CHAPTER 1

Well, It figures I'd be late on my first day here. Aria thought, as she raced down the hallways of her new school.

She had been signed up for the bus schedule this morning, but apparently yelling and running like the wind hadn't gotten the bus driver's attention, and the driver drove away without a second glance. After getting completely worn out and sweaty, Aria had gone home and told her mother that she had missed the bus for the first day of school.

It was at this point that her mother had started yelling.

"Aria, I told you to set your alarm clock! What good is that clock if you don't use it? You are starting 9th grade and you're acting like a little 2nd grader again! Why do I even bother? You've always been a selfish little princess!"

It had continued for at least 15 minutes, but her mom had finally said, "Get in the car," and had grudgingly driven her to new school - Narcissus High.

However, since Aria had spent all that time listening to what a brat she was, they had pulled up to the school 10 minutes late.

"See! Now you're late! You've probably screwed up everything before you even get there! Don't you see? You never can do anything ri-"

Aria had closed the door of the car and walked into the front entrance.

But while she had acted confident while facing her mother and walking in, she now had absolutely no idea where to go.

At least I'm not starting in the middle of the year, Aria thought. I'm at the beginning first day with everyone else. But, then again, everyone else isn't 10 minutes late! Gah! How hard is it to find a classroom anyway!

The pristine white walls and the checkered black and white floor occasionally checkered with the school motto - Videor amo an angelus (whatever that meant)- were all Aria had seen for a very long time. Twice Aria ad asked for directions from an upperclassmen, but one simply ignored her while the other a while later said,

"Find it yourself, you goddamn stupid twit."

That was so incredibly helpful, Aria thought angrily, except for all of it!

She was hoping that not all of the older guys and girls were like that, because if they were then it was going to be a long four years. It had already been a long day and it hadn't even started yet!

"Come on! What have I done to deserve this? Is it cause I didn't pet my cat when I left in a rush? Because I didn't charge my Ipod this morning? What is it God, wha- Oof!"

She had run into someone else walking down the hall while lamenting her problems to the wall.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry!" she said as she got up and wiped her self off. "Are you all right? Here, let me give you a ha-"

Aria gasped. Loudly.

The person she had knocked down was gorgeous. Not in the way that you knew they were hitting their stride now, but in 40 years they would be horribly ugly. No. This girl - a sophomore, maybe a junior! - Was everlasting. She would always be beautiful with her silky straight red hair, tanned legs, and green eyes, she was every little girl's idol. She could totally be a model.

Aria felt like she was a sixth grader with her slightly frizzy maple brown hair, sensitive skin that her cat had scratched multiple times, and her ever color changing eyes (except those were awesome, so that made her feel a little better).

"Don't worry, I'm fine!" The Model said. "It was just a little bump after all. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself!"

She held out her hand. "My name's Shannon Leaph, and I'm a freshman! Who are you?"

"Aria. Aria Mythos." She shock The Mod- Shannon''s hand, and as she was something clicked. "You're a freshman?"

"Yeah. Everyone always thinks I'm older but I really am young at heart." Shannon giggled, and Aria joined in.

"So, Aria, right? That's a pretty name. Where you headed?"

"Oh lemme check…"

Actually, I should probably ask her where my homeroom is.

"I'm going to… Mr. Riso's room. B221. Do you know where it is?" Aria asked.

"Of course! I got a map from the front office. Let's see…"

Shannon pulled out a double printed-paper from her grass green backpack. It had a map of a building with about a million room numbers on it.

Here it is! Wait a minute." Shannon looked up at Aria. "you said you were going to B221, right?" Shannon looked ecstatic.

"Yeah, why?" Aria raised an eyebrow.

"That's my class too! Yay! Now I know someone!" Shannon grabbed Aria's hand.

"Hey! What are you doing?' Aria yelped.

"I'm taking you to our homeroom! I actually do know where that is! Come on, let's go, Aria. Don't wanna miss any more school time!"

Shannon laughed, and this time Aria laughed whole-heartedly with her.

Well. I might have lost some time - and maybe some pride, Aria thought bemusedly as Shannon kept laughing and pulling Aria along, but it seems like I've gained a new friend.