Melody

I took a shaky breath outside a pair of big wooden doors. As I checked my reflection in the window, I smoothed down the black A-line skirt and straightened the baggy white and burgundy sweater I was wearing. Perfect for late summer in Connecticut. My wavy brown hair and makeup looked alright from what could see. I was glad that I avoided a mini meltdown getting ready this morning. I had been planning my outfit for a month and I was as ready as I would ever be for this day.

The first day of school. It was a new school in my senior year of high school and I was nervous about it, though I tried not to let it show. I decided a fresh start needed to happen and left my fancy private school, despite the awkwardness of being the new girl.

I adjusted my backpack on my shoulders and opened the doors of Alcott High. The busy main hallway became noticeably less busy, as numerous pairs of curious eyes were on me. Despite my nerves, I flashed the brightest smile I could muster up at the teenagers looking my way and watched as they all quickly turned back to their previous activities. Socializing, exchanging books from their lockers... they tried really hard to pretend they weren't giving me side glances as they wondered who the new girl was.

I walked into the main office and was met by a secretary who printed me my schedule and a map of the school. She also printed me slips for each teacher to sign to make sure my transfers and paperwork were all complete. Feeling torn between being glad I had come early enough that I wouldn't be left wandering through empty hallways, and anxious about the curious eyes, I left the office to find my first class.

My nose was buried in my map as moved quickly. I rounded a corner and suddenly bumped into someone, which left me stumbling backwards in my black booties. I caught myself before I fell, and my eyes met a pair of light brown eyes that looked like warm honey. They belonged to a handsome, dark haired boy who was wearing a pair of dark jeans and blue tee under an open white button up shirt.

"I'm so sorry!" I blushed, tucking hair behind my ears. I snuck a glance around to see some kids snickering from their lockers, and felt my face get hotter.

"No harm done." He smiled at me. "Are you new?"

"Yes... and not sure if I'm going the right way," I said, returning the smile. "Do you mind pointing me in the direction of room 109?"

"Oh, English! I can walk with you. We're in the same class," he said.

"Okay," I said shyly. As we began walking down the hallway, I noticed some curious glances in our direction, making my cheeks feel hot again, but I pretended not to see them.

When we rounded a corner, I observed a small gathering of students in the hallway. There was some laughter every so often and as we got closer I realized there was a circle of people around four girls. Three stood closer together and faced the other. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized it was the typical popular girls versus loner girl scenario and it made my blood boil in my body.

"Go on without me, I'll find my way," I told the brown-eyed boy as I walked towards the crowd. As I marched closer to the circle of laughing teens I heard the insults being thrown at the purple-haired girl wearing all black.

"Alani, when are you going back to the crypt?" A shrill voice asked. It came from a girl wearing high-waist dark jeans and a pink peplum top with a sweetheart neckline that accentuated her tiny waist. I frowned.

"Hey, why don't you leave her alone?" It came out so clearly and assertively, I almost second guessed that it was me who spoke. The strawberry blonde with perfectly curled hair raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow at me. My heart raced in my chest as I had a feeling I just picked a fight that wouldn't finish as easily as I thought.

"Who the hell are you?" She asked. Her cliché twin backups, who were also wearing pink, stepped towards me. The crowd around them opened up a hole to involve me into their circle.

"It doesn't matter. Just leave her alone," I said, folding my arms across my chest. We were in a stare down and then the bell rung. The blonde glared at me.

"Saved by the bell," she spat, walking off. Her heels clicked as she strutted away, with her cronies walking behind her. The crowd dispersed leaving the purple-haired girl and I standing at her locker.

I stepped towards her. "Are you okay?" I asked with a smile.

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Rose just likes to practice her latest insults on me," she said tucking her purple locks behind her pierced ear. "She's been holding onto a lot of them over the summer."

"Oh, how lovely of her," I replied sarcastically. She smirked in response.

"Cool of you to jump in back there though," she added. I smiled and waved the compliment away shyly.

"I'm Melody," I said.

"Alani...You're new, aren't you?" She asked. I nodded.

"Actually, am I close to room 109? I probably shouldn't be late on the first day!" I said remembering Rose's 'saved by the bell' line was because the warning bell actually rang.

"Two doors down, on the left," Alani told me. I waved good-bye and walked briskly down the hallway, managing to slide into the room before the bell rang. I handed my teacher a slip the office gave me and after reading it, he nodded and smiled at me.

"Welcome Melody," he said pointing me to a desk. Many eyes followed me as I sat down, but I kept my gaze to the floor. I put my backpack down, pulled out my notebook and placed it on my desk.

Switching schools in senior year would be challenging, but I hoped that it couldn't be any worse than my old school. I lifted my gaze and realized the guy I had been talking to, sat in front of me. I smiled to myself.

Maybe it was a sign.

***

Lunch time rolled around, and I walked towards the cafeteria with the swarm of students headed that way. I didn't really want to go, but it seemed to be the normal thing to do. Maybe I'd find a friend – or at the very least, an empty table to sit and doodle at. I just knew I couldn't end up eating my lunch in a bathroom stall like I just stepped out of Mean Girls. I stepped into the cafeteria uncomfortably and glanced around. I shifted from one foot to the other as I scanned the room. I came up short for both a friendly face or an empty table. Groups of teens sat together laughing, talking, eating... my eyes wandered over to the lunch line and I noticed golden fries and freshly made pizza.

My heart pounded in my chest and I decided to make a run for it. Spinning around on my heels, I strode out of the cafeteria and burst through the doors in the process. I heard a loud groan from the other side, and I realized I had hit someone. I stepped into the hallway and saw the nice guy from this morning doubled over in pain. A wave of horror and embarrassment rushed through my body.

"Oh, my gosh! I'm so sorry!" I ran over to him as he held his nose.

"No worries," He mumbled under his hand.

"It's going to bleed isn't it? Oh, um, nurse's office! Let's get you there!" I rambled. I could sense him smirking as I pulled him in one direction. "What?" I asked feeling my cheeks get hot.

"It's the other way," he told me. My cheeks got hotter, but I didn't reply as we began walking in the correct direction. I guided him, barely the touching hand he wasn't using to pinch his nose while tilting his head back. We walked past one of the twins that was with Rose and I ignored her as she glared at me.

When we finally reach the infirmary, the boy's nose was a red fountain and it was entirely my fault. The nurse rushed to get him some tissues and once he had those, disappeared to get an icepack.

I sat down beside the injured guy with a frown on my face. "I'm so sorry." I repeated for maybe the hundredth time.

"Don't worry about it, I promise," he replied. We were quiet for a moment before he asked, "Hey, don't you want to go eat lunch?"

"I already ate," I answered quickly. Probably almost too quickly. He began to lower the tissues from his nose to look at me, but I motioned for him to put them back. "Besides, I assaulted you with a door, the least I can do is stick around and make sure you're okay."

He nodded and we were quiet again. I opened my mouth to ask his name, but the nurse bustled back into the room with an icepack in hand.

"Has it stopped bleeding?" She asked.

"Almost," he replied. I watched him interact with her and bit back a smile as I noticed little things like the scattered freckles across his face, and how long his eyelashes were. I looked down quickly at my hands before they finished speaking.

The boy exchanged the tissues for the icepack and as he did, I noticed the slight bruise on his nose. My eyebrows knit together into a frown

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" I repeated, making it apology number one hundred and one.

"My nose bleeds easily. I promise it's okay Melody," he soothed. I raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know my name?" I asked curiously.

"Our English teacher wasn't exactly the whispering this morning." The corners of his lips pulled up into a smile, revealing perfect, white teeth.

I let out a small laugh in response and tucked my hair behind my ear shyly. "Well, since you know mine, it's only fair I know yours."

"Carson White."

***

By the time I set foot into my art class, the innocent looks of curiosity had shifted closer to the judgemental side. As I walked towards the teacher, I tried to ignore the glares and handed her the slip she needed to sign. She had pretty brown skin and glistening brown eyes that lit up as she smiled at me and introduced herself as Ms. Foster. She handed me my art supplies and pointed me to a round table with an empty chair. As I walked to my seat, I heard the whispers of students buzzing in my ears.

"...hit him in the face?"

"She actually attacked..."

"...punched Carson's nose..."

I sat down, avoiding meeting their stares, as the people at my table spoke to each other like I was an exhibit for their enjoyment. Their whispers were fast and hushed as they attempted being subtle, but their glances and pointed looks were quite the opposite. I pulled out my notebook and began doodling in the corner of it, letting my face be concealed by a curtain of my hair.

The bell finally rang, bringing everyone's attention to the front of the room and on to Ms. Foster. She explained today's task, which was to draw one of the three items she placed on our desks in an abstract manner, and then she sat at her desk. The low hum of music began to pour out of the speakers on Ms. Foster's desk and she began typing away on her computer.

"Hey, New Girl!" I glanced to my left to see a blonde guy making eye contact with me from two seats over.

"Yes?" I answered. The whole table's eyes were on me, and even a few people from other tables were looking at me.

"Did you hit Carson in the nose?" He asked. My face turned red and I nodded.

"I did, b–"

"There, the new girl confirmed it; now you can all shut up," he told everyone. Everyone's eyes travelled quickly to their papers after giving me questioning glares.

I sighed and picked the hourglass that sat at our table. As I picked it up I noticed Ms. Foster looking at me and I quickly looked away from her and put it down. Who knows, maybe this could  be worse than my last school. 

________________________

Author's Note: Hey everyone! First new story in a long time! I hope it goes well and that you all enjoy it! Give me all your feedback because I'd love to hear it! Lemme know what you think of Melody, Carson, Alani, and Rose! Who do you think is going to be really involved in Melody's life? Have you guessed any of her secrets yet?

Melody's outfit:

Rose's outfit: