A loud ringing sound split through the silent still air in the bedroom of the Tamaranean princess.
Sitting bolt upright she gasped with surprise. Stretching out she snuffled back along her bed and jabbed at the buttons on her alarm until it shut off. Yawning she checked the time and climbed out of bed and threw back the long curtains of her bedroom window closing her eyes and taking a deep breath as the morning sun caressed her gentle skin. It was such a beautiful day, the perfect day in fact for the start of school. The start of her new life.
"I must get ready" she whispered to herself heading across the short landing and pushing back the door to the bathroom.
It took her several minutes to figure out how to turn the shower. With one final twist of the knob warm water sprayed out of the shower head spraying her in the face. Spluttering she staggered back wiping the water from her eyes half giggling at her mistake as she began to strip the remains of her skimpy costume and tossed them to the floor.
Stepping into the shower she let the water spill over her skin, it felt much different here much harder than the water back on Tamaran and it didn't have that certain smell of nature as that of the palace.
Fifteen minutes later she was showered, exiting the room wrapped in a white fluffy bath towel she headed down the stairs, her hair bobbing on top of her head wrapped in its smaller matching hand towel to dry.
Scanning the bags of clothing still lying on the sofa she picked up the first one dumping its contents onto the floor. She had bought rather a lot of stuff but thankfully it hadn't used even a quarter of the money she had left. She silently thanked Galfore for being so knowledgeable before picking up a small pair of blue wash denim shorts and a pink t-shirt with a star design on the front. Pulling on her underwear she covered herself quickly with the clothes as though in fear that someone might be watching her dress. Lifting a pair of socks she slipped them on over her heel and laced up a pair of pink running shoes over them as she pulled the towel from her hair letting it fall down her back loosely.
Sighing happily she went over to the table, lifting the brush she pulled it through her long damp locks looking over her armour and crown.
Setting her brush back down she swung her hair back over her shoulder letting it hang full length down her back as she moved into the kitchen pulling open the cupboard doors choosing something for breakfast.
After eating the alien girl picked up a few dollars and her communicator, shoving them into her bag along with the notebooks, pens and chips she bought at the grocery store last night she swung it over her shoulder heading out of the door.
As excited as she was, Starfire still felt nervous. What would the other student's make of her, was she dressed right? What happens if she couldn't find Kole or Karen? Thoughts were rushing through her mind as she locked her door and floated into the morning sunlit sky high above the tops of the buildings heading for school.
It took longer than expected as Starfire scanned the area around the school building for a place to land without being seen. Sighing with annoyance she flew over the top of the school and landed in the trees a way behind so she wasn't noticed. Pulling out her communicator she checked the time. If she didn't run she would probably end up late and being late on the first day would certainly not be a good idea.
Taking off into a run she rushed through the trees jumping over a few fallen logs and continued on her path around the back of the school.
She skidded to a halt mentally kicking herself, the back of the school did not have an exit into the small forest. Well that made sense so student's couldn't sneak off into the trees during classes or end up getting attacked by other people and student's with a grudge.
Turning on her heels she began running faster round the whole outside the building, frantically checking the time every few seconds as though expecting it to pass much quicker because she was in a hurry.
Gasping for air she stopped outside the front gates, leaning on part of the frames she watched some of the other people walking through the gates. They were all so different. Some were tall and skinny wearing very little clothing, some were small with frizzy unkempt hair and glasses, others were podgy some were muscled and loud.
Gathering herself she straightened up her hair and walked through the gates with her head held high.
The building itself was around four stories high, with large stone steps leading up to the entrance of the building, hundreds of windows all in rows of each floor gave Starfire a small glimpse into the classrooms. She watched students laughing together and talking, on the grassy areas to the left she watched a group of boys kicking a ball around. They were enormous, one of them covered in a grey tracksuit with the hood up over his head wearing thick dark gloves which seemed strange for this time of year.
Shrugging, Starfire headed inside as other student's pushed past her some of them in a rush to get to class on time.
Pulling out her map she scanned it over and began walking down the long hallway reading the number plaques above the doors on her way.
She turned the corner and pushed open two double doors through to the stairs and out the other side into the next hallway. Stopping at the bottom end she double checked the plaque reading room 104.
Taking a deep breath she pushed open the door and stumbled into class staring blankly across the filled classroom of eyes staring at her.
"Oh you must be our new student" the teacher said sounding slightly surprised. She was a young woman in her mid-twenties with long straight brown hair and brown eyes. She wore a straight black and purple dress and sensible flat black shoes.
"Class this is our new student, come on then dear, introduce yourself" the kind woman spoke gently as Starfire approached warily.
"My name is Mrs Rita Dayton it's a pleasure to meet you" she smiled as Starfire stood next to her fidgeting around with her fingers.
"Greetings, my name is Koriand'r but in your language it would be Starfire" she began to feel like she was repeating herself now. "I have just moved here from far away and I wish to be a part of your school" she smiled nervously looking around the room at the different facial expressions.
"Show us your boobs!" a young boy sitting on the back row with green hair and green skin shouted at her. Quite a few of the students started giggling and turning back to look at him as he said with a cocky expression on his unusual face.
"GARFIELD!" the teacher snarled resting her hands on her curvaceous hips her eyebrows set down in a frown as the boy dropped his head and began snickering away to himself.
"It is ok, he means none of the harm" Starfire mumbled looking down at her feet.
"Ok well take a seat, there's a space for you over in the back right hand corner and we'd better get this lesson under way"
Without a word Starfire shuffled over to her seat refusing to make eye contact with any of the students. Placing her bag on the floor she sat down nervously looking around her as the teacher began writing on the white board at the front of the classroom.
"Hey, psst new girl" a voice called to the right.
"Yes?" Starfire replied looking into the face of a pretty blue eyed girl with bright blonde shoulder length hair and too much makeup. She wore a pink head band and a short purple skirt with pink heels and a purple boob tube. Her arms were laiden with sparkling jewel bracelets with matching jewels dangling from her slender pale neck.
"Where did you transfer from?" the girl asked looking Starfire up and down a smug smirk on her face.
"I have actually never been to school before" Starfire whispered back watching the girls smirk widen.
"Cool so where did you get your top from, its sooo pretty" she smiled fluttering her long eyelashes.
"A brightly coloured store in the mall of shopping, I bought it yesterday" Starfire grinned happily accepting the compliment.
"Nice. I'm Kitten by the way, perhaps I can show you around sometime if I'm not too busy of course" the girl mused turning her attention back to the board the same smug look hanging across her face. Starfire thought the expression rather spoiled the girls features it made her seem rude, but then perhaps it was something normal for this planet.
The bell rang for the end of class after double English, I was time for a break before the next class started in half an hour.
Placing her book back in her bag, Starfire got to her feet and walked from the room alone watching Kitten immediately join up outside the classroom with two other pretty girls, one with long pink hair a few shade's lighter than that of Kole's only it was several inches longer down to the middle of her back and cat like pink eyes. Her skin was pale and she dressed in a short black dress with purple and black tights, platform shiny black and purple boots and enough makeup to almost top kitten. She had expression much like kitten's only she was much more pouty, it was true she was very pretty but Starfire could tell she had an attitude to match. The other girl was Japanese girl with wavy long black hair and dark eyes, she was incredibly pretty and wore extremely tight clothing including some tight blue jeans and a tight green crop top, the enormous smile on her face could have been described as the smile of a Cheshire cat.
Starfire headed off down the hallway behind them, turning out of the glass doors she looked across the large field where student's were lounging or running around after each other. Making her way across the paved area she walked up the steps and towards the trees for some shade, although unaffected by the sun's rays Starfire felt the urge to get out of the heat and sit somewhere quieter to adjust to her new surroundings.
"Hey you, heads up!" a deep voice called across to Starfire as she turned her head she was sent crashing to the ground by a hard ball colliding with the side of her head.
She hit the ground hard crying out as she fell, a group of studen't burst out laughing as she scrambled to her feet dazed.
"I thought I told you heads up, what are you? Deaf?" the deep voice growled again as a huge bulk of a student came marching up to her his swelling biceps making him seem like a powerful animal.
"I am umm sorry?" Starfire squeaked nervously as the student picked up his ball.
"Hey Baran, just leave her man let's get back to the game" called the boy dressed heavily covered in a tracksuit.
"See you later kid, and next time stay off the pitch" he growled and began to hurtle off with his ball into a crowd of other male student's.
Sighing Starfire hurried into the trees and sat down beside the long high metal fence.
"Perhaps I do not belong here after all…." She sighed resting her head in her hands.
"And why would you think that?" a gravelly female voice sounded beside her. A black swoosh and a girl dressed in a dark blue t-shirt and baggy jeans with chains from them appeared. Her hair was cut into an angled purple bob, a gemstone rested between her enormous mauve eyes lined heavily with black makeup. She was a very delicate looking girl, very gentle with such pale grey skin.
"I have just moved here and already I do not fit in" Starfire sighed loudly looking down at the grassy floor.
"It gets easier trust me. I've been at school with most of these people for years and I still don't fit in" the purple haired girl responded in a monotone voice.
"I was almost late this morning and then when I went into my new class I introduced myself and this strange green boy shouted 'show us your boobs' and everybody laughed at me, then a pretty girl named Kitten started talking to me in class and I come outside for my break and get knocked over by an angry man with a ball" Starfire wailed sadly looking into the face of the girl.
"You think that's bad, when I first came here a group of girls jumped and put a sack over my face so I couldn't see threw me into the toilets and started punching me. When I unleashed my power onto them they ran screaming and to this day they still call me a witch and a demon" the girl said a small smile appearing on her face.
"And it does not mean they do not like me?" Starfire asked hopefully.
"Not necessarily, they just don't know you. The girls at this school are like lions they hunt in packs and will feed off of anyone who appears to be alone or weak" she replied pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her thin arms around them.
"They're canibals?" Starfire gasped loudly attracting the attention of a group of passers by who exchanged odd glances before walking on.
"No I didn't mean it literally I meant that they are like lions, they don't actually eat each other they more like bully other people who are weaker than they are to make themselves seem better" she sighed mentally face palming herself.
"Oh. Please, what is your name?" Starfire asked raising one small eyebrow at the girl.
"Raven, Raven Roth" the girl replied a small smile on her face. "Don't tell me yours let me guess" she added quickly as Starfire opened her mouth to speak the girl began rubbing her temples closing her large eyes.
"Starfire" she replied making the alien princess almost double over in shock.
"I'm right aren't I?" she smirked enjoying the look of amazement she had set into the girls face.
"yes, but how did you do that?" Starfire asked shaking her head.
"I'm a psychic. I know everything" Raven shrugged making Starfire giggle slightly.
"Perhaps there is hope for me at this school after all" Starfire smiled warmly at the girl.
"Kori! Kori!" a voice called from behind her making the two girls turn around to stare at the pair of familiar faces running towards them.
"My friends! I am so pleased to see you!" Starfire squealed throwing her arms around them as they approached squeezing the air out of them.
"Were pleased to see you too, Kori but please let go!" they laughed catching their breath as the embarrassed alien girl let go of them.
"Hey Rae" Kole called waving at the goth girl standing behind Starfire.
"Hello" she replied in her usual tone of voice.
"So tell us, Kori. Who do you have in your home room, who's your teacher?" Karen asked excitedly as Raven moved to stand next to the girls.
"Oh my teacher is very nice her name is Mrs. Dayton and my class is quite large too I have been speaking to a blonde girl named Kitten" Starfire stopped as the expressions of the two girls in front of her changed, Raven's of course stayed the same.
"Kitten? You mean Kitten…. Walker?" Karen asked staring warily at Starfire as if she'd said some terrible insult.
"Umm yes?" Starfire responded nervously.
"Kori, she is part of a group of plastics they like rule the school" Karen replied quickly.
"Yeah she's the most popular girl in school, she's like the queen or something" Kole stated watching Raven and Karen nod in agreement.
"And her dad is the head honcho at some massive chain of pet stores" Raven added bluntly.
"Oooh she makes me so angry, last year at Junior High she stuck chewing gum in my hair it took me hours to get it out and I ended up having to cut a chunk of my hair out. I was the laughing stock for weeks" Kole said gesturing to the back of her head with Karen nodding in agreement.
"When I was out in the field playing hockey last week she hit me in the shins with her stick I fell over and got a nosebleed she then spat on me saying I was nothing but trash" Karen growled angrily rubbing her fist into the palm of her hand.
"She was one of the girls who attacked me in school, you know the one I told you about" Raven spoke flatly.
"She seemed uhh nice? To me" Starfire replied in confusion.
"Trust me she is anything but nice" Raven replied quickly.
The bell rang and the student's began to file into the classes.
"What do you have next, Kori?" Kole asked resting one hand on her hip as usual.
"I believe I have the gym" she replied wrinkling her nose.
"No way, you're in with us then!" Kole and Karen grinned with delight.
"Rae are you joining in this week?" Karen turned to Raven who was still standing with a blank expression on her face.
"I have to, Principal says if I miss one more lesson I'm going to get three months detention" Raven grumbled in annoyance.
"It's the endurance run as well, what fun we will have today" Karen laughed linking arms with Kole and Starfire who offered her arm out for Raven who hesitantly took it.
It didn't take them long to reach the back of the school where the enormous gymnasium was situated.
"Come on we have to go get changed. Star you're probably going to just have to wear the borrowed kit from the lost and found" Kole pointed towards the cupboard overflowing with old shorts and t-shirts.
"Ew they're so sweaty" Karen replied wrinkling her nose pushing the door to the changing rooms open as Starfire began grabbing some random clothes out of the cupboard.
"Thank you for waiting for me" Starfire smiled at Raven who was standing staring at her from behind.
"No trouble" Raven grumbled as they walked into the changing rooms together.
Starfire wasn't expecting it to be like this. The changing rooms were large and open with the girls sitting on benches all around the large room just changing in front of each other.
"Umm Raven, are there not an private cubicles?" Starfire asked quietly watching all the girls remove their clothing and replace it with their gym kits.
"No, not unless you go and stand in the freezing cold showers but even they are open" Raven replied moving over to a space next to Kole and Karen.
"Hurry up Kori, we have to get out on the track" Kole replied lacing up her shoes as Starfire began to shed her shorts and replace them with a longer baggy pair and a long baggy white t-shirt which smelled strongly of sweat.
"Oh that's gross" Karen pointed to the yellow sweat stains on the top.
"It must be one of the guy's" Kole nodded as the four of them left the changing rooms together.