"Trust me Danny, life at Manchester is not that difficult.  You just need to get in there and make friends.  That's all there is to it."

 

"That's easy for you to say," Danny responded.  "You been attending Manchester Prep ever since you were a freshman.  I'm coming in during the middle of my junior year.  Everyone's gonna label me as the new kid.  I've seen it happen before, and those kids never last.  Not socially at least."

 

"That's why you have me, good friend," Darcy said smiling.  "I know people in the quote unquote 'popular cliques'.  You have nothing to worry about.  You'll fit right in."

 

"Let's hope so!  Anyway, onto a different subject.  What are the girls like?" Danny asked excitedly.

 

"Well that depends. What kinda girl are you looking for?  Someone like Jessica?  Well you probably won't find a girl like that.  Most of them here are either goody goodies or just plain stuck up bitches.  Jessica would be one of a kind here.  Speaking of Jessica, have you two talked at all since the break up?"

 

"Well, yeah, here and there.  During Christmas break I called her, but she didn't say much.  But, hey, the past is the past, and that is exactly what Jessica Peters is; the past.  It's time for me to move on and find someone new, I guess."

 

"You never know.  Maybe you will," and just as Darcy finished his statement, a church bell a couple of blocks away sounded that is eight o' clock.  "Whoa!" he said, looking down at his watch.  "Time sure does fly when you're having fun!  Second semester orientation is beginning right now, which means we're late!"

 

Throwing the rest of his now soggy hamburger away, Danny turns to Darcy, "Great!  My first day at a new school and I'm already late!  I hope this isn't an omen."

 

Running across the street with Danny, "Oh, stop being dramatic!  Everybody's late to orientation.  Like I told you Danny, life at Manchester Prep is laid back and easy.  You'll be fine."

 

Once they reached the campus, Darcy showed Danny a shortcut to Manchester Hall, the main building of the school, which led them right to the front steps.  They quickly walked up them and as Danny pushed one of the massive wood, double doors open, he hit Lucian Nicholopolous, one of the most popular guys in school, right in the face with it.

 

Getting up off the ground, Lucian brushed him self off and confronted Danny.

 

"What the hell's your problem, dude?!"

 

"Thank you!" Lucian responded irritably.  Then, noticing Darcy, "Oh, you must be Danny Park, Darcy's friend from California."

 

"It's Clarke, not Park.  And yes, that would be me."

 

Sticking out his hand, Lucian greets him, "I'm Lucian Nicholopolous, and these two guys behind me are Marco La Roc," Marco nods his head, "and Draco Valmont".

 

"Hi, there," Draco says suspiciously.

 

Lucian leans towards Danny and whispers in his ear, "Don't mind Draco.  He's suspicious of everybody."  Turning to Darcy, "I saved you and Danny a seat.  We all had better hurry up before they start," and with that he walked away with Marco and Draco following.

 

Turing to Darcy, "I don't think this day could get any worse!"

 

"Get over yourself.  Come one, let's get in there."

 

 

After about forty-five minutes of lecture the students all received the key cards to their  dorm rooms and class schedules and such.  Danny found out that he would be rooming with Lucian, Marco and Draco in the luxurious Chandler Hall.

 

"Well it looks like we'll be seeing each other everyday now, huh?" Lucian said to Danny as he got up out of his chair and stretched.

 

"Yeah, I guess so," Danny said.  He turned around to Darcy, "So, where's your room?"

 

"Brenton Hall.  It's not as nice as Chandler, but it's close enough.  Well, we better go and unpack your stuff so we can have some free time.  Today the last day you can leave campus without a pass."

 

"Let's get going then," and as he and Darcy began to walk away, Lucian stopped them.

 

"Hey, I have an idea!  Why don't you guys meet us at the Bistro tonight for dinner?  All of Manchester Prep's 'socialites' will be there.  It'll be a good place for you to mingle, Danny."

 

"Sure!" Danny said excitedly.  "I mean, if that's okay with you, Darcy."

 

Just as Darcy was about to speak, Lucian interjected, "Of course it's okay with Darcy.  I'll see you guys at around seven then."

 

As he turned and left, Darcy spoke out against going, "I don't really know if I'm gonna go tonight.  I'm really tired.  But if you wanna go-"

 

"What?!  You?  Tired?  I don't think so.  What's the real reason you don't wanna go?"

 

"No, really, I'm tired.  But, you go.  You'll have fun.  Plus, it'll give you a chance to 'mingle with Manchester Prep's socialites'," Darcy said, imitating Lucian.

 

"Listen, I've known you all my life, and not once have you been too tired to hang out with friends or socialize.

 

"That's just it, Danny.  You see, Lucian and I aren't Well, we're friends, but not the kind that hang out and do stuff outside of class.  His friends just aren't the kinda people I like to hang around."

 

"What's wrong with them," Danny asked interestedly.

 

"Nothing's wrong with them," Darcy said.  "They just have a different view on life than I do, and I really don't care to hang around them."

 

"Oh!  Now who's dramatic.  Listen, I don't know very people here.  In fact, I don't know anyone here.  So please tonight.  If only for you best friend?

 

 

At the other end of campus, at Winchester Hall, Alexa Baring and Victoria Davenport are getting settled into their dorm room.

 

"So," Alexa said, "you hear about the new kid?  Danny something or other?"

 

"Danny Clarke?" Victoria asked.  "Yeah, I saw him today during orientation.  He's hot!  He was sitting with Marco and Lucian  Sorry, I didn't mean to bring him up."

 

"No, Victoria, it's fine.  Lucian and I are over and I've accepted that.  Hell, I shouldn't even be thinking about him.  I'm not the one that cheated."

 

"I still can't believe he slept with Natasha Carlisle.  What a tramp!"

 

"You know what?  I don't even care anymore.  They deserve each other"

 

"On a better note," Victoria said changing the subject, "how are you and Ryne doing?

 

"We're doing okay.  I mean, he's not Lucian---"

 

"What?!", Victoria interrupted.  "I thought you said you were over him!"

 

"I know, but It's just not fair, Victoria.  He cheated on me.  He betrayed me.  I didn't do anything and yet I still feel like I'm to blame for some reason.  And that's not fair to Ryne.  I like Ryne and all, but I don't know if our relationship will work if all I'm doing is thinking about Lucian Nicholopolous!"

 

"Listen to me," Victoria said, grabbing Alexa's hand.  "You just gotta stop thinking about Lucian then.  He's not thinking about you, I can guarantee it.  But Ryne is, so give him a chance.  And no, he's not Lucian.  He's never gonna be Lucian.  He is just Ryne.  And in my opinion, a lot better than Lucian."

 

Alexa got up off the bed and walked over to her desk.  She picked up a picture of her and Lucian at the winter formal, smiled at it, and then threw into the trash.

 

"You're right," Alexa said, walking back to the bed to sit down with Victoria.  "I'm gonna move on.  It'll be hard I'm sure, but I have to do it."

 

"I've got an idea.  How about me, you, Ryne all go out and eat tonight at the Bistro?"

 

"Yeah," Alexa said smiling.  "I'd like that."

 

 

Now at Chandler Hall, Darcy is helping Danny unpack his luggage.

 

"So," Danny said, "I take it Lucian Nicholopolous is popular?"

 

"Yeah," Darcy responded, "some would think so."

 

"Well, you said earlier that you knew people in the quote unquote 'popular cliques'.  Why aren't you and Lucian friends?"

 

"We were, actually," Darcy said.  "Yep, best friends in fact.  But all that changed when he and Alexa Baring broke up."

 

"Who?" Danny said, confused.

 

"Lucian and Alexa," Darcy began, "dated for a real long time.  Well, early last semester, Alexa found out that Lucian and Natasha Carlisle had slept together.  She and Lucian broke up, and Lucian then started dating Natasha.  Alexa was hurt, and began dating Lucian's 'arch nemesis', Ryne Arrington.  Well, Ryne's one of my best friends and so Lucian stopped hanging around me.  Anytime I'd come up to him, he friends would make snide remarks, so I don't talk to him as much now."

 

"And, what?  You're afraid that's gonna happen if you go tonight?"

 

"Yeah You know what?  You go.  You go and have fun tonight, okay?  It'll be good for you to get out there and meet people.  Plus, I had so Winter Break assignments that I still have to finish.  Listen to me!  Go!  You'll have fun."

 

"Are you sure?" Danny asked sympathetically.

 

"I'm sure!  Now, let's get all this stuff unpacked and then we can go out to eat with some of my friends."

 

As they unpacked, Danny still couldn't shake the sense that Darcy was leaving something out of his story. That there was some other reason Darcy didn't want to go out to eat with Lucian.  Darcy was never afraid to stand up to people, and now he was cowering like a little kid.  Something definitely was not right.

 

 

As the day went on, Danny began to learn of all the drama that had went down last semester.  He heard all about Lucian and Alexa.  He heard about Lucian's affair with Natasha and his and Ryne Arrington's hatred for each other.  He heard it all.

 

At about six-thirty, Danny began getting ready in Darcy's room to go out to eat with Lucian and all his friends when he made one last plea to get Darcy to come.

 

"Are so sure you don't wanna come?" Danny asked one last time?

 

"I'm sure," Darcy responded.  "You go and have fun.  When you get back we can catch up on all your drama, and just forget about mine."

 

"Okay," Danny sighed.  "But I don't even know if I wanna go now"

 

"Why not?"

 

"Because," he said, "if Lucian's half of the bastard Ryne made him out to be, I don't think I wanna be his friend."

 

"Don't listen to Ryne.  He's just exaggerating everything.  Well, you'd better get going.  You'll be late."

 

Looking at his watch and realizing that it was already six-fifty, Danny grabbed his coat and began leave.

 

Turning back to Darcy, "Hey, I've got my cell with me, so if you need anything just call."

 

"Will do," Darcy said, and Danny then left.

 

Just as Darcy sat down at his desk, his phone rang.

 

"Hello Ryne, I'm glad you called.  I think we may have a problem Well, it's just that Danny keeps asking so many questions about why Lucian and I aren't friends anymore and I'm afraid he may find out the truth Well, I know that Lucian is the only other person who knows, but what if he says something You're right.  He hasn't said anything yet, why know Yeah, I'll come out with you guys Okay, I'll leave now Okay Bye."

 

He hung up the phone, got his coat, and before he walked out the door he stopped and knelt before and picture of The Holy Mary and Baby Jesus.

 

"Please, I beg you, please!  Do not let Danny find out the truth!"