Rufescent

One

Dean Cyveck hated Thursdays. So of course it was on a Thursday that she got the news they were moving, her boyfriend of five months, Louie, was breaking up with her, and the news her brother was going to Germany for a year starting Friday, bringing a simultaneous sigh of relief and a look of disappointment.

The relief was at the knowledge her sister and parents wouldn't have to endure being yelled at and hit. She always felt so guilty that it was always them and not her, but she supposed that and the constant side remarks he threw her way was just his way of hurting her- making her tear herself apart from the inside out.

The disappointment was the knowledge that her plan, to be executed that Friday night, would have to wait a year. This plan was one of murder. The murder of her brother.

* * *

Her backpack hung off one flannel-clad shoulder, the strap loose. The students flowing into the school didn't notice her much, except for a leather-and-hoodie-wearing group of teens, one of whom gave a quick, two-fingered wave and went back to talking.

Figuring they were her best bet, Dean sidled over to them and tapped the one who'd waved on the shoulder. The girl in question was wearing leather, and when she turned around she exposed a face that would've been quite pretty had it not been marred by a scar running from just under her left eye to her jaw. Dean jumped a little, but made an effort to look the girl in the eye. Unfortunately, her eyes kept straying back to the scar.

"Oh, hey. You must be new. Uh... I'm guessing you're Dean, yeah? A girl?" The girl said. Dean nodded. "I told you lot the new student was a girl!" she yelled over her shoulder at her friends.

"Yeah," Dean said in her oddly low voice. She glanced at the scar again.

"Cool. I'm Adelaide, by the way. Just call me Addy, though. Stare at the scar long as you need to. I don't cover it for a reason. Happened last year. Wallaby, if you can believe it. Ruined my summer."

"I bet. You went to Australia?" Dean guessed.

"Yep. I should introduce you to the rest."

Addy whistled to get her friend's attentions.

"Alright everyone, this is Dean. Dean, this is my sister, Trinity," Addy said, pointing to a black-and-purple-haired girl in an Attack on Titan hoodie with earbuds in. "This here's Quinn," now she pointed to a chubby, black-haired, Hispanic girl with glasses in a grey Celtics hoodie, "and this is Trenton." Lastly she pointed to a ridiculously (or at least it seemed that way to Dean's five-foot-three self) tall, gangly guy also in leather. He brushed blonde hair out of his eyes and smiled nervously.

"We just need to introduce her to Jacqueline," he said in an oddly high voice.

"You're right, Trenton. She should be here soon," Addy said. "There she is!"

Dean looked in the direction Addy was facing and saw no one in particular at first, but soon it became clear who the group was looking at. A tall Asian girl, taller than Trenton, was making her way towards the group. She was dressed nicer than all of them, certainly, in a floral skirt, white off-the-shoulder sweater, and a thin white headband.

"Hey Jacqueline!" Addy greeted loudly.

"Hi!" Jacqueline said, smiling. She spotted Dean immediately. "Who's this?"

"I'm Dean. I'm new," Dean said, smiling back.

"I can tell. Our group notices practically everybody- in this grade at least." she said.

Addy shoved Jacqueline lightly. "We don't want her thinking we're stalkers!"

"Says crazy Miss Deduction who looks in people's windows on Halloween," Trenton commented.