My alarm goes off, a loud ringing noise, leaving a path in my ears. I groan. I stretch my arm to the alarm clock, smashing my hand against it to turn the noise off, harder than I meant to. I listen to nothing, enjoying the absence of no noise.

I yawn and sit up. My vanity is opposite the bed, so I can see what I look like: black hair in need of some gel to restore it to its shiny look; grey eyes peering tiredly underneath my hair, not used to waking up early again after the 2 week Christmas holiday. My beige skin was unclean, my face finding a new pimple overnight. I rub it self-consciously and sigh.

I get up and head to the bathroom, stripping myself to shower. After I finish, I wrap my plain white towel around me and go back to my room. I regrettably take out my school uniform, hating the thick blazer. I dress into it, then take out my hair, blow drying it. It falls straight down my back, hanging at my waist. I rub body butter on my arms and legs, and some face cream on my face, gently over the pimple. It was so tempting to pop it, but I knew it would only make it worse.

Once I was sure I was ready, I pick out a pretty pink lipgloss and apply it, pocketing it inside my blazer.

There. All done.

I pick up my phone and also put it in a blazer pocket, exiting my bedroom. I look along the hallway. My parents' bedroom door was open, along with my elder brother's, Luke. I walk down the stairs into the kitchen, grabbing a piece of toast that was on a pile of 3 others, and head to the dining room.

Luke is sat down, munching on an apple. He lifts his head up and doesn't say anything, raising his eyebrows in acknowledgment. He's 19, in university, studying Accounting and Finance, however he's only required to go in 3 days a week, (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), so he's looking to get a side job as a substitute teacher in my school. His wavy brown hair falls elegantly in his eyes. Grey like mine. His hair is my dad's, the only different between us two. We could pull off twins if we really needed to.

I sit down with him, eating my toast. I open my phone to 146 notifications from WhatsApp, on a group chat with my 3 best friends: Lola, Maya and Alina. The group chat itself had no name, just a series of random emojis. I open the group, not bothering to read the messages. I was excited to see my friends again. I loved them with all my heart.

I look up, placing my phone back down and wiping my hands. Luke is watching me.

"That's disgusting." He says.

"You're disgusting." I retort back.

He snorts. "At least wash your hands."

I roll my eyes, and then get up exaggeratedly, heading over to the kitchen sink and washing my hands. I dry them a little bit, then go back to Luke, and splash the water in his face.

He makes a noise, and jumps up in shock.

"Dove, politely, go to he-"

"Children, you're going to wake up Rosie." Luke is interrupted by my mother, Annabel West. Everyone knew her in the town of Ashfield. Of course they did.

I sigh, sitting back down.

"I have something to tell you, Dove." Mum says, looking at me, her black hair falling out of her ponytail, my resemblance to her. She had clearly just woken up.

"Yes?" I ask, waiting for her to continue.

"Whatever they say at school, don't believe it."

That was weird, but I nod anyway. "Okay." I wonder what she meant by that?

She smiles gently. "My dear girl." I smile back, then look back at my phone as it pings. A message from Alina. She and her elder sister, Rowan, were here to pick me up.

"Goodbye, mumma." The name I'd always called her, ever since I was born. I peck her on the cheek.

"Goodbye, lucky duck." The name she always called me, ever since I was born.

"See ya, Luke." I say, getting out of the embrace with my mother and waving goodbye at Luke. He nods in return.

I get my set of house keys and unlock the door, feeling the cold winter air of Ashfield blowing at my face. If there was one thing my school's blazers were useful for, it was this. There was no need to have a coat if you were wearing one.

I turn around and lock the door, and then walk down the driveway to a standard Mini Cooper, Rowan's messy curls peeking from the driver's seat. I wave at her, and then get in the back. Surprisingly, Alina is sat at the back as well. She usually sits upfront.

"Alinaaaa." I say, hugging her as hard as I can at the back of the car.

"Doveyyyyy." She answers back, matching my energy. Her brown curls fall beautifully down her back, matching brown skin complimenting her look. And it was so clear! I think about my pimple, nearly touching it again.

Alina was my first ever friend. Since our families were friends long before we were born, it made sense that we had met and grown up together. She's like a twin to me.

"How've you been?" I ask, as Rowan begins to drive off.

"Good, good." Alina nods excitedly. "You?"

I shrug. "Bit boring but fine." Alina laughs, and I can't help but smile back.

"Where are we meeting Lola and Maya?" I ask.

"Car park." That's all she needed to say. By car park, she meant a little cluster of trees across the school car park, where we all meet and hang out.

For the rest of the car journey, me and Alina discuss about school. There's no need to catch up that much, since my family has given much news on hers, and vice versa.

When we reach school, I spot Lola and Maya, blonde and brunette hair huddled together. Rowan stops the car, wishes us a good day as we get out, then drives off. Me and Alina glance at each other, and we know what we have to do. We run towards Lola and Maya, and then jump onto each of them, hugging them.

They both scream, and turn around in shock. When they realise it's us, they hug us back.

"Dove, Alina." Maya says, shaking both our shoulders. "Don't do that ever again."

I laugh. "Maybe you should just watch your back." She punches me in the shoulder playfully.

Lola pushes her blonde thick hair out of her eyes, hitching her bag up on her shoulder. "Very funny." She says sarcastically.

I bend over and bow. "Thank you very much." I say. Lola snorts.

"Shut up all of you and let's go inside. I'm freezing my bum over here." Alina says loudly.

"Alina, love, you weren't the one sticking your bum in the cold air." I say, walking to the school entrance.

"Dove, love, no one asked you to do that." Alina mocks me back.

We all laugh. Gosh it felt good to be back. We walk into the school, a rush of warm air greeting us, welcoming us back. With an, "Ooh, my bum is nice and warm now," from Alina, we walk along the corridor, before our first lesson.

I notice that people are muttering whenever we walk past them, giving me looks of anger, and sympathy. I was used to these looks, from the West and Maddox family drama. I gulp. The angry looks were from the people who supported the Maddox family; the sympathetic looks for the West family.

I'm confused and scared. These looks had stopped when the Maddox family had moved out 5 years ago, right before their eldest son, Kite Maddox, started to go to high school.

I whisper to my friends, "Is it just me or are people staring at us?"

"By us, do you mean us or you?" Maya says, reading my mind. I give her a look.

Lola sighs. "I don't know. Should we ask someone?"

"Duh." Alina rolls her eyes. She walks over to a Year 7 boy giving me dirty looks. Her gorgeous brown curls cascade down her back, giving a beautiful sassy look.

"Can I ask you something?" Alina says sweetly, me, Lola and Maya flanking her. The poor boy doesn't know what's going to happen.

"Sure." The boy pushes his blonde hair out of his face.

"Why are you eyeing my friend like that?" She starts, pressing him. However, his demeanour seems unchanged.

"Haven't you heard?"

"Clearly not, if I'm asking." Alina snorts.

"The Maddox family have moved back."

My heart sinks. I can physically feel it, my head hurts. No. This can't be happening. I'm not dealing with this again. I'm not standing dirty looks from Kite Maddox, being pushed aside because he was the "stronger one" or the "more likeable one". No.

"No." I say out loud.

The boy turns to look at me. "You don't believe me? Turn around."

As if on cue, me and my friends swivel round.

My heart sinks even lower than I knew possible. Standing opposite me, staring directly into my eyes, Kite Maddox.