Hey! You must be the new kid. What's your name again? Ah, yes. That's a great name, so much better than mine. Speaking of which, I'm Stacy, a sophomore, and welcome to Desert Vista High School!

Now, I've been assigned to show you around school. Sucks to be such a volunteer, but hey, you seem kinda cool. I really like your hair. Who did it? Oh, someone from your old town? Damn. I'da wanted a reference otherwise.

Oh, shit, duck! Yeah, c'mon, down here by the stairs! See that kid over there coming out of the office? The one with the black tie around his neck? That's Jack Kelly. He's such a jerk, you won't even be able to believe it. Actually, to tell the truth, I've never talked to him one on one, but I've heard things! He moved here a long time ago, but never really got along with anyone. Besides, he lives here with his rich aunt and uncle, because his mom's dead and his dad's in jail. He's such a snob! And no one knows why his dad's in jail, but just about everyone agrees that it's because he killed Jack's mom.

Oh good, he's leaving. Come on. I'll show you around the A Building. A kid can get lost in there, I'm serious! But stick close by me, okay. I can tell you who the Outkasts are.

Oh, come on. You had Outkasts at your old school. You had to have. Everyone has them. Like, see that kid over there? The one in the green shirt with the weird teeth? That's Danny Riccio, but everyone calls him Snitch. Why? Because he's a thief, plain and simple. Matter of fact, I bet you ten bucks he stole that nice shirt he's wearing. He's in the band, and got caught stealing a pair of drumsticks to sell on-line. Which is kinda weird, 'cause he's on the cymbal line…and I know that because I'm in the band. Stop laughing! Band is very good for you! Everything I know about sex I learned in band! Yeah, see, you stopped laughing, that's better. Come on.

There's the drama room, a.k.a. the Black Box. I'll show you inside. Yes, I'm allowed in here! My best friends are in drama and stuff, so I get to hang out in here. Hey Shad! How's it goin'? See? I know my way around here. But avoid that kid over there. The one in the cape. His name is Isaac Tatum, but we all call him Skittery. You don't want to be seen with him. Like Snitch and Jack, no one likes him. The reason is plain and simple: He sucks. He wants to be this huge great actor, like the next Robert DeNiro or something, but he just can't do it. I mean, he's fine during rehearsal and stuff, but when you put him on the stage in front of other people, he starts to shake and he just can't stop shaking. That's why we call him Skittery. Just wave to him, then we can sneak out through the Sex Room. Stop looking at me strange, it's not like they really have sex in there, it's just called that 'cause of the bed. Now come on, let's go, while his back is turned.

That was a close one! Now, follow me. I'll show you the Choir/Orchestra room. And the band room while we're at it.

Ah, the band room! My home away from home! Oo, look, see that curly haired kid sitting in the corner? Banging on his knee with the drumsticks? That's Angelo Assaro, also known as Itey. Don't talk to him, just make sure you know what he looks like to avoid him. Another Outkast, in the band, Jesus, I'm embarrassed that we have two of them. Why is he an Outkast? Well…I guess that's 'cause he's Anthony's brother, yet he doesn't have any of Anthony's personality. He's living in his brother's shadow. By the way, Anthony is that hot tenor sax player over there, talking to the blonde. He's a flirt, but aren't all tenor saxes? Come on. Through here. Down there's the practice rooms, and right here is the…crap! Keep down! Jesus, we're seeing a lot of Outkasts today! Ah well, better that you can place them now than have them corrupt you later. That one right there is Nick Meyers, but we all know him as Mush, because that's what happened to his voice. He was a great singer up until his sophomore year, then his voice changed, and turned to Mush, according to my friend Tori, who was in class with him. Don't let his sweet looks confuse you. You aren't going to want to spend time with him.

Okay, now we're home free. Damn, 'cept for not. Look, another Outkast, I don't believe it, but you see that blonde over there in the parking lot? The one in red leather pants? That's James Conlon, and he's gay. No, I'm serious! See, watch him…there! The light glinting from his right ear! That's his earring. Only queers wear earrings in their right ears. The left one means you're straight. Everyone knows that. Besides, what straight guy would have the balls to wear red leather pants? Yeah, see? We all call him Spot, because he's so tiny. Kinda pisses me off, 'cause I also call one of my friends Spot for the same reason, but somehow people can tell the difference, so it's okay.

Yeah, there are ten Outkasts on this campus. Gilbert has more, while Mountain Pointe has less, but that's because Gilbert's stuck up and Mountain Pointe is a gang-bang school. But enough about them…

C'mon, through the courtyard. But keep your head down and don't make eye-contact. That boy over there, the one with the eye patch? That's Louie Ballatt, a.k.a. Kid Blink. He was pretty popular, until he lost his eye. Then, no one wanted him around anymore. The patch just creeped everyone out, and the ones that weren't creeped out by it had the balls to ask him about it, and thus got chewed out. No one liked him anymore. So don't hang out with him. Trust me.

And if you wanna see a rare sight, there's two Outkasts together. Of course, the rumors have circulated enough that they don't like each other either, but Travis and Richie don't have a choice; they're in my Spanish class and Dra. Peairs paired them together for a project. Travis, as you can see, plays hackey-sack while Richie's more of a poet. The thing with them is that Richie's so friggin' shy. We all call him Pie Eater, 'cause that seems to be the only thing he ever does, is eat pie. And Travis is a gambler and a cheat. You can always see him down at Firebird, betting and stuff, so we call him Racetrack.

And that curly haired boy coming out of the cafeteria…see him? With the big blue eyes? That's David Jacobs, but he's been called the Walking Mouth since around seventh grade, because he told on some of the druggies. That's one of the most important rules at this school. It's, like, number two after number one: don't hang out with the Outkasts. Rule number is just this: Don't tell on the druggies. There are so frickin' many of them! And you simply don't want to mess with them. Hell, I'm one of them. I drink. So no one talks to Dave because he'll tell their secrets. No lie. So don't talk to him; he'll tell.

So yeah, anyway, now that I've told you that…there's the C building, most of your classes…oh crap! There's the bell! C'mon, now we've gotta get to our classes. One last piece of advice: remember the rules: Don't tell on the druggies, they'll pound ya. Don't talk back to the teachers, they'll fail you. Don't act up in classes with short teachers, they'll bitch at you. And, most importantly, don't be seen even walking beside one of the Outkasts, one of those ten boys I showed you. It'll ruin you for your entire high school career and maybe even your college career.

Just make sure you follow those rules.

I'll see you at lunch!

***AUTHOR'S NOTES***

Well? What do you guys think? Should I continue? I've got quite a few good ideas for this, even a way to tie in Newsies even though so far it just looks like character names and looks are the only things. I've got most of this figured out, so you guys just tell me if it interests you, and I'll write more if you like it. If you don't, I won't write more. Plain and simple. ^^

One thing, though: The school is real. It's my school. I tried to follow it's construction as best I could. I've only been going there for, y'know, a year and a half? ^^;; I should know how it works by now. And that's actually me introducing you to everyone. ^^ I talk like that, and I actually am a sophomore at said Desert Vista High School. The school's Gilbert and Mountain Pointe are real too, but my band gets along with those bands, and I'll admit that my school is actually the snob school. Oh, I'll readily admit that! ^^;;; And our Drama Room is called the Black Box and it does have a room called the Sex Room. But I've never been in it. I have been in the Black Box a buncha times though, 'cause a bunch of my friends are Drama Freaks. ^^;;

The story won't always be narrated this way. I actually plan on switching first person through most of it, y'know, between the Outkasts.

Oh yeah! I'm working on Behind the Mirror too! Don't worry! Sorry it's taking so long! But I keep finding other things to do instead…^^;; But don't worry, it'll be out as soon as possible.

((And I get to see Equilibrium this Saturday. WOO!))

That's all. CHOW!