"I'm stealthy, like a ninja." - Steve Harrington

My head is absolutely pounding when I open my eyes and I'm reminded once again of why I hate drinking, I barely remember getting home last night I was that wasted.

I entertain the idea of ditching school to sleep in all day for no more than a few seconds when I remember that one time that Jim came home early to find that I'd skipped school and I shudder involuntarily.

No doubt my mother has already left to make the morning shift at the diner and Jim will have left early to open up the car dealership. I know my mother hates the long hours and disagreeable customers but it's one of the only jobs that she's been able to hold onto.

And as much as I hate Jim, my mother did manage to convince the guy to get me a good price on a Toyota Celica Supra, and with some money I had saved up from helping her with shifts at the diner I managed to afford it.

The freedom that came with owning my own car was unimaginable no matter how expensive it may be to fill with gas. So after finally managing to drag my ass out of bed and get dressed, I grab my bag from the floor of my messy room and started her up.

* * *

As I pull into my usual parking spot, I glance at the school entryway with distaste.

The wind howls as the students arrive throughout the parking lot, hustling and bustling out of cars and towards the corridors of hell. Friends are greeting each other with a hug or a playful punch while the spare few newcomers stand looking scared. The seniors stand, tall and proud, confidence born of experience.

I desperately try to evade my eyes from Steve's car that's parked a few spots to my right but it's useless, I'm drawn to him as usual. I try not to let it effect me when I see Nancy sitting in his passenger seat, but when she says something to make him laugh I feel a sharp pain in my chest and finally manage to avert my eyes.

I didn't love Steve, I know that. We may have dated and I may have really liked him but I never loved him and I think that's what had finally forced him to made up his mind.

That and fucking Nancy Wheeler.

My subconscious taunts me in the back of my mind.

Sometimes I can't help but think back to the person I used to be, back when I was dating Steve. I was the perfect cheerleader type, model student and the girl that all the boys desperately craved. I lived to impress, I always wore my hair in a particular way, my clothes were always pristine and I had goals and knew where I was going.

It was disgusting, really. I had everything figured out.

But then Jim came along, flipping my whole world upside down and ultimately ruining my life. Steve and Nancy started hanging out by themselves and I managed to lose my boyfriend and best friend at the same time because I was too busy dealing with my own shit to notice that they were falling in love with each other.

After all this, I had what most people would classify as a breakdown. I threw all my clothes out and replaced them with items I never would have been caught dead in before, I put pink highlights in my hair, started cussing at every possible opportunity and I stopped caring about my grades and school altogether.

I still wonder what exactly happened to everyone, I know it all started around the same time that Will Byers disappeared. Steve became super distant, a bunch of the younger kids started acting really strange and the weirdest part of all was when they eventually found Will.. not too long after his body was recovered.

The whole thing was beyond strange.

As I snatch my bag and leather jacket from the passenger seat and step out of my car, my depressing thoughts are interrupted by an approaching car. 'Rock You Like a Hurricane' is blaring from the speakers as the unfamiliar car pulls in on the opposite side of the parking lot to me.

All passers by have stopped to stare, including the school's new power couple who are still leaning on Steve's car a few spots across from me. The air feels as if it's filled with a powerful electricity as everyone seems to be holding their breaths in suspense, waiting to find out who the passenger's are.

I can't help but admire the sound and appearance of the blue Camaro right before the engine is switched off, although it does bring about a very strange feeling of déjà vu. While I'm still staring I notice the Californian number plate attached to the car and figure that whoever's inside must be new to Hawkins.

The driver's side door finally opens and I find myself leaning back against my car with my arms crossed, watching as intently as those around me. You can certainly tell we don't get new students very often.

A boy who looks to be around seventeen steps out of the vehicle and from where I'm standing I can't see his face, but plenty of jaws drop.

And damn, that ass.

He's wearing a denim jacket on top of denim jeans, very tight denim jeans. His long hair is a gorgeous blonde colour and I can see the curls of his mullet from all the way back here.

As he closes his car door behind him with a crash, I watch as he takes a drag from the cigarette hanging from his mouth and then pulls it away as he turns to look right in my direction.

The first thing I notice is his eyes, I can only just make out their colour from where I'm standing but they look like a beautiful shade of green. He hasn't noticed me yet so I take a few more precious seconds to admire his ruggedly handsome face.

In my peripheral vision, I barely notice a younger girl with blazing auburn hair as she exits the vehicle on the opposite side. She doesn't hang around for long and rides off towards the middle school on her skateboard.

The rest of the high-school girls are clearly as impressed by the boy as I am. A group of them are giggling and whispering to each other like complete idiots.

I cross my arms as my eyes wander back to the stranger and with a start, I realise he's already watching me. He brings the cigarette to his lips once more before giving me a wink. Then he flicks his cigarette away and turns away, heading towards the school doors.

I'm taken aback and I have to blink a few times to fully register the fact that he just winked at me. I almost laugh aloud when I catch the glares coming my way from the girls I noticed before, little do they know they have nothing to worry about from me.

I'm far from ready to jump back into the world of guys because let's face it girls, all guys are assholes. Not to mention, that guy in particular looked like he would completely ruin my life. It seems that the most sane decision would be to steer clear.

Either way, today was certainly going to be an interesting day.

As if on cue, the bells ring and everybody runs for the doors immediately except an occasional slowcoach or chatterbox. Eventually everybody goes in except me and all is quiet; I smile to myself.

"Another school year begins," I mutter before groaning and walking in to join the others.

* * *

sorry if this seems super slow at the moment! i'm doing it on purpose because i do not want to be one of those books where the love interest fall in love right away because that's soo inaccurate it hurts.

so please bare with me while we get some character development doing on!

if you're enjoying the story so far, please consider leaving a vote or a comment below to let me know what you think xx

DISCLAIMER: as i'm editing this i've noticed a few comments about the 'all boys are assholes' line and i'd just like to make it clear that this is not my personal opinion. this book is written in first person & therefore you get to see directly into my characters subconscious thoughts. pls remember that i am not the same person as my character pls & thank u!!