CHPATER 1

Imogen stopped in front of the mirror in her bedroom. Catching a glance at herself before she left. Her knuckles were white and her body felt tense, her backpack felt heavy at her shoulders.

She closed her eyes, silently breathing in that one spot in her room for a moment, then opened them again. She was wearing her school uniform, a simple solid blue vest with the schools crest on the front. A lighter blue button up, not even bothering to tuck in the ends, and her pencil skirt. She had her hair tied up in a frizzy bun, her curls popped out from under the hair tie she used to try and control the monster that was her hair. She didn't even dare look at her eyes. Wasn't worth facing them. She walked forward, opening the door in front of her.

She quietly walked down the stairs, she socks cushioning the sound of her feet, making it seem as if she wasnt even around. As if she wasn't even moving at all. Once she got to the bottom of the stairs, she hazily looked around, jumping slightly when she head the loud meow behind her. "Kurai Nikko, be quiet," Imogen hushed the cat behind her, that was sitting on the railing for the stairs. The cat only tilted its head, almost as if it were laughing at her. She plucked the mocking cat on the nose. "Naughty..." she muttered.

She found her shoes where she always found them, sitting at the front door, waiting for her to put them on and walk out the door with them. She paused, thinking that if she put those shoes on, that if she walked away far enough... not even got to school today... she chuckled at herself. "Silly girl," she muttered.

She put the shoes on, buckling them tighter than normal.

"Even if I went far, far away... I would only come right back around to end where I started."

The cat stared at her, and she stared back at it.

It became more apparent now, that the cat was in fact, mocking her quietly.

Imogen bit her fingernails, class droned on and on forever. Her teacher talked with a slight English accent, he was notorious on the first day, being considered a very handsome man at first, but that slowly died down once the first couple of months of school began. Imogen only snickered at the thought.

She had never been fond of her teachers, especially on the first day, they didn't quite make an impression on her. She only came to school to learn, not make friends. So when this particular teacher had asked, "Why are you not talking amongst your classmates, everyone here is friendly, shouldn't be too hard to socialize..." he had said. Imogen looked up at him, and blinked a few time, she held the book in her hands tightly, she wasn't used to talking to to other people, especially adults. This one didn't help, since the accent and his tallness made him seem all the more unsettling. "I have no reason to talk since I'm fine just reading here." She said, motioning to the book in her hands. He smirked slightly, "Very well," he said.

Imogen watched him saunter away, her eyes narrowing. She had stood up on edge the whole day, this guy made her feel uncomfortable. Her hairs stood on edge.

Nonetheless, the rest of the day proved none the better.

She sneaked a couple of glances at the clock, her fingers writing down what her Math teacher said quickly. Only a couple more hours and she could go home.

Soon lunch had rolled her way, her shoulders bumped into a few other classmates as they shuffled by her. She made a quick B-line towards the empty table. Socialization was not her cup of tea. Obviously. But sadly, some people didn't get that...

"HELLLLLLLLOOOOOO!" the sound made her jump slightly and she looked up to see a pink face, smiling at her with sparkly eyes. "E-Eh..." Imogen only stuttered, then she realized who this was, the sudden shock faded. "What are you having for lunch today, hm?" Imogen sighed, not having a chance to deject the invitation to have a conversation, she decided to go along with it.

"Not much, I'm not that hungry..." Imogen said, she took out her lunch box for the blonde to inspect. "Ohhhh looks good!" Elizabeth said, her hands clasped together. Imogen shrugged, "It's just a sandwich..." "It's grilled cheese with tomato!" Elizabeth stated.

Imogen only shrugged again, and brought out a water bottle, taking a swig before putting it back down again. Elizabeth brought out her lunch box as well, and quickly started munching on her sandwich, babbling about something Imogen wasn't paying attention to. She only concentrated on her book.

"Huh?" Imogen looked up at the girl, noticing the sudden silence between them, "I'm sorry?" she said.

Elizabeth giggled, "I asked if you liked the new teacher this year?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes wide and ears open ready for some juicy gossip. Imogen blinked, then a smirk found a way to her face, "Why? Do you?" Imogen asked, her forearm propped up on the table, her fingers had woven together, and she placed her chin on them, smiling a little.

Elizabeth blushed noticeably. "Uh... ah-ha-heh... n-no- No of course not!" she stuttered, still obviously flustered. Imogen decided to leave it at that, she chuckled a little though, "Don't worry, I wont say anything." Imogen said, her eyes moved back to her book, and Elizabeth chuckled as well, "I asked if you did though, when did this suddenly turn back on me?" she laughed, Imogen looked up at her through her lashes.

She shrugged again, "Dunno, not a lot about me is very interesting, and I'm not exactly interested in anyone, just so you can ease your mind... I have no interest in that egotistical teacher, actually if anything he sort of frightens me." Imogen said, Elizabeth blew out of her mouth, "No way! Mr. M is totally nice and polite! How is he scary?" Elizabeth leaned in, Imogen looked up, their foreheads almost touching.

So... close...

Imogen though uncomfortably.

"Ahh- well, I'm not very fond of men... or adults for that matter, that and he's so much taller and bigger than me, it's almost menacing. And his accent confuses me in a way, I can never tell if he's trying to intimidate me even more or just trying to talk to me regularly..." Imogen told the girl. Elizabeth tilted her head, the closeness gone. "Really?" she said, she put a finger on her cheek, "I would think being tall would be an advantage, don't you think it fits him? Wouldn't it be a little strange if he was short?" Elizabeth quizzed.

Imogen blinked again, then thought for a moment, "I guess... it does add a certain charm to him though..." she stated blankly, Elizabeth's squeal of delight and surprise startled her, "Ehh?" "I'm glad you agree so!" she said, clapping her hands together, "Ahh, uhhm, well, yes... yeah sure," Imogen said.

Soon, the bell rang, "Ah! Time to go, nice talking to you... ah... whats your name?" Elizabeth asked. Imogen stared in shock for a moment, blinking.

She was talking to me this whole time, yet she doesn't know my name?!

"Imogen... Imogen Wells," she said, Elizabeth smiled, "My names-" "I know your name, don't worry..." Imogen put a hand up to stop her, Elizabeth smiled again, "It was nice to meet you," Elizabeth said politely. Imogen only nodded and watched as the girl bounced away into the crowd of matching uniforms, soon becoming nothing but one of the rest of the crowd. Imogen looked down at herself for a moment. So did she.

"Miss Wells... I best be on my way if I were you..." a deep voice came from behind her, and Imogen felt herself jump a little. She didn't turn around to see who it was, she figured it would be one of the teachers. "Yes... I was just moving," Imogen said, getting up from her seat, the lunch room was halfway empty.

She sauntered out of the large and spacious room, now that most of the kids were out of the large room and at their lockers, once she reached the door, she turned slightly and watched who was left. Other than the staff there was no one but one single person.

"Go on, Miss Wells." Mr. Michaelis said, a smirk plastered on his face.

Imogen only nodded slightly, wondering if he had been listening to the conversation she was having with Elizabeth earlier.