Chapter 1

I looked around the old school building and sighed. Another fresh start. More stories I have to make up. Hopefully, teachers at this school don't give a shit about their pupil's home life. Then I'll be able to stay here longer. Hopefully make some decent friends. Not that I would share secrets with them.

I felt someone tap my shoulder. I did my best not to jump at the sudden touch. I would prefer if no one would ever touch me. Not like that would happen though.

"Sorry to startle you, I just thought you looked a bit lost. Are you new?" The girl asked. I don't think she is a pupil. She looks a bit older, maybe 20, and she isn't in uniform.

"Um, I'm Nancy." I said quietly. "I've just moved here from Wales."

"I'll show you to Miss Mason's office, I'm Janeece, her secretary." The frizzy haired girl said as she began to walk down the corridor. I followed after her keeping my head down so no one would notice me. Thankfully, because I had arrived early, not many people were in the building yet.

"Miss Mason, Nancy Owen is here, shall I send her in?" Janeece asked through a window that obviously leads to the head teacher's office.

A tall woman with copper red hair came to the door next to the window. "Hi Nancy, I'm Miss Mason, would you like to come through? Did you not bring your parents?" She asked as the school bell rang clearly.

"No." I said quietly. I sat down on the chair opposite the desk and looked at my new shoes. I had managed to get some money off my brother who lives in London to buy a uniform to come to this school, I don't think I would be able to cope getting called a 'tramp' and a 'ragger' again because I have scuffed shoes on my first day.

"Alright, well here is your timetable, I'll take you to your form room now, I'm sure Mr. Clarkson will pair you with someone to show you the way round." She said, passing me the sheet of paper.

I stood up and followed the woman through the never ending corridors, when we finally reached the room; I wished the corridors kept going. The room is full of students taking their seats. They all looked up and stared at me when Miss Mason opened the door.

"Mr. Clarkson, this is your new student. I told you about her in the meeting this morning." Miss Mason said as I walked into the class, she quickly left again, obviously in a hurry to get somewhere.

"Do you want to sit next to Lauren?" Mr. Clarkson asked, pointing to a girl sat at a table with two boys. In all honesty, no I do not want to sit next to her. She looks like the type of person who could sit and take the piss out of someone for no reason.

I walked slowly over to the table and sat down timidly.

"There's no need to look so scared, we don't bite." A boy said on the opposite side of the table. "I'm Josh."

"I'm Lauren; the idiot sat with his headphones in is Finn, what's your name?" The girl next to me asked.

"Nancy." I said quietly. Why do I always have to be so shy?

"What's your accent?"Finn asked, unplugging his headphones.

"Welsh." I said. Have you ever had that moment where you wish you could just run and hide?

Finn must have read my mind. "You look petrified. Don't worry, just stick with us and you won't get lost or out."

I smiled and began writing my timetable in the planner Mr. Clarkson had just given me. Obviously, I'm not very good at making opinions on people because these three seem quite nice.

"Why did you move here?" Lauren asked me.

"I don't really know. I suppose my Dad just didn't like Wales." I said meekly.

"But why come to Rochdale?" Josh asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Anywhere is better than where I used to live."

Lauren laughed just as the bell rang to go to first period. "Anywhere is better than Rochdale."

My first lesson of the day is science with Mr. Mead. He smiled when he seen me and walked over.

"You must be Nancy, find a seat and if you get stuck, stick your hand up." He said, passing me an exercise book. I felt someone grab my arm and I quickly turned around to realise it was Lauren.

"Relax." She laughed as she pulled me towards some seats on the back row. She introduced me to a girl called Amy as we sat down.

"Are you from round 'ere then?" Amy asked.

I shook my head. "No, I'm from Wales." I said quietly as I went to write my name on my book.

Amy shrieked loudly making me jump. "I love your accent!" She said happily. I laughed quietly and turned my attention back to the teacher, trying not to feel all the stares on me.

"Mr. Mead? Please can I borrow Nancy for a few minutes?" Miss Mason asked, walking into the classroom. I looked at my teacher for permission. When he nodded his head, I quietly got off my stool and made my way to the door.

"I'm sorry for not being able to give you a tour of the school this morning; I was in a bit of a rush because I had a parent coming in at 9.00am. Mr. Clarkson told me you were getting on okay with Lauren, Finn and Josh in form, are you settling in okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's really nice here." I said shyly, playing with the end of my hair.

"I'm glad you like it, if you have any problems, my door is always open. Don't be afraid to come see me okay?" She said before she opened the classroom door for me to go back in.

When I got home that night, my dad wasn't in. I quickly ran to the kitchen and got a bag of crisps before heading to my room.

About an hour late, just as I had finished my homework, I heard the keys scraping in the lock, then my father's feet hammering up the stairs.

"Have a good day at school Nancy?" He asked.

"Yeah." I said quietly.

"And you told them nothing?" He said. I shook my head but instantly regretted it. "You have a voice girl. I expect an answer."

"I told them nothing." I whispered.

"And have you made my tea?" He snarled.

"No, I'll go do it now." I whispered, before getting up and heading towards the door. I was just about to pass him when he grabbed hold of my wrist tightly.

"Just leave it." He hissed before pushing me into the room. I could smell alcohol on his breath and tried to move away from him quickly.

But he followed me in. And I felt a sharp pain as he kicked me in the stomach. He kept kicking me, until I was crumpled over in pain. Not hitting my face of course.

It would be a lot more difficult for me to hide the fact he had hit me there. He had the common sense to figure that out.

If you read my other story 'the younger mason', you should know (if youve read the chapter i just posted) that ive decided to write this so that my updates are more frequent so i can think of more ideas, i have quite a few plans for Nancy! Im not going to put my OCs frommy other story in here because then the story lines will need to match, and im still unsure if Finn is going to be Nancys boyfriend(obviously quite a lot of chapters away if it does happen!)

Please review and tell me what you think? I would be very grateful!

X

Stars-In-The-Eyes