The New Girl

Chapter 1

The ferry chugged along on the choppy waves of the ocean, and Kathy sat looking out of the window, an open comic book on her lap. She had never been to a boarding school before. In fact, she'd never been on a boat before. But Kathy was a person who felt comfortable in new situations. She didn't mind that no one was talking to her just yet - being in her own company was quite comfortable for her, as was making conversation with complete strangers.

But there was only one boy who stuck out from the crowd in the rabble of noisy teenagers; chatting and joking and teasing away around her. He was sat in the seat behind her, reading. And the new girl, when she could restrain herself no longer and her boredom took over, decided to interrupt his peace.

"Hey," She said, kneeling over the back of the seat to talk to him, "I'm Kathy."

He glared up at her and pulled the collar of his coat high around his face. He didn't want to talk to her. He didn't want to talk to anyone. Surely she knew that? Everyone else did.

"Usually that's when you tell me your name...?" Kathy added inquiringly.

He still refused to answer her.

"Leave it," Another girl - Clarissa - who was sat o the opposite side of the row - said, "He doesn't talk to anyone. He's a freak."

Kathy looked at the other girl and tilted her head to the side, like a dog in deep thought. She stared at Clarissa judgingly. Only when she began to look uncomfortable did Kathy break her stare and look back at the boy who was sat behind her.

"A freak huh?" Kathy said, only to be met with silence once more, "That's what they used to call me at my old school. I think it's cause of the hair, y'know? And maybe the piercings. What d'you think?"

At this point, the boy reluctantly raised his eyes and surveyed Kathy's nose, ear and eyebrow studs, as well as the streaks of bright blue in her hair. Everything about her showed she was a bit of an oddball. The boy glared again and went back to shoving her nose deep into an old hard-back book.

"Whatcha readin'?" Kathy asked.

"Nothing that would interest you."

"Ha! So you do talk! I knew I could make you!"

The boy scowled once again.

"So will you tell me your name now?"

"Why does it interest you so much what my name is?" The boy snapped irritably.

She pondered that for a millisecond, "I don't know," She answered, "I guess it's just cause you're different to the rest of the people on here. I like different."

The boy grumbled something under his breath and went back to reading. Kathy just watched him for a little while, resting her chin on the back of her seat, and trying her best to stay quiet. It was clear she was finding it difficult.

"If you don't tell me your name I'll just give you one of my own," She announced, almost to herself, "I think you look like a Simon...or maybe a Ben...or perhaps Christopher -"

"Can't you just leave me alone? I'm trying to read."

"I can. But since you didn't ask nicely, I'm not going to. Now show me what you're reading..."

Before the boy could protest, Kathy snatched the old book out of his hands and began to survey the front cover.

"Hey! Give that back!"

"Oh chillax, for goodness sake," She laughed, "I won't lose your place."

"That book is nearly a hundred years old!" he proclaimed, "It has been passed down through four generations of my family, and is incredibly fragile! You'll ruin the binding!"