6. Arya 

I drop down on the bed that is supposed to feel like mine but doesn't. This place isn't home and it never will be but that is the last thing I should be thinking about. If I wallow in my own self pity any more, I'm going to explode. Crash and burn. I need to stop getting lost in my mind because in the end, the only person I hurt is myself.

School today went by in a strangely blissful blur. Nothing happened. Nothing at all. At first I was hyper aware of everyone around me, my paranoia and mistrust in people getting the best of me but after a couple hours, I actually started to relax. After yesterdays confrontation with Seth and then the hyena bitch in charge and then Seth again, I thought today would be hell.

It wasn't. Mostly everyone had their minds occupied with today's soccer game. Personally I've heard enough about soccer for a life time. This school is obsessed.

This morning Sam was all pumped and got up super early, blasting music at five o'clock in the morning. That monster even woke me up two hours early which lead to me being completely grumpy for the whole morning.

Now, I'm just happy that I'm finally alone. No cheery cheerleaders, no hyped up students practicing school spirit and no jocks, jumping around the cafeteria like monkeys on crack.

Just this bed and complete silence. Complete and utter sile-

"ARYA! GET YOUR LAZY ASS DOWN HERE, NOW!" Sam calls from downstairs. Maybe we need to establish some rules in this house.

Rule number 1: Leave Arya alone at all cost.

Rule number 2: Refer to rule number 1 in case you ever want to bother Arya.

See? Not that hard, right?

It feels almost impossible to tear my body off the bed and move it across the room. Still I somehow manage to pluck myself off of the goodness that is my pillows and trudge downstairs.

Sam is sat in the kitchen, chugging down a beige, thick looking liquid, that I'm guessing is some kind of nasty protein shake. He finishes the bottle with a grunt and slams it down on the table. Some kind of caveman behavior!

When he spots me, he nods towards the plate in front of him.

"Chicken and veggies... again? Really?" I complain and drop down on one of the kitchen chairs, my shoulders slumping forward.

"It's good for you," he rolls his eyes and wipes the remainders of protein shake off his upper lip. "Stop complaining or you'll be cooking from now on."

That's never happening so I pick up my fork and start eating in defeat.

"So, when's the game?"

Bad question! I really need to stop asking things if I don't care about the answer because that's when he re-tells me everything that he's already told me three times today. The game starts at 5 o'clock sharp. He needs to be at the field at 4:30 at least for warm ups. His team is so gonna beat those losers and of course, I'll have to be there to cheer him on.

"I already told you. I'm. Not. Coming." I give him a stern look but he only ruffles my hair, whilst simultaneously stealing a piece of broccoli off my plate.

"Of course you're going. You're my number one fan, aren't you?" He lifts an eyebrow, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Not if you're gonna make me go to that stupid game," I whine and finish my food. I drop the plate into the sink and turn back to him. "You know I don't feel comfortable around all these people. There are gonna be loads of kids from my school and I'll be cheering for the wrong team."

Awkward doesn't even begin to describe that feeling.

"Actually, my team is the right team. So you'll be cheering for the right team," he smirks. "You don't need to worry about what those people think about you, Arya. I'm sure it'll be fine. You'll just sit with some of my friends. I can introduce you to them."

"No thanks," I mutter, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl and escaping the kitchen.

Sam calls after me but like usual, I just ignore him and venture back up to my room. I can not stand the thought of actually going to that game. I know from past experience that those things never end well. Ever.

Trying to fit in. Trying to be normal. Going to a soccer game. It all sounds good in theory but when you go and you have no one to sit next to, no one to cheer with, no one to high five or hug when your team scores... It is the most embarrassing and degrading thing ever.

Now, on top of that, I know that I will be seeing people that I hate. With a passion. Leena and Seth being the main ones. But even seeing some of their minions would probably make me want to puke. Or worse; rip my own eyes out. I will never understand how people consider going to sport events fun. It is torture.

Since I have loads of homework and really need to get my mind off of all this drama, I spread out all my books on my bed and lay flat on my stomach. With the first book placed under my nose, I start reading the assigned article and try to answer questions about it at the same time but my mind just will not shut up!

My brain is throbbing in my skull and my eyes won't focus on the words that I'm supposed to be reading.

"Moving on," I push all the books from my bed and crawl into it, wrapping the duvet around my body. Sleep is good. Comfort is better.

As if on cue, I remember the king sized Snickers bar I hid in the nightstand a couple days ago. A choir of angels seems to start singing in my head when I unwrap the glorious piece of chocolate. Taking a bite, I remember why I am the way I am. Freaking candy bars and no self control. All that mind over matter bullshit doesn't apply to me. I glower at the candy bar but take another bite before chucking it into the trash can across the room.

Trying to sink into a somewhat deep slumber, the buzzing in my head drives me absolutely insane.

I twist and turn until I give up, put my pillow in front of my mouth and scream.

AHHHHHHHHH!

When I next check my phone it's an hour later and I feel like a sloth has taken over my body and is now controlling it. For the last 60 minutes I have been zapping through TV channels, tried multiple times to get some shut eye and messed with my phone until finally settling on getting another snack and going online.

Now, the internet definitely has its advantages no doubt but if you've ever been on the net, you know as well as anyone else that the dark side is darker than Seth Smith's soul. The good side; you can be whoever you want to be, no questions asked. The bad side; Social networking does not work for if you don't have actual friends. I don't even consider making a Facebook account as there is no one I could add to it except Sam... and that's slightly pathetic.

So instead of talking to none existent friends, I talk to strangers, pretending to be someone I'm not. That's what I'm good at; not being me.

"Why aren't you dressed?" Sam bursts into my room, dressed in his soccer uniform.

"I am," I grin, motioning at my sweat pants and baggy shirt. "This is as dressed up as I'm gonna get. My laptop doesn't mind."

"Funny," he says dryly and walks over to me, tugging at my shoulder. "Come on! Up, up! I want you there, Arya!"

I roll my eyes and turn my attention back to my laptop screen. If only I could turn Sam off like I turn off my laptop. That would be heaven.

"Alright. If you're not coming willingly, I'll just have to force you!" Before I know what's happening, Sam has unplugged my laptop and snaps it shut, stealing it away from me.

I gasp in horror, "Kleptomaniac! You thief! Give me back my life!" I shout, pathetically, as he runs down the stairs, laughing like a demon child straight out of a horror movie.

"SAM! We've been through this! I do not want to go. I don't want to see the stupid jocks from my school. I don't feel like staring at the stupid cheerleaders and I don't even like soccer!"

He stops dead in his tracks.

"You did not just say that, gurl," his mouth forms an 'O' and he snaps a 'Z'-formation, pretending to be some sort of reality show housewife.

Once again, I roll my eyes at him but can't hide the smile that's tugging at the corners of my mouth.

"Can you please just do this for me?" His voice is serious now and he slowly puts down my laptop on the coffee table in the living room. "This is the first game after summer break and I need your support. You're like my sister! We're family. We need to support each other, right? I support you, you support me. Come on, soccer is all I have."

And that's when I cave.

A huge sigh escapes my mouth and my shoulders sag. Sam starts cheering in triumph as I make my way back into my room to get dressed into something more appropriate.

I slip into a pair of plain jeans and black and white striped, flowy shirt. Checking myself out in the mirror, I am content with what I'm seeing. If it weren't for people pressuring me into changing my body, I would probably accept myself the way I am.

My hair is getting nice and long and falls down my shoulders in thick glossy curls. Deciding to skip make-up and jewelry, I grab my phone off my nightstand. Maybe... Just maybe I can be invisible tonight. Hide in a crowd of people.

I can hear Sam on the phone, most likely talking to some of his friends and that's when I realize that I'll be there with him. Early. Half an hour early. Thirty awkward minutes. He'll probably want to introduce me to some of his class mates and friends. There was no way in hell. No way!

I panic.

"Sam! I'm sorry, I don't think I can go. I've got loads of--" I'm running down the stairs but stop midway as Sam puts his finger to his lips, shutting me up. I put one hand on my hip and stare at him impatiently.

"Don't do anything for now. They're just empty threats." Even though his voice is calm, his forehead is creased with worry. "No! I said, don't do anything! They won't either... Don't be stupid. It's not worth it. The season hasn't even begun and we need you! We need the team to be at its best... Right... No, we'll show them on the field!" He snaps his phone shut and turns his attention back to me, a smile forming on his face.

"You look good," he comments and links his arm with mine.

"Sam..." I croak. "I can't go. What if--"

"Shut up, Arya. I've had enough of your constant whining. You're coming and that's that. You'll have to face your fears at some point. If you want to or not," he snaps and drags me out of the house, towards his car.

I feel like a child who was been put in its place and fold my arms in front of my chest, sulking. Sam now doesn't look as pumped as he did before and I realize that I've seriously ruined his mood.

Amazingly I don't only succumb to my own insecurities, I also somehow manage to make the giddiest person on the planet feel like shit.

"I'm sorry," I apologize and twist around to really look at him.

"Arya, I just worry about you," he explains.

"I know", I reply. "But you don't have to. I'm fine. I promise."

He just nods, stares ahead and clutches onto the steering wheel. He doesn't seem convinced at all and truthfully, I'm not sure if I'm convinced by my own words. Am I really fine?

I shake the thought off as we're getting close to the soccer field now and my pulse starts to pick up pace. I can feel my heart beating in my throat and my palms get sweaty. To a normal person this might sound like an overreaction but all I want to do is run. Run back to the safety of my room.

Sam steers the car into the nearest parking lot and cuts the engine. He gives me a quick smile and gets out of the car without waiting for me.

When I twist my head to look outside, I see him running towards a group of people. His giddiness is clearly back as he greets them all gleefully. The group consists of three girls and two guys. Three guys including Sam.

Sam turns and glares at me when I stay seated in the car. He says something to the group before turning back and jogging towards me. Once he reaches the car, he hits his palm against the windshield, making me jump. He waves at me wildly, telling me to get out of the car. I slowly follow his instructions, afraid that my shirt will ride up as I climb out of my seat and they will see my exposed hips or stomach.

I blush as I come face to face with the group of people.

I quickly scan their faces when we walk towards them and realize that two of the girls look exactly the same. Twins. They both have shoulder length golden hair and bright blue eyes. The other girl has gorgeous long, rich brown hair down to her waist and a tan to go with it. Great. Gorgeous twins and a Greek goddess. Seems like my kind of crowd.

I'm too afraid to look at the guys as I feel like they're going to judge me without having been introduced to me.

"Guys, this is my cousin Arya. Arya this is Mina and Tina." Sam motions towards the twins who both give me a little wave and a smile. "This is Tam-Tam..."

"My name's Tamara but you can call me Tammy," the Greek goddess carefully steps forward and then gently hugs me. "Just don't call me Tam-Tam," she finishes with a glare at Sam. He just chuckles nervously and then turns towards the boys.

"Well, this is Niall," he points towards a tall, red-haired boy who gives me a lop-sided grin. "And this is Kevin but he doesn't talk much so don't take it personally."

Kevin has his hands in his pockets and won't even look at me. He is gorgeous though. He has sandy blonde hair and shocking green eyes that pierce through some strands of hair--

"Aww, she's shy!" The Greek god--, I mean Tamara coos and a blush colors my face a crimson red.

"I... I'm just." I stutter. "I'm just not good with meeting new people."

"Well, don't be afraid," one of the twins grins and hooks her arm with mine. "We're totally friendly and as long as you're a friend of Sam's, you're a friend of ours." The other twin finishes and also hooks her arm with mine.

Before I can protest Mina, Tina and Tammy drag me off, away from Sam and the other guys.

"HAVE FUN! AND YOU BETTER CHEER FOR ME, ARY!" Sam calls after us and the girls giggle, dragging me along.

I throw a desperate glance over my shoulder but Sam is already walking off with Niall and Kevin.

The girls lead me to the bleachers, where we take our seats. I feel completely out of place and like everyone is staring at me. I'm probably imagining it but I can't help but feel it still.

Fortunately, I haven't seen anyone I know from our school. No Leena, no Seth. That is good for now.

"So, how come I haven't seen you around school?" Tamara asks out of the blue, "You do go to this school, right?"

"Er..." I'm a little dumbfounded at this. "Yeah, I do. Do you?"

She laughs and nods her head, "Of course I do! So do Mina and Tina. You didn't think we would be going to your cousin's school... would you now?"

Right... all boys school.

"So back to my original question," Tamara starts again. "How come we've never seen you around?"

I swallow the lump in my throat and stare ahead of me, onto the field, embarrassed.

"I'm not exactly a socialite."

"WHOA!" Mina suddenly bursts out and we all look at her like she has gone mad. "I do know you! You are the new girl! Of course. How could we be so blind, guys. She's the new girl. The one on Leena's list."

Oh no.

"Shit..." Tina cursed and Tamara put her face in her hands.

Utterly confused, I look around, trying to figure out what is going on! What list? Why were they acting like this?!

I get off the bleachers, clumsily, almost stumbling over my own feet, "I... I'm gonna go to the bathroom."

I don't give them time to reply and storm off instead. Breaking into somewhat of a run, I make my way along the field to where I know the lockers and toilets are. Once inside, I can hear guys hollering and yelling and my stomach churns. I have no problem recognizing Sam's angry yelling and as I got closer, I recognize another distinct voice.

Not again...