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Misty woke with a start from her dream, a cold sweat dripping down her back, breath coming out in short, sharp intervals. She raised her hand to her chest, her heart beating loudly, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

It was always the same dream, Ash would be there, she'd feel happy, she'd feel alive again. Then suddenly he'd be taken away from her and she'd have to stand and watch helplessly as he died, over and over.

Knowing it would be pointless to try and sleep again she pushed herself out of her bed and towards the shower, hoping to wash away the thoughts. But she never could. Every time she closed her eyes she'd see him, lying in the car reaching out for her, desperate for her help and she'd left him. She'd left him to die in that car.

She opened her eyes and let her tears flow, mixing in with the shower water making it unnoticeable. She tried to keep quiet, knowing her sisters would still be asleep this early but once a sob escaped her throat she couldn't control herself, she broke down.

Dropping to the floor she cried, her sobs vibrating through her body, the shower beating down on her back. She screamed, slapping her hands in the watery base of the shower, she threw the shampoo bottles against the wall, sending the liquid inside flying in all directions, she made fists with her hands so tight that her nails began to draw blood as the tears continued to flow.

Her eldest sister ran into the bathroom, not even flinching at the water tinted by blood as it ran down the drain. She was used to Misty behaving like this now, she'd become so in tune to her sister that she could sense when her pain was coming and distract her but not this time. She'd been sleeping in her bed while the guilt had hit Misty full force until she could barely control her actions anymore.

Grabbing a towel from the rack Daisy pulled the shower door open and wrapped it round her younger sister's frame, holding her as she wept, getting soaked to the bone.

Slowly Misty calmed down and allowed her sister to turn off the shower and lead her out, the towel was replaced for a fresh one and the pair made their way towards Misty's bedroom. Daisy forced her sister to lie down before wrapping her in her arms again, placing a kiss on her head and instructing her to sleep.

But Misty couldn't bring herself too, knowing what would be waiting for her if she did, something she didn't want to have to deal with. Instead she lay awake, listening to her sister's gentle breathing, waiting until her alarm went off.

…

Misty slowly pulled on her jeans as she listened to her three sisters in the kitchen, dreading the day ahead of her. She straightened out her black jumper before brushing her hair out, hoping to achieve a look that would allow her to blend into the background.

Her sisters thought they were helping her by moving to a new school, thinking she would forget about Ash and move on but she knew wherever she went he would always be all she could think about. Without him she was nothing, more than intent on spending the rest of her life mourning, wishing he was still with her.

One of the main things she dreaded was the stares, everyone at her old school knew what happened, they knew about Ash and they accepted her but here nobody knew who she was. Just the new girl who'd they'd all flock around like vultures trying to get a piece of her.

Deciding she was as good as she was going to get she walked from the room, pausing briefly at the empty wall where her mirror had once hung. It was the first thing to go when she'd come back from the hospital and had her first break down. She remembered smashing her fist into the mirror repeatedly until her hands where slick with blood and small shards embedded themselves in the cuts. She couldn't bear to look at herself, the scar was just a constant reminder of what had happened. How she stood there, still breathing, while Ash's lifeless body lay in the ground.

Forcing herself forward she dragged herself out of the bedroom and downstairs towards the kitchen, where her sisters animated voices filled the room.

Once she'd entered the room there was a lull in conversation but it didn't affect Misty, she'd grown used to causing absolute silence just by her presence. Grabbing her breakfast she ignored the other bodies in the room, feeling much more comfortable in her own world than others.

Soon the conversation started again, they talked at Misty about how much she'd enjoy this new school, fresh start for her, a chance for her to leave old ghosts behind but she was barely listening, the words just washed over in a jumble of sounds. Instead, she looked around the table in envy at her sisters, she was never as pretty as them by any means but she was close, she had the Waterflower hourglass figure, the sparkling viridian eyes, and the cheeky smile. But now she was just a monster, a freak who didn't belong in the same family as these beauties.

Staring down at her breakfast in disgust she pushed the bowl away from herself and rose to her feet.

"You okay?" Daisy asked, letting her toast hang a few inches from her lips.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Misty muttered. "I better be heading out." She abruptly turned from the table and left the room.

"Don't you want a lift?" Lily shouted after her sister, grabbing her car keys from the counter behind her.

"No, I want to walk." She called back, running from the house and out the door.

She kept running until she reached the end of the street, breathless she leant against the wall and let her tears flow. She hated being here, she hated the fact that Ash had left her, she hated that she couldn't walk down the street without being gawped at, she hated her sisters for forcing her to carry on when all she wanted to was give up but most of all she hated the fact she was still alive. She should have been the one to go, Ash didn't deserve what happened to him, he deserved a second chance.

She pushed the palms of her hands to her eyes, attempting to stop the tears from falling. She soon heard footsteps thundering towards her and felt three sets of arms wrap around her.

"I'm fine, honestly." She said, but they didn't release her.

The old Misty would have hated this, she wanted to appear strong at all times, crying was just a sign of weakness in her eyes. But the new Misty didn't care, without Ash she didn't see the point of the masquerade and allowed herself to be vulnerable.

When her tears finally subsided she was ushered into the car and driven to school, they'd suggested she take another day to herself but she knew they'd just fuss around her all day making her feel more pathetic. At school she could just keep to herself, strangers worried less about her feelings.

…

Misty walked down the school corridor towards her locker, she felt hopelessly lost as the other students milled around her, laughing and joking, but she refused to talk to anyone. She was alone and that was the way she preferred it.

She felt everyone's eyes on her, staring at the new body as it walked through their school. It was a small high school, only about 360 pupils so they'd all notice an unknown but the stares made her feel uncomfortable.

She'd ignored her sister's advice, stand tall, hold your head up high with pride, it will help you ooze confidence. Instead she kept her head down, body curled in on itself, peeping at prying eyes through a curtain of her hair.

At her old school she'd been used to stares, she'd got quite a few over the years, long before the accident but at the time she'd enjoyed them. The jealous stares as her and Ash made their way through the corridor, the golden couple of the school, how she longed for those days.

…

Misty walked towards her locker, smile plastered on her face, May on one side, chattering away happily, Ash on the other, arm loosely wrapped around her shoulders. She laughed at whatever anecdote May was offering her, trying to repress the shivers down her spine from where Ash gently brushed the hair from her shoulder.

"Drew!" May called out, catching his attention. Misty grinned as she watched her best friend run off, shamelessly flirting with the green haired boy.

Once she'd gone Ash took his opportunity and pounced on her neck, placing little kisses on her pale skin.

"Ash?" She questioned, eyes roaming the corridor.

"Yeah?" He whispered, gently nibbling on her ear.

"Everyone is watching us." She said, gently pressing her hand against his chest and pushing him off.

"So? They always do." He shrugged, Misty nodding slightly.

Ash and Misty had been partners in crime for as long as people could remember, back when they were ten they met for the first time and the pair was inseparable. The best of friends that claimed nothing could come between them until they reached thirteen. Then new feelings and emotions started to develop creating an awkward aura that surrounded them, everyone in the school knew what was happening and soon watching the pair's relationship evolution became their entertainment. Then at fourteen they'd cracked told each other how they felt and the rest was history they became the 'it' couple, despite being two years into their relationship the stares never ceased.

They'd come a long way from those two ten year olds who used to wind each other up at every chance they got but they wouldn't have changed anything, their relationship was perfect.

"It seems more than usual." Misty said as Ash went back in for another kiss, pressing her flat against the cold metal lockers.

Ash made no attempts at hiding his affections towards Misty, never phased by the audience, but today she definitely felt more eyes on her than usual. She tried to push him off again but he was determined and her attempts were futile.

"It's your fault they're watching." He whispered, pulling back to rest his forehead against hers.

"What have I done?" She asked, raising her eyebrow.

"It's the hickey on your neck." He explained, bringing his hand up and gesturing to her neck.

"What?" Misty screeched, causing Ash to wince and take a step back.

Frantically, Misty began searching through her bag until she came across her compact mirror, quickly opening it and aiming it towards her neck. Sure enough, glaring back at her, was a large hickey, one she hadn't even noticed this morning or she'd have worn a scarf.

"When the hell did you do that?" She questioned, trying to cover it with concealer but the purple shone through.

"I don't know, sometime last night." He said, losing interest with her dramatics.

"Jesus Christ Ash!" She shouted, slamming her mirror shut and throwing it in her bag. "I could literally kill you right now!"

She glared at Ash, a pout on her lips, but despite her anger he just thought she looked adorable and soon smiled at her, which only upset her more. With a groan she pushed past him and huffed down the corridor.

"Misty! Come on! I'm sorry!" He shouted after her, laughing when her only response was to flip him the finger as she walked away. "Love you!"

"Yeah, yeah. Love you too." She called back with a dismissive wave of her hand before tracking May down, hoping she had some stronger concealer with her.

…

Gary leant against his locker, half listening to the bluenette chatting away in front of him, trying his hardest to look interested. If Dawn wasn't so attractive he wouldn't put up with this but she was the best this little school had to offer so he wasn't about to throw her away.

Words of makeup and jewellery floated up to his ears when he noticed her, the new girl. He'd heard gossip among his fellow students that there was fresh face gracing their halls but he'd yet to see her until now.

Gary tried to contain the smirk that was growing on his lips when he saw her walk past but was failing miserably. He loved new girls, it just gave him a new challenge, a new conquest, provided they had the right physique and this girl did. She was downright hot, granted she was trying to hide herself behind baggy clothes but he could see the curves concealed underneath.

She continued walking down the corridor, not once glancing in his direction, keeping her eyes glued to the ground. He watched her go until she was almost out of sight when he sprang into action.

"That's great Dawn but I have to go do something real quick." He placed a kiss on the girl's cheek before powering off down the corridor, keeping the new girl in his sights as he weaved between students. Dawn sighed as she watched him leave but soon turned to her friends and forgot about the rude ditching that had just occurred.

He watched her as she walked, taking in every little detail of her, the way her hips swayed subtly as she walked, the way her nervous hands ran through her hair. He could already imagine her, copper hair sticking to her forehead, curling her back in ecstasy as he pinned her against his bed.

He noticed her cross her arms self-consciously over her chest as more people watched her, he thought if it was possible she'd fold in on herself to avoid prying eyes. Again his mind began to wander, she wasn't hidden behind her baggy clothes, instead she was the confident, sexy girl Gary could see inside. She'd boldly stride across his room, wearing nothing but her underwear before crawling onto his bed and hovering above him. One of his hands roaming over her exposed skin, his other reaching up to firmly squeeze her voluptuous breast, still encased in a lacy bra.

"Hey Gar." A perky blonde said, side stepping to block his path.

"Yeah, hi." He said, constantly watching the red head over her head.

She'd moved closer to the lockers with her fingers trailing along the cold metal as she read the numbers. He smirked as he pictured those delicate fingers travelling down his bare chest, slipping under his boxers and working their magic.

However, there was only one problem with all his fantasies, the girl was faceless, she was concealing herself behind a shield of hair, shyly keeping to herself, but that was all about to change.

Without offering the blonde a goodbye he walked passed her and towards his mysterious girl, currently stopped in front of a locker and copying a combination from a slip of paper in her hand.

Now she was finally still Gary decided it was time to make his move.

…

Misty sighed in relief as she'd reached her locker without anyone attempting to talk to her, she hoped this was a sign of things to come and she could just spend the next few years invisible.

"Hi." A deep voice said, the person so close she could feel their breath against her neck.

Gary grinned as the girl deliberately ignored him, continuing to open her locker and place a tatty notebook inside. Playing hard to get only made him more determined, it was more fun when he had to work for his prize.

"Come on Red, you really going to ignore me?" He asked.

Never tearing her eyes away from her locker she nodded, praying he'd get the hint and leave her alone.

"Ouch." He chuckled. "Here I am, just trying to be friendly, and you won't even give me the time of day."

"You're not my type." She said, her gentle voice being used for the first time since her arrival.

He was unsure as to whether she was referring to not her type of friend or something more but either way it didn't dampen his attempts. Girls could say they didn't want him but he knew deep down they did, they just weren't willing to admit it yet.

"Well, can I at least walk you to your next lesson?" Again all he received in reply was a shake of the head. "It's a big school, we wouldn't want a little darling like yourself getting lost."

"I'll manage." She said, slamming her locker shut and turning to leave, her hair whipping his face as she did assaulting his nose with coconut and chlorine, an interesting combination.

"Red! Wait up!" He called after her, only increasing her pace.

"Leave me alone." She growled, this boy was getting on her last nerve.

"Give me one good reason why I should?" Gary asked, trying to keep up with her but failing.

Misty held up her hand and offered him her middle finger as his one reason, causing Gary to laugh out loud. This girl had a temper, but feisty was just how he liked his girls.

Finally catching her up he placed his arm on her shoulder, as soon as he made contact she roughly pulled away, he had no right to touch her, nobody did.

"Look, you obviously have some problem with me and I apologise." Gary said, Misty stopped in her tracks and heaved a great sigh.

"What do you want from me?" She whispered, her voice almost lost in the crowd around them.

"To start again." He explained, moving around her so he could finally see her face. "Hi, I'm…" But the end of his sentence died on his tongue.

When he saw her he finally understood why she kept hidden, across one of her cheeks was red, puckered skin, trailing from the corner of her eye down to her lip, a large scar on her left cheek drawing his eyes in.

Her hand was itching to cover her face but instead she kept it by her side, a permanent glare on her face, but she knew it was wavering, the hurt evident in her eyes.

Gary knew he was staring, he could feel his mouth hanging open slightly from his unfinished words but he couldn't bring himself to stop. His eyes flickered to her eyes slightly to see the moisture that was gathering in them. Ordinarily, that would have been the first thing he noticed about her, her bright eyes, sparkling slightly in pain, they were a breath-taking shade of viridian but he'd missed them in his shock.

He wanted to say something charming, brush off the whole incident but for the first time in his life words failed him and he was left utterly speechless.

She was beautiful, there was no denying it, but he noted how the scar had ruined her, taking a perfect face and disfiguring it horrendously.

But when he looked into her eyes he realised, it hadn't just ruined her physical appearance, it ran much deeper than that. It ruined her emotionally, although her eyes were bright there was no life in them, whatever caused that scar had broken her beyond repair.

"Had a good look?" Her harsh words pulled him out of his trance, he made attempts at sentences but nothing came.

She brushed past him, slamming into his arm causing him to swing back as he watched her retreating form walking down the corridor, head back down, getting lost in the crowd.

…

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