caught I h.s

Chapter 1

THREE MONTHS BEFORE

I glance over at my mother in the driver's seat. "Mum, I don't think I'm ready for this."

She looks back at me, a determined grin plastered on her face. "Oh yes, you are. Don't overthink it, you'll be fine."

I turn my head back around to face the sea of black and blue. To be honest, I have been dreading this day for the past two months.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my black skirt apprehensively. Whose idea was it to have uniforms anyway? My blouse was too big for me and the blue tie looked horrible, although Mum teased me saying it "brought out my eyes."

Whatever. It still doesn't change the fact that i'm the new girl that's going to be gawked at no matter what shitty uniform I happen to be stuck in.

Mum must have noticed my apprehension, saying, "Honestly, Scarlett, don't worry."

"That's easy for you to say," I grumble. "We just moved countries, Mum, countries. I have no idea what high school in England is like. It's probably completely different from New Zealand, and they're all going to think I'm weird, and that my accent is strange, and that -"

"Well, one things for sure," Mum interrupts me. "You'll fit right in when it comes to your pale skin."

I sigh, glaring at her and deciding it'd just be better to up and go.

"Bye, Mum." I say, grabbing my bag and hoisting myself out of the car.

"Bye, honey! I'll be right outside waiting to pick you up after school!"

"Mum, I'm not five," I say, completely aware of the multiple people milling around near me. They're probably wondering who the hell I am. "Bye."

I turn and begin walking up the steps, trying my best to dodge the hoards of teenagers pushing beside me.

"Hey, do I know you?"

Who was that? Are they talking to me?

"I'm Riley."

The voice speaks again. Clearly they are talking to me.

I look around to see a girl with short brown hair smiling at me expectantly.

"Um, hi. I'm Scarlett, resident new girl."

"I didn't think I recognized you," Riley says. "You're not from here, are you?"

I chuckle slightly. "If you're talking about the country, nope. I hail from good old New Zealand."

I hail from good old New Zealand? Good one, Scarlett. Way to make a great first impression.

Thankfully, Riley doesn't seem to have picked up on my inevitable awkwardness. "Oh, cool! I've never been there before, actually I've never been out of Europe before. But New Zealand sounds like a cool place."

I shrug. "It's okay, I guess."

We continue walking and I realize I have to go up to the office to get my timetable.

"Hey, Riley, where's the office around here?" I ask.

"Oh, just go straight ahead and then up those stairs there. Continue along the corridor and you'll see it." She smiles. "Getting your timetable?"

"Yeah," I nod. "Maybe I'll see you first period."

"Who knows," I say. "Thanks, Riley." She nods, a knowing expression on her face.

"We all go through it. Nice to meet you, Scarlett."

"You too."

I walk ahead and start climbing the stairs Riley guided me to. The receptionist smiles at me kindly when I reach the office.