Chapter 2

"Hey, Amanda. How are you getting to school today? I thought your car wasn't due till tomorrow." Jesse asked while he packed his bag.

"Well, how are you getting to school?" I asked back.

"I'm taking the bus with a few friends." With no doubt he meant the gang he was in.

"You mind if I come? I'd love to meet your friends." I would also like to get some friends of my own, but I was never quite good at that.

"I don't think that's a good idea. See, the bus is only for the gang and I don't think that you would be allowed to get on." He answered shyly. What did he mean only the gang was allowed on? That's just not fair. It's a school bus and anyone who goes to the school should be able to get on.

"I'm sure I'm allowed to get on." I said as a horn went of in the front yard. "Hurry or were going to miss the bus" I added.

There were a lot of people on the bus. I realized at once that all were boys, around 18 years and all wearing their black baggy jeans and black and white tops. I was wearing a pair of grey tracksuit pants, a basic red strappy singlet and a lowered armhole singlet. They all stared at me as I walked past them, to the back of the bus. They started whispering. I could feel the blood rushing to my face. Jesse sat next to the boys and said something about me that I couldn't hear.

"Hi. I'm Nate and you are...?" A guy with brown hair and blond tips asked me.

"Amanda" I answered simply.

"Um..."He looked uncomfortable. "You shouldn't be on this bus. Jesse told me to hide you from Alpha, so just be quiet and stay behind me." What did he mean as alpha? I didn't need to be hid. I can look after myself.

"I don't need to be hid, so you can stop wasting your time." I answered a bit mad.

"I promised Jesse. So, Jesse said that you came from Australia..." My hands rolled into fists and my blood was rushing to my face.

"Has Jesse told everyone?" I snarled at him.

"Um...no. I think only the gang knows. Are you ok? What's wrong with living in Australia? Don't you like living in a rich country?" Questions were pouring out of his mouth. But before I could answer them he jumped up all of a sudden and stood in front of me like everyone else. "Just stay still and don't make a sound" He whispered. What was going on? I unclenched my fists. I couldn't see anything with all the boys standing in front of me. I could hear my cousin Dylon talking to everyone.

"Sup guys. What's been happening?" He asked everyone.

"Nothing" everyone said at once.

"Then why are you all standing in a group at the back?" he asked curious.

"No reason. No reason at all" Jesse said trying to sound casual but not succeeding.

"What are you hiding?" Dylon asked. That's when I saw it, sitting in my lap, a huge, black tarantula.

"Ahh" I screamed, flicked it and ran to the front of the bus. Everyone started to laugh. I couldn't blame them. I did scream really loud. Nate and Jesse ran with me to the front of the bus. They both grabbed my arms and I tried to shove them off but they held on too tight. I looked up at Dylon. He looked furious. As soon as I caught my breath I broke the silence "Hey Dylon! I haven't seen you in ages." Everyone was staring at me. I could feel Nate and Jesse squeezing my arm more than they should. Nate mostly. What were they so worried about.

"What are you doing here?" Dylon almost screamed at me.

"On this bus, in Sri Lanka or on this planet?" I said sarcastically.

"You know what I mean." He said through his teeth.

"I don't think I do." I said making a face.

"On this bus" He almost growled. Now I was scared. But I was going to be ok... right?

"There was no other way to get to school, so I came with Jesse. My car will arrive tomorrow." I said slowly.

"You now it's against the rules Jesse. It's not safe for her to get on. What if they got on today...?" Jesse cut him of there.

"It's not my fault she's stubborn. I told her it was a bad idea." Jesse let go then, but Nate just loosed his grip.

"Whose they?" everyone went quiet. "Tell me!" I said louder.

"It's not important, Amanda" Nate said slowly.

"It is if I'm going to join your gang." I said thinking about me as a gangster. I'll wear tight jeans and a black and white tight singlet top. I would walk around with a gang of boys and ... Dylon interrupted me mid-thought

"Absolutely not. There are no girls in this gang. It's just too risky. You could get hurt." He looked furious. I could see the school coming up.

"I can take care of myself." I said heading toward the door. Nate followed me. I got of the bus and walked to the office to get my stuff.