A/N: Sorry it took me sooooooooooooo long to update. Just FYI, this story is about to get darker, grittier, and a whole lot more violent then Jacob. I mean, this is an academy full of villains. So . . . be warned.

Chapter 5/Intro to a New Life

The only thing that's more uncomfortable than walking into a place where you don't know anybody is having all those people you don't know stare at you as soon as walk by. It was unnerving to walk down the hallways to my new room and have people I've never seen before fix their eyes on me and not look away until I passed. I tried to read their emotions but couldn't. I turned to ask Josh about it but he answered me first.

"We have a power neutralizer covering the entire school. No one can use his or her powers unless they're in the training dome."

Well that explained the loss of power but not the staring. I looked again to Josh, but he did not offer an explanation. We soon arrived at a door way. It seemed slightly familiar for some reason. Josh pushed it open and led me into an average sized room. Two bunk beds stood pushed against the wall. Josh stopped abruptly and I raised my eyebrows when I realized why. A girl of about seventeen, wearing a too tight shirt and too tight low-rising jeans, was lounging on a sofa, smoking a cigarette. The muscle in Josh's jaw twitched but other than that he remained completely stoic.

"What are you doing in here Chanel?"

She blew smoke in his direction. "Waiting for Johnson, he was supposed to meet me in the cafeteria, but he never showed." She nodded to me. "Who's the new kid?"

I stepped up to stand next to Josh and he turned to me.

"Alex Newton. He's just joined up. Megan saw a lot of potential in him."

She nodded with a snort. "She would. She's got a thing for brunettes."

I glanced at Josh's bronze curls and hoped he would not take her jab personally. I really did not need another enemy right now. Josh looked like he was about to say something but instead turned to me.

"Curfew's at ten on weekdays and eleven on weekends. I'll go print out your schedule." He moved towards the door. I grabbed his arm and pointed at Chanel who was attempting to blow smoke rings.

"What about her?" I hissed softly, not really looking forward to being left alone in a room with her.

"Chanel? Don't worry about her. She's harmless without her powers and anyway, she'll be leaving soon after she finds out that Johnson just told her to meet him here to get rid of her. She's been with almost all the guys, but she's not really the type you want for your girl. I mean, she's hot but . . ."

"I get the picture."

Josh nodded and left. I turned unwillingly to face Chanel. She was watching me intently. I shifted uncomfortably underneath her gaze and then walked over to the second bunk where I laid my suitcase. I then turned around and leaned against the ladder. For a few moments we only stared at each other, she once and a while taking a long drag from her cigarette.

"You're cute," she said at last.

I started. That was the last thing I was expecting her to say. I shrugged and fingered my lip ring nervously, willing Josh to come back soon. Chanel took another drag and then sat up.

"Is that a lip ring?" She asked with interest.

Again surprised by this topic of conversation, I nodded. She hopped off the bed and walked over to me. She was my height and the amount of perfume covering her scantly-clad body was enough to make me gag. I remained stoic however, and just watched her through wary eyes. She leaned forward to peer at the ring and the smell of her smoke filled breath caused me to turn my face away in disgust. She didn't seem to take offense. She leaned back and sneered slightly.

"It's fake," she stated.

I narrowed my eyes. "So?"

She shrugged. "Tells me something about you. That you're a coward."

I flushed indignantly. "I am not!" I said hotly.

She sneered again. "Prove it then. Let me give you a real one."

I hesitated. "You mean, take me to a shop and . . ."

She waved off my attempt at understanding. "No, no. We aren't allowed out of the academy except on holidays and even then, we can't really go anywhere."

"What do you mean?" I asked, hoping to divert her from her original plan.

She lifted the bottom of her shirt. I saw a circular scar on her side before she dropped the fabric back over it.

"That's where they put a tracking device in. They know where you are all the time. And if you go outside of Maxville's city limits," she made a fist and then released it suddenly. "You blow up. She pointed her cigarette at me. "You have one too."

My hand went to my side, lifting my shirt slightly so I could look at my thin stomach. There, just like Chanel, was a circular scar. I dropped my shirt quickly. So we were prisoners. Even if we wanted to change our minds, we would not be allowed to get away with it.

"So, about the lip ring," she said, her eyes twinkling in anticipation.

I winced slightly. "Will it hurt?" I asked.

She rolled her violet eyes. "Of course it will. But what does it matter? Be a man and take it."

I frowned at her implications. I would not wimp out with this little thing. What would that say about me? That I was a sissy? No way, I would not be labeled that. I steeled myself then nodded abruptly. She smiled widely, displaying slightly yellow teeth.

"Fantastic!" She said. "Let me go get my stuff."

That's when I noticed the many piercing in her ears and the one on her nose. I winced inwardly when I realized she must have done all of those herself. I shuddered at the thought of her coming after me with an ice cube, an apple slice, and a needle. I turned to my suitcase, figuring now was the best time of any to start getting settled it what seemed to be more and more my permanent home.

I had just put the last shirt in the drawer of the dresser which stood against the wall opposite the bunk beds, when the door opened again and Chanel came back into the room, followed by a tall lanky boy with white blonde hair and icy blue eyes that screamed attitude. He barely glanced at me before shoving past and flinging himself up and over onto the top bunk of the bed I had chosen for myself. I frowned slightly at the thought of this obviously rude boy being my bunk mate.

Chanel approached me. Just like I had feared she carried a needle, an apple slice, a gold lip ring, and an ice cube. This last item she shoved at me.

"Put that on the inside of your lip," she instructed. I did so woodenly, taking off my fake ring and casting it aside. She looked at the real ring in her hand thoughtfully.

"I was going to use this for myself," she said thoughtfully. She lifted her slightly greasy, dirty blonde head so that her startling violet eyes met my dark ones. "But this'll be more fun." Her eyes had an almost sadistic twinkle to them. I tried to ignore it and concentrated on pressing the melting ice cube to my lip, trying to numb it as much as I could.

I glanced up at the white haired boy and then back at Chanel, asking her who he was with my eyes. She understood my question and smirked slightly.

"Connor Adams," she said. "He's a ----"

I didn't flinch at her language. I was used to it and had heard far worse from my own father. I did however, glance at Connor, wondering if he would take offense. When he made no noise or movement I was puzzled. He seemed like the kind of guy who would fly into a rage at someone badmouthing him.

Chanel's smirk widened. "He's asleep. Long day of training. He's one of the more powerful kids here, so they work him hard. How's that lip coming?"

I bit down on it. I only felt a slight pressure so I guess that meant I was ready. I took a deep breath and nodded. She pointed to the bed.

"Lie down and keep the ice on it. Don't remove until I say so. Geddit?"

I nodded again, not thrilled at the idea of her leaning over me while I was lying down. However there was nothing for it now. I lay down and she sat beside me. For a few seconds she just looked at me. Just when I was beginning to get uncomfortable, she nodded.

"Now."

I dropped the hand holding the ice and she leaned over me, placing the apple beneath my lip. I closed my nose to her too strong perfume and tried to ignore the fact that her chest was practically falling out of her top. Her fingers caressed my lip as she tucked the apple slice into place. Then her other hand came up, holding the needle. I shut my eyes slowly and waited. There was a pause, then a slight pressure before the pain. I squeezed my eyes tight but to my credit I didn't cry out one bit. Then the needle came out and the ring was put it its place.

I opened my eyes and sat up quickly. Chanel backed off. She nodded appreciatively.

"Nice job. Didn't squeal like the last guy I pierced." Her eyes searched mine. I tried to keep my expression impassive.

She smiled. "Yeah, I can see what Megan saw. Kinda. I don't have her powers, not like I could use them if I did (stupid power neutralizer), but I can see it."

I didn't exactly know what she was talking about but I was in too much pain to ask. She smirked slightly. "Yeah, it'll probably be swollen tomorrow and it'll be painful when you eat and talk, at least for a while." She licked her bottom lip absently. I'll get you some stuff you can use to keep it from infecting. I've had to use that needle several times."

I knew I turned green for she laughed suddenly.

"Just kidding. I have a friend who smuggles them in to me. Do you really think I want to make any enemies by accidentally poisoning their blood?"

I supposed that made sense. There was a rustling then a gruff voice spewed several obscenities before saying,

"Chanel, you still here? Get out before I throw you out myself."

Chanel stuck out a small pink tongue at the bunk bed. "You couldn't even if you tried, Adams. The neutralizer, remember?"

"Don't tempt me."

She just flippantly flipped him the finger than turned back to me. "I guess I'll see you later, alright Newton?"

I nodded, knowing in my heart I never wanted to see this girl again but knowing also that it was probably inevitable. Somehow I knew she would become very clingy on me. Even if she was two years older than me. She turned to go then turned back, studying me once more. Her heavy lined eyes scoping me once more. She flashed me a grin.

"You know you really are cute," she said.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. She winked and then left. I flopped back on the bed, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my lip. There was no sound from the bed above me and I wondered if Connor was asleep again. That boy must have narcolepsy or something. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath, wondering what Ana Lucia was doing. Then I forced myself not to think of her. She was not important any more. This was my future now. And the more I saw of it, the less I was certain I wanted it to be.