“Thomas was a very fine young man. He exceeded school expectations and was ranked number one in his class for academics. He was excellent with computers and had very close friends. Would anyone else like to say a few words,” one of Thomas’s cousins asked.

            Bryant stood up and walked to the podium. “Thomas was a good friend and uh…umm…to bad he had to leave us,” he said almost in tears.

            Dominique went next then Jasmine. “I’m not sure I ever knew a Thomas but I did know a Gizmo. And I knew him since the sixth grade. And he was an excellent friend who we could always count on. I can’t really say what he was like because he kept to himself and his computer a lot but he loved his gum and was always there for us.”

            Alex went up and started right after Jasmine “Gizmo I uh…I guess the other three said everything. But I hope he’s in a better place because we all know what trouble he has been in and has been known to cause.”

            The funeral went through people speaking and music being played until the end when the four ran into some unlikely peers.

“Why are you here, Cole,” Dominique said.

            “Because I came for the funeral, what else? Besides I owe Gizmo for helping me out in some classes. I never even got the say thanks so I’m here thanking him.”

“That sounds real cheesy you know Cole,” Alex said.

            “Yeah but its true,” Daniel said walking out from behind Cole.

“Let’s go Jasmine,” Dominique said and started walking down the road.

            “”Alex c’mon, lets go back to school,” Bryant told her.

They went back to school and continued the last half of their second hour. They trudged to lunch hour where they seen Daniel and Cole again.

            “Hey Jasmine, Alex,” Cold said coming up behind them, “you guys okay?”

“Yeah Gizmo was your friend and everything. To bad he had to get in that car accident,” Daniel said to Alex.

            “A car accident?”

“You mean you haven’t heard how he died Alex,” continued Daniel.

            “No. I guess not till now.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

            “Hey Jasmine how are you doing,” Cole asked her as they started walking away from Alex and Daniel.

“Okay I guess. Hard to believe Gizmo’s gone though.”

            “Yeah. Are you staying after school for the baseball game tonight,” he asked.

“Yes we planned on it,” said Alex.

            “Want to go get some fries or something before the game.”

“Game starts at four thirty so I guess we could join you. If you guys don’t have to be at the fields right away,” Jasmine said.

            “Okay.  Meet us by the front door okay,” Daniel said.

“Okay,” replied the girls.

            The bell rang for homeroom so the two girls went to go find Dominique and Bryant.

“You two have fun talking the jocks at lunch,” Bryant said really angry as Jasmine and Alex came up behind them.

            “We were just talking Bryant, settle down. What gives you the right to decide who I can talk to? I’m not some piece of property,” Alex said defending herself.

“You have anything to say Dominique while were at it,” asked Jasmine.

            “I don’t care who you talk to I really don’t have a say anyhow. Gizmo’s funeral was just this morning and everyone’s saying he died form a car accident, that’s a load of crap. He died right in front of us Jasmine. We saw him die,” Dominique said near tears.

            “C’mon Dominique, lets go somewhere else. Want to go to the library? I’ll check in our homeroom for us.”

“Yeah okay”

            Jasmine went to check into homeroom then her and Dominique went to the library. Meanwhile, Alex and checking how Bryant was going.

“Hey Alex, what are you up to?”

            “Uh…nothing I guess. How are you doing Bryant?”

“Okay. Why were you talking to the jocks? What’d they want from you?”

            “I was talking to them because they started the conversation and they only asked if we were going to the baseball game tonight.”

“So are you? Going to the game I mean?”

            “For crying-out-loud Bryant why are you being so protective lately?”

“I’m not. I just don’t like them guys that’s all. Why are you going anyway? Baseball is a jock sport.”

            “Then what’s softball? Because it’s basically the same thing and Jasmine and I are in it.”

“Softball is just a girl sport that’s all. I wonder where Dominique is. He’s late for homeroom.”

            “Yeah, Jasmine too and she’s rarely ever late.”

They sat down a while their instructor took roll-call. Just soon after, the intercom came on with a few words, “We had a tragedy over the past weekend. I’m sure mostly all of you have heard that a fellow student died from a car accident. I would like to take a few moments for thought.”

            “Yeah, some honor he gets. They can’t even say his name. Don’t anyone even care,” Bryant started yelling.

“Bryant, calm down.”

            “No Alex. You’re no help at all either so just go away.”

“Bryant? Okay fine you want me gone I’ll leave,” she said walking out of the room. In the library it wasn’t any better.

            “Dominique please, calm down,” Jasmine started.

“How could you Jasmine. You knew he was a good friend and yet you could seem too careless.”

            “He was a good friend of mine to Dominique; you have no right to say I don’t understand. I tried to help you and talk to you but I guess I know when I’m not wanted,” Jasmine said walking out of the library.

            The third hour bell rang shortly after and Alex met up with Jasmine and both girls checked into the library, Jasmine again, for class and went to tone of the back isles of books to talk.

            “Jasmine, Bryant just freaked out during homeroom. Where were you anyhow? You or Dominique didn’t show.”

“We were at the library. He needed to be alone so I went with him and he just started saying I could care less about Gizmo’s death.”

            “Wonder what’s up with them two.”

“I can understand because Dominique and I were right there but still. To say we don’t understand?”

            “Yeah,” Alex said

“What about tonight?”

            “What about it?”

“Well Bryant and Dominique are going crazy yet we were invited to have a bite to eat with Cole and Daniel.”

            “I say we go meet Daniel and Cole.”

“How come, Alex?”

            “Because their the ones who yelled at us and told us off so why not go have a bite to eat with the ones they hate.”

“How did the car accident thing come about than?  I mean, wasn’t he found in the computer lab where he was killed?”

            “No I guess. Someone found his body in a ditch with a car on top of him.”

“Oh. So that’s how that rumor started. You write anything for the article yet? Because I’m out of ideas right now,” Jasmine said.

            “Again? You must write way too much to be out,” Alex said and started laughing looking at the doors.

“What’s wrong with you?”

            “I guess Cole kind of likes you. Turn around quick.”

She turned and saw Cold and Daniel looking through the door at them.

            “Looks like Daniel was checking you out Alex. Why else would he be here?”

“Then why is Cole here?”

            “Dunno.”

“Hey, bells going to ring soon. Amazing how quick time goes by when you’re talking and writing,” said Alex.

            “Yeah, and in your case checking out guys.”

“Shut up Jasmine. Let’s go. Only Science left to go.”

            They went to Science and Bryant wasn’t there and they didn’t have class with Dominique. But, lucky Alex and Jasmine, Daniel and Cole sat right behind them.

            “So meet you guys at the front than,” asked Cole.

“Yeah,” Jasmine replied.

            They presented a project they partnered with on the study of simple machines. After class Jasmine and Alex went to their lockers to grab a few books and then down the front doors. When they got there Cole and Daniel were nowhere to be found.

            “I knew something like this would happen,” Jasmine said.

“What do you mean,” asked Alex.

            “They just wanted to stand us up.”

“Oh really,” came a voice from behind her.

            “So we just wanted to stand you up huh? Make you look like fools? And here I thought we just wanted to have supper with them. What about you Daniel?”

            “Yeah I though we were having some supper,” Daniel replied.

“Okay fine let’s go,” Jasmine said giving in.

            They walked down a few blocks chatting and went to the local diner to eat. After fighting over the bill they all paid and headed towards the baseball field.

            “So how long are you guys staying for the game,” Cole asked.

“I said I was going to watch it and I am,” Jasmine replied taunting.

            “We are playing our rivals tonight. The panthers,” Daniel said.

“Well good luck. You better go get ready,” said Alex.

            Both boys went towards the field to their coach while the girls took their seats in the stands. They won twelve to four with Daniel and Cole both hitting home runs. When the game ended the four started towards the school only to run into Dominique and Bryant.