Disclaimer: I do not own Waterloo Road, only my OCs, artwork and this story.

Chapter 2

It was utterly unfair that Marcus got to lie about at home in his boxers while I had to endure an awkward day as the transfer kid. I tried explaining this to my parents, but Dad just snorted and Mum only patted my hair.

I was nervous as hell. It was bizarre to be how lax the dress code was. All that was required was standard school shoes, dark trousers or skirts, the school blazer and red and gold tie. I donned some dark tights to retain more heat and slipped on a pleated skirt that showed of the muscles of my legs with my black leather brogues. The blazer was handing for having my phone in the breast pocket, and I decided to pin my OBEY and Attack On Titan badges on the collar. I had a loose cardigan underneath and a properly tied windsor knot in my tie. I fiddled with my top button, deciding to leave it undone.

Wouldn't want to be too eager.

It was a mild miracle that my hair looked presentable today. Of course, it looked semi sentient (as usual), but was leaning towards a more Beyonce like style than Hagrid. I left it in a side parting and kept it to the side, making sure to wear several wristbands with my grey watch on my wrist for emergencies. My red knitted scarf was already wrapped several times around my throat. Knowing that my lips would suffer from being chewed by my teeth throughout the day, I put on some pink balm and decided to make the effort to add a little blush and vanilla perfume.

Naturally, my black satchel had been packed several hours before. This is the part where I announce my identity as an over achiever that wants to one day rule the world. I'm not sure whether I should do that by running for Prime Minister or gaining control of the Black Market, but I figured that good A levels would be cool. As of consequence, I was taking all three sciences, maths and further maths. Joy.

Dad surveyed me over the table with his hawk eyes. "Are you all packed?"

"Yep."

"You have your schedule?"

"Check."

"You have your lunch?"

"Yes Sir!" I saluted with a lopsided grin. He narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't blow anything up."

"I won't make any promises."

"Have fun!" Mum called as she drove away.

The pit in my stomach seemed to deepen. "At least one of us is optimistic." I muttered. Vaguely, I pondered on how relaxed I was only a few days ago, but I suppose Monday bring out the bitter despair in people.

I had practically memorised my schedule, but like a security blanket I checked again. Chemistry first.

The first thing I notice about my class is that it's small, maybe 10 students at most. I wasn't expecting a huge turn out, but I couldn't help but be wary when I turned out to be the only girl. Nobody spoke to me apart from the teacher who introduced me and the blonde sitting next to me, though I'd already forgotten their names. I had joined two weeks later than the start of term. At the very least, the questions we were given took up most of our double period (I hated awkward group projects).

Chemistry was followed by Biology on the authorised of school, which was annoying considering it was closer to the humanities classrooms rather than in the same corridor as the other science rooms. I spent a few minutes working out what staircase I was supposed to be up until I heard a couple of students taking about having biology next. I took a chance and followed them up to a newly renovated lab. I hesitated at the front, wondering whether there was a seating plan, social or instigated by a teacher.

I chose to sit on the end of a table next to a girl with dark hair. "Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked with a gesture to the seat.

She blinked in surprise. "Sure. Are you the transfer?"

I nodded, choosing not to reply as a portly, balding man came in to teach. The girl seemed to catch on, if slightly amused at how much of a teacher's pet I looked.

We were introduced to the specification for the course, then began recapping our knowledge of GCSE in groups. Naturally, I ended up with the dark haired girl and the two boys sitting on the other side of her. She smiled in a way that relieved me. "I'm Imogen, this is Connor and Kevin."

"Call me Vallie." I replied, sounding a little tense. "What you guys remember from photosynthesis?"

Connor was tall with had pouty lips, and leaned over Imogen's shoulder. "Not much. So what's London like?"

I shrugged. I guessed that we weren't actually going to work, which stressed me out a little. "Busy, fun. I lived in Greenwich actually, but spend a lot of time in the city."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it here." Kevin encouraged. "I joined in the summer term last year, and I feel like I've been here for years."

Well, that sounded delightful. "I'm sure I'll like it here."

"So why did you move to here of all places?" Imogen asked.

"My Mum took a job in Edinburgh, so we moved into my Grandparents house here to save buying a new house." I said as quickly as possible, silently begging for the teacher to call for silence again. Thankfully, my prayers were answered.

Biology was only for one period. Next I had maths, but to my surprise Kevin announced the same. "I'll walk with you? Wouldn't want to get lost."

"Isn't that a guarantee on your first day?" We started to walk through the corridors, rushing to beat the traffic of younger students. It was a relief to finally get outside and walk to the other school building. Kevin asked more questions incessantly, but he was quite sweet so I couldn't find it in myself to be too annoyed. When we got to the classroom, we sat next to each other by the window. The teacher, Mr Chalk was nice enough, if a little slow with explaining things for my taste. By the time he had finished explaining the first topic, I had already made notes on my paper pad and was flipping through my text book to read the next. I ignored Kevin's wide eyes as studiously as I could.

Before I could rush out of the class, Kevin intervened (of course he did). "Hey! Do you want me to show you where the canteen is?"

"It's fine. I don't have anymore lessons today, so I'm be heading home now."

He frowned a little. "Aren't you going to get hungry?"

"Big breakfast. See you tomorrow!" I said, far more enthusiastically than anything else I had said before.

By the time I was standing by the school gates, I realised that it would be annoying to call my parents early to pick me up. I made a mental note to work out a way to travel home via public transport, and headed back to the main office to ask where I could study. A cheerful lady with brown hair and a floral top directed me to the school library, where I chose a small table behind the psychology bookshelf in the back. I wanted to finish my chemistry homework before the end of the day.

About half way through the last period of the day, I heard the approaching voices of some students that sounded familiar. They questioned the librarian about some English books, then made their way to a shelf where I could see them to collect some literature (most likely to study). I kept my head down and tuned into their conversation.

"-is bollocks, why can't we study something interesting?" Kevin was moaning.

"Hey, Of Mice And Men is a good book!" Imogen protested. She reached to grab another spine, but Connor beat her to it with a cheeky grin. "Are you sick of all the essays we had to do for it last year?"

She sniffed. "Essays in an English class? Shocking."

The three of them chuckled, quieting down. Then Imogen spoke up again. "What do you guys think of Vallie?"

"The girl in our Biology?" Connor shrugged. "Seems nice. Kinda posh, a bit of a boffin from the looks of it."

Kevin nodded, piling the books into his arms. "You should have seen how much she wrote in Chalky's class."

"Bit weird, really."

Imogen frowned in thought. "I guess, but I think she's just a little shy. Why don't we ask her to hang out at break tomorrow?"

"I've got maths first thing tomorrow, I can ask then?" Kevin offered.

"I'm cool with that." Connor added.

Imogen nodded, apparently satisfied. "Best we look after her before someone like Rhiannon takes a go at her."

I swirled the spoon through the beef stew I was having for dinner, pondering the conversation I had heard the other day. Usually we ate as a family, but since the dinning room hadn't been clean up yet, I was lounging on the floor of Marcus's room, a tray of food in my lap while I watched him play on his Xbox.

Part of me was grateful. I knew it was nice of Imogen, Connor and Kevin to decide to befriend me. The other side of me was fuming. I hated being pitied. And who were they to call me weird? I'm not saying that I'm not, but they made it out like a bad thing. I half considered asking Marcus for advice, but I knew what his answer would be. "They're twats, Vallie. Throw their bags in a dumpster and find some friends that aren't gold diggers."

It would be irrelevant to Marcus that they didn't even know that Vallie came from a wealthy family. Marcus tended to look for the worst in people, and wait for them to prove him wrong before actually liking them.

I swallowed some more soup down. At least I hadn't made any mortal enemies on my first day.