beautiful thieves | ✓

two

I try not to stare at the girl with the pastel pink hair, but being plonked in the same class as her has made it challenging. I can just picture it now; my mother finding out there's a girl like that in my class and moving us somewhere else. 'She has to be a lesbian, we're moving again' and 'she should take off that black hoodie, it's just lazy' come into mind in my Mother's nasally voice and I refrain from laughing. Laughing like a lunatic in the first ten minutes in this school isn't the best way to fade into the background.

Because that's my plan every time I'm in this situation; keep quiet, fade into the background, don't get too close to anyone before I'm forced to move again. I'll have plenty of time to make friends when I've left home and Mum isn't around to control my social life.

The tutor, Mr Clark, hands me my timetable and a fresh planner, one that I'll most likely lose within a week, and introduces me to the class which, as usual, is awkward. I take a random seat and spend the twenty minutes of tutorial in silence.

I manage not to stare at the girl with the coloured hair and internally high-five myself. My pride is short-lived, however, as Mr Clark holds us both back at the end of the notices, along with a boy I barely noticed was in the class. The three of us walk up to the desk.

"Aurora, this is Maeve McCoy and Colby Hunter," he informs me, moving a hand in their general direction. The girl-- Maeve-- beams at me while the boy doesn't look quite as enthused. He gives me a shy smile before turning his attention back to the tutor.

Mr Clark looks at both of them. "I was wondering if you two would be kind enough to show Aurora around the school. It should only take up the first lesson and I'll email your teachers so that they're aware."

Maeve and Colby exchange a small smile, as if holding an entire conversation with that one action, before turning back and nodding their heads. They're probably just excited to skip the first period, then they'll forget my name by the time lunch arrives. It's standard when you're the new girl.

Mr Clark smiles with gratitude and dismisses the three of us. The hallways are pretty much deserted besides the few stragglers who rush off to class as if their life depends on it. So far, it looks the same as any of my previous schools; lockers lining the walls, posters hanging from bulletin boards and doors that lead to classrooms full of students. Everything seems normal, except for the pretty girl with the coloured hair beside me who stands out, but in the best way possible.

I know, I'm far too fascinated with the pink hair, but after being sheltered from the prospect of hair dye for seventeen years it's as if I'm standing in front of one of the wonders of the world.

"So, new girl," Colby says from the other side, tuning me back into the world. "How long have you been living in the area?"

I roll my bottom lip between my teeth and stuff my hands into the pockets of my denim jacket. "Only a few days. We moved in on Thursday."

"And have you had a good look around the shithole that is our beloved town or have you not been blessed with the opportunity yet?" Maeve asks. She walks around aimlessly, hands deep in the pockets of her black hoodie. She trails a hand along the lockers, her silver rings glinting under the bright lighting of the corridor.

"Is it really that bad?" I grimace.

She makes a sour face. "Worse."

"It's really not," Colby says. "There are some really nice places if you look hard enough. Do you- wait... what's your name again?"

Wow. That was fast.

I open my mouth to answer him, but Maeve beats me to it. "Her name is Aurora, dumbass."