Rivalries without Recess

My first fic. I got the idea after watching Marilyn Manson's version of 'Tainted Love', which rocks. The lyrics are by Nirvana from the song Lithium, and I don't own it, or I'd be rich.

Characters within, like Brittany, Malkom, etc are mine and I will hunt down and slay those who steal them. : )

Warning: Will contain slash, especially in later chapters. You have been warned.

I'm so happy,

Because today I've found my friends

…

They're in my head

I'm so ugly, but that's okay

'Cause so are you…

We've broken our mirrors

Sunday morning is everyday for all I care…

And I'm not scared

Light my candles in a daze

'Cause I've found god-

-~Nirvana-Lithium~

Christy flipped her long brunette hair over her shoulder and applied one last coat of lipstick before flouncing out of the bathroom as dramatically as she had entered. She received a few catcalls from the dim-witted younger year boys as she strutted down the corridor in her high-heeled shoes. She grumbled under her breath as she spotted a poster on the notice board that she went by.

ATTENTION! ANYONE WHO IS ANYONE!

BRITTANY ARNOLDS WILL BE HOLDING A HOUSE PARTY AT HER PLACE ON FRIDAY 7TH (THIS WEEK)!

NOT TO BE MISSED UNLESS YOU ARE IN YEAR 10 AND BELOW!

YOU WANNA COME, SEE BRITTANY FOR DIRECTIONS!

ATTENTION! ANYONE WHO IS ANYONE!

BRITTANY ARNOLDS WILL BE HOLDING A HOUSE PARTY AT HER PLACE ON FRIDAY 7TH (THIS WEEK)!

NOT TO BE MISSED UNLESS YOU ARE IN YEAR 10 AND BELOW!

YOU WANNA COME, SEE BRITTANY FOR DIRECTIONS!

Christy sneered unpleasantly at the obviously student-made poster, printed in coloured card and with every sentence ended in an exclamation mark. She didn't know who that stuck up bitch thought she was. Just because she was head cheerleader and could have any boy she wanted didn't make her the queen of the world! Her with her perfect azure eyes and nice teeth and short cropped, straight honey hair. Her with her sickly sweet grin and perfect clothes and perfect boyfriend. She sighed, shouldered her bag and carried on. She pasted a large smile across her face as she got to her locker and tapped the girl in question on the shoulder.

Brittany Arnolds turned haughtily, but broke into a fake grin as she saw Christy standing there.

"Chris! Hi! Did you hear about my party on Friday? Anyone who wants to stay popular has just gotta be there!"

Brittany held back an evil chuckle as she prepared to listen to Christy, former head cheerleader and former girlfriend of Ross Mackleby, head footballer, grovel for an invite. She was suddenly pushed straight into Christy's chest by someone from behind her shoving to get past. Christy yelped and moved back, causing the primped and haughty girl to grab madly, arm's pin wheeling, for stability. She was caught around the hips by a pair of brawny arms.

She looked round, flushing slightly as she saw her new boyfriend Ross. He was good-looking, strong and powerful, with bleach-blond hair and blue eyes, but he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. He was also a bully, picking on anyone who didn't have the safe umbrella of popularity to hide under.

"Hey babe, be careful. Don't wantcha hurting yourself there."

He up-righted her and she turned, kissing him full on the lips. Christy, Ross's ex, turned her head in disgust.

"Hey Britt. Can I have the invite now, before you come careening into my chest again?" She asked acidicly.

Brittany narrowed her azure eyes. She knew how to play this game, one of high-school embarrassment and pecking order. Catfights weren't needed when you had popularity behind you… and there was always public humiliation.

"Here you go Chris… Now remember, you can bring a friend, but don't feel you have to. I mean, I'll understand if you can't find anyone…"

Chris turned sharply and walked off. Britt scowled at her retreating back then turned to Ross.

"Rossy, did you see who had the nerve to push into me so rudely like that?"

Ross rubbed her shoulder comfortingly.

"Ah, I'm sorry baby. It was one of those geek kids in our year. He wasn't important, but I'll beat him up for you later if you want?"

Brittany sighed. Ross might have been the cutest guy in school, but his pathetic puppy-dog loyalty to her was annoying.

"I don't care babe, do what you want with him."

Ross leaned down and kissed her again, and then the bell went signalling the start of the next lesson.

"Oh well, I have gym now. I'll see you after school, yeah?"

Britt nodded and waved back at her boyfriend as he jogged away, shoving past some smaller kids as he did so.

She sighed, turned her head and stalked down the corridor in ankle boots somewhat taller than Christy's heels.

Malkom Foxe slunk in through the door to his classroom. He would normally have just skipped class, but he had to attend some of the lessons in case he got kicked out of school. He attended just enough to ensure that he kept his place, but not so much that he ever had to do any actual work.

He dragged himself to his seat in the back row. He rested his head on his hand and sighed heavily, preparing himself for fifty minutes of hell. As the teacher, who had just come in, began teaching, the door burst open and a girl glided in, turning and laughing loudly at some friends behind her.

"Miss Arnolds, not only are you ten minutes late, but you're also disrupting my class."

'Miss Arnolds' rolled her eyes as she apologised, making it clear that she considered this a major inconvenience to her, and that the teacher should have some respect for her social life.

Malkom sneered at her mentally. She was just another shallow cheerleader, who thought anyone else was below her, and that the unpopular kids didn't even exist. He himself was one of these. He was anti-social around this school, not talking to anyone except maybe some of the older kids who could get him the occasional joint. He wasn't addicted to anything, didn't smoke often, hardly drank, hardly worked, never ate in the cafeteria and attended lessons sporadically. He'd get the occasional jeer from the littler years, who thought it was big to yell abuse at everyone without realising that when school ended they should watch out. He had chin-length hair, straight and black but with vivid scarlet streaks dyed into it, coffee coloured eyes and three silver hoops in his right ear. He wore a black collar studded with silver and his lip was pierced, also with a ring. He wore scuffed trainers and jeans, and sometimes hoodies or jumpers over the top, but mainly long sleeved T-shirts with short sleeved ones over the top.

He contrasted greatly with the snobby teen that had just entered. She wore shades of blue; halter-tops and baby tees as well as mini-skirts or tight jeans. She normally wore a pair of leather ankle-boots and heavy make-up. Small diamond earrings studded her ears and a gold ring adorned one finger, matching the heart shaped locket at her throat. She had a belly-bar, silver with a sapphire in it. It glittered like her eyes when she wore it, which she did often. He despised people like her, their shallowness and obsessions and spitefulness towards each other and their apparent inability to be trustworthy.

He sighed, and turned off as his teacher droned on at the front of the class.

Brittany waited impatiently for Ross to show. He had some kind of practice going on and had to stay back a bit. She had hung around the corridors with some friends until the janitor had told them to clear off. Now she stood outside, shivering slightly as the wind that had blown up blew round her ankles. It tugged at the piece of paper she held in her hand, her homework sheet. It escaped her grip and flew away. She shrieked and made to go after it when she saw a tall man make a grab for it. He snagged it and walked over to her, bringing it with him.

"This is yours, right?" He asked, holding it out.

Brittany stared goggle-eyed at the hunk that stood before her.

He was about 6'1", with short cut dark russet hair and slight freckles. He was well built, broad and muscular but not bulging, and he had the most hypnotisingly intense cobalt eyes she had ever seen. She noted the hoop in his left ear, the jeans, ribbed tee and leather jacket that covered his chest, hanging on him perfectly.

Brittany was in lust.

"Oh, thank you so much." She enthused, taking the paper and holding his hand lingeringly as she did. He pulled back a little and she let go, but stood nearer him.

"I'm Brittany Arnolds, you are…?"

"Christian Holcks" He replied shortly.

"I haven't seen you in school before…" She started again.

"I'm a little old, I'm 21." He laughed.

"Oh!" She said. "Are you waiting for someone then?"

"Yeah." He replied distantly, looking towards the building.

*Dammnit! * Brittany thought *He's already taken. *

They continued to talk for a bit when Brittany saw her boyfriend come out of the school. She sighed, noticing his shortcomings in the face of such masculine perfection, then realised that she had the perfect way to get the Adonis.

"As a thank you, if you're not doing anything Friday night, do you want to come to my house party?" She held a flyer out to him. "My parents are going away for the weekend, and there's loads of kids coming. It'll be a laugh."

He looked doubtful for a while, then turned and asked, "Can I bring some mates?"

Brittany gritted her teeth, then realised he had said 'mates' as in more than one, as in probably not a girlfriend. She hoped.

She grinned fakely. "Sure, the more the merrier."

She skipped off after giving him a sly wink, and walked down the road with Ross interrogating her about 'that strange guy' she had been with.

Woo there ya go, first instalment. Next one up soon, Peace out.