Prologue: Jessica Marshall
Will narrowed her eyes as she slid out of the car. "Come on Will, can't you at least try to make a friend today?" Her mother pleaded.
"All my friends are in Fadden Hills. I'm not going to make friends here. This town sucks." She said dramatically. Mrs. Vandom rolled her brown eyes as Will stomped off towards her new school, intent on never speaking to her mother again. Will plucked her schedule out of her bag and studied it for a few minutes, having no idea where her first class was. She thought about going to the office, but she had no idea where that was either. She scanned the students, hoping for a friendly and helpful face, but they all ignored her, all except for one.
"Hey Newbie!" Called an ugly boy with orange hair and pimples. His gang of thuggish looking cronies, who were easily three times her size, followed. She stiffened, knowing she was in for trouble. "Not lost are you?" The leader said with a sinister cackle.
"N-no. I can handle it, thanks."
"Not so fast," Will began to panic as the boys crowed around her. The leader raised his fist, and suddenly Will felt an arm around her shoulders. She turned to see a small girl behind her. She had long curly dark brown hair and warm amber eyes. Her posture was defiant as she glared death into the eyes of the thugs.
"What's up, Uriah?" she said with sarcasm. His malicious grin faded slightly.
"What's it to ya', Marshall?" Uriah raised his fist, as did the girl.
"Back off Uriah." She positioned her little body in front of Will, who cringed, expecting her to get pounded. Uriah's fist whizzed through the air, but the girl was quicker. Her fist made contact with Uriah's nose with a sickening crack. He hit the floor with an almighty holler and his thugs stepped in front of him. The girl raised her fist's one more time, and they backed up. Uriah stood and slunk backwards.
"You just wait, Newbie. One day, I'll catch you without your bodyguard. Then you'll be toast." He and his thugs bolted off into the school.
"Don't worry about him. He's all bark and no bite." She smiled warmly and Will smiled back. "My name's Jessica Marshal, but most people call me Jess, or Jessie, or 'hey Bitch, move. Which ever one you want to use is fine with me."
"Jess is fine. I'm Will." Jess snatched Will's schedule out of her hand.
"You've got Mrs. Rudolf first. So do I. Come on, I'll show you the way." Will followed gratefully, feeling safe with her new bodyguard close by.