Author's Note – Yay! The season finale of season 1 is aired a few days ago in Australia. Sorry for the long wait. You all know what's been going on with teh site so...Please keep the reviews flowing.:-):-)

Sarah – Thanks for your encouraging comment, although how many times do I have to say that my idea is not "stolen" or "copied" from "The Atwood Sister"? Ever since you guys told me about how it was similar, I made sure that I didn't read it in case I had similar ideas and then would be accused of stealing the idea. So, this is my final plea, for all you people who so smugly tell me that I can't come up with my own ideas. I DIDN'T READ IT, SO HOW ON EARTH CAN I COPY SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT UNTIL THE IDEA OF THIS HAS BEEN FORMED IN MY HEAD?

Thankyou for your time…lol

This is my super long chapter, read and review please!!!

Chapter 9

First Day

I woke up, once again, with the sun shining through my window. My eyes painfully adjusted themselves to the light in the room and I searched around through my suitcases for my watch. I really should unpack all my stuff. The room is looking quite plain and bare.

Great, it was 6:30am, that will give me plenty of time to create the perfect first day outfit. I quickly made my bed and began my hunt.

I took out all my clothes and inspected them. "What colours do I feel like today?" I asked myself. Pink and black. I took out my black ruffle miniskirt and put it on. Next, I found my black singlet top and slipped it on. I found my knee-high black socks and put that on with my Pink Converse's. I found a thin pink scarf in my suitcase so I brushed my hair, folded it to about a 5 cm thickness (2 inches) and then tied that around it like a headband. I added on some dangly pink earrings too. Perfect.

Now for my makeup. Do they wear makeup to school? I think that they would, they're all so, perfect looking. I applied some eyeliner and mascara as well as some bright pink eye shimmer and then I put on some lip-gloss. I wasn't really big on concealer or foundation. I mainly like eye makeup because my eyes were my favourite feature. They were a pretty blue colour and I think that mascara only makes them look better.

I left my room and sat down for breakfast. Ryan and Seth weren't awake; it was only Kirsten and Sandy.

"Good morning," I said cheerfully, I was really looking forward to going to school today.

"Good morning Chelsea. Did you sleep well?" asked Sandy.

"Yes, everything was fine."

I took a croissant, made myself some chocolate milk and sat down. Seth and Ryan entered the room.

"Hey sis."

"Hey, Good morning."

"Are you looking forward to school today?" Seth asked.

"Yes, very much so, but you guys have to help me get around you know. The principal gave Kirsten this schedule." I said and passed over the slip of paper.

"Oh cool, you're in all of Ryan's and mine's classes. I think they did it like that on purpose."

"Well, that's a relief. I couldn't stand not being able to go to different classrooms because I wouldn't know where they were."

"Just stick with us and our friends, you'll be fine." Said Ryan.

"So, are all your friends in your classes?" I asked smiling.

"Yes, all our friends are in our classes. Marissa, Summer, Anna and of course Clayton."

This shut me up. He was staring at me, half-smiling in suspicion.

"You're smiling again."

"No I'm not!" I replied in my defence.

"What do you guys mean!?" Seth asked again.

I just giggled and continued eating my croissant. This was going to be a very fun day.

I got up when I was done, put my dirty dishes into the dishwasher and took my package from the table to sort it all in my bag.

Once everything was packed and I had brushed my teeth and was ready to go, I took myself and my belongings into the living room and waited for Ryan and Seth.

After flicking through an endless amount of channels with nothing on except for re-runs of Jerry Springer, the guys finally walked into the living room.

"Are you guys ready yet?"

"Yeah, come on."

We left the room. There was no car so I wondered how we were getting to school.

"We're getting a lift from Marissa," said Ryan, obviously aware of my confusion on the whole getting-to-school situation.

We walked over to the next door neighbour's house and a tall, pretty woman entered the door.

"Oh, hello boys. You must be Chelsea, Ryan's sister."

"Uh, yeah. And you are?"

"I'm Marissa's mother, Mrs Cooper."

"Well, it's nice to meet you Mrs Cooper," I said smiling and shaking her hand. I guess people around here aren't all that snobby and mean.

Marissa came down the steps and greeted Ryan with a hug and a kiss.

"Hey Chelsea, how are you his morning?" she asked.

"Oh, so I'm just invisible now am I? We've lived next door to each other for 16 years Marissa, don't you think I deserve more courtesy? Remember that time when we were 10 and I gave you my ice-cream because yours melted, huh. You said that you owed me one. I still haven't been repaid." He turned his head in feigning hurt as Marissa and I laughed at him and Ryan shook his head.

"I'm fine thankyou Marissa."

We entered her car and I got backseat with Seth.

"I need to play some Jenga or something. I'm feeling very fidgety." Said Seth.

"You're always fidgety Seth."

"True, but-"

"You play Jenga? I play Jenga. I thought that I was the only one who played Jenga because I could never find anyone to play Jenga with."

"I hear you Jenga sister. Oh the pain of being a single Jenga player." He sighed and looked to the ground.

"But you know," he said, bringing his head up, " We have another Jenga sister, Anna plays Jenga too. We can have like a Jenga tournament, or like start a Jenga convention."

"Please don't" said Ryan.

After our discussion about Jenga we arrived at school. I took a deep breath and sighed as I crawled out of the car.

"Here I go," I whispered to myself.

"You'll be fine Chelsea, and if anyone gives you a hard time, you can always tell me and they'll wish they had never been born."

I gave a weak smile and turned towards the school. It looked smaller today, probably because of the ant-like students roaming all over the school grounds.

"Umm, Kirsten said that I had to report to the Headmistress as soon as I got here. She said that she would take me to my first class. I think that is a pretty stupid idea though, it would be much easier just to lurk into the class without anyone noticing rather than stopping the class just to let me in. Anyways, an you take me to the office?"

They dropped me off and said goodbye as I entered the cool, air-conditioned room.

"Hi, I'm here to see the headmistress. It is my first day."

"Wait over there," the receptionist said pointing to a chair in the corner "she will be with you shortly."

I sat down and heard the bell ring and the rush of students heading of to their first period classes.

Within a few moments the headmistress greeted me.

"Good morning Chelsea, I just wanted to personally give you your school diary, for homework. It contains many useful things also, like the school song, history on the school, the school rules etcetera, etcetera. I also wanted to personally deliver you to your first class. Can you hand me your schedule?" she took the slip of paper out of my hands and read it thoroughly.

"Ahh, yes. I see that you have English with Mrs Greenwood first period. Come along, we're going to Room 12."

I willingly obliged but all the while in my heart I was dreading that first meeting. That once over, and if I didn't fit in or if they didn't like me then I would be shunned for the rest of my schooling life until at some point I acquire a fantastic career and come back for my 10 year reunion with all those mean people wishing that they had been nicer to me.

But really, why did I want their approval if they didn't like me? Wait, who said that they wouldn't like me? So what, I was mainly a pretty introverted person but I'm sure somebody would like me…maybe…

We reached the classroom and the headmistress politely knocked on the sturdy oak door. It's funny how professional people always knock politely. They hardly ever add in a little rhythm to it. Jazz, Blues, or watered-down rock door knocks. I smiled at this strange thought of placing genres to door knocks when finally an elderly woman about 65 years old opened the door to reveal an immaculately clean classroom.

There was no gum anywhere! Wow. After being in the public school system my entire life this was quite a shock. The tables and chairs were set up like they were all the inhabitants of some English private boarding school common room.

"Good morning class. We have a new student at Harbor. Her name is Chelsea Atwood and here she is."

"I got dragged into the classroom where I felt the entire class's eyes on me. A few looking up and down, a few nodding in approval and a few giving dismissing shakes. I looked at Marissa, Ryan, Seth, Summer, Anna and Clayton and they looked like the most welcoming people in the classroom.

Although Clayton kind of looked down when I looked towards him, he still seemed friendly enough. I saw that they had saved a seat for me at their table. Right in between Clayton and Ryan. I laughed internally and realised that Ryan had done this purposefully.

"Well, Miss Atwood, are you Ryan's sister?"

"Umm, yes ma'am."

"Would you like to tell the class about yourself?"

I walked over to the front of the class confidently and stared into everybody's eyes.

"Well, Mrs Greenwood, as you probably know I came to Newport from Chino just a few days ago."

"Ok, so how old are you Chelsea? Tell us a bit about yourself."

I groaned internally. I did not want to share with the class my private interests and hobbies. I'll just have to make it as brief as possible.

"Well, I'm 15 years old and I'm really into music, of all kinds."

When I said that I noticed that Clayton perked up a little bit. Maybe he was a musician too. Oooh, that's a good way to get a date….Ok, I know, I'm dreaming, but I can dream can't I? I mean such a good-looking guy like him probably has swarms of girls swooning over him.

"Do you play any instruments?"

"Ahh, yeah. I play piano, guitar and a little bass. I sing also."

"Would you like to perform something for us?"

"Umm, perhaps another time" I said doubtfully.

"You can take a seat now Chelsea. Thankyou very much for coming up here and sharing that with us. Perhaps you could sit next to Jemima, there is an empty spot next to her.

I looked at the girl who was supposedly Jemima. She seemed friendly enough, at least she smiled. Luckily Marissa saved me.

"Mrs Greenwood, excuse me Mrs Greenwood," Marissa flailed an arm around a bit to get the teacher's attention.

"We saved a spot for Chelsea right here."

"Oh, then perhaps it would be better sitting with some familiar people, hey?"

I quietly thanked Jemima for letting me sit next to her for that brief period of time and walked over to the vacant space at the table across the room.

I sensed Clayton looking at me as I sat down and got my books out of my bag.

Mrs Greenwood had already started reading a passage from what I think was "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath.

"…The day I went into Physics class, it was death. A short dark man with a high, lisping voice, named Mr Manzi, stood in front of the class in a tight blue suit holding a little wooden ball. He put the ball on a steep, grooved…"

It was at this point that I realised that I didn't actually have a book. I had read "The Bell Jar" before but it felt odd being the only class without one in front of them.

Suddenly, sensing my need for a book in front of me, Clayton placed his book between us. I smiled a thankyou in return but he just turned his head back down to the text, but I could see, he was blushing!

A smile of satisfaction spread across my face as I sat there listening to various people in the class being chosen to read different pages.

The bell quickly broke the silence of the room and Clayton hurriedly started packing away his things. I started putting all my things away and walked out of the door.

I waited for the rest of them just outside the door. A few people said goodbye to me on the way out and I politely said goodbye too. I noticed that as Seth was coming out of the door a few people sniggered and made comments about him.

I was angered at this and my anger just kept building up until they asked if I was ready to go.

I looked back at one of the guys who sniggered. He was pretty good looking, but he was that pretty-boy type. I could sense how conceited he was. But, I guess, I shouldn't judge a book by its cover; I mean that is what people do to me all the time.

We found another table in the back corner of the History room and everybody just kind of started talking. I felt out of place in their conversation so I just sat back and observed everyone.

So far, I knew that Seth was also known as "emo kid", and in a bad way. Ryan, well, Ryan was kind of respected, or feared.

A middle aged man walked into the room and after a few attempts to get the class to shut up, finally succeeded at bringing the entire class's attention to him.

I guess he didn't realise I was there until I rose my hand to answer a question. He absent mindedly waved in my direction for me to answer.

"Well, sir, the entire-"

"Sorry, are you in the wrong class miss?" he asked.

The entire class erupted into laughter.

"Sir, I'm new to the school, it is my first day. You just didn't notice me."

"Ok, well, what is your name?" he asked, reaching for the class list of names, ready to add mine to it until the official one came in.

"Chelsea, Chelsea Atwood."

He gave Ryan and I a look.

"Yes, we're related." I answered and the class laughed again. I saw that Clayton started smiling. Good, very good.

The lesson ended 20 minutes later and thankfully, lunch was next.

The place was beautiful. We walked through the arcade kind of place where some people were playing Pac-Man and pool and other lounging about. I must have walked through the entire room with my mouth hanging open.

Clayton sniggered. I turned to him and he just smiled his lop-sided smile.

"You'll get used to it." He simply said and we all continued walking until we came outside and got a table.

"So, what do I do now?" I asked them all.

"Well, today they have sushi so lunch it pretty good today." Summer answered.

"Wow, you have sushi at school!" I said in disbelief.

"Ok, I'm getting shocked at everything, I'm just going to remain mild from now on. Nothing can shock me."

"Hey." Said Clayton, walking up from behind me, he went to get some bubblegum from the machine.

I shrieked and jumped from my seat.

Then I realised who it was and sat back down.

"Hey, I'm so sorry for scaring you like that Chelsea." He said earnestly.

Everybody had started laughing at me. Well, laughing with me because I was laughing too at that coincidence.

"I should be the one saying sorry, I knocked the bubblegum from your hand. I should get you a new one."

"It's fine, serious, I'll just get another one," said Clayton before he just started walking off again.

"How would you buy him a new one anyways Chelsea?" asked Ryan.

"I'd ask you." I smiled sweetly.

"So, are we going to get our food, I'm starved?" asked Anna.

We all got up except for Ryan.

"Aren't you coming?" I asked

"Yeah, in a second, I just need to tell Clayton something."

We all got in line at the back and waited for it to move.

"So, Chelsea, we were thinking, that we should do something for you, like something fun," said Summer.

"Yeah, somewhere fun, where we don't have to always be surrounded by all these boys," said Marissa

"Hey, I resent that" said Seth who was standing next to Summer.

"So, we were thinking, we should have a Golden Girls sleepover party!" said Anna.

"Yeah, it would all be at my house, so no one would be home, just us because my Dad is away on a never ending business trip, and I have the entire collection of Golden Girls DVD's!" said Summer.

"Oh, how I envy you. The entire collection!" said Anna to Summer.

Ok, so I wasn't a big fan of the Golden Girl's but at least I was being accepted. At least girls were starting to like me, and to invite someone you don't even know that well on a sleepover was a major step.

I smiled at them and got all excited at the idea.

"I'd love to come! Thankyou so much for asking, I thought I'd be stuck with Ryan doing French braids for the rest of my life."

"Ryan can French braid?" Marissa asked amused.

"Yeah, well, when my mom was out drunk or doped up, nobody could really get me ready for school, so Ryan taught himself how to do French braids so that he could help me, because mine sucked if I did them by myself."

"Aww, how sweet!" said Summer.

"There is a lot to Ryan that you don't know." I said smiling.

"Tell us, tell us!" said Summer.

"Ahh, no, they are just too humiliating, I couldn't do that to my brother, could I?"

We started giggling until some group of guys came over towards us and joined the line.

Seth, Marissa, Anna and Summer all had a look of annoyance on their faces when they came over.

"Hey, girls," the apparent leader said.

"It's Chelsea, right?" he asked sweetly.

I remembered him, he was one of the guys that said something bad about Seth.

"We're in English and History together aren't we?" he said again, with what seemed like an indelible smile plastered onto his perfect face.

"Uhh, yeah." I said unimpressed because of his earlier comments.

"Well, hello there Miss Chelsea Atwood, my name is Jack, it is truly an honour to meet you."

He then started going for my hand but I kind of got scared and squished myself further backwards, almost knocking Anna over.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend, I just wanted to give your pretty hands a kiss."

"Uhh, leave her alone Jack" Anna said in pure disgust.

"What, are you jealous Anna? Emo-geek here not giving you any?" they all sniggered and laughed to themselves.

"Hey, shut up you asshole." Summer said, clearly pissed off.

"Or what? You're actually going to stop being a slut if I leave you guys alone. So anyways," he turned back to look at me, " so I was thinking, maybe we could go out sometime, I could give you the time of your life you know?" he said, winking at me, too self-assured for my liking.

I shook my head in pure revulsion. "You actually think that after you insult my friends that I'd want to have your hot little hands anywhere near me? Yeah, the time of my life, aha, yeah, I sure want to be pressed up against some dirty wall at the back of some club being slobbered on by some STI infected jerk."

All his friends started laughing at him for being turned down and they just left us alone, finally.

The line moved forward and Seth handed me my sushi packet on a tray as well as an orange juice and a bowl of ice-cream sundae, with a look of disbelief on his face.

"You can fight, girl. You definitely got that gene like Ryan did. Except you don't fight with your hands, you've got verbal impaling weapons hidden down your skirt, don't you?" said Seth.

I smiled and we found our places at the table.

When Ryan and Clayton finally came back they looked at us kind of weirdly.

"You guys look like you've just witnessed an important moment in history." Clayton said.

"Well, we did, an important moment in Harbor history anyways. Ryan, Jack Donahue was trying to hit on your sister and she totally turned him down, in the process humiliating him."

"That bastard did what?!"

"Hey, it's fine now. He's left us alone now I guess."

I could sense Clayton getting angry as well as Ryan. Let's just say that I had had enough experience with angry people.

Anna giggled. "What did you say again? He was like and STI infested jerk or something." She laughed out loud.

"I tell you guys, she was good, she was very good, he was totally cracking onto her with the hand kissing bullshit and she told him straight off how she felt about him," said Marissa.

All through the conversation I just kind of stared down at my food and ate quietly while they chattered on about me being some kind of American hero.

"So, are you ok now Chels?"

I looked up for a moment. "Yeah, sure, I'm fine, it was nothing really." Truthfully, I wasn't really that happy at what had just happened. It just brought back too many memories, memories I'd rather have locked away.

I looked back down to my half-eaten sundae. Everybody started talking again, except for Clayton. I could sense him staring at me. I hated it when people stared at me, it made me feel very self-conscious.

Clayton bent his head closer down to mine.

"Are you sure, that you're ok?" he asked, almost whispering. He was so sweet.

I looked back up at him and instantly all my bad memories floated away as I looked up at his smiling face.

"Not really, but, I'm ok now. Thanks for asking" I replied. The bell rudely interrupted a wonderful conversation starter with Clayton.

"My pleasure," he replied.

"Hey we have Music now right?" Seth asked.

"Yeah, my favourite." Said Clayton and we walked over in a pack to the music rooms.

"Uhh, I have to break my fake nails again on that damn guitar," said Summer.

Music class was so fun. The teacher was a walking textbook except she was actually interesting.

But what amazed me most, was how brilliant Clayton was. His was like a musical genius. His guitar skills were so advanced I was shocked and amazed in a good way. My feeble pluckings seemed like nothing compared to him.

I walked over to him and just kind of sat and stared at him playing. I think my mouth must have just started opening and I probably looked like an idiot when he looked up from his guitar.

He laughed. Not a menacing laugh, a sweet laugh. A kind laugh.

"I hear that you play?"

"After watching you, it doesn't even look like I play anymore. How did you get so good?"

"Well, my parents wanted me to play piano. So they sent me to lessons and I was a good 8 year old for the first few weeks until I discovered the guitar. Anyways, I ended up taking the money my mother gave me for piano into the guitar lessons and I worked so hard, just to prove to them that I could be great at guitar player, so that I didn't have to do piano."

I laughed at him when the bell went.

"Hmm, that always seems to happen when our conversations just start doesn't it?"

he said and walked over to his desk to get his books.

Author's Note – Hmmm, now that I've finished reading that chapter, what should I do? Hmmm, I know! Why don't I review this, right now?

Ok, you heard, please go and review. Just do it right now. Just like drop your sandwich, stop your dance and go and click that little purple button. It seriously doesn't take long to do. Just think of it, as a good act.