This is episode four, ?Glory Fades? of the Harven High series. If you haven?t read the previous episodes, I highly recommend reading them before reading this; otherwise you may be confused. Title and concept for this episode is based on the song ?Sic Transit Gloria?Glory Fades? by Brand New.

Previously on Harven High:
The emotions entangled between Emily have ceased and the girls finally accept her. While the truth becomes apparent, Brendan moves on and leaves his best friend Ryan behind. Kylie, Emily?s younger sister, gets a schedule change and moves to Brendan?s table. May invites Brendan over for a dinner disaster, where Brendan finds himself allergic to pork products. Ms. Beverly takes her ?special tutoring? to another level when she schedules a study session at her house. Stupid mistakes will bring about consequences? when the teens find themselves at a crossroad.

May frantically stood on the cracked pavement of the street on a chilly Wednesday morning. She stood behind her little sister, Takara, and the rest of the students who were eagerly waiting to get on the school bus. May sighed as she listened to students ramble on with immature conversations. She was the oldest one at the bus stop, standing behind a handful of middle schoolers. It was the first time she rode the bus in years and the very first time for her sister. Her mother usually gave her a ride to school, but with the increasing price of gas and car accidents; she was no longer able to drive her daughters to school. The thought of riding the bus was not appealing either, since the school used the same bus to shuttle the high school and the middle school students.

May turned her head as she heard the screeching sound of the bus come down the road. The bus looked like a huge block of Velveeta cheese with wheels and washed out windows. She sighed deeply, trying to forget about how horrible the ride would be. As the bus drew nearer, kids pushed and shoved their way to the front of the line. Finally the bus came to a stop and kids scrambled their way to get inside. The bus door slowly opened, screeching like fingernails scratched against a chalkboard. The kids hurriedly ran into the bus, taking any open seat that was available. May on the other hand, approached the bus slowly and cautiously. She took a deep breath and walked in as several students stared at her every being. She rolled her eyes and looked for the nearest seat available, which was towards the middle left of the bus.

May stared out the window admiring the houses and the beautiful blue sky that soared above the Earth. She tried to tune out everyone else around her, but they were too rowdy and too noisy to be ignored. Finally, the bus came to another stop and several more students walked in. They all walked down the narrow aisle following the same pattern everyone else did. May looked down the aisle, spotting an older boy with dark brown hair. He walked down the aisle looking all around the bus for an open seat. She hoped he would sit down next to her, but instead he gave her a blank stare and sat to the right of the bus, several seats up from where she was sitting.
?Why didn?t Brendan sit next to me?? May questioned herself. She turned around to look back at him, but Brendan refused to even look at her. She sighed deeply and stared out the window, noticing the dewdrops on the green grass.

?Hiya!? said a voice nearby. The voice sounded like Steve Urkel from ?Family Matters.?
?Hi,? May responded, noticing a little boy who appeared next to her in her seat. She assumed that he was a middle schooler, by his smaller body.
?Do you like pirates?? the boy asked her politely.
?Yeah, I guess so.? May replied, beginning to feel slightly irritated.
?Well I have a joke for ya. What?s a pirates favorite place to eat?? the boy said enthusiastically.
?I don?t know?? May responded, too tired and annoyed too even care.
?Arrrrrrrby?s! Get it?? he exclaimed rolling his R?s. He smiled back at her and then tried to place his little fingers through her hair.
?Quit!? May shouted at him. She turned around and continued to stare out the window admiring the scenery and reviewing the events of last night.
`How can Brendan be allergic to pork? Why did my mother have to act like that?? she asked herself, while pressed against the cold window and the gap between it and her seat.

Brendan stared at the seat with May and the little boy. He was surprised to see May riding the bus; at first glimpse he didn?t think it was really her sitting there. Every now and then he would creep out from along the aisle and try to get her attention, but the bus was too loud and he couldn?t be heard. Brendan was too afraid to really talk to her, he was afraid of what she would say to him. Her mother got really upset last night. While he was laid on the couch in their living room, all he could hear were the sounds of sniffling and tears coming from the kitchen.
?May!? Brendan shouted from across the aisle way. May turned around and gave him the same blank look he gave her earlier.
?You?re riding the bus,? he said sarcastically. May turned back around and faced the window. She didn?t feel like dealing with him at the moment.
?I don?t get it. Is she mad because of last night or because I didn?t sit with her?? he asked himself, not sure of why she was ignoring him.

The bus made several more turns along the road, until they reached Harven Middle School where all the middle schoolers were dropped off. The bus quickly emptied out and only a fifth of the original riders remained. May got up and moved herself to the front of the bus, away from Brendan. She was being somewhat childish, but she didn?t want to deal with anyone at the moment. Brendan tried moving to the front of the bus as well, but May only gave him ?the eyes? as he got out from his seat. The bus continued moving until they finally arrived at their destination. The students all got up and exited the bus in an orderly fashion. May proceeded to the front doors of the school walking up several flights of stairs and eyeing the apple statue that served as a meeting place two days ago.

?May wait!? Brendan shouted from behind.
?What?? May muttered slowly without care.
?Look, whatever you?re mad at me for, I?m sorry,? Brendan sincerely apologized.
?I?m not mad at you. Just give me some space,? May said grabbing his attention. She turned around and walked slowly towards the doors. She placed her warm hand on the cold door handle and pulled the door open. Brendan followed her in the school and watched as she walked down the hall like a zombie.
`Something must have happened between her and her mother,? Brendan thought to himself, feeling guilty for everything that had happened.

?May, what?s the matter? You look depressed.? Shanda asked May as she walked into her first period art class - several minutes before class started. May was standing parallel from her assigned canvas, pressed hard against the windows, staring at the school?s courtyard.
?It?s my mom? Last night I had Brendan over for dinner and my mom decides to make something out of the ordinary. Then come to find out, Brendan is allergic to pork. She?s ruining my life; I had to ride the bus today. I sat next to some kid who wanted to braid my hair.? May confessed, with everything she was upset with was geared towards her mother.
?Whoa! One at a time? You said Brendan?s allergic to pork? How can you be allergic to pork? Come on!? Shanda questioned back.
?I don?t know, but he is,? May responded. She backed away from the windows and walked to where Shanda was standing.

?That reminds me, he was in my lunch period last year. I remember him getting a salad with bacon and ham in it. I don?t think he?s allergic to pork. I think he?s just lying so he didn?t have to eat your mom?s cooking,? Shanda recalled.
?Why would he lie?? May asked with a forlorn expression.
?I?m just saying? Besides, I think it would be best if you moved on. Date a real guy for once. How long do you think your relationship would last, knowing your parents?? Shanda questioned her.
?Maybe you?re right?? May said slowly as her mind began to think of other solutions.
?See, I told ya? Shanda said with her sheepish grin. Somehow Shanda had a way of manipulating others minds. Several more students walked into the classroom and before long class started. Ms. Graham started off class by giving directions on what to paint and the students quickly painted away.

?They still wouldn?t talk to me,? Ryan said disappointedly. He was standing next to Emily at their assigned canvas towards the back of the classroom - the same location where they first met.
?Who, your friends? Just give it some time. I?m sure they will come back to you,? Emily said comforting the sorrow in his eyes.
?I don?t think that?s ever gonna happen. I mean look at me? I?m a freaking prep! Their tastes have changed and so has mine,? Ryan violently explained.
?You shouldn?t stereotype yourself like that. They will come back, trust me,? added Emily.
?F it! I don?t need them anyways. I?ll form my own little group,? Ryan shouted peevishly. Emily rolled her eyes and turned away. She continued painting her picture, aware of the fact that there was no true love in this relationship.
'I feel like I?m dating a child,' Emily said to herself. She continued stroking her brush onto the emptiness of the canvas creating an arc into her painting.

`I don?t need those losers anyways. I have a hot girlfriend and I?ll actually have a date to homecoming,? Ryan reassured himself. He swung his paintbrush all around the canvas creating huge blobs.
`Why did I have to be so nice? How long can I fake this love? He?s younger than me and obviously less mature,? Emily questioned herself, while filling in color on the arc that she just made. The two of them continued painting away, while pondering the current questions that troubled them the most. The bell soon rang and the class cleaned up and prepared themselves for the next class ahead.

Kylie walked into her Algebra Two class, as usual, and took her seat next to Brendan. She pulled out sheets of loose-leaf paper and pulled the pens out of her pocket. She was going to write notes all hour, like she did the previous day. Brendan stared at her as if she were crazy. Brendan got his notebook out and began copying the notes on the board and waiting for the bell to ring so that Mr. Dyer could begin his lecture.
?Oh this is for you,? Kylie said softly. She handed a folded piece of paper that read, ?Muffin Man.? Brendan took the note and placed it down on his desk.
?Isn?t this what you wrote yesterday?? he asked curiously.
?Yeah, but I forgot to give it to you.? She turned away and started writing another note in green ink.

`Err? I hate notes. Why can?t they just tell me in person?? Brendan said to himself as he unfolded the corners of the paper. He held the note, visible to the teacher?s eyes, and began reading the first line. Out of nowhere, the note was quickly snatched out of his hands. Brendan looked up; saw the note in Mr. Dyer?s hands and a sour expression that only meant trouble.
?What?s this? A note?? Mr. Dyer asked pretending to be surprised. Mr. Dyer walked to the center of the classroom and cleared his throat.
?Alright class, just to let you know there is no note writing, note passing, note reading or any other note related business that isn?t mathematical. I just happened to catch someone reading a note. Would you all like to hear it?? Mr. Dyer announced to the class. Kylie and Brendan?s eyes quickly lit up the moment he announced it. Brendan placed his head down on the desk facing the wall. He felt like burying his head in his arms at the moment.

Mr. Dyer held the paper up high and read the following to the class in a very monotone voice:

`Hey Muffin Man,

Incase you?re wondering? Brendan = Bread Man = Muffin Man. I?m bored right now. I think I?ll sing a song?

?Oh, do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, do you know the muffin man,
That lives on Drury Lane??

Yeah? don?t ask how I know those lyrics. Ahhh? I can?t wait for lunch. Don?t tell me you?re getting a salad again. Well I have other notes to write.

*Heart* Kylie,?

As he finished reading, the class immediately went into a frenzy of laughter. They all pointed and jeered at Brendan and Kylie. The two of them buried their heads beneath their arms and hid themselves from the laugher and the embarrassment.

`What the hell was that all about?? May asked herself as she eyed the two of them acting like five year olds. She was a little suspicious about the two of them sitting together with the occasional laugh or smile. May was jealous and she didn?t appreciate his nickname either. She glanced over at Ben who was sitting next to her. He was sitting in his chair with his hands crossed and neatly placed on the table. His back was perfectly aligned against the chair without a single slouch or gap in between.
?You got a hair cut!? May exclaimed; she was surprised that she could actually see his face now.
?Not really? It?s just a minor trim,? he spoke in his soft quiet voice.
?Well I like it. It looks good on you.? May flirted back.
?Thanks,? Ben replied. He turned around so May couldn?t see him blush, then he looked up to Mr. Dyer, who started to lecture on again.

?Thanks a lot,? Brendan said sarcastically to Kylie.
?Well it?s not my fault you don?t know how to read a note in discretion,? Kylie complained back. She opened up her folder and shoved all her notes inside. After closing her folder she took out her pen and began copying the notes from the board.
?Why do you girls write these notes anyways?? Brendan curiously asked back.
?It?s a girl thing, you wouldn?t understand,? Kylie responded as she sloppily wrote down the notes. Brendan closed his mouth and continued copying the notes from the board and listened to Mr. Dyer?s lecture for the duration of the period.

The hours dragged on until it was finally the last period of the day. May took a deep breath and walked into the class she dreaded the most; English class. She sat down in her seat and turned the chair so that it was angled towards the board and away from Brendan. She opened her book to the page she was last on and began reading; trying to do anything she could to ignore Brendan. The bell shortly rang after, and Ms. Beverly took attendance as usual and then discussed the novel that they were reading.
?May, please can we at least talk about it?? Brendan asked politely. May placed her book down on the cherry oak table and looked over at Brendan with a pessimistic expression.
?Tell the truth? Are you really allergic to pork products?? May politely demanded. Shanda placed her book down and glanced over at May who appeared like a furious lion.

?No I?m not, but?? Brendan admitted only to be interrupted by May.
?You lied! Why did you lie to my family and me? You had them all worried last night. What?s the whole thing with you not sitting with me on the bus? And what?s the deal with that stupid Kylie girl calling you Muffin Man?? May complained in a series of questions that had Brendan speechless.
?I?m sorry, let me explain,? Brendan replied, appearing as a sad puppy dog.
?I don?t wanna hear it. Just leave me alone and give me time to let it all sink in,? May said, tired of Brendan?s excuses. She once again turned her chair so that she was angled away from Brendan and buried herself under her book. Shanda tried to get her attention by making faces at May from across the aisle, but May only ignored her. She continued reading her book, keeping school her main priority.
?What did I do to deserve this? Why can?t she listen to what I have to say?? Brendan asked himself as he took his own book out and began reading.

Ryan looked over at John who was sitting next to him. They were located a table behind where Brendan and May sat.
?Are you going to ignore me the entire time I sit here?? Ryan asked John who was faced away from him.
?I?m trying to read,? John replied back.
?You can?t be mad at me forever. It was a stupid push; you don?t have to be a wimp about it. You?re never gonna get laid by a girl with that kind of attitude,? Ryan responded back. He bit his tongue; he was afraid of how John would react to his last statement. John placed down his book and looked at Ryan with a surprised expression.
?You?ve done it?? John asked curiously.
?Several times,? Ryan lied; he actually had never `done it? before.
?Really? What about that junior girl that you are going out with?? John asked with excitement.
?Yep!? Ryan said smiling back at him.

?Please tell me you?re secret! Girls won?t even talk to me, they look at me like I?m some kind of freak,? John politely begged.
?It?s all about what you say, how you act and how you dress,? Ryan said smoothly.
?Help me, please! I?m so clueless when it comes to those things. I?m just a nerdy little freshman in a sophomore English class,? John begged once again, forgetting all about the `locker incident.?
?What?s in it for me?? Ryan asked with a sheepish grin.
?I can do youre homework, I?m in a lot of sophomore classes,? John suggested.
?Hm? I dunno,? Ryan teased, rubbing his chin and pretending to think about it.
?Please!? John shouted like a little kid.
?Fine, it?s a deal,? Ryan said, no longer wanting to make the kid suffer. He smiled as all his grade troubles would now be fixed.

?We?ll start it today. Just come to my locker after class and I?ll hand you all my homework. Just do it all tonight, and then I?ll look for you tomorrow morning. Oh and what size are you by the way?? Ryan said as he had the whole idea already planned out.
?I think large,? John replied.
?Large? Are you kidding me?? Ryan asked as his eyes lit up.
?That?s in kids, not adults,? John answered back.
?Okay, so extra small then and about a 26x26 in jeans,? Ryan said back. John just nodded, he had no clue what to expect. His mother did all the clothes shopping for him; he just wore whatever she bought him.
?Do I have to pay for all this?? John asked frightened by the costs.
?No don?t worry about it, just do my homework every day and that should be enough,? Ryan smiled back. John nodded and went back to his reading, unaware of what dangers would come ahead.

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And now we return to Harven High?

Ryan walked into school Thursday morning holding a big brown paper bag with clothes inside. He glanced around the hallways looking for John. He searched high and low and finally found him standing in front of his locker talking to the same friend as before. Ryan smiled knowing that this would not become a repeat of last Friday.
?John!? Ryan called out from afar. John turned toward Ryan and smiled, however his friend didn?t appear quite as happy.
?Why are you smiling? That?s the kid that pushed you,? his friend reminded him.
?That?s my friend Ryan,? he answered back. The word ?friend? quickly rushed through Ryan?s head. Already John was calling him friend. Ryan laughed, knowing John was somewhat pathetic and he needed help.
?What did you do to him?? his friend defended, frightened by John?s enormous smile.

?Nothing? can you please excuse us?? Ryan asked politely. His friend?s jaw quickly dropped, as if the whole incident appeared as some twisted nightmare.
?Fine, I?m leaving, but whatever you are doing you better not be brainwashing my friend,? he said back to Ryan before leaving the two of them alone.
?So did you finish my homework?? Ryan asked as soon as John?s friend was out of sight.
?Yeah, here it is.? John answered, handing him a pile of papers and books.
?Thanks,? Ryan said taking his homework out of John?s hand. `I could really get used to this,? he thought to himself.
?What?s in the bag?? John asked curiously.
?Your clothes. You?re gonna try them on,? Ryan answered. John gulped and nervously took the bag out of Ryan?s hands.
?I hope the bathroom is empty. I don?t want people to think we are doing something weird,? Ryan added. He quickly opened his locker, shoving his homework inside and slamming the door shut.