You might think it’s hard enough to move to another state, while in the middle of your sophomore year in high school. But when you’re one of the only girls in recently co-ed boarding school, things are bound to get interesting…

Meet Kim Jaysen.

Welcome to The Mansfield Academy for young men.

Correction; welcome to the Mansfield Academy, co-ed circa 2004.

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Marion Blake had seemed to be a friendly girl, despite taking quite an interest in other people's business. Yeah, the kind that acts like an angel when authority figures are around, but can 180 into your own personal Satan in under three seconds. Their Homeroom teacher, Ms. Aldwin had just left the room to run a quick errand at the office, so naturally the kids had begun to talk. Kim was sitting in a corner somewhere in the middle, feeling much like the odd one out. Her shoulder-length, reddish-brown hair was pulled back partially and grey-colored eyes glanced about every so often. Kim was fairly tall, as tall as most of the boys in her 10th grade class. After all, she was one of the only girls. Marion had sidled over to where she sat and started up a conversation, much to Kim’s relief.

“So, Kim, what school did you transfer from?” She had asked, oh-so-casually.

“NYHS,” Kim had replied.

“New York High school?” The boy sitting behind her turned to join the conversation. He had introduced himself earlier as Owen Greene. He spoke with the slightest of British accents. Owen, Kim thought, was curious and reminded her somewhat of a mouse. However, he seemed like the type of person who would make a good friend. As Owen talked, other kids began to form a circle around Kim.

Owen continued, “Where is that?”

“New York City, two blocks northeast of Madison Square Garden,” Kim had said, trying to be friendly.

“New York?” Came a sneer from across the room. Jordan Stonewall walked toward the crowd. As soon as he reached the edge, people moved aside, leaving a perfect path to the center. He walked over to Kim, stood in front of her, and looked her over. She stared back. Neither said a word. While standing there, she took in his features. Jordan fit the stereotypical ‘tall, dark and handsome’ profile. He had black hair and piercing blue eyes, the kind that could make most girls swoon. However, Kim wasn’t ‘most girls.’

The next few minutes were a blur to Kim. She remembered turning away from Jordan after being insulted. This, Kim realized now, had been a bad move. At the sign of Kim’s retreating back, Jordan had made a mock-punch and purposely or not, it had hit Kim’s right shoulder. The last thing she remembered before the fight was the circle around them, getting bigger, which was a sure sign of that someone was going to get hurt. Now that Kim thought about it, she didn’t remember much of the fight at all. She did remember getting in a few good punches though. Not to mention received several that would make some nice bruises in the coming days.

When their teacher walked back into the classroom, after finishing her errand, the fight continued. The teacher shouted above the noise, “Kimberly Jaysen, what is the meaning of this?” Kim who was in the middle of the fight was unable to answer. So the teacher turned to Marion. “Marion Blake, what is going on?”

“A fight. The new girl started it,” replied Marion matter-of-factly.

Before Kim knew it, the fight was over. She looked around. The ring of kids was still there. She snuck a look at Jordan. He was pretty beat up; of course, so was she. She looked around again. From the looks of it, she thought, she had won the fight. And left Jordan with bloody nose and a bruise around his left eye. She couldn’t help but feel a swell of satisfaction well up at the knowledge that she had marred his perfect face, if only for a few days.

“Kimberly Jaysen!”

‘Uh-oh,’ thought Kim. “Yes, Ms. Aldwin?” Kim asked shakily.

“Report to the Headmaster’s office immediately Kimberly.”

“Yes Ma’am. And my name is Kim.”

Her words went ignored as the teacher turned her attention instead to the tall boy. “Now Jordan, why don’t you go to the nurse,” said Ms. Aldwin.

‘Why me?’ thought Kim angrily as she stomped out the door, turned left and headed for the principal’s office.

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‘Great, just great,’ thought Kim. ‘The first day of school in a new town, and I'm already sitting in front of the Principal's office. Or the ‘Headmaster,’ whatever he’s called.’ She tapped a foot on the floor impatiently. Her expression echoed any other student that had ever been sitting glumly in front of the Principal's or any other supreme authority’s office. The only difference was that she was a sophomore in high school, unlike the nervous sixth graders who were also occupying the bench.

‘The New Girl. Hn. That was probably why Jordan picked a fight with me,’ She remembered it like it was yesterday. Of course, it had only been five-; she checked her watch, okay ten minutes since. She still couldn't believe she was sitting in front of the Principal's office. Headmaster. Whatever. She was a good kid. Usually. Besides, she hadn't even started that fight. ‘And now I’m here,’ thought Kim sulkily. ‘Jordan was trying to get me in trouble, the jerk.’

It took Kim a few minutes to realize that the Headmaster’s secretary had come out of her office and was talking to her. “Kimberly Jaysen?” asked the secretary.

‘Kim,’ she thought angrily. ‘My name is Kim.’

“Ok Kim, please follow me.”

It took her a minute to realize that she had said her annoyed thoughts out loud. Embarrassed, she followed the secretary to the door of the Headmaster’s office. Heart pounding, she thought ‘Here goes something,’ and stepped through the open doorway.