Chapter 1

Life, it's hard isn't it? Do you know, how it is to have your heart broken? To lose your friends and the one that are left to hate each other? To act like someone you aren't and then slowly become that fake person? To have family problems while everyone else thinks you have the best life?

This is the story of Alice, a girl living with her dad and little sister, everyone in the family hating each other so much it's a wonder they are together. She has only a few friends, all the other feeling betrayed by her. And she is judged for the things she likes. But she doesn't give up, something good is bound to happen isn't it?

I slammed the door of my house open, Jenny and Lilith had a fight again. Of course, Jenn and I tried to split them up but it was a fail. Why do they always fight? Weren't they best friends just 2 years ago? Weren't we all together back then?

Me, Jenny, Lilith, Maggie, Jenn, Flow, Thia, Leo, Jake, Dan, Brian and... Leon. What happened to us? Whose fault is it?

Actually, I know. It was my fault, I was the reason Jenny, Jenn and Lilith changed, the reason Flow slowly drifted away, the reason Maggie and Thia don't speak anymore, the reason everyone started hating Brian, the reason Jake left, the reason Leo and Dan are ignoring us and most of all, the reason Leon hates us, all of us.

It all started when we were in elementary school, 7 years ago...

"Alright , go to your classrooms now. You already have the number right?"

"Yes!"

I walked through the hallways, on the paper in my hand it was written 3 - D, it's on the highest floor. I was in another school till now, but because of my father's work I had to transfer here. Though I don't know why when it's almost the end of the year. I sighed.

When I got to the classroom I opened the door. There weren't many students and the teacher wasn't there. Counting them I realized they were only 11. They were fighting with chalks. I saw Jenn at the seat as far as possible from the desk and closest to the windows. She was easily recognizable with the cute red glasses and long black hair.

I sat on the seat next to her.

"Hey Jennifer! It's been a while!" I told her.

"Hi Alice, it's great we're in the same class isn't it?"

"Yeah it is, but I don't know anything about anyone here..."

"Oh don't worry, I'll tell you all, the girl that's sitting in the first row in front us is Jennifer."

"She shares your name?"

Weird isn't it? And a long time ago my mom told me she wanted to name me Jennifer too! Thank god she didn't, i think this class doesn't need 3 Jennifers.

"Yes she does! Though everyone calls her Jenny. Anyway the girl she's talking to is Lilith. They are best friends, I think you should first talk to them, they like those same cartoons you do."

Jenny had long curly brown - redish hair and wore glasses. She was rather tall. Lilith was blonde, even if with little dark brown streaks. Her hair was long.

"It's called anime!"

Ahh, same old Jenn, no matter how many times I repeat something she never remembers. She chuckled, I hit her over the head gently.

"Okay, I'll go to them later, now on to the next person."

"Right, those three girls there that are half fighting and half talking are Maggie - Margaret, Flow and Thia. They like that band, One Direction was it? Well, they are still pretty good."

Margaret had straight brown hair. She was really short, though by what I could see also really strong. Flow had black hair, not exactly curly nor straight and her face looked really kind, kinder than even Jenn, which was really hard. And then Thia, she was the only girl except me in this class that had short hair, though she was a tomboy and I was more of a... person whose hair never grows.

"Now on to the guys, the ones laughing are Leo and Dan, in this class, it's fun to hang out with them because of their funny perverted stuff. You'll have to get used to it."

It would be no biggie for me, I'm a little on the perverted side myself. Anyway looking at them I noticed the height difference. Leo was really short with black hair , though not as short as Maggie and Dan was really tall, the same as Jenny. He also had brown hair and big ears! I know, I notice weird things.

"Are Jenny and Dan related?" I asked Jenn.

"Wow, you're fast, yes they are. Cousins." No surprise there. "Continuing on, the ones on the other side of the chalk fight are Brian and Jake. They are best friends, even in a weird way, after all Brian acts like half a girl and Jake likes drawing dresses and wants to become a fashion designer when he grows up."

"Oh... isn't that a little... gay?" Why do I get the feeling I ended up in the craziest class? With anime freaks, band freaks, perverts, and gay people.

"Everyone thinks so, just don't tell them that. Okay?"

"Yeah. Is there anyone else left?"

"Yes only one more person. Look at the last row, closest to the door." I looked there and that's when I saw him. He was talking on his phone and grinning. It was the most beautiful grin I've ever seen. He was so cute. And those eyes, they were glowing. They looked so happy, it would make your day great even if it was the crappiest day you ever had.

I knew it, it was love at first sight. I would never be able to stop loving this boy.

Thinking about him I didn't hear anything Jenn said.

"Huh? What did you say?

"I said, that's Leon, he's the most popular boy in our generation even if he's never had a girlfriend. A year or 2 back, I had a crush on him. Not anymore. Everyone in this class is friends with him and his cheerful personality so you can go for him all you want."

"Is that all?"

Jenn was about to answer me when the teacher came in. She asked me to come up and stand in front of the board.

"Introduce yourself please."

I waved at everyone.

"Hi, my name is Alice, I live with my dad and little sister. I hope we get along!"

It was the worst thing that could have happened to that class. I ruined it. I should have never been there. I curled up on my bed and cried. I knew, knew that those times when we had fun together would never come. Cuz everything changes.

I spend that night crying, like I do every night, regreting that faithful day, the day our little class disbanded.

2: Chapter 2
Chapter 2

*RING, RING, RING*

"Ugh..." I got up from my bed. Who calls this early? It's only twelve!

Moving my hair out of my face I looked at the phone next to me. It was Maggie.

I put the phone to my ear.

"What do ya want this early?"

"We're going out today."

"Who's we? There is no we any longer, remember?"

"I managed to convince Lily to make some of them come out."

I sighed. Even if some of them come nothing good is going to happen. i don't understand why Maggie doesn't give up. She's also one of the people who hate someone.

"Tell me who is coming?" I quietly said. I heard Maggie fake laugh and say

"Lily managed to convince Dan and Leo to stop playing games so they are coming, she really is lucky, being able to talk to them. I'm coming of course, and you." Is that all? It's not worth it. Dan and Leo will still ignore us and talk about their stupid games and me and Maggie have NOTHING to talk about.

"Anyone else?"

She hmmed

"Well it's obvious Jennifer, Jennifer and Lilith aren't coming." The way she said their names reminded me once more of how it is my fault. Still I won't cry in front of her.

"I know that? I meant someone else!"

"It seems Lily made sure that Thia is gonna come. But she's gonna bring the dog with her. Oh, Jake is also coming!"

"And that's all right?" Only them? This is not gonna change anything. Only remind me of the painful times back then.

"Alright I'm coming b-" Before I could say bye some one took the phone away and turned it of.

"How many times do I need to tell you, don't talk on your phone too much. Who was it now? Lilith again?"

I snatched the phone back from the old man.

"No! It was Maggie, I'm going out to eat, no need for money, I have my own." With that I chased him out of the room.

I decided that I'm gonna spend my whole day out, no need to stay in this house, I do have Wi-Fi on my phone, that's good enough."

I looked around the room for my fav shorts and one of the white T-shirts I own. After I dressed up I took my phone, took money and was about to leave the house when I remembered something. My headphones. Looking around I didn't see them. That must mean only one thing.

"Hannah! Give me back my headphones!"

I heard little feet running towards me. Hannah, my little sister, came in front of me with the headphones in hand.

"No!"

"Give. Them. Back!"

Ugh, I hate her so much! Why does she never listen? Sighing, I took them out of her hands and ran out of the house listening to her cries.

As I walked down the street I noticed my elementary school. So many memories there. I forgot to ask Maggie where we were waiting today? Most likely there, in front of the giant gates of my old school, just like always...

"Come on Alice! Come with us! It's gonna be so fun!"

Jenn was trying to convince me to go out with the whole class. Why is she trying to do that? This is the first day I met them! I didn't even get to talk to any of them except Jenny and Lilith. Those 2 are pretty awesome. They watch the same anime I watch. Well, back to this.

"I'm not going! I still don't know them enough!"

"And that is exactly the reason you need to come! To get to know them!"

Ugh, why is she so stubborn?

"Fine, where and when?"

"Yes! 7 pm in front of school, see ya there!"

That was all she said. Oh great, now I'm gonna have to come! I wonder if everyone is gonna be there? I hope yes, especially Maggie, Flow and Thia. I wanna get to know them next. I also kinda like 1D so it's not gonna be hard. Well I'll see when I get there.

I was about to go back on my PC when I noticed it was 6:55 PM.

Oh shit! I need to hurry. I quickly dressed up and ran towards the school. Lucky me, I got there on time. Unluckily, only Maggie was there, sitting on the bench in front of the gate. I slowly walked towards her.

"Uh.. Hi!" I said and sat down next to her.

"Oh hi! You're Alice right?"

"Yes. Are you the only one here? Where is everyone else."

"Oh yeah, you're new. Well to know for later, almost no one ever comes on time. Everyone Is gonna show up sooner or later."

"Does everyone from the class come?"

"Yup, we're the only class that hangs out together. Well it's to be expected, there are only 12 kids in the class."

"It makes sense." After that we were quiet for a while and Maggie was listening to music. 1D I guess. 10 minutes later I couldn't stand it anymore so I asked her the first thing that came to my mind. "Do..." I started. Maggie turned her head towards me.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think everyone will accept me?"

"They will, that's the kind of group we are, we accept anyone in but no one can leave."

"Why is that?" It seems like a prison to me. But there must be a reason.

"Well we know each others secrets so when someone finds a new group there is no coming back here. Even if some of us want him or her back there will still be someone to hate him so if you wanna leave, you leave forever."

That's kinda sad but I do understand. I nodded. The silence was about to start again. I didn't want that so I started talking about bands. Then slowly our awkward and polite conversation turned to something only best or at least great friends could have.

A while later Jenn showed up. It turned out that she and Maggie were also really close. After Jenn came everyone slowly came. First Jenny and Lilith, we started talking about anime in the first second. Then after that Jake and Brian. Both of them hugged me harder than anyone ever had. It was obvious that they would be my friends. Then Leo showed up. Wow, I didn't notice it at school but the guy was really cute! He could be my little brother! That's it, I'm gonna call him that. After that Dan, Flow, Leon and Thia came.

We had a lot of fun that day, I learned a lot of things I didn't know even existed. It was the best day of my life. I'm never gonna leave these people! And I'm sure they will stay together forever.

Hah, I was sure as hell a stupid person back then. We're gonna stay together forever? What stupidity!

But I know it, no matter how much I deny it, a silver thread of hope showed up my heart, maybe, just maybe, that little group could come together again. Maybe I'll manage to make up for my mistakes.

3: Chapter 3
Chapter 3

When I got to the school at exactly 7:00 PM there was no one there. It seems like the 'rule' of being late still stays. Being the first one I did the only thing that wouldn't bore me. I listened to music and looked through the pictures of my phone.

There were so many.

Somehow, while waiting for Lily, Maggie, Thia, Jake, Dan and Leo to come I got to the first picture of this phone. It was a picture of all of us, on Thia's birthday.

If I remember correctly, we broke her bed that time, hid her TV controller and the cake candles. Somehow we managed to spill over juice FOUR times.

It was fun back then.

I closed the gallery on my phone and smiled. Just then Lily came.

"Hey, Alice!" She waved at me.

I waved back.

"Hi" Lily sat next to me.

"It's rare to see you first here. Did something happen?"

Damn, she's good at reading people, just as always.

"Just had a little fight with my sister."

Come to think of it. Lily joined the class later. Two years after me, I think. Not that it matters now.

"Hey, Lily" I said.

"Hm?"

"How on earth did you manage to make Thia come? Even better, how did you make Leo and Dan come?"

Lily grinned at me.

"I bothered them till they said yes."

Oh, that's it. Why didn't I think of it earlier? It always works! Especially on Leo. We would always go under his window and yell and bother him till he agreed to come out. Speaking of it...

"You didn't accidentally agree that we would go call him from under his window, and Dan didn't somehow decide to go there today?"

Oh, if she agreed to that I'm gonna hit her with my phone. There is just no way Maggie would want to do that, but Thia will want to do it and BAM! They are gonna fight.

Lily scratched her cheek.

"You found me out, ehehe~"

Damn.

I sighed

"Well, there's nothing we could do now, let's just hope Thia and Maggie don't fight."

Speak of the devil. Thia, Maggie and Jake themselves were running towards us.

I need to run away, NOW!

Too late.

"Alice~~! It's been so long since I've last seen you!"

Jake was hugging me. Wait, he wasn't hugging me, he was choking me.

"J-Jake... sto...op it..."

He finally let me go.

"Sorry."

"I'm okay, I'm alive."

While I was taking deep breaths, trying to calm down, Maggie asked

"Where are Dan and Leo?"

Oh well, here goes nothing.

"We're supposed to call them from under Leo's window."

I said that and I knew it, Maggie is about to blow up. Oh no, here it comes!

"... Fine."

What? She agreed. It seems that she really wants this to succeed.

Laughing, I grabbed Thia and Jake's hands, dragging them with me.

"Then, what are we waiting for? Towards Leo's building!"

We ran all the way there, and it was pretty far from the school.

When we were under his window we stopped. Taking deep breaths I looked around. This place hasn't changed at all. If we manage to convince them to come out, there is a big chance that some day, I can make Jenn, Jenny and Lilith also come with us!

Making Dan and Leo come out was a piece of cake. It seemed they also wanted our little group to be back together again. Well there were a few people that would most likely never come back, like Leon and Brian. And there's little chance to make Thia and Maggie friends again.

Hmm, maybe I could do something, I need to talk to Lily.

While we were waiting for Leo and Dan to come down I dragged Lily behind some bushes.

I said "Look, Lily, you know why Thia and Maggie started hating each other right?"

"No, why are you asking me that?"

"Because," I grinned " I have the perfect plan on making the friends again, I only need to remember exactly why they hate each other"

I walked through the school, yawning. It's already been 2 years since I joined this school. We were now 5 - D, still as crazy as ever. I was friends with everyone by now, heck even best friends.

Me, Jenn, Jenny, Lilith, Maggie, Flow and Thia were best friends. Well it doesn't mean that I wasn't best friends with the others too, but these six were something special.

Anyway, I was in front of the classroom when I heard something.

"You shouldn't have done that!"

"Why? Did I do something wrong? I wanted to be friends with them, they wanted to be friends with me, it happened!"

"But that didn't mean you all had to push me away!"

"What are you talking about? You're still best friends with them!"

"Yeah I am, but why? When now, they have you!"

It was the voices of Thia and Maggie.

It was kinda true, till last year Thia wasn't exactly the best of friends with us, she hanged out more with the boys. Well it's true that everyone went out together after school every day. But while in school I mostly talked with Jenn, Maggie, Flow, Jenny and Lilith and Thia talked with Dan, Leo, Brian, Jake and Leon.

Thia started hanging out with us this year and became our best friend, but that doesn't mean we pushed Maggie out. We still love her as much as we did before!

Why is she thinking that?

Closing my eyes, I ran to the toilet, hoping that no one saw me.

I told Lily about that day.

"It was my first mistake, not going in the room and telling them that they were equally our best friends, and now I'm gonna fix it!"

Lily sighed, I knew she wasn't for these kind of things, but she was the only girl around here that could help me.

"And I'm gonna help you how?"

"I'm gonna give the idea of going in 'The House'!" 'The House' is one of the places we usually were at. There are others but 'The House' is the closest to Leo's building so we would go there.

It isn't actually a house, just a sitting place under the terrace of the shop where we buy Ice Cream.

"Then when we go there, I need you to do something to make sure Jake, Dan and Leo DON"T bother me while I tell Thia and Maggie everything."

And we did just that. When Dan and Leo came we went to 'The House' And I dragged Thia and Maggie a little farther away from 'The House'.

I sighed and said.

"Thia, Margaret, I need to tell you something. Remember the first time you fought? When you were alone in the classroom?"

"...yeah..." Maggie said. Thia just nodded.

"Well I overheard you conversation, and I should have said something to you back then but I didn't. That's why I'm gonna do it now. Maggie, I have no idea what made you think that we were pushing you away but it's not true. We weren't pushing you away. And if we ever had the chance to be that group again now we still wouldn't push you away. But... you know how Jenn, Lilith and Jenny are now, so... And Thia, whatever guilt or anything that you have in your mind I'll have you know it's not your fault. You did nothing wrong by becoming our friend. Whoever said that a group needs only five people? There can be six right? So, the 2 of you have no reason to hate each other. Now please hug each other and make up!"

After that, I left the 2 of them alone. They came back and were talking to each other almost like best friends. Too bad I can't say the same about Jake, Lily, Dan and Leo... The last two were talking about games, again. And Lily and Jake didn't even say a word to each other, just stared at the ground.

I sighed, well at least this is one mistake less. Maybe, I can find a way to make up for the others as well...