In today's world, the phrase 'eat or be eaten' seemed like the best way to describe living. However, after sitting and seeing the news report of a missing person that was close by, Carly starting to think it's more like survival of the fittest.

She never paid attention to the news much, but understanding her new surroundings would help her know what to look out for. She managed to survive her first weekend in Midtown. That's probably because she didn't leave the house. The only time she left was to find her new school that she'll be attending today.

The school was only two blocks away. That was close enough for her to walk. Since it's early in the morning going, and mid afternoon leaving, walking the streets alone won't be too bad as long as there's daylight. Of course, that didn't stop Carly from looking up cheap tasers she hopes her dad will allow her to have.

Carly stepped outside into her new environment. The air was still, a bit cool, and felt somewhat lonely. She slowly walked on to the sidewalk to start her journey to Midtown high.

Her journey almost ended when she heard a noise and was about to take cover, but realized it was just a door opening. It came from the white house next door. The kid that she almost hit the other day was walking outside. A smile grew on his face when he saw Carly walking by.

"Hey, Carly!" He yelled out to her. She hadn't seen him once since they first met or even heard anyone leaving or entering the house. She had almost forgotten someone lived there.

"Oh, hey there Nathen." She said. Her only thoughts were hoping that she remembered his name right. He didn't show a face of confusion or shock, so it must have been right.

"You're out early. Where are you headed? School?"

"Yeah, I'm attending Midtown high. You too?" It was safe for her to ask seeing the book bag on his back.

"I don't carry this heavy thing around for nothing." He laugh pointing to the bag. "You don't mind if I walk with you then?"

"Sure." Carly allowed for Nathen to go with her. So far, Nathen seemed to be one of the nice people in Midtown. He was just a little too friendly.

Carly knows you can't trust all nice people. That's the easiest way to end up on the morning news as 'missing'. But he's only a high schooler like her. With that thought, he couldn't try something like kidnapping.

"Something wrong?" Nathen asked her. It was only then she realized she had been staring at him as they walked together.

"Oh it's nothing. Sorry, I was just thinking about what I heard on the news this morning." It wasn't a complete lie she told. But being the creepy neighbor wasn't want she wanted to be seen as.

"The news? I didn't pick you as a news watching person," he laughed again, "but this is my second time talking to you, so I really don't know anything."

"I'm not really a news watcher. But I thought I should check it out a bit more." It would come off as kind of rude if she told him she only started watching it since she moved.

"It's always something going on somewhere. Especially here sadly. Maybe if people just cooperated with one another more, things would be better." He suddenly said. It was clearly something he's thought about before with such a straight answer like that.

"Hey Nathen, on your way to school?" They made it to the crossroad on the next block when they noticed someone crossing the street to join them.

"Yeah, you walking with us?" Nathen walked up to the boy.

"If that's alright. Who's your friend?" The new boy asked looking Carly up and down.

"Her name is Carly. She just moved in from Uptown."

"Oh really?" he shook his head understanding, "Well nice to meet you. My name is Tom."

"Hi Tom." Carly forced a smile. She hadn't expected to meet someone else so soon. But the more she looked at him, the more she wanted to ask if he was okay. His complexion didn't look too good. He seemed really pale and tired. He walked and talked like he was fine, so it could've been her imagination.

"Tom helped me out when I first moved here." Nathen told her.

"I've been here my whole life, so if you need to know anything, just ask." Tom added.

If he's been here his whole life, then he should know the most about the town. She wanted to ask him if he knows about the Midtown rumors and why everything suddenly went downhill here. But considering they just met five seconds ago, she didn't want to make him uncomfortable so soon.

The three of them continued walking to school normally. Nathen and Tom talked as if Carly wasn't there. Nathen seemed more relaxed talking to him than when he was talking to her. She just used this time to better familiarize herself with her surroundings as they approached the school.

"Doesn't seem like a lot of people here." Carly  looked at Midtown High. There were only a few people moving around. Nothing like her old school.

Everyone would be outside talking. The boys would be blaring their music from their car until the school security comes and tells them to turn it off. The atmosphere was a lot livelier and inviting. It was the complete opposite here.

"Our school is pretty small despite how big it is. I don't mind it so much. Makes classes easier." Nathen said.

"Less people to worry about in the lunch lines too." Tom added for kicks.

"I guess that's to be true. This is just a big change from home just next door."

"It must be livelier over there in Uptown." Nathen thought.

"Much. It's a lot more quieter around here in comparison." She didn't want to mention the depressing cloud that loamed over. Carly has only been in Midtown four days. She thought to give it at least a week before she planned her escape.

When they walked in the school and saw more kids at their lockers, they all stopped and looked to them.

"Is there a problem?" Carly whispered to Nathen.

"It's probably nothing. They're just used to seeing it just being me and Tom walking together is all. They'll get used to it." Just as Nathen said that, the looks decreased and they continued talking amongst themselves.

"I have to pick up my schedule from the office." Carly remembered.

"Do you need us to show you were that is?"

"No, I know where to go. Thanks for walking with me here."

Nathen was nice and all, but she wanted to put just a little more space between them before they got too close. She's usually really good at reading people, and deep inside her gut she felt his book was missing some pages.

Carly continued on to the office. She started second guessing herself when the place she walked into looked more empty than the school itself.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" She asked approaching the front desk. Class started in less than ten minutes. It was way too quiet in the office for school to be starting so soon.

The office had the front desk and small cubicles behind it, but there was no response. She peeked over the counter looking around when she saw a folder with her name on it sitting on the table. That's also when she notice someone bent over reaching for something on the ground.

"You must be Carly." The person was still bent over when they spoke. Carly stepped back a little startled hearing the low voice. The person finally stood up straight showing a tired woman who didn't look like they wanted to be there anymore than she did.

"Your schedule is here. If you have questions just ask." She said harshly and tired. The woman had short red hair that she ran her hands through and glasses she adjusted. She didn't say anything more after that.

The phone rang and she answered it as if Carly wasn't even there. The woman seems incredibly rude and she didn't even want to waste more time with her. She just grabbed her schedule and went to find her class on her own.

She was going in circles trying to find where her class was. The warning bell already rang, and everyone was settled in their class. It might have been better to ask the rude front desk lady since finding her classes on her own wasn't working out too well. Carly turned another corner when she finally saw someone roaming around.

"Are you lost or something? This hall is closed to students." The boy said.

"I'm trying to get to class. I'm new here, so I am a little lost." She explained. She prepared herself as it seems he was also bit by the grumpy bug.

"Oh, I see. You're the new transfer student. Welcome. Where are you transferring from if you don't mind my asking?" He approached her more casually.

"Uptown high."

"You're from Uptown?" His demeanor changed again going from calm to alert.

"Yeah, is that a problem?"

"No, no. Not at all. Well, welcome here. Mind if I took a look at your schedule?" he quickly fixed his tone as she handed it to him.

"If you're looking for this room, it's back the way you came and to the right." He pointed behind her.

"Class should start any second so you should hurry. If you get lost again, let me know." He took off going down the hall he said students weren't allowed in.

Wherever he was going, he seemed to be in a rush to get there. She didn't even get the chance to say thanks or ask his name in case she did need more help.

On her way to class, she wondered about the hesitation he had when she told him she was from Uptown. Even Tom looked at her differently when Nathen told him.

Carly didn't like the idea she was living in a mystery. The hall was bright, but quiet as she walked down it. She walked pass a class she thought maybe ten students were in it.

In her seventeen years of living, she never once liked the idea of sitting and waiting. However, living in Midtown was also survival of the fittest. One wrong step, one wrong question could make her the next news headliner.