Start with the bomb in Calla's POV. It's the main event that sets everything in motion. Some speech implying "none of you even know what you're fighting for -- this is stupid and we won't stand for it" but not too long or expository.
Cut to a week before the bomb. I thiiiink more Calla. My friend Alicia and I were talking last night, and I was thinking I could use the original opening section where she's running to the hideout, but have it be later in time. She's mad about a specific thing (probably something Morgan did or something related to the Instructor training she's been doing all summer) and is running to the hideout to talk to Kalen about it. They're already friends and have been all summer. Their actual meeting isn't that important.
Kalen's like "I've got something that will cheer you up" and they play Robot Scrabble. I take out the awkward crush stuff. They talk about the library. They go to the library and camp out and find out stuff. Worldbuildy stuff is revealed. They realize they have to do something to stop the War and they're desperate enough to do it. Kalen says the thing about having insurgent (ha) friends who can help them.
Cut to the "insurgents" in the next chapter. Some kind of header on each of these next three chapters (Wes, Devin and Brendan) that indicates they're the day before the bomb. Wes POV of grocery store scene and Devin compulsively organizing their kitchen? Wes bugging Devin about the Reaping Festival and trying to get him to talk. They're obviously huge badasses.
Devin POV of the stuff that happens after that in the original chapter 2 (cute monster vid scene, new scene of him building the bomb with Kalen, Reaping Festival and stuff).
Next chapter is Brendan training, the day before the bomb. Running into his friend/nemesis and finding out she made a fighting team and he didn't. He knows it's because of his grades. Hints of his anger toward Kalen and/or their abusive dad. Confrontation with Kalen, who has just come home from building the bomb with Devin. Brendan knows Kalen has been hanging out with insurgents -- has known since 9th year and hasn't said anything. Brendan gets all ragey.
(making another comment for all the post-bomb stuff since LJ is an asshole and has stupid comment limits)
Okay, let me try to work out the timeline for the beginning...
Cut to a week before the bomb. I thiiiink more Calla. My friend Alicia and I were talking last night, and I was thinking I could use the original opening section where she's running to the hideout, but have it be later in time. She's mad about a specific thing (probably something Morgan did or something related to the Instructor training she's been doing all summer) and is running to the hideout to talk to Kalen about it. They're already friends and have been all summer. Their actual meeting isn't that important.
Kalen's like "I've got something that will cheer you up" and they play Robot Scrabble. I take out the awkward crush stuff. They talk about the library. They go to the library and camp out and find out stuff. Worldbuildy stuff is revealed. They realize they have to do something to stop the War and they're desperate enough to do it. Kalen says the thing about having insurgent (ha) friends who can help them.
Cut to the "insurgents" in the next chapter. Some kind of header on each of these next three chapters (Wes, Devin and Brendan) that indicates they're the day before the bomb. Wes POV of grocery store scene and Devin compulsively organizing their kitchen? Wes bugging Devin about the Reaping Festival and trying to get him to talk. They're obviously huge badasses.
Devin POV of the stuff that happens after that in the original chapter 2 (cute monster vid scene, new scene of him building the bomb with Kalen, Reaping Festival and stuff).
Next chapter is Brendan training, the day before the bomb. Running into his friend/nemesis and finding out she made a fighting team and he didn't. He knows it's because of his grades. Hints of his anger toward Kalen and/or their abusive dad. Confrontation with Kalen, who has just come home from building the bomb with Devin. Brendan knows Kalen has been hanging out with insurgents -- has known since 9th year and hasn't said anything. Brendan gets all ragey.
(making another comment for all the post-bomb stuff since LJ is an asshole and has stupid comment limits)