After living with the Stuek's for a couple weeks, they decided it was time for me to go to school. This gave me a whole new level of anxiety. From what I heard from the older kids at the orphanage, school is bad enough. But going to a new school, as a freshman would be hell.

"You'll have so much fun! 당신 can meet new people, and if 당신 want, 당신 can have your new 프렌즈 over..." Mrs. Stueck said cheerfully. She'd just gotten 집 from the store. She'd gotten me a bunch of new "school clothes." Thankfully, she refrained from buying anything pink.

"Thanks," I whispered. She stopped and gaped at me.

"Uh... No problem, Dear. Your welcome." I pursed my lips and nodded slowly. Then she returned to glorifying high school, when I knew it wasn't true.

The 다음 day, I had to get up extra early, which I was not so thrilled about.

"Good morning, Hecate," Mr. Stueck smiled. He'd made the kids breakfast; eggs and 토스트 with 주황색, 오렌지 juice. "G'head and eat before it gets cold," he said kindly.

"Thanks," I muttered. He smiled warmly. Amica and Amory's eyes widened. I bit my lip. If they acted like this every time I spoke, then I'd prefer to just shut up. I finished getting ready, and Mr. Stueck told everyone to get in the car. I got to sit in the front, while Amica and Amory sat in back. Amory got dropped off first, at the elementary school. Next, Amica got dropped off at middle school. Soon, Mr. Stueck pulled up in front of the high school.

"Well, here we are. Just go to the office and they'll give 당신 your schedule. I hope 당신 don't mind, but we registered 당신 as Fayard-Stueck..." I shrugged. "Ok, well, I'll pick 당신 up for school. Have a nice day." I nodded and got out, readjusting the strap of my messenger bag. I managed to find my way to the front office.

"Are 당신 a new student?" the secretary asked. I nodded, and she went to look through some papers. "Name please?"

"Hecate," I whispered. She leaned toward me; she hadn't heard me. "Hecate," I said again, my voice trembling.

"Ah, found it..." she smiled. Her eyes widened as she looked over my schedule. "Um... here 당신 are Miss Fayard..." she said. I took my schedule and then made a quick escape from the office. This is one of those times where I really hate what my parents did. Actually, I always hate it. But this is one of those times where I'm reminded of it.

I went to my first class, which was English. The teacher there, Mr. Ballard introduced me to the class and I took my seat.

"Aren't 당신 excited to be here?" he asked cheerfully. I shook my head, and the class giggled. Mr. Ballard frowned, and I cringed into my seat. I was just being honest...

After class, I was headed to math when a girl stopped me.

"Your name's Hecate?" she asked. I nodded and started to continue walking, but she stopped me again. "You live with the Stuek's, right?" I nodded again. So she remembered my last name... I was just glad that was what stuck with her. The kids my age don't generally know anything about my parents, because they weren't born when they did all those cruel things... The girl held out her hand. "Hi! I'm Chasity. I was 프렌즈 with Averil. Welcome to the school!" I hugged my 책 closer to my chest, and did not try to shake her hand. She slowly pulled it back. "Um... So... 당신 wanna sit with my 프렌즈 and I at lunch? We'd 사랑 to have you." I shrugged. "Well, if 당신 do, come on over! See ya!" she smiled and practically skipped away. I stood there for a while frozen, then shook my head and went off to math.

I didn't run into anyone else that wanted to talk to me for the 다음 half of the day. Then lunch came, and I started to grow worried. At the orphanage, I had no problem eating 의해 myself. The older kids would remind me though that when I started public school, I'd get picked on if I ate alone. I wasn't so sure I wanted to test their sincerity. I stood in the cafeteria with my tray, looking for a 표, 테이블 that was barely occupied. If there wasn't that many people there, I'm sure they wouldn't mind me sitting there. It's not like I'd bother them at all.

"Hecate!" a voice called. I turned around, terrified. I'm sure no one knew me. I was ready to get beat up 또는 something. Lots of the older kids at the orphanage would tell horror stories to the homeschooled ones about how kids get beaten senseless all the time. But instead it was Chasity. "Wanna sit with us?" she asked. Not really, but I don't think I had a choice. I nodded and she smiled. "Great! Come on!"

I followed her across the cafeteria, to a 표, 테이블 that had only a couple people at it.

"Sit here," she said excitedly. I did as she said, and my 심장 picked up as the others at the 표, 테이블 stared at me. "Guys, this is Hecate. Introduce yourselves!"

"Hi, I'm Liberty," a girl said. She had dirty blond hair and glasses. "Nice to have 당신 here." She looked to her side, where a boy with choppy blond hair was sitting. He wore a neon blue and green hoodie.

"Axel," he said in a rough voice. Chasity looked to a pair of kids that looked similar. The girl had long, spiky black hair and a couple red highlights. The boy had short spiky hair, and the tips were purple.

"That's Raven, and Crow. They're twins," Chasity said. 까마귀 nodded once and Raven smiled and waved.

"Our mom likes birds," Raven whispered. "In case 당신 couldn't tell." Axel scoffed.

"Hecate lives with the Stueck's," Chasity announced. Everyone's eyes widened, and Axel turned his gaze to the table.

"Oh," they all said grimly.

"How are they doing?" Liberty asked. I shrugged and nodded. "That's good," she said half heartedly. "...So, Axel, did 당신 finish the history homework?" she said quickly, changing the subject. Axel nodded and took it out, and Raven asked if he knew the answer to a question.

"Sorry about that," Chasity whispered. "It's been hard ever since Averil left. She was a good friend of ours." I nodded. Conversation picked up after that, to things that people enjoyed talking about. I didn't voice my opinion on anything, I just slowly picked at my lunch and listened in on a heated 토론 about animal abuse.

"Don't 당신 ever talk?" 까마귀 asked. Raven elbowed him in the side.

"Shut up! She's new here; she's just shy." I shrank inside myself and ducked my head. "It's ok, just ignore him," she said. "Just like I do." 까마귀 rolled his eyes.

Everyone was ok. Raven and 까마귀 seem to get on each other's nerves a lot. Liberty is the sweet and nice one; who's very aware of others' feelings. Axel is the goofball, but is also really smart. And Chasity seems to be the head of all of them. She kind of directs the conversations, but she doesn't seem to be aware of her power, and if she is, she doesn't abuse it.

Soon enough, the 일 was over. Everyone met me outside and said goodbye. Raven hugged me, which was startling.

"Tell her parents we're so sorry," she said. She pulled away and waved, then left with her brother. Axel waved once and left his on skateboard. He ruffled Raven's hair as he passed them on the sidewalk.

"See ya," Liberty smiled before heading to her bus.

"So, did 당신 have a nice day?" Chasity asked. I shrugged. It could've been worse. She looked at me thoughtfully for a while. "You're not very talkative are you?" I blushed and shook my head. She had no idea... "That's ok," she smiled. "We're just glad to have 당신 here." A car honked. "Oops, that's my ride. See 당신 tomorrow, Hecate!" She patted my shoulder before running off to a car. I saw Mr. Stueck's car, and I went over and got in. Neither Amica 또는 Amory were there, making it even 더 많이 awkward.

"Did 당신 have a nice day?" he asked. I shrugged. "I saw 당신 with that girl. Is that Chasity?" I nodded. He was quiet for a moment, and nodded. "Wow... Haven't seen her in a long time. Well, I'm glad 당신 had a great day." I raised my eyebrow. I never said that, but ok.