Danielle

I held on for dear life to the handle above me as Marc swung the car round yet another sharp corner, swerving onto the main road on which McFinnley is located. We'd been taking all the darkest backroads - completely deserted alleyways that girls walking alone in the wee hours of the morning are warned to steer clear of - to beat the early traffic. Marc weaved in between the cars on the road, receiving a few deafening blasts of the horn and simply smirked at them furious drivers who were flipping him the finger. My heart nearly leaped out of my ribcage when Marc accidentally crossed into the oncoming lane beside us but swerved back just in time before an oncoming car could bash head-on into us.

"Jesus, Marc! I would really appreciate it if I wasn't killed on the first..."

The rest of my sentence was cut off as I braced myself one nanosecond before I was flung towards my right as he swerved left, speeding through the school's front gates and zooming up an aisle in the parking lot before expertly manouvering the car into a space which seemed to magically open up for him. Next thing I knew, we were out of the car and the car doors were locked with a beep.

"How did you...?"

"Perks of being a senior, little sister. Now run along and have one of them lover-ly tea parties with your little pals...try not to end up high on teeny M&M's!"

With that he ruffled my hair (he knows I hate it when he does that) and stalked off with that annoying smirk plastered on his face.

"You...we...I... URGH!" I stomped my foot in frustration.

He's always treating me like some pathetic baby.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. I would not let that jerkface wind me up. Mentally reminding myself to smile, I swept the stray strands of hair out off my face and began making my way up the school's front steps, joining the great influx of students through the large front doors. There was a good deal of pushing and shoving before I finally squeezed my way into the main hallway where all our lockers are situated and could breathe slightly more easily. 

People were shouting and calling out to each other from one end of the aisle to the other. As per first-day tradition, the jocks were gathered on one side, checking everyone out and catcalling at the cheerleaders in their skimpy uniforms as they in turn blew kisses and giggled uncontrollably. The Brains were gathered in a corner as usual, already discussing things we wouldn't even be learning till more than half a year later. Freshmen were just miling about - you could tell they were freshies by the deer-in-headlights looks on their faces - unsure of themselves and trying to avoid the ruthless judgement by the jocks and frankly, probably more than a little overwhelmed by the atmosphere. I flashed a few of them understanding smiles which they hesitantly returned. After all, I was once like them. 

Scanning the crowds as I headed towards my locker, my eyes immediately zoned in on a redhead with outrageously bright green streaks in her wavy mop as she bounded towards me, followed closely by an exasperated-looking petite blonde. The grin on my face grew so wide my cheek muscles hurt. 

"DANI!" 

Leigh leaped and locked her arms behind my back, squeezing me in one of her trademark a super-hug. For one so small she sure had tons of strength and energy. Nearly suffocating from her sickly sweet cotton candy eau de toilette, I smiled sheepishly at Skye over Leigh's shoulder and she just grinned back, both of us completely used to the Leigh-ness. Damian's lanky figure soon appeared behind Skye and he bent forward to circle his arms around her waist. She gazed up adoringly at my bestfriend since kindergarten, who shot up to over 6-feet about two summers ago, and he winked at her before gently kissing the top of her head. Grinning, I gave myself a pat on the back for the umpteenth time for my superior matchmaking skills.

"Hey, Dani." He smiled, forest green eyes twinkling.

"Hey, loverboy," I teased, poking his lean stomach.

"Ow!"

He moaned and pretended to be doubled-over with pain. I snorted and stuck my tongue out at him as Skye shoved him playfully, giggling. Leigh had finally unhooked herself from me and began jumping up and down ecstatically.

"Oh my gosh, Dani did you hear that Leslie and Justin hooked up over the hols? And rumour has it that Kelsey is freaking pissed he chose Les over her so I bet there's gonna be war...and oh oh oh guess what? I saw the most uh-maze-tastic dress at Violet's and it's being sold at half price so you and Skye MUST come with me afterschool to check it out...and Drew's back so my mum said..."

I busied myself with rearranging my locker while Skye attempted to smoothen Daime's perpetually unruly locks, all three of us hearing though not really listening to Leigh's high-speed rambling. We had long since given up on trying to interrupt her when she was on a roll. Just then, Leon swaggered up to us. Leigh paused her verbal barrage as we all turned to look at him, sniggering a little at the air he was putting on.

"Barely 20 minutes into the first day and I've already gotten five different girls' numbers," he announced smugly, digging out scraps of paper from his pocket as proof and even rolling up his right sleeve to flex the digits scrawled onto his bicep. 

"Sure you didn't scribble fakies down yourself?" Damian asked jokingly, grabbing the bits of receipt and torn notebook paper from him.

Leon scowled at him. "I ain't that desperate bro," he said, snatching the numbers back.  The rest of us laughed.

"Sure..." I mocked, dragging the word out. He narrowed his eyes at me and I cocked an eyebrow. 

The musical trill preceeding an announcement was amplified by the speakers. "Students, kindly proceed to the Main Hall for the start-of-the-year assembly and briefing. Thank you."

Mr. Jackerman (a.k.a. Jackass) began shooing students towards the hall, oblivious to all the groans and grumbling. Learning from experience, the five us hastened to get the good seats...no where near the front that was reserved for freshmen but not too far back either.

As we settled down in a row, I turned to look happily at my friends, feeling thankful as I pushed away flashbacks of particularly terrible first days. Skye was on my right with Damian on her other side and Leon beside him while Leigh was to my left. Leigh bounced impatiently in her seat, scanning the crowd in search of someone while Skye and Damian were whispering to each other with their hands intertwined. Leon was busy texting someone with a smirk on his face, presumably one of the girls whose number he'd just gotten.

Man, it was always good to see them. I mean, I saw them at least twice a week during the hols but it was different somehow. 

I turned my focus toward people-watching as people began strolling in in pairs or groups of three or more, laughing and chatting, bringing the noise in along with them. The sound level seemed to have turned up a notch too, within the confined space of the main hall. As I scanned the crowds, I began waving to the people I knew and even shouting out to my other friends, trying desperately to be heard over the din. The seats began filling up. As my eyes wandered, I noticed a girl with a cute pixie cut sitting alone at the end of our row with her headphones on, foot jiggling to some unknown beat. She caught me staring so I smiled and looked away.

"Ooh! Vic's here!" Leigh clapped her hands with glee before springing out of her seat and disappearing into the crowds. I watched, amused, as she disappeared into the crowds for a second before reappearing and slipping herself into the arms of Victor Hughes, Leigh's latest love interest.

Then I returned my attention to Skye and Damian and slipped into their discussion about Suzie Summerton's back-to-school party on the coming Friday. It was an annual tradition and we all got invites. It's also usually an opportunity for our band to play a gig so we almost always attend because everyone knows when there's a double-S party, there's a crowd. And where there's a crowd, there's the best free publicity.

"Students, please settle down."

Our principal, Mr. Moss was standing at the mike.

"Students... Students... STUDENTS WILL YOU PLEASE JUST SETTLE DOWN!" The deafening screech of the microphone which followed effectively silenced us as well.

Mr. Moss was red in the face with visible steam gushing out of his ears. Those still standing scrambled to find empty seats and everyone promptly shut their gaps. Leon remained busily typing away, fingers flying across the keypad of his phone, unable to tear his gaze away from the screen. Only when Damian hissed "Jackass!" did he hastily shove the phone into his pocket before looking up, trying to look as cool as a hot mama under a beach umbrella.

"Thank you." Mr. Moss took a deep breath, readying himself for the speech ahead. "So, a very warm welcome to the freshmen of the school. And to the rest of the students, welcome back! Well, I hope that..."

Our principal was cut-off mid-sentence by the audible click of the hall's double-doors opening and the soft bang as it was swept open echoed off the walls.  Everyone turned towards the back and craned their necks, shifting in their seats to get a better look, wondering what was happening. The offender stepped gracefully inside, and the doors swung shut behind her. Everyone's eyes widened and I am pretty sure that every guy's lower jaw was scrapping the dusty hall floor. There stood the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous girl I - no, we -  had ever seen. Leon whispered to Damian, "Whoa, man! Is that an angel?" All five of us exchanged glances.

All eyes were on her as she strut down the center aisle in her four-and-a-half inch Louboutin's, the click-clacking of her heels practically screaming. "I'm filthy rich!". Honestly, if I were to kidnap her and sell everything she was wearing now at an auction, I'd be rolling in so much dough I wouldn't have to work for the rest of my life.

"Talk about being fashionably late..." I muttered in an undertone to Skye.

"Sorry I'm late, sir." Her strong, clear voice rang out as she approached the stage, addressing our principal, who looked more than a little stunned. 

Snapping out of his daze, he mumbled, "That's all right, Miss Stone. Please take a seat."

She sank down onto one of the seats up front, set her Prada tote on the neighbouring seat and pushed her Gucci sunglasses up onto her head before crossing one leg elegantly over the other, waiting for Mr. Moss to resume his speech.

The obvious question on everyone's minds was: "Who is she?"

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Author's note:

To anyone who's reading this, how's this first chapter? Do leave a comment below and vote (: Your encouragement spurs me on. THANKS ;D

Peace ♥