It was just another day to me. Just another school to me. So why did I suddenly feel so anxious and self-conscious?

I'd never had any concern about starting a new school before. I would go in and just endure the lonely, uncomfortable experience. My father would complete his investigation, and then we'd move on to the next location in a few weeks and repeat the cycle.

But this was different. I was used to huge city schools with thousands of students. Not a small town school with less than two hundred kids in total. There was no way I could blend into such a small crowd until we were done in this town, I was going to stick out like a sore thumb for being the new kid.

As I walked through the front door of the grey building past several groups of whispering kids, all of which I was pretty sure were gossiping about who I was, I tried to coax myself into staying calm. My heart was pounding heavy in my chest from anxiety.

"Just breathe." I recited over and over taking in my surroundings. The blizzard outside was ceaseless, I guess I should just be grateful to be in here rather than out there in the cold. My wavy blonde hair was now a damp matted mess too, not even my heavy puffer jacket could save me from being attacked by the weather as I had walked here this morning.

It took me all of about five minutes to locate the office in the school. As I waited for my schedule patiently, I was met with 101 questions from both the head principal and the office receptionist. Everyone wanted to know about the investigation taking place up within the reserve. My father and I had only arrived here yesterday, we spent all evening unpacking and buying groceries, my father hadn't even been to the scene of the crime yet.

"My father can't release classified information, I'm sorry." I apologised smiling weakly at the two before me as they handed me over my schedule. I bid them farewell and turned quickly on my heel before they could pester me any further. As I headed back out into the small corridor full of students rushing to their lockers frantically I began to feel slightly more at ease. Now this is what I was used to.

"It's Eliza right?" A voice called out from beside me and I nearly hopped out of my skin as I realised I had been daydreaming.

"Y-Yes." I stuttered turning to face the inquisitive voice only to come face to face with the girl who had previously knocked me onto my ass yesterday outside of the diner.

"Sophia right?" I wracked my head trying to think of her name, hoping I got it right. Looking down I took in her appearance and yet again she stood before me wearing denim shorts and a thin vest. "How are you not freezing?"

Sophia merely laughed at my statement and shook her head. "I don't feel the cold that much. I have a high metabolism and I play a lot of sports."

"You do know there's an actual blizzard outside though right?" I answered cheekily and instantly mentally scolded myself at how rude I had just sounded. Me and my smart ass mouth. It was really none of my business what she wore. Feeling like an absolute spastic I tried to change the subject. "Are you a local?"

"I guess you could say that." She answered mysteriously smiling from ear to ear. What was so funny? "You're the detectives daughter right?"

"Yea that would be me. People are already talking huh?" I grumbled dissatisfied. It was weird having people be so interested in my life and background. Usually at my other schools people wouldn't even pass me a second glance.

"It's a small town." She comforted me sympathetically. She got that right.

"Sophia." A stocky guy called out as he stalked towards the both of us with intent. He was beyond the norm of what tall should be, he was 6ft 5 at the very least. His shoulders were broad and every muscle on his body looked like they had been swollen up from intense steroids and working out. The hair on his head was dark midnight black and his eyes were a golden amber colour. He didn't even look human but he was intensely attractive and that I couldn't deny.

"What are you doing?" He shook his head warningly at Sophia. Whatever was wrong he didn't seem impressed at all. He didn't even glance in my direction once.

"I'm saying hello to the new girl. Eliza this is my friend Ben. And that idiot over there approaching us is his twin brother Barry."

"What. Are. You. Doing?" Ben continued to hiss and I cleared my throat assuming that was a direct slight towards me. He obviously didn't want her conversing with me.

"Excuse me if I'm being presumptuous right now, but do you have a problem with me?" I demanded crossing my arms over my chest. I would not stand there and be subjected to such ignorance by some ass-twat that didn't even know me.

Ben's attention and glaring gaze fully locked onto me and I couldn't help but gulp from the intimidating aura that radiated from him. His identical twin brother Barry came up to stand beside him wearing the exact same expression. Oh god.

"Guys stop you're scaring her" Sophia laughed taking the whole interaction light heartedly before shoving them playfully.

Suddenly the bell resonated throughout the halls signalling that first period was about to start and I looked down at my schedule in panic. Where was I first?

"Room 5 Honours Biology." Sophia read out aloud over my shoulder. "That's just the red door down there on the left."

I smiled gratefully at her as she pointed in the direction down the hall. How nice of her. "Thank you."

"I better go. Enjoy your first day newbie." She chirped before grabbing the two brooding beasts standing next to her and dragging them away with ease.

What was their problem? Sophia seemed nice but something about the two boys unsettled me greatly. And what was with the way they all dressed? Both boys had been dressed in shorts and a t-shirt as well. Were they even human? There was a code red blizzard outside.

As I walked into my first class of the day, the teacher at the front of the classroom looked at me expectantly with her eyebrows raised.

"Eliza I assume?"

"Yes." I spoke lowly nodding my head a little to eagerly out of nerves, not liking the attention and looks I was receiving from everyone already in the lab.

"Great. Take a seat anywhere that's not occupied Eliza."

I licked my lips apprehensively and scanned the room for an empty seat. Third row in was an empty seat next to a girl with an auburn fishtail braid. She looked rather normal and quiet. As I took a seat next to her, the blonde girl sitting in front of me swung around on her stool to get a better look at me.

"Was that Ben and Barry I seen you talking to in the corridor this morning?" She quizzed me and I looked to the girl sitting next to me in shock unsure of what to reply. The auburn haired girl merely looked at me and shrugged so I turned my gaze back to the blonde before me.

"How do you know them? They never speak to anyone. How did you get them to speak to you?" She continued and I had to shake my head to knock myself out of my flabbergasted trance.

"Oh um I bumped into Sophia yesterday. I don't really know them all that well. They seem nice though. Intimidating but nice."

"You got the intimidating part right. They're weirdos. Ben and Barry are gorgeous but they never leave that girls side." She informed me and I nodded my head not really bothered about what she was saying to me at all. She was obviously a gossip.

"Maybe they're just really close friends?" I suggested smiling trying to remain friendly but the blonde before me seemed adamant to keep gossiping .

"The reserve kids never interact with anyone .. well apart from amongst themselves. They're all weirdly close if you ask me-"

"Ms Daniels if you would please turn around I'm about to begin class." The teacher called out interrupting the blonde before me. For the rest of the period I was left pondering over what the girl before me had said. What did she mean reserve kids?

The day went past rather quickly after that. It was a small school so I got used to where each of the classrooms were rather quickly. I didn't see Sophia and the others at all. I didn't speak to anyone else after my encounter with Ms Daniels the blonde either. I kept my head down at all times. When it came to lunch I sat by myself in an empty classroom with my lunch box as I was too nervous to go explore and socialise. My anxiety was really bad today.

As the day came to an end I was glad that gym was last period. After changing in the girls locker room, I walked out into the indoor basketball court where I was met with a bunch of girls standing around talking. Sophia stood separate to the crowd with a gang of girls who I assumed were her friends. Taking in their appearances they stood out amongst everyone else, they were extraordinarily pretty and all had a similar toned build like Sophia's.

I waved shyly at her and she gave me a smile in return. The girls surrounding her turned and gave me a once over making me feel highly self-conscious before they returned to whispering amongst themselves. Any thoughts of approaching them vanished from my mind.

"You must be Eliza." A voice spoke next to me and I nodded my head yet again out of reflex to the same statement I had been hearing all day long. Standing next to me was what I assumed to be the gym coach.

"I heard from the principal that you have quite the flare for sports. You've an impressive record in both basketball, archery and track." He praised and I nodded my head confidently. Sports was something I had always excelled in. It was where I got to let go of all my anxiety and frustration.

"Yes Sir. My father goes for a run every morning so I built up my stamina training with him over the years for track, and well with basketball and archery I have a keen eye when it comes to aiming." I spoke proudly.

"How would you feel about joining the basketball team? I know you mightn't be with us here at Barnaburgh High for very long but we're down a team member and could use someone with your skills." He generously offered and I nodded my head enthusiastically. It had been a long time since I got to play on a team properly. Even if it was only for a short period of time while my father solved the investigation here, it would give me something to do other than study.

"Ok line up everyone!" The coach boomed and I instantly jumped into action running over to everyone else. "We're going to be playing some basketball for this period. This half on one team and you half on another." He pointed splitting the group up into two teams.

After we were all set up in bibs and what not, the game started and Sophia jumped into the air at an unnatural height to grab the ball in the air. I stood dazed for a second before shifting up the floor alongside her in support as a teammate. As she ran I couldn't help but notice at how unnaturally fast and fluid she moved. I considered myself to be both extremely fit and fast, but she was on a whole different level. She dodged between the other players coming at her with ease. She jumped in the air again, shot for the hoop, and scored with no difficulty making it look effortless.

As we moved back down the gym to try and regain the ball one of Sophia's friends swooped in. She too dribbled back up and scored just as effortlessly as Sophia had. This continued, Sophia and her friends having full possession over the ball at all times. The points on our side had multiplied like crazy within minutes.

My mouth was hanging open. They were unnatural with the way they moved, dodged, jumped. I felt like I was the only one seeing how inhuman their actions were. As the ball was finally passed to me, I gratefully took the opportunity to show my skills off to the coach. Dribbling the ball to the three point line, I hook-shot the basketball all the way into the hoop scoring our team more points.

With that the coach blew the whistle signalling the end of gym class and shot me a thumb up in approval. Pleased, I smiled and felt elated that I hadn't messed anything up. Sophia and her friends cheered at me and patted me on the back in support.

"Not so bad newbie." They called out as they made their way to the door of the gym to leave.

"You guys are incredible!" I praised Sophia as I fell into step beside her. "You guys move so fast, are you even human?" I joked shaking my head in disbelief. Now I hadn't meant it in a bad way. It was just a joke after all. But apparently it wasn't as funny as I had thought.

Sophia looked at me nonchalantly, she didn't even crack a smile. "Don't be absurd."

And with that she walked off following her peers into the changing rooms leaving me standing all alone confused and uncomfortable in the gym. What did I say wrong?