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Dedication: GorgeousNightmare123 for the cover! And thank you for being one of my most loyal followers! All your comments and voting is really appreciated. Thank you!

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This school looks like something straight out of a Hollywood movie.

I stare at it with distaste, not liking it already. I glance down at my attire with distaste. The school uniform is conservative, hideous, heavy and over-the-top.

According to the form, I must wear stockings, leather shoes, a skirt that had to be longer than my fingertips when my arms are pressed to my side (that is actually written on the form), a long-sleeved top, a tie and a jacket which is more like a coat. I feel ridiculous. This is the most clothing I've worn in my entire life, considering I'm in swimmers most of the time.

Byron is a nice place. It's a popular coastal town filled with beaches and takeaway shops. The further you drive in, the nicer it gets. Going into town, you see the new hospital, the elite school, the law firm, the mansions on the waterfront and so on.

The best of the best is here and they make sure you know it.

The new house is huge and it's beautiful–but it isn't home. I liked our cosy house that was too-cluttered and had sand littering the floor. This new house was too well kept and clean for my liking. It was so big, which is unnecessary, considering I'm the only one who will be living in it, mostly.

With a sigh, I skulk towards the gates, my shoulders feeling heavy. I can't believe I'm here.

The school smelt nice. Nice. When has a school ever smelt nice?

I stare skeptically at the lines of clean lockers. They literally shine under the lights. I wouldn't be surprised if it is someone's job to go clean them with a toothbrush. I'm almost afraid of walking on the floors as they look like they've never been used. With high, arch-way ceilings, it feels like I'm in a museum, not a school.

Clumps of students milling in the corridors has me feeling a little self-conscious. I've never had to be the new girl before. I have taken about five steps inside the hallway when heads and eyes swivel my way.

Am I that obvious?

Their lips begin moving furiously as I walk by. I'm going to be the talk of the school, no doubt. With my dark skin, my black hair and my dark brown eyes, I usually do tend to draw the eye, but I didn't expect to this much.

Finally making it to the office, I slip inside, feeling like I'm able to breathe again. The office looks more advanced than our electronics room back at my old school.

A lady with auburn hair twisted into an elegant low bun and spectacles perched on her nose, glances up at me. Her lips are pursed and from the wrinkles gathered around the corners of her mouth, I'd say that it was a permanent look for her.

"Yes?" she questions, looking down her nose at me.

I fight off the eye-roll threatening and plaster a semi-polite smile onto my face, telling myself to behave and try to get through this day without a letter home to my mother.

"I'm Grace. It's my first day."

Not even a crack of a smile. Her smile is hostile and the way her eyes are scrutinising me is making me feel incredibly small.

"Here's your schedule," she says curtly, not looking at me as she flicks the paper towards me. "I have someone coming now to escort you. Here's your information package."

"Information package?" I repeat, glancing down at the folder.

"Yes," she clips with finality in her tone that makes me feel I can't question her any further.

After letting myself roll my eyes, simply because I can, I step outside, feeling even worse about being here. If the staff aren't even welcoming, I doubt the students will be.

I run straight into a hard chest and stumble back, the folder and piece of paper slipping from my hold. The guy quickly swoops to get it, hastily picking them up from the floor. Unfortunately, I had the same idea. Just as I was bending to get it, he stood, causing our heads to collide painfully. A cry left my lips as I fell back, nursing my nose.

"I am so sorry!" he exclaims, his cheeks flushing a bright red. "Are you okay?"

Squeezing my eyes shut, I wait for the throb to ease. "That hurt like a bitch."

I open my eyes and the guy is gaping at me. I then realise I'd just sworn inside the walls of the most prestigious schools in the state. I clear my throat, removing my hands from my face and blinking hastily to hold back the tears.

Recovering from his shock, he offers me a warm smile. "I'm Harvey. Harvey Polinski."

He bustles forward, offering me his hand. I glance down at it briefly, before shaking it.

"Thank God," I blurt, grinning at him. "Someone nice! Hallelujah."

His grin widens. "I can tell already you're not like the others. This is good."

I laugh. "Good to know. I'm Grace."

"Nice to meet you, Grace."

"Is my life going to be hell because I'm the new kid?" I question, as we fell into step with each other.

My nose is aching and I have a headache forming behind my eyes from it, but I try my best to ignore it. I let my eyes roam over my pristine surroundings. It's all too perfect and manicured for my liking.

"Pretty much," he admits. "I'm still referred to as the new kid and I transferred seven months ago, at the end of last year."

I shudder. "This is going to be worse than I thought."

"Probably."

"That's why you're nice," I say, side-eyeing him. "You're a transfer, like me."

"Yep," he replies, offering me a lope-sided smile. "What's with the gym bag?"

"I swim," I answer, brushing a loose tendril of my hair that has escaped my awkward braid, back from my face.

"You're trying out for the swim team?" he asks in alarm and I look to him in surprise. His face shows a look of discomfort.

"Yeah, what gives?"

I don't like the look of the weird, uncomfortable look on his face. It makes him look like he is constipated.

"They're all crazy competitive here. Best just to stay away from sports."

"Swimming is my whole life. I have to try out for this so-called 'Elite' team."

"There's nothing 'so-called' about it," he tells me, his eyes boring into mine. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

"Right," I say dismissively. "Can you help me find my locker? This bag is heavy."

"Oh, yeah, sure." He snatches the now-crinkled paper from my hand and examines it. "Oh cool, you're close-ish to mine. It's back this way."

We perform a U-turn and begin walking back the way we came. He came to a stop at locker 401.

"This is the basic code," he explains, fiddling it. "Okay, now put in a pin you'll remember."

I do as I'm told, hiding a smile. It's not like I've never not used a locker before.

With a click, it swings open. It didn't squeak like my older locker used to. Nodding, half-impressed at the cleanliness, I toss my bag inside. They're spacious, which is great as I often have a lot of stuff with me.

As Harvey is looking through my schedule, I take a moment to check him out.

He's tall, his body looking almost stretched. He's only a little taller than me, really, but his arms look a little too long in comparison to the rest of him. He has faintly tanned skinned and a pointy nose which was slightly wonky, almost as though he's broken it before and it hasn't quite healed properly.

"We have a few classes together," he smiles, dragging his eyes from the sheet. "Why are you taking advanced English?"

"Because I like English?"

"You're nuts."

"Let me guess, you do advanced maths?"

"How'd you guess?" he laugh.

Slamming my locker door shut, I grin at him. "Just a hunch."

We turn and I almost ran into another person. I flinch at the thought of the impact. That wouldn't have done my still-sore nose any favours.

Two boys tower over me. The first is a prawn, much to my dismay. He has an amazing, athletic body, but a small, unattractive head with protruding ears. I feel guilty thinking that, I have absolutely no filter. I also note that he has a receding hair-line and we're only seventeen.

The other boy, however, damn. My eyes linger on him, taking in his beautifully tanned skin and brilliant-green eyes. His soft, pink lips rest in a lazy smile. His shoulders are broad and his biceps were bigger than my gym bag. I eye them in satisfaction, thinking he might be on the swim-team with a body like that.

"Aw," the first guy sneers, running his eyes over my body not-so-subtly. "Dork has found another dork to play with."

I curve an eyebrow. Really? How old are we? I must have missed the part where we went back to primary school.

I glance to Harvey, waiting for him to say something and am shocked to see his cheeks burning a deep shade of red. He swallows uneasily, rubbing his neck and begins spluttering incoherent sentences. I look at him on complete confusion, trying to figure out what he's saying.

The guy roars an obnoxious laugh, which startles me. He elbows the boy next to him. The other guy isn't staring at Harvey. His eyes are on me. I stare back at him for a moment, before flicking my gaze back to Prawn.

"Did you just call me a dork?" I ask, quirking an eyebrow at him, folding my arms across my chest.

"Yeah," he agrees, with a shrug. "Gotta' be if you're hanging out with Stinky Polinski."

"Wow," I scoff. "I didn't realise I was speaking to a three-year-old."

Harvey's eyes almost pop out of his head.

"Just because we're transfers, doesn't make us dorks." I snap, stepping toward him. "And if you have a problem with my friend, then you have a problem with me. So why don't you back the fuck off before I make you?"

Prawn is surprised out my outburst and takes a slight step back. The shock in his eyes makes me want to do a quick victory lap of the corridor. Does no one swear around here? Because that was going to be a bit of a problem for me.

"Oh, the girl has tongue," he replies, quickly recovering, grinning at his friend. "Might not be so bad after all."

I stare at the other guy, who still hasn't said a word. Again, he is openly looking at me, as if trying to work something out. The longer I stare at him, the more I think I might know him.

"I wouldn't waste my time. Your personality is pretty poor and with a face like that, you can't really afford to be a dick."

Shooting him a sweet smile, I grab Harvey's lower arm and tug him along.

"You're going to regret that," Harvey groans. "Mike is horrible."

"If he does anything to you, let me know."

He cast a nervous look to me. "I don't need you to protect me."

I bite my tongue, thinking otherwise.

"Anyway, who was the other guy with him?"

"Of course you'd ask about him," Harvey mutters. "Every girl wants him."

I understand why. He's hot as hell.

"So who is he?" I probe, his bright eyes still on my mind.

"That's Hayden," he sighs, looking sulky. "He's the captain of the swim team."

My eyes lit up. So I had been right. He did have a swimmer's body. This just made me want to join the swim team so much more.

"Don't get too excited. He's a complete asshole and I don't think he dates."

I pout. Not that I was looking to date anyone, but he is definitely cute. And a swimmer? That's a win-win.

"Hmm. Okay." I shrug. "So, who are your other friends? I'd love to meet them."

I glance down at my watch, realising that school was going to start any minute now. I look back up, noticing Harvey hasn't replied.

"Harvey?"

"I-I," he stammers, rubbing his neck. "I don't really... have any friends."

"What? You said you've been here seven months?" I question, my eyebrows drawing together.

"They don't take well to strangers," he mutters. "There's a reason they chose a transfer to show another transfer around. I wish they'd considered doing the same for me."

"That's terrible! You've been a loner all this time?"

"Thanks."

I wince, realising what I said. I pat his shoulder. "Sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

He exhales, looking embarrassed. "I know."

"Well, at least you have me now." The bell buzzed loudly and I glance down at my sheet, seeing that I had History first. "Please tell me you have History?"

"Unfortunately."

"Great! Lead the way!"

He stops for a moment and smiles at me. "I'm glad I met you, Grace."

He looks sincere. I feel sorry for him. School must have been hard, having no friends.

"I'm glad I met you, too, Harvey."

"Let's go."

I trail behind him silently.

I am going to make sure no one picks on him again.

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What do you think so far?

This is the cast so far (some character's that get introduced later aren't in it yet because I don't 100% know who they are yet!)

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