Ella's POV.

The loud noise of the alarm welcomed me in the morning and for the first time, it didn't feel too annoying. Maybe the reason was meeting my friends after a long time. I got up and headed to the washroom for a quick bath and to get dressed for school. Wearing my ripped off jeans with my simple button-up white blouse, I pulled my blonde hair up in a high ponytail and grabbed my notes and my bag. I hung the bag on my right shoulder and went downstairs to grab something to eat. Today was going to be the first day after the long three months summer vacation and the start of a new semester.

It won't be a lie to admit, I was more looking forward to meeting my friends instead of studies and I bet, none of them would be looking forward to the start of the same routine as well. Studies, lectures, tests, exams, projects and a never-ending list of school-ways-torture.

I headed downstairs towards the dining room. "Good morning, mom, dad, " I greeted them on entering the dining room and they both nodded towards me. I sat in my usual spot, hanging the bag on the side of my chair and placing my notes on the table, beside my plate of pancakes.

The atmosphere of the dining room the same as usual. Dad sipping his coffee while reading a newspaper and mum eating her pancakes while going through the latest fashion magazines, as for me, I ate my breakfast in silence as usual. After finishing it, I would bid them goodbye like every simple school day and a chauffeur would drive me to my school.

Eating my pancakes and gulping down a glass of orange juice, my breakfast was done. I gently wiped my hands and my mouth by the handkerchief that was placed on my lap and got up, ready to leave. After saying bye to mom, I went towards dad to bid him bye.

"Bye, Dad. " I hugged him and gave a kiss on his cheek. Dad smiled at me and whispered, "I'm sorry, princess. I know I have been very busy lately, but this time, I promise you that we will have this evening to ourselves. Okay?" Dad hugged me and planted a kiss on my head. A smile tugged upon my lips by his words.

"No worries, dad. I know you're a busy person."

"That's my little girl, but this time, I promise I'll be here and spend my time with my little princess." He sounded proud by my understatement, making me grin.

"Dad! I'm not little now. I'm 15 and soon to be turning 16," I stated with a hint of grown-up voice making my dad chuckle slightly. "But you will always be my little princess, sweetheart."

"That I will be. " I smiled. "Love you, Dad!"

"Love you more, princess!"

I waved him bye and with a big grin plastered on my face, I sat in the car. Today we would have our father-daughter time like those old times. Finally.

The twenty minutes drive went in a blur. The car stopped in front of the school gates and stepping out of the car; I entered the school. I walked through the school's busy hallways. The students chattering, some girls enveloped in a group hug while some smiling and waving at each other. Some boys laughing while some of them picking on first-year students like usual. Poor students. It seemed all were glad to start with their school routine after the vacations. I went towards my locker and saw Jessica and Sara waving their hands at me. Both of their faces shone with their biggest smiles. I moved towards them, my lips in a sweet smile as I enveloped them in a hug.

"Someone's in a good mood today," Jessica said in a sing-song voice and looped her arm in mine.

"Jess is right! So what happened? Got a boyfriend?" Sara winked at me.

I exclaimed, "No! Not a chance!" as my eyes widen at her teasing behaviour. I felt my cheeks warming up on the thought of a boyfriend as the stuff from the love novels - I read in summer vacations - came in my head. Not a good timing, brain!

I shook my thoughts clear before they both could see it and continue to tease me. "I am just thrilled to see both of you, Its been quite a while," I said and turned my head towards the locker. Opening it, I placed my stuff in.

"Really?" They both asked in unison and I nodded. In a moment, I felt four arms around my shoulder, choking me on my own words. "Awww! We missed you too!" They giggled in my ear still hugging me from behind.

"Okay okay, girls! A little air please." I let out a breath as they freed me from their hug cage. I placed my bag and my extra notes in and closing my locker, turned towards them. Both of them still smiling.

The bell rang indicating that the chat time was over. Sara and Jess pouted. "Ah! So soon? We just started talking," Sara complained. "Don't worry, we'll continue from where we left off in our break time." I patted her back assuring her and she stuck out her tongue. "Yes Grandma," she said making Jess and me chuckle.

"Ok! Let's head towards our classes, don't wanna be late on the first day." Jessica grabbed both our hands, and we all headed towards our respective classes. Mine was biology, so I parted from them and entered the class. The class was almost full. I spotted a vacant seat in the third row and made my way there. The next minute, our teacher came.

"Good Morning class! Welcome back! I hope you have quite enjoyed your vacations."

The class cheered with yes at our teacher's question. She smiled at us and continued with what she was saying, "Glad to know and love your enthusiasm. Keep your energy up because you'll need it."

The students looked at each other. Their lips mumbling trying to reveal the secret behind our teacher's words. I was also thinking of what she could mean by that. Maybe a surprise test? But that won't be fair. We had just returned from our vacations and was this the way to greet us?

"Quite, class!" She gave a stern look to us and the mumbling turned into hush words and after a moment, the class went quiet.

"Good, now I hope so you would have also utilized your vacation's time in some good work like doing some research on the specimens about which we talked about before the holidays. Right?" She paused and every single student froze, for we all had suspected her next move.

"So, today I'm going to take a quick quiz." And there, she announced it aloud turning our suspicions into wide reality. At this, the whole class started complaining. The classroom started to buzz with noises of students booing and complaining.

"Seriously? A quiz? At least give us a break! We have just returned from our vacation. " A mean voice came from behind me and I turned around to see no other than the school's meanest girl Hadley. She was the captain of the cheerleaders. She always wore designer clothes and to say she was a player would not be an understatement.

She had that pride look on her face the whole time. Her locker would always be filled with all types of makeup accessories. Being a daughter of a multi-billionaire businessman and an only child, she was pampered to a bitch. She always had that pride in her eyes having a firm belief that no one in this school was or could ever be better from her.

"What bitch? Never seen someone beautiful before?" She batted her fake eyelashes and applied a layer of pink lipstick. I rolled my eyes and ignored her, controlling myself from scrunching up my nose.

"Huh! Pathetic you, poor girl. " She giggled, and I hated when she giggles like she was the best of all, the richest of all, the prettiest of all.

I took deep breaths. Control Ella! You are better than her. Don't react! Say nothing. Just Ignore her.

I drew my attention to our class teacher. The quiz started. Many students weren't able to pass. I was able to give two to three answers but wasn't able to give all, because it's been a month since I last reviewed it, so, I had forgotten pretty much of it.

"Class! I'm really disappointed in you. Study. Work hard. I'll take this quiz tomorrow again. Come prepared!" She shook her head at us as the bell rang, and she waved her hand indicating that the class was dismissed. With that, the class ended, and we went to our next classes.

*****

"Hey, have you listened to their new song? Oh, my god!!! It's epic!!! Best best best best song ever!" Jessica was losing her mind as we were all sitting in the cafeteria having our lunch. The remaining classes were the same as usual and now was our break time.

I was munching onto my sandwich whilst Sara and Jessica were, as usual, arguing. They both trying their best to prove each other wrong. Jessica was a crazy fan of Korean stuff. She loved watching Korean dramas and loved listening to various Korean bands and might literally fall for any cute Korean boy. Her favourite was some band having seven Korean boys.

"Hey! You should both listen to it. It's awesome!" Jessica said and started humming, which I guessed was from the new song she was talking about.

"Nah! Mine ones are more awesome. Their songs are so... so... uh, to die for type." There goes Sara too. Talking about her favourite band. She was also a Kpop fan, but she also loved English songs.

These two were my craziest best friends. In primary and middle school, I didn't have any friends. I was a silent person back then, always remained to myself, talked a little and not much of a social person. Mostly the students didn't like me back then. The girls used to say I was an annoying and irritating person. Why? Because I wasn't much of a talker. I had always done what my parents and my teacher told me to. I had never gone against them.

I wasn't good at all in making friends from the very first day of my school life but in high school; I met these two girls and these friends changed me, bringing a bit fun and craziness in my dull life.

"You tell Ella! Who is right? Jess or me?" I broke out of my trance by this question and looked at the determined brown eyes of Sara. I could tell that she was trying her best to prove her point and now, she was seeking help from me. Only the problem was... I had no idea what they both were arguing all that time. My sixth sense was telling me that it was probably the songs of their loveable bands but, a part of me was giving me the signs that the topic might have shifted during the time I was lost in my track of thoughts.

"El! Tell us, who's the best?" This time Jessica demanded, and I nervously chuckled. My mind was running wild to think of a way to escape from this situation, alive. I bit my lower lip and started with random words, forming a sentence.

"Guys, Look! Accept the fact. Everyone has their own taste and their own liking. Whether it's some song or a sense of fashion or a book. Every person's mind is different and unique from others and each person has his or her own liking. " I decided to choose my words wisely because I had no idea what their topic of argument was. I bit my inner cheek hoping that my words made sense to them.

"Hmmm. " They both pouted for a minute and then replied, "Yup! You're right!" Then they both laughed and I let out a sigh of relief. Thank god! I got saved this time. Always pay attention when your best friends talk. I made a mental note in my head

The bell rang and getting up; we walked towards our next class. It was music. I wanted to become a doctor, but I chose music as one of my hobbies. It made me feel relaxed and gives me a sense of freedom.

We entered our class and sat in our usual seats. I was learning to play the piano as I have always loved it. My grandmother used to play it for me when I was little. She passed away when I was ten and since then; it became a part of my life. As we were waiting for the teacher to arrive, a boy came into the class.

I haven't seen him before in our class, must be a new or a transfer student. Followed by him was our teacher. The new boy had dirty blonde hair and a smile on his face that reached up to his eyes. He was tall and had a well-built body. His eyes grey and it reminded me of moonlight in the dark night.

"Class! There will be a new student joining us from today," our teacher started with the introduction. The whole class went silent and looked at him.

"He had just moved to America, this month, and starting from today, he'll be studying in our school. You wanna say something?" Miss Ruby asked him with a warm smile.

"Uh! Hi! I'm Xaiden Emiliano. I have just moved here. So... I hope we will have a great time, I am really grateful to be your classmate." His voice having some deep accent clearly indicating that he wasn't an American nor a British. His voice deep and his every word clear and then that sweet smile ending his words would make him look like an innocent gentleman. Yes, a gentleman, not handsome, not beautiful, not cute. Just like a gentleman - or at least that was what I tried to convince myself - he wasn't attractive, only like a gentleman.

"Aww! He's cute." I heard the girl sitting beside me saying to her friend, to which, her friend agreed.

Cute? I looked at him carefully like I was inspecting some new specimen. No! Nope! Not cute. Not at all! His eyes roamed in the class and for a moment it settled on mine or was I hallucinating? They lingered on me for a while and my eyes, not blinking away.

Ella! Avert your eyes! My mind gave me an order and quickly, I averted them away from his face.

"So Mr. Emiliano! What instrument you play?" The teacher asked, and I didn't dare to look at him even for a millisecond.

"I play piano. " His voice sweet and I didn't like the way it sounded. His accent was strange, his voice deep yet it held a bit sweetness in it. Strange. So strange.

"Good. You can have a seat beside Miss Anderson. " On teacher's words, my eyes shot up and I looked at the teacher, pointing towards me. His eyes landed on mine and my mind giving me orders to avert them, to not stare back, to avoid them, but, my eyes not moving. They seemed to have a mind of their own and then, he gave me a heart-melting smile, making my heart skip a beat.

Or was it a simple smile? Oh God! I was in trouble.

---------------------------------------------------

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