When dad stops the car in front of the steps leading to a place called Newborough High School, I start to regret my decision. Maybe I should have just shut up and continued home-schooling with Aunt Beth...

Dad chuckles at the emotions on my face. "We're here. Now, get out."

I bite my lips in anticipation. "Is it too late to change my mind?"

"Yes. I love you and stay safe, you hear me? If anyone gives you trouble, make them regret messing with you," he tells me with a teasing tone. 

I roll my eyes. "Yes, dad. Love you too."

With that, I bravely step out of the vehicle and the moment I shut the door, dad drive off. I roll my eyes when he honked his goodbye at me. I follow the crowd of students who are heading for the entrance for the school while pretending to look busy on my phone. I figure that if I look busy, no one would try to talk to me and I would probably end up embarassing myself for not being able to handle a simple conversation. 

I have learnt from TV that school is supposed to be hell to all students and dad warned me that school would not be like what I expect. 

"Mel!" a piercing voice interrupt my train of thought and I drop my 'busy' act. Valerie bounces her way towards me with a gigantic grin on her face. Behind her stands her father who has a worried look etched on his face as he stares disapprovingly at the environment around him. 

"Hi," I greet her as she hugs me. 

"Ready for first day of school? Oh Zeus I am so excited for today that I couldn't sleep last night. Vaugh and dad were trying so hard to convince me to change my mind on school but I'm not budging!" she blurts out, dragging me into the building in search for the school office. Both of us can't help but look around at the people and school while we walk past. I notice that there are people who casts us curious glances but no one approaches.

"I can't even tell who is supernatural and who is not anymore!" Val whispers to me. "And where the cupcake is the office?"

"Dude," I tell her. "Majority students here can hear you even if you were whispering. Maybe it's in another building?"

I barely have time to react when she randomly walk up to a guy. 

"Hi there, do you happen to know where the office is?" she asks with a bright smile.

The guy looks dumbfounded at her boldness and point at a direction. 

"Thank you!" Val responds and drag me towards where he pointed.

"What was that?" I hiss at her, unable to hide the amusement coating my voice.  I look back to see the guy's friends laughing out loud at the poor guy's astonished face. 

Val doesn't say anything until we reach our destination and separate to our respective classes. I am a little upset that I share very few classes with Val, so I am hoping that there will be a few good souls who would be willing to tolerate my presence. 

"Please introduce yourself, Melinda," the third teacher for the day instructs the second the bell strikes. 

I sigh for the millionth time and do as she asks. No one asked me any questions or even try to start a conversation with me and it's been three hours since I started school. I am starting to wonder if the others can truly tell whether I am different from the rest. The lesson conducted in class is fairly simple so I don't pay attention to the teaching and study my classmates. I notice that the majority of them are also not paying attention. It's cliche to say this, but I can relate a few groups based off TV.

I take a deep breath and frown at the different faint scents. Apparently my sense of smell is not as strong as when I am in water, so I can only guess who is what. The teacher is definitely not human because I can see that her nose flares once in a while and her eyes change colour twice. 

A few people are staring into space and their eyes are not normal for humans. Although I know that they are not human, I have no idea what are they until they reveal their true form willingly. 

The fear of being discovered resurfaced and now I don't feel like staying in school anymore. I should be at home right now, with Aunt Beth teaching me more Chinese grammar or Multivariable Calculus or Organic Chemistry. 

My mind wander off at the thought of Valerie. I wonder how is she doing in her class. Is she bored out of her mind like me? Does she make friends already? Does anyone know of her background based on her scent? 

During lunch, I got my answer.

"Mel!" Valerie shouts out, waving her hands like a crazy person. I grin at her and make my way towards the table she's seated with a tray of food I got beforehand. My grin falters when I see that there are many people who are also sitting at her table. I hesitantly greet her and observe her new friends' faces to see if they don't mind my presence. 

My body relaxes when I see the human traits all of them have.

"Is it okay if I join you guys?" I ask nervously, shifting my weight from one foot to another.

"Yeah sure! We humans should stick together!" an Asian girl excitedly tells me. 

A pair of siblings sitting next to her snorts at her. "What are we? Chopped liver?"

The Asian girl turn at them and sticks out her tongue at them. "Not including you two, of course."

My eyes widen a little in fear and look at Valerie for assurance. She gives me a small nod and pull me gently to sit next to her, farther away from the not human siblings. 

The sister notice my fearful look and try to look friendly. "Don't worry, my brother and I promise not to harm you."

"Yeah, the only reason we keep them around is to keep the bullies away and entertain us with their silly arguments," a Caucasian guy with typical blond hair blue eyes inform me with a mischievous glint.

The brother growls at the Caucasian guy while the sister rolls her eyes. I stiffen at the sound of the growl alongside Valerie. Valerie seems to be able to recover faster since her family technically growls a lot too. 

"They're twins, however, Eli is a werewolf and Elise is a vampire," Val whispers into my ears. My eyebrows raise in wonder. 

Elise nods at us, indicating she heard us. "Please do not fear us despite the physical difference we have. Really, all of us are the same in the inside," she tells me.

I nod uneasily and turn to my lunch to eat quietly while listening to the conversation. Valerie does the for the both of us since I am not comfortable enough to talk to these strangers. I listen as Valerie tells them that both of us are human and does not elaborate any further. I am guessing she'd rather not expose the possibility of her being a Minotaur or a demigoddess. In some ways, I can understand that Val accepts the fact that she is not supernatural like her family. Valerie fits right into school and people.

Me? I am starting to regret coming here. It's not just because of the fact that other supernatural beings make me nervous, but I have discovered that I am painfully shy in a huge crowd. 

"I have to go," I mumble once I am done with my lunch. I'd rather be by myself than stay in a crowd. Valerie waves me goodbye and makes me promise to wait for her after class. I flee for my next class when I am interrupted halfway by a group of three girls. 

"Where do you think you are going, human?" one sneers. Her red eyes flash hungrily. 

I take a step back and put my hand in front of me like daddy used to teach me. "I am looking for no trouble."

She ignores me and corners me to a less crowded area. I panic in silence when her small group blocks off any possible exits. 

"New blood in the market," she says with a smirk, her fangs now exposed. I swing an arm and my fist hits her face before she can bite me. 

She puts a hand on her slightly bruise in surprise before snarling at me. Before anything can happen, someone come for my rescue and pull the vampire bully away from my face. Elise snarls nastily at the bully and throw her aside. 

"I warned you, Becca. I warned you not to feed from any of the humans in this school and yet you disobey me," Elise growls with her red eyes growling brightly. 

The bully - Becca - shakes her head and glares at me. 

"Leave," Elise hisses at her. 

A second later, Becca and her friends disappear. Elise turns towards me, still looking worked up. She takes in a few deep breaths and then calmly say, "You should go to class now."

I nod and walk around her before heading to class. 

"Thanks," I whisper.

That's when I learn that school isn't as butterflies and sunshine as I thought it would be. Humans and supernaturals are still learning to live with each other. 

And yet, I belong in a category where I cannot reveal my true self unlike the rest of the population in school.