Even though I knew it wouldn't be permanent, there was still a melancholy in leaving home. My family always surrounded me, and I turned to them for comfort. It felt weird, knowing that I wouldn't be with them for a while.

I stuffed my suitcase with tears gushing down my face, Mary assisting with carrying the things to the car. She tantalised me about how she always thought she was going to be the first one to leave. I snorted and reminded her it was only for a few weeks. I also accomplished to slide in a remark about how fit Shane was. She scowled at me.

Evie kept laughing, and I didn't know why. She embraced me tightly and asked me to bring her back a jar with beach sand and seashells. Only on the drive to the airport did I apprehend why she was so giggly. There was a repugnant odour coming from one of my bags and when Jeremy opened it up - there was a plastic container with garbage.

Papa was all grins, telling me to have fun but not come home pregnant. He glared at Christian whilst saying it. Mum slapped Papa's arm for that comment. Though there was a grin on her face, her eyes were damp. She'd always been my biggest supporter and made sure to constantly remind me I was going to do just fine.

This was such a big jump for me, going from recluse to suddenly travelling with people I'd only known for three weeks. But as I'd been told on many occasions, it was time for me to step out of my shell. I was still fearful, of course. There was no way that I could suddenly gain the confidence of the world overnight - but I was getting there, slowly but surely. When I told Mum that I wouldn't be able to persevere without her by my side, she rejoined with I'm going to be there whether you see me or not.

And it was accurate. Because as I stood in my new room, I felt the strands of her affection touching me, hugging me close no matter how far apart we were. I found happiness in that because I felt like a fish out of water. Having landed a few hours ago, I was moderately distressed and Christian escorted me to my room. But I was too agitated to sleep. My nightmares were the biggest of my worries. Luckily, I'd be sharing a room, which meant that I wouldn't be alone.

The place was like a vast country house. There was a field, I passed a pool and there were so many rooms. It was like a mini-hotel, very ostentatious. My roommate hadn't arrived yet, and it made me apprehensive. What if she didn't like me? My thoughts were suddenly running wild as I wondered whether she'd think I was a freak.

Today was arrival day and for the past hour, I sat on the window ledge staring as girls were dropped off by their parents whilst others parked their cars. They all looked intimidating. I was way out of my comfort zone. I suddenly felt regret creeping through my body. This was not me. I was not this adventurous, not anymore. Why did I let my curiosity and temptation get the better of me?

Checking the clock, I discerned it was time to head down to the common room. Coach Greg, who was the head of the LaCroix Fury soccer club, wanted us all to get to know each other. That didn't sit well with me. I didn't do too well in social circumstances. Jeremy and Astrid weren't here, the former only visiting on days when he helped coach. The only other person I knew was Christian, and he was one of the coaches, so he'd be busy.

I was yet to meet his sister or the brother that Astrid declared looked exactly like Christian. I was sure that I'd be able to tell my crush from his brother, but it wasn't enough for Christian. He made me give him my silver bracelet, and now he wore it so that I could tell which one was him. It was unnecessary, but I found it cute.

I reminded myself to leave Ruben a message that I was no longer back home in London. Swiping my pouch of peppermint gum from the counter, I tucked it into the pocket of my jeans and slid out the door. The corridors were endless, and I had no idea where I was going. I passed some girls, but they didn't even spare me a glimpse. It wasn't like there was much to look at anyway, just a short girl in jeans, hoodie and trainers.

I whirled a corner and blundered like a baby taking its first steps as I thumped into someone. My body contorted, toppling over, and I braced myself for the impact of the ground. But it never came. An arm coiled around me and pulled me upright. I opened my eyes and saw what was most probably the prettiest girl I've ever seen.

Her golden blonde curls were wild, and her glacial eyes were swelled with concern. "Shit. Are you okay?"

"I'm so sorry," I contrived to get out, feeling humiliation dig into my skin. I felt my eyes water in distress. "I wasn't looking where I was going and that was wrong of me because you could've gotten seriously injured. That would've been all my fault - what?" I inquired, seeing her sporting a tremendous grin, and I wondered if she was internally laughing at me. This was a bad idea, a very, very bad idea, Eden.

She shook her head, a grin gracing her features. She looked like an actual angel, particularly with the light slipping through the windows. "Are you perhaps Eden?"

I blanched. "Yes."

Another laugh. And then she pulled me into a hug. My arms stayed at my side because I was so awkward. This was a stranger and here she was embracing me. "It's so good to finally meet you. I'm Charlie."

My brows hiked, and I finally permitted myself to see the resemblance. The answer should've been clear by the shards of frost ensnared in her eyes. "You're Christian's sister?" She nodded and then I was smiling too, feeling relief seep into my skin. "It's nice to meet you too. Sorry for bumping into you. I can be rather clumsy."

"It's no problem," Charlie heaved a hand and escorted me down the corridor. I was appreciative because without her I would've led myself out of a window. "I'm glad to have you on the team. It means a lot that you came all the way from London. Chris spoke highly of you." I reddened, but it thrilled me she didn't ridicule me for it - I would've thrown up. "It's good to have him back on the field."

Her comment puzzled me because as far as I knew, Christian was the goalkeeper. I didn't get to question her though because she beamed before shifting through the doors and into the common room. There were about ten girls around the room and I gathered some of them were substitutes. There were also servers scampering around, handing out refreshments and finger foods. There were so many bodies, it reminded me of the cult documentary I watched recently.

"There are my brothers," Charlie hooked her arm around mine, realising that I was out of my comfort zone. Bless her soul. Christian and a guy who looked eerily similar to him stood in the far corner with another blonde who could pass as their brother. I wondered if everyone here was blonde.

Christian looked up and met my gaze, stare so cold that it could chill someone to the bone. The ice in his eyes acted like a frosted knife. I must've been the only one who noticed a change in him. His glaring eyes were so different at that moment, looking more closed off than the time I first met him. It told me he needed something in the same way I did. Except, I needed comfort, but I didn't know what he needed.

The carefree Christian from London seemed to evaporate into thin air, leaving behind the stoic one. That emotionless expression was back, the one about as loose as concrete. I wasn't the most confident person, so with anyone else I would've dropped my gaze, but I didn't.

And I nearly sighed in relief when Christian stretched out his arm and yanked me away from Charlie to stand next to him, my bracelet shaking from its place on his wrist. "Did you nap?" He urged softly.

I shook my head, "too stressed." I began fidgeting with my fingers, feeling as if everyone was watching me even though I knew they weren't. Now was the wrong time for my anxiety to kick in. If I was comfortable enough, I'd be okay, but the fact that there were so many strangers around me made my stress skyrocket.

Christian frowned but was cut off by Charlie, who was smirking at him. "Eden. This is my other big brother, Caleb." I waved shyly at the goofy looking male and he chortled before waving back. "And this is my best friend Nolan."

"Aren't you just adorable?" The green-eyed boy cooed, and I flushed red, inspiring him to stretch out and poke my cheek. Christian glared. Nolan pulled a face at him before peering around the room and directing me, "have you met any of your teammates yet?"

My breathing turned shallow at the concept and I absentmindedly scuffed closer to Christian, trying my hardest to cloak my anxiety. I gnawed on the inside of my cheek and shook my head as Christian wrapped a consoling arm around my shoulders. I let my body sag, muscles becoming relaxed in his hold. "I haven't, actually."

Caleb sipped at his drink and smiled at me, although he tossed Christian a look I couldn't decipher, making the latter tense up. "You sound like Harry Potter." That made me grin. "Harry was popular, wasn't he? You'll have friends in no time."

"I doubt that," I stammered and Charlie pouted. "I don't do so well with crowds. Even though there aren't that many people in this room, to me it's the equivalent of the bodies at the Jonestown Massacre."

"The what?" Nolan interrogated, and from the corner of my eye, I could see Christian stifle a laugh. It surprised me since he was currently bringing the same presence to the room as a mannequin would.

"The Jonestown Massacre," I reiterated. "It transpired on November 18, 1978, when over 900 members of an American cult, Peoples Temple, perished in a mass suicide-murder under the command of their leader Jim Jones. He instructed his supporters to ingest poison-laced punch while armed guards stood by."

Charlie grimaced, toying with her necklace that said: Liam. "That's horrific yet interesting." I gaped at her. This was the first time that someone was actually engrossed in what I had to say. Of course, my family didn't count. Glancing around our little group, I regarded Nolan looking at me in interest and Caleb was already googling the massacre.

"It is," I agreed, and Christian clutched my shoulders. "My babushka calls Jones d'yavol. It means the devil."

Christian leaned down to my height and whispered, "Ted Bundy. Jim Jones. Who's next?"

"Charles Manson," I giggled. "He had the swastika tattooed on his forehead and had a cult too."

I looked up at him as if noticing him for the first time. There was an emotion in his eyes, showing a truth that his face was trying to suppress. He weaponised his emotions, using his glacial stare to slash anyone who came too close. But when he looked down at me, that ice melted. And then it froze immediately when someone else joined the picture.

Nolan grabbed my attention. "I'm majoring in History. Is there any chance I can hire you to write my papers for me?" There was a profound curve to his smile, and I knew he was just taunting. He was trying to make me comfortable. And I was grateful for that.

Coach Greg entered the room and everyone went hushed. I subtly slipped out of Christian's hold because I knew it was inappropriate to be this cosy with one of your coaches. Disregarding the glare he shot me, I snickered and blended into the group of girls - all taller than me.

A blonde stood out in particular. Sigh, another blonde. Her green eyes examined the room as if she was better than everyone. She had this demeanour of resolution to her and it made the room feel full. One girl referred to her as Ashley.

As if she knew I was looking at her, her gaze locked mine and she grimaced at what she saw - little old me. A wordless conversation happened between us, and I knew what she yearned to say. You don't belong here. It was all in the way she looked at me. Or perhaps I was just being paranoid.

"I hope you all had a safe journey, whether you travelled by plane, bus, car, train. I'm thankful that you could join this family," Coach Greg began, a radiant smile present on his ageing face. He was very fit but was nowhere near as huge as the men in my family. "Our official meeting will happen in four days and practice will start exactly one week from now. Today is all about getting to know your teammates." I felt bile wriggling up my throat. "Enjoy the food."

And the room exploded into chatter. I looked to Christian, but he appeared to be talking to his siblings. The discussion looked rather intense, and I wondered what it was about, not liking the emotionless expression plastered to his features. Nolan saw I required a saviour to rescue me from social suicide so he pranced towards me, his long legs reminding me of a giraffe. "How ya doing?"

"Not good," I whispered. "There are so many people." At that moment, Ashley began handing out vanilla cupcakes that she baked herself. I applauded her in my head because she was making a great impression. Couldn't say the same for me. I didn't want to make any impression.

"Don't worry," Ashley articulated emphatically, enticing more attention. This was someone who flourished in the spotlight - the opposite of me. "I know that we all have to watch what we eat since we'll start practising soon. But I used a natural vanilla substitute instead of actual vanilla because I heard it makes you put on weight."

Nolan nudged my arm with a snort, "I don't think that's true." Neither did I.

After handing it out to one side of the room, Ashley finally approached where we stood. Christian looked over, no doubt wanting to see how my first communication with a teammate would go. "You said you used a vanilla substitute? May I ask which one?"

"Sure," Ashley simpered. "I used Castoreum. Promise it's all-natural."

I pursed my lips to inhibit the bile from escaping, that's how apprehensive I was. Everyone was staring at the girl who dared to challenge Ashley's kind actions - me. And I just knew I was about to word-vomit.

"Castoreum is a brown residue sweltered from the castor gland of a beaver. It's positioned right next to its anus and is generally used as raspberry, vanilla and strawberry flavouring substitutes." There were moans of repugnance as some girls disposed of their cupcakes. "But don't worry. It's FDA approved."

Sniggers left Nolan, and he chewed his lip, trying to restrain his laughter. Ashley looked me up and down as if I was scum. "Who are you? The team's nutritionist or something?" Laughter played through the air. It was like Ashley delivered the vilest of insults. To me, she did. Because it fortified what I already deemed people would assume - I didn't look like I belonged on the team.

"I'm on the team, actually." That shut her up real good because she had a reputation to uphold as the kind one. And she just looked at me as if I was something she plucked off the bottom of her shoe. I saw it. Everyone here was confident and at least a foot taller than me.

They looked like part of a team. I looked like someone's baby sister. "Thanks for the cupcake," I muttered, grabbing one because I felt bad, before speeding out of the room as if my arse was on fire and ignoring Nolan's calls of my name.