This is my first story, so it won't be THAT good. (I'll try my best though) Please R&R!

Thanks -inhale-love

Chapter 1

The shrill beeping of an alarm clock disturbed me from my deep slumber. I groaned and pressed the snooze button, but not five minutes after that, my mom started screaming bloody murder from the bottom of the stairs.

"Tori, get down here in 10 minutes or I'm coming up there myself!"

I rolled over in my bed and hastily sat up. Rubbing my eyes, I combed through the tangles in my hair and got out of the bed. The clock read 7:15, and if I didn't get to school before 7:45, I would be late for my first day in my brand-new school. Brushing my teeth with one hand, while searching my closet for an appropriate outfit with the other, I barely had time to worry about my school. Not that I didn't worry about it—in fact, I could hardly get any sleep last night from anxiety and paranoia. I squeezed into my dark skinny jeans, and pulled a printed tee over my head. Next, I dabbed on some concealer to hide my dark eyebags, and brushed on some eyeshadow and blush-on. I surveyed myself in the mirror. This was as good as I was going to get.

My mom sat on the kitchen island tapping her fingers impatiently on the marble countertop. I chewed my cereal slowly, savoring the last few moments before I had to leave for school.

"Tori, if you get any slower that that, you're going to miss school entirely."

I mentally rolled my eyes and replied, "Almost done, mom."

I spooned the last few bits of cornflakes in my mouth and brought my bowl to the sink. Grabbing my car keys from the glass dish on the kitchen table, I strode out the front door, yelling good-bye to my mom. I jogged down the sidewalk and unlocked the doors of my Volkswagen. I slipped into the driver's seat and inhaled the usual leathery scent of a new car. When my mom and I moved to Oregon a few months ago, she gave me the car as a "moving gift," but I knew it was more of a "I'm-sorry-your-dad-and-I-divorced-gift." Nevertheless, I appreciated the present. Now that I was 17, I had to be able to go places—not that I had any friends who could show me around. Revving up the engine, I sped off to Lincoln High School where I was starting off as a junior. I drove a few moments more until I arrived in the school parking lot. I squeezed into a parking space and got out of the car. My first day had officially begun.

The secretary at the front desk gave me my class schedule for the week and a map with essential directions to get to my classes on time. I browsed through the list of subjects I was taking, and mentally groaned. I was set in Advanced Placement for most of my subjects. My mom must have mentioned to the school that I attended a private school before moving to Oregon, and that I received top grades every year. Money was tighter now though, because my mom had to feed both our mouths by herself when she was formerly a full-time mother while my dad worked 24/7 at his business. My sneakers squeaked on the newly-mopped floors of the hall, and while I was poring over my class schedule, I came face-to-face with a strikingly handsome boy.

"Well, hello there." he said, one corner of his mouth tilting up in a slightly teasing smile. "You must be new here. I'm Aidan." He held out his hand and I stared at it for a full five seconds before I brought up my hand to shake his.

"Tori." To my embarrassment, my voice cracked and trembled.

"Let me show you around, Tori. A pretty girl like you shouldn't get lost on her first day."

Aidan gently nudged me forward, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. His touch sent shivers up my spine and I could have sworn that I let out a small sigh of pleasure. Aidan's half-smile morphed into a full-fledged smirk, and that was all the proof I needed that he heard it. We didn't get past a few steps though, before a scowling girl stepped in front of us.

"Aidan, get away from the newbie. Let's go to class."

I lifted up my head, ready to snap back a retort, but I recognized this girl. It was all on the tip of my tongue. I knew her, but I couldn't put it into words.

"Jenna, I'm just showing her around. No funny business. I promise." Aidan crossed his heart and smiled sweetly at the girl. Jenna frowned and linked her arm through Aidan's.

"But I do need someone to carry my books for me." she pouted.

"You don't own him!" I snarled, finally finding my voice. I pushed back the nagging thoughts that I knew Jenna towards the back of my head. All that i could concentrate on was the red-hot fury growing in me.

"Excuse me?" Jenna whirled around to turn to me. "Do you even KNOW who I..Tori?" she gasped.