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Chapter 1

I wake up to sunlight flooding my room. For a moment, I remain in my bed admiring the rays of sunlight. Then I remember: it's my first day at my new school. I glance at the pink clock on the little table beside my bed. It's 8:12.

Shit. I'm late and it's my first day.

I frantically rip the blankets off of me and stumble out of bed into my bathroom. I brush my teeth and put my hair up into an extremely messy bun, not caring enough to take the time to brush it and tame my wild curls and waves. I put on some mascara, lip gloss, and practically fall into my closet. I find a purple tank top that's scalloped at the edge and black skinny jeans and quickly throw them on. I slip on my brown knee-high boots and grab my bag and head out the door.

I see a note on the kitchen counter.

I had to leave early this morning before you wake up. Tell me all about your first day of school later!

Love, Mom

I quickly put it back where I found it, grab a blueberry Pop-Tart from the cabinet, and head out the door.
I start the engine of my car, and check my phone. 8:21.

Not bad.

Class starts at 8:35, so I may not be too late after all.
. . . . .
I get to school and see a few other students rushing to get inside the main building, and I relax. Once I walk in, a teacher comes up to me. "Hello, Miss Mitchell!" He must have been waiting for me. "I'm Mr. Callas, you're homeroom teacher! Before you go to class, we'd like for you to meet the principal. Right this way, miss."

Overly polite. Just my luck.

He leads me to a wooden door with a big yellow smiley face sticker on the outside.

Great, the principal is overly perky, too?

Mr. Callas (or as I realize I've been calling him in my head, Mr. Manners) opens the door to a bright pink room, the walls covered in encouraging posters.

A lady is sitting behind the metal desk, which is covered in magnets and pictures.

"Hello! I'm Mrs. Cassidy, and obviously I'm your principal!" Even her voice is high pitched and perky.

She extends her hand for me to shake it. I reluctantly take it, seeing as I have no other choice.

"I know you are new today, but I'm sure you'll fit right in. Do you happen to already know anyone?"

"Actually, yeah. My best friend, Kathryn. We've been best friends for, like, our whole lives."

"That's wonderful!" she says, clapping her hands. I can already tell that this lady is going to drive me crazy.

She looks at the clock. It's 8:32. "Well, I have to let you go for your first class, so have a nice day! Let me know if you have any problems!"

I get up, giving her a tiny smile before leaving.
. . . . .

I look at my schedule. My first class is Biology.

I look up then, and see that I'm only a few feet away. I silently send thanks as I open the door.

Everyone, and the teacher, who I interrupted with my unexpected entrance, look up at me, drilling holes in my skin.

"Uh.. Is this Biology 2? Mr. Lisenby?" I say, biting my lip to keep from laughing at how awkward I can be.

"Oh, yes! You just be Dallis. Welcome to my class. Everyone has gotten their partners, except for Luke," he says, pointing to a boy in the back-most lab table.

I glance up, long enough to see a blond boy dressed in a black shirt that says "YOU COMPLETE MEss". I almost chuckle, when the teacher continues, "he's also a new student, so you already have something in common."

I nod, not knowing what else to do, and go to the table with the kid named Luke.

As the teacher talks, I steal several glances at Luke. His blond hair is messy, but in an attractive way, and his face is probably one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. His eyes are an icy blue. I find myself staring, and then his eyes meet mine. It was almost like electricity. I felt something, and by the look I saw in his eyes for a split second, I knew that he felt it too.

Then the look is gone, and I begin to think I imagined it. I feel my cheeks heat, and he smirks. I look away, pretending to listen to the teacher's lecture.

As soon as the bell rings, the rustle of papers and books and bags echoes through the room, and people begin to leave.

I clear my throat softly. "So you're also new?" I say.

He looks at me, gives me a tiny smile, and leaves the room, leaving me standing alone. I hurriedly grab my books and my bag and leave the room, feeling a sort of emptiness that I had no explanation for.