Faye POV
Wow, I must say this school really looks big. The surroundings are filled with flowers, and it has two buildings, one for elementary to middle school and the second for high school.
I stood in front of the school building, holding my school bag on one shoulder, staring. I swear I didn't even know where to look. I have never been the new girl before. Okay, maybe six years ago when I first arrived at Redwood, but I was much younger then. It took me years to gather the friends I had there, and now I am going to do it all over again. This is so not fair.
I adjusted my bag and walked into my new school.
The strap pressed into my shoulder. My palm felt damp against the fabric. I shifted it again, inhaled slowly, and let the air out through my mouth. One step. Then another. The glass doors reflected a girl who looked calm enough. I tried to believe her.
Inside, the hallway buzzed. Lockers shutting. Shoes squeaking. Laughter bouncing off the walls. I kept my chin up and my pace steady, even though my heartbeat refused to match it.
I asked around for the principal's office, and they easily showed me. Actually, Eriko was not lying when he said the students of Oakland High School were nice. They didn't make me feel like some outcast. No one stared at me like some weirdo, like, oh, a new freak just arrived or something.
A girl with braided hair pointed left. A boy holding a stack of books nodded and said, "Second door on the right." Casual. Easy. Like I already belonged.
After meeting with the principal, she made me sign some transfer papers and took my photo for an ID card because students are meant to have one. She said it was for identification purposes. She had a microphone and spoke into it, calling a student named Malone Griffin to come to the office.
The flash from the camera caught me off guard. I blinked too late. Great. My first impression in plastic form.
In a few minutes, a boy stood in my presence. He looked relaxed, like being summoned to the principal's office was a normal activity.
The principal told Malone to show me around the school premises and then take me to Class 10B.
"My name is Malone Griffin."
"Yes, I know."
"Oh, you know? That is great. Have we met before?"
"No, we haven't. And if you are wondering how I knew, the principal said your name like a dozen times."
His lips parted like he was about to say something clever, then closed again. I noticed a bit of shyness on his face, or maybe it was disappointment. I'm not really sure. I'm not that good with facial expressions. We stepped back into the hallway.
"So this is the cafeteria. We eat here during lunchtime and do some other things. Also, you can call me Malo or MG. Which one is fine by you? I am everyone's favorite errand boy, with a tip," he said after showing me the last place in the school premises.
The cafeteria smelled like fries and something sweet. A few students waved at him as we passed. He waved back like a local celebrity.
"Malo is fine," I said.
"Good choice," he replied quickly.
Every place was great, especially the basketball court. The ball thudded against the floor in steady rhythms. Sneakers screeched. Someone laughed after missing a shot. I watched a guy leap, fingers brushing the rim.
I can't wait to bounce that ball and dunk it.
My fingers twitched slightly, like they could already feel the rough surface of it.
But first, my number one mission is to make friends with the Alpha girl.
"So I heard that there is an Alpha in this school," I asked as we moved toward my new class.
He glanced at me from the corner of his eye.
"Oh yes, an Alpha. Her name is Princess Kings, the most popular girl in the entire school and, of course, Oakland. She is one of the three Alphas."
"Three Alphas?"
"Yes, there are three Alpha siblings. The big guy, as in the main Alpha, the ruler of Oakland, has three grandchildren, two boys and the last born, which is the Alpha princess."
The way he said it made it sound like a title carved in stone.
"That's… cool," I said as I cleared my throat. "So is there a way I can be like… friends with her?"
My voice almost cracked on the word friends. I swallowed quickly.
"Wow, so fast. This is your first day, and you are already targeting the big meat."
"It's not like that. I didn't mean it. I was just…" My words tangled together. I might have panicked a little.
He chuckled softly.
"It's fine. Everyone in this school wants to be friends with the number one top student. But actually, the princess has only two friends. One is Kiara, her future Luna wife, and the second is her hot-headed best friend, Beam. Together they make a trio, an unbreakable bond. No one has ever been a fourth. They have been friends since they were tiny little pups. No one can ever enter that circle of their friendship. I have tried. A lot of other students like you have tried, but it never happened. Not even that close. But you can. I will give you a little bit of hope, even if there isn't any."
He said it lightly, but something in his tone settled heavily in my chest.
Wow, this guy talks a lot. But he sure knows a lot too. Still, I am not going to let his words break me. I need to be friends with an Alpha.
I need to have my revenge on those bitches.
The thought slid through my mind, sharp and cold. My jaw tightened before I even realized it.
"Oh, you are lucky. 10B looks like the Moon Goddess is on your side," he said as we stood in front of Class 10B. Across from it was 10A. "unfortunately, I happen to be in 10A, but guess who happens to be in 10B. Your try-your-luck friend. The Alpha princess is in 10B."
My stomach flipped. He gestured toward the classroom door.
"I think this is where we part freshwolf. Welcome to Oakland High," he said, and then he bounced into his class.
I stood there for a second before pushing the door open. The handle felt cool under my palm.
I entered my new class and looked around. The moment I stepped in, everyone stared at me and went quiet.
Conversations cut off mid sentence. A pen dropped somewhere near the window. Chairs creaked as bodies shifted.
That new girl feeling started to crawl up my spine. I could feel it in the back of my neck, in the space between my shoulders. My breathing slowed on purpose. In. Out.
The teacher was busy writing on the board when I entered. He stopped midway and turned to look at me. His eyes moved from my shoes to my face.
"Good morning, sir. I am the new transfer student, Faye Grande," I greeted.
My voice sounded steadier than I felt.
Before he could answer, I heard footsteps approaching from the back seats.
Slow. Confident.
Each step measured. No rush. No hesitation. I turned to look.
It was her.
The long black hair. Smooth and straight down her back. That Chanel throwing bitch. The one who gripped my wrist so tight.
For a second, the classroom disappeared.
I felt it again. Her fingers digging into my skin. The pressure. The sting.
She was walking toward me now, stretching her hand out like she wanted to punch me.
Her face was calm. Almost polite. My pulse roared in my ears. No, no i didn't wait. My hand tightened on its own.
My fingers curled slowly, knuckles whitening. My arm moved before my thoughts could catch up.
And my fist landed on her face so hard.