After one whole hour of my mind rattling between Mrs. Fallen and the strange connection that was urging me to rush closer to Seth the bell finally grants me the freedom I have been praying for. Only it isn't just me who is relieved by this. Seth immediately throws all of his things into his bag and runs out of the class.

Wow, am I that bad? No, Vega, don't let this idiot get to you.

With my heavy bag slung over my shoulders, I leave the classroom and walk out into the hallway which feels like walking into a traffic-riddled street. The loud noise of people shouting bounces off the wall, bashing into my eardrums and a few people nudge me to the side so that they can get past me.

I take out my schedule and scan it for my next lesson. A wave of relief washes over me when I see that my next lesson is English. Most people don't enjoy it but I do. Next to art, it is my favourite subject, but only when it comes to writing, poetry, and the books we have to read. The rest of the stuff we learn like grammar can burn in the pits of hell for all I care.

I take a mental note of the classroom number before I slip the paper back into my bag. Once it's tucked away safely I take a shaky and nervous step out of the doorway and into the busy corridor. As I join the chaos someone bolts past me, their shoulder hits mine and the force knocks me off my feet and sends me tumbling to the hard floor beneath me. Even while I am on the floor nobody stops what they are doing to help me and as I try to get up, the people that are still rushing past me knock me down.

Just as I thought that I was going to be trampled to death I see a pair of hands push through the crowd. They latch onto my upper arms and pull me up and out of the chaos surrounding me. As my feet touch the ground I come face to face with a solid chest that nearly knocks the breath out of my body.

"Don't worry, darling, I've got you," my saviour whispers comfortably into my ear.

I push them back just slightly so that I can turn my head up so that I can get a glimpse of my saviour. A gasp pushes past my lips when I see Toby looking down at me. He looks like a giant at this angle but to be fair he is over six feet tall. 

"Thanks, Toby, but I have to go now."

I try to push him back but to my horror, he doesn't budge and his arms stay locked tightly around my waist. One of his fingers has somehow found itself settled on the bare skin under my shirt and he idly brushes it back and forth, each one sending an intense rage of cold through me.

"Why the rush, darling? I'm quite enjoying this position. Aren't you or would you prefer we find a different one?" He smirks, and I can't help but feel sick by the comment.

I don't know what else to do. I'm not strong enough to push him away and I feel like anything I say won't affect him in any way. Also, nobody seems to be paying me or the clearly uncomfortable situation I am in any attention.

Suddenly, a voice breaks through all the other noises in the hallway.

"Lay off her, Toby, or I'll break every bone in that face that you love so much," Jade growls at him as she reaches out and pushes him back against the wall. The impact of the hit causes him to groan in pain but this only affects him for a few seconds before his smirk returns.

"Hello Jade, it's always a pleasure to see you."

If looks could kill then Jade's glare would have killed Toby and eliminated his corpse all at the same time. 

"Stay away from Vega this school needs at least one girl not to be tainted by you," she spits at him. 

He continues to lean against the wall with a look on his face that made it very clear how much he didn't care what she had to say.

"See you around, Vega." He winks at me and then saunters off into the fleeting crowd.

Jade reaches out and gently takes hold of my shoulders and then spins me around so that I am facing her.

"Looks like you needed me," she chuckles.

"Looks like it," I mumble with a smile. "What's your problem with Toby?" I add.

Her eyes widen for a brief second and I can almost see a glimmer of fear in them.

"I just don't like players that all. Especially ones who try to taint the new girls even more so when the girl clearly doesn't say that she is interested," she shrugs.

It sounds like a made-up almost rehearsed answer, but I decide not to press her for any information mostly because I'm hoping she can be my friend and I'm afraid that if I make her speak about this she won't be.

"Okay, anyway do you know where Ms. Venson's class is I have her for English?"

"Follow me." 

With her arm linked to mine, we quickly walk through the hallways, and eventually, we reach the classroom. I expect her to just lead me inside but instead, she pulls me towards a girl who is leaning against the wall by the door.

She has quite a beachy vibe about her and her calmness makes her feel very approachable. When she sees Jade her face lights up with a bright smile which makes her striking blue eyes (which in my opinion are her most admirable feature) sparkle.

"Hey, Jade!" She runs up to us, her long blonde curls bouncing up and down as she does.

As soon as she is within arms reach of us she extends her arms and pulls Jade into a soul-crushing hug.

"Hey, Nicci!" Jade laughs.

Nicci continues to squeeze Jade who at this point looks like she is turning blue from the lack of oxygen she is getting. Jade lifts her right hand off of Nicci's back and then brings it down three times in quick succession, this signal is enough for Nicci to release her grip, and Jade being a slightly dramatic person takes in long deep, and loud breaths. 

"Who's this?" Nicci asks nodding toward me.

Jade takes a few more breaths before she replies.

"This is Vega, she is new here. You guys are in the same class, so I thought you could look after her."

I don't know why I expected Nicci to put up some sort of fight, maybe it's because, in my last school, the girl who was asked to look after me during a class was a real bitch and complained about me the entire time. To my surprise Nicci isn't giving me a disgusted look instead, she keeps her radiant smile and pulls me toward her. 

"Happy to," she says. 

I smile at her. 

"Great well I got to go. I'll see you guys at lunch!" Jade says as she proceeds to slowly walk done the hallway towards her next class.  

"Isn't she going to be late?" I ask noticing how slowly Jade is walking. 

Nicci shrugs. "She's usually late for her classes but you don't have to worry about her."

"Why do you say that?"

"Cause I've known Jade for years and trust me when I say that girl can get away with anything. Now come on let's go inside before Ms. Venson has our heads."

Nicci gently pulls me inside and thankfully unlike my last class, not as many people turned to look at me. The teacher however did not share her student's lack of curiosity about me. 

"Vega Kate?" she asks me, the power in her voice silences everyone else and now their full attention is on me. 

"Yes, mam," I quietly say as I stare into her eyes that look almost like black pits.

Suddenly her intense features and stance relax and she gives me a warm smile. 

"Great, I was checking. You can take a seat anywhere you like and welcome to Los Angeles High School and my class I hope you will find a home here." 

The class gives a welcoming round of applause and basically, everyone is smiling at me which I didn't expect. 

"Thank you, mam."

She walks over to the board and starts writing some points down while her eyes scan the classroom for an empty desk.

"You can sit next to me," Nicci whispers to me.

"Thanks," I whisper back.

I follow her toward a desk that is fairly close to the front. As soon as I sit down I take out the notebook I bought as well as a few pens. 

Once Ms. Venson finishes writing her points down she dusts the chalk off her hands and then turns to face all of us. 

"Welcome everyone to our first English class of the year. Now, normally I start the year with grammar and what have you but this year I've decided to start with our reading assignment for the year which will be on one of Shakespeare's classics—Hamlet."

A few people in the class make noises of excitement and I am one of them. I've never read Hamlet but it has been on my list for quite some time.

After we all receive a copy of the play we immediately open it up and start reading. 

Art was my last lesson before lunch, and even though I didn't have anyone to sit with it didn't bother me in the slightest. I was much too focused on the drawing I had to start as well as my increasing hunger. 

As soon as the bell rang I made two quick stops, one to my locker to set it up and then to the bathroom before I made my way to the cafeteria. I quickly join the lunch line and pick myself up a decent-looking burger and a small salad that didn't look suspicious. 

After I leave the line I awkwardly stand in the centre of the room and loom around for Nicci or Jade. 

Suddenly someone wraps their arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer to them.

"Hey Vega, do you want to sit with me?" Toby asks. 

I sigh in frustration, I was hoping I wouldn't have to see him for the rest of the day.

"No thanks, I'm looking for Jade," I mumble. 

Despite my annoyed tone, Toby doesn't seem to get the message, and instead of letting me go and leaving he just pulls me even closer until there is no space between him and me, he even playfully shakes me a few times.

"Oh come on just come sit with me. It will be fun," he pleads. 

"She said no Toby, beat it," Jade hisses as she once again rushes to my defence.

Toby rolls his eyes as he reluctantly lets go of me.

"Fine, see you around Vega." He smiles at me and then casually walks away.

"Sometimes I just want to punch that smirk off his face." 

"Why don't you?" I grin. 

"My parents said if I get into another fight they'll ground me for a year," she shrugs.

My jaw drops in surprise.

"You've been in a fight before," I gasp. 

She smiles at me and snorts back a laugh at the level of surprise on my face.

"Oh, honey there is a lot you don't know about me. Now, where are hell are... oh there they are." 

I turn around to see where she is looking and I smile when I see Nicci. Only she isn't alone at the table, another girl is sitting beside her. 

Jade took my hand and pulls me toward the table. 

"Hi, Vega," Nicci greets me as soon as we sit down.

"Hi," I smile at her. 

"Hey Vega, have you met Kim yet?" Nicci asks me and just like that my attention is turned toward the stunning girl who is sitting across from me.

I shake my head. 

"Okay well, Kim this is Vega she is new here. Vega this is Kimone but we call her Kim." 

Kim leans forward and extends her hand to me, I take it and we awkwardly shake hands for a few seconds. 

"Nice to meet you," I say. 

"Nice to meet you too," she quietly mumbles. 

She seems quite shy but I can tell that she is one of those girls who once you get to know them they seem like a completely different person from when you met them.

"So Vega where are you from?" Nicci asks as she chews on some salad.

"New Jersey."

"You hear that guy's one wrong and she will go get rid of us," Jade laughs which sends bits of burger flying from her mouth.

Both Nicci and Kim snicker at this comment and even I can't keep a smile back.

"Yeah watch your back," I laugh.

This sends the three of them into a fit of uncontrollable laughter and I join in. I know a few people are looking at us like we are insane but I don't care they can stare all they want. 

"I... love... this... girl." Nicci manages to blurt out in between the fits of laughter.

It took a solid five minutes before we all managed to calm ourselves and by the end of that time, I knew in my heart that these girls will be my friends. 

By the end of the day, I was utterly exhausted. I had so much information shoved down my throat and even though I knew that would happen especially with it being my last year of school I still wasn't prepared for the amount of work that had to be done. 

The fact that my parents didn't pick me up and I had to walk home didn't help my exhaustion in the slightest, but I still managed to get home and complete all of my homework.

Just as I put the last of my books away my phone beeps on the nightstand. I hurry over to it and check out my new message.

RomcomRose: How was your first day? 

LabRatLola: Yeah how was it? Did you make any new friends? 🙃

Fueled by excitement I quickly type out a response and send it.

Me: It was interesting. I made three new friends and met this super annoying guy who is a bit too touchy.

RomcomRose typing

RomcomRose: Damn V snatching guys already. I knew there was a naughty side of you, you little player😉😉😉😉.

LabRatLola typing

LabRatLola: You go girl 😎😎😎😎

Me: It's not like that. The guy is a pervert. 😝

RomcomRose typing

RomcomRose: He probably likes you. You know when a boy likes a girl he pulls on her pigtails or annoys her.

Me: This isn't the third grade

The sound of the front door opening and closing echoes from downstairs. 

"Vega we're home and we have Chinese food 'cause we're way too tired to cook!"  

I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear my dad's voice.

"Coming!" I yell back to him.

Me: Have to go. 

RomcomRose typing

RomcomRose: This discussion isn't over missy.

LabRatLola typing

LabRatLola: Yeah don't think you can hide from us.

Me: Bye

I slip my phone into my pants pocket and hurry downstairs toward the kitchen

"It smells good," I say when I look out at the array of food they bought. 

"Let's hope it tastes good," my dad says.

"How was school?" my mom asks as she hands me my small tub of sweet and sour pork. 

"It was really good. I made three new friends and all my teachers are amazing. Well, almost all of them, my biology teacher is a bit of a dick."

"Sounds great honey and watch the language."

"What language?" I smile at her.

She rolls her eyes and sighs. "Just eat your dinner." 

I laugh and pop one of the steaming pieces into my mouth.

"So I have to ask or else I wouldn't be fulfilling my fatherly duty. Are there any boys we should be worrying about?"

"Dad," I groan.

"Yeah, Tim really?"

He raises his hands in defence.

"I just want to know if we are going to come home to you doing something with a guy. Like, am I going to walk in on some guy grabby hands on you—"

"Stop just stop! There are no guys so can we please just eat before this conversation makes me lose my appetite." 

"I agree with our daughter," my mom says. 

"Okay." 

To all of our delight, the Chinese food was delicious. Not long after I finished eating I went back upstairs and had a long and relaxing shower and then climbed into bed where not long after my head hit the soft pillows I fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.