"You ready Ash?" Austin asked me. Him and I didn't do the same maths. Apparently, there were 2, which I wasn't aware of, so he was lucky and didn't have any tests today.

"I'm nervous." I admitted.

"You'll be fine. In an hour, you won't even remember it happened."

"I doubt that." I giggled.

"Good luck." He smiled, walking into his own classroom as I moved along to my own. Scarlett and Jonah were nowhere to be seen yet, but thankfully there were other kids in the classroom already.

"Do not turn over your papers. 5 minutes and we shall begin."

***

"Pens down. Time is up." My teacher announced. "Make sure your answer sheet is inserted underneath the front cover of your question booklet. Scarlett and Hugh, can you please collect all the papers and bring them to my desk. The rest of you, see you tomorrow." I handed my booklet to Scarlett and left, meeting Austin out the front.

"How'd it go?"

"It was actually okay. I don't think I failed."

"Of course you didn't fail!"

"Dad said he'd take me somewhere special as a reward." I grinned. "And Nick isn't coming so I can eat whatever I want." Austin laughed, shaking his head.

"I think that's just his excuse to go out to his favourite restaurant. Mum isn't a big fan of the food there, so we never get to go, even though it's really yum."

"I'm excited either way."

"If he takes you to this nice Italian place, order the Nutella pizza."

"Nutella pizza!?" I exclaimed.

"You'll love it. Also, did you think of anything I can get you for our birthday?"

"I did have one idea." I nodded. I'd become a master at googling after River had taught me all the things it could do and since had become quite interested in the whole 'online shopping' concept. The slight issue was I had no money and felt incredibly guilty asking for anyone else to buy me things I'd repeatedly added to my cart, especially when I'd seen the checkout totals, so hence, had left it as an endless cycle of letting the total just continue to build and never actually paying for anything. I'd found some pretty cool things and since Austin had continually reminded me, he didn't know what to get for me, I gradually didn't feel as guilty asking for stuff.

"Please tell...I've been trying to figure out something for ages and you're really not leaving me much time!"

"Sorry," I responded sheepishly, just as we ran into Gabby and Tate.

"Hey Ash. Hi Austin." Gabby grinned.

"Hey. Heard you two are coming to our party on Saturday. Should be fun." He smiled whilst continuing to look at Gabby.

"We're really excited." Tate jumped in, making sure we were aware of her presence. Something was going on between Gabby and Austin, so I made a mental note to ask Tate about it later.

"Ash, I'm meeting Sean, can you take this back to my locker. Thanks." Austin grinned and dumped all his stuff in my arms. "See you around." He nodded to Gabby and Tate then hurried off. I huffed, earning a laugh from Gabby and Tate, then walked with them back past our lockers.

"Did you guys have the maths test?"

"We're in the other maths." Tate answered. "How'd yours go though?"

"Okay, I think. I worked hard." I admitted.

"I'm sure you'll do well. Soon enough we have exams." Gabby sighed.
"I don't have to do them."

"You are so lucky!" They gushed. One thing I really appreciated with Gabby and Tate was that they never pried. They always just reacted 'normally' and didn't ask why, which made me so calm and relaxed when I was around them. Maybe one day I would tell them how I actually ended up moving schools, but I'd need to have the full conversation with my own brothers first, and I didn't have the stamina to do that yet. Soon I hoped I would.

"Did you find out the movie we're seeing? Also, important question, should we bring bathers?" Tate asked.

"That's a good idea, then we can go in the pool!" I didn't share the fact I couldn't swim, but I figured we didn't actually have to swim, and I could work out something then. "The movie is like wallflowers or something like that. I can't really remember." The title was a bit long.

"Perks of being a wallflower! I love that movie and I've been trying to get Gabby to watch it for ages and we'd never gotten around to it. This is perfect." Tate gushed. Her enthusiasm was everything.

"What're we wearing?" Gabby asked.

"We should go shopping!" Tate suggested. "We could go tomorrow or Friday evening after school since we have track on Thursday. At least I do, if you're not coming, Ash."

"I'll come." I smiled. "I can ask my parents."

"I'll make a group chat." Gabby grinned. I was lucky to have made good friends so quickly. I couldn't wait to tell Morgan all about this too, since she loved to hear all about my life here. I felt a bit bad that I couldn't invite her, but she was so far away and for some reason was still in the hospital, which is ridiculous since she's now been there longer than I was, and I thought I was there for ages. "What's your favourite midnight snack, Ash?"

"I know mine!" Tate gasped.

"I know too, that's why I didn't ask you." Gabby rolled her eyes sarcastically.

"I don't know what that is." I cowered slightly.

"Have you had a sleepover before?" Gabby asked. I shook my head.

"This is going to be the best weekend ever then. We have so much to show you!"

"I'm so excited!" Tate squealed, just as we joined the line at the cafeteria. I hadn't brought lunch today just so I could try it out, but when we got to the front, I changed my mind. I didn't want any of the food they were serving, so I just went without. I wasn't really hungry anyway.