Staring out of the window at the large brick building before me, it's hard to believe this is all real. I'm really spending my last year of high school at some private school in New York, hundreds of miles away from home, all of the plans I'd made for this year now nothing but a distant memory.

Lost in thought, I hardly notice Kendall tossing open the limo door, sliding effortlessly out of her seat. It's as if she's acting out a scene in a movie, one sleek leg slinking out of the limo and hitting the ground before the other, the wind blowing at just the right time, causing Kendall's golden hair to flow behind her shoulders. I'm not surprised when I notice a few bystanders turning to gape at my sister, though if Kendall notices she doesn't show it. Instead she gazes down at me over her shoulder in irritation before snapping, "Are you coming, or what?"

Rolling my eyes as I step out of the limo, I realize with a sinking feeling that the moment I step onto the ground, I'll have to attend Crestwood Academy. I'm not surprised when my descend from the limo turns out to be much less graceful than Kendall's exit. The wind blows and whips my dark hair straight into my face, blowing my red and blue plaid uniform skirt up just a little too high. I swear I hear laughter at my expense.

Kendall smirks to herself, as if she expected me to embarrass myself somehow. I'm curious as to why she's bothered to stick around, having assumed my sister couldn't wait to get away from me and pretend as if I don't exist.

"Let's get something straight," Kendall says icily as the limo drives off, her blue eyes as frosty as her tone as they settle on me with a glare. "Here, at this school? We are not related. Got it? You don't talk to me, you don't look at me, and you definitely don't tell people you know me. I don't need you stunting my social growth any more than you already have, Jade."

I raise my eyebrows at my sister's outburst, though I can't say I'm shocked or even a little surprised by her words. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been expecting something like this from her.

Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, I choose not to let Kendall get to me. Instead, I merely cross my arms over my chest and mirror her stance as I question, "You know we share a last name, right?"

"Maybe on paper," Kendall hisses in response, her glare hardening. Taking a step away from me, Kendall sneers as she finishes, "But you are no Montgomery."

With that, my sister walks away, turning her back on me both literally and figuratively. A chill hangs in the air, and I know that it has nothing to do with the weather.

Kendall's words shouldn't hurt me, yet they do. I've spent my entire life trying to prove to myself that I'm nothing like my family; that I'm somehow better. But maybe all I've ever really wanted, deep down, is their acceptance. I know I messed up when I decided to steal those diamonds. I thought I'd been proving a point: that money doesn't matter and whatever your social status is, you can't escape the rules. That no one is any better or worse than another.

Instead, all I've managed to prove to my family is that I truly am nothing like them. Now they consider me as an embarrassment. An outcast. A delinquent. A burden.

Suddenly, all I want is the ability to go back in time, to undo the mistakes I've made and somehow make them right. Maybe I'd still be an outcast—the black sheep of my family—but at least I'd still be back home in California, the one place I felt as if I belonged.

However, I know I can't go back and time and change the past. I'm stuck having to face the consequences of my actions, punishing me for my mistakes all over again.

»»————- ————-««

With a sigh, I rummage around in my bag until I find my schedule. Today is the first day of school for Kendall and I, though Crestwood has been in session since August. It's September now, nearing the end of summer. It's hard to believe only a few weeks ago I was still in California, making the foolish decision to rob a jewelry store in an attempt to prove an idiotic point.

I try to ignore the stares from my peers as I walk down the hallway in search of my locker, ignoring the who is that girl glances mixed with the disgusted she's that girl who stole those diamonds looks. Finding my locker, I take a moment to collect myself. First days of school always tend to be hard for me. I'm not good with change, and I've had to deal with immense amounts of changing in the past handful of days. It's overwhelming me more than I thought it would, and the only person I can blame for it all is myself.

Inhaling sharply, I turn my attention to the task at hand: opening my locker. I study my schedule for a moment so I'll know what to bring with me to class and what to leave behind before shoving my bag into the slim space, grabbing the needed textbooks.

I've about had it trying to close my locker with my stuffed bag inside, and I notice a presence approaching me just when I'm about to give up. Glancing to my left, I find a pretty blonde watching me with an amused expression and matching smile. Her light brown eyes shine with mirth, whether at my expense or because she pities me I can't tell.

"Annoying isn't it?" the blonde suddenly questions, eyeing my locker with understanding. "Happens to me all the time. The school takes so much money from our parents, you'd think they could afford bigger lockers, huh?"

I'm so surprised by the fact that this girl is actually talking to me, I hardly hear a word she says. The blonde takes a step closer to me, abandoning her own locker, which I notice is the one next to mine.

"Here," she says, offering a warm smile, "allow me." In one swift movement, the blonde somehow manages to elbow my bag into the back crevice of my locker, closing my locker door and clasping the lock in the blink of an eye. "It's hard the first few times, but you'll get the hang of it. You must be the new girl everyone's been talking about. Hi, I'm Emma."

The shock I'm feeling within must be clear on my expression, because Emma laughs faintly to herself. Realizing that I'm acting like a freak in front of maybe the only person who will ever be nice to me in this entire state, I quickly compose myself.

"Uh, hi," I stutter. "People are . . . talking about me?" Though I should hardly be surprised, it's hard to believe that rumors and whispers about me are already going around, as I've only been inside the school building for maybe ten minutes.

Rolling her brown eyes, Emma tucks a strand of light her behind her ear. "Yeah," she admits in a sympathetic tone, annoyance evident in her gaze. "Word travels fast around here. Crestwood isn't as big as it looks. Besides, you are a Montgomery. Half the world has heard about you."

I purse my lips, nodding in an attempt to try to hide how flustered I'm feeling. "You mean about the diamonds?" I question with sarcasm, though my tone is devoid of humor.

"Oh, not necessarily." Emma's expression is almost sheepish, as if she isn't sure whether she should ask me about my arrest or pretend to know nothing about it. "Mostly people are just talking about you in general. But . . . uh, news about your incident may be spreading around."

"It's okay," I admit honestly, noticing Emma's discomfort. "You don't have to worry about it. If you're wondering, yes, I really was arrested. It was pretty stupid of me and I don't know what I was thinking. No, I'm not some crazy delinquent. But I get if you don't want to be seen around me. You wouldn't be the first." I sigh, remembering how eager my sister had been to ditch me earlier, her words replaying in my mind and stinging all over again.

"If I didn't want to be seen with you, I wouldn't be talking to you right now," Emma assures me with the hint of a smile, as warm as her gaze. "Of course I don't think you're crazy. I mean, I think I kind of get why you did it. Steal those diamonds, I mean."

I raise an eyebrow at Emma, wondering if she's being serious. I mean, I've heard a lot of people talk about me and my incident by now. The police had said I was lucky my father and paid my bail and that I should be thankful charges weren't being pressed after my dad offered the jewelry store a heavy settlement. My court judge told me I should be grateful for getting a community service punishment instead of bar time. The store owner of the jewelry shop I raided told me I was banned from all nationwide stores. And my parent's didn't say anything at all, their silence meant to hurt me more than any mean word ever could. But no one had told me that they understand what I was trying to do. At least, no one until Emma.

"Really?" I ask once I'm finally able to speak again after my initial shock passes.

"Really." Emma's light brown eyes glitter as they meet mine, that same comforting smile adorning her expression. "I mean, there have been a few times I've thought about doing something like that myself. My mom can drive me absolutely crazy. But I guess I'm not as ballsy as you, because I don't think I could survive even a minute in prison."

I can't help laughing. Emma joins in along with me, making me feel like I actually have a friend for just a moment. And maybe I've just made one. I honestly hadn't expected to do that so easily.

Once the laughter fades, I question, "So, who's your mom? Anyone I'd recognize?"

Shrugging modestly, Emma replies, "My mom is Sabrina Lockwood."

I can't stop myself from gasping. I'd know that name anywhere, because I've been obsessed with it for the past few months now. "Lockwood?" I repeat in awe, eyes bugging. "Your mom is Sabrina Lockwood? I love her work! She's my favorite designer! I own a few of her collection pieces!"

Biting back a grin, I notice Emma's eyes lighting up. "So you're a fan of my mother," she teases. "I haven't met one of those before."

"Of course you have!" I cry, shaking my head in amazement. "Your mom is one of the greatest designers of all time! I can't believe I'm talking to Sabrina Lockwood's daughter!"

Emma laughs, shutting her locker before turning to face me once more. "You're funny. I guess being a Lockwood is pretty cool. And before you ask, no, I don't get free clothes and no, I can't get you an autograph, because my mom is currently in Paris."

I roll my eyes good-naturedly, understanding that Emma is merely joking. I'm surprised to find that I genuinely like this girl. It's almost weird, as I can't remember the last time I warmed up to a stranger so easily. Though she seems really nice, and she's clearly a lot of fun. I find myself hoping that our schedules somehow intertwine, because I wouldn't mind having a few classes with Emma.

As if she's reading my mind, Emma suddenly asks, "Hey, can I see your schedule? Maybe we have some classes together."

Studying my schedule in unison, I'm pleased to find that Emma and I share two out of four classes: English and free period. As we're peering down at the paper in my hand, neither of us seem to notice the presence approaching us.

"What's going on here?" I hear a girl's voice asking out of nowhere, startling me. Flinching, I look up to find a girl with beauty to rival Aphrodite's. Her chestnut hair cascades down her shoulders in a neat braid, a few unruly strands capturing her face. Her dark eyebrows raise as her hazel eyes focus on me and Emma in confusion.

"Hey," Emma says with a grin, giving away the fact that she evidently knows the girl before us.

"Hi," the girl says, returning Emma's smile. She regards me a little distantly, obviously confused as to who I am and what I'm doing here.

Taking a hint, Emma turns and rests a hand on my shoulder before saying, "Piper, this is Jade—she's new. Jade, this is my friend Piper. She has fourth period with us."

"So you're the infamous Jade Montgomery," Piper mutters aloud, her smile morphing into a smirk. She studies me with a calculating gaze, as if she's trying to see past my exterior and into my soul. "The girl who was arrested?"

"Unfortunately," I admit with a sigh. "That's me."

"For stealing diamonds?" Piper persists, grinning now. "That sounds—"

"Stupid?" I offer, wincing slightly. "Crazy? Brainless?"

"I was gonna say badass," Piper informs me. "But suit yourself." I can't help smiling at her little joke, the tension I'd been feeling before passing somewhat.

"Maybe it would have been badass if I didn't get arrested," I admit with a playful shrug, tucking dark strands of hair behind my ears.

"True," Piper agrees with a chuckle. "No one can look that badass behind bars."

"I disagree," Emma interrupts, raising an eyebrow at Piper. "Hello? Have you never seen TV villains?"

Talking for a few moments longer with the two girls, I find myself smiling and laughing without even realizing I'm doing so. I genuinely enjoy talking to them, almost as if I've actually made friends. Maybe this whole moving to New York thing won't turn out to be so bad after all.

I guess I'd been expecting to be deemed as outcast by everyone around here because of what I did back in California. But these girls—Emma and Piper—don't seem to care about what I've done in the past. They're more accepting than I thought anyone here would be, and I can't help thinking that meeting them has given my day a good start.

That is, until I spot Luke Bradford walking down the hall, and heading my way.

»»————- ————-««

a/n: so the girl i've liked for forever finally asked me out and i was genuinely happy for like the first time in my life. but then my homophobic parents found out and now life sucks. anyway. here's an update for those who take the time to read this. i'm grateful for you all. :)