The car came to a screeching halt, rattling me back into consciousness.

I reached up to rub my eyes, but then remembered the hours worth of eye shadow sitting on my eyelids.

A blaring horn sounded, beeping once, twice and then at least another four times in quick succession. 

"Stupid! A*hole," My mum shouted, rolling down the car window like her life depended on it, "the lights green! Meaning I go. You stay. What's wrong with you? Blithering idiot!"

"Calm down mum," I murmured.

My mum looked back at me through the rearview mirror and sighed, giving me a faint smile.

"Sorry, honey," she said, "just one more thing."

And with that, I saw my mother stick her middle finger out of the window and shout something extremely unintelligible at the top of her voice before pressing the button to bring the window back up.

I bit back a smile. It's not often my mother gets mad at people on the road, but when she does, she goes full-on T-rex.

"So," my mother asked, as we started moving again, "how are you feeling?"

"Fne."

What I meant to say was 'terrified, scared, worried, lonely, afraid...' pretty much everything that fits under that particular umbrella, but, I didn't want to worry anyone.

It's hard enough having to start a new school, but going to a boarding school is even harder.

I entered for the scholarship, thinking I would never get it. I thought that getting into my dream school would be impossible. Since year seven, I have wanted to leave Moorfield High. To actually be the new girl instead of being asked if I was one. To have new people who I could be friends with, people like me, who tried hard, and loved to read classic novels and sing songs that may or may not  be considered old. I just wanted to leave the world where nobody saw me behind.

But now that I'm here, rolling through the school gates, I feel the urge to turn around and go back to the world I so desperately wanted to escape. At least I was safe there. I knew people would never notice me, so when they couldn't remember my name it didn't sting anymore, well, not as much.

I didn't really pay attention to the fact that I was going to be boarding when I sent in my application and essay. I relished in the thought of being free, being able to start again and so I, of course, forgot about the fine print.

I'm scared.

Scared, to be without Tiffany and my mum, they're the only ones who make me feel seen, not just a blur in the hallway. I'm afraid that Blateswell will be just like Moorfield, or worse. Worried that my roommates will hate me, and I won't be able to keep up with everyone academically. I'm basically afraid of everything there is to be afraid of when going to a new school. A boarding school.

My thoughts and I bought a battle inside my head as my mum pulled up into the school car park, neither of us won.

"Okay," my mum said, turning on the hand brake, once we were parked. "Are you ready?"

I nodded.

Then shook my head.

Then did a weird mixture of both.

"It'll be fine, honey. And if you hate it here that much you can come back home and finish the rest of the school year back at Moorfield, okay?"

I smiled, she had no idea how much I dreaded that.

The going back to Moorfield part, not the going home bit.

I stared at my hands for a few seconds while my mother stepped out of the car and started to unload my boxes and bags and then I opened my door, coming to join her.

I reached into the boot and pulled out one of my teal suitcases. I didn't dare to look over my shoulder, at... you know... the people, but it was nice to hear laughter and people walking around or riding bikes around the school grounds. I laughed when I heard the unmistakable sound of a book being whacked playfully on someone's head.

My mum and I casually yanked the rest of my belongings out of the car and I reached up to press the button that would close the boot, clumsily dropping my bag in the process.

I sighed and bent down, securing my hands around the straps and get up.

I hear a wolf whistle behind me but I choose to ignore it, knowing its not directed at me.

I glance at my mum who quickly covered her mouth, her eyes glittering with laughter.

"What's so funny?" I asked, juggling a box and a suitcase and placing them as carefully as I could on the ground.

"Oh, nothing," my mother replied, coughing and wiping away the tears in my mind. "It's not that funny."

I glared at her, not wanting to miss out on something that could put me at ease.

"It's nothing, Melissa! It's only funny if you're your mother, and you are not your mother, I am. So, it's not going to be funny for you."

I rolled my eyes, now I need to know what's happening. It could be one of those embarrassing moments where your parents take a picture of you on your first day of school, of course, whilst you are completely unprepared and your hair is flying everywhere.

I've never really cared about my looks but even I know that is embarrassing.

"Look, if you must know," my mother says, placing yet another box at my feet. "I'm laughing because that guy just whistled at your and you didn't even notice."

I stifled a gasp.

"There was no way he was whistling at me mum, he just wasn't."

My mum let out a little giggle but soon covered it up with a cough once she caught a glimpse of my face.

"He was."

I cleared my throat.

"Okay, I'll stop!"

My mum started to look around, peering into her purse, searching for a mp of the grounds.

I took this as my chance to finally get a good look at my new home for the next school year.

It's stunning.

Everything about it is a dream come true.

The grass is luscious and green, the buildings are old and beautiful, there is a large fountain in front of the magnificent, dark, wood doors and there are so many large windows in sight, letting the natural light in. There are trees everywhere in sight, perfect spots for reading and revising and there is a sports area along the side.

I start to turn around, my eyes darting from one place to another, Every way I look there is something new to be excited about.

I was so engrossed in my surroundings that I didn't realise everything and everyone had gone deathly quiet. And not because it was the end of lunch.

I quickly moved around so that I was facing the way of the field with the trees.

Nope, they're all definitely still there.

They're just not saying anything, doing anything or going anywhere.

They're all staring at me.

I look around me awkwardly. There's no one else not in school uniform. No one else stood with half a dozen boxes at her feet and there is no one else frozen to the spot next to her car, looking like she's scared to death.

The silence continued and I flicked my eyes across the field, scanning from face to face. Some glared at me - mostly girls and a few boys, some smiled charmingly - the majority of the boys, and a few had dropped jaws - boys and a few girls.

I suddenly felt really self-conscious. Have I got something on my shirt? I quickly glance down. No. Am I dreaming? No, I pinch myself, just to make sure. Then something really odd is going on, something I'm not quite comfortable with.

The silence went on for a minute longer but was abruptly interrupted by a boy zipping by on a bike.

He looked at me, eyes wide.

He was too late to stop his bike from crashing into the tree.

I heard a small, "Argh." and so I went over to help as others just stared, the silence resuming.

"Hey," I asked, bending forward to pull up the boy's bike and lean it against the tree. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"Oh, I'm fine." The boy said, laying on the ground with his eyes closed.

His dark, almost black, hair was a little bit wavy at the tips. His tanned skin was clear with a few freckles here and there. His eyebrows were thick and his lips were tin. I couldn't see his eyes. 

"You don't look fine to me," I replied, sitting down on the grass and tapping him lightly on the shoulder.

"Ow!" He shouted, his eyes popping open and his arm darting to cover his wound. "What was that fo... I mean, hello, nice to meet you, I'm Darren."

Um. Okay.

"Hi, Darren, I'm Melissa," I replied, "I'm sorry I hurt your shoulder."

"Oh, it's nothing, just gave me quite the shock."

I nodded, smiling at him as he sat up.

"So," he said, "You're new right? I would know if I'd met you before."

"What?"

"Uh, I mean..." He said, getting flustered, "Everyone knows everyone here, I mean I would've known you if you were, in fact, not new."

"Oh," I said laughing and staring at my hands.

"So you are new?"

I nodded sheepishly.

"I guess that means everyone's going to know that I'm not from around here, right?"

"Afraid so. Bad luck."

I chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and standing up. I wiped the grass off of my jeans and looked back at my mum who was putting away her map and waving at me from the car.

"I should go, I've got unpacking to do. It was nice to meet you, Darren."

"Yeah, you too!"

I stood back up, walking away, waving over my shoulder at Darren who was standing up and reaching for his bike.

I was halfway there to my mother when two boys came up to me, smiling cheekily.

"Hey there," A boy with chocolate brown hair and blue eyes said, his chiselled jaw was maybe just a little distracting.

"Hi," I whispered, looking down.

No, Melissa. Now is the time to be confident. Don't let yourself be invisible too. Even if these guys just want to tease you and get answers for an upcoming test - which I wouldn't be much help in any way, I only just got here.

You have to make a good impression, Liss.

"Oh, I see we've got a shy one." The other boy said. He is just as handsome as his friend.

"Who said that?" I asked, smiling and looking him straight in the eye.

They looked at each other, smirking.

"So, what do you say, new girl? Want some help?" Blondie asked.

"Well, I think it would be good for me to get a good look around the school, with no distractions, you get it?" I replied, "But maybe let's start with your names?"

This doesn't feel right.

I don't sound like me.

"Oh, yeah," They said in unison.

"I'm Dominic," said Blondie.

"I'm Harry," said Dominic's friend.

I nodded, smiling at them.

"What about you?" Harry asked, running a hand through his hair.

"Well, where would the mystery be in that? I can't give you all the answers."

Am I flirting?

I'ver never done that before.

The boys are laughing at my bad jokes and looking at me weirdly.

No one's every looked at me that way before - like I'm not invisible.

Tiffany says flirting is what people do when they want someone to like them romantically.

I do not want these boys to like me in that way.

What do I do now?

"So, what classes are you in?" Dominic asked.

"I'm not sure, I haven't picked up my timetable yet."

"We'll come with you if you want," Harry asked, he looks hopeful and I hate that I am about to turn him down.

"It's alright, I'm sure you boys..." I was interrupted by the bell ringing, slicing through all the conversations happening in the background. "...have other places to be."

"Oh, right, yeah." Dominic said, "I can't get another late Harry, we gotta go!"

Harry rolled his eyes, "Such a goody-two-shoes, that one." He whispered, pointing to his friend. I laughed, shaking my head.

Dominic slapped Harry on the back and started running towards the school building. They turned briefly, shouting back there goodbyes.

I waved and burst out laughing whilst watching them scrap and shout at each other, sprinting to class.

I started jogging back to my mum, who was blatantly staring at me.

"What?" I asked, slowing to a walk as I neared the car.

"Were those boys?"

"Um, yes?"

"Melissa - I have never seen you talk to boys the way you just did. Ever."

"Mother - I have never talked to boys the way I just did. Is there something wrong with me? Did I fall over and suddenly become visible?"

My mother shook her head and a smile started on her lips.

"No, honey," she said, putting her hand on my shoulder, "It's because you look absolutely beautiful."

Beautiful.

Beau-ti-ful.

Bee-you-tea-full.

Sure. Let's go with that.

I shook my head and laughed. "Mum, that's not what happened, They probably just want to make friends with the new girl. To buddy me up so I'll do their homework, or forgive them if they forget about me straight away - I mean, at least they made the effort."

My mother looked saddened at this, that I was so used to being nothing, but she plastered on a smile, and grabbed two boxes, stacking them on top of each other.

"Let's get you in there. It's your time to shine, honey."

I smiled at her, pulling along a suitcase in each hand.

This should be interesting.