Ian's POV:

I arrived at lunch when everyone had already sat down in their usual groups, and had to bite my tongue to stop from swearing. I'd had a plan to somehow manoeuvre my way into the jock table and hope for the best, but there seemed to be no seats there. Sighing, I decided to simply man up and go. At this rate, I wouldn't make a single friend – I couldn't allow that to happen.

However, luck seemed to be on my side, because as soon as I started walking towards the centre of the lunch hall, two girls came up to me. Both blonds, with bright red lipstick and gum in their mouths that they were chewing loudly. The colour of the lipstick reminded me of Althea, and I had to stop myself from wishing her to be the one approaching me.

"Hi! You're the new kid right?"

"Yup, name's Ian. And yours, pretty ladies?" As always, the comment didn't settle well in my throat, and I had to force it out through a clenched jaw. Luckily neither of them noticed, simply giggling. It made me wonder if they were pretending too, simply acting this way because it was how society deemed blond girls with pretty faces should act. The thought made me sick. It would be so stupid, if all of us were pretending for each other's sake, but none of us ended up truly doing what we wanted to do.

"Well I'm Jenifer, and this is Leah. Nice to meet you." They seemed nice enough, so I shook both their hands, and then followed them once they offered me a seat at their table. It was right next to the jock table, so at least I'd be close enough.

"So, what is there to do for fun in Wrickenridge?" A voice in the back of my mind told me this question was pointless, because I already knew the ins and outs of this town thanks to my cousins. But I was running out of conversation topics, and this one always seemed to work like a charm. About five girls opened their mouths to answer, but were cut off by someone behind me.

"Oh look, you already got yourself a fanclub Ian?" Turning around quickly at the sound of that familiar voice, I found myself staring straight at Althea, who had her hip cocked to the side and an eyebrow raised, a smug expression on her features.

"Do you really have nothing better to do than make fun of my choice of friends?"

"Do you really have nothing better to do than spend time with these air head bimbos?" At her comment I expected to hear huffs of indignation from behind me – perhaps for someone to speak up in defence of themselves. Instead there was just a dead silence, making her words echo around our heads. And the reverberated within me, because she was right. I wasn't enjoying spending time with these girls who always said the same things in the same tone of voice. Althea was exciting, refreshing, but I couldn't spend time with her.

"Just get out." I sighed, rubbing my forehead tiredly. I didn't like how close she'd hit to home. However, she didn't let my tone deter her, simply turning to walk away. Just before she did though, she looked back at me, giving me a perfect view of her sparkling eyes.

"We both know that's not what you want to say." And with that and a wink, she walked away, leaving a table of flabbergasted teenagers that were staring at me in shock.

"Oh my god, how could you talk to her like that?"

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion, not understand why they looked so absolutely shocked. I understood that around here Althea wasn't the most popular person, but I wouldn't expect that talking to her would be that weird.

"She's so scary!" The girl who said this was the one I recognised as Leah, who was watching me with big puppy dog eyes. Her long eyelashes batted a couple of times, accentuating how blue they were. But as I looked on at the display of obvious flirting, I couldn't help but think that I liked a different pair of eyes a lot better. Ones that weren't so bright and blue, but rather hazel, with hints of all the colours swimming within.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you." I had to stop myself from shivering as I put an arm around her shoulders. Everything about this screamed wrong, yet I didn't move, only allowing myself a couple seconds to recover. 1 I was Ian. 2 I was strong. 3 This was the only way to act. 4 I'd find happiness this way. And when I opened my eyes I was back to normal, a smirk on my lips and a flirtatious glint in my eyes. I simply hoped that no one had seen the moment of weakness.

Leah's POV

As Ian put his hand around me, smirking confidently in that way that had made me fall in love already, I shot a look at all the girls on the table. They knew what that meant.

He's mine. I commanded in their minds, and all they could do was slowly nod, taking in the scene before them with wide eyes. I knew he liked me, I could see it. Now all I needed to do was get rid of that pesky Althea and I'd have him.

"So, you asked what there is to do in Wrikenridge?" I asked, trying to keep his attention on me. Although it seemed to have the opposite effect, as he coughed awkwardly and removed his arm from around me. Maybe my competition was stronger than I thought.

"Yeah, any fun ideas?" With this he shot everyone on the table a wink, but they all simply glanced away, my warning in their mind still ringing clear. I'd have to make sure they remembered that. I had my eye on him, and no one said no to me.

"Well we could always go out to coffee, there's a nice little shop just near here!" Exclaiming this as enthusiastically as I could, I latched onto his arm, explaining all about how much fun we could have. I didn't miss his grimace at my action though, and I had to hide my own scowl in response. He would be mine, even if he didn't want to yet.

He would want me. He just didn't know it yet.

"Well anyway I'm going to start going to lesson, but it was lovely meeting you Ian." I said this with a cheery grin on my face, the one that had men falling over to talk to me. But it had no effect on Ian, making me growl under my breath angrily. Signalling to my girls to go, I marched out of the lunch hall, confidence in my stride. No one had ever said no to me before. He would pay for this. And he'd end up grovelling in the dirt for my attention. "Right girls, we need a plan of action."

"Leah," spoke up Jenny with a small voice. "Maybe it'd be a good idea to just keep him as our friend. He seemed really comfortable until you started flirting." I was already shaking my head at her idea. With a tsk of the tongue I walked up to her, heels clicking against the floor.

"He started getting uncomfortable when that crazy chic came up to us. Don't you get it Jenny?" My voice took on a hard quality that had her swallowing hard in fear. Sizing up to my full height, which was 5'9" in heels, I glared her down. "He is mine."

Hi :)

So, the plot has finally been introduced, and I hope you don't hate Leah too much xD I don't intend for her only role in the story to be 'being the bad guy', don't worry. Although she is gonna be pretty damn insane, if you couldn't tell already ;)

Oh my god your reviews were absolutely great, thanks so much :) Tell me what you think of this chapter, and just how much you hate me for introducing competition for Althea ;)

Bye bye :)