Her brand-new shoes on her feet, she drove her way to school. Looking into the rear mirror, she considered a girl with smoothed hair and makeup on her face. Hanna knew why she cared so much about her appearance:

Because that's what people saw, when they looked at her.

They saw the smooth hair and the long fake lashes. They saw the thin legs in the skinny jeans and liked it. She kinda liked it too, not because she wanted to be incredible pretty but because she wanted to fit in.

Fitting in made everything easier, at least that's what Hanna thought.
Driving onto the parking, she had a last look on her reflection in the mirror.

She looked like she always did and like always she was not happy with what she saw but that didn't matter now.

Getting out of the car, all she thought was that it was not about being self-confident but acting as if.

All she had to do is act, another day and she knew that she could do it and people would believe her. She knew that because it had been working out for the past years and so would it today.

Hanna walked among the other students, paving her way through the overcrowded floors. Her friends were already waiting for her in front of the classroom: Aria and Spencer, the artistic and the nerdy, the tall and the small one.

"Hey guys." Hanna said, putting a smile on as she spotted them. "Have you already seen the new Taylor swift video?"
"Yeah, of course I have. I was so upset when she deleted her pics on Instagram." Responded Mona instead of the others, joining the group.

"Oh." Aria murmured. "Hey, Mona.", visible not glad about her appearing. Neither Aria, nor Spencer really liked Mona because they didn't have the same interests and never got to know each other very well. Okay, maybe also because Mona appeared to be superficial.

"I haven't yet because I have been working on this essay for Russian history the entire night." Continued Spencer, ignoring Aria's annoyed glances at Mona.

Of course, Spencer hadn't had time for watching YouTube videos, at least she participated in literally every extracurricular that was available at school. Why had she even asked?
"What I anyway wanted to ask." Interrupted Mona. "Have you heard about the new girl coming to our class?"
"No." Aria said, suddenly developing interest in their conversation. "Which new girl?"

"I don't know anything particular but she is of our age and comes from California."
"Why would somebody from California come to a small town like rosewood?" Spencer asked giggling.

"That was what I was gonna say if you hadn't interrupted me." Said Mona. "So, they say her dad works for the military and has been transferred to another unit."
"How do you anyway not that already?" wondered Aria.

"Um, my friend Tina is friend with the principal's daughter who told her and Tina told me."
Mona's monologue was interrupted by the bell, letting them get into the classroom.

While Hanna took her stuff out, her teacher appeared in front of the class, followed by a girl, the girl Mona had been talking about.

Hanna looked up from her English book, she had opened to a random page to seem busy when the teacher came in and considered her standing there next to the teacher.

"Okay, listen please." Said Ms. Montgomery who was not only currently their English teacher but also Aria's mum. "We have got a new student, joining this class. Would you like to introduce yourself to your class mates?" she asked encouraging.

The girl was obviously ashamed of standing in the center but still began to talk. "My name is Emily and yes, I'm sixteen years old. I'm from California."

"What about hobbies?" Ms. Montgomery asked.

"I've been on the swim team in my old school and I also read a lot." She said blushing a little.

"Welcome to our school then, Emily. You can sit down wherever you want."

The girl walked through the class, looking for an empty chair and finally sat down at the table next to Hanna's.
A couple of times during the lesson, Hanna caught herself glancing at her which didnn't prove as easy because most of her face was covered with her curly black hair.

As Hanna is looked at her for another time, she suddenly turned her head and their looks crossed and she smiled shy.
Embarrassed, Hanna looks away, not wanting her to think that she is one of this weird girls staring at the new ones all the time.

After the lesson, Hanna and Aria went to the girl's washroom. On their way there, Aria said: "This new girl, Emily, she seems to be nice."
"Probably she is." Hanna admitted.

"I think she's kinda shy but that's not even bad, isn't it?"
Hanna didn't answer because she wasn't listening. She wanted to but her thoughts always deviated from Aria talking.

"Han?" she asked, reaching for her arm.
"Um." Hanna said snapping back to reality. "What?"
"Why aren't you listening? If you think what I'm talking about is boring, just tell me."

"I'm sorry."
"I'm kidding, Han. I didn't say that to make you apologize but seriously now, you seem distracted. I already thought that in English. Everything okay?"
"Why wouldn't it be? I'm perfectly fine, just not a morning person." She meant, not really believing herself.
"Okay, then." Aria answered, continuing to talk about how she was annoyed of her mum being her English teacher.

Hanna nodded sometimes to show participation because she didn't want Aria to keep on asking how she was doing. Because she didn't know.

Waking up, Hanna had had the feeling that it would be a normal day, just a day in 365. But that was when she didn't know this new girl would show up.

Hanna sighed absentminded.

"That's enough now." Aria said, holding her back. "What are you thinking about that is more important than anything else?"
"I wish I knew." Hanna said, waving her hand while she leaves for her PE class. I wish I knew, she thought.