1 Chapter One

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐞

"Wake up." Callie removed the duvet off her brother before she began to shake his shoulders. "Wake up or you'll be late for work."

Cole groaned, slowly slipping off his bed. "Am I driving you to school?" Cole asked, putting a shirt over his head.

"I'll be driving her." Connor had a grin plastered on his face as he entered the room. "Are you excited for your first day of school, Callie?"

She tilted her head to the side, wondering if her brother had gone mental. "I'm going to take a shower. You two better get dressed and be ready by the time I stepped out of my room." She said before leaving the room.

Cole frowned. "You really had to mention that?" Cole muttered. "She hates it when we talk about it, you know." Cole pointed out.

Connor rolled his eyes. "Yes, I know that she hates it." Connor stated. "She should know that what happened to that school wasn't her fault and will never be her fault."

Callie was inside her room, eyeing her new uniform from blouse to skirt. It was a blue checkered skirt that reached up to her mid thigh. The skirt was partnered with a blue checkered blazer and a checkered necktie. She was grateful that the blouse was white because it'll drive her mad to see all blue colors.

She huffed, slipping into the skirt and blouse. She tucked the blouse inside her skirt before she wore her socks that reached up to her thighs. She grabbed her black shoes from the closet before slipping them on.

"You look adorable." Cole said, leaning against the door frame.

"I look horrible." Stated the girl as she tied her brown hair up into a ponytail. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be getting ready for work?"

"I will in a bit. Just making sure that you're all dressed up and ready for school." Cole shrugged. "Look, I know a lot has happened to all of us, but, look on the bright side. You'll be starting over." He smiled, reassuringly.

"Since when did you become so soppy, Cole?" Callie teased, slinging her backpack over her shoulders. "Let's go before I get late on my first day." She said, walking past her brother.

The drive to the school was long since Arcturus Academy was on the other side of town. Nonetheless, she was a bit relieved that she was away from her previous school because she hates confrontation with others.

"This academy is bigger than I thought." Callie said in awe as she saw a bronze statue of what seems like the founder of the Academy.

Connor chuckled. "I know." He said, pulling over in front of the high school department. "I have a review later. I can't pick you up. Is it alright for you to take the bus? Or do you want me to call someone to pick you up?"

Callie shook her head. "It's fine." She shrugged. "I'll take the bus. You have fun at your review." She said, hopping out of the car.

"When has studying ever been fun?" Connor asked, arching his brow.

She grinned. "Never. I'll see you at dinner." She said before closing the car door. She fixed her skirt as she walked towards the high school department.

She stared in awe as she entered the department. It was sophisticated, beautiful, and the students around her looked very professional and smart.

"Hi, I'm a new student here. I was informed that I need to stop by here before I go to my classes." Callie said, politely as she entered the Registration Office.

"Name please." The woman asked, glancing at her clipboard.

"Calistine Walker."

The woman smiled, handing her papers. "Here is your school activity calendar, code for your locker and your schedule. Enjoy your senior year, Ms. Walker."

Callie smiled a little, grabbing the paper from the woman and placed it inside her bag. "Thank you." She muttered before exiting the room. She was walking towards her locker when a girl stopped her.

"Hi." The girl said, cheerfully. "You must be Calistine. I'm Savannah, I'll be your tour guide for today."

"Callie is just fine." Callie implied with a small smile on her face.

"Shall we get going?" Savannah asked, sheepishly.

Callie nodded, following the girl. Callie quickly observed the girl with dirty blonde hair. She was too chatty which annoyed Callie but she seems awfully nice.

"So, what class are you in?" Savannah asked. "Class 5." Callie answered. "What about you?"

"Class 3." Savannah smiled. "You must be really smart. I heard you were a scholar at Qetsiyah Academy."

"I was." Callie muttered, stopping in front of Class 5. "Now, I'm here."

"Want to have lunch with me later? I can introduce you to some friends." Savannah offered as she fixed the strap of her bag.

Callie shrugged. "I can't. Sorry. Maybe another time?" she asked. "I'll see you later." She said before entering the room. She quickly took a seat at the unoccupied armchair close to the window.

She sighed, staring at the window and enjoying the scenery. A cough from her side made her snap away from her thoughts. She saw a guy with raven colored hair standing over her, eyeing her, carefully. His dark black eyes were eyeing her from head to toe and that made Callie raised a brow at him.

"Can I help you? " the brunette asked, a bit snarky.

"That's my chair." The raven haired boy stated. "What are you doing at my spot?"

Callie furrowed her brows. She was about to argue, but she didn't. She grabbed her bag and moved to the chair behind the one she previously sat on. She wanted to fight for that seat, but she didn't have the strength to do so.

"Are you new here?" the raven haired boy asked as he sat down on his chair.

"No." Callie lied, casually, slumping against the armchair." I've been here for years.You just haven't noticed me." She mused.

"What's my name?" he asked, eyeing the girl from head to toe again.

"Pardon?"

"The person who's been here for years would know my name."

Callie sighed, rolling her eyes. "Fine. I'm new here."

"I'm Rhys Montecillio." He introduced, putting his hand in front of her. "And you are?"

Callie ignored shaking his hand, instead, she had a teasing smile on her face.

"I'm just someone who just transferred here, Mr. Montecillio."