I rustle through the boxes trying to find my favourite pair of jeans. They are a washed out black- now almost grey- pair of skinny jeans. They, paired with my white polo shirt, checkerboard Vans and grey beanie, form the perfect combination for the new school year. I'll be able to fit in just enough that I'll be able to go invisible for my last two years. No need to socialise now, with people I know nothing about. Now I can hear you wondering, what on Earth am I going on about? So let me explain. Ahhh! Here they are, finally. Let me just quickly slip them on, so I can start on my 20-minute walk to school.

Anyway, let me introduce myself properly. My name is Noah Hunt. I'm sixteen, turning seventeen later on this year. I've lived my entire life in a small town in Tennessee. But after my mom left me and my dad (and I can't really blame her for leaving my dad - I just don't get why she left me?) my dad finally decided to get off his sorry drunk ass and get himself a job. But, you see, the only job he could get was one where no one knew who the hell he was, so we ended up here: in Centreville, Virginia. I've only ever been to Virginia once before and that was a long time ago. Now, I'm not upset in moving or leaving any friends behind or any of that. I'm just mad that it sets me back on the whole getting everything perfect for college applications. So, if you haven't already worked out, I'm what they call a "nerd". But not in the original sense of the word- oh, no- that would be boring. I'm the type of nerd who works extremely hard even though he hates it and spends his afternoons in a library because he has nowhere else to go; because my home has never been an option. I don't want friends because they are a useless hassle, and I won't see them again once I get a scholarship as far from my so-called family. But no, I don't avoid people- I'm tactical- I pick the people who surround me to be smart intellectuals too. So I always have competition, I like to be the best you see?

Now that that's settled I have arrived for my first day at school. I'm going to have to go to the main office to get my schedule. But why do all high schools in this wonderful country resemble prisons? With the brick exterior and square windows, dated interior and graffitied walls. I look up at the fluorescent lights hung low at the entrance and realise that this light may be bright but it doesn't show any truth with it. After all, these are institutions for learning, you think they would symbolise the future. But instead, they almost always look like a grave to mourn the past youth and their dead dreams. There is no inspiration here, is there any left in this world?

"Can I help you dear?" a sweet, elderly woman looked up at me. She resembled the type of woman who baked cookies for her grandchildren on the weekend and did all sorts of volunteer work. Her greying hair was pinned neatly into a bun and she wore bright turquoise, dangly earrings. She had a bright smile that seemed genuine. She obviously liked kids, if she could keep up that smile when she has to deal with arrogant, unhygienic and simply put: rude teenagers all day.

"Yes, I'm here to collect my timetable and officially enrol into classes," I said mimicking her bright tone and adding a smile just too be nice.

"Ahhh, you must be Noah. Oh, how I love that name- Noah's Arc was always my favourite story when I was a little girl." She smiled at me as she instructed me on where to sign. When we were done, I had missed homeroom, so I just began to head to my first class: English Lit, Room 301. After five minutes of wandering back and forth, I found the room. I quickly scrambled into a seat as the teacher began to take the register. The first seat available was in front of some blonde boy, who I didn't pay much attention to. But I felt his eyes on me throughout the entire lesson. Probably just curious about the new boy, that's all.

The day continued following this pattern. Me, fumbling around the school hoping I was headed in the direction of my next class, then listening to a boring lecture either on anatomy or the civil war, then hastily taking it all down in my notes for revision.

Then lunch rolled around, which brought a whole new set of difficulties. I stumbled through the doors of the lunch hall to be met with the strong smell of stale food. I looked around the cafeteria, where the main space in the middle was empty. At the far wall were stands of food and tills to pay for lunch. Then surrounding the space was an arc of twelve tables. As you moved from right to left you could see the social standards move up. The far right contained the kings and queens of the nerds. Whilst the far left table contained your common jocks with cheerleaders littered in between. Then the next two tables contained the next level of them: the second class sport jocks or the less consumed nerds. This was crucial, I wanted to pick a table where I would be accepted. I had to fit in, without being a target. The middle would be the safest bet if I wanted to stay safe and not in anyone's eye. I looked to the middle few, filled with the "norm". The closest to the left "norm" table contained what I could bet was the heads of committees and the president of year table was just next to that.

Suddenly I noticed a girl who looked happy. She had a pretty face, honey-toned skin, brown eyes and brunette hair that bobbed at her shoulders. Her small frame looked strange swinging a gym bag. She seemed popular from the friendly way she was received by everyone. Then she slightly bounced into a seat at a middle table. She was a safe bet, with her I would be protected but not noticed. Perfect for the illusion of invisibility.

With a deep breath, I slowly walked over to her. I voiced myself for the first time today since the office lady this morning and began with, "Hey, I'm Noah, I just moved here. I was wondering whether I could join you?".

The little girl span around within seconds. Looking me up and down respectively, she smiled. "Of course you can! Please join us! My name's Kate Casas, and once I was new too: I'm originally from the Philippines. It's a pleasure to meet you. Let me introduce you to everyone else, this is ......" I zoned out as she began to say their names. It was irrelevant to me- I didn't need them, just her. Kate scooted over to let me sit down. So I did, and when I pointed to her gym bag she explained to me she was the captain of the mixed track team.

"No way, at my old school, I was on the track team. Any chance I could try out- captain?" I asked her.

She thought for a second, humming softly to herself "Well try-outs were a week ago, but since you weren't in the State then, I could give you a test run today in practice. How does that sound?" Perfect. I'll be able to put the track team onto my scholarship application, for some odd reasons brains just aren't enough anymore.

"That's great, thank you, I promise I won't let you down." there is no way she won't want me once she sees me in action. I've always been good at running.

The first day of school. Yippee! Not. Basketball season doesn't start for a month, so I'm just stuck keeping up appearances for nothing. As I enter the old doors, like I've done so many times before, I see the new school year buzz surround me. Teenagers, dressed up to impress, animately talking about their summers and reuniting with friends. Everyone looks great, new clothes, neat haircuts, sporting fresh faces and eagerness that will last about two weeks before homework catches up.

I, on the other hand, look completely the opposite. I'm wearing my favourite white T-shirt and my varsity jacket (that I haven't been without since the day I got it freshman year), with dark baggy jeans and to top it off a new pair of Nikes. My hair's too long, falling onto my face ungraciously and I definitely haven't had a relaxing summer. But who cares, the girls are already fawning over me as I walk pass. After all, they have to, with the news and all, I did make history as I've been told many times now.

This was a year already doomed. I could feel it in my bones- spooky right? Yup, that's as good as this year is going to get. Anyway, I saunter over to my locker and see Lexi is already there.

"Can you move over? I need to get to my locker and you're in the way. Now shoo." Ok, I didn't mean for that to come off like that, I'm just not in a good mood. But it's fine, it's only Lexi and everything rolls off her.

"Aren't you glad to see me, babe? I thought you would appreciate me here, ready?" she says batting her lashes at me a mile a minute. Urgh, she can be annoying.

"Yeah, I do appreciate it, I'm just not appreciating being back at school, so please will you move. I'm already having a bad day." She rolls her eyes at me as she slides over, covering the next person's locker instead.

"Well, when you put it like that, how can a girl say no? You really do have a way with words Mr Silva. But ok, what is it really that's making that pretty face of yours frown?" Of all the people, why on Earth would I tell Lexi? If I did, it would be all over school by lunch. Yeah, that's not going to happen.

"Uh it's really nothing, I'm just not looking forward to the homework." She rolls her eyes again, but what she doesn't get is that I don't care.

"That's an easy fix. Just get a nerd to do it for you. Problem solved." Yeah, like I would ever do that, I need the practice if I want to get scouted by a college then make it to the NBA. But instead of responding, I just walk towards my homeroom.

"Did you forget we have the same homeroom?" she interrupts my thoughts. No, how could I forget, she is probably the loudest person in the school. But I just shrug in response, I really can't deal with her right now.

After the drone that was homeroom I had English Lit, this day was just getting better and better. Not. I walked in and decided to take the first seat available that wasn't in the teacher's eye line. So right by the door, fourth desk back. I watched as the next few kids hurried before they were late to their first class and as I was about to doze off I spotted a frenzy of brown hair, green eyes and sharp features. I just couldn't stop staring as I watched this creature stumble into the desk in front of me. Once they were completely settled I was able to snap out of this bizarre state. I glared at the back of the head, of the boy in front of me, willing him through telekinesis to turn around, so I could understand what it was that got me so off guard. But he never did. Before I could even ask for his name he dashed out at the end of the lesson as fast as he came in. So I just brushed it off.

After a couple more gruelling hours of lessons, I made it to lunch. After grabbing a serving of mystery meat and fries I took a seat at my usual far left table in the cafeteria. I then settled down, half paying attention to the conversation going on currently and nodding here and there.

"Who's the new guy? He's cute." One of Lexi's friends asked. Something about that statement shook me out of my daze. It reminded me of the boy earlier today, thinking about it, he didn't look familiar.

"Oh, that's Noah I think. Oh look, him and Kate have become chummy. Bet they'll be a thing by the end of the month." Lexi replied, I turned to look in the direction everyone else was staring but to my disappointment, he was sitting facing the other direction again and I couldn't see his face.

"Why do you think they'll get together?" I found myself asking unintentionally. But no one seemed to mind my random outburst.

"Well, she's single and obviously thinks no one here is good enough for her since she's been single so long. So someone like him- new and shiny is exactly what Kate's been after anyway. And, please, he is so delectable it's ridiculous." I found myself spending the rest of lunch waiting again for him to turn around. But it didn't happen. This Noah boy, he just didn't seem to read my telepathic communication.