Louisa

The sun peeked through Louisa's window and the open balcony door let the breeze leave a chill in the room. As the alarm beside the bed changed to seven am the song Wasted Time by Keith Urban hit her ears. Louisa pulled the blankets over her face to try and protect herself from the morning.

Tap Tap – Tap Tap

"Louisa doll, Louisa," her mother's voice sounded far away. "Shut your alarm off and get ready, I have to take you to school early so you have time to get settled and I need to get to your aunts."

Lou's arm snaked its way from under the covers and hit the snooze button. Sitting up she stretched her arms and pushed her hair away from her face.

"I'm up," she told her mom. "When will my bike get here?'

"Tomorrow doll, now get ready," her mother said before shutting the door and heading back downstairs to make breakfast.

Louisa slipped out from beneath the covers and headed towards her private bathroom. She took a quick shower before brushing her teeth and blow drying her hair. She used her hair towel to wipe away the condensation from her mirror. The fan above her hummed as she split her hair and made two braids on top of her head. Walking into the main bedroom she opened the felt curtain to her walk in closet. Louisa tossed her pajamas into her laundry basket and found her favourite off the shoulder black top and printed shorts.

"Louisa! You need to get down here," Grace called up from the kitchen.

Louisa walked up close to her wall length mirror.

"Okay Lou, today is a new day. You can either royally fuck this up or make some friends. Let's hope it's the ladder," Lou said to herself, her nerves calming slightly.

Descending the steps to her new home felt oddly reassuring. Lou ate her breakfast quickly before slipping on her shoes and grabbing her bag. Her mother met her at the car and tried to make conversation all the way to school. The parking lot and building looked empty besides three other cars.

"I know this isn't ideal doll, I do hope you can make this work," Grace said, the nervousness showed on her face.

"I got this mom, I honestly just want to lay low; make a few friends and keep it quiet," Lou told her.

She quickly kissed her mom's cheek before getting out. Louisa watched as her mom pulled away and out of her line of sight. Walking into the school she wanders until she finds the front office.

"Excuse me, I'm Louisa Lucan," she said walking up to the desk.

The miserable looking woman tilted her head up to look Lou in the eyes. Turning to face her computer the office women typed in the name. Nodding her head a few times and clicking the mouse, she printed three sheets of paper off.

"Welcome Miss. Lucan. The first paper is your locker number, student number and pervious class credits you have already received. The second is this semester's timetable. The third is for you to sign; it says that you give us permission to have you in the yearbook and social media pages for the school. It also is for letting you go on school field trips and play on sport teams," she explained. "My name is Ms. Stewart."

Borrowing a pen Louisa signed the third paper and handed it back.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

Exiting the office Lou saw down the hall a lady with brown hair speaking into her phone. By passing her she went in search of her new locker.

323, 324, 325…326

The door had a horror movie sound to it as she opened it up. Lou carefully set up her locker divider. She placed her books on the top shelf and her pencil cases on the bottom. Lou hung her bag up in the middle section.

"Uh, hello," a tentative voice called from her left. "Do you have time to talk, my name's Piper Shaw. I'm here doing a story for my podcast. Did you know Nina?"

Piper Shaw came into Louisa's vision. The brunette girl stood a good foot taller than Lou. A sweet smile graced her lips as Louisa took her in.

"Hey, are you alright," Piper asked, she placed a hand on the blonde teen's shoulder.

Pulling back from her touch Lou finally answered. "Sorry, I have no comment. I just moved here myself so I don't know what is going on," Louisa spoke, trying to make the girl not interested in her anymore.

"You haven't been keeping up with the news? The poor girl who was killed at her own home is being talked about everywhere, I feel bad for the mom," pier paused. Her smile returning, "Nice meeting you-?"

"Lou,"

"Nice meeting you Lou, maybe when you catch up on this schools drama we can chat again," Piper suggested before turning and walking back the way she came.

Before disappearing out of sight again Piper turned back to give a little wave.

Deep Breath Lou.

You're okay.

The hallway bell rang signaling first class. Gathering her things Louisa headed towards her English class with Mr. Branson.