"Graduating class of 2012, welcome."

"Man, it sounds like they want to get rid of us already," Mitch grumbled from besides me. Greg and I stifled our laughs in our hands.

The whole of year twelve were stuffed into the school hall. The air conditioners broke sometime during the holidays (teachers suspect vandalism. Students just say they were crappy air cons) so it was rally hot and stuffy. Mitch had unbuttoned his top three buttons dramatically as we entered, making a big deal of dying. A few of the girls behind us giggled and kept throwing us looks as they sat down. Greg said that if Mitch got any more dramatic he should join theatre. I agreed.

"This is your final year of schooling before going to uni," the principal continued. He frowned at the few cheers and the 'no kidding' that came from some of the students. "This is the year that matters. This is the year that will determine your future. This is your year."

"Funny, Sasha said the exact same thing this morning," I muttered to Mitch.

"Maybe they're conspiring together," he whispered back, green eyes widening before grinning.

I tuned out about half way through the speech. Greg had given up before me and had pulled his Physics book out again, sitting cross-legged on his chair. Mitch's head kept drooping down, occasionally hitting my shoulder. Each time he mumbled a sleepy 'sorry' before yawing and readjusting himself in his chair.

I think it was about halfway through when the doors to the hall burst open and everyone jumped up in their seats. Greg looked up from his book, groaned and ducked his head back down. I didn't blame him.

Rachel Morreti had just walked in. And I have nothing against Rachel personally. I just didn't like her. Ladies and gentlemen, Rachel Morreti was the school slut. Well, at least for our grade.

Her skirt was hiked up about five inches too many, showing off far too much leg. Not that she didn't have great legs, she did. Just, at school? Err… no thanks. Like Mitch, she had the first three buttons undone but you could see the bright pink of her bra peeking out. Her hair was hanging around her shoulders, reaching mid back. Vaguely I noticed she had but blonde highlights in the red. Blue knee length socks (against the rules), black ballet flats (another rule gone) and sparkly blue nail polish (three strikes) finished off her ensemble as she sat down in the seat closest to the door, swinging her bag to her feet.

"Uh… thank you for joining us Miss. Morreti," the principal fumbled, obviously surprised by her arrival. "Okay, quiet down now everyone."

"God I hate her," I heard someone mumble behind me. Mitch, Greg and I turned.

"Isn't hate a bit of a strong word Ashley?" Greg asked, raising an eyebrow. Ashley Larson was another girl in our year and was right up there with Mitch on the popularity scale. She had bright hazel eyes and light brown hair that just brushed her shoulders. One slightly annoying thing about her was that she addressed everyone by his or her full name, no nicknames. Other than that she was an awesome girl.

"Oh, you don't even know the start of it Gregory," she said, leaning closer to us. "Remember Daniel?"

"No," Greg and I said while Mitch nodded. We both looked at him.

"Captain of soccer last year, he explained. Oh. "What about him?"

"You know how we were dating? Yeah well, she's the reason we broke up. Little skank seduced him while I was on holidays during the spring last year."

"How come we didn't hear about the break up?" I asked, curious. "Story like that would have spread like a wildfire."

"Daniel didn't have to come back term four because, you know, being in year twelve. So it didn't really hit the school until the last few weeks. By then no one really cared about it."

People around us started moving off and the four of us looked to the front. The principal had obviously dismissed us while we were talking and people were now moving to first block. We stood up and quickly walked down the stands, heading off to our lockers. Ashley walked off with her friends after saying a cheery goodbye and we set off to find our own lockers.

"239," Mitch said as we weaved through the crowds. "Where is that Greggy?"

"This floor," Greg answered before scowling. "And don't call me Greggy!"

"Right, got it. Thanks Greggy!" Mitch nodded before walking off whistling. I laughed as Greg's scowl deepened. Just as we were about to walk to our lockers, I heard my name being called.

"Alex! Alex Green!"

Greg and I turned and then quickly saluted at the principal. "Yes sir!"

Mr. Barris was in the army before he got injured and they had to amputate his right arm. He wears a prosthetic now which is made from silver metal and can rotated almost 360°. It was really cool and every year he showed students new tricks that he could do with it. One of the fingers could be removed from the hand and they had made it into a USB! Greg was fascinated by it and swore that if he ever lost and arm he was getting one exactly like Mr. Barris'.

He grinned at us, moving his fingers to his forehead in mock salute before holding out his left hand. "Your badge."

"Badge?" I asked, confused. "For what?"

Greg sighed next to me. "I knew it was a bad idea to elect you for school captain."

Oh yeah! I had totally forgotten about that! Putting my palm out, Mr. Barris dropped the metal badge into my palm and Greg and I examined it. It was silver with the school emblem and the words School Captain engraved along the bottom. It was pretty neat.

"Please don't abuse your power Alex," Mr. Barris sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I don't want a repeat of last year."

Greg giggled at the remained and even I couldn't hold down a grin. The previous school captains had made up a bunch of whole wacky events but the worst one was when they declared it a "No Clothes Day". Unfortunately, quite a number of students turned up not wearing anything but a dressing gown and were sent home. I actually can't believe they were stupid enough to do that in the middle of winter!

"I won't sir," I replied, pinning the badge to my shirt then striking a pose. "How do I look?"

"Whoa, watch the hand!"

Mr. Barris sighed again. "Rachel, could you lower the skirt please? And go to the office to remove the nail polish? And at least one more button done up? I'll let the shoes and socks slide this once if you do that."

Rachel tilted her head to the side. "OK. But could you tell me where locker 240 is? I've always had a locker on the top floor."

"This floor," Greg answered, tucking his book under his arm. "Just find Mitch, yours is next to his."

"Thanks Greg!" she chirped, turning and skipping down the hall.

"Office and skirt Rachel!" Mr. Barris called out after her. She waved a hand in confirmation, giving thumbs up. For a third time he sighed, rubbing his forehead again. "Anyway, you boys better get to homeroom. Remember Alex, don't abuse your power."

"You can trust me sir," I assured him before Greg and I saluted him again. "Sir!"

He just shook his head and went of to show his arm off to some year seven kids who had been gawking at it during our conversation.