I Am Number Four

Chapter Five: Starting a New School

Staring up at her new school, Avalon nibbled at her bottom lip wondering what it would be like; she hated that she was starting in the middle of the term, it meant everyone would be staring at her. 

Avalon could see the school clicks that divided the school, from the Goth's and the Skater's to the cheerleaders and the jocks; Avalon couldn't help but roll her eyes at the similarity to the other schools she had attended. 

"Great," Avalon muttered knowing that she would stand out workout having anyone to hang out with; she hated this part of moving and she was glad she would be here until she graduated. 

James chuckled, he knew it was hard for her but she always coped and never let all the moving about affect her grades; she was sure to get into a good college. 

"Have fun kiddo," James teased reaching over and ruffling Avalon's hair, he ignored the look that she shot him before she climbed out of the car with her suede duffle bag with tassels; he was sure that she would be fine. 

Avalon peeked down at the crochet trim top and skinny jeans that she was wearing, she didn't want to attract too much attention to herself and stand out; she just wanted to make it through her first day of school. 

"Your mum's picking you up after school, I have to head to Lima for a few hours," James reminded her making Avalon lean back against the car looking at him through the window; she couldn't shake the feeling that they were keeping her in the dark about something. 

Avalon had noticed the strange looks that her parents had been giving her recently, she didn't know what they expected to happen but it was starting to annoy her. 

"Okay, I'll see you when you get home," Avalon agreed smiling before she started towards her new school, she shouldered her bag and hoped that she would be able to make some fast friends here.

Moving towards the school, Avalon couldn't help but notice a girl that moved between each of the clicks taking photos as she went before she spotted Avalon and smiled at her; as if knowing that she was alone here. 

Avalon smiled back before slipping into the reception area of the corridor wanting to get all of this over and done with; moments after she had entered the office she heard someone follow after her. 

"Hello," a voice greeted cheerfully making Avalon look behind her to where the girl with the camera stood, taking her in Avalon couldn't help but think she looked familiar. 

It tugged at Avalon's mind but she ignored it knowing that she had never seen this girl before; she was clearly just imaging things right now. 

"Hi, I'm Avalon Halliwell," Avalon said introducing herself while the girl moved towards her and the receptionist started to look for Avalon's details; the faster that she was sorted out the sooner that she could attend her classes. 

"Sarah Hart, so you're the new girl? Any idea who the new boy might be?" Sarah asked making Avalon shrug slightly before the receptionist handed Avalon, her new locker number and class timetable. 

She had mainly asked because it was rare that they had two new students arrive at the same time, everyone sort of assumed that the two would be related in some way. 

Sarah smiled sweetly before nodding to the receptionist and started to lead Avalon to her locker, she didn't mind showing the new girl around especially considering it was rare enough that people stopped to really speak with her. 

"Who's who here?" Avalon asked noticing that they were being watched, she recognised from experience that that was going to be a good thing; it usually ended with her being targeted for being the new kid.

Looking over in the direction that Avalon was staring, Sarah sighed wishing that he would leave her the hell alone; she hated that he seemed to watch her every move and didn't get that she wasn't interested anymore. 

"Well the jock watching us, is my ex-boyfriend Mark James, he's the head guy here," Sarah explained with a shake of her head, she couldn't understand why Mark was still acting like this when they hadn't been together for months now. 

Avalon nodded her head, she spared one more glance at Mark before moving on; they slowly continued down the corridor towards Avalon's locker without any problems. 

"So he's an egotistical jerk then," Avalon stated making Sarah laughed lightly before stopping beside a locker; she was already liked the brunette who she could see becoming her best friend. 

It had been a long couple of months and Sarah hated that she seemed to be on the outside looking in; it had been that way since she had quit cheerleading to focus on photography. 

"I like you, you're not like the other girls here," Sarah said with a smile, it had been a while since anyone had treated her nicely since her break-up with Mark; she had been an outcast since she had stopped being a cheerleader. 

Her ex-boyfriend had made sure that no one wanted to be friends with Sarah, they all seemed to side with him when Sarah had ended things; she hadn't liked who she had become when she had been with him. 

"Well, I aim to please," Avalon joked while Sarah snapped a quick photograph of Avalon, the brunette looked at her oddly as she opened her new locker which was completely empty. 

Starting to sort herself out for her first class, Avalon couldn't help but hope that things weren't going to be awkward for long; she had to admit that she kind of liked talking to Sarah.

"I'm the school's photographer, so Ava, what's your first class?" Sarah explained with a smile, she found it refreshing to be able to talk with someone that wasn't judging her on some lies that Mark had told. 

Avalon bit her lip as she searched for her new time-table, which she had stuffed into her bag; Sarah waited patiently, she peeked about and sighed spotting that Mark was watching them from a distance. 

How anyone thought that Mark wasn't trouble was an idiot and Sarah was just glad that she had broken away from him when she had gotten the chance to do so. 

"English with Ms. Fabray," Avalon knowing that this year was going to be different from her last, she wasn't looking forward to catching up with her classes her; she was sort of hopeful her new friend would help her. 

Sarah grinned excitedly as Avalon closed her locker, it finally seemed that things were turning around and she had a good feeling about her new friend; she couldn't remember the last time that she had been excited about classes. 

"Great... I have the same class," Sarah replied linking arms with Avalon so that they could walk to class together, she was sure that she would fit in just fine here. 

Nodding her head, Avalon smiled at her and she felt relieved that Sarah had approached her when she had; she didn't care what anyone else thought, she was just glad to have a friend. 

It hadn't been like this at any of her old schools and Avalon was going to make the most of this, she was just hopeful that it would work out well and her parents would keep their promise. 

Avalon didn't want to move again and she was sure that her parents would keep their promise to stay in Paradise until she had graduated; they had promised their before and ended up moving before she'd had a chance to even settle.