Describe yourself in no less than 50 words.

I sighed. I hated starting a new school, and the worst part of it all is the stupid questionnaire they give you to fill out when you apply for a place. What was I meant to put anyway?

"Finds refuge in alcohol, shitty home life, moves house every six months. Doesn't think life is worth living. Self harms. Single. Oh yes. Definitely single. Well. Single during the day. Doesn't do homework (too busy partying.) Awful grades. Doesn't give a fuck. Oh, and swears a lot."

Somehow I didn't think that would impress anyone at the school. And besides, it was only 47 words.

So I settled for the usual blathering about extra-curricular clubs I'd "been a part of" at my previous schools, etc etc. Truth be told, I hated school, so the chances of me staying there for a millisecond longer than was necessary were… slim to say the least.

So. You're probably wondering who I am. My name is Alyssa McDonald and I am 15 years old. I'm about to start Year 10 at Waterloo Road High School. Well, more like butt into Year 10 at Waterloo Road High School – it is already January after all.

My mum buggered off 4 years ago with her boyfriend, who she'd been seeing for 2 years before that. I don't really care. She was a better mum to her vodka bottles than to me or my sister, Amina.

Amina is 14 and going into Year 10 with me. You couldn't tell we were sisters. We're probably only half-sisters anyway, knowing my mother. We were born exactly 9 months apart. My birthday is the 3rd of September, hers the 3rd of June.

We are chalk and cheese, or, to put it my mother's way, like a martini and glass of wine: she's elegant and girly, and I'm anything but.

But I don't care. Look where being like me has put me in society. At every school I've been at, my fellow pupils have respected me. It's just the air of authority I have. And then Amina – well, she's the quiet one who doesn't have many friend yet sits at the front of every class, answering all the teachers' questions. She gets on better with the adults than people her own age.

And the reason we never get to settle? It was my step-mum's job – she never spent more than 6 months at a time in one place. I don't know what she did exactly, but it involved my dad changing his job twice a year to a new location, and us either staying in a dingy old hotel or renting the cheapest flat on the market.

Roasline, my step-mum, died two weeks ago. I never really knew her, and I feel guilty saying it, but I don't miss her. It means I get to spend much more time with the members of my family I actually enjoy the company of – i.e. Amina and my dad.

Though saying that, Dad's been unreachable since Rosaline's death. He was the one driving the car when it crashed, so I suppose he blames himself. He's barely left his room except for doing things that need to be done. Including the job interview a few days ago.

Turned out my school is hiring a new Geography teacher, which turned out to be him. Which turned out to inconvenience me a lot, because I couldn't get away with the things I may be able to if he weren't there.

And it turned out that my time at Waterloo Road would be a lot more exciting than I hoped!