I hear whispers as I walk through the hallway filled with students. I feel the anxiety settle in me, I've never been the social type. Most of them don't notice me but others do. I even catch some of the whispers, they don't help my anxiety.

The comments are mostly related to my appearance and they are trying to judge me by how I look. From my appearance. From what is apparent in the five minutes that they've seen me.

Well that's going to be highly accurate, I think to myself, sarcastically.

I look down as I walk, letting my long hair cover my face. Talk about being judged, no one likes it. I struggle to find the reception. I asked some girls before and they just looked at me blankly, staring up amd down. Not going to ask anyone anymore.

Before I know it, I bump into someone causing their papers to fly everywhere and scatter on the floor.

Not again.

Rubbing the spot on my head where it got hit, I see who I bumped into.

I find a flustered girl kneeling before me, picking the papers and arranging them. I decide to help her, unlike the guy from yesterday. "I'm sorry," I say with a small apologetic smile once all the papers are collected.

"No no, it's okay," she chirps, "Are you new? I haven't seen you around." She waits for an answer, her look isn't judgemental.

"Yeah, today is my first day," I say with a nervous smile, fiddling with my fingers. She's my height, around 5'4. Her pale face is framed by beautiful red hair, all the way down to her waist. She's wearing tan baggy pants with white top.

"I'm Ava, nice to meet you!" she squeals and I feel myself smiling at her excitement. "What's your name? Do you need help?"

"Venus," I answer. She looks at me with a frown. "My name," I clarify. She whispers an 'oh' and smiles warmly.

"Can you show me where the reception is?"

"Sure, let's go."

Ava is nice, she helps me find the reception. She looks really pretty with green eyes, petite body and red hair. She also helps me get the schedule and takes me to my first class. Unfortunately, we don't have the same classes except for calculus and history.

"I'll see you at lunch, okay? Text me," she says.

I mumble an okay, relieved that I wouldn't be alone.

.

My first class is English Literature. I enter the class, my anxiety grows as I see the students seated- all busy in their own worlds. The class is almost filled. The seats are in a pair of two. I see an empty seat at the back of the class. I flop down on the chair and notice a couple of eyes turning my way.

And slowly, almost all eyes are on me.

Even the couple who were making out have stopped and are now looking at me.

Hoping everyone would stop staring at me, I look at my lap. Do I look weird or something? Is it because I'm new?

I had worn a white top with a black skirt and knee-high boots. I let my blonde hair down and didn't put on much makeup, not knowing how much I should put, except mascara and a light pinkish nude lipstick.

Does that make me look weird?

I then notice them looking at the guy next to me.

The guy I am sitting next to has put his head down on the table, on his arms, and is facing the wall so I can't see his face. Most probably, he's asleep. Hoping he would remain asleep for the rest of the class, I ignore the eyes and wait for the class to start.

"Should we tell her to sit somewhere else," I hear a girl say and a 'no' follows next. What's wrong with this seat?? Is it the guy?

Mrs Brown, the teacher, enters shortly causing the class to be completely silent. She asks me to introduce myself.

Oh no, I totally forgot about that.

"Umm, h-hi. I'm Venus Axel," I say with a nervous smile and sit down. Well, that was awkward. Can the ground open up and swallow me. I hope I didn't sound as anxious as I felt.

The class is really uninteresting. I try my best to keep my eyes open. The guy snoring lightly next to me doesn't help, his soft snores make me want to sleep as well.

The class has almost ended when Mrs Brown makes everyone groan as she says, "You are getting an assignment today."

My ears perk up. I really like doing assignments, don't judge me. Though that's what we all really enjoy doing. Judging.

"You will be writing a thousand-word essay about anything related to art. This is a group assignment that you'll be doing with your partner. The person you're sitting next to will be your partners. The assignment is due next week," she finishes.

Why, oh God, why did I sit next to this guy? I think about waking him when everyone starts leaving not only because I have to talk to him about the assignment but because the class has already finished. I shake him.

"Go away," he groans. His voice is sleepy and husky, really deep.

I shake him again.

"Hey, the class is over," I mumble as I shake him.

He turns his head to the other side and that is when my heart skips a beat.

I think I recognize him. He's the guy I bumped into yesterday.

Taking a shaky breath to calm my nerves, I shake him for the last time and then he finally opens his eyes.

Just to close them again.

Ugh. The class is almost empty so I decide to do something, a smirk making it's way to my lips. "Wake up, the class is over," I scream and that does it. He almost falls from his seat and I laugh so hard my stomach hurts.

Maybe I shouldn't have done that.

Now that I see him in daylight, I see his features clearly now. Sharp jaws and cheekbones, messy hair. He gives me a cold glare that effectively stops my laugh. He's got brown eyes. I give him a smile and mumble a short sorry, preparing to leave now that I have finally woken him from his sleep.

I can feel holes burning on my head that makes me shiver, as I walk outside to my next class. I'm pretty sure he doesn't recognize me as the girl who bumped into him yesterday.

Suddenly, I halt in my steps. Please tell me I didn't forget to tell him about the assignment.

I groan.

I have history next. If I don't hurry, I'll be late so I don't go back to inform him. I share this class with Ava but she is nowhere to be found.

I should have asked her to wait for me. I try to find the history class on my own. Walking for some minutes, I'm outside trying to find block B. I see an old building.

I'm sure this isn't where my class is supposed to be? I look around and see two boys, one of them is smoking.

"Is the little girl lost?" He says when he notices me looking, well, completely lost.

"Y-yeah. Can you help me out?" I ask them hoping they'd help me.

I see them looking at each other for some time and then they smirk a little. Why would they smirk? He throws the cigarette on the ground, stepping on it to put out the fire.

"Sure, follow me," the other one having piercing says as he holds my wrist and drags me inside. I try to pull my wrist out of his grasp, I don't like being touched. His grasp is tight, I give up.

"But you don't even know which class I have," I object which results in his faster pace and a tighter hold on my wrist.

The other guy follows I can hear footsteps. My blood runs cold. I try to snatch my hand but he holds my wrist so tightly that I'm sure it will bruise tomorrow.

They take me to one of the rooms. I scream for help and then I feel a sharp sting in my right cheek. He slapper me. He holds both of my wrists and the other just looks at me with clouded eyes.

I scream for help again, though I know there is no one around. What are they going to do? I tremble in his hold, I feel another sting in my cheek making my head whip to the side.

"Shut up," the other guy sneers as he holds my jaw tightly.

What happens next is a blur. I see someone coming in. Is he their friend? Or did he come to help me after hearing my scream?

The hold on me loosens and I see black spots in my vision. My knees turn wobbly and I close my eyes, welcoming the dark.

The last thing I see is dark brown, almost black, lethal eyes glaring at my own. They seem familiar.