The photo above is the photo of Daniel's class in 2003
This news was in August 21, 2011.
THEY were two little lads, drawn together as mates because they could see eye to eye.
Scott Balkin regarded Daniel Morcombe as his best friend. They were in the same Year 9 class at Siena Catholic College in 2003 and shared some subjects.
The day before Daniel went missing, they were playing video games at Scott's Caloundra home on the Sunshine Coast and went to a movie.
They shared big plans for the summer - riding horses and motocross bikes at the Morcombes' and more video games at the Balkins'.
Daniel invited Scott to go shopping the next day, Sunday, at the Sunshine Plaza but he couldn't make it.
That was the day the 13-year-old was allegedly snatched from a bus stop at Woombye in December 2003.
Almost eight years after Daniel's disappearance, Mr Balkin, now 22, says he is searching for closure.
Scott Balkin on his 21st Birthday
Now living in Alberta, Canada, where he works as an apprentice chef, he said the recent arrest of a suspect and the earnest hunt for Daniel's remains was welcome.
"It's good, I'm glad, it will give everyone closure after seven years," Mr Balkin said last week.
"It's good that it has finally happened and everyone can kind of deal with it and in a way put it behind them."
The story of Daniel's classmates, their private grief and emotional strain has been seldom told.
DANIEL JAMES MORCOMBE ON HIS SCHOOL UNIFORM
They were the class of 2006, who graduated from Siena Catholic College without one of their own.
Daniel, a keen student, should have been there.
"I was glad to graduate because, finally, I'd finished school," Mr Balkin said. "But there was a big hole because Daniel should have been a graduation student.
"He would have gone to uni because he was smart and he would have done well."
Five years after graduation, many former classmates remain bonded by Daniel. Scattered across the country and around the world , they keep in touch on Facebook.
Anika Hume, now a journalist in regional NSW, was in Daniel's group of Year 9 friends.
"It unites us, no matter where we are, no matter how far you move, it's something that bonds our grade together," Ms Hume said.
"It still affects us. I live 14 hours away and it still affects me."
At age 19, Mr Balkin tattooed his left arm with the Daniel Morcombe red ribbon.
"I don't want to forget him because he was such a great guy - he was a great student and wonderful friend, but at the same time you don't want to bring up the bad feelings," he said.
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