The building was fairly large. Three floors and, as far as she could tell from her current position, five wings. It had a flat roof and large windows.

Her eyes moved to the front entrance of the building. Large wooden doors in a deep brown color. And steps. Three to be exact. Not that big of a challenge. Except, of course, if you didn't have the means to climb them.

She glared at them annoyed. It wasn't as if she was that eager to enter the building, but it had been a requirement. High School or the High Road, which in her case led to places far worse than education.

She placed her hands on the supports of her wheelchair and silently cursed the turn of events her life had taken. Stupid school. Stupid chair. Stupid Trevor for making her go here. It was making her angrier by the second.

Students rushed by her without giving her so much as a glance. Somewhere in the building rang a bell. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"Do you need to get inside?" A shadow fell over her.

When she looked up she saw a teenage boy with friendly eyes and a warm smile on his face.

Unfortunately she wasn't in a mood to be friendly. She scowled at the boy. "No," she said, "I'm just sitting here admiring the paintwork."

A chuckle sounded from her other side and she whipped her head around. There was another boy, about the same age and height as the first one. Both were wearing what she assumed to be the school uniform, though she hadn't bothered to study the brochure Trevor had given her.

"Snarky," the second boy grinned, "seems not everyone is charmed by you, Zeke."

Zeke rolled his eyes. "Get over it, will you? I'm just being friendly. Maybe you should try it sometimes."

His friend scoffed. "I'm not gonna pretend to be someone I'm not."

The sound of heels against the pavement made the boys turn around. A short girl with longs straight light brown hair approached them from out of the school building. She was wearing a light grey blazer on a white blouse and a platted skirt in black, grey and white. When she had reached them, she sighed. "There you two are. Why aren't you inside yet? The warning bell already rang. We'll get detention."

The boy whose name she had not learned yet placed an arm around the girl's waist and planted a short kiss on her lips. "You could just have gone to class without us, Tess," he said, "now you'll be late too."

Tess crossed her arms. "Well, it's your fault. Don't tell me you two have been arguing again."

The boy rolled his eyes.

Zeke smile. "No more than usual," he said, "but that's not why we're late. We were trying to help her."

Tess looked around the boys and blinked, only now having noticed another person there. "Oh, hello."

"Hi," came the stiff reply, thought Tess did not seem to notice the lack of care. She stuck out her hand.

"My name is Tess Cooper. This is my boyfriend, Chase Fields. And his cousin, Zeke Reynolds. What's your name?"

"Allison." Again the reply was curt. This Tess was a little too cheery for her liking.

"We were just trying to find a way to get her inside," Zeke said.

Chase snorted. "You mean, you were trying. I don't recall offering any assistance."

Tess slapped his arm with the back of her hand. "Don't be an ass, Chase."

Behind them, the bell rang again and Tess gasped. "Now we really are late for class!"

Chase shrugged. "Who cares? I have Physics first period."

"You can't afford more detention, Chase," Tess stated in disapproval.

Allison cleared her throat. "This is all lovely, but can we focus on the real problem here?" It wasn't like she wanted to here here, but if she left now, Trevor would hear of it and she didn't want to deal with him.

The trio looked at her and Tess bit her lip. "I can go call someone from the office to sort it out."

Zeke shook his head. "That will take way too long. We'll just lift her."

"Lift?" Allison uttered concerned, "what do you mean... lift?"

But she was ignored as the boys discussed their options. "You take the front, I'll take the back," Zeke decided, "Tess can you open the door for us?"

"Of course," Tess smiled and she hurried up the steps while the boys tilted and lifted the wheelchair.

Allison gasped. "Careful! What are you doin'?"

"Getting you inside," Chase huffed, "man you're heavy."

"Quit complaining," Zeke said, "don't you train like all the time? You should be able to carry her by yourself."

"It's not weightlifting," Chase growled, "there's a difference."

"Put me down!" Allison said, "I didn't ask for your help! I'll figure it out myself!"

"Too late," Chase breathed as he and Zeke put the wheelchair down. "And you could be a little more grateful! If it wasn't for us you'd still be sitting outside 'admiring the paintwork'."

"We were only trying to help," Zeke said, "are you alright on your own though? Do you know where to go?"

Allison gritted her teeth. She didn't, in fact.

The hallway was deserted aside from the four of them. All she wanted was to go home, but that was not an option.

A voice interrupted her dilemma. Another boy, slightly older than the three students at her side, approached them. "You three, why aren't you in class? Do you have a hall pass?"

Chase crossed his arms. "I can ask you the same."

The boy narrowed his eyes. "I don't owe you an explanation, but as it is, I do have permission to be here. As a member of the Student Council, I was asked to welcome and guide a new student. She was supposed to report to the Office, but she is not there yet, so I decided to look for her. Perhaps she has gotten lost."

Tess blinked. "You mean Allison?"

The newcomer frowned. "As a matter of fact, her name is Allison. Have you seen her?"

Three heads turned in Allison's direction. Allison scowled. "What?"

"You are a junior, Allison?" Tess said surprised. For sure the girl was old enough to at least be a senior. As a matter of fact, Tess was surprised Allison was a high school student at all.

"How am I supposed to know?" Allison hissed, "I was just told to come here today." She was already fed up with the whole ordeal.

The newcomer just stared at her as if she was an alien. He took in her wheelchair. Then her appearance: dark wash jeans, ankle boots, a faded V-neck and a leather jacket. Definitely not approved of by the schoolboard. "Allison Ray?" he asked.

"That would be me," Allison stated dryly.

He cleared his throat. "You're late. You were supposed to be here at eight."

Allison rolled her eyes. "Obviously I had a bit of trouble getting here," she said.

"Yes... well... I wasn't informed about your... situation." He averted his eyes and shifted his feet, visibly feeling awkward. When he noticed the other three still standing there, he glared at them. "Why are you still here? Get to class."

Chase raised an eyebrow. "There's really no point in going now. First period is almost over. We'll get the next."

"Leave them alone," Allison interfered, "they were helping me, since my 'guide' apparently didn't do a very good job."

Tess hid a laugh behind her hand.

"And you!" the boy flared up and glared at Allison, "why aren't you wearing the school uniform? Didn't you read the brochure?"

Allison shrugged indifferently. "I ain't much of a reader. Besides, I ain't about to wear a skirt and risk having my legs freeze off. I can't exactly feel it when they do, ya know."

Her guide looked ready to explode.

"Eric," Zeke tried to pacify the situation, "just leave it. She's new. You are her guide. I'm sure you can find the time to go through all the rules with her. It's only her first day."

Eric took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. "We're wasting time here. Let's just go to the office to get your schedule and locker code." He turned around. "This way." He started down the hallway.

"Good luck!" Tess smiled at her.

Allison rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Later." She wheeled herself after her guide.

The remaining three students stared after her.

"This is going to be an interesting year," Chase mused.

"She's not even in our year," Tess pointed out.

"Just saying," Chase shrugged. He turned to his cousin. "How do you even know that douche?"

"Debate Club," Zeke sighed, "and he's not so bad, really. Just a little uptight sometimes."

"A little he says," Chase scoffed, "well I'm headed off." He kissed Tess again. "See you at lunch."

"Sure thing," Tess smiled. She and Zeke walked to their next class together as they both had Math next period.

Chase headed off in the other direction.

...

"What?" Allison asked annoyed when her guide kept stealing glances at her.

He flinched slightly. "Nothing," he said, embarrassed at being caught.

"Right," Allison rolled her eyes, "that's why you're staring. I din't ask you to be here, ya know. I can just take care of myself. You can go."

"Are you always this rude?" he asked annoyed.

Allison snorted. "Says the one that din't even introduce himself. Some guide you are."

He stiffened again, but then took a deep breath. She was right. He hadn't introduced himself. And he had forgotten all of the warm words of welcome he had rehearsed endlessly. And why? Because the new student wasn't what he had expected? "Eric Vermeer," he answered, "vice-president of the Student Council and member of the Debate and Science Club. I'll be your guide and will help you get settled. If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them."

"I have a question," Allison said.

Eric smiled appreciative. "Ask away."

"Do you like to hear yourself talk or do you just have a complex?"

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I get it," Allison scoffed, "you're wonderful. Now move on."

His eyes narrowed in annoyance. "No, you're a real ray of sunshine," he said. He opened the door to the office for her. "We're here."

Allison scowled and wheeled herself inside up to the front desk.

Eric closed the door behind her and walked up to the desk as well. "Good morning, Mrs. Tildon."

The elderly woman looked up and took off her reading glasses. "Eric! Back again? What can I do for you?"

"I found our new student," he answered the woman.

Mrs. Tildon leaned over her counter and only now seemed to notice Allison. "Oh," she said, "oh my. I see."

"See what, exactly?" Allison scowled.

"I don't mean anything by it dear," the woman answered kindly.

Eric cleared his throat. "She couldn't get into the building. Some sophomores lifted her."

Mrs. Tildon frowned and shuffled through some papers. "There was supposed to be a ramp in place. Let me see, yes, here it is. I will make a call right away. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, dear. It was very last minute. I will make sure the ramp is in place before the end of the day."

"No harm done, Mrs. Tildon," Eric smiled, "I know you have a lot on your mind."

"You're a doll, Eric," the woman answered, "but I should have checked it when I knew Allison was coming."

"Do you have Allison's schedule?" Eric asked.

Mrs. Tildon nodded. "Of course. Of course. And your locker number and combination, child. Oh, and you can pick up a school uniform at the end of the day. You should have been given one already. Ah, and your teachers have been informed. They will have a textbook ready for you in each class."

"Great," Allison muttered, not intending to pick up said uniform.

"Oh!" Mrs. Tildon continued, "and you'll be needing a keycard for the elevator."

"Elevator?" Allison echoed.

"Yeah," Eric said sheepishly, "most classes are on the second floor." He took Allison's schedule from Mrs. Tildon. "Ah, we have a lot of classes together. Math, English, Science, Physics and History. We can drop off your things at your locker and still make it to English. You have PE after lunch."

Allison raised an eyebrow. "PE? Really?" she stated sarcastically.

Eric cleared his throat and scratched his neck sheepishly. "I think we can get you out of that one." He looked at Mrs. Tildon.

The woman smiled in understanding. "Of course, dear. I'll see if we can get you in another class as compensation."

Allison's mouth dropped. "Why would I need compensation? It ain't my fault I'm in this thing!"

Mrs. Tildon smiled in sympathy. "Of course not, dear, but there's a certain amount of hours you need to achieve. I'll discuss it with the principal. Now, Eric, will help you on your way. Here you go." She handed Eric a few more papers. "Have a lovely time here, Allison. Welcome to Hillview."