This is the revamped version of the story - first chapter at least. I think it's written a tad better. It was written fairly quickly. Thanks to those who read and who have given be the little push to actually do something. So review if you like and criticize if need be. You're awesome.

Chapter 1: The Beginning

It was a month before summer holidays, nice and hot. The school halls were buzzing with excitement for the upcoming end of year dance; the different committees were rushing everywhere in order to get things ready in time. Ingrid was sitting at the side of her school while the sun beat down on her, waiting for math to begin where she would be taking her exam.

Ingrid, who had gone from bad to good, to bad again, was going over her plans that would commence after her exam that afternoon. Her sister, Ariella's birthday was that day and she wanted an old school-style mp3 player from the Electronic Boutique. Ingrid was set on getting this for Ariella as a gift. This was a pricey piece of material and Ingrid was unemployed. The only option left, of course, was to steal. She had stolen many times prior to this. One such time was the reason she had ended up in the town where she was away from the friends she had made in Middle School. She had really wanted ... something. Ingrid could no longer recall what exactly that something was because she had never been able to obtain. Just when she thought she would get away with it, she ran into a police officer - literally. She had been looking over her shoulder after she got out of the store and began running. Ingrid toppled right over and it can be figured out from there. Her father decided that it would be best if they moved away and that's exactly what happened.

Her former safety patrol partner and best friend, Cornelius Fillmore, was dissapointed in Ingrid. He thought she had changed and had been right up until then. He never said goodbye to her and regretted it for a long time.

Ingrid's thoughts came to a halt as the bell rang. She stood and made her way to her math exam. Throughout her entire life Ingrid had been blessed with a photographic memory. It gave her a lot of time to do whatever she wanted, not having to study for exams or tests; and because of her memory, she had never once worried about an exam so she didn't quite understand why the other girls and a few of the guys were all so nervous. This exam took most of the other students three hours, but took her half the time. She barely had to think; her exam mainly consisted of simply writing.

She finished the exam and made her way to her locker. Ingrid took her empty school bag and made her way to Electronics Boutique. Once there, she played up the innocent shopper charade - a friendly smile and a lost-girl look. After a couple of moments, she bought a two-pack of cheap AAA batteries. Continuing to look around, she asked the cashier for help regarding the MP3 player she was eyeing. She held one in her hand as they spoke about its features. Ingrid thought it would be more difficult but she asked for more information and the cashier made his way to the back of the store to get some sort of pamphlet. In the short time, Ingrid shoved the MP3 player into her battery bag and grabbed another one to avoid suspicion. He returned with a small pamphlet. "Thank you," she said as she took it. "I'll look it over and come back later." He smiled and wished her a good day. She walked out the doors and the alarms began sounding. Without looking, she began to run to the left, which ended up being the wrong choice - as if those made thus far were good - as she ran straight into a man who was about to enter the store. He caught her and brought her back into the store where he, Ingrid and the shopkeeper waited for the police to arrive. Ingrid hadn't been in the presence of a police officer for quite some time - it wasn't a pleasant experience in such circumstances.

Ingrid was taken to the police station where paper work was filled out and questions asked. Her father was called and she was then escorted back to her home with a man who was not a police officer. Ingrid and her angry father sat in the living room while the man spouted out options.

"Electronics Boutique will not press charges, which is very lucky for you, but because of certain bylaws within the town, she is required to complete 24 hours of community service. This is a very low amount; she should feel lucky."

"Well she will complete it as soon as possible," Mr. Third said sternly, eyeing Ingrid.

"That's fantastic. There is another problem though," the man continued. "Her school has heard of what happened and has come to the conclusion that they don't want a student such as Miss Third in their school. The closest school is in a town about two hours and forty-five minutes west of here. I believe that they will be able to offer Ingrid programs necessary to keep her off the streets, making trouble for society. I think it will be best."

After more conversing and the signing of papers, the decision was made. Because of the distance and Ingrid's lack of a driver's license, the Third family would make the move back west near X Middle School. Most of those people from her middle school years would most likely be attending that school. Returning to her past would be completely awkward. For the first part, she thought that her former best friend - the only person to ever be her best friend - hated her and second, the school year was almost over. What a horrible time to get caught.

They packed and left three days later. Ariella, although totally against moving again, was more against finding her own place to stay and own bills to pay. It was definitely going to be the longest two hours and forty-five minute car ride to ever exist.