1). PILOT

A fine fresh cold air was blowing across the Spring Field Town. Winter had started with it all might and main. Heavy clouds were descending slowly above the blue sky. The fog was beginning to cover most of the part making the horizontal visible. The beauty around of heart melting as the cool breeze swept past the people of the town. As soon as the clouds covered the sky, it began to rain. At first it was just a drizzle then it turned into a cold shower. The bell rang, and a mob of young kids ran towards the High School. They were older ones and some youngest ones. Some faces were gleeful, happily chatting while some looked a little tense. They all walked to the main gate running and jogging. In between them, walked an average height girl.

She wore a big purple coloured hoodie over her head. Her hands tucked safely in her pockets . She had a pointed chin face, black eyes and rectangle shaped glasses with black untidy front hair. She steadily stepped inside the building. There was a rush of students walking and trotting here and there clutching onto their bags. The girl took no notice except for walking in the corridor taking a form from the admin.

"Sign here please," said the lady on the desk.

The girl reached up and quietly signed up for her subject.

"Hey, can you hand me one form as well?" Came a voice from behind her.

She turned around and saw, another girl about the same height and size of her. She had a very kind happy face. Her eyes gleaming brightly. Her bagpack dangling at her back and a pen tucked neatly in her front pocket. She smiled looking at her, as though they had known eachothers from the very beginning. The girl smiled at her and asked for one more. In a friendly way she handed the paper at her.

"Thank you." She replied kindly, reaching for her pen.

The hoodie waited for her to submit her form. She wanted to walk away to the class but when she saw that the kind one had signed up for the same subject, her feet chained onto the floor.

"Oh, you were waiting for me ?" She asked the moment she finished up.

The hoodie girl nodded silently. "Oh, Thank you. Biology, you too ? Come on lets find class."

The two girls climbed upstairs, searching for their class. It was almost 9 am. They were going to be late.

"I think its this one." The kind one said, pushing the door.

Indeed that was one. The teacher was a female. She was holding a big fat book in her hands.

"Biology ?" She asked looking down from her spectacles. Both girls nodded.

"Come on then. Get in ! I dont like late comers." She barked loudly.

The two girls walked in the filled class room. The hoodie one looked for the seats but then the next one signalled her to come at the back. She trotted towards her passing 2 girls sitting one behind others and they both sat down beside eachothers.

"By the way, Im Rebecca Immanuel." The kind one said with a smile stretching out her hand.

"I am Ian. Ian Thomas." She said, taking the hand shake. The class started, with Miss Teresa lecturing about Chapter 1 The Cell.

Rebecca drew out her lecture copy and her book. Pulling out few highlighter and pens she began scrolling down her lecture. Her cell phone kept on the desk recording every single word that Miss Teresa was explaining.

"Cells consist of cytoplasm enclosed within a membrane, which contains many biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acid .Organisms can be classified as unicellular that are consisting of a single cell; including bacteria or multicellular that is including plants and animals….."

Miss Teresa continued, drawing pictures on the board.

Rebecca found her pen becoming to get fading. She jerked her pen twice but it kept on fading as though the ink was jammed inside.

"Hey, Ian. Got an extra pen ?" She asked turning to her new friend.

But to her surprise, she found Ian snoring soundly hiding behind her book. Rebecca stared at her, she wanted to wake her but she waited. Ian was looking tired and she had never seen anyone sleep so soundly like that.

"Hey ! Buddy ! Ian !" She called out loudly.

Ian woke with a jerk. "Yeah. What happened ?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.

"You are sleeping in the class. In 1st lecture." Rebecca whispered.

"What ! Oh sorry. Must have dozed of." Ian said, turning the pages on her book.

"You better go wash your face. You look so sleepy."

Ian gave her a weak smile. "I am fine really. Didn't sleep well last night."

Rebecca ceased her eyebrows, then turned away reluctantly. It rained all the way through the 3rd period when , the bell rang again, forcing the students to marched to their Biological lab. "Are you sure, you are ok ?" Rebecca asked again, walking side by side Ian.

Ian nodded again flashing a weak smile. They entered the laboratory, where they found, 10 desks with two round stools around them.

"Divide into two please. Quickly." Sir Arthur called leaning at the rostrum.

Rebecca and Ian went to stand next to each other. They placed their bags down and sat on the uncomfortable stool.

"Now Class….today we will be doing Disection of Autotrophics. Does anyone has any idea about Autotrophs ?" He asked.

Before Ian could even settle herself, Rebecca's arm shot up missing Ian's glasses by inches.

"Yes miss…?"

"Immanuel….An organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances using light or chemical energy….. Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria are Autotrophics." She said eagerly and calmly.

"Excellent. A complete defination. Very good Miss… Immanuel." Sir Arthur complemented.

Rebecca grinned pleased with herself. Ian too smiled at her. "You are sharp." Ian said and Rebecca winked at her.

"I love Biology. One of my favourite subjects." She said, shrugging her shoulders.

Ian nodded. Rebecca looked funny to her. She seemed like a happy fellow with strong mind. It was almost noon and Ian was wishing the bell would ring anytime because she was dying of hunger. Her insides were clenching deeply. Having skip both dinner and breakfast was now showing it discomfort. Her stomach growled loudly enough for Rebecca to hear.

"You are hungry !" She laughed.

"How do you know ?"

"My little brother has the same stomach version like yours. It growls whenever hungry."

Ian smiled leaning against the desk. In a few minutes, the bell rung. Ian and Rebecca grabbed their backpacks and head for cafeteria.

"Save seat. I will get lunch. What you want ?" Rebecca asked.

"Sandwiches sounds good. And a water bottle." Ian replied.

"Right." She said nodding.

Ian handed her some money and Rebecca vanished into the crowd of people. Her stomach growled again. Feeling exhausted and hungry, Ian searched nook and corner of the Cafe finally stopping at the corner 4 tabled chair. She sat down, drawing out her cell staring at the picture in the cell phone. She didn't know for how much time she spent staring at it, Ian cleared out from her trance when someone touched her shoulder.

"Got some lunch !" Rebecca announced happily, dropping the tray on the table.

Ian quickly shoved her cell in her pocket. Rebecca sat in front of her and grabbed her pizza and salad. Ian took her sandwiches. They sat their eating in silence when suddenly two girls approached them.

"Hey guys, can we share ? Most of it are all full." Said one of them pointing at the vacant chairs.

"Sure, no problem." Rebecca said with Ian nodding pulling the chair out for them.

"Thanks" they said sitting down.

"I have seen you, weren't you two at the biology class this morning? I think I sat behind you." Ian said, adressing the girl sitting next to her.

"Oh yes. I also remember you both. The late comers." She said.

The girl sitting next to Ian was round and chubby and small in height. She was fair colour with compass drawn round face and bright big shining dark brown eyes. The other one sitting beside Rebecca was rather taller than all 4 of them. She was slender and thin with innocent face and curly black hair. She was constantly busy in her cell phone even after sitting down with pile of food in front of her.

"Were you at the lab ?" Rebecca asked.

"Yes we were. Sitting at the front." The chubby one said.

"Oh. Must have missed out. By the way, everyone having Bio class are to have it's lab also." Rebecca said.

Ian opened her water bottle and offered it to Rebecca. She took it.

"Want some ?" Ian asked the two girls.

"No thanks I'm good. Im Tia by the way. " The chubby one said.

"And, I am Ian. Nice to get to know you."

"Me too. I'm Rebecca."

They waited for the fourth girl to introduce herself but she kept on staring at her cell.

Tia cleared her throat, nudging at her leg.

"What ? Oh ! Hi all. My name is Ash," she said smiling at them.

Her absent minded style made Ian chuckled. Her only one attitude showed she must be more funnier then Rebecca.

"What are you looking in your cell for so long ?" Ian asked.

Ash giggled. "Can you believe it? You are asking me what am I doing and guess what, I don't even know how to operate this phone !"

Ian and Rebecca laughed out.

"Seriously you don't know ?" Ian asked again.

"Yeah. Honestly. This is my first iPhone. Dad bought me one. But no one is helping me to operate it." Ash said.

Rebecca took her phone from her, trying to solve it her own ways. She managed to open several of the apps. Her fingers running all over the screen.

"Mind if I teach you ?" She asked.

Ash suddenly looked very much happy.

"Feel free. I would be delighted." She said clapping her hands together.

Tia laughed then turned to Ian looking down at her tray.

"You have 10 mins before the break goes off and you haven't even finished your half sandwiches." She remarked.

Ian looked down realizing that she couldn't eat much any longer. It was beginning to get her nauseated.

"I am fine. I will pack it" Ian said.

"And I say you finish it. You are so skinny. You need to eat as much as you could." Tia said.

Ian smiled lightly. "Yeah, I'll get along. It's just I don't feel like eating, you know."

Tia nodded sympatheticly. "I know. Anxiety of first day at school. But that's ok. It will go away eventually."

Ian shrugged. "I don't know, I don't have mych experience being around people having to talk to me."

That caught Rebecca to glance at Ian as well. Tia on the other hand looked confusedly at her. Ian suddenly realized she has spoken to much that she quikcly tried to cover. "I- uh- I don't mean that. It's just I don't have much of friends, that's all."

Tia scratched her head. "Well, you might have some from your elementary school or anything."

Before Ian could answer, the bell rang and suddenly there was a rush a students walking towards their class.

"What class ?" Rebecca asked, handing back Ash her phone.

"Physics. Yours ?" Ash said.

Rebecca and Ian checked their timetables.

"Im with Physics too." Ian said.

"So am I. Woow! What a coincidence !" Rebecca said happily reaching for her bag.

"Lets go then," Tia said marching forward.

Ash followed Tia. Rebecca haulted and waited for Ian to pack her lunch then together the 4 of them made their ways to the Physics class.

Arriving, they immediately heard loud voices of boys arguing at the door, causing some students to walk by and look annoyed.

Ash entered first followed by Tia, Rebecca and Ian. The room was packed already. The boys were standing by desks and shouting over each other, clearly getting frustrated. Some girls had occupied the seats and some standing over another chatting. Ian glanced at them and saw that some of the boys had green shirts. A blue collar shirt was on top of the rest. She wondered who was wearing blue collared shirts and why she couldn't see their names on it.

"Good afternoon class. Welcome to Physics. My name is Professor Hudson. I hope you guys are prepared for today's lesson." An older man dressed in blue pants with a grey blouse greeted the class.

Ian looked around the classroom. There were many people seated. Some had books lying in front of them and some others had laptops open. Professor Hudson took his place behind his desk looking at his laptop screen. Ian and the girls sat in the second row. When Ian looked back to the boys on the other side of the room, she was surprised to find one of them staring at him. Their eyes met for a short moment and Ian could swear the flashed a smile at her. After that, he returned his eyes to the professor, feeling somewhat guilty.

"What's up?" Ash nudged Ian in her ribs.

"Emm, nothing just…Nothing." She mumbled not daring to look back. The four girls settled down in the Physics Class. They all sat in a row, one behind another. Rebecca sat in front. Behind her sat Tia then Ian and then Ash. Mr.Hudson, appeared from the door, and at once got busy in giving lectures.

"Please be with me. Physics courses always have a lot to cover so I will be going fast. I request you all, do not hesitate in asking questions. Is that clear ?" He demanded. The whole class answered in a chorus. Giving a stiff nod, Mr. Hudson turned towards the board and continued.

"How do we unlock this app ?" Ash asked, tapping Ian on her shoulder. Ian turned around to face her. "Try the back button." She whispered.

"Back button ? There is no backing thing. Just one middle place and nothing else." Ash hissed.

"Then pressed that. We will see after the class." Ian said.

Ash leaned back, tucking her phone in her pocket whispering some angry words.

"Ok class. Copy the question.....,if a ball is traveling in a circle of diameter 10 m with the velocity of 20m/s, find the angular velocity of the ball ?" Mr. Hudson announced

"I hate numericals," Ian murmured.

Tia gave her thumbs up. "So do I. Don't worry. I am with you." She said, making Ian smile.

Rebecca took no notice except her fingers running on the calculator and one hand grazing down her lecture copy. And within a minute, her hand was shot in the air.

"Yes Miss Immanuel ?"

"Sir, the answer is 4" Rebecca suggested confidently.

"And how did you find this ? Explain."

Rebecca took a deep breath then continue, "Sir, using the equation, ω=vr . In this case the radius is 5 which is half of the diameter and linear velocity is 20 m/s. We can divide 20 by 5 and the answer is 4." She said,

"Well Done. Excellent job, Miss Immanuel !" The teacher exclaimed gleefully.Rebecca grinned and a happy large balloon swelling inside her.

"Next question class !" He barked, marching in the middle of the rows with a book in his hands.

"Suppose a car tire rotates 8 times a second. The tire has a diameter of 8 inches. Find the angular velocity in radians per second.?" He said. There was again the rush of students running through their copies and calculators. Mr. Hudson waited patiently for them to finish. Within two minutes, Rebecca shot up this time another girl raised her arm who was sitting in the corner.

"Yes, Miss...? "

"Kate DeMelo." The girl said.

"Your answer ?"

"16π sir."

Mr. Hudson ceases his forehead. "16. Can you explain ?"

"Sir," Kate gulped, going through her copy. " We are taking a pie for calculating angular speed velocity."

"But how did you find out the answer 16? It is correct but is there any explanation ?"

Seeing Kate not being able to give proper satisfaction, he turned to Rebecca. "Yes, Miss Immanuel ?"

"Answer is 16π. Using the formula for angular velocity.The frequency of the tire is 8 revolutions per second. The radius is not used. Substitute the frequency and solve. ω=2πf=2π(8) which is equal to 16π" Rebecca said.

Mr. Hudson smiled and pointed at her. "This is the explanation I wanted. Well Done again Miss Immanuel. You really are a bright student." He said.

Ian looked at her nodding when Rebecca turned around showing a thumbs up. Half an hour later, the four of them were walking down the corridor clutching onto their bags

"What are you ? An alien ?" Tia asked.

Rebecca laughed. "Physics is such a boring subject and you were topping in numericals !" She said unbelievably.

"Not just physics," Ian said. "She outclassed the whole class in biology also remember ?"

"Oh certainly ! How can I forget ?" Tia said. "Now I am going to call you Autotrophs."

Rebecca laughed again, happy to hear this all. They all marched outside in the big playground. They had a free track so they decided to get some fresh air. Ian was feeling a bit more relieved with the fresh air. Having finished physics, especially numericals, she was nauseated again. She was also surprised to find herself submerged with three friends. They sat down at the corner bench of the ground. A group of sophomore boys were busy playing soccer. They were all dressed in maroon sweatshirts and maroon half pants.They were shouting and causing a lot of chaos there. The four girls could also see a tall man standing in a yellow tracksuit with a yellow whistle in his mouth. He was jogging and showing the boys about some actions he looked tensed but determined. It was still drizzling, making the weather more and more fine. Tia stretched out, opening her hairs and running her fingers in them, twisting her hair band around her wrist. Ian and Rebecca watched the boys play the game.

"He must be the coach." Ian said pointing at the yellow suit man.

Rebecca nodded, not taking her eyes off. "They are senior boys. Haven't seen any of them in our class." She said,

Ian turned to face her. "They are seniors ?"

Rebecca shook her head. "No, I don't think so. They look so young."

Ian nodded. "Maybe they are sophomores."

Rebecca shrugged, stretched her arms wide and taking a deep breath. Ian smiled a little and went back to gaze at the boys. Her eyes were again stuck upon them, her mind playing broken images of when she used to do when she was such a fun loving person. Now she had become more serious.

"Are you a sports type person ?" Rebecca asked.

Ian looked back and saw her face so near her that she almost stumbled back. "Oh! Yeah kind of. What about you? "

Rebecca grinned. "Me too. I still play,"then turning to Tia and Ash she added. "What about you guys?"

Tia just scrunched up her face as though she didn't like the idea of sports at all but Ash was half nodding and half shaking her head. Rebecca and Ian chuckled at her.

"Why is this mixed signal?" Ian asked interestingly.

"I broke my ankle when I was six. Never ever say a foot in a field since then." She made a sad face.

"Oh, that's too bad. But mind you, it happens alot during sports. You get terrifying injuries. Right Ian?"

Ian nodded. "Yeah, and the thing is, You can't do anything about it."

Silence fell out among them, they all sat in peace watching the practice and enjoying the fresh cool breeze. Ian looked up at Tia and Ash, both of them busy with their phones. Rebecca on the other hand was having her eyes closed and enjoying the breeze. Ian felt relief. She never had this type of comfort. Since a very long time, she had spent her life alone with her family and no friends. The ones she had once, were gone and Ian still fought to think why. Maybe half of that was because of her and she was never a good person and now having three girls in front of her, she felt safe and also worried. What if they hates her like other ? What if they find out what she had done? They seems to be nice specially Rebecca that she never questioned or interrogate her in any case like the way Ian expected or feared. I. fact, she was kinder towards her and Ian felt like she had known Rebecca for months. How lucky she was to have someone who she was beginning to find comfort in.

"What's up, Ian? You look like you're thinking something." Ash pointed, looking up from her phone.

Ian snapped out of her thought bubble. "Oh, uh sorry I kind of broke off."

Tia sneered at her. " Broke off? You sounded like a dumped girlfriend."

Ian chuckled, while Ash and Rebecca laughed at her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to. It's just, alot on my mind."

"Like what ? Boys or anything stuff?" Tia teased her, smacking her elbow at her.

Ian grinned, turning pink at once. So, Tia was a kind of a girl who could an immediate liking of a boy. One thing Ian learnt about her. Not bad. Maybe it's just how she is.

"So Ash," Rebecca began. "I was wondering, what is actually meant by your name?"

"What do you mean?" Ash asked.

"Not that I didn't like it but isn't Ash a boyish name?"

Ash rolled her eyes. "Oh that's my aunt. She's always getting on my nerves. She wanted to have a unique name of mind so I got landed this one. It's actually Ashley, which everyone shortened to Ash so Ash it is."

Ian patted her leg. "I say it's a good name. Ashley is beautiful but since you're Ash and then Ash you will be. "

Ash gave out a small happy smile. " What about you? Ian ? As if Vivian or anything like this?"

" Nah! Just Ian. Everyone calls me this so Ian it is. I know it's a weirdo name for a girl."

Rebecca shook her head. "I won't say weirdo. I'd say it's unique and smart. Something should be a little different apart from others."

"Woow! Thanks alot." Ian smiled

" I don't think anyone should be ashamed of their names. I mean, look at the name Gaga! That's hilarious!" Tia chimed in.

Ash laughed. " Who's horrible name is that? "

Tia smacked her arm. " The singer, Lady Gaga. You were listening to her song in the cafe, remember? "

Ash thought for a moment then her brain bulb flipped on. "Oh yeah,! Silly me!"

Tia, Rebecca and Ian laughed out slightly. So Ash was innocent and crazy. Quite like Pheobe from the series F.R.E.N.D.S. Ian will have alot of fun around her. They sat in silence again when suddenly Rebecca almost toppled over her.

"Hey Autotrophs, help me with this app." Ash said, pushing Rebecca on Ian.

"Okay, Okay. you don't have to push me like that. I could have fall on the stair. "

Ash shook her head. "No, you'd fall on Ian and Ian would have gotten on stairs."

"Oh, fine!" Rebecca leaned towards her, taking her iPhone. Tia was busy taking her own selfies with her hair open. Ian watched the boys playing the match. Their bags and bottles were lying where they were sitting. Ian watched them with hunger in her eyes. She could remember the same laughter and the fight, of the game she had with her cousin who was more like her sister. They used to play a lot more than those boys. From inside Ian felt like being burnt in the fire of agony. Oh, she wished she had the power of changing the past to bring back what she had lost forever. But it was impossible. For the past was gone. Her mistake was done and now it seemed to be her punishment to doom herself about what she had committed. Ian felt her eyes watering but she knew, she must not show any signs of injury or her weakness here. Not on the first day of her fresh year. Impatiently drying the wetness in her eyes, Ian shook with a sudden jerk when she heard one of the boys shouted.

"Dude, that was cheating !" Said one of them.

"Come on man. Just accept you lost !" The other one replied back.

"You cheated. I will get you next time. Try your ass around here !"

The boy yelling was a strong muscular one with dusty brown hair, raised like spikes above his head. He had watery blue eyes, with a small patch of beard on his chin and the rest of them were clean shaved. The second one replying back, had a group of 3 more boys around him. The 3 of them were patting him, encouraging him for victorios shot. He had dark brown spiky hair, a french cut beard and a heavy muscular body. The other one had neat black hair style and clean shaved Another was a little slender and black tufty hairs. The last of them had the same muscular boy and green eyes. The raven hair came jogging at the girls. He searched for his bag then spotted it beside Ian.

"Excuse me. Pass me my bag." He said.

Ian grabbed the black NIKE backpack and handed it to him.

" Thanks." He said, making his place and sitting with the girls.

Rebecca lifted her face after dealing with the iPhone when she noticed that the boy, who was replying back, was leaning against the Goal Post and staring at Tia. Tia was still busy, her long silky hair swinging with the wind as she rang her fingers in them and the boy stared and stared, not dropping his eyes from her. She sneered then slapped Ian signaling her to enjoy what she was seeing. Ian smiled too. Her smile turned into a grinned looking at the boy staring at Tia.

"Do you like this game ?" Asked the boy sitting next to them

"Yeah. I used to play by myself before, " Ian said.

"Really ? Do you still know ?"

Ian shook her head. "Not exactly. I took a break from sports."

The boy chuckled, now tying his shoelace.

"Once you start a sport, don't ever take a break. Otherwise you will be out of form." He said.

" I know. Maybe just, no one plays with me any more." Ian mumbled, unable to control her words.

The boy thought for a moment then smiled widely. "Why don't you come here on the ground? Play with us. We will train you." He said.

Rebecca and Ash gave a sneering old cough much to tease Ian. Tia also smirked at her making Ian go pink.

"You all ? You mean yourself and the one staring at my friend ?" Ian said

The boy looked at his partner and laughed.

"Oh, that's Braddin. He's the Captain. That one over there with dusty brown hair, that guy wants to be a Captain."

"And you are ?" Tia asked, realizing after a very long time that a boy named Braddin was staring at her.

"I'm Skyler. Skyler Zach Smith." He pushed back his hair.

"I am Tia. This is Ian, Rebecca and Ash."

"Pleasure to meet you all. And Ian, take my advice. Join my team. It's fun to play." Skyler said.

"Would you mind introducing the rest of your team ?" Ian said.

Skyler beamed at her. "Sure no problem. Come on all. I will introduce you guys." He said.

Skyler got up, leading the four girls at his corner camp. His friends were sitting there. They were having chit chats together. Skyler took his bag and asked if the girls could carry the other boys' bags back to them. They all agreed and followed Skyler at his camp point. Braddin stood up when he saw the girls marching towards them, with their bags dangling around them.

"Hey man, you could have brought them yourself." He said.

"Nah, I want to introduce you all to these girls. This is Ian, Tia Ash and Rebecca. And girls meet Braddin, Roy and Ethan."

Roy was the slender boy, Ethan was the one with green eyes and Braddin was the same muscular one staring at Tia. Braddin beamed in happiness when he saw that Tia was carrying his bag. Pushing Roy out of the way, he eagerly stepped forward and took his bag. "Thank you so much, Tia." He said softly.

"Welcome." Tia said, raising her eyebrows.

Roy took his own, from Ash. "Thanks alot." He said.

Ash only smiled at him becoming shy with Roy smiling gently at him. In the end, came Ethan, who took his bag and nodded. "That's kind of you. " He said.

"Anytime." Rebecca replied, shrugging her shoulders.

"Guys, this Ian here is also a player. I asked her if she wanted to join us." Skyler said, pointing at Ian.

"Sure thing. It's no problem." Braddin said.

Ian became a little scared with four heavy cow size boys around her but when Braddin smiled softly at her, she eased." I don't want to interrupt you all." Ian said.

"Nonsense. You will have fun." Roy said.

"Do you mind if I join too ? I like Football also." Rebecca asked

Ethan nodded eagerly, trying to become very supportive ."I think you all should come and visit us. Come tomorrow if you're free at 11 am sharp." Braddin said, who wanted Tia to come too.

"If we are on a free track then we will come." Rebecca said.

Ethan nodded again. "We will wait for you all." He said.

They heard the bell ring in the distance. "Uh oh !Time to go." Ash said, checking her watch.

"Yeah. See you guys later." Ian said, turning back.

"Ok. See ya. Remember eleven sharp !" Skyler said. Rebecca showed him thumbs up then the four girls ran back to their classrooms