Cathy stopped outside the red door opening to a homeroom which was already full of noise. She sucked in a deep breath to calm her nerves while wiping her eyes of moisture. Slowly reaching for the doorknob, she grabbed the piece of cheap metal and turned.

Stepping inside the white washed room was like stepping into a lair of hungry lions. Each and every previously occupied eye looked up to scan Cathy before the whispers broke out.

Whispers. Gosh how they sucked.

Cathy smiled politely and got a few in return as walked forward, mentally muttering the promise she'd made to herself like a broken record.

Don't care about what people think. Don't be shy. Make the first step to make friends.

Spotting a desk in the third row, Cathy squeezed past the curious teens and dumped her bag on the desk. She pulled out a few books which her mom had packed for her and neatly arranged them in her desk while hearing the halted chatter resume once more.

The screeching sound of the bell was heard as Cathy raised her head from hanging her bag on the back of her chair. Kids leaped off the desks they had ever so casually decided were chairs to scurry away into their seats.

No sooner than the god awful, dying bird of a bell stop ringing, did the door open to welcome a woman with stricking red hair.

She paused to look around the class with a smile and twinkling blue eyes before beginning her introduction. "Good morning to all of you. My name's Ms. Linda Smith and I'll be the teacher in charge of your class." She paused once more as she turned around to write her number while continuing. "So if you've got any problems I'm here to help." She finished as she turned infront. "Oh, and one more thing," she said when she spotted Cathy. "We have a new student this year, would you like to introduce yourself ?"

Cathy linked her hands together and smiled nervously as she stood up. Looking around at the onlooking crowd, she took in a reassuring breath before starting. "Hey, my name's Cathy Williams. Well it's actually Catherine but no one calls me that except my grandma." She said with a slight laugh while only a couple of students cracked a sympathetic smile.

Awkward.

"Uh my previous school was St. Henry's, but I had to leave since we were moving to a new house and all...uh, yeah that's all I've got to say," she rushed out and sat while cursing herself for being so weird, though she immediately regretted it when she heard her therpist's words echoing in the back of her head.

"Treat yourself with kindness, because at the end of the day, only your opinion about yourself should matter."

"Well then," said Ms. Smith clasping her hands together. Therefore silencing the chattering of the students once more.

"I'll be handing out the timetables now, come upto me when I call your name." She announced before calling out names which Cathy would probably forget within 5 seconds. But nevertheless, she listened.

Standing up when her name was called, Cathy was handed her schedule by Ms. Linda with a polite smile.

"Welcome to Kingswood High."

Offering back a silent "thank you," Cathy grinned as she scanned the piece of paper as she made her way to her seat. Most of the subjects for today were the ones she liked so memorizing Monday's schedule wasn't that hard.

Taking her place back at her seat, Cathy took out her diary and glued it onto a page which wasn't full of posters and newspaper clippings of missing children or articles about demons.

The screening metal noise of the bell rang once more, jolting Cathy out of her mini reverie as she dumped her diary into her backpack and hurried away to her first class while trying her best to avoid the stares as she walked down the hallway.

Finally finding her way to class A3, Cathy hurried into her English class and walked upto the seat near the window.

Taking her English books the moment the teacher walked in, Cathy was relieved he didn't bother even introducing himself, therefore sparing her from another awkward introduction.

"Turn to page two." She heard the teacher say as he started to read out notes in a monotone voice. Cathy grabbed herself and began jotting down the stuff she thought was important before she heard a shuffle behind her.

"Well hello," she heard someone say as she stared into a pair of emerald green eyes. "I'm Ryan by the way," said the boy smiling and ruffling up his already messy golden blonde hair.

Cathy blinked, not knowing what to say as she stared at him. The boy had a slight tan to his features and a lean figure.

"Nice to meet you Ryan," said Cathy finally finding her voice while smiling.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but could you please pick up that pen for me," Ryan said, inclining his head towards Cathy's chair.

"Ya sure," replied Cathy bending down to pick up the pen.

"Thanks," replied Ryan rewarding her with a dimpled smile.

Well That was weird.

Cathy thought to herself once she'd turned infront.

Well hello. And could you please?' She grinned.'What ancient English.'

But hey atleast he's got manners.

* * *

The bell for the next period rang and all the students began to pack their belongings away as they hurried away to their next classes while Cathy reached for her diary and turned up empty.

"Looking for this?" Teased a voice behind her to which Cathy snapped her head behind to see Ryan holding up her diary with a sly smirk plastered onto his face.

"From where did you get that?" Cathy questioned him, her opinions about him all over the place.

"From your bag," replied Ryan casually as he crossed his hands.

"My ba-," Cathy stopped mid sentence. Now it all made sense. No wonder Ryan had spoken like a retired grandfather.

"Woah calm down," said Ryan handing Cathy the book when she shot him the death glare. And that turned her glare into a gape.

First he stole my diary, and now he's acting as if nothing happened!

"Even I'm interested in Mal," Ryan said after a moment, making Cathy's jaw drop another few centimetres. "Mal?" She said raising her eyebrows at him.

Who in the world would give a devil a nickname?

"What's the problem with Mal?" Asked Ryan gesturing for Cathy to follow him.

"Well, you normally don't give a monster a nickname," said Cathy picking up her gym locker keys and water bottle.

"Well you people give mermaids' names and they too are monsters," Ryan debated. "Besides, Malthus is too long."

But before Cathy could tell him off for calling mermaids monsters, Ryan gave her a small smile and entered the boys' changing room.

Cathy sighed in defeat and headed towards the girls'. Thankful that it was empty except for a girl who stopped suddenly at the sight of Cathy. And for a good reason too.

Cathy's eyes travelled to the aged white scar just below the girl's shoulder. Her morning flashback crashing on her.

"What are you looking at?" Snapped the girl covering her scar with her sleeve. But before Cathy could say a word out of her mouth, the girl stormed out of the room.

Five minutes later, Cathy had tied her hair into a small ponytail and exchanged her jeans and blue T-shirt with a grey one and a pair of black shorts, both on which the Kingswood High logo was printed. She ran her way to the gym and walked up to the coach when she entered.

"Miss...?" Asked the stern looking woman looking her up and down.

"Williams miss," replied Cathy. "Cathy Williams."

"Well why are you late?" Questioned the coach impatiently as she tightened her brown ponytail.

"Uh...I lost my way?"

"Well then hurry up and go continue the exercises with the others." The track suited woman said before she stompped towards the crowd as Cathy trailed behind, searching for a familiar face.

But even after the exercises had finished, there were no signs of Ryan.

Hearing the gym teacher- Ms. Jones- calling out names, Cathy brought her attention back to the class as everyone was sorted into pairs. In the end, Cathy was partnered up with a boy whom she caught sneaking glances at her. Grinning inwardly, Cathy turned to look at the only girl who was left without a partner. Her brain instantly recognising her as the girl whom she had seen in the changing room.

And now that Cathy saw her properly, she noticed that the girl actually looked quite pretty. With a sporty tan and straight jet black locks, at first glance she looked like the type of girl who would model for sports bras and stuff like that. You know, the type of girl with the perfectly toned body and everything.

But once Cathy had properly scanned her from head to toe, she seemed more like the type of girl who would kick your ass if you pissed her off too much.

Cathy watched as the girl placed her hands on her hips and shook her head impatiently. Causing her ponytail to bounce around her head."Why is he always late?" She groaned aloud before aiming her next question at the coach. "And why do I always get paired with him?"

"Well then Alexandra, no partner for you then," said Ms. Jones ignoring Alexandra while she instructed the other pairs to practice passing. And that seemed to annoy the girl greatly as she quite audibly taught Miss. Jones- and some other kids by the looks of the corner glares- to call her by her proper name, 'Alexa'.

"It's Alexa! How hard is it to say-" she stopped talking as the entrance door screeched open and a blonde head peeped in.

And that's when Alexa lost it. Screaming Ryan's name, she stormed up to him before the green eyed boy fled away.

Cathy turned her head around sighing, turns out she wasn't the only one watching Ryan and Alexa's commotion. The entire class was, including the boy with whom Cathy was partnered with. But unlike the others, he had a smirk plastered onto his face. "Ryan's done for today," Cathy heard him mutter before she directed her attention to Ryan.

Alexa had him by the collar and was dragging him to the towards Ms. Jones. "Detention I hope Miss," she said dumping Ryan like garbage beside her. "Eleventh time he's late,"she said half scowling, half grinning.

"Tenth-" argued Ryan.

"Eleventh-" snapped Alexa

"Tenth-"

"Elevnth!-"

"Aww, so you've been counting how many days I've been late, does that mean you care?" said Ryan lowering his eyes.

"Piss off you-"

"Okay enough both of you!" Yelled a third voice.

"But Ms. Jo-" began Alexa.

"That's enough Ms. Taylor, now you and Adams go take your places." Said Ms. Jones dismissing them.

"Well come on then," said Ryan picking up a ball and heading towards the the corner of the room while Alexa glared at him but followed.

"Oh come on Al," said Ryan passing the ball to her.

"Don't call me Al," said Alexa catching the ball and throwing it hard on to Ryan's chest. "And besides, I don't get the point in wasting an entire period by just passing a stupid ball."

"The only thing we agree on," replied Ryan before he suddenly added, "Hey Al, the new kid Cathy, even her friend was taken by Malthus- at least that's what I think, she didn't exactly tell me but..."

Alexa tuned out Ryan's chatter the moment she heard the devils name. She felt the basketball graze the corner of her hands as she attempted to catch it before it fell to the ground with a bounce, while her memories flashed back at her.

Ellie going towards a tall dark figure. Alexa shouting for her to stop while she felt her heart stop at what was in front of her. Malthus's open arms taking Ellie into the woods while all Alexa could do was scream after her.

And then the scene changed.

This time Alexa was on the ground. And towering over her was Malthus with his swords of spikes ready to pierce her. Alexa physically flinched as she remembered the spike slashing across her arm before she saw her own blood splatter across the bright grass.

She remembered the sense of relief she'd felt. She was finally about to die, she was finally about to be with her best friend.

But then a figure appeared from behind the trees and raised her arm as he pulled her along with him. Taking her away from her death.

Again the scene changed.

This time, the twelve year old Alexa was sitting on her bed, the blue covers pushed aside while her arm was bandaged. Tears poured from the preteens eyes as she tightly hugged the blonde boy in front of her while he whispered consoling words into her ear as he stocked her head.

Alexa came back to her senses when she heard Ryan clear his throat loudly.

"Thinking about me?" He said flashing her a bad boy grin.

"I wasn't thinking about you," snapped Alexa.

"Oh yes you were-"

"I wasn't-"

"You do know that you're blushing right now don't you?"

"Can you get anymore annoying?"

"I'm only like this for you sweetheart- Hey you're slowly changing the topic!" Exclaimed Ryan suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Asked Alexa innocently.

"You don't want to confess that I drive you nuts, do you?" Said Ryan grinning broadly.

"Of course you drive me nuts! 'Cause you're extremely annoying!" Snapped Alexa in return.

"And you love me for that," said Ryan showing off his legendary smirk. "Besides, what was that hug about?"

"I was twelve Ryan,"

"But you still hugged me,"

"Clearly, it was a mistake," said Alexa smacking the ball hard onto Ryan's head.

Being off guard, Ryan fell flat onto the ground as soon as the bell for the lunch break rang.

"Ouch," he said rubbing the back of his head where it had made contact with the tile. Steading himself, he signed at Alexa's leaving figure. "No matter what, I'm gonna make her fall in love with me," he muttered, shaking his head.

Just about when he was about to take a step in forward. He heard a familiar voice call his name from behind.

"Ryan?"

"Yeah?" Asked Ryan turning around to see Cathy facing him.

"First of all this is the third time I calles you, second of all do you know her?" She asked pointing towards Alexa while trying her best not to seem too nosey.

"Of course I do," replied Ryan picking up his bottle and walking ahead. "She's been my crush since I was ten."

"Well then you must be knowing about that scar near her shoulder." Cathy said catching up.

"Oh that," said Ryan stopping in his tracks. "That's not up to me Cathy," he said beginning of walk again. "If Al finds out that I told you, then even the tiniest bit of the bond between us will be broken." He said, smiling sadly before walking away.

Cathy sighed in defeat before heading towards the girls' changing room.

* * *

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Ngl I wanted to dress up this year -.-

But we're back in lockdown here so all I'm doing is writing, sleeping and eating wayyy too much food.

Anyways what did y'all think about Ryan?
Out of everyone he's definitely my fav so y'all can keep ur single hands off him cuz he's taken:)

Oh and pls tell me if u notice things that don't make sense, any plotholes, grammar mistakes and overall on way things could be improved, I'm still figuring out on how to make everything better cuz I'm probably gonna fail my exams and I don't wanna live with my parents forever so help me out here XD

Till next time!