"Hi." I said, my voice small. 

"Natalie I want you to 'shadow' Maria today, you share a similar schedule so I thought it would be appropriate to pair you up." The lady, I never did learn her name, said. 

Maria only smiled, her face seemed to be swallowed up by the simple gesture. As soon as I stepped out from behind the lady Maria grabbed my hand and dragged me deeper into the deafining room. 

"I sit over here! You can sit next to me! Technically Matthias sits there but he can move." 

She doesn't seem bothered by the overwhelming noise or the fact that she was elbowing kids to get to her chair. But as soon as she showed me my seat a sharp noise pierced through the air. Everyone went silent. 

"Everyone sit down and listen up! We've got a new student and I'd like to introduce her before heading off to class." 

My heart rate sped up. Introduce? I don't want to be introduced! I'd much rather just follow Maria around silently... 

I suddenly had the feeling I was being watched, like dozens of eyes were on me. It was now that I realized that I'm the only one still standing. 

"Ah Ms. Marl! Class, I'd like you to meet Natalie Marl, she's the new addition to our class." I gave a small wave and immediately tryed to sit, but the seat Maria promised me was occupied by a boy with messing black hair. 

"Sorry Nat! He wouldn't move..." Maria whisper yelled at me. 

So in a brilliant flash of blind panic I did the next best thing, I sat as quickly as I could on the ground.

Not my best idea.

Kids around me started to snicker, my cheeks flushed red as I elected to ignore them. I scooted closer to Maria's leg as the teacher approached the small group of desks.

"Natalie, I have a desk for you over there if you'd like." 

"I'm ok." I whispered, shrinking deeper into myself and closer to her chair. 

"Well you're going to-"

"It's ok teach! She's just settling in! Besides, the bell is going to ring any minute now, right?" Maria said, saving me from any further conversation. And as if on que, the bell rang. I sprang to my feet, my backpack still hanging from my shoulders, as I followed Maria out of the room. 

"Home room is never much fun." She said. All I could do was nod. I followed her from class to class, making sure that I'd get the seat next to her. Usually that meant moving someone out of their seat, but as long as I got to sit next to her I didn't really care. 

Lunch was something different. Keeping with the pattern of the day I followed Maria down the stairs and to the back of the line, where we were met with a semi-familiar face.

"On time as usual loser." Matthias said, looking at his plastic Avengers watch. 

"Whatever. Have you seen Jamie?" 

"She showed up like an hour early like everyday. And of course you asked like everyday." 

"Shut up." 

"So who's our little princess over here?"

Maria shoved him in the shoulder. "Her name is Natalie. And don't be mean!" 

"Hi Natalie my name is Matthias." 

"Matthias? More like 'my-thighs-itch'" 

"Maria actually shut up." 

Our conversation, well, I guess it wasn't mine, ended when Matthias was asked what he wanted from the display in front of us. 

"You brought a lunch didn't you?" 

I looked down at the sack in my hand. "Yeah..." 

Maria pointed to a table only a few strides away. "See the girl and the mopey boy? Go sit next to them. Don't sit directly next to Jamie, Matthias sits there. Sit across from Brayden." She then lightly shoved me. 

I took a few steps, looked back, then bravely made my way over to them. As soon as I sat down, I could feel heat in my face and a heavy lump in my gut. I wanted Maria to come back. I wanted her to get through the line as quickly as possible. I quickly opened my lunch and busied myself by shuffling through it, trying to avoid awkward silence and conversation. After what felt like an eternity, Maria returned laughing with a talking Matthias. 

"And then she took my eraser when she knew I was looking! How sketchy is that!?" 

"Sketchy?" She wheezed.

"Yea, I've heard my brothers use that word and it seems to fit." He looks at me. "Hello princess." 

Maria slammed her lunch tray down. "Stop calling her that!" 

He shrugged and threw a fry at Maria, who sat down next to me, and I. 

"Mrs. R said not to throw food." Jamie said finally looking up from her tray.

"Can it twiddle." 

"That doesn't even make sense." 

"Are you picking on my sister again?" Brayden asked. 

"No!" He put a fry in his mouth and spoke again, quietly this time, "yes." 

Brayden only glared. His blond hair and glasses contrasting the dark clothes he wears, but his voice certainly matches his threatening glare. 

Matthias shrugged. 

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

I learned three things today: 

1. Travel in groups in the hallway, that way you won't get swallowed by the crowd. 

2. Matthias is very full of himself and it's easy to feed his ego. (Maria warned me not to do that, however).

3. Don't make fun of Jamie, Brayden will kill you.

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

Matthew and Aaron asked me about my first day over dinner that night. I left out the bit of me sitting on the ground like a moron, or the fact that I never left Maria's side. I did, however, tell them about my new friends.

"That's amazing Natalie!" Aaron cooed. 

"Tell us more about them." Matthew pressed, they were infatuated. 

I told them about Maria and her beanie, Matthias and his messy brown hair (seriously does he know what a brush is?) (Well ok it's not that bad, but come on dude). I told them how Jamie was quiet like me, and how scary Brayden could be. 

"Well we are both so proud of you." Aaron said, Matthew only nodded through his mouthful of food. 

"Now I hope we get to meet these friends some time." Aaron said. I nodded. 

Aaron looks at his watch. "Speaking of school, we better get you off to bed." Matthew and I made eye contact, then we both races for the sink, dropping our plates, careful not to break them, and I jumped on his back. 

Aaron laughed. "What on earth are you two doing?!" 

Matthew made horse noises and bowed to Aaron. I started shrieking, afraid to fall over his head. 

"My prince." He said, freeing one hand from under my thighs to kiss his hand. 

"My my, what a gracious stead." 

I giggled, "to my sleeping chambers!" I called, pointing in the direction we would need to go to get to the staircase around the corner. He neighed and headed toward the stairs, a laughing Aaron in tow. 

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

The next week was one of the weirdest weeks of my life. The day after my first day, Matthias showed up in a ponytail. Granted it one of the shortest ones I've ever seen, but still. The next day Jamie had somehow talked Brayden into wearing a pink shirt with baby blue pants. 

"Isn't he the cutest?" She said teasingly. 

Conversation ranges anywhere from video games, to books, to what kind of potato you like. 

"So, who says we have our little shindig at the castle?" 

I was snapped back to reality with Matthias' comment.

"Matthias that's not fair. We'd have to ask her parents first. That's the rules." 

"Ok. Hey princess? Did you catch that?" 

"What..?" 

"We wanted to get together this weekend and we haven't been to your house yet. You told us earlier you had horses and stuff, so can we come over?" 

Jamie punched him in the arm. He rolled his eyes. "Please?" 

"I'd have to ask my parents..." 

"Great!" Jamie said. "It won't be at our house. Again." 

"That was only like four times." 

"Four times too many." Brayden said. 

"Oh it wasn't that bad. But don't worry Nat, we'll be good. Promise." 

"Yea, should I bring games?" Jamie asked.

"Ooh! Can you bring your iPod? I wanna play truth or dare!" Maria said excitedly. 

"Whatever." Brayden said. He was back to wearing his greys and blacks. 

"Ok, so we'll meet in the front of the school tomorrow, after Nat asks her parents." Matthias said. 

"Sounds good to me." Maria said. The twins nodded instead. 

This can't be so bad, can it? 

Woo - Rebecca