran away from his house, and kept running, even though she so wasn't in running clothes, and it was too hot. She thought she'd head home, but she couldn't. She wanted to talk to someone. She started to wards Darcy's, but found herself detouring, and ten minutes later, she was in front of a house that bought back a lot of memories. If she wasn't so crushed by what had happened at Marty's, she might have thought twice. But she felt like she needed answers, and this was the only place she would get them. Even though it wasn't the middle of the night, she went around to the back, and started throwing the little pebbles from the garden bed at his window, like she used to.

Austin's parents were at work, so he'd invited Stacey over to his place. Stacey was happy for any reason to avoid a run in with King and Austin, given what had happened last time. She wasn't technically supposed to leave the house, Clarence and her Mom weren't happy about the state of the house when they got back from their weekend away, and the fact Mrs Pike had told Maureen all about the tons of teenagers and loud music that had kept the Pikes up 'all night'. Stacey didn't want to blame King, and her friends had been there too, so she didn't say anything. Sneaking over to Austin's while being grounded made the whole thing extra exciting, which Stacey didn't think was possible.

She rang the bell and waited for her boyfriend to answer.

Logan shut the drivers door to his Dad's car, and locked it. When he realised he wasn't working at the A&P, he'd texted Austin to hang out. He'd almost tried to get another shift at work anyway, because he needed the money to save up for his own car, but he really needed some advice. And Austin was the one friend he normally spoke to about girl dramas. Knocking on the door he waited, not even sure how to bring up something like what happened with Cokie.

At the last minute, Clarence and Maureen had decided to go away for the weekend. While they'd debated asking Grandpa Clarence over to stay with King and Stacey, Stacey had pleaded for them to be left on their own, and promised she would keep things under control. She'd automatically asked Austin to come over, thinking she had to make it up to him for yesterday. She wasn't sure if she was ready to go all the way yet, but she wanted to be. Unbeknownst to Stacey, King had plans of his own. She heard the doorbell ring, and expecting to find Austin on the stoop, she rushed down to open the door. She felt a little more prepared this time, wearing her cutest bra and matching underwear. She opened the door, and instead of Austin, about six of the guys on the football team stood there. Brushing past her, they made their way inside.

"KING!" She screamed out, furious. This was not what she had in mind.

Stacey's mother and stepfather were out, so Stacey invited Austin over to hang out.  Just like every other time he went over Stacey's house, he sincerely hoped King wasn't there.  There was just no telling what the guy was going to say or do.

He rang the bell and waited for Stacey to answer the door. 

Let the drama continue!

Let the Junior Prom of 2012 begin!

Stacey was in a rotten mood. She'd broken a nail, yes, which was shallow, but didn't change the fact that it was annoying, she'd not paid attention in English and had looked stupid when her teacher asked her a question, she couldn't find her favourite pen... But most of all, she didn't have a date for Prom. She didn't have the date she wanted, the guy she wanted, and the whole thing sucked. If she wasn't voted onto that stupid court, she probably wouldn't be going. Worst of all was knowing she had to walk with Austin, who probably had a date. Ugh.

She slammed her locker shut, still unable to find her pen, and spun around, only to see Austin walking right past. The scowl dropped right off her face, instantly, but she didn't know what to say. So she just smiled.