The rest of the days blurred together, until my first day of classes loomed in front of me. Nerves churned in my gut as I donned my uniform. I'd been wearing it to the dining hall every day, but today was different.

Today was my first official day at Whitethorn Academy. And I wasn't prepared in the slightest. After I'd abruptly cut Naomi's tour short with my weird behavior outside of the gym, I hadn't dared venture onto campus again.

Naomi had avoided talking about the subject altogether, which I was more than grateful for. I wasn't sure what had come over me and I didn't really want to freak out the only person who wanted to spend time with me.

Loki was curled up on the bed and I gave him a quick scratch behind the ears before I shouldered my bag and headed out the door.

Ms. Rose wasn't at her desk, but her romance novel sat on her desk, closed.

Stepping out of Gamma Hall, the bitter cold nearly took my breath away.

I moved across the quad quickly, wanting to get out of the cold as soon as possible. Naomi waited for me at what had become our normal table and I grabbed my breakfast quickly before joining her.

I picked at my breakfast, watching Naomi as she picked up a French toast stick and swirled it in her syrup.

She wiped some stray syrup from her fingers. "Your first day at Whitethorn Academy. Are you nervous?"

"A little," I admitted as I pushed my eggs around on my plate. "I just... I miss home, you know?"

It was the easiest way to explain the feelings coursing through me. I didn't miss home, exactly. I missed my mom, despite everything.

She gave me a sympathetic look. "I miss my parents sometimes, too. Do you think yours will come for Parent's Day in a few weeks?"

An odd feeling washed over me. "Parent's Day?" I wasn't aware that there was such a thing.

Naomi nodded as she swirled another French toast stick. "Yeah, every few months, Whitethorn invites parents to come and see the school. It's mostly for the rich parents, hoping they donate more money to the school, but it's still a pleasant time. Do you think they'll come for that?"

I pushed away my breakfast, nausea creeping in. "I don't think so."

She tilted her head at me and put down her French toast. "Why not? Most parents love seeing the Academy."

Well, my mom sent me here because she doesn't want me anymore. I wanted to snap at Naomi, but it wasn't her fault. I knew the culprit was my step-father, but that didn't make it any easier to handle.

"You know, I think I forgot my English book in my dorm room," I told her, hastily standing. She gave me an odd look but said nothing as I moved to put away my plate.

The thought of everyone's parents arriving at the Academy, doting on their children, while mine pretended I didn't exist, made a new pain flare inside of me. I was suddenly that girl on the sidewalk outside of the police station again. The girl who was disowned by her parents.

All for an accident that I wasn't even a part of. The thought of Samantha swam in my mind, her lifeless eyes making me sick to my stomach again. And Oliver, with his barely recognizable features. I wanted to vomit.

Naomi made no move to follow me as I pushed my way through the thinning crowd and out of the dining hall.

I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn't see Mari. Not until it was too late for me to stop myself from colliding with her, again. Though this time she had nothing in her hands to spill.

"Watch it, newbie," she spat at me, her words laced with venom. Her brunette friend stood behind her with Alek.

"Whatever," I replied, too tired to deal with her drama right now. I moved to slip past her, but her hand caught my arm, her nails digging into my skin. Pain blossoming in my wrist, but I did my best to ignore it.

I winced in pain as I tried to pull away from her, only for the nails to dig in deeper. "Let go of me."

Her face turned into a sneer. "I don't think so. I'm tired of you crashing into me. You need to learn your place here, newbie." Just like last time, her eyes took on an eerie, pale blue glow. But then it disappeared as Alek stepped forward, just a few inches behind Mari's left shoulder.

He whispered something in her ear, too low for me to make out the words. Whatever it was, it had no effect on her grip on me.

"Just leave me alone." I said, trying again to pull out of her grasp.

Mari only gripped me harder, with a strength that didn't seem possible.

"Let me go," I snapped at Mari, irritation growing under my skin. It felt like a heat that spread across my skin, leaving nothing but rage in it's wake.

The blonde sneered, her painted pink lips not matching the rest of her face. "Learn your place, newbie," she repeated. "You are nothing and no one. So, stay far away from me."

Alek stepped up to Mari and put a hand on her other arm. Shocked, Mari turned to look at him in the eyes. Alek's voice was low, almost hypnotizing when he spoke. "Let her go, Mar, this is boring."

Entranced by Alek, Mari released me, giving him her full attention. Mari's friend gave a frown at my release but said nothing as I stormed away from them.

Outside, though the air was bracing and chilly, I found it easier to breathe. Mari was a mean girl who wouldn't stop until she made my life miserable. I just wasn't sure what I'd done to deserve the mistreatment.

"Hey!"

I turned, to see an unfamiliar boy walking toward me. His dark hair curled around his temples and a friendly smile graced his face, making his dark brown eyes light up.

He wore a black blazer, which was fitted close to his broad frame.

I said nothing, my tongue too tied in nerves to say anything. I'd always had trouble talking to boys, especially ones I thought were cute.

"Are you okay? I saw what happened with Mari back there."

"Oh." I cleared my throat, embarrassment flushing across my cheeks. "It's fine. Not like it's the first time."

"Yeah, I heard about the oatmeal incident."

I flinched at the mention of it. I'd forgotten the whole school had witnessed the utter failure that was my first attempt at navigating the dining hall.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to strike a nerve." He shuffled awkwardly, as if he were as nervous as I was. "I'm Jason, by the way."

"I'm Selene."

"I know. It's not every day a new student starts at Whitethorn. Almost everyone knows your name."

I gave a nervous laugh. "Everyone?"

"Basically. You're sort of rare. Most students have known each other for years. But not you. You're new. It makes you interesting."

"Trust me, there's nothing interesting about me."

"I don't believe that for a second." Jason's words sent a shot of warmth through me. He stared at me, his brown eyes seeming to take in everything about me. "Can I walk you to your first class?"

I swallowed hard, the nerves making it hard for me to function. But I found myself nodding. "I'm in Omega Hall. Room 317."

A smile lit up Jason's face, making his eyes light up again. "That's my first class too."