A/N: I'm here again. Thank you to everyone who is reading this, liking it, following it, etc. You really make my day. So here is chapter three. If there are any grammatical errors or discrepancies, please let me know, and I will fix them.

I walk down the bustling halls towards History class, and I think I may become deaf by the end of the day. Christina's nonstop chatter makes me want to rip my ears out to shove them in her mouth to stop her talking. This is one of the few times I actually want to talk.

Finally, we reach my locker, and I try my luck at opening it.

"Um, Six?" Christina says. "Do you need some help? These lockers are tricky after all. I couldn't open mine for at least four days after we started school. Something about them makes me want to scream. They always get stuck at the worst times. I had 27 detentions last year from all the times my locker got stuck and I couldn't open it. And, I mean which teacher would ever believe it if I said, 'Oh, I was late to class for the 17th time because my locker got stuck again.' Hey, did you know that-" Christina's highly annoying voice is cut of by another, softer voice.

"Hey, Christina, remember what we said about overwhelming the new student, and that you shouldn't do it?" I turn to see another girl rushing towards us. Her blonde hair flowing behind her, she stops inches from Christina's appalled face and jabs a finger at her.

"Christina," the new girl scolds gently, "remember what we talked about yesterday? You need to give the girl time to settle in. I know you want to be friends with her, but please calm down." Slowly, Christina nods, and the girl removes her hand from Christina's face and turns to me with an apologetic smile. She sticks out her hand I tentatively reach out and shake it warily.

"Hello, you must be Six. My name is Marlene, and I see you've met Christina. Don't worry," she continued with a sly grin directed towards Christina, who gave an indignant huff. "Usually, the rest of our friends stop her before she can go too far with her talking." Christina's protests are effectively cut off with a glare from Marlene.

I nod hesitantly and begin to turn towards my locker again as the two start their banter again, only to find it slightly blocked by another door. I look at Christina and Marlene questioningly, conveying with my eyes my dilemma. They both immediately stop bickering and look behind me to see the parson blocking my locker. I hesitantly turn around too, but I find myself face to face with someone new, and by the looks of him, he isn't happy.

His blue eyes are stunning, like the stormy ocean, and find myself automatically comparing him to myself, wondering if I could beat him in a fight. I can see a six pack through is tightly fitted blue shirt, but I have one too, so it's not that big of a deal. I can see the muscles on his arms, but I've been able to flip people 4 times my weight over during some of my fights. He looks big, bulky like a football player, and although I am strong, I am lithe and speedy when it comes to fighting. Christina brings my thoughts to an abrupt halt.

"Ugh," she sighs. "Couldn't you look a bit happier about the new student, Four. She's going to be our friend, so suck it up and deal with it. I know you don't like the fact that she has a number name, but it isn't her fault. I mean, really. You are acting like-" Once more, Marlene saves us from Christina's ranting by placing her hand over Christina's mouth, effectively shutting off the annoying rambling.

Four grumbles a small apology to me before moving his locker door slightly so I could reach mine. I quickly shove my things in it and grab my things for History before turning back to Marlene and Christina. I roll my eyes at their sympathetic looks-I've never needed sympathy before-and together, the three of us begin heading off to class.

_~0~_

Coming out of English class, I run to my locker, hoping to get there for my lunch money before Four. I have a feeling he still doesn't like me. Luck seems to be on my side this morning, because just as I am leaving my locker, I spot Four coming down the hall with two boys who both have mocha colored skin. They're laughing and talking loudly, and I quickly rush off to the lunch room.

I grab a simple lunch, hoping I didn't spend too much to afflict some form of punishment from Jeanine. I hear Christina yelling my name from a small table near the corner of the lunch room. I practically sprint over to her, and I manage to make it in one of my fastest times yet. I really hate attention, and the entire lunch room's eyes are burning holes in the back of my head. It's about a thirty yard dash. and with my lunch slowing me down, I manage to make it in under five seconds.

There are several gaping mouths when I arrive at the table, but I simply smirk and sit down. Other than Christina and Marlene, there are four others already there, who are introduced as Lynn, Will, Shauna, and Tommy. Lynn and Shauna already look similar, the way their faces are shaped, the same smile. The only difference is Lynn has shaved half her head and the other half has been dyed a bright blue. Will smiles lightly at me, still probably bewildered at my speed and agility. Ever since I was young, I was always a very good runner and I could weave around things very easily. The boy who was introduced as Tommy looks at me for a moment with a confused expression on his face. He has light brown hair and blue eyes that look so familiar...but I don't know where they're from.

I smile shyly at their praise, but they look just as surprised as Christina did when it is mentioned that I don't talk. Already they're questioning me about why I chose not to talk, but after they began to question me, I shut myself down completely. It's become a natural reaction to Jeanine's beatings, and slowly, I come back to my senses.

"Six? Six?" Christina is waving a hand in front of my face, trying to get through my daze. I shake my head, clearing away the fog, and immediately, Will blurts out a question.

"How'd you do that? I've never seen anyone who can completely shut down their senses. I mean, you moved around like you normally would, but you just seemed hollow, like nobody was home." He rambles on for a few seconds more about my small 'panic attack' and it takes me a second to notice the newcomers at the table.

Two seats down from Will sit Four and the two boys that were with him in the hallway. Christina looks to see where I am glancing and says, "Oh, I almost forgot. Six, these are Zeke and Uriah," she points to the two mocha skinned boys in turn, "And you already know Four." I snort quietly and Four shoots me a mutinous glare, and I simply respond by staring him in the eye and glaring right back. Zeke immediately looks to me to see where his buddy is glaring, and when he sees the look of pure hatred that must be plastered on my face, he almost looks frightened. His eyes widen slightly, and he hastily turns away, gulping.

Uriah isn't so subtle about his fear, and quickly says, "Six, I know it's Four you are glaring at, but I just want to say that I'd like to stay alive please." I give him a slight nod, and notice the entire table is staring at Four and I, no doubt wondering what the heck is going on. I realize that this is like some challenge for authority, and I'm essentially challenging the leader of this little 'pack'. After a few more moments, Four's anger ebbs away into fear, and he, too, looks away.

The silence at the table is almost unbearable, so after looking at the clock and seeing we still have seven minutes left, I begin to eat my lunch again. With questioning looks, everyone else reluctantly begins to eat again. Christina leans over to and whispers, "I have a theory, Six. You, my friend, have a death wish." I snicker and nod my head in agreement.

So it would seem, I think.

A/N: Third Chapter. Wow… I hope it was okay. I am leaving for vacation tomorrow, so I won't update for a few days. Sorry for the wait and I hope this chapter was alright.

Thank you to IceFire15 for reviewing Chapters 1 and 2 and to the Guest (All I Do Is Read) for reviewing chapter one. See you later, peoples!