Emily Browning as Mia😍😍

~•~

Breathe in. Breathe out. First day of school here I come. As I stepped my feet onto the school ground, a hurricane of anxiousness struck through my veins. Seeing the towering structures frighten me. There will be a great possibility that I might lost venturing around for my classes. Then my eyes moved to students making up and prating about their summer vacations. They looked so classy just standing there.

I wondered if I mistakenly enrolled myself in a school for model prodigies as they all look chic and expensive in their high-fashioned clothing. Is this school-sponsored by Haute Couture? Do I belong here? I asked anxiously.

"Annathea!"

"Annathea, in here!" Mia shouted as she waves at me frantically, motioning me to come over. She looked so pretty standing there in her minty summer dress wrapping her svelte body, complimented by her hazel green eyes and her designer heels. Her fiery-orange hair was curled perfectly. Standing next to her are two girls I assumed her friends.

I smiled and marched in her direction, limping. The incident yesterday hits me big time and the consolation--people throw curious glances in my way and stared like a freak.

"Sorry, I shouldn't shout your name and catch your attention." Mia smiled at me sheepishly.

"Nah. It wasn't your fault I walk like a zombie jutso in the world war dead." I said dismissively and she chuckled.

"I've heard what happened yesterday and I rebuked Steve and his friends like Barney and friends. Hahaha. Do you know Barney? The violet gay dinosaur. You know how much I love that dinosaur, right." She realized she talked too much and shut her mouth, " Oh my gosh, I'm talking nonsense again. So I was saying, I reprimand those idiots they shouldn't laugh at you that was so rude thank goodness Easton was-"

"Madeline Bridgette Angels, it's fine." I cut her blabbering.

Mia introduced me to her friends, Zonia and Luvelle who both flashed me warm smiles and greeted me gracefully. After exchanging hi's and hello's they led me to the admin building to get my schedule.

This is it. The lurking feeling to crawl back in my mom's skirt and fly back to Minnesota is quite sinewy. But a part of me is excited about these new things happening in my life and should embrace them in high spirit.

Opening the door, a loud drone of noise waved us and the sight was a culture shock for me. I am baffled by how open and liberated the people are here. Wherever I look, I see two people munching each other's faces. I averted my attention somewhere far. These scenes are strange to me, especially since I came from an all-girls school where everyone knows everyone; an institution where Catholic ministers run over the school.

In the distance, Steve stood next to his friends near the lockers and talked to girls wearing short skirts animatedly. With little doubt, those girls are members of the pom-pom team. Ms. blonde giggled when Steve whispered something in her ear. Brett was acting like a charmer as he brushed the girl's hair off her face. Phillip and Easton have this cheeky smile plastered on their faces every time girls pass their way, sending them flirtatious looks.

I looked at my reflection on the side glass mirror. Darn. How will I be able to survive this place? The idea of going home sounded enticing so I spun around, completely doing a one-eighty. But I didn't have yet my first step when Phillip shouted my name, drawing the attention in my direction. Seriously? He got a strong radar to spot me in this throng of faces.

"Hey Annathea," Phillip beamed and hugs me.

"Welcome to Costados High!" he chirped in a girly high-pitched voice.

"Geez. Thanks." I smiled.

"How was the audition yesterday?" asked Brett. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"You guess the staff thought you've outstood Jackie Chan of the stunt you pulled yesterday? Oh look, you broke your leg." He continued, a false gasp escaping his lips and a glint of mischief dancing in his green-pea eyes as his shoulder shook, trying his best not to laugh. Mia jabbed Brett's side-eyeing daggers in his way. Thanks, looks couldn't kill because he would be six feet under. Which I'll rejoice by the way.

"Great. Just a small scratch on my left knee." Liar. I broke my left ankle and received an earful from my mother. I almost can't make it on the first day. Thank God for blessing me with an amazing dad who is a medical practitioner.

Suddenly, the buzz of noise becomes louder when a group of boys made their way to the entrance. They walk so eminently and haughty as students step aside to give them enough space, ramping themselves like they own the school.

"Stop staring," Steve hissed at Mia.

"What? You're asking me to stop breathing?!" She hissed back.

"Idiot. I don't want you to die. You've just seen that boy you look constipated and seems the world conspire you."

"My blood turns dry every time I see them. Their presence is a complete eyesore ." As they both whispered, I asked curiously, "Who are they?" Their heads snapped in my direction and I clamped my mouth shut.

"Popular clique. Known jocks and were feared by everybody." Luvelle stated not breaking the stare of disgust in their way. "Except us of course."

"That guy with the tribal shirt is Lendon Williams," Zonia said, pointing to the tall, tanned with spiky black hair.

"The arrogant jerk." Brett spat bitterly. I've seen him before. He was the owner's son of William's furniture shop-- dad's friend.

"Beside him are Nate and Noah Hunson." Zonia pointed to the two identical twins who were laughing hysterically as they point random girls past their way.

"They toy girls like balls," Brett commented. "Look who's talking," Mia mumbled. "They share even the same girls though not at the same time."

"And lastly, that's Ashton,"

"The notorious bad boy who doesn't know to smile."

"I prefer the ruthless loner." Brett sneered.

"Time changed him. Look how lonely those eyes are. The goodness in him was replaced by arrogance and bitterness." The sadness in Mia's voice was crystal clear and she asserts it as if she'd known him for so long. I looked in his direction and a frown was nailed on his pink full lips. He was leaning on the wall and his hand tucked in his jeans pocket and looking in our way. I don't want to be sound assuming but Ashton's gaze wasn't leaving mine.

I averted my attention and landed on a blonde girl wearing a mini skirt that covers just below her butt, a crop top that looks like a bra to me, and killer high heels. She wears so... revealing. Good for her the school premises allow her in. She strode in Lendon's way and kissed Ashton and clung to his arm like a leech.

"And who is that?" I asked.

"That's Victoria McWicht, the school bitch." Mia said.

"She's hot and sexy and quite playful too... in bed." Brett trialed.

"Eww!" The three girls gagged in unison as my nose crinkled.

"Why do you always have to say something?" Phillip naped Brett.

"What? There's freedom of speech." Brett pouted. Everyone rolled their eyes at him.

"Those three tailing her are her little minions. They just using her for the sake of popularity, poor bitch. And guess what?" Luvelle sassed. Reluctantly, I replied what. I don't have the power of telepathy to know what people think and I suck at guessing.

"She's a psychotic queen bee but she's full of ccrraapp. It surprised me why she was the chosen captain of the cheering squad. She doesn't deserve the title!"

"Envy aren't we?" Zonia nudged Luvelle. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

We watched them in the distance and my eyes fixed on Ashton. There was something about him that is so intriguing and mysterious. I find him interesting.

The tension became thicker as the time ticked into eternity. The hatred coming into their eyes was as bright as the blue ocean sparkling in the delight of the sun's rays. We stared at each other for how long, I don't know until the bell rang, pulling us out of our reverie.

Mia clapped her hands, and an affable smile smeared across her face when all eyes set on her. She grabbed my schedule, read it, and handed it back.

"Now, you have the same homeroom with Easton. He'll walk you there. Hey!" Mia snapped her fingers in front of Easton's face. "Earth to."

"Right. Of course." He replied sending a goofy smile in my way. We strode our way through the sea of bodies. Halfway, a boy with red-brown hair bumped my shoulder and my things tumbled out of my arms. A group of boys cackle at the end side where I stared helplessly at the boy who joined them.

"Watch out!" he said. What an ass. I mentally rolled my eyes in infuriation. Was it my fault? I was the victim here, ui. Heaving a sigh, I knelt and picked up my books and warm hands lay on my shoulder sending tingles down my spine.

"You okay?" Asked the bone-chilling voice. My whole body involuntarily freezes hearing his voice. I can't be wrong, that was the same cold husky voice who helped me that night.

Slowly, I turned and I felt my insides turn to ice. Standing in front of me is no other than Ashton himself. Closely, I can see how handsome he is in his long-lashed icy blue eyes pierced into my chocolate brown ones. I can't help myself but admire his sharp strong jaw, high cheekbone, and with his night hair that falls below his forehead. No wonder why girls swoon over him.

My brain was in a deep jumble and won't cooperate with me right now. I can't trust my mouth so I simply nodded. He stared down at me for a moment before looking past me and walking away.

"Annathea, come on," Easton said, reaching my hand and dragging me away.

My brain says one thing, Ashton is the mysterious guy who helped me that night.