Name: Rudi

Age: 18

Grade: Junior

Appearance: Rudi

It was one of those boring days again and Rudi as usual was leaning against the schoolyard fence, arms behind his head with his eyes closed. He was trying to forget his past like he did every day even though it still haunted him. His father always angry, being drunk all the time. His mother long gone... Even his younger sister was a bit of a pain, being all happy-go-lucky and hyper all the time. Two things he couldn't stand in a sibling. Luckily she was still too young to attend that side of the school, being only 13.
Rudi sighed as he continued to stand there, his longish red hair blowing slightly in the breeze. Another thing to be connected with a bad memory. It had taken at least a year for it to grow back to how he liked it after his father viciously and forcefully shaved it off saying guys shouldn't have long hair. Especially at his age. It angered Rudi the way his father treated him.

Name: Stacy

Age: 17

Grade: Junior

Appearance: Stacy

The lunch bell rang, and Stacy quickly joined the mob of students rushing out to the courtyard. It was one of those rare days where the sun shined, and everyone was eager to soak in the rays. Stacy picked up her bento from her locker and joined her friends who had managed to snag a couple of benches by the fence. She sat down and quickly immersed herself in the gossip. Ranting about the ridiculous math exam next week was quickly replaced by the upcoming spring formal.

Everyone was laughing and having fun, so no one noticed the quiet boy not too far away by the fence except for Stacy. She first noticed his red hair, flaming under the light of the sun.

"Hey, who's that boy over there?" she asked.

"Oh, him?" sneered one girl. "Don't mind him, Stace. He's a loner."

"Ooh, I heard he was involved with drug trafficking and gangs," said another. "You don't want to get close to him."

"Guys, I think he heard us," Stacy said. "We are being quite loud."

Rudi had heard them, but as usual paid no attention to what they said. Even though the whole drug gossip was getting him quite pissed off. It happened each time; their talk about what kind of reputation he had. Those conversations always involved drugs and alcohol. Even though that part was very untrue. He'd never do those awful things in his life. Not after what he went through with his dad growing up.

No one really got to know Rudi. They just judged him like the cover of a book. Never got to know the real him. The only one who really knew him and what habits and hobbies he had was his younger sister who also didn't mind them, knowing that's how he was most of the time. A lot of who he was probably came from his father. At least the anger part and being unable to trust many people.

In the past year or so he had started to open up to some people. But no one he had acquainted himself with was part of any gang like the rest of the gossip rumours being spread around. Maybe they looked that way to them with how they dressed. He didn't know. But even they didn't know him inside out.

"Oh whatever," said Stacy's best friend Eve, flipping her gorgeous blonde hair back. "What's the worst he'll do? Sulk me out?" The girls erupted into loud laughter. Having exhausted this conversation, everyone went back to their lunches and not long after they heard the warning bell.

"Come on, girls," Stacy said as she started packing her bento back into her bag. "We're going to be late for class. I don't know about you, but I have history, and the teacher is killer about being punctual." Her friends groaned in disappointment. It was such a nice day today that no one wanted to go back into the dreary old classrooms.

As they grudgingly dragged themselves back to the lockers, Stacy pulled Eve aside for one quick question. "So, that guy we were talking about earlier," she whispered. "What's his name?"

Eve eyed her best friend suspiciously. "I think it was Rudi. Or maybe it's Trudi. Why do you care?"

"Oh, I don't," Stacy replied quickly. "Just curious, that's all." After a quick peck on the cheek good-bye, Stacy waved good-bye to her friends and made her way towards class.

As she walked in, she noticed the boy from earlier sitting in the back of the room, already looking bored. Stacy plopped her bag down on a seat towards the front and pulled out her typed chapter notes from the night before. She had spent a lot of time reading the assigned homework chapters and taking dedicated notes. She always made sure to be prepared for class, but her friends would laugh at her if they found out just how much time she spent on homework. And Stacy wasn't planning on getting made fun of anytime soon.

Rudi had left the fence slightly earlier to get to his next class, history, since he'd already been scolded by the teacher several times for being late too often. He hated this teacher, but hated even more to be suspended from school since it was his only getaway from home. Besides his job of course, but that was only part-time and during weekends mostly.

He also left early so he wouldn't have to hear anymore of the horrible gossip the girls were spreading. His anger level had almost reached the maximum by that time and he had to get away before he exploded at them, knowing full well that he'd get into trouble for that, too. He preferred to avoid any kind of trouble as long as he still went to that school. He also should have graduated by that time being 18, but he had an early birthday which would often confuse many students in thinking that way. Something like that. Not that he cared.

As Rudi sat there in his favourite spot at the back of the room, he was finishing off whatever homework he couldn't get done the previous night with his father yelling all night long. Rudi had a very hard time focusing with all that noise and by this time hoped he could get it done before the teacher showed up, despite being bored of it already. He didn't want to have to make up an excuse as to why it wasn't done last night and he sure wasn't going to tell the truth. He already had enough rumours about him. The whole school was getting suspicious of him. Even the gym teacher when he noticed Rudi stumble all the time during class. Only 'cause he was sleep deprived. One time, however, Rudi was pulled aside by him and asked if he was drunk or on something and actually had to be tested! Luckily though no one else in the school would know that part as it was confidential.

Stacy sat with her back straight, eyes focused on the teacher. History wasn't her best subject, hands down, but she couldn't let her friends know that. Much less her parents. She rolled her eyes at the thought of her parents and tried to shove them out of her mind. The teacher was on the topic of ancient civilization . . . and something about a project?

"So I've already divided you guys into groups of two," the teacher was saying. "You two are to work together to research your civilization and give a 15 minute presentation to the class, in whichever form you wish. And no, you cannot pick your partners." The class groaned their disapproval. "I have personally selected the duos randomly. The pairings are in the back of the sheet that I'm about to hand out right now."

As the teacher made her way down the columns, Stacy quickly grabbed a sheet and passed the rest back. Without bothering to check the assignment, she flipped to the back and searched for her name. "Stacy, Stacy, Stacy," she murmured to herself as she moved a finger down the list of duos. "There I am." She stared blankly at the name next to hers. Rudi. That same Rudi that her friends had been making fun of before?

She quickly whipped her head back and made eye contact with said red-haired Rudi. She smiled and waved.

Rudi had finished his homework in time luckily. He was satisfied with that. He however wasn't too fond to hear there was a new project due soon. Sure history was one of his favourite subjects, but he preferred to work solo on anything. Seemed like any partner he had in the past were lazy and always ordered him to do their work for them. He never fell for that as he always went ahead and did his own part each time, leaving them to figure theirs own parts out themselves. In the end however without the whole project done, they'd always fail. Because of him! The teacher would always use the blame game, saying how he was the responsible one for the entire group. Another thing that really pissed him off. Since the last time, being the worst failure ever, Rudi vowed if he ever got another project partner, no matter who they were, things would be different...

Rudi looked down the list for his name, saw the name beside his and sort of scowled, knowing perfectly well who this girl was. One of those pretty, popular and probably part of the teasing crowd he heard earlier. How joyous, sarcasm included. Rudi saw her smile and the wave she gave him, but just ignored the seeming kind gesture. To him, anyone in that group was bound to be the same either way. Nothing would change. He knew that since he started going to that school.

The rest of the class went by as a dull drone in Stacy's head, unusual because she usually made the extra effort to participate in class. It wasn't one of her best subjects, so she had to make double the effort. However, all she could think about today was the project and how she and Rudi were going to work together. She was 80% sure that he recognized her from lunch earlier, and what was she ever going to say about that? Hi, I'm sorry for making fun of you, but hey, let's get this thing done!

The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and Stacy quickly packed everything into her bag. She waited by the classroom door as everyone rushed through, waiting for a certain red-head partner of hers.

"Hi," she said cheerfully when Rudi approached. "I'm Stacy. We're going to be project partners, so I figure we might as well get to know each other. Exchange emails, cell numbers, you know."

Rudi on the other hand always participated no matter what. He never zoned out like girls would when they were thinking of things whether it was what they were going to do after school, who they liked, what new fashion items were in. All of that was boring to him. Some males he supposed also sort of thought about those things, too, but he wouldn't be caught dead doing that.

Pretty soon the bell rang and he packed up to get ready for whatever class he had next, which he'd forgotten, but wouldn't say so. As he was approaching the door the voice of a girl interrupted his train of thought and he looked down at her, eying her suspiciously as to what she just said. "You kidding? Me exchange my email and cell number with you?" He chuckled as if it were some sort of sick joke. "Listen, the only places we're ever going to be getting this project done is during class when the teacher wants us to or in the school library. And don't forget. Leave your friends behind okay?" He gave her a sly wink before heading down the hallway to his next class, hoping she wasn't in it.

Stacy pouted in disappointment. No one had ever brushed her off like that. Especially boys. Why, boys would have usually clamored for the chance to exchange numbers with her, and here this guy was just ignoring her? Stacy shook her head. It wasn't like she liked him or anything--this was purely a platonic working relationship. Gathering her courage, she ran after Rudi. "But I really don't think class time is enough to finish this project," she insisted as she rushed to keep in pace with him. "And how are we supposed to schedule library meetings if I don't have your number? And research? I can't send it to you if you don't have my email address."

Rudi slowed his pace so she could catch up as he thought about that for a second. Somehow the situation seemed different... Even with this tactic... Any other group member would have to listen to him and actually do some work on them in those places since there was no escape from supervising teachers. Might have made it annoying to them, but at the same time it was slightly easier on him, despite the end result. This girl however actually seemed to want to do something the others wouldn't... Could it be possible that it could happen? To him? Never did before. He had to make sure. "So... You're saying you want to help me with this... Without ditching the assignment..." Another pause. Maybe she could be trusted...

He turned to face her then and without hesitation took her arm without a care in the world if she minded or not and wrote the information in the palm of her hand with a red pen. Then without a work continued to walk to his next class not wanting to be late.