^^^^Celena's school outfit

^^^^Viktor's school outfit

A few days have passed and before Celena and Viktor knew it, it was time to restart their lives again. By going back to school. The faded yellow school bus zooms by Celena and Viktor as they stood before the school. The sign in front read 'Hemlock Grove High', with a high banner that said 'Welcome back, Wolverines'. Celena sighs and looks up at Viktor.

"I'm having second thoughts." She says as she eyes the building and student with worry.

"We gotta finish school, Cel. Gotta have a start somewhere to have a better life." Viktor says as he watches students walk by, watching them and pointing. At him, mainly.

"Are you sure you wanted to start in Sophomore year? You had the credits to be a Senior. You were a genius in Seattle High." Celena states while confused with his choices.

"I know." Viktor gives her a crooked grin. "But, where would that get me? College?  Once they see me, they'll see and only see the freak, not a student.  But maybe, I'll get lucky with a community college and take online courses.  We'll see." He asks. "I rather just take my time and figure out my life. We're young." He sighs.

"And powerful, don't forget that." She points out and laughs at his disappointed look, "I'm kidding. Maybe, we can figure out a better way to suppress these powers to make a little easier for us to get through our lives and avoid any authority attention."

"Hey, Hulk, Carrie." Peter walks up to them with a grin.

Celena scoffs as Viktor rolls his eyes. Peter wraps his arm around Celena and kisses her cheek.

"How does it feel to be back after a long vacation?" He asks.

"Nervous as fuck like always. I didn't expect us to be back after all what has happened over the past few years." Celena sighs as she walks with Viktor and Peter.

"But, I feel ready. I may have been a shy loser back then, but now I'm ready to protect myself from bullies. If I need to."

"But, watch your strength. You almost died when you lifted that bus." Celena warned.

Peter frowns at Viktor in surprise, "You lifted a bus?"

Viktor shrugs, "Once. It was when Andrew was going nuts. He threw a bus across the city and it almost crushed these two little kids. I managed to catch it and lifted it away from them."

"You saved Matt's life when you did that, too. That bus was meant for him." Celena adds.

"I remember hearing about something happened in Seattle, but news said it was a gas leak explosion that caused mass hysteria." Peter says.

"That's what the government wanted you to believe. Everyone who was there, all who survived, were put into quarantine for months and that shut down half of the city for repairs. But, mainly searching for us." Celena says.

Peter was confused, "How do you know that?"

"Cel managed to find a hacker who got into the Pentagon. " Viktor says.

Peter's attention drifted as they walked past a tall boy who was sitting by a tree, smoking a cigarette. Eyeing the three if them with an intense stare.

Roman Godfrey, the spoiled, golden boy of Hemlock Grove and the heir of Godfrey Institute aka the White Tower with his god-awful mother, Olivia Godfrey as the owner.

Roman always despised this town, but he only stays for his sister, Shelly, whom he cares about more than anything and his cousin, Letha Godfrey, whom is as close to him as if she was his sister, too. He would protect his girls till death.

So to past his time in this town, he puts up with his mother's habits and, for fun, he fucks most of the whores and half of the girls in school. But, it was all the same. They fuck, get their rocks off, and move on. No emotion spared. No love. Just sex. It didn't bother him much, but it was getting old.

Roman inhales a puff of smoke and slowly let's it go as he eyes fresh meat walking by him.

He watches the new kids grow closer towards him. Curiosity struck him. Especially with the gypsy. And the girl. She was very pretty...for an emo. But, is she easy? Is she like these other sluts in this town who only care about his money and reputation? We shall see. But, one thing for sure...she had a great ass.

Roman smirks and tosses his cigarette away and walks off into the building. Eyeing the girl still.

"About time this town has something interesting. It's boring as fuck here. Wonder who the new kids are. Especially, her. She's got a nice body. Great ass. Better than Jenny's or Betty's. Emos aren't normally my thing, but she might be into kink. I like kink." Celena could hear a boy's voice echo in her mind.

She turns and looks over her shoulder as she searches for the source.

"Wow. Beautiful eyes, too. Never seen such blue eyes before. And lips that look so sweet. Like cherries. Nice tits. Bet they taste like cherries. Wonder what her pu**y would taste like." Roman walks by them and smirks at Celena, licking his lips as he scans her up and down. She could practically feel the lust rolling off him. The sexual aura he signaled towards her.

Celena scoffs and rolls her eyes. Even though he was very attractive, but he seemed like the kind who use women like toys.

"No, thank you." She mutters sarcastically.

Peter eyes her and Roman. Smelling the attraction Roman carried. Like hell he was gonna touch Celena. Wait, what? Sure they have sex, incredible sex, but he was use to just sex. Wasn't it? Celena never gave him the hint that she wanted more than just sex. He considered them friends with benefits. But, the idea of her being with another man pissed him off.

As they begin to walk up the steps heading towards the front office, Peter looks and sees Christina walking towards them. She frowns as she looks up and sees Peter, Celena, and a tall boy next to them.

"Hey, Hemingway." Peter greets her with a smile, but Christina didn't return one. She scrunched her face in offence and a small sneer.

"Don't call me that."

Realizing that she didn't want society see her interact with him, a gypsy, Peter took the hint and walks away with Viktor and Celena.

"OK. I guess summer's over." He mutters bitterly.

Celena rolls her fingers around, "Roll out the bitches." She scoffs and follows with Viktor towards the registry area.

Viktor was assigned in a lot of AP courses. Celena and Peter shared a few classes and their lockers were close by. Celena moves to her locked which was on the other side of the hall, a few feet away from Peter's. She was glad to be close to him. To know someone in this school.

After putting up her bag and taking out a few notebooks and pencils, she walks back over to Peter as he was setting up his locker. But, suddenly, they look over at the end of the hallway as they hear heavy footsteps.

Peter's eyes widen at the sight ahead of him. A very tall, hunched girl with her black hair covering her face walk down the hall. Keeping her face towards the ground. Celena watched in curiosity, noticing how the lights would flicker at the girl's presence. Also, she could see a phone hanging around her neck. They watched her walk towards the ladies room and Peter couldn't help, wonder. He walks towards the ladies' room and Celena follows him.

"Peter!" She whispers and pulls on his arm, but he shushes her and peeks in the door, but jumps when the tall girl was walking out. Peter pulls Celena out of the way, acting casual with her while watching the girl walk away. Viktor was walking around the corner and looks to see the girl. But, they also see two identical girls, blonde and skinny, dressed in skimpy clothing. The two of them threw their hair over their faces and walked like Frankenstein's monster, mocking the poor tall girl.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom..." They giggled.

Viktor hated bullies, he didn't want it tolerating around him. He purposely gets in their way, hearing one girl grunt as the other bumps behind her as they both bump into him.

"Watch it, freak." "Yeah, freak." They both sneer at him.

Celena walks over to them and shoves one into the other, "Watch it, sluts."

The two girls scoff and flip their hair as they stomp off. The tall girl was watching the whole thing. Viktor looks over to her and sends her a smile and small wave. The girl sends them a wave back, smiling softly. Celena watches in wonder as the girl's face begins to glow bright blue. It was so beautiful. The girl walks off and the tall boy from outside that Celena recognizes walks up to the girl.

"Hey, sis." He greets the girl gently as he places his hand on her back, walking with her and looking over his shoulder. At Celena.

Peter walks up to them, watching the brother and sister walk away, "Just wow." He exclaims in shock and awe.

"Good on you, Vik. For showing those sluts." Celena pats Viktor's back.

"I hate bullies." He snarls.

"Easy, Hulk. No smash." Peter wags his finger.

Viktor grumbles softly and walks off to his first class with Celena and Peter following along.

After three classes, the day has already felt like hell. The school was filled of snobby girls, sluts, and smart asses. Not to mention guys who kept hitting on her or coping a feel. Celena blew out a restless breath that sent her bangs flying everywhere as she walks out into the courtyard while everyone was feasting on lunch. She looks around to see any familiar faces, and sees one. The tall girl from the hallway was sitting under a tree, reading Shakespeare.

Celena walks over to her and sits next to her, "Hi." She says with a smile.

The girl was startled to see someone talking to her, she even jumped a little as she watches her sit next to her on the concret seat.

"I'm Celena. I moved here a few months ago." Celena says as she holds out a hand.

The girl smiles and takes her phone, using a text to speech technology to answer.

"I'm Shelley. It's nice to meet you." A female electronic voice is heard from the phone. Shelley holds out a bandaged hand and takes Celena's greeting handshake.

"Nice to meet you, too, Shelley. So, I've been here for hours and I cannot find one person who is worthy to be my friend. Would you like to be my friend?" Celena gives her puppy eyes that has Shelley laughing. Shelley nods and gets her phone.

"I would very much like to be your friend. There's not a lot of nice people here."

"Yeah, you're telling me." Celena scoffs. "Like those two girls before."

Shelley sighs sadly and types, "They're the Sheriff's daughters. They always tease me."

Celena frowns, "That's not right. No one should be teased like that.  I was taught never to judge so quickly. I'll keep them off you if you want. Me and my brother, Viktor. He hates bullies wth a passion."

Shelley smiles and types, "I saw your brother. He's in my art class. He seems very sweet."

Celena pats Shelley's hand, "He is. You and him could be friends, too. If you ask."

Shelley smiles and shakes her head shyly, her face begins to glow.

Celena smiles, "Oh, come on. Don't be shy. We could hang out if you want to."

Shelley smiles, her braces shining in the light, "I'll have to ask my mother first. She's very protective of me as well as Roman is."

Celena frowns, "Who's Roman?"

"My brother. Also, my mother is kinda controlling as well. Just warning you."

Celena nods, "Hope she'll approve." She clears her throat. "And, I remember seeing your brother this morning outside the school. Let me guess. Playboy of the campus?"

Shelley laughs and nods, "He's very popular, if I may say. But, mostly with girls. But, they only care because he flaunts his money."

"And that's a bad thing?" A familiar voice speaks up next to them.  Celena snaps her head towards the voice and sees Hemlock Grove's very own 6'4 sex on a stick Roman Godfrey.

Shelley gives Roman a crooked smile rolls her eyes as she shakes her head in disbelief with her brother.

"She's not messing with you, is she, Shell?" Roman sends Celena hard, warning glare.

"No. She's nice." Shelley shakes her head. "This is Celena."

"Celena, huh? Like the moon?" Roman asks as his gaze softens and eyes her up and down, tracing her curves with his eyes. "I'm...."

Celena holds up a hand, "Let me guess. Your name is Dickface, King of the Douchbags?" She asks sarcastically.

Roman couldn't help, but laugh in surprise while Shelley watches with caution, "Well, that's a first.  I guess you're the type to believe in rumors, than getting to know the person." He says sarcastically.  

"I learn then ask questions later.  I don't judge by appearance nor rumors.  And I know nothing about you other than you are the type who likes getting what he wants.  And the type who prefers women opening their legs at the sight of wadded cash.  Here's a secret."  Celena leans closer.  "Not every girl is that easy." She smirks. 

Roman is starting like this girl.  Most new girls who knows that he carries money and a big dick falls at his feet for popularity or piece of him.  But, she hasn't even bat an eyelash at him. He noticed how real her eyelashes were too.  She did't look like a type of girl who wore fake shit like all these girls do.  Sure, she's got makeup on, but nothing heavy.  Besides her eyeliner.  It was refreshing to see a real girl with heart and fire. 

Celena writes down her number and hands it to Shelley, "Here.  Text me when you wanna hang.  And, please, don't let your brother copy it." She begs, whining dramatically.  Making Shelley smile. 

Shelley nods and places the piece of paper in her purse. 

Celena gets up and begins to walk away, "See you later, Shelley.  Roman."

Roman smirks as she walks by him, catching a whiff of her scent.  Soft perfume trailing behind her.  He rubs his bottom lip with his thumb and watches her ass as she walks away. 

"Finally, a woman worth chasing.  This will be an interesting challenge."

Roman's voice echoes in her mind, Celena scoffs and rolls her eyes.  Like that'll ever happen. 

"Roman better not mess this up for me.  He always sleeps with the girls who claim they are my friends.  I would like to have a true friend than someone who is only nice to me because of Roman and Mother." A soft voice is heard in Celena's head.  She had a feeling it was Shelley's voice.  Her real voice.  She was curious about Shelley's hands and why she couldn't talk.  But, she knew better not to ask at first meeting.  When the time is right, Shelley will tell her. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After school was over, Lynda invited Celena and Viktor over for dinner.  They happily agreed.  Lynda was curious as a mother to know how their first day at school was. 

"So, how was everyone's day?"  She asks with a smile.

Celena was getting up to wash her dishes, as she turns on the faucet she leans out to Lynda, "It was good.  Forgot how terrible first days are and how awfully rude people can be.  But, I made a friend." Celena smiles as she sits on the couch after putting her dishes away.

"Really? That's great." Lynda says happy for Celena. 

"There's this kid at my school. He's an upir." Peter says as he eats his dinner.

Viktor and Celena frown in confusion, "An Upir?" They both ask in unison. "What's an Upir?" Celena asks.

"It's a Ukraine vampire, sweety. And yes, vampires are out there, too. Not just werewolves." Lynda says as she arches a brow at her.

Viktor stutters as he nearly trips over his own feet, "What? Vampires? 'I vant to suck your blood', Dracula myth, that's real, too?" He exclaims.

"Oh, yeah. And they're very dangerous." Lynda warns.

"Yeah, but I don't think he knows it himself. He has a sister; she isn't upir. I don't know what she is. She is so big, she fills up a doorway. They're the Godfreys. That family seems fucked up." Peter says.

"Wait, you mean Roman and Shelley?" Celena asks.

Peter looks over to her with a hard look, "You talked to them?"

"Once. Roman's an asshole, but Shelley is really nice. Guarded, but she's sweet. And she's in need of friends." Celena says.

"The Godfreys are my business. Stay away from them. All three of you." Lynda states.

Celena sighs in disbelief, but shuts up when Lynda gives her the look of all mothers when they mean business. Like an Evil Eye.

"I am." Peter says, nodding.

Viktor scoffs and nods.

Celena throws up her hands and rolls her eyes, looking away as she pouts. She didn't care about not talking to Roman, but Shelley was innocent.  Celena didn't promise anything.  Shelley was her friend, and she was gonna keep her as her friend.  Roman, however, was gonna be a challenge to ignore.  There was something about him that nagged her.  She wasn't sure what it was, but it was gonna bother her till she finds why.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, at the Godfrey's mansion, Roman and Shelley sat at the huge dining table with their mother, Olivia, sitting at the head of the table as the cook begins to serve their dinner.  The butler reveals Shelley's platter, which to her disappointment was noting but meat once again.  Shelley sighs sadly and begins to dig in while Roman and Olivia were having their first course.  Olivia smiles warmly at her children, but frowns at how quiet they were. 

"And? Have we got anything more enlightening to report from our first day at school?"  Her Ukraine accent thickens in annoyance. 

"There's these new kids.  Two guys, one girl. One guy is tall.  Almost as tall as Shelley." Roman says.

"The girl's name is Celena.   She's very friendly." Shelley types on her phone, sending her mom a small smile.

Olivia gives her a fake smile, "How wonderful, darling.  You made a new friend."

"Can she visit, one day, please?" Shelley asks, afraid of the answer.

Olivia sighs softly, not really caring, but she gives her daughter a smile anyway, "Of course, sweetheart, you can invite her over anytime.  But, are you sure you want her to come over to...here?  She might be uncomfortable of being in such a high class society like ours."

Shelley sighs and averts her eyes back to her food, ashamed of asking her mother such a thing.  She could be right. Celena didn't seem like the type to be comfortable in such a rich environment, but Shelley wanted to have friends over.  She wanted someone to talk to other than her Uncle Norman and Roman. 

"The other guy.  He's a gypsy. This girl's been spreading all these crazy rumors about him. I think he's related to that guy in the trailer by the river."  Roman says, annoyed with his mother hurting Shelley's feelings once again. 

Olivia's face begins to twist in disgust at the word 'gypsy'.  Her smile was long gone.  The idea of her children socializing with gypsies caused her stomach to turn.  She flings her spoon out of her hand, causing her dinner to splash all over the table around her.

"Filth." She snarls softly.

After dinner, Shelley goes into her elevator that led to her bedroom way up into the attic loft.  Her mother had her room decorated for her.  Nothing but pink and girly things far as the eye could see. Nothing that was anything that Shelly loved or expressed who she was.  Besides her books, computer, and paintings.  She sat in front of her three-sided mirrored dresser and looks at her reflection.  Ashamed of what she sees.  She slowly pulls off her black wig, revealing her bald, deformed head.  One side of her face was normal, but the other side...to her...was so ugly.  Her left eye was twice as big as her right and her eyebrow still hasn't grown at all. In the mirror, she saw a monster.