•2•

Dad stopped the car in the parking lot of the school. I quickly gathered my bag, kissed my dad goodbye, and jumped out of the car

The school was huge and crowded even though it was situated in the middle of nowhere. The rich did love their privacy. And just by the looks alone, I could guaranty that the school lived up to its reputation to a high margin.

"Good luck Rose" My dad grinned at me one more time and drove away.

Okay so here goes nothing.

Sure enough, I have successfully collected my timetable, and have navigated to the crowded lockers.

I slowly walked towards my locker intending to open it when my attention was suddenly drawn by a burst of loud laughter followed by giggles. A  few lockers away a group of girls had accidentally pushed another girl causing her bag to fall and her books to pile out right in the middle of the corridor. And instead of helping her up they just laughed and walked away.

That's rude. I walked closer to the girl and helped her pick her book

I stood up and gave it to the girl. She had curly brunette hair and loose-fitting glasses which she was currently pushing up her nose.

"Thank you." she smiled at me.

I too smiled worriedly at her."You okay?"

"Yep!! Totally. It happens all the time and I guess you get used to it." She shrugged looking unusually happy for a person who was just bullied.

"I am Rosaline. Could you tell me where this class is?" I said nervously grabbing onto my bag. These introductions were the hardest part.

She looked at me surprised.

"Okay. Umm, actually we have the same classes. Wanna go together?" She asked me looking up from my schedule.

"Sure, I replied happily.

"So...You are the new girl aren't you? Everyone has been talking about you." She told me as we reached the class.

"What are they even talking about me?" I whispered to Emily as we entered the classroom. I kept my head down and frowned at the floor. As she sat on the back of the classroom and I too sat on the seat next to her.

"Is this seat taken?" I asked her worried.

"Nope!! You can sit here." She gave me the brightest smile ever.

She was one hell of a happy person I guess.

"And the reason why they are talking about you is that surprisingly, someone saw Jake gazing at you this morning when you were exiting your car. You want chocolates?" She asked.

"Uhm what?"

"Chocolate?" I glanced at the chocolate that she fished out of her bag.

"Thanks. But why would anyone talk if this Jake guy looks at anybody?" I asked her munching on the chocolate. Students were slowly piling in and with the many glances I received, I could tell I was in trouble.

"Jake's the bad boy of our school." She said. And started counting down all his good points.

"He's got the looks, money, friends, grades etcetera... But let me tell you just don't get involved with him okay? One he has got a very possessive queen b behind his back and two the guy has a bad temper." she looked at me and said.

"Okay noted. And thanks for the chocolate" I smiled at her.

In a minute the teacher arrived and my classes started. So far I guess I had a great start apart from the look I think I got from the bad boy. But as long I stay away from him I was fine.

By the time lunch break arrived I haven't met the labeled bad boy and the queen bee. And thanks to Emily I didn't have to force myself to socialize much. She and I shared the majority of the classes. As she didn't have many friends and like she quoted only "acquaintances", she declared me her friend.

"I guess I am just too boring for their taste. So no one bothers to be friends with me. But some occasionally do come to me to get help in their assignments. So will it count as socializing?" She asked eating her sandwich with one hand and writing something on the paper with the other.

We were currently sitting in the cafeteria. The students weren't divided in faction but there did exist the basic group of jocks and beauties. The rest were the average.

"No, it doesn't." I giggled."Okay so how about it. 101 on socializing. Come with me shopping this weekend?" I asked raising my eyebrows.

"Deal." She looked up from her writing and winked at me. I laughed at it.

"You know what? You are the only person who didn't find me weird. I actually love studying and they find it weird. It's just that I love my books way too much than the people I am surrounded with. At least they don't judge me. " She shrugged and placed her pen aside. She picked up the paper and gestured for me to take it.

"What is it?" I took the paper and looked into it.

"This is the popular 101. Read it and don't forget to check out their Instagram too. You'd be surprised" she wiggled her eyebrows.

We laughed and parted ways as the next bell rang. She assured me, she'd meet me at the parking lot after the classes ended.

But who knew I'd have a totally different meeting than the one I expected.