SHY BOOK 1 - Chapter 1 - New School, New Town, New Friends

"She's shy," Brooklyn said with a shrug. She glanced at Indianna, who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but in the classroom with them.

"Well, come on. I don't bite," Greyson urged, and Indianna stiffened, just like before.

"Don't talk about that," Indianna said. Her voice was still quiet, but it was firm.

"Struck a nerve, have I?" Greyson asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking. "Somebody likes it rough."

Indianna Hughs had always been the quiet one; the shy one. She always stayed in the background. She blended in and never got noticed. She liked it that way. When she was forced to move schools, she was not happy. Everyone noticed a new kid, and she didn't want that attention. Especially not from Mr. Bad Boy, who seemed to be very interested in her.

"You'll be fine," Indianna's mother said and waved her hand dismissively at her daughter.

Indianna looked out of the car window and raised her dark eyebrows at the large red-brick building in front of them.

"Just be social and make friends!"

"Social," Indianna muttered and grabbed her bag from the back seat. "Sure."

She climbed out of the car, ignoring her mother's cheerful wave goodbye. She slammed the door behind her and glanced up at the school, looking around the car park, which was filled with students laughing and talking to their friends.

Students noticed Indianna.

Indianna groaned quietly and swung her bag over her shoulder. She lowered her gaze as she made her way up the steps that led to the school and didn't look up as she walked through the bustling corridors, gritting her teeth and flinching every time she accidentally brushed shoulders with someone. She thought that if she couldn't see anyone, maybe they couldn't see her either.

She knew she was being stupid.

The town that Indianna and her mother had moved to wasn't small, but it wasn't big either. Not everyone knew each other personally, but they would recognise a new face from a mile away. This made Indianna's anxiety rise. She hated being noticed.

She clutched her hands tighter around the strap of her bag and carried on down the busy corridor. She had come to the school a few days before, and the principal had shown her around, so it didn't take her long to find her locker. She fumbled with the lock and hurriedly grabbed the textbooks that were stacked neatly inside, stuffing them into her bag.

Indianna hated that she could feel everyone's curious gazes on her. She hated that she stood out. She swallowed nervously and looked at the crumpled piece of paper in her hands. She scanned the timetable and saw that her first lesson was history.

After putting her timetable back into her pocket, she braced herself and walked down the rowdy corridors, hoping to find her class quickly so she could have a moment of peace before being surrounded by a room full of new people.

Indianna let out a sigh of relief when she made it to her classroom. It was relatively empty, so she made a beeline straight to the back of the class. Now there were no eyes on her. She let her shoulders relax and leaned back in her chair.

One year, she told herself. She had to survive for one year in this new town, and then she was free. She would graduate and be able to go wherever she pleased.

"Hi!"

A blonde, curly-haired girl appeared next to her, and Indianna's heart jumped in her chest. She was smiling brightly and had kind brown eyes.

"You're Indianna, aren't you? The new girl? You've moved to town with your mother, right?"

Indianna stared at the blonde girl with wide eyes. She had wanted to go unnoticed, but this girl definitely seemed to know her. Indianna wasn't sure how to respond.

"Sorry," the girl apologised and sat down next to Indianna, noticing her discomfort. "I didn't mean to scare you off. I just thought I'd introduce myself! I know what it's like to be new in this town. I moved here a year ago. I'm Brooklyn, but everyone calls me Brooke."

Indianna nodded and looked at her hands. She picked at her chipped nail varnish and hoped this girl would go away. Indianna wasn't good with people. She'd rather be left alone.

Brooklyn blinked and waited for Indianna to speak. She frowned when there was an awkward silence and chewed on her lip.

"Not a people person?" Brooklyn asked. "That's okay. People would argue that I can talk enough for two people."

Indianna's eyes flickered to Brooklyn, who was smiling.

"You can talk to me. I promise I don't bite, like some people in this school," Brooklyn said kindly with a laugh.

Indianna stiffened and shook her head. "No," she whispered. Her voice was gentle and soft.

Brooklyn frowned. "No?"

"Don't talk about that, please," Indianna said quietly.

"Talk about what?" Brooklyn asked, cocking her head to the side curiously.

"Biting," Indianna muttered, forcing the word out like it was poison.

Brooklyn noticed how Indianna grabbed her wrist, her eyes flashing with panic.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Brooklyn said quickly. "I didn't realise that was a sensitive topic. Sorry, I talk a lot, and sometimes I say stupid things—I'll... I'm going to shut up now—Brandon, thank God, hi!"