They do but go back to school

Tanya and McKenzie don't hesitate to get out of the alley. The two men follow them back to the street facing the direction of the school. They start heading in that direction to get to Tanya's car.

"Tanya, I don't think I'm really sick. We should go back to school," McKenzie says.

The suggestion to go back to school rewrites the previous command to take McKenzie home. This was great because even though cheerleading practice was boring, she knew she needed to be there. "Yeah, that makes sense. I'm really confused as to why we even wanted to cut class anyway. Isn't that weird?"

"A little, but I have been thinking about a beach day in the future, "McKenzie says and shakes her head. "Maybe the stress of starting school and cheerleading is getting to us. But..." McKenzie feels like there's a haze in her brain like recent information is missing. "...we should probably stick together as much as possible. I mean, you're feeling what I'm feeling, right?"

Tanya nods her head. "Maybe there's a gas leak in school? But, yeah, I guess it's a good thing we scheduled most of our classes together, bestie." She was feeling better about her friendship with McKenzie. She was glad she wanted to spend so much time with her because she was worried about yesterday's incident.

McKenzie, for her part, still felt weird about what happened with the hentai yesterday. Wasn't there something especially off about the whole thing? Didn't Tanya say something to her as to why she was being so weird? She releases a frustrated sigh, "right, everything except, I think you have French when I have Spanish and US Government when I have Anthro?"

Tanya nods "Oui. That sounds right, but we can check in at lunch.

Tanya starts heading in the direction of their first class, but McKenzie pulls her towards the nurse's office. "We should let Nurse Nethers know we're back."

Nurse Nethers is baffled by the two girls but writes them both slips so they can be late to their first class, Calculus. She let them both off with a stern warning that this better not become some sort of year-long prank. Both girls promise to not prank Nurse Nethers this year and mean it deep in their core. After that they head to their first class.

Although they're briefly admonished for being late to class it goes pretty much without consequences. When the bell rings it's clear Whitney hasn't wasted any time to spread her current disdain for Tanya as the rest of the popular kids ignore her and, by default, McKenzie.

McKenzie sighs as her group of friends put distance between them. "Tanya, we need to get this sorted, ASAP. Whatever your plan is to unseat Whitney better be good because we're well on our way to becoming social outcasts."

Tanya didn't have a plan to unseat Whitney. In fact, she didn't really care. She only wanted to hang out with her new best friends, Maggie and Kyle. Tanya shrugs, "it's not a big deal."

And just like that, McKenize decides being social outcasts might not be that big of a deal. "Sure, I guess," she says as they walk into Physics. Today is a lab day, so everyone needs to sit next to their partners. McKenzie and Tanya part ways. During the last class Tanya, thanks to Kyle's influence, partnered up with Josh. That left the captain of the football team, Chad, fair game for McKenzie.

Chad, for his part, has spent the last few days being absolutely confused. Heading into the school year he'd assumed Tanya and Whitney would be competing for the honor of being his boyfriend. Instead, Tanya was basically ignoring him and didn't show up at any of the usual popular kid hang-out spots this weekend. Whitney was around but she was completely preoccupied. She seemed to think Tanya was up to something and spent the entire weekend in a foul mood.

Due to Tanya pairing up with one of the losers, which he assumed she did so she could get a better grade, he was now stuck with McKenzie. He didn't mind. The redhead was hot as fuck, but she also didn't carry the same status as dating Whitney or Tanya. He was worried Tanya wasn't interested. He needed his teammates to see the two most popular girls in the school viciously competing for his affection. His plan was to bang both of them this year and whichever one was the better lay he'd make his girlfriend and Prom date. This was not going according to plan. For the first time in his life, his ego was hurting.

McKenzie takes her spot next to Chad. She says "hey, how was your weekend?" but simply grunts. His eyes are focused on Tanya who didn't even look in his direction. Instead, she makes a beeline for Kyle, Josh, and Minh with a big smile on her face. He's absolutely baffled when she gives each of them, one by one, a short and friendly hug. It's pretty clear from Josh and Minh's faces that they're equally confused. Kyle seems to expect it saying very loudly "Howdy friend!"

"What the fuck is she doing?" Chad grumbles still looking away from McKenzie.

McKenzie says matter-of-factly. "Looks like she's on a hugging basis with the Loser Club."

Chad turns to face McKenzie, "has she said anything to you? About us? We were close all summer and then suddenly school starts and she's barely giving me the time of day. Why is she spending so much time with those dweebs? "

McKenzie thinks for a moment. What did Tanya say the other day? Oh right. "Last week she said something about hanging out with Kyle and partnering with Josh for better grades. I don't know. It's weird to me, too, because she isn't a terrible student. Maybe she's going for valedictorian or something."

"She never once mentioned that this summer. Besides, everyone knows that nerd Shelly Carpenter has valedictorian locked down."

McKenzie shrugs. "Salutatorian?"

Chad doesn't respond. Instead, he picks up the paper cup sitting on the table and crushes it. McKenzie watches and reaches out. She places a calming hand on his arm. "Hey there, pretty sure we needed that cup for our experiment. You know Tanya, she's a master schemer." McKenzie briefly thinks about the hentai incident but decides it's best to not bring it up.

Chad exhales and releases the cup. "Yeah, yeah. You're right. She has Whitney all on edge, too, but I'm sure that's part of her plan. Whatever it is. But I hate being in the dark." Finally, he turns to McKenzie and faces her. He places a hand on top of his hand. He decides if Tanya's going to play games with him he can play them right back. "Besides, while those two are at each other's throats it gives us more time to hang out."

McKenzie gazes into his bright blue eyes. His smile is warm and inviting. She's also envied seeing him look at Tanya and Whitney like this. "It sure does, Chad," she says softly.

They're interrupted by Mr. McDonald who loudly puts a new paper cup on their table. "Chad, I know it's hard to keep your testosterone in check, but please stop manhandling the ladies in the class and smashing the experiment tools."

Tanya, standing ready and willing for the experiment thanks to encouragement by Kyle, looks over at her two friends. There's a phantom pang of jealousy as she sees Chad pull his hand away from McKenzie. Even though she didn't have an interest in spending that much time with her old friends (thanks again to Kyle and Maggie) she still had feelings for Chad.

Mr. McDonald calls attention to the front of the class. Tanya and McKenzie both can't help but to focus. "These experiments are dangerous, class. I expect each and every one of you to take this class seriously and focus. Today we're going to learn about heat transfer and thermal conductivity by boiling water in a paper cup." He continues, but "take this class seriously and focus" was all the two girls needed to hear.

The command benefits Chad, too. Whenever he tries to goof off McKenzie tells him to stay on track. He feels a little like she's mothering him which, at first, is annoying, but eventually he starts to appreciate it.

Mr. McDonald isn't surprised when Kyle and Minh finish first, followed closely by Josh and Tanya. He does raise an eyebrow when McKenzie and Chad finish third. Todd, one of Chad's best friends, even razzes Chad for it. "Look at you, overachiever."

As the class ends, Chad throws his arm around McKenzie's shoulders. "We have Spanish together next," he loudly adds, "I'll escort you." Tanya feels herself bristle as McKenzie walks out with Chad.

Tanya's next two classes are French with Maggie and US Government with Kyle. As agreed, the two manipulators do their best to keep Tanya from being influenced by anyone else. It was surprisingly easy as all they had to do was tell her she wants to be the best student and should focus on the teacher.

After US Government is lunch. Kyle walks with Tanya toward the cafeteria and McKenzie, remembering they're supposed to stick together as much as possible, catches up.

"Oh, hi, McKenzie," there's dismissive venom in Kyle's voice as she joins Tanya's side.

She hooks an arm around Tanya's arm and pulls her close. "Hey Boner," McKenzie says to Kyle before turning to Tanya. "So you going to finally ditch the losers and come back to sit with us?"

Tanya didn't have any interest in sitting with her old friends. She wanted to be with her new friends, but she can't help but respond, "Yes, I'll sit with you."