Chapter 2: (Raven Hollow High school)

Back at Texas, I usually slept till 7:30 a.m before waking to prepare for school, but here, it wasn't the same.

I've never dreaded a Monday like I dreaded this one, all my life. My alarm buzzed at 6:30, ruining my half decent dream about waffles, and my Texan besties. I slapped it off, shutting my eyes tightly so I could go back to the dreams. Mom shouted something from down the hallway. I groaned into my pillow, and sat up on the tiny bed. I hated it here. Everything was different. The strange ceiling above me. It wasn't the ceiling I used to wake up to.

The room looked strange, and I wished it would disappear in a blink of my eyes. I stared at the wall, and I hated it more. Instead of the posters of my favorite band, it was a bare wood with a water stain in the shape of something vaguely resembling a skull. I groaned loudly and fell on the bed, kicking my legs into the air with frustration. This house felt more like a haunted bed-and-breakfast, than a home. It was cold, quiet, creaky. It was everything it shouldn't be.

This was the perfect house to cast horror movies. It had an eerie feeling, and I kept wondering what bewitched my parents into buying it.

Mom called out something again. This time, I heard the words. Something about getting ready, and not being late for my first day at school. I dragged myself into the bathroom, and ran a cold bath. As I dressed, I heard a soft clatter of dishes_probably mom fixing breakfast.

I dressed in the outfit I had laid out the night before; black jeans, a dark green hoodie, and my favorite boots. I stared at my reflection in the small mirror that hung from the wall. The dress was classy, and comfortable. Perfect dress for an unwanted first day at school.

Downstairs, mom passed me a plate of pancakes

She looked too cheerful, and dad sipped his coffee with his face buried into a newspaper. It felt like we were back in the 90's.

"Ain't you guys gonna start up something? Maybe some sort of business?" I asked, digging into the pancakes.

Mom gave me a half-glare through smiles.

"Let the grown-ups do the thinking, baby." She said, as she passed me a cup of tea.

By 7:10, we were in the car, driving down a narrow road shrouded by trees that looked more like twisted claws than branches.

The drive was too slow. It has always been like that since after the accident. It had taken a lot of balls for dad to get behind the wheels again. So now, he tends to drive so slow, that a person on foot could walk past us. Well, after today, I wouldn't let them drive me again. Being the new girl was already enough. I wouldn't want to become a parent's pet next.

"Excited?" Mom asked, beaming with smiles.

"Ha ha." I faked a laugh, and turned away.

Dad glanced through the rearview mirror. "Try to make a friend or two today, alright? These people are actually cool once you get to know them."

Of course, Dad would say that. I could never imagine being friends with people whose stares could bore a hole into a person's skull. But we'll see. Maybe there would be one or two normal persons that I can be friends with, and hopefully the locals wouldn't burn me at a stake.

Raven Hollow high school sat at the edge of the town, nestled between the woods and a set of jagged hills. The building was old; stone and brick with ivy crawling up the walls like veins.

I stepped out of the car, clutching my bag, and took in the sight. Students milled out the front steps, all dressed in darker tones like they lacked a sense of fashion. It wasn't the usual first day buzz. There was no laughter, no cliques walking hand in hand.

It was.... quiet. Just too quiet.

I stood rooted beside the car, contemplating to either go into the school, or crawl back into the car. Mom must've felt my anxiousness. She stepped out of the car, and kissed my cheek to cheer me up.

"It'll be just like any other day. Go in there, and be you."

I gave a slow nod, waved them goodbye, and walked towards the entrance.

Every step I took echoed a bit loudly, and by the time I reached the wooden doors, I could feel their curious unwelcoming eyes on me. I could almost hear their unspoken thoughts of what a Texan bred would be doing out here in the woods.

I kept walking, and passed a group of whispering students.

"She's the new girl." Someone whispered.

"The one from Texas?" Another asked.

"I heard people over there are rude." Another person said.

That last statement stung, and I almost paused to give them an earful, but a part of my brain... the part that was in charge of putting me in place reminded me that it was my first day, and way too early to create a scene. So, I kept walking like I hadn't heard a thing at all.

The interior of the school wasn't much to speak of_dim lights, long hallways that smelled faintly of bleach, and old books.

The office secretary handed me my schedule without even making eye contact. She just pointed me toward my first class on the second floor.

I scoffed as I turned away.

Weird people.

I climbed the stairs, thinking of how my life would turn out at this new school, full of weirdos.

Room 201: History

I took a sharp deep breath, and opened the door. Immediately, every single head in the room turned at once. My stomach twisted.

"New student?" The teacher asked. She was a thin woman with graying hair.

I nodded, muttered my name, and she gestured to the empty desk near the window at the back. Unlike other schools where new students introduce themselves, I was only welcomed with a smile that didn't reach the eyes.

I walked past rows of silent students, some of them staring, others whispering, and sat down in the seat without looking up.

That was when I noticed her.

The girl beside me.

God! She was breathtaking.

I've never seen a person so beautiful as she was. Porcelain skin, so pale, it was almost translucent. Her eyes were a strange color of icy gray, framed by thick lashes, with a long gray hair that flowed over her shoulders like liquid silk.

She didn't move. Didn't glance at me. I wondered if she was even breathing.

I blinked. Was she even real?

She wore all black. Black tight fitted jeans, black ankle boots, and black leather jacket. The only visible skin was her white face. An antique reverse cross hung from her neck, which I found odd, and a Sapphire ring was fitted into her index finger. Everything about her was odd.

She seemed like someone who didn't belong to this age.

I swallowed.

"Hi." I tried, my voice barely above a whisper.

No response.

Not even a blink.

I sighed, and straightened my back on the chair.

Maybe she was sick, because there's no way that complexion could be normal. Anaemia maybe? Or something worse? But still, with all that oddness, she was stunning.

I took a deep breath, and faced forward. But as the class went on, I couldn't help stealing glances at her. She never took notes. Never raised a hand, and not once did the teacher say a word to her.

She was as still as a rock, until the bells rang. She grabbed her back, and left the class.

I noticed the students avoided her. They all seemed to hold their breath when she walked past.

And that was weird.

What was it about this girl, and the dark aura she had?

I've always had a problem of digging my nose into things, and this wouldn't be an exception.