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"Hadlee!" I called when I spotted the familiar brunette standing in front of a locker.

I had just walked in through the school's double doors when the first person I spotted happened to be Hadlee. Her hair was pulled back in a braid and she was holding what looked to be a chemistry book.

The hallway was filled with students and constant chatter. I wonder how they can talk so much since I've been given the impression that there is almost nothing to gossip about. They must talk about the cloudy weather.

Every student was required to wear their uniform. If they didn't, then they would be sent home. That's what the student handbook says. The teachers were given a different type of attire to wear.

She glanced at my direction and her blue eyes lit up when she saw me. She gave me a smile, closing her locker. I walked towards her and returned the smile, my black flats squeaking with each step.

"Morning." Hadlee greeted, giving a small wave.

"Good morning. Are you feeling better?" I slowly asked.

Suddenly feeling self-conscious, I quickly glanced down at my outfit and I groaned when I saw my blazer and tie were messed up. I huffed and shifted my backpack so I was able to straighten my blazer and tighten my tie.

Hadlee chuckled and I looked up to see her watching me, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She pushed a few pieces of loose hairs behind her ear.

"Yes, thank you." She smiled and then suddenly frowned. "Why are your clothes wet?"

I chuckled slightly and ran my fingers through my damp dark hair. I winced when I hit a tough knot to break through.

"I walked this morning. It began to drizzle on me."

Hadlee blinked and gave off a small shocked expression. She narrowed her eyes in confusion before glancing behind her.

"You walked? Why?" She said in a slightly upset tone.

Her reaction shocked me a little bit and I was surprised she sounded upset. Usually, people don't care if I walk to school or not. I'm used to having to.

"Yeah. I don't have a ride, so I walked." I shrugged and followed Hadlee as she turned to face the end of the hall.

I walked next to her as she made her way through the halls. To me, the school was still a confusing maze. Every door and hallway looked the same.

"You must be the only student who walks to school." She chuckled. "I get a ride from my brother."

When she mentioned a brother, the boy who was in one of my classes came to mind. He looked very similar to her, I mean they had the same hair color and eye color. Even their facial structure looked alike.

Not like I was studying him secretly during yesterday's class or anything. How could I not? Every kid here stuck out to me, their beauty and dazzling hair. It's not fair.

"It's okay I guess. The weather here is different from what I'm used to." I shrugged my shoulders.

As we passed multiple classrooms, some teachers nodded or waved at us. Hadlee returned them with small smiles and I just kind of stared at the teachers. The uneasiness beginning to settle in my stomach.

"Well, I could ask my brother if he could give you a ride. I'm sure he wouldn't mind." Hadlee turned and smiled at me.

Should I really accept a ride to school with a stranger? It would seem rude to turn down the offer. Hadlee, so far, was being really nice to me.

Rowan and Zaylee were both nice people that I had unexpectedly made friends with, but I still didn't know them very well. I didn't know Hadlee very well either.

I remembered during Physical Education yesterday, Theo offered me a ride home. I declined his offer because I am not quite comfortable being close to anybody yet. Hadlee seems to be the exception, I feel safer around her than everybody else. It's weird, I can't explain it.

I sighed and then gave her a smile. "Sure. That would awesome."

Hadlee only gave me a bright smile in response. This would give me a good way to get to know her, and her brother, I guess. I can't help but wonder who her brother is.

"Hold on one sec, let me check what class I'm supposed to go to." I stopped walking and pulled my backpack off my shoulder.

Hadlee stopped walking and watched me as I opened up my bag. Shifting through a couple binders, I pulled out the crumpled piece of paper. I squinted to try and read the crinkled ink.

"I have Chemistry first class with Mr. Jackson." I breathed out and stuffed the paper back in my bag.

I zipped it up and flung it back over my shoulder. As I stood up, I saw Hadlee's face light up. I frowned and tilted my head at her. She patted the blue Chemistry book she was holding.

"Really? Wow, that is my first class!" Hadlee chirped, her blue eyes wide and dazzling.

At least I'll know one person in my first class. Hopefully, Rowan or Zaylee will be in this class or my second class. I still haven't seen them as we walked through the hallways.

The bell rung and students immediately dispersed among the many classrooms. The loud chatter beginning to disappear along with the crowd. Hadlee sped up her walking pace and I followed her.

She stopped in front of a classroom on the left side of the hallway and walked through the door, she turned back to look at me. As I neared the archway of the door, I read the plate. It confirmed that this was Mr. Jackson's Chemistry class.

I sighed and stepped into the square room. It was nearly filled with students, all chatting in small groups. Hadlee walked towards the back and sat down, setting her bag by the table leg.

Instead of desks, this room had lab tables set up for two people, all facing the front where the teacher's desk was. Behind the large, cluttered desk was a whiteboard filled equations that made my brain hurt.

I grimaced, remembering my strong dislike for this subject. I favor English and Literature over chemical equations. Or just any type of equation at all.

"Oh, hey Saige."

I glanced behind me to see Rowan enter the classroom. She looked at me before passing by and heading towards the back of the classroom. I swallowed the greeting I was going to say back and watched as she sat down in the seat next to Hadlee.

Damn it. As soon as Rowan sat down, both her and Hadlee glanced at each other before turning away. I slightly frowned, they don't seem to be friendly toward each other. I remember yesterday at the Nurse's office both Rowan and Zaylee stiffened when they saw Hadlee.

I honestly don't want to get involved in whatever hostility they have toward each other, but it seems I won't be able to escape it. I mentally sigh, I wish I would've been able to avoid having friends all together.

The second bell rang and I heard the classroom door shut behind me. I turned around to a very tall and slender middle-aged man enter the classroom. All the students suddenly left their groups and sat down at the tables.

"You must be the new student. No need for introductions. Just have a seat next to..." Mr. Jackson paused, observing the tables. "Nolan. Nolan, raise your hand."

I heard a sigh and turned my body, facing the classroom to see an unfamiliar dark-haired boy with his hand raised in the back. I nodded at Mr. Jackson and hurried down the aisle towards the back.

The boy put his hand down and rested it on the surface of the table. I quickly sat down on the wooden stool and put my bag by the leg of the table. I exhaled as Mr. Jackson began to talk, the students not really paying attention.

I glanced over at the boy, or Nolan, who kept a stoic face. He wasn't even looking at the teacher, but it wasn't like he was the only one. He had dark hair much like mine, it would be considered a black color. It was styled up and out of his face.

He turned his head and glanced at me with a bored expression, I instantly noticed his grey eyes. They resembled storm clouds, very intimidating. I turned away, embarrassed he had caught me staring at him.

"Well will be taking the Chapter Three test this Friday, so make sure you study." Mr. Jackson announced.

Students whispered and groaned, complaining about having to take the test. I wouldn't blame them, I'm internally groaning too. It's my second day here and I already have a test. Granted, I started later than usual due to the sudden school change.

Across the aisle, I look over at Rowan and Hadlee's table. Both of them still ignoring each other. I wish I could have been one of their partners. There is this awkward tension between Nolan and I. And I'm not quite sure what to say to break it.

I hear the clink of glass and turn back to see Nolan messing with one of the test tubes. He keeps a plain expression, twirling the small cylinder glass.

I watch as he suddenly stops spinning it. Nolan looks at me, an evil glint in his grey eyes. He reaches across me and before I can ask him what he's doing, he drops the test tube. I watch as it slowly drops, shattering into pieces next to my backpack.

My eyes widened and I look up, seeing Nolan quickly retracted his arm and acted like nothing happened. The classroom suddenly went quiet and everybody turned back to look at the glass on the floor.

"New girl, since you can not listen to instructions, I'm going to have to ask you to clean up the mess you made and leave until next class." Mr. Jackson glared at me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. What just happened? I glanced at Nolan only to see him slightly grinning. I scowled at him and stood up from my chair.

Mr. Jackson walked down the aisle and stopped in front of me. He set down a small trash bin next to the mess. I bent down and picked up the larger pieces, careful not to cut my finger. Now would not be a good time to bleed, especially since I'm surrounded by vampires.

Once most of the glass had been thrown away, Mr. Jackson picked up the trash bin and pointed towards the classroom door. I sighed and slung my backpack over my shoulder. I stood up and walked past him, ignoring all the silent stares and whispers.

I opened the door and glanced back to see both Hadlee and Rowan looking at me with worried expressions. I gave them a weak smile before exiting the classroom. I shut the door behind me and looked at the empty hall.

I turned and slid down the hallway wall, sitting on the dirty floor. I set my bag down next to me and pulled out my crumbled schedule. I guessed it would be another good twenty minutes before the bell would ring for students to go to their second class.

I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. I'm sick of the school and it's only the second day for me. Why did it have to be this school? I can't take it, I can't take in all this information.

I brought my knees to my chest and folded my arms. I rested my forehead on my arms, hiding my face from the world. All the built up emotions I had suddenly came out. The tears spilled from my eyes and I just let them.

Why did this have to happen to me? I don't know how I'll be able to survive this school year. Quite literally actually, this school was that messed up. I can't believe I'm actually crying, but I couldn't help it.

A door suddenly slammed open. "Get out of my classroom!" A woman shrieked.

I heard hurried footsteps and the same door slamming shut again. Someone sighed. Do I dare look up? I sniffed to try and make sure I wouldn't have snot hanging out of my nose. I slowly pulled my head up to see another unfamiliar boy standing in front of a door across the hall.

I wiped my eyes and nose with my blazer sleeve. The boy across the hall looked at me and raised his eyebrow. I moved my thick hair away from my face and gave him a weak smile.

He suddenly walked toward me and set his bag down next to mine without warning. I watched him with curiosity as he sat down next to me. I turned away to try and hide my red face.

I heard him unzip his bag and pull out something. All of a sudden, a white earbud was in front of my face. I cautiously took it and looked at the boy questionably. He smiled at me and pointed to his iPod that was resting in his hand.

I stretched my legs out and put the earbud in my ear, noticing that he had the other one in his ear. I watched as he turned on the iPod and scrolled through a list of songs. He selected one that I had not heard before.

I leaned in closer to read the screen, trying to figure out what the song was. Who We Are by Imagine Dragons. I listened to the music, some of the lyrics sticking out.

"We were never welcome here, we were never welcome here at all, No."

I looked up at the boy as he only continued to smile at me. I gave him a grateful smile, as the song shut out the emotional roller coaster I was on.

"It's who we are, doesn't matter if we've gone too far, doesn't matter if it's all okay, doesn't matter if it's not our day."

I moved my head back and forth to match the rhythm of the song. My eyelids slowly starting to close. I felt the boy start to move slowly as well. Suddenly, the boy spoke, the music becoming background noise.

"Rough first day?"

I opened my eyes and looked at him. He had light brown hair and brown eyes. His hair was styled to the side and he was smaller in size compared to most of the other boys I'd met.

"It's actually my second day, but yeah." I looked down, slightly embarrassed.

He laughed. "That sucks."

I chuckled and nodded. "Totally. Some asshole in my class got me in trouble."

Why was I telling him this? If you asked me that, I wouldn't be able to give you a reason. Same with why I felt comfortable being around Hadlee. It was just a feeling.

"Ooh. That's so not cool." The boy said, turning his body so that he was facing me.

I turned so that I was facing him as well. We were still connected by the headphones as a new song started to play. I wasn't paying attention to it, but it was still nice.

"I agree." I bite my lip and awkwardly extend my hand. "I'm Saige."

The boy stared at my hand before smiling. His large hand connected with my small one. It was a polite greeting.

"Well Saige, I'm Sebastian." The boy gently shook my hand before letting go.

For once I genuinely smiled, feeling a bit of happiness stir inside me. Although I was kicked out of my first class by Nolan, Sebastian came along and made it a worth it.

"Nice to meet you, Sebastian."

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★ @within_days

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★ : @within_days