The school bell rang with a startling "Brrrring!" that signaled North Umber Academy to head to their next class.
"God, that bell always scares me half to death. I'm surprised no one's gone deaf yet." Griffin remarked. Giselle giggled, but her face turned from sarcastic agreement to sudden anxiety in less than a split second. "Sh,it! Chemistry is next for me. I didn't do my homework! Quick, let me copy off of yours!" Griffin looked disappointed and replied uneasily, "I didn't do it either. I'm not the one you should be asking."
"My mom will KILL me if she sees another failing grade on my report card! And knowing Mrs. Birch, I bet she'll be a huge bit,ch about it. God, what am I supposed to do!?" Giselle exclaimed. But Griffin seemed as calm as ever compared to her friend. "If she gives you a hard time, we can frame her for that one time she was drinking on school grounds. Besides, it's only a couple bad grades. I'm failing in two classes and you don't see me complaining."

She replied coolly. Giselle stared in utter disbelief. How could she be so relaxed in a situation like this? "Easy for you to say, Griff. Your mom doesn't even care. If my parents find out I'm missing yet ANOTHER assignment, they'll make sure I never see Art III again!" Griffin covered Giselle's mouth with her hand, trying to stop her from continuing her rant. "Gi, chill. Look at these." Griffin slid her backpack off her shoulder and bent over as she unzipped the first pocket. When she stood back up, in her hand was a pack of cigarettes. "I snuck them in. We can skip class and go by the dumpsters out back, and let loose."
"Seriously? Cigarettes? Ever heard of peer pressure, Griff? I'm not sure if I want to be part of that." Giselle murmured. She'd gotten so far with maintaining her 'good girl' image. Why ruin it now by smoking and skipping class?
"Come on, Giselle! It'll be fun. You really deserve it, especially right now. There's no way you're going to class that anxious."

Griffin smiled, putting a hand on Giselle's shoulder. Giselle's pale face splotched with freckles turned as red as a strawberry. She supposed Griffin was right. Maybe she was too uptight. She couldn't find her voice after her growing anxiety seemed to hide it away, so she sighed heavily and nodded at her friend. 'How could I say no again?' She thought silently.

When they finally arrived to the dumpsters at the back of the school, Griffin brought out the pack of cigarettes again, along with a lighter. She lit the end of hers and then a second one, handing it to Giselle. After taking a hit, Griffin smiled wide and turned her head to look at Giselle. "So, you hear about the new kid?"
"New kid? What new kid?"
"Yeah, Mexican kid. Don't know his name yet, but Giselle-" Griffin's face twisted into a smirk, and Giselle knew this face too well. "I think you'd like him!" Griffin teased. Giselle adjusted her rust-colored hair into a ponytail as she sighed, quite annoyed that Griffin kept saying

that about new students. "You've told me that about pretty much every new guy that steps foot into our classes," she replied. "Remember, they actually have to be cute for me to like them."
"I mean, I'm not into guys, but I guess he's attractive... enough." Griffin joked as she took another hit. "I suppose he's the definition of what you normal girls call 'tall, dark, and handsome.'"
"I guess I'll have to check him out when I meet him, huh?"
"I guess so. See for yourself."
As if he'd read their minds, the 'new kid' walked right in front of them, stopping and seeming to sweat nervously. "I'm-I'm so sorry. Do you mind telling me where the band hall is?" He asked, twiddling his thumbs. Griffin and Gislle simultaneously turned their heads toward each other, then straight back at this strange student.
"Sure," Giselle began, staring straight into his sparkling brown eyes with utter astonishment. "It's, uh... p-past the cafeteria buliding over there." Griffin was right. He was just as cute as

she'd anticipated. In an attempt to impress him, she decided she could try speaking Spanish to him. "T-Tuviste... sexo... con me hermana!" But she immediately regretted her decision when it came out distorted and butchered. The guy's expression suddenly changed to a mixture of offense and disturbance. An awkward silence fell between them, and when Giselle craned her neck to face Griffin, she seemed to be stifling a burst of laughter. But Giselle signaled with her eyes for her best friend to help her out here. Griffin seemed to take the hint, because she looked like she finally pulled herself together as she cleared her throat.
"Well uh, what might your name be?" She said finally.
"Colmillo. And you are?"
"Griffin, and this is my best friend Giselle."
"But you can just call me Gigi for short." Giselle added at last. Colmillo nodded kindly, probably trying to shoo away the memory of what happened only a couple of minutes prior. "Well, I should be off now. Please meet up with me during

lunch today. I look forward to being friends with the both of you!" Colmillo smiled with the most adorable smile as he walked away. Giselle tried desperately to hide her awkward, goofy grin, which she managed, however her rosy blushing cheeks betrayed her and clearly revealed her newly developed feelings for this gentleman.
"You DO like him!" Griffin taunted. "I told you!" A short pause settled when she added, "Oh yeah, by the way, have you been paying any attention in Spanish class? Because you literally just told the poor guy he had se,x with your sister." Giselle stared in silence for the upteenth time, her mind whirling with regret and embarassment.
"Craaaaaaaaaaaap!" She exclaimed, facepalming.
"Google Translate has really come through for you," Griffin joked. Giselle let out a long, frustrated sigh. She was tempted to punch her in the gut, but her better judgement convinced her not to. Instead she muttered an annoyed "Shut up." and threw her cigarette in the dumpster.

Griffin chuckled as she smoked the last of hers and threw away the butt. The bell finally rang again, with the familiar deafening "Brrrring!" it always made.