I tied my dyed dark brown hair in a pony tail and sighed. Today, I would be going back to my old school. I tried enrolling in other schools, but that was the only one where I could join halfway through the term.

I put in green contacts and a touch of makeup to really hide my true identity. It's surprising what dye, makeup and contacts can do. I was wearing a purple shirt, black jeans and a blue hoodie. I put on the bracelet with the tracking device and made my way downstairs.

"Boys! It's time to go!" I called and Cole and James appeared.

"So, I'm now Caroline Brockwood. There's no need for you two to hide your identities. If anyone asks where you've been, just say family business."

"Why do you have to hide your identity?" Cole asked, "we could just go to your family and get help."

I shook my head immediately, "Elise said that she would kill the ones I love if I refused to join her. As long as she thinks I'm dead, they're safe- even if it means they don't know I'm alive," my eyes filled with tears and I looked away, quickly wiping them, "let's just go, please."

"Okay," James said quietly and we left the house.

"I'm driving!" Cole declared, jingling the keys in his hand.

"No, no, no, the last time you drove, we nearly went off a cliff!" James snatched the keys away, "I'm driving."

"You crashed into a tree!" Cole protested.

"At least I didn't nearly kill us all!"

"Yeah, nearly, as in, not completely," Cole huffed.

I rolled my eyes, "being the only one who hasn't met with an accident on the road, I think I should drive," I grabbed the keys and walked towards the car.

"Yes Iris," they sighed and sat in the back, glaring daggers at each other. They continued their argument for the entire ride, leaving me with a pounding headache.

X

The three of us went to the main office. I asked for our schedules and the nice male receptionist gave it to us. We each had different classes for the first lecture so we made plans to meet up again for lunch.

On my way to Maths, someone bumped into me. My books and papers went flying and I groaned in annoyance. I bent down and started picking them up.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," a voice said above me and I froze. Slowly, I looked up and cursed my bad luck.

It was Jax.

I was thinking deeply- a rarity for me- when I bumped into a girl with dark brown hair and green eyes. Her books and papers went all over the floor.

"Oh my god I'm sorry!" I said, helping her pick up her books. For some reason, she froze and stared at me like she was unsure whether to hug me or curse me. Even weirder, I felt like hugging her.

"It's- it's okay," she said nervously- why would she need to be nervous?- while shoving her books in her bag.

"Are you new?" I asked and she nodded, "well, I'm Jax. Do you want me to show you to your next class?" I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew her from somewhere.

"I'm Caroline," she introduced and shook my hand, "and yes please. I have Maths with Mr Bread," her lips curved into an amused smile.

"I'm sorry but have I met you somewhere?" I questioned.

"No," she replied, "must be your imagination."

"Ah," I said and we continued walking, "my best friend had Mr Bread last year."

Oddly, this seemed to amuse her slightly, "did they? What's their name?"

"Iris," I swallowed back the tears that always threatened to fall whenever her name was mentioned.

"How old are you?" Caroline asked curiously.

"Nineteen," I replied, "the school allows us to stay on for an extra few years if we want to before university." ().

"Cool. I'm 17. Thanks for showing me to my class," she smiled and I was struck by a familiar sense of déjà vu- like I'd seen that smile before.

"No problem," I answered, turning around and going to my class.

"I'm sorry," I heard her whisper so faintly I thought I imagined it. Why would she be sorry?

I quickly went into the classroom and sat at the desk in the corner of the room. It was empty so I banged my head against the surface of the desk repeatedly. Avoiding my friends was going to be harder than I thought.

"Um excuse me? Are you okay?" I sat bolt upright and, when I saw who the speaker was, glared at the heavens.

"Cut me a break, would ya?" I muttered quietly before smiling at my old friend- Mia- who was now looking at me like I was crazy. To be honest, I don't blame her.

"No, not really," I replied, "tough day."

"Ah," Mia nodded in understanding and sat next to me, "I have those days. So, I'm guessing you're new?"

"Yes. I'm Caroline."

"Mia," we shook hands and shared a smile, "why don't you sit with me and my friends at lunch today? I mean, if you want to that is."

"Sure," I grinned. Probability of me regretting that decision? High. Very very high.