"Yea, what brings you to Ditto Town?" asked Andrew. He slowed to a stop and walked over to the water fountain. Long hair was not the best for excercise, at least not if you mind sweat pouring down your face.

"My mom got a new job here," Logan replied quickly, which was the gospel truth. She had taken a job in Ditto Town at a small law firm as a junior associate. True, there were many, much better jobs available for someone of her credentials in the city, but her name had been tarnished after Logan's father had been exposed as a corrupt judge. Few firms would hire her; and even if she could get a job there, their family would still never live down the gossip and the talk. These were the real reasons that Mrs. James had taken her two children and moved to Ditto Town, but Logan would never talk about it in public. So for now, his reply that his mom got a new job would have to do. "How long have you lived here?" Logan asked, changing the subject.

"That's cool, what's she do?" asked Andrew. "I just moved here about a month and a half ago, just 'cause my dad got laid off and is getting work at the factory here. How do you like it down here? I kinda miss the big city myself."

"She's an attorney," Logan replied, after getting a drink from the fountain himself. "Ditto Town seems cool, I've made some friends," he said as they headed back to the track. As he walked, he spotted Peter running, and Brian was close by. "A few enemies too," Logan added as he saw Brian. "Anyway, like I said, it's cool. but yeah, I know what you mean, I miss the city too."

-------

Emmy tried to commit herself wholly to her work as she pored over the lesson. Normally, her mind was very focused while working on school, and she was able to get things done with minimal distraction. But her mind was wandering today, and she couldn't seem to help it. It was her second day at Ditto Town High, and only her fourth day in Ditto Town on a whole. Hopes and worries of what her new life was shaping up to be here kept flitting through her mind, and they seemed more pressing than the math problems before her.

She looked up from her work page for a moment and caught a glance of Jen beside her. She wondered where their friendship would lead. A year ago, she had thought she knew what a good friend was. She'd had quite a few good friends then. But now, she almost doubted that anyone could truly be a good friend; at least, no one she knew of. Would Jen be the same as those friends who had betrayed her? Or would Jen and Ditto Town be different? Emmy sighed, shaking the thoughts from her head, as she rededicated herself to her work. I've got to focus on school... I don't want to get a bad grade just because my mind was wandering.

Brian shrugged, glancing at his watch "Alright" he said simply. It didn't really matter. There seemed to be new kids everyday at school. Ones he'd never seen, but he didn't really care. He was satisfied with the friends he had.....or enemies. Peter was unusually quiet as they sat, waiting for the coach to inform them of their first exercise. Brian kept his face down and expression unreadable. This was going to be another bad day. Ever since Logan showed up it had been. He challenged him in every area he could. Right down to friends. That's when Logan entered the gym and confiscated the seat of another boy. That's another thing....forever picking on people. I'm surprised anybody can stand him! The Coach broke all of Brian's thoughts and silent conclusions, by announcing they were first to jog around the indoor track. Hopping down from the bleachers Brian threw down his back pack and stripped off the light jacket he had brought with him. Tossing it to rest near his book-bag he stepped onto the track, stretching and bending before running. He then set off in a light jog, breathing smoothly out of his nostrils. I must conserve energy now. This is going to be a big afternoon and I want to give my skateboarding skills my all

****

Ian arrived home at his apartment hours later. The door lock clicked as he crammed his old key into the hole. It swung open slowly on it's hinges, revealing the dingy interior. He threw down his bag in a sagging comfy chair and plopped onto his bed. It creaked under his weight, and he sat still in the center of the jumbled covers. He wasn't a very neat person, so things lay in disarray around him. Papers, and clothes, even some dirty dishes. But without a woman's touch to his small living area, who could blame him? He sighed and closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, thinking of Susan. How can I help some one if they don't listen? A beep interrupted his thoughts and he pushed himself up snatching his cell phone from his dresser. Opening it he saw that a text message had been sent to him. Pressing okay he read it and an eyebrow raised. "Micah? My cousin? What in the world?" he stood and paced across the floor. "A cousin? I have a cousin?" he ran a hand through his hair. "Coming....to see me. Hmmm....We'll have to see about this" he snapped his phone shut and began tidying up.

**

Melisha looked uncertainly at her. "Brooklyn.....that's a pretty name" she swallowed "I understand. But what are you going to get?" she brushed some dirty strands of brownish blonde hair from her eyes. "Please, don't get anyone. Please don't get my Father. " a few hot tears ran down. "He's abusing me." Her eyes fidgeted.

***

Abigail fairly screamed again. "Leave me alone! Leave me alone!" she let out a gasp, as he was taken away from her and she was dropped onto the bed. She sat up, crunching the stiffened muscles in her legs. She winced and watched as he Father struggled with the two officers of the law that had showed up

(OOC: I'll do parts with Susan, Andrew and Brandon next time))

Peter was holding Jen's hand on the way to the skateboard park, as he joined Brian, Emmy, Logan and Andrew. Jen whispered, "Wanna bet we're the only ones who took safety precaustions and brought helmets and pads?"
Peter chuckled. "I think Brian might."
Jen said, "I really hope Emmy tries too. She's really nice."
Peter grinned, "She is. But you're nicer." He squeezed his girlfriend's hand affectionately.
When they got closer ot thier friends and ANdrew, he could not help but feel a little nervous around him. Afterall, he did used to bully him. Still, he put on a brave face and turned to Logan and Brian. "Ready?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amanda was relieved when teh officers escorted Abigal's dad and his goons out the house. Her eyes opened wide as she turned to Abigal, "Wow. that was creepy."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Micah lowered his head down, as he rang Ian's doorbell. He was sure his cousin would not approve of his stealing his dad's money and setting up a fake record to get into the school. They were actual reports form his other school, but he changed the name. He grimaced, as he thought of the lie he had told those boys in school about his family moving to town. The only family here was Ian. Ian would understand. He sure had ot remeber that he used to steal also. All Micah ever did was steal and had escaped from his dad's to leave the lifestyle of a theieve. Scared that his dad's goon's could be anywhere, he tried the doorknob, to make sure it wa sunlocked. It was so, he stepped in and slsammed the door behind him. "Dude, you gotta help me! Please!"

Maya reassured Melisha."I understand." Her face tensed and her hand balled into a fist. "I understand completely," she said through clenched teeth. Maya looked around to find a safe place, but there was none. "You'll have ta stay here. I'll be back," she promised, stood up and jogged back the way she had come.

"What are you doing here?" asked Andrew as Peter approached. "Since when do you skate? Actually, hold that thought."

Andrew pushed down the large bank ramp, up the pyramid and landed a backside smith grind on the fly rail, before rolling back up to Peter's group. "You were saying?"

Logan set down his board and surveyed the park, glad to finally be able to come here. It seemed like forever since he'd hit any ramps, though it was only about four or five days. Still, the change from the city to Ditto Town made it seem longer.

Logan was surprised at the way Andrew greeted Peter, having no idea about the history between the two. He stepped up beside Peter and Andrew, confused. "I invited him; he's my friend. I told him I'd show him how, and stuff." Logan glanced at Brian, wondering if he'd speak up for Peter as well. I stepped up first, he thought gleefully.

-------

Emmy looked over the skate park, shielding her eyes from the late afternoon sun. It was already pretty warm, and truth be told she'd rather not be here at all; she wasn't a skateboarder in the least. But the others had wanted her to come, and she didn't want to be rude and antisocial.

"That's cool I guess, there's always some people who don't belong. Hey Peter come here for a second." Andrew walked a few feet away from the others. "Look, I'm not one to hold peoples' past against them, but if you try anything I'm warning you you're asking for trouble."

The wind straightened Peter's hair around the bottom of his neck. He knew that Andrew had no idea he was baptised for the forgiveness of sins and gift of Holy Spirit, so he didn't hold it against him to be a little angry. "I won't. I promise."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen noticed the way Andrew spoke to and about her boyfriend and Prayed for Peter. She really didn't want Logan or Emmy to know his past and really hated that it had to be brought up again. Distracting Emmy, she asked, "Ever skated before?"

"Alright then, let's skate." said Andrew, and skated out into the street course of the park. Though he acted like he didn't care, he always smiled inwardly at the thought of everyone in the park being jealous of the tricks he landed.

Logan smiled as Andrew said "let's skate", and he quickly followed into the park's assembly of ramps and pipes. It felt good skating with friends again, after having losing all his old friends. The air rushed by him and excitement rushed through him as he guided his board through tricks and stunts.

-------

Emmy nodded. "Only a little. Logan convinced me to try it a few times."

Jen laughed, "Oh really? How did that go?"
~~~~~~~~~~
Peter let out a sigh of relief, that nothing was going to happen to him...yet. He made his way towards Jen, giving her a hug. Be fore he could say anything about what just happened, he decided it would be best for Emmy and Logan not to know his past for now. "I"m about ready to try. I'll prbably land in a sitting position."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen giggled at what Peter said, playing with his hair. "You should grow this to your shoulders."
Peter laughed. "I'll think about it. But I'm not growing it any more than an inch past the shoulders."
He loved her long blonde hair that splashed down to her waist and her sparkly hazel eyes. Her face was so delicate, innocent and pure. Then, they remembered Emmy was watching and pulled away form each other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter rushed over to Brian, and whispered, "Can I have some advice on skateboarding please?"

Andrew wasn't one of many words when he was skateboarding, but after failing a few frontside kickflip 360's over the pyramid he said to Logan, "If I can get this trick down I'll be unstoppable at contests. Almost nobody has this trick," and then he skated off to keep trying, always landing on the bottom of his board.