Chapter 4

I survived first period, only to find out I had to skip part of lunch to talk with my teacher. Hopefully it would be about my classes and catch-me-ups. I wasn't ready to talk about my father or my brother to anyone else. And I certainly hoped I wouldn't have to see the school counselor. I searched the corridor for my locker. I had about maybe seven minutes until my next class for Grammar.

I finally found my locker with five minutes to spare. Opening the empty metal container I placed my unwanted books in. Suddenly, a large student banged me in the back. Dropping all my books and papers and watching them fly, I turned around to see a jock standing not so far away. He and a couple of his buddies smiled and chuckled standing there with their hands glued to a football. Great, now that I pissed off their super model I was to be humiliated. They left laughing and giving each other hand fives. It wouldn't surprise me if they were promised a touch of her Paradise Island.

Kneeling down to pick up my papers I watched as people stepped over or on the papers. Apparently I mocked the wrong person. Trying to grab my papers before they became foot mats, a hand reached for my math book and held it out to me.

I looked up to see a half smiling face with beautiful blue eyes. He was tall and had dark brown hair and was clean-shaven. He wore a dark violet plaid shirt and boot jeans. I had met some good-looking guys back in New York City, but this guy took the cake. He still smiled as I grabbed the book from him. He started to help collect the rest of my departed school supplies.

"I hope you don't take those guys too seriously. They're football players if you know what I mean." He said still with the half smile on his face. I stood up with my books in tow.

"Something tells me they're the welcoming party." I joked not expecting to get it, but he chuckled still. "Let me guess you're part of the basketball team or track."

"Why would you say that?" He asked straightening out his back.

"Where I come from every different sport team always tries to out do each other." I stated starting to put things back into my locker.

"So you think I'm trying to humiliate you more by helping you collect your things?' He asked with a little sarcasm.

"Never mind." I responded turning away form him. I did half expect him to shove me into the lockers and run off with his other guys. He didn't.

"My name is James. You must be Lillian Quaker given your smaller sense of this school."

"Smaller sense?" I asked turning back to him cocking my head.

"Well, if you weren't new, those guys wouldn't have done that because you'd be on the cheerleading team or something."

"Yeah, never happening. Sorry to disappoint you." I half smiled trying to picture myself in a short skirt and sweater like Miss Megan Fox. "You are right about my name though. I like to be called Lily instead, if you wouldn't mind."

"As in Lily of the Valley? Or as in a water lily?" He jeered with me. That time I almost laughed.

"As in just Lily." I responded. I glanced at the clock behind him that hung over the gym doors. Thankfully this school had clocks everywhere you went. I had about three minutes to get to class.

"I have to go. I don't want to be late for my next class." I closed my locker and made indubitably sure it was locked. I knew what could go through these teenager minds.

"Well I hope you can find your classroom, unless you want me to show you the way?" He asked politely smiling again.

"No I think I can find it on my own. Thanks for asking though." I replied staring at those clear blue eyes. I tore myself away from him and headed for my next class. I didn't see him still standing at my locker as I turned the corner for my classroom.

I was a little relieved that there was at least two people here I didn't have to worry about tantalizing me throughout the rest of my school days. His eyes still struck me funny though. There was something about them that was hypnotizing. They pulled you in and you almost felt light as a feather. I've found out through the years though that I don't get goose eyed by boys than most girls. Many of my schoolmates in New York would go all paparazzi like whenever one of the football players roamed the halls or the cute geek with glasses walked by. They would hang around them forever to get noticed or to get a date with cutie boy. I had to admit this James was… handsome. It wasn't until I was outside my classroom door that I realized I never got his last name. Damn!

The classroom was filled with once again chattering people of groups. None of them stopped talking once I walked in, but went down into a whisper. Seeing the teacher sitting at his desk I walked up to him to hand in my next slip. He nodded and pointed to the back of the room. I saw an empty two-seat desk near the windows. I sighed in relief that I was away from the groups of people again. I sat closest to the window almost hugging the wall. Mr. Henry Robertson started his lesson on verbs and their uses. Again something I had already learned. At least for the beginning of the year I would feel smart.

Unexpectedly a boy sat next to me. He shifted his weight as he situated himself into his seat. He had dark blonde hair and light eyes that I could see. A denim jacket was over a plain white t-shirt and he wore dark blue jeans. It didn't seem he noticed me sitting there in the corner trying to hide from this high school world. He had seen me though.

Not taking his eyesight from the teacher he spoke in a soft voice, "The name is Derek. What's yours?"

I sat there with surprise. I glanced a couple a times to his none moving face.

"Lily." I simply said trying not to be heard by the teacher. He didn't look quite happy today. I thought best just to blame myself for that seeming everything else was.

"Lily." He repeated slowly. Had he never heard of it before?

"It's a flower name if I confused you." I retorted. He never responded. I almost stared at him in disbelief. He started up a conversation then just didn't respond. I was beginning to get pissed at these people. New Yorkers at least told you if they didn't like you. It may be harsh and rude, but at least you knew.

I spent the rest of class sitting away from him. I kept my eyes at the front of the room and ignored this 'Derek'. And once again I didn't get a last name. Really people, really?

After Grammar, I had gym then lunch. Gym was a bit annoying given they were playing basketball today. I was a good player and all, but they didn't think so. I was either on the bench or off to the side. The coach didn't seem to mind if I was being treated like a leper. Instead he paid extra attention to his basketball boys. At least the teachers weren't much different from the ones I've known.

After a grueling hour of gym I left to find the lunchroom with remorse. The place wasn't packed, but I could feel the stares I was getting. Seriously, were there that few of people here they knew everybody and nobody? And couldn't I stop getting these stares. I was beginning to think I had something on me like a boa constrictor.

I still felt some of their stares on my back as I grabbed for some salad and fruits I could munch on. I saw then the only table free of people and sat down. I glanced around at the room and saw everybody I didn't want to see.

Miss Megan Mullen and her girls sat at a round table near one of the windows. The football players were only one table away, the basketball players one table away, and along with the track boys. You could tell who they were from their shorts and stockings. I saw the geeks doing homework at their table and the preppie girls sitting around a table gossiping about anything. I almost was beginning to get used to this life.

Still chewing on my salad a familiar face came over to my lonesome little island. It was Amelia. She sat down next to me with nothing in hand. I stared at her as I finished my last bite of lettuce.

"Hi." She said with a smile on her face.

"Hi." I replied not sure how else to respond. She did.

"I hear today hasn't been the best for you." Her voice had a lighter tough to it now that she wasn't whispering.

"How could you guess?' I asked sarcastically with a fake smile.

"Heard about the football players and about your gym debut. They're usually quite inviting to people that are new here. The shiny new toy thing and all but… That boy with the dark brown hair in the green jersey?" She pointed to one of the boys at the football table. "That's Damon Hatchet. He moved here about a year ago and he almost made football captain this year."

"If you're trying to cheer me up, Amelia I'm going to let you know it's not working at the moment." I replied. She looked down at her hands. I didn't want her to feel bad, even though I felt worse.

I started the conversation up again. "Who did make football captain?" I asked taking a bite of my apple. She smiled brightly with a sly look and looked over her shoulder to one of the boys at the table.

"The one with blonde hair is Anders Hatchers he's the football captain. And the guy over the next table with black hair and the purple t-shirt is Nathan Jacobson. He's the basketball captain." She said it all with glee and a giggly mode. She should have been at the preppie girl table.

"Anybody else I should know about?" I asked. She spent the next ten minutes telling about everybody in the room. She skipped over the mean girls. I chewed on my apple the whole time while she talked. It was nice that someone wasn't acting as if I had a contagious cancer. Finally she came to the last track and field guy.

"And that would be Paul Eriks. He's basically the main guy for track and field. He's the fastest and highest jumper." She stared at him for a while, and then came back to me.

Then looking over to one of the doorways going outside, a group of people came through the doorway. There were two guys and two girls. They all walked in with priding stance to them. Maybe dignity? One of the boys was Derek with no last name. I was going to find out.

"Who are they?" I asked looking at the students with wonder.

"Oh, that's the Magix family." Suddenly her breath seemed to leave her system. She sighed staring at this little family. I glanced back and forth at her and them. I wouldn't blame her for sighing.

Apart from the dark blonde, tall Derek there was his brother who was taller and muscles that bulged through his tight shirt. He had dark brown hair cut short. He had the same blue eyes his brother had. The shorter girl had black hair that was past her shoulders with braids weaved in. The taller girl had blonde hair that was wavy and full of character. They both had pale skin and had the same blue eyes as their brothers. The two girls wore tight jeans and tank tops with sequins. Everything about them seemed perfect. Just about everything you would want to be or be with. All of them were slender and graceful looking, even the 'No Conversation' Derek. They looked like the perfect family.

"Who are they again?' I asked perplexed by these people.

Gaining her breath and voice back she spoke softly as they passed by in slow walk to Megan's table.

"The tall muscular guy is Liam. The other is Derek. Derek is a sophomore and Liam is a junior. The girl with blonde hair is Isabella. The other girl is Alexandra, though every one calls her Alexi. Both of them are juniors. They are the popularpeople here. And not just here in school."

"What do you mean they're the popular people here?" I asked in wonder watching them sit down at the table with Megan and the other girls. Liam and Megan suddenly began to kiss and cuddle while Derek sat in between Felicia and Darleen. The girls Alexi and Isabella sat with the football players with sweet smiles, which made the boys smile more.

"Meaning even though they moved here about four years ago, they are still number one here. I'm not sure why, they just are. More popular than Megan could ever be." I could tell from Amelia's face why they were so popular. I could tell from touchy Megan over the way.

That's when James with no last name came in. Suddenly I knew he was a Magix. He walked in with the same stance his brothers and sisters did. There was something about him as he walked by. I could also tell from Amelia's expression and the preppie girl table as they shut their mouths to stare.

"And that is James Magix, the youngest of the group. He's a sophomore as well." She partially giggled. Immediately I realized I was stronger with cute guys than I thought. I could almost swear she and the other girls drooled as he walked by. He smiled that half smile again with his blue eyes sparkling.

"I'm guessing he's the likeable one." I stated taking a bite from my apple again.

"Likeable? The guy hardly ever talks to the any of the girls here. He has not had a single date since they moved here."

"Seriously? He could take his pick from anybody, except full lips over there." I pointed to the kissing couple.

"Yeah it's really weird. It's like he's… gay or something." She whispered as he sat down next to his brother Derek. "Though I don't see what the fuss is about with him. He's not that cute and I'm not interested in him at all."

I looked at her with question. She looked at me and shook her head as she turned her head toward their table again.

"Wait you said he barely talks to any of the girls here? As in never talk or never talk in dating voice?' I tried to specify.

"As in the guy is always quiet, his brother talks for him. And if you're wondering, Liam, Isabella, and Alexi are triplets. Derek and James are twins. We were all confused on their ages when they first came here."

"They don't look it." I responded.

"Not all twins and triplets and quadruplets look the same you know. They moved here from the North. Their father is an architect and their mother is the lawyer here. Nicholas and Natalya Magix are their names. Their mother is believed to be Russian."

"Derek looks like a Russian a little bit." I remarked watching James sit off to the side from his brothers.

"That's what I always thought, too." Amelia remarked smiling widely. I gave her a half smile back.

I left lunch early to meet with Ms. Kirkley. As I left the lunchroom I looked back at this Magix family. When I looked over to their table James' blue eyes caught my hazel ones. Both our eyes locked for a moment. For a moment I felt I could see some kind of turmoil inside of him, some kind of… creature. Pulling away from it I left the room in wonder and perplexed.