A/N: This is my first ever story…so be nice...please! Yeah, and since it's the first chpter,it's going to be a bit boring. But I hope the next chapter'll be better!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ben 10 or its characters.

"That's all," sighed Gwen. She looked around her room contentedly. She had been arranging her room for an hour or so, pulling the furniture around until they suited her. Then she had to get all her numerous belongings and arrange them. Moving into a new house was hard work. She went to her little bedroom balcony and gazed down. Whoa, fourteen floors is a long way up. But she had seen worse. Just the thought of her summer vacation with her Grandpa and Ben made her laugh. Nothing should seem bizarre or frightening compared to what she'd seen. But that was five years ago. Since then, she hadn't heard anything about any aliens. She had met Ben two years ago at Christmas and he still had the omnitrix. Her Grandpa was enjoying retirement last time she heard about him. The most interesting thing that happened so far was their moving to New York. Yay. Life was all right. And annoyingly boring.

"Gwen, honey?"

"Yes mum?"

"Do you want to go downstairs?"

"Why not? I'll see what shops they have around…get acquainted with the area."

"Take your mobile and come back in half an hour."

"Yeah…bye!"

Gwen left the house and went downstairs. The building was in a residential area so it was quieter and had less traffic around than the other streets. There was a café, a mini supermarket, a bank, a hardware store, a bookshop…Gwen kept on walking until she reached the nearest subway.

Subway? Wasn't that where she last saw Kevin? No wait… he was last in the null void zone, with Vilgax. Most probably, he got killed. She felt a little sorry for him… if only he'd listened…but it was his own stubbornness that finally did him in. So he deserves it.

She made her way to the nearest cola vending machine. A boy was in front of it, shaking and shouting at it. Probably lost his money. He then bent down to get the can. When he turned, Gwen clearly saw his face, and instantly recognized him. Kevin. Think of the devil… and she immediately turned around and ran. She stopped till she was about a block away and looked back. No Kevin. Obviously not, he'd be after me if he saw me. It's probably some guy who looked a bit like him-I shouldn't have gone Chicken Little and jump to conclusions.

Kevin's probably in hyperspace or some place like that. If he's alive.

Right?

First day of school-a supposedly happy event. You expect to feel a little nervous but not so much that your stomach drops out at the sight of the school gates! But Gwen's fear was understandable- after all, she was going to one of the most expensive and demanding school in New York City-

She then remembered Bancroft academy. No they can't be as stuck up as them. Somehow, she managed to make her wobbly legs walk up to the door.

She was immediately in a large hall that divided into several different paths. It was sparsely furnished- to the far right next to a door, there was a table, a cupboard and a chair. .Most of the lights were turned off, giving the place a sombre look. There was nobody in sight, but she could hear a quiet buzzing from far away.

"What are you doing standing here young lady? Get to your class!" A plump little lady dressed in a purple suit appeared behind her.

"I'm new, and I don't know my class…"

"You are? Why didn't you say so? Come right here I'll give you your timetable." She scuttled to the desk. "What did you say your name was?"

"Gwendolyn Tennyson"

"Yes, here it is, Gwendolyn Tennyson. What a unique name! Well your class is just there- here's your timetable. Your class starts at eight- but you already knew that- you arrived early! Punctuality is very important here- well it is important everywhere-but especially here. Here are your locker keys, dear, and I've assigned a girl to show you around…Penelope her name is, also a red-head like you, a very sweet and polite girl..."

"Erm… thank you-"

"Have you got all your books? You won't believe all the complaints I get from the teachers- that the students don't have their books or their stationary or whatnot- this is really the student's job don't you think?" She suddenly looked at the clock. "But I am making you late! No stalling there, go on, off you go!" And disappeared into another hallway.

Gwen took a deep breath and looked up. A girl with remarkably frizzy red hair wearing a pair of black thick glasses was looking at her all this time. "Yes, Miss Periwinkle is very talkative- to a fault sometimes." she said coolly.

"My name is Penelope, but call me Penny. You're the new student, I suppose?"

"Yeah, I'm Gwen."

Penny walked over to her and looked at her timetable. "Hmm, yes, our classes are quite similar. Math first then, this way."

Gwen followed Penny down a hallway. The hall didn't seem look as dull as before. The corridor opened to another big hall. Groups of students were lingering around, quietly going about their business.

"How big is the school?"she asked suddenly.

"Oh, big enough. Two more floors, though. You like it?"

"It's very…maze-like."Gewn tried to explain. " Something just pops up at every corner."

"Yeah, it's like that. There's our classroom."

Penelope flicked on the light switch as they entered the room. Some students were already inside, writing and drawing on the board, and talking. Some turned to acknowledge the two coming in, others didn't seem to notice.

"That's your seat. And I sit here, behind you." She sat on the last seat of the middle column. Students state filling in, slowly taking their seats, and the room gradually grew noisier. Gwen took her seat, and took out her books.

"I'll introduce you to my other friends during break," she said. "We won't be seeing them now; they're all in different classes." Anyways, we shouldn't talk now. The teacher just came in!"

Well, that was an easy start.

The first three classes proceeded without much incident. "Come, I'll show you around first," said Penny." It's quite a big school…" They did a quick tour of the school, and came back to the cafeteria.

"Pen! Where were you?" said a Chinese-looking girl behind them.

"Gwen this is Caren, Caren, Gwen. I've been showing her around school."

"Let's get something to eat. I missed breakfast…" said Caren. Penny looked sideways at her. "Because I woke up late! God!"

They were soon seated amongst a group of other girls. "This is Gwen everybody, she's new here."

"We know that," said a dark haired girl. "My name is Veronica."

"Hi, I'm Amber," waved a blonde beside Veronica. She turned to the African American girl sitting by her side. "Since you're not going to introduce yourself,"said Amber pointedly, "...this is Tyra." Tyra didn't say anything, just smiled politely. They sat down and talked- first about their new classes, who sat beside who, who had what teacher…in a few minutes the talk turned to their summer vacations. Initially Gwen felt like an outsider, but the girls were so easy- going and had such warmth that Gwen could easily fit in with them. The bell rang.

"Who has English now?"

"Just me," said Amber, finishing off a chocolate bar.

Gwen looked at her timetable. "And me," she told her.

"Good, someone to talk to. You don't know how many times I fall asleep." said Veronica. "Hardly anyone in my class… our teacher's a mad windbag who wears a nightgown."

"Did I show you your locker?" asked Penny.

"No…" Gwen fished out her keys from her pocket. "It's number 514."

"That's near mine," stated Amber. "Ronnie, you go along, I'll take Gwen along to lighten that load she's carrying."

Gwen walked with Amber. "You know… thanks a lot for what you've done."

"What have we done?" asked Amber simply.

"Helped me out on my first day and stuff. I didn't expect to make friends so easily."

"That's what we're supposed to do, innit?" she said laughingly.

Two girls were walking towards them. Just as one of them approached Gwen, she tripped and fell on Gwen's shoulder. Gwen didn't notice- they both fell face down their books spilling out of their bags.

"Oh god "said Gwen.

But the girl- "Ohh Susana, I've sprained my ankle!" she cried to the other girl

Gwen got up quickly. "I'm sorry," she said, offering the girl a hand to help her up.

"You'd better be," said Susana, and slapped Gwen's hand away.

"She was only tryna help, no need to slap her away like that," growled Amber, grabbing Gwen and pulling her back.

"OoOwwW!" groaned the other girl.

"Is it that bad? "asked Gwen.

"Yes it is," she snapped.

"Shut up Marie, you're fine!" retorted Amber. "You're a terrible actress- so stop faking it."

"Bitch," mouthed Susana to Amber.

"Only for you, sweetheart." she replied. She took Gwen's arm. "Come on Gwen…we shouldn't waste time here, of all places."

"Gwen? What kind of name is that?" said Marie.

"Great, another one joined the doofus gang." scowled Susana.

"Who were those…girls?" asked Gwen as she deposited her book in her locker.

"Well they are the most stupid, obnoxious, pathetic, stuck up little wannabes in the school. God knows how they got in here, this school's supposed to be selective, they've got no brains whatsoever…ah well-the brunette is Marie and the taller one is Susana. They really don't belong to any group, they just hang around…we just stand them, you know. It's just they hate us more than anyone else… and vice versa. They're just plain annoying at most. Walk away and pretend you don't see them next time you meet."

During English Amber told Veronica about the incident. They also sent notes to Gwen telling her about all the things they'd done. Apparently, they had cheated on many exams (and failed), caused various 'accidents' and stole lots of things (including tickets, books, boyfriends and science fair projects) and loved to make a big deal out of nothing.

"They harmless, but we won't act as if they won't try to cause chaos in your life." said Veronica in a note. "Best thing to do, is just walk away."

Gwen read it and smiled at them, and turned back her attention on the weird nightgown-wearing lady who was droning on something about the colors of her Scottish ancestor's kilt.

Gwen's family was at the dinner table. This is usually the only time they were all together, as Gwen's dad worked during the night and her mom and Gwen were away in the mornings. From about six to nine they were all together at home, and had dinner together.

Gwen was telling her parents about her first day at school.

"It was very good, better than I expected really," said Gwen.

"We're glad about that. We were so worried- you've stayed in the same school for such a long time, that you might not be able to adjust," said her dad

"I told you, she'd be fine," said her mom. "All that fuss for nothing."

"They not as stuck up as I expected," continued Gwen. "Oh except for those two…Marie something and Susana Wakefield."

"Wakefield? I know that guy,"

"Wasn't he in your company? You mentioned him a lot… "

"He was, in The NY branch. That was a few years ago. But then something happened and he joined a rival company. He's well… I can't say he's bad, but he is a bit power crazy. That was the reason he left us. Otherwise, he all right. He believes in aliens.Hah!"

"I know you don't, but no need to attack other people for it,"

"Please." He turned to Gwen. "Imagine a grown man chasing after aliens."

"Hee hee heh…"Gwen was thinking about her Grandfather.

"Well anyways, he's an okay person. But recently he sent an e mail telling me found something really big. Seemed really happy about it."

"I thought you two stopped corresponding/"

"No we're all right; we just talk now and then. I asked him what it was, but he told me to wait. Said I'd find out for myself."