"Even from the first glance everything about you just screamed out 'total lesbian'" Alex said ...Total lesbian? "Sorry to ruin your image of me but Im as straight as any of the girls that fit your slutty straight image" I retorted. "Really?" He replied raising an eyebrow and putting his lips dangerously close to my ear, "Then prove it". That's exactly what I am going to do.

No matter how old you are I have realised something, starting school is never easy. Letting go of your old life, then getting accustomed to new rooms, teachers and students is what makes it that way. I would go as far as to say that it is hardest in the last year of school. Starting high school with your friends is one thing, ending high school with none is another.

My name is Lara Anderson. A pretty plain name, but I am happy with it none the less. I, despite my 'plain' name, like to believe I am not a plain person. Maybe on the exterior, but inside I'm pretty wild. Everyone at my old school knew the real me. The loud, funny girl who wasn't scared to try anything. Except moving to a new school. Too bad no one here is ever going to meet me.

"Lara, get your ass here now!" calls my older cousin, Corrie. I roll my eyes. I was planning to stay home on my first day of school 'sick', but knowing my stubborn-but-lovable cousin, that isn't going to happen. I run down the stairs, skipping two at a time. Corrie eyes me. "Is that what you're wearing?"

"Yeah, why?" I look down. Dark grey skinny jeans and a viridian green hoodie, nothing out of the ordinary.

"It's so..." she searches for a word. "Tomboyish. Make a good impression."

"I'm not a girly girl! And I'm not changing my mind" I reply and stick my bottom lip out. Yes, I can be JUST as- or even more- stubborn than my cousin. Corrie rolls her eyes and shrugs.

"Fine, but first impressions are important."

"Well, I don't care what anyone here thinks" I retort. Corrie flips her ringlets of hair back into place and glances at the clock.

"You better go. Don't want to miss your first day!" She shoves me out the door and waves. I walk slowly towards the school. If there's anything worse than going to a new school in your last year, it is going to a new school in your second last year- a month after it started. If I was in my last year of school I might manage, I wouldn't have to see these people again after I graduate. But no, I had to come here in year 11.

As soon as I reach the large brick office building I gain stares from a few people around my age. I realise I better get used to staring. A hot guy is leaning against the door chatting up some girl while I just wait for a good time to pass them. After a moment or two, they end their conversation and he passes me with a stupid smirk on his face. I just roll my eyes which causes him to look surprised. I approach the sour faced woman sitting at the front desk and wait. And wait...

"Excuse me?" I finally get the guts to say. She peers up at me from behind her thick framed glasses, coldly.

"Yes?" she asks.

"Uhm... I am new." And confused, but I don't state that.

She gives me a look and sighs, "Name?"

"Oh right, Lara Anderson" I tell her. She types it into the computer and prints out my timetable.

"Thanks" I say politely and then turn on my heel and straight out the door. This school has a six period day, unlike my old school with four LONG periods. I just found one reason on my 'for' column on the list of advantages of moving here. I scan the timetable, which is full of confusing codes and numbers everywhere. It seemed my first class is English in room A2.21.1... Seriously why is the room name so long? What happened to good old room A2 instead? The stupid long classroom name cancels out the six period days on my list.

I read the name on the classroom door closest to me. E1.15... Where the hell does that place me in relation to the room I am supposed to be in. I quickly check my plastic blue watch, two minutes. I spin around in a circle, the mass of students and brick buildings swallowing me up. I feel a hand on my arm.

"You look lost. Need help?" asks a girl with layered black and purple hair and a nose stud.

"A little. I'm new and I am not sure where room A2.21.1 is." I tell her.

"You don't actually have to say the last 'point one' and I'm there first too! C'mon I'll take you" She motions for me to follow and guides me through people and corridors. "I'm Alexa. But just call me Lexi."

"Lara Anderson. Just moved here from a place called Cherry Creek about four hours away." I say before the question arises. It always does.

"Nice. I've lived here my whole life and I hope I die here too." I give her an odd look and she continues, "I can't think of a better place. I love my home town" I think mine is better, but I don't say anything.

We arrive at the room just as the bell rings. A woman arrives wearing a colourful tie dyed shirt, a violet silk scarf and brown slacks. She has light blonde hair with wisps escaping a messy bun. She jingles her keys then jams them into the keyhole. I follow Alexa... I mean Lexi into the classroom and then sit next to her a few rows from the front. The teacher smiles broadly and then chirps,

"Good morning class!" A few people murmur half hearted replies and then she looks at me and says brightly. "And it looks like we have a new addition to our class! Come on up." This is another part of my never ending list of why starting new schools is bad, introducing yourself. I slowly walk up to the front of the room, very aware of the many eyes burning into my back. "I am Miss Summers. What is your name and where are you from?" Despite my unwilling attitude at the moment, I'm a keen public speaker.

"Hey guys," I start trying to 'make a good impression' as Corrie wishes, "I'm Lara Anderson and I'm from Cherry creek which is about 4 hours South by car." I flip my low ponytail of auburn hair back over my shoulder and attempt a smile.

"That's interesting. Well I hope you feel welcome in this new place." Says Miss Summer before asking me to return to my seat.

A guy with longish dark hair winks at me, but then an arrogant looking blonde whom I recognise from before nudges him and whispers not-so-quietly, 'Looks like she's more interested in people... of her own gender. If you know what I mean"

Miss Summer scolds him while the rest of the class laughs. I glare at him and realise I must of wounded his ego when I rolled my eyes earlier. He looks back at me smugly. I sit down, my fists still clenched and my skin burning a shade close to my hair.

"Don't worry, Alex is like that" Lexi reassures me. I decide, no matter how stupid this place is, I like Lexi. She's pretty nice. 'Alex' on the other hand is a total idiot.

"Great" I grumble, sinking low into my seat.

"Pass around the poetry textbooks and open to page 43. Australian Classic, The man from Snowy River... Who knows who composed that?" Miss Summers says. This goes on for another 50 minutes and then finally its over! I ask Lexi directions to my next class which is textiles and design. There is not a single stupid, obnoxious guy in that class, although there are a few female versions of that. One girl called Bethany, with a messy blonde plait sits there the whole lesson filing her nails, after her mum sent a written note stating that she couldn't 'overexert her hand' which is apparently sprained. That's pretty stupid considering she uses her hands to file her nails. From the moment I laid eyes on her I knew exactly what type of girl she was. The type who fixes her hair every two seconds, who wears short, tight clothes and flirts with guys whenever they're around. And I immediately loathe her.

"And then he totally asked me if we should get some fresh air. Then we talked for, like, ages. I can't actually remember what we talked about... But it must have been interesting 'cause Alex was looking at me the whole time!" Bethany states excitedly. Alex... I should have known he would be into those types of girls. After all, he seems pretty shallow. "Do you think it means something?"

"Definitely. He's like, SO into you" Bec replies, enthusiastically nodding her head. I shake my head at her mop of copper curls bouncing up and down. A timid girl with mousy brown hair and thick rimmed glasses notices my disgust and smiles shyly. I hadn't noticed the girl before.

"Hi, I'm Lara" I introduce. She looks up at me. Forget about her mousy hair, her eyes are unbelievable. They are almost... violet.

"I know. You are in my English." She starts in a quiet voice and I look at her apologetically, "My name is Isobel." She continues with her embroidery as I watch in awe.

"That's really amazing. The rose is so realistic." I tell her.

"Thanks." She replies and says shyly, "Oh and for the record I don't think you look gay." At least that's one person. The bell tolls shrilly and I ask Isobel if I can hang with her for the moment. She agrees quickly. When I meet her group, I am surprised to find Lexi there too. I was expecting some group full of quiet girls, but instead I find an interesting array of five girls.

"Hi, I'm Lara." I say to the girls who don't already know me. The rest of them introduced themselves as Jules, Cassie and Max, whose name is apparently Makenna but she hates it. Jules has long, golden hair, Cassie is pretty uninteresting and well, let's just say, if that Alex kid thinks that I'm lesbian he obviously hasn't met Max. Her bluey-black hair is short and spiky, and she is obviously wearing boy's clothes. For a few seconds everyone looks at me and each other awkwardly. "So... what do you guys usually do?"

"Talk" Cassie says.

"Unfortunately, all they," Max adds, jerking her head to the rest of her group, "want to do is gossip and giggle." Jules rolls her eyes and flips her gleaming hair over her shoulder.

"Puh-lease, you know that you could've left by now if you don't like what we do during breaks." She states.

"Okay, I guess you're not as bad as some girls" Max agrees and looks pointedly at Bethany from my sewing class, who is laughing and twirling her hair around a finger. We all giggle.

"So... How did you guys meet?" I start again, trying to break the ice. The girls launch into a full tale of how they all bumped into each other one at a time, all the way back at the start of high school. Luckily I don't have to say something, just sit and nod and smile. It seems that Max and Cassie are in my maths, and after that Jules is in my biology class. It seems this is my fullest day of the week cycle; I only have one free period which is last period. After another awkward time with my new group at lunch, it seems I'm actually looking forward to chemistry.

When I walk in there is a table for two which is empty. I scramble into one of the seats and put my bag on the other. The teacher acknowledges that I am new. He is tall, oldish and is the picture of a strict science teacher. I attempt a smile to make a good impression, and he seems satisfied. I think he is relieved that I'm not one of those slutty girls.

He begins the lesson, and just as he really gets into it, a boy bursts through the door. I continue scribbling down the notes, as I am very behind, and listen to Mr..uh... Chester, I think, scream at the guy.

"How dare you barge in on the lesson," I presume he pauses to check his watch, "8 minutes after the lesson has become."

"You seriously have to chill, I needed the bathroom." The boy replies.

"Next time go at lunch," he barks back before ordering him to sit next to Lara... wait that's me! My green eyes quickly shoot up and I see that the boy is sitting down. I curse my luck, sitting next to me, for the rest of how long, is Alex. And he seems to have recognised me,

"Well, well. If it isn't the dyke." He says, smirking.

I look away furiously and curse my luck again. Looks like this is going to be a GREAT year...

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