Storm's POV

Stella approaches me nervously as if I've just caught her about to bail out on me.

"You weren't actually going to bail out on me, right?" I ask.

Stella shakes her head.

"Good. My parents are working and my sister, River, would be shut in her room as usual so there will be nobody to disturb us," I tell her as we walk out of the gates together.

I find Sophie and Emma chatting to a group of cool boys.

"Hey!" I call out, waving.

All the boys in that group and my BFFs' mouths drop to the floor.

I walk over to them, not caring that Stella is hanging back.

"What are you doing with that loser?" they all hiss, eyebrows raising pointedly at Stella.

"We have a project to do," I explain.

"Oh, right. I forgot. The project for English," Sophie remembers," Have fun!"

They chatter excitedly as they leave me, making me feel left out.

"Let's go," I say.
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A chilly breeze wafts through the window next to my seat on the bus. Stella's useless when it comes to having a conversation so I'm talking to a pair of cute boys in my year group. I overheard them saying that they're having a home welcoming party this weekend(because their new to Minehead) so it draws me into their discussion and I'm successful of receiving an invite. Eventually, they have to get off at their stop so we say goodbye and that we'll see each other at the party.

"Storm is cute. I wonder if she's got a boyfriend," one of them comments as they leave.

"Yeah. It's just weird for a popular girl to hang out with the a girl like the one who's sitting next to her. She has nice looks but is as quiet as a mouse," the other adds, nodding.

What an insult! They think that I'm hanging out with Stella by choice! We are enemies and that will never change. Suddenly, I become aware that she's staring at me.

"What are you staring at?" I question rudely.

Shrugging, Stella removes her gaze on me and seems to find more interest in what she's reading on her phone. Good, I think as I place my earplugs into my ears, the less we have to do with each other, the better. Music fills me for the rest of the bus ride...

OUCH! A sharp tug at the sleeve of my shirt revives me from my daydream. Slightly confused, I turn to discover that the person responsible is Stella and I throw daggers at her for disturbing me for a presumably silly reason. In reply, she points at our bus stop - I told her which one - which is now outside.

Oops! I must have forgotten to keep on the lookout for when to get off. Both of us jump off our seats, run down the aisle, say our thanks to the driver and step off the bus before the doors shut to start its journey to the next stop. For a moment, we stare after the bus, which has now become a green dot in the distance.

"Thanks," I whisper.

The aftertaste of the words of gratitude to my new enemy tastes sour on my tongue and I shout at myself silently of why I just did that.

"No problem," Stella responds, the corners of her mouth twitching into a smile.

Did I just witness Stella Johnson, the girl who always wears a miserable look, smile? It's like people say: there's a first time for everything, which means that there's a first time for her to look happy, even if it only lasted for a second...

I pull my coat tighter around me. It's only autumn and I'm frozen to death; chills run down my spine just thinking of the weather during winter. Day by day, the trees are getting barer and barer until one day, there will be no leaves hanging on them at all while the days are becoming shorter, resulting for the nights becoming longer. By now, my body feels numb and the only reason why I keep going is the image in my head of my warm and toasty house, supplying hot chocolate with melted marshmallows.

Yum! I'm licking my frozen lips as my house gets closer and we find ourselves on the doorstep. My pockets jingle like a Christmas tune while I search for my keys, trying to be as fast as I can so that I can be in my heated house sooner. My numb fingers fumble with the keys in the lock that it takes longer than intended to kick off my plain black pumps by the doorway. Since I had unlocked the gate to enter the front garden, I've noticed that Stella has been glancing around, looking uncomfortable.

I suggest for her to leave her coat, shoes and bag by the door and lead her along the decorated corridor.

"I can give you a tour first, if you want," I advise.

I receive the normal answer with the shoulders.

The tour starts with the living room, which has the colour scheme of black and white. A plain white rug is placed on top of the dark, wooden floorboards, and a transparent coffee table is situated in the middle with a black sofa and two armchairs on either side of it. The walls have shelves of books based on medicine and a small mirror hangs above the fireplace that is burning with coal.

Next, we enter the kitchen, which has a modern design and the colour scheme of white. Two lights with covers hang low from the ceiling, just above the island with four low bar stools. Around the room, there are cupboards, cabinets, drawers, a fridge, a microwave and an oven. The dining room is next on the tour with a wooden table, black chairs and a grey rug. That's all of downstairs toured. Now, upstairs!

When the climb up the stairs, I briefly point to the doors labelled 'Toilet', 'River's bedroom' and 'Mum and Dad's bedroom/office'. Finally, there's my room. If you just take a quick glance at my bedroom, it would look like the plainest room you have ever seen because it has a white single bed, a white desk, a white wardrobe and chest of drawers. On my fifth birthday, my parents had surprised me by transforming the spare room into my new bedroom.

"You're a big girl, now. Big girls have their own room," they told me.

However, I was disappointed at how boring my new room was so I had got my parents to buy me glow in the dark star stickers and I was satisfied. I smile at that memory before closing the curtains. Stella gives me a look of confusion as she watches me.

"You'll see," I say. I click the switch and the glow in the dark stars beautifully shine in the pitch-blackness.

I struggle not to laugh at Stella's eyes popping out.

"Stella. It means star," she softly whispers.

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I feel a hot chocolate moustache above my lips and giggle quietly. Do you know what's the best? Hot chocolate with melted marshmallows and a snack of chocolate digestives! Above me, I hear the slam of a door and footsteps tapping on the floorboards.

"Storm, I hope you haven't finish the chocolate...digestives."

My twenty-one-year-old sister, River is now at the bottom of the stairs and stops when she sees Stella.

"River, do I have to write it down for you? There's a place called a shop. From a shop, you can buy chocolate digestives," I explain in an over exaggerated manner, stressing each word.

But, it looks like my older sister is no longer interested in biscuits by the way she's staring at the girl seated next to me.

"You didn't tell me you were having someone from school over," River states.

"How can I when your head is always stuck in the books?" I argue.

"It's OK, sis. No need to be jealous that I'm smart and you're not."

"It's already bad having a nerd for a sister. Imagine how it would be if I became a one."

"Nerd? Is that the name of a person who puts effort into all their work?"

"So, you're saying that I don't?"

"Yes."

"Well, you're wrong because the reason why Stella is here is because we working on a project together. Let's go, Stella!"

I storm upstairs, Stella hot on my heels. Jumping onto my bed, I feel a weird, uncomfortable object underneath me: it's my teddy bear. I forgot to hide Mr Cuddles! Looking around my room, I frantically search for a hiding place but it's too late. Stella has jogged into the room and seen Mr Cuddles in my arms!

Here, it comes...the teasing, the sneering and the name calling. I wait for it but Stella does none of that.

"What's it name?" she asks.

I'm still wary of her mocking me but for some reason, I trust her.

"Mr Cuddles," I timidly respond.

Then, Stella shakes Mr Cuddles' paws as if it's a real person.

"You don't think it's babyish?" I question.

She shakes her head.

"You won't tell anyone at school?" I ask.

Stella mimes zipping her mouth, the answer that I was hoping for.

"I guess we should start our project," I suggest.

She shrugs.

"OK. So I was thinking that the way we could do it is that because we're at my house, I get to ask the questions about you today and next time, when we're at your house, you get to ask the questions about me. OK?" I explain.

"Um..."

"Perfect!" I exclaim.

I scribble down Stella's name and surname.

"So, you live with your parents. Do you have any siblings?"

"No," was her brief answer.

"You lucky girl! Can River move in permanently with you?" I joke as I write down:

Lives with her parents and has no siblings.

Stella's face stays blank. I clear my throat.

"So, where did you used to live? You know, before you moved to Minehead," I question.

"Bristol," was her yet again one-worded answer.

"Have you been living anywhere else apart from Minehead and Bristol?" I ask, pen ready in my hand.

"No."

On my paper, I write:

Been living in Bristol up until she moved to Minehead.

"Why did you move to Minehead?" I question.

"You already know," Stella confuses me with her answer.

What does she mean?

"I don't know what you're talking about," I stutter.

"Because my parents were dumb enough to move to this dump," Stella replies, smirking.

I blush, ashamed. Thank goodness that there's nobody here from school to witness Storm Jackson getting a burn from Stella Johnson.

"Sorry that I said that," I murmur with my head down," So, why did you move here?"

The mischievous twinkle that had sparkled in Stella's eyes for just one second fades.

"I...uh have relatives here," she stutters.

"Oh, really! Tell me their names. This town is so small, that we basically know everyone," I gabble, intrigued.

"Ask me another question," Stella orders sharply.

The abrupt change in the tone of her voice shocks me so I quickly note down:

Moved to Minehead because she has relatives here.

"What are your parents' nationalities?" I ask cautiously.

Suddenly, Stella stands up from her seat.

"What's the matter?" I question, confused.

It's as if she doesn't hear me because I'm left in my bedroom, puzzled while the front door slams.

River calls out.

"That girl looks familiar."