Wow, thanks so much for reviewing! It's good to see that people are enjoying this so far. By the way, since I'm not from America and not really that familiar with the whole grading system with schools and stuff, I'll try my best to get it right. Since Jill is sixteen going on seventeen that would make her a Junior, right? X.x Oh well, it does in this story! Anyway, read on and enjoy!

"Hello, are you lost?"

Jill had been about to say, 'No, I'm fine thanks' but the words just wouldn't come out. The boy, or man, that stood before her was tall to say the least, and though Jill had thought that she was tall she suspected this guy was well over six feet tall. He had short, apparently bleach blonde hair and was wearing a slanted smile. He was also wearing dark tinted sunglasses.

She eventually realised she couldn't just stand there in complete silence. "Uh, no, I was just.." she couldn't exactly say she was nervous about going in, could she? What would he think of her if she said that? Jill, since when do you care about what people think of you? Seriously, pull yourself together girl!

This admittably handsome newcomer stared down at her curiously, "You're new here, aren't you? I haven't seen you around here before."

"Yes," Jill replied politely, hoping to God she wasn't blushing, "Just moved here."

"Where'd you move from?"

"Las Vegas."

"Ah, the city of sin," the boy said, with a light chuckle, "Oh, where are my manners? The name's Albert." He extended his arm to shake her hand, and Jill reluctantly shook it, though something about this guy made her feel extremely uneasy. "So uh, you're what, a Senior?" He asked.

"Junior," Jill told him, "You?"

"Really?" Albert sounded surprised. His eyes began to run up and down her body, and if Jill could have seen the look in his eyes she probably wouldn't have liked it. She was almost glad his eyes were masked by those weird sunglasses of his. "Oh, I'm a Senior. But uh, you look old enough to be a Senior, if you don't mind me saying."

Jill was so surprised by this compliment that she practically forgot about the 'look' he had given her just a moment ago, "Thanks," she replied shortly, smiling thinly at him. Well, so far one person had actually given her a compliment and she hadn't even set foot in the school grounds yet. That had to be a good sign. "I'm Jill by the way," she said after a momentary silence, but surprisingly enough it wasn't an awkward one. The uneasiness she had felt before had pretty much evaporated. She was suddenly excited to go inside and start the day.

She checked her watch then, and noticed that it was coming up to nine o'clock, and knew she should probably get going.

"Well, I'd better go," she said, offering another smile and recieving one from him in return, "Maybe see you around?"

"Sure thing," Albert replied curtly, grinning back at her, "It's been a pleasure, Jill."

Is it weird that I was sort of attracted to him? I mean, he wasn't bad looking from what I could see of him. I just wish I could have seen his eyes.. it's as if he was hiding them from me or something. How odd.

Hitching up her skirt, Jill made her way through the large gates and down the path leading up to the large school building. 'Jackson High', this was going to be her new 'second home'. Oh, the joy. Jill couldn't help but whip out her mirror and check to see if she looked acceptable. She wondered how strict the teachers here were about make-up and short skirts. Oh well, there was no going back now.

Once she was ready, Jill joined the throng of students going into the main building. She could hear them all chatting merrily as they pushed up against her, squashing into the building together. Once she was inside, Jill had no idea what to do next. She had no friends to meet up with to chat to before the bell went. All she could do was stand around idly while everyone else passed by her as though she were invisible. Arms folded, she waited impatiently for someone, anyone, to tell her what to do. She knew her homeroom class was with someone called Mr. Swann, but where the hell was that? Was anyone going to tell her? Or was she going to have to roam the corridors until she found it herself?

To her relief, she was saved the trouble of doing all of that when she was suddenly knocked to the floor from behind. She suddenly felt furious, not only with the asshole who had embarrassed her like this, but also with herself for not standing in a corner, well away from the large crowds, to prevent something as stupid as this from happening.

"Oh shit!" a male voice from behind her exclaimed, "Oh shit! I'm sorry!"

Jill could hear muffled laughter, and then another male voice, "God Brad, watch where you're going won't you?" it said, and then Jill looked up to see a boy about her age standing over her. "Need a hand?" he enquired with a cocky grin.

"I guess," Jill mumbled, hoping there weren't too many people gathered around to see this. The boy took her hand and helped her to her feet.

"Don't mind Brad," he said, chortling at the boy who stood next to him. "He's just a loser who can never see where he's going for some reason."

"I'm s-sorry," Brad whimpered, and Jill nodded wordlessly in reply.

The other boy was staring intently at her, as if trying to figure out who she was. Jill felt a slight discomfort being under his scrutiny but she remained silent. She looked up at the boy, who was still wearing that cocky grin. He was slightly tanned and quite muscular, and wore a red headband around his head. Eventually, he stuck out his hand.

"I'm Joseph, and this is Brad," he gestured to the blonde haired boy to his right, "Are you new here or something? 'Cause I don't think I've ever seen you before."

Jill smiled easily at him, "I just moved here. So yeah, I'm new here."

For a moment Joseph's grin disappeared. Then it returned, broader than ever. "Well, uh," his eyes seemed to have moved from her face down to her chest, "Who you got for homeroom class?"

"Mr.Swann," Jill replied, watching as Joseph's face lit up as she spoke.

"That's great! Cool! I've got him too!" He looked extremely excited for some reason. Jill thought she knew why. It was then that the bell rang. "Come on, you can walk along with us. Consider us, uh, your new friends, okay?"

Jill smiled sweetly at him but rolled her eyes as he turned away. Still, this was better than nothing, and Joseph didn't seem too bad. Brad on the other hand.. well, he was certainly keeping his distance from her. He was making sure to walk slightly ahead of Joseph, and kept glancing over his shoulder at her as they walked. Jill decided that she didn't mind. Atleast they were showing her where she needed to go.

They finally came to a stop outside their destination: Mr Swann's homeroom class. "Just try not to talk too much and you'll be fine," Joseph warned her before they went inside. The three of them entered the classroom shortly after. It was, to Jill's surprise, already full to the brim of students. Why Joseph had told her not to talk to much was way beyond Jill at this point. You could barely even hear yourself over the noise in there.

The noise and chatter went down some once Jill started making her way past the other students to find a seat. They all fixed on her at once, some offering her kindly smiles, some glowering in her direction. Most of the glowering came from the girls for some strange reason. While Joseph went to sit with Brad, Jill had to find her own place to sit. She finally realised there was only one free spot left, and hurried over to it, sitting herself down and trying to avoid the stares of the other students.

"Everyone, I'm pleased to announce that we have a new student with us this year," Mr.Swann barked over the din, "Miss Jill Valentine. Since she's new I want you all to make sure she settles in well here. Those who don't will have me to answer to."

Jill smiled politely as every single one of them turned to look at her. Inside she was just wanting to sink through the floor. Once they'd turned back around and Mr.Swann had begun taking attendance, Jill looked to her right and noticed that the boy sitting beside her was defacing the desk with ballpoint pen. She sighed and looked to the front, trying to ignore him.

"I'm sorry, am I annoying you?" he asked, as if having read her mind.

Jill glanced back at him and frowned. "And why would you think that?" she muttered sarcastically.

The boy grinned, "It's great to see the new girl has a good, dry sense of humour. So, Valentine, where are you originally from?"

Inclined to answer his question for some reason, Jill replied, "Las Vegas."

"Great, I went there last summer with my folks," the boy commented, though Jill didn't really care that much.

"That's good to know," she answered, wondering why she was being such an asswipe when this was her first day and she had told herself she would try to make a good impression.

"I know it is," he grinned back at her. He was quite attractive, really. Maybe not as attractive as Albert or Joseph, but he still wasn't half bad. He had dark, slicked back hair and hazel coloured eyes. "So, I guess you want to know my name then, huh?"

"Not really," Jill answered mildly, and he laughed.

"Coen, are you talking back there?" Mr.Swann interrupted from the front of the class.

"No sir," 'Coen' replied, giving a quick salute to the teacher, who rolled his eyes before continuing with his boring old lecture.

There was a moment of silence. Then, "I'm Billy," the boy said, taking her hand and shaking it vigourously, "Nice to meet you, Valentine."

"Likewise, Coen," Jill replied, and then she grinned. He grinned back.

It was then that she knew that things weren't going to be so bad afterall.

-

First period was a real bore. Of course, Jill had never considered the subject of Math to be exciting. Besides that, the students in her class kept on staring at her. Eventually though it ended, and she was finally able to get out and escape.. for atleast five minutes, before heading off to her next period, which was History. Well, atleast it wasn't as bad as Math. On her way there she was greeted by both Joseph and Billy in the corridor. She waved to both of them and couldn't help but feel proud of herself for already having made two friends in one hour. She eventually found her locker having been given the combination by Mr.Swann during homeroom. She'd just managed to open it when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Excuse me?" a female voice asked from behind her, "Are you Jill Valentine?"

Jill turned and nodded, "Yeah, that's me," she replied.

The girl beamed, "Oh, so you're new here, right? Well, I'm the one to give you the grand tour, then!"

Silence. Jill just blinked at her.

"The.. what?" she said, feeling confused.

"The grand tour of this place," the girl explained, "You've got to know all about where you are, don't you?"

"I guess so, but.."

"Then say no more! I'll show you around at lunch, okay? Just meet me back here then. Oh, and I'm Claire Redfield, just so you know."

Before Jill even had a chance to object, Claire had scampered off in the other direction. Though she appreciated what the girl was trying to do, Jill couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as she hurried off. Ooookay, she thought to herself, watching as Claire stopped and hurried over to a guy standing nearby. Jill watched her give him a quick hug and go on her way again. The guy then looked up and actually looked directly at Jill, who immidiately turned back to her locker in an attempt to look busy.

This is going to be a very long day.