Hearing the shrill of an unfamiliar alarm clock I startled from my sleep sitting up abruptly, to look around like a headless chook when in actual fact I was trying to find the torturous alarm clock.

"Oh..." I muttered, groaning as I reached over to hit the top of the silver digital clock on the bed side table a note slipping onto the bed as I did so. Lying back in the soft, plush pillow I opened it up to read the dull instructions consisting of four words: 'go to new school' I crumpled it up and threw it on the ground, satisfied as I looked up at the ceiling of the flawless, speck-less, neat-freak room I'd for 3 days started to get used to calling my room... Not.

"Good morning Annabelle" a voice echoed out of nowhere, I sat up slowly to see a face at the doorway and a peek of what looked like a penguin... a suit. A look of horror spread across my face.

"No way..." I breathed in disbelief,

"I'm you're personal butler Rudolf..."

"Like the reindeer?" I asked,

"Exactly"

"Great..." I muttered, trying my best to sound enthusiastic but failing miserably.

"Get dressed, I'll be waiting in the car downstairs 5 minutes" he quipped before leaving. I would've argued but I was still in sleep mode.

Rolling out of bed I padded over to my closet and flung open the doors to see the countless racks of unfamiliar yet seamless clothes. Ever since I moved to live with my dad I barely had anything of my own except for a suitcase I kept hidden under my bed not that I used any of it - they were my only memories of... mum. Slipping on a white tank and pulling on a pair of faded black jeans I looked around to find some shoes and froze at the sight of countless rows of designer shoes, I checked all the plain shirts and jeans... designer too. Whoever my dad was, he was loaded. I grabbed a pair of studded boots slipped them on and grabbed a leather tote before heading to the door stopping for a second to look into the mirror looking at my unusually gleaming green eyes and gave a small tousle to my already tousled rich brown bed-hair.

Running down the stairs I made my way to the kitchen quickly throwing my lunch in my bag before looking at the keys, cellphone, phone-number book, school books and pens. Why did the butler only say lunch? Using one arm I swept them all into my bag before heading out the front closing the door behind me to quickly run down to where Rudolf waited I slid into the backseat trying not to take too much notice it was a Mercedes. Getting into the drivers seat I sat back as Rudolf started driving.

"Why do you work for my dad?" I asked curiously as I looking outside the window at the unfamiliar surroundings of the new home I barely left.

"I can't exactly tell you that Annabelle..." Rudolf replied turning smoothly right,

"Why not?" I asked disappointed that I knew why without even needing to hear it,

"It's all in the contract" he said pulling up in front of the school.

"I'll pick you up straight after if there's anything you need call me - I'm speed dial number 1..." he said before getting out and moving around the car to open my door.

"What about my dad's number? What speed dials he?" I asked as I got out, not self conscious enough to notice until after the stares headed my way.

"His not on it. Have a good day Annabelle" Rudolf said giving me a small bow before leaving, I sighed as he got into the car and drove off. Only then did I figure that I was the only person to have a personal chauffeur drop them to school. That sucked.

*          *          *          *          *

Opening my eyes for the third time whilst waiting for the principle before I could go to my first class I glanced at the clock. I'd been waiting for one and half torturous hours. Closing my eyes I leaned back and rested my head back against the wall shutting my eyes once more my head buzzing with the noises from the office ladies, people shuffling through the hallway outside the office waiting room, and the shouts coming from the under 18s boys basketball game going on at the basketballs courts. In other words I was in the middle of suppressing a major headache. The door opened and when I heard it slam shut I'd almost had enough of waiting opening my eyes I grabbed my bag and got up ready to leave.

"They won't let you out until you see him. New, I guess?" a voice asked I barely glanced up from my bag to meet the deep brown eyes of a ridiculously, handsome, stranger. Typical. He blinked for a second as I looked up backing up as I stood up straight to meet his gaze.

"Yeah, I guess" I muttered, kind of annoyed at the amount of attention the office ladies happened to be giving our little 'conversation'. I barely glanced at him again but when I did I realized how hot he was. Ridiculously.

"Where from?" he asked,

"Around..." I said, distractedly looking towards the principles office just as the door opened and the principle popped his great shiny bold head out of it.

"Miss Jones, I'm so sorry you've been..."

"Waiting so long? Yeah, don't worry about it a little late for apologies" I muttered,

"Sorry?" he asked his eyebrows raising and heads turning.

"Waiting so long? Don't worry, I got here late" I lied with ease giving him a small smile causing him to buy it.

"Okay then, well come on in Miss Jones..." he said going back inside the office I headed inside but slow enough to hear the office lady say,

"She's been here for almost 2 hours though, I'm sure..."

"English Advanced, Mathematics, Art..." Principle Coute read off my timetable.

"So on your previous residency there didn't seem to be any permanent address before you moved her to Los Angeles..." he said, opening up my file.

"My mother and I moved a lot..." I said,

"Houses?" he asked surprised,

"Sure I guess..." I said, 'if you weren't including countries'.

"What do you plan to do when you finish school?" he asked,

"I was thinking about an English degree... Or majoring in English anyways" I said,

"You also take... Latin?" he asked sounding surprised,

"And French, but in the future I want to become an author write stories... you know... inspirational pieces..." I mused, each word I slipped out easily crafted the way my mother would've said them when we created fake characters of who we wanted to be in the new countries we lived in.

"And travel? You must want to travel" Principle Coute asked,

"Most certainly, the worlds a wide place filled with opportunities to learn more and live a little more... When's my first class?" I suddenly asked.

"You can start after lunch, you'll have... sport" he said, "Do you think you can get around on your own...? Or will you need a guide...?" he asked, getting up I did also taking my timetable and shoving it into my bag as we headed for the door.

"I'm fine..." I began,

"I'll show her around" a voice offered, I turned to see the annoying guy from before.

"Thank you, but..." I began uselessly wasting my efforts to try and refuse,

"It's great to see you offering to do something for someone else for once Nathaniel, really" Principle Coute interrupted,

"Okay Annabelle Jones this is Nathaniel Forge, Nate here's going to show you around school... your classes... 'the ropes'

..." Principle Coute said using his two fingers to show the inverted commas resulting in nobody laughing but himself. It was really plain sad.

"Awesome. Thanks Principle C" I said turning,

"Excuse me?" he asked as if he'd heard something wrong,

"Thanks Principle Coute, sir" I lied walking past Nathaniel ignoring the pain I got in my head when I walked past him before opening the door.

"Bye" I said before leaving and closing the door behind me, it didn't slam though how I would've liked it too.

"See ya' sir" Nate said following, as the bell rang and people filed out into the hallway.

"Your kind of weird aren't you?" Nate asked, I stopped and looked at him. Wow. Really?

"You've got to be kidding me" I said shaking my head before continuing,

"What...?" he asked trying to catch up by the time he'd caught sight of me through the crowds of people, I'd already turned the corner.