The soothing and gentle song of the Cape Robin echoes from my phone, bringing me out of my dead sleep. But, despite the sound being soothing it doesn't stop that horrible feeling of irritation from blossoming within me.

A mixture of a groan and a sigh escapes my dry lips as I roll over and tap the red X on the cold screen of my phone with the tip of my finger shutting my alarm off.  Using the side of my pointer finger I rub the small amounts of sleep away from my eyes so that I can open them properly. Reaching back to the bedside table I pull the charger out of my phone and turn it on. Texts from Lola and Rose appear on my screen.

RomcomRose: You're gonna be fine today. That school doesn't know what's gonna hit it. 😚😉

LabRatLola: Knock em dead girl😄

Their messages put a smile on my face and I quickly sent them a reply.

Me: Thx girlz ❤

I place my phone back on the bedside table, slowly get out of bed, and head over to my window.

My fingers gently wrap around the curtains, gripping them tighter as I pull them open with one fluid motion. The morning sun bursts in basking me in its warmth and light.

The birds in the trees sing their sweet tunes as cars slowly drive by. It is a beautiful day, and I wish I could stay home and enjoy it. But I have to go to school and my nerves are through the roof.

Resting my hands on the window sill, I rock back and forth as I take long and deep breaths. This only temporarily calms my nerves but it's a start.

I walk over to my cupboard and pull out my prepared outfit for the day. I grab my deodorant and cream and head to my bathroom to clean myself up. Trying not to wake up my parents I shut the door as quietly as I could locking it behind me. I quickly strip and hop into the shower. It takes about a minute or two for the water temperature to get just right and when it does  I sigh in delight at the feeling of the warm water beating on my tense body. I lather my grey sponge in lavender-scented lotion and run the bubbly substance over my body. After I rinse it all off I turn the shower off, wrap a big towel around me, and go over to the basin and wash my face.

I dry the water droplets off my smooth skin and then proceed to dress in the outfit I bought yesterday. The light blue jeans fit well around my legs and waist and the sleeveless maroon shirt hangs around me just right. Completing the look are my black and white All-Stars high-top shoes.

I run a brush through my messy and knotted hair hissing in pain when I pull at a small knot. It takes me a little longer than I usually do but I manage to get all the knots out and leave my hanging loose the ends settling just before the start of my waist. Looking in a small pocket-size mirror I got for my birthday last year I pucker my lips and lightly apply my new strawberry-flavoured lip gloss.

I'm not normally one for wearing lip gloss or any sort of makeup to school but I decided if I'm going to have a fresh start I might as well take it to the full extent. I'm going to a new school where nobody knows me so maybe I can be a slightly new person, a more confident and social person and lip gloss to me is a great start. Well, lip gloss and this outfit are a great start.

I grab my backpack and rush downstairs and to the kitchen where unexpectedly I'm met with the delightful smell of waffles. Much to my surprise both of my parents are already up and in the kitchen ready and waiting for the day. My mom is dishing up our plates while my dad sits by the counter reading the newspaper and sipping his black coffee. My mom used to make fun of him for this 1950s routine he started, but it helps him get through his long days.

"So, you guys are early risers again," I chuckle announcing my presence. 

My mom is the first to react to my sudden appearance. At first, she is shocked but the second she notices my new clothes a warm smile tugs the corners of her lips upward. 

"You look incredible," she says, the smile still on her face.

My dad looks up from his paper, and like my mom, he smiles when he sees me.

"Awe, look at you all grown up." He reaches his hand out beckoning me forward. I skip over to him and lean forward so that he can plant a chaste kiss on my cheek.

I pull a chair over to the counter and sit next to him, dropping my backpack on the floor next to me.

"So are you ready for school?" my mom asks as she hands me my plate of waffles.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I mumble sounding a lot braver than I actually am. 

"That's my girl," my dad says before he takes another sip of his coffee.

Reaching over the counter I grab the bottle of syrup, drown my waffles in it, and start to devour them one by one like some kind of monster. 

"Okay, so your father and I were talking and we decided you can take the bus to school and back home. Your dad and I will be back at around seven o'clock tonight. It won't be like that every night this is just because we're starting at our new offices," my mom rambles as she cleans up the dishes.

A small pit forms in my stomach. I had been thinking about how I would be getting to my new school and the last item on my list was to let my parents take me. "Actually, can I walk to school? No offense guys but I don't want anybody to see me being dropped off by my parents. I'm a senior now it would be a bit embarrassing. Besides, I checked the distance and it's walkable."

My parents exchange worried glances at my request. This goes on for about a minute before my mom sighs.

"That would be alright, after all, you are turning eighteen. Maybe now is the best time to give you some more independence. So, until you get your license you can either walk or take the bus."

I look over at my dad waiting for him to protest my mother's response. I'm not hopeful that he'll let me walk. Back in New Jersey, we lived close to my school and even though I could walk he was so paranoid about me being kidnapped or killed he forbade me from walking to school. 

Time seems to drag on as my father sits silently at the counter looking down at the floor. Eventually, he looks up at me and much to my surprise he nods. 

"Yeah, what your mother said. "

My mom and I look at him in shock. 

"Really?" I ask too dumbfounded to even string a sentence together. 

He nods again and gives me a small smile, "I hate to say it but your mother is right. You are turning eighteen and deserve some independence. You can walk to school. Just promise me you'll be careful." 

"I promise." A beaming smile appears on my lips and I pull them into a tight hug all while repeatedly crying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" 

My dad breaks the group hug. "My pleasure sweetheart. Now you should get going. You don't want to be late for your first day."

I glance up at the clock. He's right, I do need to get going. "You're right I should get going." After giving them both a kiss on their cheeks I grab my bag and start to rush out of the kitchen. "Bye!" I yell as I reach the door.

"Good luck!" they call out to me as I run out of the house.

Standing in the driveway I quickly take out my phone and open the Google Maps app. "Okay, Google Maps show me the way to school," I whisper as I type in the name of the school. Not long after a neatly laid out map appears on my screen.

With my earphones popped in, I start walking and after fifteen minutes I reach my new school—Los Angeles High. My stomach twists and turns with nerves as I slowly walk across the parking lot, passing all different kinds of students: the jocks in their football jerseys, the cheerleaders, the popular students, and the nerds. Honestly, it's making me feel like I'm in a cliche high school movie.

Suddenly, as I reach the end of the parking lot a black Mustang that seemed to appear out of nowhere speeds past me, nearly knocking me down. 

"Watch it asshole!" I instinctively yell at the driver.

The car swerves into the closest parking spot, and the driver casually hops out running his hand through his dark hair that gives him that vibe that he could be a Disney prince if he tried. Under normal circumstances, I would probably admire how handsome he is. With his black shirt pressed tightly against his muscular physique. But considering he almost killed me, it just wouldn't be appropriate.

His eyes peer around the parking lot quickly setting on me. "How about you watch where you're walking bitch!" he yells at me before walking in the opposite direction.

My eyes stay trained on him and the second he was out of view the distant bell rings signaling the start of the day. 

"Shit," I whisper under my breath.

I rush past the swarm of students to the front desk where an awfully cheerful receptionist hands me my schedule. By the time I get to the hallway the last of the students are going into their homeroom classes. Great, my first day and I'm going to be late for class.

I scurry through the empty hallway desperately searching for my class but I am getting nowhere. As I turn a corner a girl bumps into me and we both fall to the ground with a loud thud.

"Hey, watch where you're going," she hisses at me as she rubs the spot of her head that I hit with mine.

Yeah, I'm getting that a lot today.

"I'm sorry I'm just trying to find my class. My name's Vega by the way." I make sure to be as polite as possible as I introduce myself to her, after all, it is my fault she is injured.

I reach my hand out to her and she extends hers. We shake hands and then stand up, brushing off the small amounts of dust that collected on our pants.

I'm quite surprised to see that she isn't glaring at me for bumping into her, instead, a beaming smile is shining on her face which is making her muddy brown eyes shine.

"You're new here aren't you?" she asks as she dramatically puts her hands on her hips and cocks her head to the side, making her long dark hair that is dotted with pink streaks sway back and forth momentarily before settling down.

"Why yes, how did you know?" I respond as sarcastically as I can which she finds amusing and we both start laughing.

"What class are you looking for?" she asks.

I look down at the schedule the receptionist gave me and search for the name of my homeroom teacher.

"Mrs. Fallen," I read out loud.

Her eyes widen in delight and her smile comes back.

"Oh, I'm in Mrs. Fallen's class so just follow me."

Before I can say a word she takes my arm and starts pulling me. Her grasp sends a slight chill up and down my spine.

"Oh, I'm Jade by the way, and let me be the first to say welcome to Los Angeles High School."

I smile. "Thank you."

We have to make about two turns before she opens a door and pulls me inside. The class goes silent as we walk in and everyone turns to look at us. I can't help but blush slightly as all their eyes turn to me.

"Good luck," Jade whispers in my ear and then heads over to her seat.

"You must be the new girl," the old woman at the front who I can only assume is Mrs. Fallen says as she points at me.

I gulp as I stare into her sunken blueish eyes.

"Um.... yes mam," I falter.

"Come over here," she commands in a stern voice.

Everybody continues to stare at me as I make my way to the front of the class. When I get to her desk she forces me to face the class and puts one of her wrinkled hands on my left shoulder. The touch causes the same chill I had when Jade touched me to shoot up my spine.

"Okay everybody this is Vega Kate she is new here so I want you all to make her feel welcome."

"Oh, I'll definitely make her feel welcome." A tall boy with blond hair grins at me.

Well, that wasn't creepy.

"Oh, shut up Toby," Mrs. Fallen snaps at him. A few students snicker and chuckle at this, including me.

"Sorry, mam." Toby rolls his eyes and sends a lopsided grin my way.

"So, Vega, we sit in alphabetical order so you will be sitting next to... Seth," she tells me as she points to an empty desk next to the boy who almost killed me in the parking lot.

Sighing, I head over to my desk and reluctantly sit down. As I slip into the cool seat I notice Seth starts turning towards me.

As soon as he faces me a sudden wave of violent cold shoots through my body, so bad that I have to shut my eyes from the pain. When the feeling finally ceases I open my eyes and watch Seth quickly turn back around and look down at the graffiti on his desk.

What the hell was that?

The bell rings and some of the students get up and leave for their classes, but I had to stay here for Mathematics. Seth stays as well, but I can tell he doesn't want to be here.

I reach over to my bag and take out my book. Throughout the lesson, I keep glancing at Seth. No matter how hard I try to focus on Mrs. Fallen and what she is teaching us I can't help but shift my eyes toward Seth and the extra graffiti he is adding to the desk with his pen.

I don't know what it is, but it feels like something is pulling me toward him. As if an invisible string is tied around us and is slowly trying to pull us together. But as much as it's pulling me closer to him the more it seems like there is a different feeling arising. One that wants me to stay as far away from him as possible.