Leo

"Boy! If you aren't down in the next five seconds-" I hurried down the stairs. "Sorry, Ma-I was getting ready." My mother looked me up and down, taking in the acid-washed jeans and casual white tee I was wearing. She eyed my brown leather jacket before finally smiling. "Well, you've dressed up." I grinned. "Well, those who dress the best are the best." Ma smiled. "Just like your father says." My mother and father divorced after losing interest in one another. They were still friends, of course-they just weren't married anymore.

I didn't 'switch' between my dad and mum, simply because Dad lived a few houses down the street. There was no real point in me alternating. "Now, listen here. I don't want any other incidents with those weird cheerleader girls this year." Last year, I had led Samantha, a cheerleader who's now in her junior year, on, letting her think that I liked her a lot. It wasn't until the end of the school year that I revealed that I didn't have any feelings for her.

Needless to say, Samantha got really angry. She got to the point where she came down and told Ma how much I had offended her. As a result of 'playing with an innocent girl's emotions,' I was grounded for the holidays. Now, it was time to go back to school.

I ate my breakfast, said goodbye to Ma and let home.

"Oh my GOD, that was classic, Sarge!" I heard the duo before I saw them. Libra and Sagittarius were laughing their heads off about something (probably some prank they managed to pull off in the summer.) Sagittarius was easily my closest friend. I liked to think that Libra, who was literally the definition of a 'full package' at Varsity High, was also my friend. I did get the feeling she didn't like me, though.

"But your stunt on Mr Jones is gonna be LEGENDARY, Leebs!" Libra stopped to consider this before breaking out into a smile. "Well, duh!" The two erupted into a fit of giggles. "Hey, guys..." I walked up to them. Neither noticed me. I looked own at the two of them, annoyed. "HELLO?" Both stopped giggling and turned to look at me. They turned to each other, eyes wide, before looking into my eyes. "Hi," they chorused.

Libra launched into conversation. "I mean, you think Mr Jones will realise?" Sagittarius shook his head. "Nah, he's way too unsuspecting. Mrs Hardy, though..." The two nodded to each other. "Well! How was being grounded, Leo?" I groaned. "No fun. I mean, I played Need for Speed at least 70 times." Libra laughed. "Well, yeah, that does sound boring." Sagittarius nodded. "I mean, dude, our vacation was epic!" Libra nodded enthusiastically.

"Oh my god, yes! I mean, Queenstown was amazing. Sarge and I had so much fun!" Sarge whooped. "There was this decked out house with a Foxtel Now subscription, awesome views-you gotta see Leebs' photos-and, of course-" Libra looked like she might burst into a heap of golden confetti. "BUNGEE JUMPING! I mean, it was amazing! Never done anything like it-I wear, it felt like flying!" Sagittarius looked like he might explode as well. "And of course, SHOTOVER JET! It's gotta be the most epic thing ever, zooming across the water like that, I swear I was gonna fly off my chair!"

The two continued recounting their amazing holiday. I noticed how people looked at Sagittarius and Libra. I noticed people blushing as they looked at Libra and Sagittarius. Other stared at them in awe, and most stopped to listen to their conversation. Libra hadn't yet noticed the throng of guys surrounding her.

Aries pushed through the crowd. "Aries!" Libra threw her arms around Aries, one of her best friends. "Leebs!" Aries hugged Libra back. "I missed you so much! But thanks for sending me those vids, dude. Killer!" Sagittarius stood back, blushing as he looked at the girl he'd been crushing on since middle school. "Hey, Sarge!" Aries hugged a (flustered) Sagittarius. "By the way, LOVED your pose on the Shotover! Sick!" She fist-bumped me, laughing. "How many rounds of Need for Speed did you get in?" I chuckled. "My guess is 70, but it was probably more than that."

Aries laughed. "Well! I've got math first up. What about you guys?" Libra and Sagittarius looked at each other mischievously. "Science...." Libra smiled slyly. "WITH MR JONES!" The two burst out laughing for no apparent reason. "Well, I have history." I groaned. "With Mrs Barr." Aries snorted. "Well, good luck with that one." We all went off our own separate ways, Libra and Sagittarius still discussing whatever spectacular prank they were planning to pull off.

This is going to be a long year.