I’m so different from most of the kids at school, mainly because they’ve spent their entire lives in this town, and because I just moved here, I feel like the outsider looking into their perfect world and not knowing where I fit.
Picking up the mug, I inhale the mocha scent and will myself to focus on what I have to do this year—get through the next twelve months. It’s not going to be easy, I can see that now. I’m used to living in a city where nobody knows me, but I can tell, just being here for a few days, that this town sticks together.
I close my eyes and recall the incident at lunch.
“She’s new.” The dark-haired girl glares at me, making it known that she doesn’t like me. Her hair is the color of raven’s wings. Her big blue eyes shimmer with confidence as she looks me over.
I’m not one of the rich kids from Tynewood.
I grew up in the city, and even though my father wasn’t struggling, and I had everything my heart desired. I’m no longer that girl, which frustrates me because I prefer being in a city where I’m one in a few million, not someone that sticks out like a sore thumb.
“She is indeed,” her friend sneers, but I focus on my lunch and not the leering gazes that attempt to burn through me.
“Hey,” Rukaiya’s voice sounds happy, excited even. “I got this.” She shoves a flyer over the table. The black, gold and red colors of the designs pop from the page.
“A party?”
“Yeah,” Rukaiya shrugs. “You said you wanted to be more outgoing. This is the perfect opportunity.” My best friend winks before pulling out a can of some new energy drink.
“Were you invited? Or did you find this lying around on a desk?” I ask with a smile. Something tells me my best friend would do anything to get me out of my bedroom.
“Stop being a party pooper, I was actually given this by a cute boy,” she whispers as she leans in. Her gaze darting around, and I wonder if she’s looking for said ‘cute boy.’
“And he has nothing to do with you dragging me out?”
Rukaiya grins slyly, but she doesn’t respond. She’s tried to set me up with guys when we were in high school all the time, and the last time was the worst. I fell for Joshua and lost my virginity to him, then found out he was hitting on the captain of the cheerleading team only a day later.
“I just don’t want you to become an old maid.” Rukaiya laughs. “I mean, you’re going to turn into that old lady with fifteen cats.”
“I will not,” I pout, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “I go out.” My indignation earns me an eye roll from my best friend. “Okay, well, I mean sometimes.”
“Come on, sugar cube,” Rukaiya pleads, using the nickname she gave me when we first met. “You gotta have some fun.”
“It’s difficult when I can’t stop thinking that my dad would want me to focus on school. I want to make him proud, Rukaiya.”
Her smile falls, and the guilt creases her pretty face. “I’m sorry, Dahl,” she says. “These are your college years. I just don’t want you to be stuck indoors for the next four years.”
Sighing, I nod. She’s right. I would hide out in my bedroom if I could. “I know.”
The two snobs, who were glaring at me earlier, notice the flyer. “The party is for elite only, outsiders aren’t welcome.”
Rukaiya’s gaze locks on the dark-haired bitch. “I didn’t realize elite meant whores who can’t do their makeup,” my best friend retorts angrily as she pushes up to stand.
The dark-haired girl sneers, before turning away from us. She strolls up to the football team, curling herself around one of the guys. I thought we left this mean girl syndrome back in high school, I guess I was wrong.
“Bitch.”
“You could’ve just ignored her.”
Rukaiya pins her glare on me. “No, I couldn’t have because I don’t deal well with rude bitches.”
“I don’t know if this party is such a good idea.” I meet Rukaiya’s intense gaze. She’s not letting this go, the conviction in her stare is enough to have me buckling.
“You’re going. We’re going. I’m not going to let idiots spoil our time in Tynewood. I came all this way for you,” Rukaiya reminds me.
When I told her I’d be living with my gran in Tynewood and attending the university here, she begged her dad to send her here as well. What we didn’t expect was her father to move them both here.
“Fine,” I sigh in resignation. “One party. That’s it.”
“Of course.” She giggles with a wink before grabbing her backpack. “I gotta get to the restroom before class. See ya.” And I’m alone with my thoughts once more.