“And now for the latest gossip update from West Coast Academy” Ashlee Angel’s southern belle accent rang over the radio waves at West Coast Academy.

“Well this week has been a busy week at gossip headquarters. Last week I reported my sources had picked up information regarding the brake-up of Todd Walters and Heather Yearly however at the time I was unable to confirm this well this week listeners I can confirm the split. When questioned by both WCA Radio and WCA Newspaper both said the split was amicable and they are still friends. Wonder how long that will last eh listeners? In other news the class that caused that incident in Mr. Becker’s class last week have all been given a week’s worth of detention, with some certain students being investigated further. Not mentioning any names- Tom Davis and Johnny Fletcher. Now it’s time for this week’s hottest couple”

Ashlee leant across the circuit board and pushed a button making the short tune for the hottest couple play “I can exclusively reveal to all my listeners out there WCA’s very own Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee are back on. Yes, you heard right Troy Churchly and Scarlett Stanton are back on after a week apart. Everyone here at WCA radio wish you well guys. That’s it for this week. Tune in next week, same time; same place for the week’s hottest gossip with me Ashlee Angel”

Ashlee pressed the switch and waited until she could hear the introduction of Since you been gone by Kelly Clarkson before she slipped off the soft leather headphones and placed them on the flashing board in front of her. She saw the regular thumbs up from Kyle and pushed herself out of the swivel chair she had been sitting on. She pushed open the door into the main radio office and smiled at Kyle as she picked up her old and worn rucksack.

“Another great week from West Coast Academy’s resident gossip guru, see you next week Ash” said the always smiling Kyle Jason- the person in charge of the radio.

“See ya Kyle” Ashlee smiled back as she flung the heavy backpack over a shoulder and headed out the door.

It was a little past 6 in California and the sun was beginning to set in the distance, casting shadows over the tall and pristine buildings of the elite West Coast Academy. Situated in the scenic Hollywood, LA, WCA was one of the top rated schools in the country and it was little wonder why. Complete with tennis courts, 2 swimming pools, a movie complex and every education amenity possible WCA was a dream come true to any child wanting to get a piece of the boarding school experience. All the dorms were named after famous places in Hollywood, Walk of Fame Dorms, Rodeo Drive Dorms, Boulevard Dorms and Ashlee’s home Sunset Strip Dorms.

She stepped out into the cooling California heat and headed towards her dorm building. She smiled and waved at her friend Georgia, from her media class, and continued walking. The campus was practically deserted with exception of a few students who were making their way to either the movie complex or some party. From Friday night onwards students were allowed to leave the campus as long as they returned by 11, for the seniors. Most people opted to hit a club for under 21’s to dance away the week’s homework and stress while others went to a party at one of the dorm buildings that usually lasted way into the night or at least until the dorm supervisor had had enough of that ‘new fangled music’ that was apparently so much better in ‘their’ days.

Ashlee hitched her pack higher onto her back as she passed the Walk of Fame dorms where music was blasting out of the windows and the figures of 17 year old’s could be seen dancing. Usually parties at the walk of fame dorms only took place toward the end of the month and they were usually the best parties. Ashlee had been once with her friend Alexis, for research purposes of course, but had left after an hour because Alexis had been certain there were traces of alcohol in the red plastic cups people were holding. They had never returned.

10 minutes later Ashlee arrived at her dorm door. She pulled her key out of her pocket and stopped to read the few messages on the whiteboard on her door. One message read Ash, Alexis and I have gone to the movies come if you can be bothered- Katie dated from 2 weeks ago and the second message read Katie will you PLEASE stop eating my fat free yoghurts- they cost more than you think!- ‘lexis. Ashlee shook her head and smirked then pushed open the green door and entered her dorm. She pushed the door shut with her flip-flopped covered foot and dropped her bag carelessly on the floor. She replaced her keys back into her pocket of her faded jeans- they were still relatively clean which meant they could be worn again tomorrow. She called out her room-mates names but was met with silence. She then remembered something Katie had told her this morning about going to the library after class to catch up on some revision but Ashlee was in such a rush this morning it could have been Katie was going to the optician after school for a test on her vision. Alexis went to her dance class on Friday’s so for a while it looked like it was just Ashlee. She glanced at the clock with her light green eyes and saw it was approaching 6:30. She pulled off her tank top and slipped out of her jeans. She grabbed a pair of messily laid out pj’s off her bed and changed into them. She grabbed a lolly out of her mini fridge and began to lick away.

“Paaaar-tay!” said a loud voice from outside. Ashlee walked over to her balcony and stepped out onto it. She peered over the side of the balcony wall and saw a group of teenagers staggering along below her. But these weren’t just any teenagers, they were those teenagers. You know the ones, the typical Californian ones- rich, beautiful and popular. Yes, those teenagers. Also known around campus, by those lesser being’s, as the It Kids. On the surface Ashlee paid no attention to the It kids, who lived in the Walk of fame dorms, but underneath she yearned and dreamt of one day being one of them. She secretly desperately wanted a piece of that lifestyle. She idolised the two most popular girls in school, Scarlett and Chelsea.

They had it all, stunning movie star looks, bank accounts the size of Ashlee’s home town, every and any guy they looked at and the position of being the most talked about girls on campus. The only time Ashlee could let the world in on her little obsession was her Friday night radio slot where she could tell all her findings on that elite little group. She watched as the group staggered off and then went back inside.

Ashlee has sense, she knew that no-one like her from a tiny town in Louisiana could ever end up like Chelsea or Scarlett and it was a fact she had become accustomed to in her 3 and a bit years of being a West Coast Academy student.

It just didn’t happen.