I stare at my reflection in the mirror and sigh. I'm wearing my new school uniform:

Black and pink tie,

White shirt,

Pink blazer,

Pink skirt,

Black tights,

And black shoes.

I think I'm honestly going to throw up.

Over the summer vacation our school burnt down. Now don't get me wrong, that building haunted my nightmares, but I'd rather still be there than be subjected to this torture.

You see, on a budgeting plan the local council had decided that instead of building a new school, they would instead merge our public high school with the local boys private high school. They had just built extensions to take more boys in every year but I guess girls worked just as well. Everyone transferring wouldn't have to pay fees but whoever joined freshman year the following year would.

We still had to wear their revolting uniform though, opposite to the laid back atmosphere of our old school. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach that would apply to the people too. Spending my senior year there was not my idea of fun. Though I was sure it would be eventful.

I'd heard the rumours. How could you not? The mere mention of Hampton High was enough to get the gossip mill churning.

Hampton was for the elite of Virginia: the lawyer's, banker's and CEO's of the state's sons. Exclusively. Many of the parents objected to the addition of us girls- commoners- but the council was desperate and they were willing to pay.

The boys of Hampton were God's in our eyes- mystical, unattainable and unknown. We'd heard about the brutally harsh teachers, high drop out rate and scathing social structure- designed to categorically weed out the elite from the wannabe's. We'd heard about the insane all night parties, the two infinity pools and lunchtime wine tasting club.

These people were infamous. Were we truly to join their hallowed ranks?

All the normal girls were practically exploding they were so ecstatic. Me, I was dreading it.

You'll think I'm being crazy: what an opportunity! Well you're wrong.

I'm anxious in the best of situations. I'm practically paralysed around my fourteen year old next door neighbour. Surrounded by rich, attractive boys my age, all day everyday, oh help me god.

They're probably all stuck up anyway. They'll look down on us all because we're from a public school, mock our accents and laugh at our non-designer jeans. We don't all have the money for a thousand dollar bags. Why can't everyone see that?

I know some pretty, sociable, richer girls will  manage to make an exception to this rule, but me? I've even gone so far to cross the road if there's a teenage boy walking on the pavement close to me. It's stupid I know, but trust me I can't stop myself, and I really would if I could.

Well, a stranger on the street is the least of my worries now as I'm about to be plunged in the deep end of the metaphorical boy exposure swimming pool ... okay bad analogy, I apologise profusely, and they say I'm smart....

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I was so nervous the night before my hands were shaking so much I could barely pick up my cutlery to eat. So I decided to walk to school the first day: praying somehow that'd calm me down. It's not like my dad's rusty, old Toyota he'd let me drive since I'd got my license at sixteen would make all that great an impression anyway. Not surrounded by the doubtless Lamborghini's owned by the mega-rich private school boys.

I amble slowly down the leaf strewn pavement of Hampton, Virginia and feel the autumn breeze through the last minute yet still perfect bun placed delicately on my eye-lined, lipsticked, powdered head. 

Not likely. Make up: basic and rushed; hair sitting in a low pony with a slightly wonky side braid and ditzy white flower clip I got when I was seven. That took me half an hour to tame into place and I had to brush it so much that it just got greasy and frizzy at the same time, leaving not the best first impression for my first day of senior year. Story of my life.

The ginger strands match the amber leaves strung across the trees that line my street. The pink of my uniform clashing horribly. Why did they have to pick pink anyway? The boys uniform was a serene blue, but just because we're girls they automatically assumed we haven't grown out of the classic girly princess faze. Sexist pigs.

I stare at the floor feeling sorry for myself, hoping to god this day will not get any worse, when something flies at me. It hits my face full on and I watch horrified as my brand new glasses catapult from their perch on my nose as I fall clumsily backwards onto my bum. Laughter reverberates through the air as I scramble across the pavement, scrabbling to locate my unfortunate glasses. My parents would kill me if they were lost.

They lie in a miserable heap at the side of the road and as I cram them onto my face I realise one of the screws has come loose, so they now hang lopsidedly over my nose. The pink of my skirt has turned an unappealing brownish hue from the dirt on the ground and I detect a smallish rip in my expensive blazer sleeve; whoever did this was going to pay. Big time.

I scan the street angrily for the culprits. Oh no.

Dread crawls over my skin as I locate and turn to face them. A group of four boys in a serene blue uniform. Of course it would be them. The universe must truly hate me.

The four boys stand in a cluster together; one has straight, longish blond hair, one quiffed light brown hair, one short, black, afro-Caribbean hair, and the last medium dark curly hair. All of them have an athletic build and the confident aura of people used to attention. Otherwise known as privileged, arrogant, pains-in-the-ass. Without thinking I march straight up to them, the offending football in hand, and say, hip cocked sassily.

"I think this belongs to you."

The boys instantly break out into raucous laughter and I feel myself blush, but I won't give up that easily.

"I don't know what you find so extortionately funny, but I suggest you take your ball and keep it the hell away from me!"

The boy with sandy hair made a confused face and asked

"Extorti-whatty-what?"

I roll my eyes and am about to just drop the ball and walk away when the tall boy with dark curly hair takes a step towards me and i can feel my heart pounding. He leans down and whispers softly, his breath tickling my ear

"Are you sure honey, cos my ball is pretty big..."

The peals of laughter begin again and my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I stare at the ground and attempt one last stand of defiance as I lob the football back at the dark haired boy and... miss. 

It hits off the bonnet of a immaculate black jaguar parked at the side of the road, setting off the cars screeching burglary alarm. The four boys turn in synchronization to look at each other, then leg it down the street. Leaving me standing there with my mouth open in a silent 'O'.

#########

"Once again I would like to say just how sorry I am Mr Tumbleweed, I can assure you it will never happen again." I say, putting on a sickly sweet smile, checking my watch impatiently

"Well it better not you little imp because I don't know what I would do without this car." Mr Tumbleweed replied venemously

"Pfft, I'm sure you could find someone else to drive you to Bingo night!" I laugh, then watching his eyebrows fly up hurriedly apologise, and turn to sprint down the street. School starts at nine o'clock sharp and it's already eight fourty. I was going to have to run, and fast at that.

As I hammer down Oakville road I wonder what this new school is going to be like and if I will fit in. So far my experience of the boys that go there was not great, even if I couldn't deny the devilish good looks of the boy with dark hair, and that chiseled jaw, and tall and tanned, slim but muscular body, and those deep brown eyes that I just wanted to melt into... Briskly I shook myself and cleared my head; he was an ignorant boy who thought that the universe revolved solely around him. I didn't even know his name anyway and I guess I didn't make the best impression on him either. Life goes on. I just hoped not everyone was like him.

It was only half and hour later that I found out.

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Hi guys hope you enjoyed that! More coming soon as I promised at least every Friday. If you liked any part of it have a quick vote and comment. I promise you, though it may mean hardly anything to you, it means so much to me! And read on there is MUCH more to come.

Who are these boys? Are they really so bad? What will Kat do? Comment opinions ;)