This time it was going to be different for Estella. Or at least she kept telling herself that. She got ready in the morning with a new sense of self. She had an all-new wardrobe and most importantly, an all-new attitude. She skipped down the stairs, her boots leaving imprints on the carpet beneath her. "Okay mom, I am off to school!"

She grabbed an apple from the basket on the counter before giving her mother a kiss on the cheek. "This time it's going to be different, mom. I just know it."

Her mom smiled, her wrinkles becoming more prominent with each passing day, and Estella knew it couldn't be from age. This was the fourth time they had moved in the last two years. And as much as Estella hated to admit it, it was entirely her own fault.

No freak accidents, she chanted to herself as she walked outside and unlocked her car door. Just a normal day for a normal girl at a normal school.

The new school jitters didn't even exist for her anymore. She walked onto campus expecting the stares, confusion, and smiles all at once. Big cities were her favorite to move to because there were new students in and out almost every day. But with small towns like this one, everyone noticed when there was a new family in town. Especially one with a teenager.

"Hi, you must be Estella," a girl greeted with an outstretched hand. She had long, beachy blond hair that was pulled into a plait that went over her left shoulder and down past her chest. "My name is Tiffany."

"Oh, hi, it's so nice to meet you," Estella shook her hand, which she thought was oddly formal for a high school student.

"I'm Amber," the girl beside her offered, this time just giving a small wave. Estella nodded at her with a smile to say hello. "Today's your first day, right?"

"Sure is. We just got into town last week and had to wait for the transfer papers to go through before I could start." Estella smiled as she spoke. This is already going better than the last move.

"You're going to love it here, there's always something to do and the people are all so nice. I moved a lot in the past because my dad was in the military. So I know how you feel," Tiffany offered. "But something was just too good about this place and now we've been here for three years, going on four."

"I'm glad to hear that, because I'm really hoping this is the last move we have to make for a while. Especially because there are a lot of really great colleges nearby, so I can stay close to home," Estella said. She clutched onto the strap of her backpack that was slung over her right shoulder. "Well, I better go walk around a bit and see if I can get a lay of the land."

"If you want, we could show you around," Amber offered.

Estella looked toward the gates. She liked these girls, they were kind, but she didn't want them to be around when she studied the map. Especially because her methods weren't exactly conventional. "Oh, thank you, but that's okay. I'll just have to take it in myself." Estella gave a small wave as she walked up the steps to the school.

"Estella!" Tiffany called out to her. Estella stopped on her third step and looked back at Tiffany. "You're welcome to sit with us at lunch if you want!"

Estella smiled. "Thank you, I will definitely take you up on that. See you." She finished the last two steps and walked through the gates. Students brushed past her once inside, but not without take a long second look at the new girl. She grabbed a map from the front office and sat down on a bench next to the restrooms.

The map laid open against her thighs and she looked down at it for a moment. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, putting the map in her memory. She memorized the halls and all the possible routes to different buildings. She envisioned the lunch room and how it connected out to a court yard with a stunning view of the scenery. Estella's photogenic memory also came with a vast imagination, and even though it was convenient for her, it wasn't really something that helped her blend in.

The campus was absolutely gorgeous. Tall, thick green ivy grew on the sides of the buildings and tall oak trees surrounded the fields behind the school. The school was indoors, which was a change from the last High School she attended in California. Here she got a nice, big locker and earthy tones for the paint job as opposed to stained white walls and checkered tile floors. The floors were light gray tile all throughout and the walls a deep green. Posters were everywhere:

"Vote for Kelly for Sophomore Class president!"

"Say NOPE to DOPE."

"Photography Club Room 342 Tuesdays."

There really was a lot going on, and everybody was buzzing with laughter and smiles. Everybody knew everybody and everybody was friends. And Estella wanted so badly to be a part of that.

At least three different people introduced themselves to her on her way to her first class, but none of the names really stuck until she sat down in her English class and a boy walked up to her instead of to his seat. She looked up at him – leather jacket, tousled hair, and a smirk that was cocky, but still cute. She made a mental note to ask Tiffany why she didn't mention that the men were so attractive.

"Um, hey," he said. His eyebrows furrowing for a second.

"Oh, hi. I'm Estella," she greeted. So many people were personally introducing themselves and her mood was so elated, she was almost excited to say her name over and over again.

"Poe," he said, nodding. "Um…you're in my seat."

Estella's face broke into a blush and she instantly began to collect her notebooks. "I am so sorry. I thought this was—I just assumed… I'll move."

"No, no," the teacher interjected. "No need to fuss Ms. Asuna. We have new assigned seating today, class." The class groaned and everybody stood up. "Okay, Poe you've actually moved to that seat there," he pointed to a seat toward the back of the class and to the left. "And Estella, you're actually… Well, you're right there. What are the odds, you don't even have to move."

Estella slowly sank back into the seat, feeling a bit more reserved after her brief moment of humiliation.

"Okay class, I know everybody is quite energetic this morning because we've got the Winter Sports Rally happening in two days and of course, as you've all heard, there is a new student here today. Ms. Estella Asuna has just transferred here from California. Welcome, Ms. Asuna. Now, everyone please open up their student planners and save these dates. These will be when your semester projects are due, your final exams, and of course, senior evaluations…"

The classes went by without a hitch. English was Estella's favorite subject, especially since she came from such a quiet home, she was always able to find solace in a good book. Third period came around and it was time for her Advanced Placement Chemistry class. She wasn't the biggest fan of chemistry, but for some reason, she was naturally gifted in chemical reactions and memorizing the formulas, periodic table, and easily calculating the math in her head.

Estella took her lab goggles off once she finished the lab and sat in her chair with her arms crossed. The teacher checked her work, congratulated her on a job well done, and told her she was free to work on her lab conclusion and study questions.

"Hey, Estella," a guy behind her called. Estella barely heard him, and decided to focus on the questions in front of her.

She jumped out of her chair when she felt something poke into her back. "Woah!" she exclaimed. The boy behind her was holding a ruler that was outstretched toward her.

"Oh, sorry," he chuckled. "You finished your lab? Did you do this one before at your other school?"

Estella was on edge. "Um… what?"

"Are you okay?" the boy next to him asked, his hand hovering over the beaker, ready to drop in one of the chemicals required.

"I just… don't like being touched," Estella said with a slight laugh to try and ease the tension of the situation.

"What? Are you ticklish?" the boy with the ruler asked, trying to jab it toward her again.

She backed away from the table and went into the walkway between her table and another. She nearly tripped over a student's backpack.

"Estella, I need you to stay at your lab station, please. These chemicals can cause serious burns if it comes in contact with your skin. Sit still."

"Yes, sir," she mumbles and walks back to her seat. She sits backs down and tries to focus on her assignment. A moment passes until she feels several gentle jabs in her back with the ruler. The boy is giggling with his lab partner.

"Stop," Estella whispers, trying to squirm away from the pokes. She starts to feel overwhelmed. Trapped. The pokes keep coming and she feels helpless. "I don't…I don't like to be touched," she keeps repeating but she can't be heard over the uproar of the students doing their labs.

No! Don't touch me. Get your hands off of me. Please. Just let me go. I won't tell anybody. Just don't…don't!

"Don't touch me!" she screams. She turns around quickly, tears streaming down her face, and she waves her arm to intercept his next jab. There's a surge of anger that goes through her and the boy flies onto the table next to him, his back slamming onto the counter top.

Glass shatters everywhere. Tiffany screams. Then it's quiet.

Estella looks around and everyone is staring at her, their faces horrified. They stand like that for a brief moment until the boy's friend screams his name: "Jacob!"

The boy on the table, Jacob, starts to squirm but stops and screams one of the most agonizing screams of torture Estella has heard. One ofthe most agonizing screams."My back! It's burning!" he screams.

"Back away," the teacher says faintly as he begins to rush over, finally registering what has happened. "BACK AWAY! Someone go get the principal and tell them to call an ambulance now!" The teacher called to Jacob's friend and told him to help carry him to chemical wash. "Jacob, you need to stand up. You need to try to walk."

Estella's eyes are wide as she stares at the bloody back of Jacob as he is helped off of the desk. Large gashes are in his blue shirt, some of his shirt is eaten away by the chemicals and she can see the skin underneath – red and raw and dripping with blood.

She slowly begins to back toward the door. She looks around the room and all eyes are now on Jacob. Some students are crying and others are breathing heavily. One kid has his phone out, recording the entire thing. He points the camera at Estella, his eyes horrified. "What…what…you freak!" he shouts to her.

She picks up her black backpack and runs out of the room as fast as she can.

This time was supposed to be different.