Move, Biatch.
Some people would give anything to start anew; to transfer schools, to make new "friends", to explore different ideas rather than the same ones you've been brought up with.
To be honest, I would've rather my father told me we were being hunted down by assassins than that I would have to move to a new school again. It was my third one in four months and I was beginning to feel like a social reject.
I kind of was one, but that's not the point.
As soon as people saw me they knew I was different, and most of the kids in the schools I got trusted into didn't like different kids that much. They liked simple, preppy girls with the long blonde hair and the spunky smiles. I was the complete opposite, really; bust-length dark brown hair with a blue stripe through it, almost black eyes, and alarmingly pale skin that contrasting horribly with my rosy lips.
I wore what I wanted when I wanted, and had learnt by now to block out the gawking people that always stared at my outfits.
You'd have thought they'd have learnt manners.
"Andrea? Andrea, cheer up, it's not so bad," my Dad groaned sympathetically, looking at my through his rear view mirror.
He was driving me to my new high school; Sangrey High. It was supposedly a school with brilliant attributes to a child's education and blah, blah, blah.
As far as I was concerned, I wouldn't be around long enough to enjoy these 'attributes'.
"I'm cheerful," I tried, refusing to look up.
I fiddled with the lion key-ring on my bag, finding it hard to see through the thick make-up I had dunked my poor eyes in. I was rebelling against being treated like a parcel, so I applied thick black eyeliner that morning along with about half a pound of mascara, to my father's horror.
Truth be told, I sort of liked it.
Needless to say, he didn't agree to put me back into my previous school the instant he saw my panda eyes, so here I was, sitting sullen in the back of his Range Rover Sport.
He pulled up onto the kerb opposite Sangrey High, and I dared to look at the institute of public education, where I would be spending a couple of my weeks.
I wrinkled my nose in disapproval: it was a large, tall brown building, with about five floors and wrought iron balconies rimming every floor.
Did I mention I was scared of heights?
The school itself was on a main road, practically, and it worryingly noisy. I wondered how many lessons got disrupted by a vicious car speeding up the street, or how many lessons got interrupted by a disgusting odour that was car fumes, wafting up from the street below.
I watched a red motorcycle zoom past, and tittered sordidly.
Decorative iron gates stood in front of the school's entrance, which was also the courtyard, ironically enough. Hundreds of pupils, all different years and sizes, wandered around in their little cliques, waiting for the first bell sounding their first lesson.
The courtyard had a dirty looking fountain, topped with a statue of Poseidon (don't even ask!) and to the left of the fountain was a small glass building named "The Main Office". It looked so small and pathetic compared to the big brown monster that loomed over it, and I couldn't help but pity it.
Then I realised I was feeling empathy for a building.
I was going insane.
"Got everything?" Dad asked, gleefully, watching me fiddle with my phone.
I grunted in response, and attempted to lug my suitcase-of-a-bag out of the car.
"Don't crease your lovely uniform!" Dad warned, watching me stumble across the road.
I turned, and faced him, and look of pure annoyance flooding my face. The uniform was enough to make me hate the school, and I hadn't even experienced it yet! It was a fitted navy blazer on top of a silk lilac shirt, accompanied by a dark purple waistcoat.
Yes, a waistcoat.
When my Dad told me, I genuinely thought he was joking. When he wasn't, I almost cried. To make matters worse, the skirt was pleated and very, very short, so if I bent down my butt would definitely be on show. Luckily I picked some lovely knickers out that morning.
I had tossed on a pair of purple tights to savour what was left of the monstrosity, and attached some black heels to my feet. I still felt like a mammoth after that, though, so to jazz up the stupid purple/navy/lilac mess I added an assortment of bracelets and rings.
Don't worry, they were tasteful bracelets and rings.
I tugged at the blue stripe in my hair, and raised an eyebrow as Dad opened his mouth to speak once more.
He had been talking the entire drive, and I was shocked he had much more to say.
"Remember, Andrea, go back to your Nan's tonight, I'll be at work, what with the new change and everything…." he frowned, as if suddenly remembering something.
"Alright," I muttered, not evening bothering to question his sudden change in character.
Without another word, he drove off down the street, leaving me at the gates of hell to face its hounds. I sighed, knowing deep down that he wasn't going to whip that car around and tell me he was just kidding, and that I wasn't really moving at all. I was well and truly on my own, once more.
"Here we go again," I grumbled, walking through the gates of Sangrey High.
Have you ever looked around and realised that someone was staring at you, like you were some sort of alien life-force?
Have you ever had it happen three-hundred-and-twelve times, all at once?
I have.
I gulped as the poisonous array of eyes followed my movement. I felt like I was shrinking with every glare, every gawp. I slid into "The Main Office", feeling my face flush an angry red.
I pressed my back against the glass door, and considered whacking my head on it, when a brisk voice called:
"Name?"
I snapped back from my daydream of killing myself, and realised the thin, ratty woman sitting behind a wooden desk was addressing me. I flushed even more, and lurched over to her. She was glaring at me, her painted red lips pursed disdainfully. I ran hand through my hair, and tried for a smile.
She didn't return it.
"Um….. Andrea Walker?" I told her, darting my eyes to the floor, where they belonged.
The scornful lady tapped on her expensive computer a couple of times, and then handed me a light piece of paper. I stared at it, dumbly.
"Your timetable," she explained slowly, like I was a retard.
I was about to respond very snappishly that I knew what it was, when a quirky voice interrupted me:
"Andrea?"
I arched an eyebrow, and faced the source of the voice. A short, thin Chinese girl with her black hair in two bunches, smiled at me, and waved like we were already best friends.
Not.
"Yeah?" I replied lazily, still thinking of severe punishments for the lady in my head.
"I'm Ling Xiaoyu, your buddy here at Sangrey High!" she cried happily, immediately linking her arm in mine.
She did it so forcefully the bangles on my arm jingled. I pulled at the collar of my shirt uncomfortably, and attempted at a silent plea of help to the rude receptionist. She ignored me, smugly.
"Come on, you have first lesson with me!" Ling said joyfully, tugging me out of the building and across the courtyard.
People still stared, just more humorously this time as Ling dragged my sorry ass through a set of double doors and up a steep flight of stairs. I normally didn't appreciate being handled so cruelly, but I really couldn't be bothered to argue, not with such a chirpy girl. Ling Xiaoyu would definitely be a chick I was going to avoid…..
"I love your hair!" Ling remarked, stopping suddenly and gesturing toward my blue stripe.
She gave no warning of this stop, so I walked right into a wall as she swung me round. I rubbed my head irritably, as Ling twirled her skinny finger around my hair. I was tempted to punch her right in her dark eye, but restrained because she was currently my only guide around the huge brown monster.
"Thanks." I said shortly through gritted teeth.
She now seemed content with my hair, because she began leading me up more stairs, pushing through crowds of tall people who elbowed me in my kidneys, and occasionally stopping to say hello to someone or another.
As per usual, I got curious looks everywhere I turned, and I really wished I had packed a paper bag to shove my head in.
"We haven't had a new person in ages!" Ling explained, trying to be helpful.
I grunted.
"I'm glad it's you though: I know we're going to be good friends,"
I shall admit, even I was touched by her words. Not many people took the time to be my friend, and here was a perfectly harmless girl requesting my friendship. I felt a little ashamed that I had been so sharp with her, and was about to reply a bit more optimistically, when I saw him.
For the first time, ever.
We were on the third floor, walking down the long corridor. I was trying not to look over the balcony, because fainting on my first day wouldn't exactly go down well on my reputation. He was walking towards us, heading for the stairs.
He was just about the only boy who could rock the ugly uniform easily, and his sexy black hair flopping over his eyes in a choppy, spiky way made my heart stop for a moment.
"Hey, Jin!" Ling smiled.
Jin nodded at her in kind acknowledgement, then his eyes drifted over to mine.
I was gone.
I had become overwhelmed by his sparkling grey eyes that were studying me so intently. They were like the stars themselves, crushed down into the size of irises and Jin happened to be blessed with them. They clashed beautifully with his hair, his skin, his nose, I couldn't stop staring at him………
And then I was knocked back into reality when he stopped looking, and continued heading for the stairwell.
Just like that.
Like I was merely another girl crushing on him.
And I was.
Wasn't I?
"Whoa!" I said quietly after I was certain we were out of earshot.
Ling giggled, feigning swooning, and laughed harder when she saw me turn pink.
"Every girl likes Jin," she told me simply, "But he doesn't date,"
To say my wonderful fantasies came tumbling down was an understatement; I was devastated. The one boy who made my heart skip a beat, made it tremble and melt, wasn't looking for a sweetheart.
The one boy who could quite possibly be the only person who didn't treat me like I was a weird breed of dog wasn't interested.
The story of my life, clearly.
"Hey, don't look so sad. If it helps, you're about the only girl he's actually taken the time to look at?" she offered.
I knew she was only saying it to make me feel better, so I faked a smile and allowed her to lead me into science class.
But there was no way I could concentrate on chemical reactions. I had Jin's eyes imprinted into my brain, and they were constantly staring at me, reading me like I was just another one of the bimbo girls that always pined after him…..
"Andrea, are you listening?"
"Eh?"
Ling had been talking to me the entire time I had been speculating about Jin, and everything she had said had simply floated past my ears. I frowned, finally noticing the two other girls that had pulled chairs over to the front of mine and Ling's desk. One had a mass of frizzy brown hair, and caramel skin that was shiny and smooth. Her golden eyes were smiling for her, so her actual mouth-smile was merely a bonus. However, despite her seemingly innocent face, she had her school shirt unbuttoned to her boobs, where her push-up-bra made her boobs look substantially big. Her skirt was as short as mine, but then again, I was wearing tights.
She was wearing short black socks.
I let my eyes flicker over to a few boys lingering behind her, watching her every move like a bunch of perverts, and I shuddered. I would hate to be an object of a boy's dirty dream! Clearly this girl didn't mind though.
"You're a dreamer, aren't you?" she smiled.
"Uh, yeah, I guess I am," I mumbled, tapping my fingers on the desk.
The other girl had on a pair of red rimmed glasses, had milk-bottled skin, and long, long, long brown hair that was thrown into a plait down her back. She was staring at my hair with admiration, and when I caught her eye she smiled meekly, and went back to the textbook she was reading. I kind of felt sorry for her. She was one of the girls who back at my old school would've had their head down the toilet instantly. Or their bag stolen and urinated on, or their hair cut without her noticing.
An easy target for bullies.
Yet, everyone around her seemed pretty content with her. In fact, they treated her as though she were almost invisible.
And I think she liked it that way.
"This is Christie, and Julia. They're our lab partners," Ling repeated, not even an ounce of impatience crossing her face.
I tilted my head to the side curiously, before giving a smile to our two companions. I suppose this was what my life had come to; buddy-ing up with three girls whom I had nothing in common with and wouldn't even consider as friends normally, because I was that damn desperate to fit in for once….
"So, Andrea, what brings your to Sangrey High?" Christie asked, winking at one of the boys who's eyes practically popped out of their sockets.
I sniffed, uncomfortably, as Christie made her 'seductive' faces at the boy. He wasn't particularly good looking, but I knew Christie was one of those gilrs who just liked a bit of action in their life. She probably wasn't into relationships at all.
"Well, my Dad moves around a lot in his job. He's a stock broker. This is my fourth school this year alone," I admitted.
Ling gasped.
"I couldn't even imagine leaving these guys!" she cried dramatically.
Julia clucked sympathetically and even Christie's eyebrows shot to the heavens.
I shrugged.
"No big deal. I'm used to it by now, I guess."
I watched their surprised expressions in amusement; they were such the cliché of ignorance. In their words, the sun always shone probably. They were merely kids at heart still, and to be honest, I was jealous. I wanted to hold onto my childhood a little longer as well, but my stupid Dad had pushed me into adulthood with the whole moving schools and also because he was always loading me off onto my Grandmother who couldn't do anything, so I was brought up on independence.
Which also equalled loneliness.
"So," her eyes flickered to the boy's again, "Seen anyone you've liked yet?"
I flushed red, and she laughed.
"Out with it, then!" she pressed, leaning in closer conspiratorially.
I bit my lip uncomfortably, looking over at Ling for some guidance. She gave a tiny nod to continue, and I sighed.
"His name's Jin. I don't really know much about him, but when he looked at me, I kind of, swooned," I frowned on the last word, realising how unlike me it was.
I didn't swoon.
I was more of the "play it cool, tough love" kind of person.
I looked over at Christie, who's face had fallen gracefully. It was now distorted into a scowl of annoyance, and I blinked.
What had I done now?
"Jin….looked at you?" Christie asked, touching her head consciously.
I narrowed my eyebrows in confusion.
"Yeah?"
Christie grunted, and said no more. I looked over at Julia for help, but she looked down at her book, which was suddenly a lot more interesting than the conversation. I didn't even have time to question her on the sudden grumpiness, because the science teacher, Mr Nakurta cleared his throat and the class fell silent.
I rolled my eyes, and began counting down the minutes until end of lesson.
*
Obviously, things wouldn't ever go as simple as me asking Christie what was up as soon as the class ended, because once the bell rang she sped out of the door so fast my hair turned windswept.
"What is her problem?" I asked tetchily, following Ling down the stairs onto the second floor.
She sighed, and tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Christie had a major thing for Jin a few months back. He didn't even know she was alive," Ling turned to face me, and I watched her eyes sparkle with happiness, "But he noticed you Andrea. You must be something special,"
I laughed at this.
"In my head," I mumbled.
"No," Ling said, defiantly, "I don't think so. Jin is a very good judge of character."
My mind drifted back to when I first saw him, how for those few seconds my world had gone upside down inside out. How could some one who created those sort of effects not be interested in the likes of Christie? She was gorgeous! Ten times more suitable for him than I would ever be! Yet, I couldn't help gaining a spark of hope that perhaps I wasn't the green troll I thought I was.
That was when he stuck his foot out, and I went flying across the floor, landed roughly on my chest.
He was strong, muscular, built like Jin, except he wasn't as enigmatic. In fact, he was quite the opposite; loud, red spiky hair, with the front flattened down by a pair of racing goggles. He looked messy and just plain wrong in the uniform, and he was sneering with all of his loser friends about making the new girl take flight.
Muttering harsh curses under my breath, I clambered to my feet, Ling racing to my side for comfort.
"Andrea, gosh, are you alright?" Ling soothed, giving me the once over for bruises or cuts.
"I'm fine, I think," I replied.
Physically, I was A-OK. But my pride had been destroyed completely, as the boys laughed at me. The red-head suddenly ceased laughing, and his groupies copied. He strolled over to me, and grinned.
"Hey there," he smiled.
And before I knew it he had pushed me against the balcony and was moving his hand up my skirt. Panic encircled my body, and in a moment of desperation, I let rip a powerful left hook, right into his eye.
He lost his sense of direction for a few moments, and I seized the opportunity to bolt. However, either I wasn't as quick as I thought, or he was quicker because no sooner had I thought I was out of reach had he grabbed my blazer and was yanking me back towards the balcony. The look in his eyes was one of a possessed fifteen-year-old, and I was truly fearful that he would throw me right over the balcony. I imagined my body crushing on impact, and gulped.
He swung me brutally into the balcony, the iron bruising my back. I looked around through clouded vision for Ling to help me, but she had disappeared. In fact, everyone had disappeared; it was just me, and five boys ready to kill.
"So you like games, do you?" the red-head spat, clutching a handful of my hair and yanking it.
He pressed his face close to mine, close enough to see those evil eyes, and I turned my face away in one last attempt to grow a spine.
"I'm not afraid of you!" I hissed.
His down-turned mouth turned into a grin then, and he pulled me away from the balcony, and let me go, forcefully enough for me to lose balance and fall. He and his pals circled me like sharks discussing how to devour their prey. Weakly, I got to my feet once more. I watched the red-head put on tight leather gloves, which he probably only did when he was going to beat the crap out of someone.
My mind began scanning desperately for something to change my deadly fate, but I couldn't find anything that would get me out of this mess. I had been to a lot of schools, but none of them had offered up such brutality as kicking the daylights out of a girl; Sangrey High must've been teaching their boys chivalry alright!
"C'mon, new girl, show me how you fight!" the red-head taunted.
I shook my head, hands up in surrender.
"I-I can't fight," I stuttered.
They all laughed at how pathetic I was becoming, and the red-head edged closer than the others.
"Too bad. Such a pretty face as well!"
He lunged for me, fist in the air, and I screamed, bracing myself for the hard-knuckled punch that would probably knock me out.
It didn't come, though. Gingerly, I opened my eyes, only to see someone, strong, powerful, standing in front of me.
They had caught the red-head's fist in mid-air, and was currently squeezing it.
"Ow, Jin, come on, man, we were only messing!" the red-head pleaded, the pain of Jin's strong grip making him drop to his knees.
My mouth dropped as I watched the red-head's friends disperse in pure fright, and dropped even more when Jin grabbed the red-head by his shirt collar, and hissed:
"I'll be seeing you."
His voice was so dark, so mysterious and scary - I loved it!
He released his prey and the red-head scuttled off to his lesson, probably rueing the day he messed with the new kid. I watched Jin carefully, as he slowly turned around, and faced me.
He really was beautiful. Beautifully chiselled features, beautiful body, and a good heart, clearly, because he saved me from several broken bones.
I didn't really know what to say: I hadn't spoken to him before, so I kind of shifted from foot to foot, as he stared down at me. He had no kind smile on his face, yet I knew somewhere in those hypnotic eyes, there was some sort of generosity.
"Thank you," I finally managed, "For saving me."
"Hwoarang is a loser. You would do well to stay away from him," Jin explained.
He then walked over to where my bag had been thrown, picked it up, and handed it to me.
"Lesson?" he queried.
"I, um," I felt myself flush with foolishness, "I actually don't know. Ling was my guide and she kind of evaporated?"
Then he cracked a small smile, which set my heart on fire. It was such a rarity to see, probably, and he was gracing me with it; I felt sort of honoured.
"Yeah, Ling isn't one for violence," Jin nodded.
"You know her well?"
"All my life. Now," he looked down at me thoughtfully, "If I remember correctly, Ling has AP English."
"You remember her timetable?" I arched an eyebrow quizzically.
Jin raised his eyebrows in response, which made me laugh. I almost thought for a second he was going to laugh too, but he remained silent. Instead, he gestured towards the stairwell.
"Shall we?" he said, already walking ahead of me.
"Um…"
But he had already disappeared through the doors, forcing me to run to catch up.
Jin certainly was a mystery.
Lucky for him, though, I liked mysteries.
