"So, what's your name? Where are you from? And what's with the green hair?" The people who had adopted me into their table softly snickered at the brown haired boy's question.

"Um, my name is Elizabeth. Hi. I came from Wisconsin. And um, my green hair is from a dye thing that sort of messed up."

"It really did," a girl giggled.

I noticed her stop as the dark haired girl glanced up from her smoothie and phone to give her a sharp look from green eyes. She had her sneakers propped up on the table, and her black, curly hair had streaks of white here and there.

The other girl sort of mumbled,"What," and the dark haired girl raised her eyebrows and shrugged before going back to her device.

"Delia over here isn't too good with new people, sorry," one of the boys said to me. Their group was evenly split up : three boys and three girls. Even the sides they were sitting at matched up, with two girls and a boy on my side and two boys and a girl on the opposite side.

"My name's Michael," the boy who had apologized said. He smiled at me and slung his arm across the dark haired girl's shoulders. "And this is Bella. We're twins."

Bella looked up and offered a half smile that seemed naturally mischievous before going back to her phone. Michael muttered something about being polite to her before continuing.

"This one is Trent." He nodded towards the other guy on their side, the brown haired one. He winked at me and grinned at my surprised jump before saying,"Joking. Nice to meet you."

I nodded back.

"Delia there is the one who laughed at the dye mishap." I glanced at the girl. Her only impressive features really seemed to be her long eyelashes and pretty looks. Then she smiled at me and I realized her smile was really nice as well.

"Wesley." The boy in question lifted his head up from his apparent nap and gave a tired wave before letting his head drop again. "He works late shifts, so he's tired a lot."

I looked at the last girl, who was making weird duck faces at her camera.

"And that one is Avery." Avery tapped her screen once more before setting her phone down and giving me a sheepish look.

"Well, what do you think?"

I shrugged,"You all seem...great."

My tone was wrong and I realized it as Avery's expression changed to a oh-okay-then-fuck-you look. Not only was my tone wrong, but I also hadn't asked the one question/compliment that would've gotten me into a friendly relationship with them.

"So much for thinking you were nice. Jesus. Let's go, guys, lunch is over," Avery said, standing up. "Bella?"

Bella looked up, then looked back down at her screen, her eyes narrowing.

"We can make it to class," she said finally.

Avery nodded and promptly walked away. Apparently she'd been my ticket into making any friends at all today, as the other students who gave me pitying looks tipped me off.

"Uh, see you?" Michael said, like it was a question. He hastily followed his friends, glancing back at his still sitting sister before continuing.

I sat there for a few seconds, and then Bella looked up. She stared at me, and I stared back, feeling awkward.

"Well?" She finally said. The cafeteria was almost empty except for a few students hurrying to pick up the work they were doing.

"Um?"

She sighed. "Look, Avery's not the only person you need approval from. This place is just like every other school. How's your ability?"

I hesitated. "Um. I can affect the environment for a limited amount of time and area however I want."

Bella studied me. "You'll do fine, then," she said kindly.

"Uh, why is Avery the one I need to get approval from?"

Bella got up and threw her empty plastic cup into the trash can. "Come with me."

I quickly stood up and followed her, shouldering my backpack. She set off at a quick pace, and after a while, we arrived at the front doors.

"You're aware this is a boarding school, yes?" I nodded.

"You're aware we are the top academy in the nation?"

I nodded again. She smiled.

"You know that your ability and intelligence count when you enter, right? Can you tell me which one is more important?"

"Um, our ability." I said.

She nodded. "Great. No problem, then."

We entered the academy again. As we neared what I now knew to be my third class, I hastily asked,"If you don't mind telling me, who are the doyenne or doyen here?" If I could find them, maybe I would get a second chance.

She rested her hand on the handle for a second.

Then Bella turned to face me with a shit eating grin on her face.

"I'm the doyenne, and my brother is the doyen. Nice to meet you. Now, go to class."