A sharp cramp brought me back to the land of living. Is my period here already? Looking outside my small window I could see a few golden sunrays gracing my room giving it an ethereal glow. I smiled. It was small things like these that kept me going and I'd be damned if I let anyone take that away from me.

My period this time around was apparently going to be particularly painful. Oh God, how I wanted to lay around doing nothing this week. I sluggishly walked down the stairs and entered the kitchen.

"I kept the lunch money on the table honey. Make sure you don't forget about it and tell me if you need some more dear", a sugary sweet voice interrupted my peaceful moments inside my head.

Ryan Russell, also known as my delight of a brother came trampling down the stairs while furiously running his hand through his overly gelled hair. Shudders.

"Yeah, yeah", he was impatiently searching for his new Air Jordans ,"I think I'll be back by evening if everything goes well."

"Don't worry about it darling. Make lots of friends and most importantly enjoy your day", Renatta Russell smiled at her son before retiring to her room to collect her things for her day at her new office.

If I didn't hate my mother as much as I did, I would have admitted that Renatta Russell was a beautiful woman and a fabulous mother. She had soft ombre hair (that we both shared) and eyes that were the prettiest shade of blue I had ever seen. Her voice was soft, like honey on a warm summer night and her delicate figure never failed to highlight her outfit of the day. I knew that if my mother wanted, she could rock even a trash bag. And she cared about her son, more than anything else in the world. It was evident to anyone who ever laid their eyes upon her. Renatta was perfection but to me she was my own perfect nightmare.

It wasn't fair.

If only appearances didn't hide the absolute bitch and that lay within. Ever since I was young, I had desperately craved my mother's affection and the love only a big brother could provide. But alas, it was obviously too much to ask. Sometimes I wondered what I could have ever done to make my mother hate me so much.

As soon as Ryan walked out my mother came up to me as her heels cracked against the hardwood floors, "Don't ruin my son's first day. Stay out of his way and try not to remind me of your existence. I don't want to hear about any trouble you hack up at school", she said in one breath, "Now get out."

I was surprised to say the least. This was the first time she had spoken to me since she told us that we would be moving to New York about a week ago. Deciding not to dwell, I hurriedly exited the house and boarding the first bus I saw.

Looking around I wished I'd find an empty double seat, but when had luck ever been on my side? So I reluctantly sat down beside a teenage boy with honey blond hair who was dozing off by the window. Eh, he looked unproblematic enough.

The bus came to a stop in front of two huge gates which I assumed were of my school by the huge banner that read 'REINHART ACADEMY'.

Yes, it's a fancy high school.
No, my mom didn't pay for it.
Yes, I scored a scholarship.

I'm sure she would have sent me to the local public high school if not for the scholarship. When I told her about it they just ignored me, as usual- so I assumed she didn't have a problem with it. I wouldn't say that it didn't hurt, because it did. She might have ignored my existence ever since I was born but that didn't mean her ignorance didn't hurt like a bitch everytime. Because at the end of the day she was my mother and her approval still meant the world to me even though admitting that to myself genuinely hurt a lot.

But I had perfected my mask over the years. I had learnt that vulnerability was a privilege I could not afford. So I hid it.

Walking across the parking lot I could hear murmurs of a few curious students but their attention soon shifted when two flashy cars entered the parking lot.

I was just thankful no one stared at me like I was a zoo animal anymore.

Walking upto the office I approached the elderly lady who was furiously typing away on the computer in front of her. I had to clear my throat twice before she took notice of me.

"Oh sorry dear. Can I help you?"

She seemed sweet.

"Good Morning ma'am. I am a new student- Rebekah Russell. I was told that I could collect my schedule from here", I told her with a polite smile.

"Just a second dear", the lady - Mrs Bradberry, as it read on her name tag- typed a few words before printing it out and handed it to me," Here's your schedule. Come see me at the end of the day after you've selected two electives. Every student does it. Here's the keys to your locker and you'll find your PE uniform in there. Have a fun first day."

I smiled and walked upto my locker. 31A, as it read. Quickly keeping my books I looked at my schedule to check my first class.

Mathematics with Mr Collins

Ugh.

After taking four wrong turns, bumping into two grumpy students and somehow ending up in a broom cupboard, I finally found my classroom. I was already ten minutes late to my class and I really didn't want to piss off my teacher.

I slowly opened the doors and mentally sent a prayer to whatever higher power there was, please don't be a cliche, please don't be a cliche, please don't be a cliche.

It was a cliche.

Everybody stared at me like I was a particularly interesting unicorn that had landed on Earth and I wanted to bash their heads with my middle finger.

No violent thoughts on your first day Bekah !

"You must be the new student?", Mr Collin was a balding man with visible stress lines on his face. His eyes were tired and he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

Well, if I had to teach a bunch of idiot dunderhead students I would be too.

This is why we don't like Maths kids.

"Yes. I'm Rebekah Russell."

"Take a seat wherever you like and copy down the integrals I've put up on the board please", he said with a tired smile.

I nodded and took a seat near in the second last row. Like he said, I copied down the equations - I so didn't look forward to math for the rest of my year, ugh- and occasionally stared at the swaying treetops outside the window. Nature had always brought me comfort.

"Psst", a voice sounded near my ears. I continued staring outside. They couldn't be talking to me, right? No one talked to me. My own parents didn't. Ryan bullied me in my last school and he was the school bad boy so others stayed away from me or joined in with Ryan. I had a few acquaintances over the years, but friends who I could share everything with? Nah.

"Psst"

"Oi"

"Russell"

At that I looked around finally to see a ginger haired girl frantically calling me.

"Me?", I was perplexed.

"Your last name's Russell isn't it?", she drawled boredly.

"Yeah. Can I help you with something?", I asked in return.

"Well, Mr Collins did say that the people next to us would be our seating partners for the rest of the year so I figured we could atleast be friends?", the ginger spoke with a small smile.

I awkwardly nodded my head. This was new territory," S-sure. Yeah. Friends."

"I'm Alexis Carter."

"Rebekah Russell."