Chapter 1 The New Girl

• Luna
• Coming to this town was not my choice. I'm not one to complain about trivial things like other girls my age. In fact, many would say I don't act my age, as I'm quite mature in many ways. However, being seventeen keeps me tethered to my parents, which is what brought me to North Walland.
• The town isn’t as quiet as I imagined, yet something here makes me feel uneasy. I can't quite explain it. It's like an energy flows through me, sending chills down my spine, like a whisper in my ear.
• However, my tastes don't align with the plan my parents made for me, without my input. We arrived a few weeks ago, and today is my first day at one of the most prestigious schools in the country. At least that's something positive.
• The problem is... well, how can I put it... everyone here is a jerk. New West is renowned, yes, but it's the school for the rich kids. It's where the offspring of the elite study, and like all spoiled children, they are full of arrogance.
• Of course, I'm no saint. I have my flaws, but at least I don't trample on others to get what I want or to maintain an air of superiority.
• At this very moment, I am staring at the massive, classic building that resembles an old castle, with all its well-maintained and expensive features. It’s a beautiful sight, exuding elegance, but the people chatting, passing by, and some even staring at me, are not to my liking.
• Obviously, they all know each other, and I'm the only stranger here, so I'll be the center of attention for a while. Thankfully, I'm not the shy type.
• Clutching my sketchbooks, with my backpack on and wearing the uniform—opting for the pants instead of the suggestive skirt—I walk among them.
• I must admit, I’m a bit anxious. Being the new girl sucks, but I'll face it with my head held high and without shame. Even if many girls my age look at me with disdain or envy.
• Before I even step on the first stair, my playlist through my headphones plays something that relaxes me, even though my musical taste isn’t what these people are used to. I like something darker, melancholic, and sometimes more festive, but still calm in its own way.
• I take a deep breath and walk through the entrance, observing the inside of the enormous school, which, at first glance, isn't much different from the outside. Huge staircases lead to the upper floors, and I estimate there are about five levels, with classrooms spread out, leaving the ground floor for the banquet hall.
• I could say this is going to be the worst experience of my life. Moving to a new town, surrounded by strangers, with a strange feeling. Even more so in a school filled with people who care more about their bank accounts, morality, and good manners. Well, good manners to them mean appearing to have a happy, righteous life, while in reality, they can't stand each other.
• Should I feel sorry? Perhaps. But as I notice the stares of my new classmates, that thought quickly vacates my mind.
• I don't care about any of them. Do I come off as arrogant? Yes, perhaps pretentious too. But I can't judge myself, especially not now and not here. If they can be, why can't I? After all, unlike them, I don't look them up and down and judge them by the clothes they wear or the gossip about their classmates' lives.
• I don't care about any of that, except for my studies. I want to go to Oxford and study literature. It's something that's been ingrained in me, I would say. Well, from my mother's side at least. As for my father, a big businessman, he wants me to study business administration, to take over the company leadership when I'm older and when he finally decides to retire.
• I can't see myself in that position, I don't think I ever will. I hate being the leader of something I have no passion for; business, that's just not my thing. I prefer my corner, at the back of the library, reading a classic book or a mystery, getting engaged until the last chapter, to find out if everything I imagined will actually happen.
• I take a deep breath, finally returning to my reality. I didn't want to do this, but a girl with short hair, glasses, bottle-bottom lenses, wearing the school blazer, which is the trademark of this huge school, appears in front of me, babbling something that I try to read from her lips.
• But since I can't comprehend everything because she speaks too fast, I end up having to pause my playlist and take the earphones out of my ears. And as soon as I do that, her shrill, very annoying voice enters my ears, making me regret everything. I believe this girl is here to greet me.
• I entered halfway through the year, which isn't very common, but since my father decided to move here at the last minute, without my consent, my enrollment had to come to this institution, so I wouldn't miss anything in any year of my study phase.
• "Sorry, I didn't hear or understand anything you said," I communicate. The girl, who at that moment let her shoulders droop, looked at me incredulously but quickly composed herself, giving a shy smile, and started babbling again. "I was saying my name is Mary Ann, I'm the person who's going to greet you, show you every detail of this school..."
• To be continued...