After about a week of being in the school, apparently people had gotten used to my 'exotic' accent, and decided that apart from that I wasn't interesting enough to keep their attention.

Whichevereeeeeeeeeee was totally fine with me.

And I think it was on the third day when I realised that school was still school whether in London or Arizona.

And my definition of school definitely wasn't a good description.

In other words: it still sucked.

"Do you not like anything about your school? Anything??"

I rolled my eyes on the morning of the first day of my second week at Clover High.

We were in the kitchen having breakfast, my big brother having already left the house.

"Mum. I think I'd hate school anywhere. The only reason I'm still here is because I know it will benefit me in the future. Otherwise I'd probably spend all my time in the woods."

My mum rolled her eyes but ruffled my straightened hair and smiled. She was a vision of beauty.

"Remind me to go with you to the woods one of these days. You can introduce me to your squirrel friends." She winked, taking a bite out of a piece of buttery toast.

I just flicked sugar at her in response.

My parents were the kind that most kids wish for and that I was sincerely grateful for. What I wasn't grateful for, however, was my fathers transfer which meant I had to move to this place.

"Anyone giving you a hard time?? If so I know 32 ways to knock out a pest." My father walked into the kitchen, right on cue having overheard our conversation. He kissed my mother on the lips (which didn't fail to make me gag) then me on the forehead.

"Of course, 31 of them include a baseball bat to the head." My mother chuckled, about to make him coffee. "But I'm pretty sure all you need to do is aim for the crotch."

My father gasped indignantly. "Wife! Do not be so sexist! Girls are just as capable of bothering her as boys are."

My mother turned to my father. "Husband! I'm pretty sure a kick to the crotch would hurt for a female aswell." She paused, then whispered. "But maybe not as much, due to the extra-"

"OKAY. It seems that it is time for me to go to school." I said, avoiding another talk about "bits down there" from my mum and quickly finishing my toast.

The less time I spent with my parents sniggering at bad jokes, the better.

"Have a nice day honey!!" My mother called as I left the house.

"Remember your mothers advice. Kick em in the crotch!" My father felt the need to shout wholeheartedly.

Incidentally, before that day I'd never been happier that our house was isolated. It meant no-one could hear the stupid radiating out of the house.

***
"You have had a week to adjust to school life and subjects and teachers and the school. Now it's time to update you on the social happenings of Clover High."

Alex slapped the fry (she'd laughed when I called them chips) out of my hand.

"Sierra! Are you even listening to me?? This lesson is more important than every class you've had this week combined!"

I sighed and looked at her, knowing that I wouldn't be able to finish my food if I didn't.

"Okay." She said. "Social hierarchy: look at that table. The one right in the middle of the cafeteria." She pointed to a table behind me.

About 10 people seemed to be either siting or standing at the table, and they seemed like they were straight out of a movie, all laughing in synchronisation, the boys in varsity jackets and the girls in the latest whatever clothing by some relevant designer.

"Looks pretty stereotypical, huh? Now, tell me. As a new person, with no prior knowledge of the social lives of Clover High students. Who would you say is the ringleader of that clearly manufactured group?"

She had a point there. They really did look too good to be true. Every single one of them had perfect smiles and hair and everything and the ability to make you feel bad about yourself by just looking at them.

But there was one that seemed more perfectly groomed than the rest of them. And I could tell that whatever they found so funny was coming from her.

I honed in on her, and narrowed my eyes.

"Drawn on eyebrows, flawless make-up, clothes worth more than my car." I said under my breath.

"Yeah..." Alex prompted.

"The girl with the ginger hair in the middle." I concluded.

"Final answer??"

"Yes." I nodded. "If it's not her you can have my chips."

"Well you can keep your 'chips' because you're absolutely correct." Alex uttered in approval. "Her name is Carrie Jordan. Status: Queen Bee. Her father is the principle, and the richest man in the town. She thrives off her popularity and money."

"I'm guessing complete Daddy's girl?" I asked to confirm.

"Oh she takes 'Daddy's girl' to another level, my friend." She sighed. "But she's not really a problem. She just thinks too highly of herself. She's not particularly mean, unless you try and cross her. She's mostly just stupid."
Alex finished. "However, she's not something for you to worry about."

Her head swivelled to the other side of the cafeteria, pointing to a large table of rowdy boys having some sort of eating contest. The one with the spaghetti won and seemed pretty proud of the tomato sauce that now covered his face.

"The tomato boy?" I asked, confused. He didn't seem like a problem.

Alex gave me a "really?" look. "No..." She looked back in their direction. "Look who's just about to enter the cafeteria."

I looked up to see three girls, walking in perfect unison. Their hair blowing back, and their handbags in the same hand, held the same way. They looked like the Jennifer's from Big Time Rush.

Not that anyone would get that reference.

"I see your eyes have landed on the most evil girl in the world." Alex flourished. "Sierra Cole, let me introduce you to Monica Beale and her irrelevant cronies. The creators of drama. Desperate to be at the top. Disliked by all. And Monica's prime target? Anyone who happens to be right in front of her. So I'm going to warn you now. She's had this major crush on Charlie since, I don't know, like middle school or something. You need to be careful since Charlie has a crush on you."

That was really bad timing, as I was drinking from a can of coke. The contents of the can had gone from my mouth to all over the cafeteria table, and my laughing was so loud that I'm pretty sure people in Russia could hear it.

Charlie...liking me...

I couldn't contain my laughter.

Alex just looked at me, not realising what was so funny.

Once I had finished I was vaguely aware of everyone in the cafeterias eyes on me.

Oops.

"I'm serious! Ever since you came here he's been paying serious attention to you and-"

"Corgie! Heard you laughing, want to join in on the joke. What's so funny?" Charlie suddenly asked, out of nowhere.

I hadn't even seen him approaching. Guess I was laughing too much.

"Oh, nothing. Just an inside joke between Sierra and I. We were talking about how people found out that you could get milk from cows. Our theories are quite hilarious." Alex nodded.

Whoa. She was really good on the spot. But... Wait. How did we know that you could get milk from cows?

The thought left my head instantly as Charlie positioned himself next to me.

"So what are you and Corgie doing tonight, Alex? I could use your help setting up for my party. The first party of the school year. But that's not exactly what we're celebrating."

I turned to face him. "So what exactly are you celebrating?"

"Mandy Williams finally broke up with Alan. He's so happy he demanded a party be thrown. At my house." Charlie shrugged. "Fine by me, but it doesn't leave much room to plan. I'm going to need a few extra hands to set up, then of course you can stay at
the party. I usually get some of the computer nerds to help me, but apparently they have their own party to attend."

Nothing in his tone was malicious when mentioning "computer nerds" which was a change. I guess it's just in books and movies where they are universally hated.

"Sure. We'd love to." Alex smiled, and Charlie smiled back at the both of us.

"See ya there. You too Corgie." He smiled and winked at me before sauntering off to do whatever it is he was going to do. Invite more people I presume.

"I'm telling you that boy has a crush on you!" Alex whispered once he was out of earshot.

But I didn't get to reply, because I began to shiver, and the hairs on the back of my neck fought to get out.

I was being watched.

I turned round, and lo behold, Monica Beale was staring at me. She wasn't even giving me the evil eye, no. Just staring.

Which already gave me a bad feeling.

Alex noticed a second after I did, and she sympathetically patted me on the shoulder.

Her final words before we left the cafeteria were: "She is going to be the start of all your problems here at Clover High. Any dreams you had of putting your head down end now. Sorry about that."

I looked back once more, and she was gone.

I already dreaded the rest of the week.