Author's note: Yes, here I am again. Really, you guys have to start reviewing more! I'm all the way up to chapter 10 now, and the story is running away with me! I want to see what you think. But not until then. A familiar name comes up in the next chapter, as well as a face that we all know (and wish we didn't.) Want to hear more? Then REVIEW!

Disclaimer: We've been through this. I own Sara, Lyra, Jezzelle, and the teachers. For this chapter, that's it. However, there is no one in this chapter that anyone else owns either, So HA!

Everyone was talking about the new girl. Rumors had been flying for weeks, and now they tripled in size and number. There was a group of older girls in Calculus with her that swore she was a criminal mastermind who had come here to hide from the millions of people who wanted revenge for the lives she had taken. Some awestruck English students decided that she was a beautiful princess that was going to be killed by a rival power. I, personally, had no idea who she was or where she came from. So, I decided to ask her.

I had to wait until after school left out, and I found her coming, fuming out of the music room. I stepped out to intercept her and her head whipped up angrily. I stepped back. We stood, examining each other for about a minute before she said, "What do you want?"

"I'm Sara Cortez, from Spain. I was the new kid last month. I just thought that you might need to talk to someone. I still don't have many friends. These French do not welcome strangers very easily."

"Oh!" she exclaimed, relaxing, "!Hola Sara! Forgive me for attacking you like that, my last lesson didn't go very well."

"You mean, you don't like the teacher. That's okay, no one does."

We walked together down the hall. I kept throwing her glances out of the corner of my eye, unable to stop myself. She noticed, and turned to me.

"So, what are the rumors about me? I assure you, I am not a cannibal or anything like that."

"Don't give anyone any ideas. The rumors are too many to tell you. I'm just curious about the truth."

"Good for you! Most people are too pleased with rumors to even consider searching for the truth. But, in this case, the truth is pretty boring. I wear a mask because I was born deformed. I was raised by my father for the past six years, until a friend of the family convinced him that it would be good for me to go out and get an advanced education. I've been pretty sheltered, and I'm not really sure what to do here. What about you?"

"Oh, I'm not very interesting," I said. "I am the daughter of a rich Don by a woman who is married to another man. My father wants nothing to do with me, and neither does my mother, so I've been sent here. My half- brothers call me the opera girl, because it's almost as if I could be cut out of one. An opera, that is."

"That's more interesting than I am!"

"No, it's really tedious after a while. Do you have plans for lunch? You can eat with me if you want."

"Sure! So tell me about the music teacher...."

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Everyone was talking about the new girl. They said she was a genius, and I worried. I had been the best student here for as long as I could remember. There was no way that I could lose that now. So I waited for her to show up in the dining hall for dinner.

She showed up with that little Spanish girl, Cortez. I came over to their table and sat down.

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"Oh no!" Sara said. "It's Jezzelle. She's a real bully. She's extremely rich, and Madame's favorite."

Jezzelle sat down. "So," she drawled, "You are the new girl? Angen, isn't it? From Paris? How odd, I don't remember anyone of that name there."

"We aren't a well known family."

"Oh, that's too bad. Is it true that you are in Calculus? Amazing, for someone so young. You must be a little genius. I heard that you didn't do as well in music, though. That's true isn't it? Something about scaring off the guest? A pity. Perhaps if you took off that mask."

Her hand darted out, but I caught it before it could reach my face, and squeezed. She lost her smug little grin and replaced it with a gasp of pain.

"Mlle, no one touches my mask unless they want to lose the use of their hand."

She whimpered.

"I advise you not to try again." I released her hand with a flick of mine. She gathered it up to her and retreated to the other table. I suddenly realized that the entire room had fixed its collective attention on my table. I turned to Sara. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to lose my temper. Sometimes it just happens."

"Don't apologize! I hate Jezzelle. She calls me names that I will not repeat. But, she's definitely against you now, and she rules half of the school. Come on, I'll introduce you to my friends."

P.S. Sorry this one is so short. It's really just setting the stage for bigger and better things.

Angelofnight, I'm pretty DARNED honored that you would want to turn this into anything.

Thank you Dayanara for such a wonderful compliment. It's really what I needed to hear. If you hadn't reviewed, I might just have given up.

Lady Death, and Redkiss, I've thanked you before, but never by name. Allow me to fix that. Thank you for reviewing.

'Till next time!