The boys did as I asked and followed me unquestionably into the cave Uncle John had told me about. "Welcome one and all to the first meeting of the Dead Poets Society Second Edition," I announced to all the boys over Cameron trying to start a fire.

"What is this exactly?" Pitts questioned.

"You're kidding. You've never heard of the Dead Poets?" Everyone shook their heads no. "Well that's disheartening. My Uncle Keating, the english teacher for seniors this year, started this group back when he went to Welton. The group disbanded after he left. I'd like to open up the meeting by asking Neil Perry to read what I have written in this book here."

There was a round of "oohs" from the boys as Niel made his way over to me. I handed him the book then took my seat.

"'This is the opening for every meeting from here on out. I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life... to put to rout all that was life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.'" Everyone looked shocked, like they'd never heard poetry before.

"What are we supposed to be doing here? Reading poetry to each other in a cold, dark, damp cave?" Cameron asked with a clearly judgemental tone.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Knox jumped in before I got the chance to actually say anything. "'Be curious, not judgemental.' Walt Whitman." I smiled at Knox. He would be the one standing by my side no matter what the circumstance, I could already tell.

"Thank you Overstreet. Actually Cameron, that's exactly what we're here to do. It's quite alright if you have nothing to share today, but I expect something from each of you next meeting." Everyone, after some mild coaxing, agreed. Well, everyone except for Todd who sat in the corner laying low, acting like he wasn't here in this moment. I wondered how much it took to drag him to the meeting in the first place. "Todd," I caught his attention, "just bring us something when you're ready, okay?" He shook his head in agreement and the rest of them looked at me. "'What you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that exists.' Spencer Johnson. You guys just remember that as the year goes on and the number of days the Dead Poets Society has decreases to not let fear control you. We will be the second edition, but after us who really knows? But let's not let our imaginations run wild here. Stay with me this year, and we will be fine."

"There's strength in numbers," Knox added. Everyone gave him a confused look, including myself. "Let's not let each other's imaginations run wild." We all clapped for him and with that our first meeting was over. We ran through the woods back to Welton where we snuck in and went to our rooms. I walked with the boys to their rooms in case we were caught so that I would be able to cover for them. Say I got lost or something. Luckily the time didn't arise and we were all able to get there peacefully.

Before we parted I spoke once more. "You know," I began, waiting for them to face me, "Mr. Nolan told me that this group of boys was the most outgoing, friendly, and, most curiously, loud group of students. I hope I don't make y'all nervous." The boys gawked at my confidence as I walked away. Again, the quiet whispers started up behind me.

"Marissa!" Neil called out. I turned around and we made eye contact. "I'm curious..." I nodded at him then went to my room. I flopped on my bed blushing like a madman. Before I hopped into bed for the night I went to the bathroom - I knew I'd be able to find it on my own - to brush my teeth and throw on my nightshirt. It was a quick night as the meeting went until midnight meaning six a.m. came early.

I woke up to a knock at my door. Assuming it was Uncle John I didn't bother putting shorts on. My shirt was long enough to cover everything that shouldn't be shown. However, I opened the door and it was not my Uncle on the other side, but a strapping young Neil surrounded by his group of friends. Each one of them was looking at me up and down with different expressions on their faces. Todd was trying not to look out of respect, Meeks looked terribly frightened as did Cameron. Charlie did not seem phased by any means, and also did not try to hide the fact that he was looking. In fact, he whistled at me. I chuckled, but the boys punched his shoulders. "Guess you're not very used to this, huh Todd?" I asked. He looked up at me and we made eye contact. I gave him a friendly smile as he did the same. "And Mr. Charming Charlie over here," I walked over to him putting my hand on his shoulder, "you should probably watch out. You never know who's behind you." He frantically looked around while the guys and I chuckled. "So," I backed away fitting all the boys in my view, "to what do I owe the honor of having you boys here?"

Neil and Knox both stepped forward. Neil said, "We were going to escort you to the dining hall for breakfast if you wanted."

They put a smile on my face. "Let me get into uniform and I'll be right with you." I shut my door and ran over to my dresser pulling out my Welton sweater and blue plaid skirt. When I finished tucking the sweater into the skirt I opened the door. Knox and Neil both extended their hands for me to take which I did so gladly. The lot of us, The Dead Poets Society, walked to the dining hall where we would have breakfast before our first day of class.

Of course breakfast was good. Surprisingly I stayed quiet during most of the meal. I sat on the end of the table across from Todd, so there wasn't much conversation to be had. Besides, it was fun just listening for once, just hearing what they had to say without any input from me. They fascinated me. After that we had science, latin, and math. Each class was equally as boring as the last. Finally, the last class of the day was English with my uncle. The boys were in for a real treat considering the methods the other teachers used.

We had all taken our seats when my Uncle came in whistling a tune. Everyone stared at him curiously, I simply smiled. Without a word he walked in between the desks and out the door to the main room where a trophy case was. I gave people a chance to get up, but when nobody followed him he said, "Well come on," before walking out again. I got up first and everyone followed suit. We all gathered around a table waiting for him to speak. He began asking who knew where "O Captain, My Captain" came from. I tried to give somebody else the chance to answer, but nobody did.

"It's a poem by Walt Whitman, sir, about Abraham Lincoln." He smiled at me and I nodded to him.

"Now in this class you can call me Mr. Keating or, if you're slightly more daring, O Captain my Captain." The boys chuckled. Uncle Keating began telling the class about him and his history. Then he proceeded with his lesson, a reading of To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time and who better to read it than my ol' pal Pitts.

"'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, old Time is still a-flying; and this same flower that smiles today tomorrow will be dying.'"

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may..." my Uncle began. "The latin term for that sentiment is Carpe Diem, now who knows what that means?"

Meeks raised his hand. "It's latin for seize the day." Uncle Keating said very good and continued on.

He had us all walk over to the trophy case while he talked to us about the pictures. We had to lean into the trophy case to listen to their legacy. Really, Uncle Keating was just whispering behind us. "Carpe..." he began. "Carpe... Carpe Diem... Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." With that, the bell rang ending the lesson for the day. We gathered our books back in the classroom, then we went to the dorms. Tonight we were going to have a study session as suggested by Cameron. Knox wouldn't be going that night because he had to have dinner at the Danburry's house. The only other person who didn't show up was Todd who was still withdrawn even though we had shown him we were trying to be friends. We didn't push it.

The "study session" was virtually useless to anyone who came. Meeks and Pitts were working on their radio the whole time while the rest of us socialized with one another while occasionally looking at our books in an attempt to study something. Cameron was trying his best to help us understand our math, but it wasn't working. He was in the middle of helping Neil with his homework when Knox came through the door with a dopey look on his face. "Oww oww!" I said to him. He shot me a funny look, but he didn't let it distract him from his thoughts.

"How was dinner?" Charlie asked smirking.

"Terrible. Awful," Knox shrugged.

"Why? What happened?" Pitts asked.

"Tonight I met the most beautiful girl in my entire life." Knox stated, his look growing more infatuated by the minute.

"Are you crazy? What's wrong with that?" Neil questioned passionately.

"She's practically engaged," Knox took a moment, "to Chet Danburry."

Charlie with his opinions blurted out, "That guy could eat a football."

"That's too bad," Pitts replied.

"Too bad?" Knox asked Pitts. "It's worse than too bad Pitsie, it's a tragedy. A girl this beautiful in love with such a jerk."

"All the good ones go for jerks, you know that," Pitts stated.

"Don't listen to him, Knox," I said getting up and going over to him. "You are one of the best boys around and you don't have to be a jerk," I paused glaring at Pitts then looking back at Knox, "to get a girl. And I swear, you turn on me and you're done." We laughed, but Cameron was fed up with our chit chat.

"Ahh, forget her. Open your trig book and try and figure out problem five."

Knox didn't stop. "I can't just forget her, Cameron. And I can't think about Trig." Cameron rolled his eyes and went back to the problem. Just then Hager walked in telling us we had five minutes to get to our rooms before kurfew. We all went back immediately. The boys and I said our goodbyes, each one giving me a hug before going to bed. I was definitely getting used to being there.