CHAPTER ONE KYRA

　　"Come on! Get in"!! I called Spark, opening the door wide for him to get in.

　　Spark jogged towards me, wagging his tail cheerfully and he jogged inside the house.

　　I closed the door and pulled down the cap of my hoodie, revealing my brown golden hair as I walked into the kitchen.

　　I met my aunt, washing the dishes.

　　"Hi auntie". I greeted as I walked towards the refrigerator.

　　"Hey sweetie, you are back"! She said as she continued to wash.

　　"Yeah". I replied as I picked Spark's food from the cupboard underneath the table in the kitchen and poured out his food on his plate and placed it on the floor. He began to eat happily, wagging his tail.

　　Satisfied, I looked up and saw my aunt staring at me. I furrowed my brows, looking confused.

　　"Is there any problem"? I asked and she turned her gaze back to the dishes.

　　"No dear. Are you hungry"? She asked and I nodded.

　　"Yeah". I replied and sat on the dinning table.

　　My cousin walked in, shooting me a glare as she walked towards the refrigerator to take a bottle of water.

　　I ignored her and fixed my gaze on the TV.

　　"Kyra sweetie, please help me set the table". I heard my aunt called from the kitchen and I stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

　　"Sure aunt". I replied as I gathered the cutleries and the plates to the dinning area. I carefully arranged the cutleries on the table and sat down, waiting for my aunt to bring the food.

　　Soon, we were all gathered round the table eating lunch.

　　"How is the neighborhood Kyra? Did you like it"? Auntie Kath asked and I nodded.

　　"It's nice". I muttered and Auntie Kath gave me a warm smile while Susan rolled her eyes and continued with her food.

　　"Mom, me and my friends have an outing today. We want to go to the mall". Susan told her mother cheerful and Auntie Kath smiled.

　　"That's great, you can take Kyra with you. You both have alot of bonding to do". Auntie Kath also answered in the same cheerful tone as Susan and Susan's face turned into a big frown.

　　"I'm not going anywhere with her"! Susan said bluntly and I turned to look at her and she shot me a glare.

　　"Why? She is your cousin and you both should go out together. Besides, Kyra is new here and she should get to know people. You should help her and not be rude". Auntie Kath retorted and Susan scowled, grumbling.

　　"It's okay auntie. I don't even feel like going out. I'll just stay indoors". I replied and my auntie looked at me apologetically.

　　"But Kyra.........." She started to say but I cut in.

　　"Don't worry auntie. It's fine. I'll be upstairs in my room". I muttered and stood up.

　　Spark walked up to me and we both walked to my room.

　　I closed the door behind me and sat on my bed and picked a book to read while Spark curled up beside me.

　　I heard a knock at my door few minutes later and I dropped down from my bed and walked up to the door. I opened and found my auntie standing in front of my door, with a cheerful smile on her face.

　　"Do you want anything auntie"? I asked.

　　"Oh no dear! I just wanted to inform you that I've got you registered into the same high School with Susan. You will resume fully tomorrow"! She said and my heart twist in pain.

　　"Thank you Auntie". We muttered quietly and she nodded.

　　"I've paid for your fees and for your textbooks. You are all set for school". She said again and I nodded, unable to talk.

　　She looked at me with pity in her eyes and I felt irritated.

　　"I want to take a nap now". I said already closing the door.

　　"Okay hunnie, see you during dinner". She replied and I closed the door and walked towards the window, staring into space.

　　Soon after, I began to hear noises from downstairs. I tilt my head to listen carefully.

　　"Mom why will you register that creep in the same school with me? Couldn't you register her somewhere else"?? Susan yelled.

　　"What are you saying Suzzy? That creep is your cousin. My sister's daughter. Couldn't you at least be considerate and pity her condition? She is going through so much and this is what you could do?? Making unnecessary noise"?? Auntie Kath yelled back.

　　"Ooh!! Is she more important to you than me mom? Tell me?? Why do you always want to do everything to please her? Why do you care about her so much"? Susan retorted bitterly.

　　"Because she is my niece. I love her but you know that she can never replace my love for you". Auntie Kath said calmly but you could still noticed the irritation in her voice..

　　I closed my eyes in despair and sighed.

　　I picked my head set and lay back on my bed and dozed off..

　　**********************************

　　Curling my fingers into a tight fist beside me,I looked at the huge dazzling gate of the Hillstone high school.

　　"You can do this Kyra! Believe me you can"!! I kept muttering to myself as I blinked back the tears that threatened to pour.

　　I walked inside and stared at the huge beautiful building in front of me.

　　I sighed and walked towards the school.

　　Thank goodness Auntie Kath already described the principal's office. So I had no problem.

　　I walked up to the door of the principal's office and knocked slightly at the door.

　　"Come in"! I heard a male voice replied at the other end and I opened the door.

　　Sitting in front of me is a man in his late fourties. He had this kind of Harry Potter glasses that made him look like a nerd.

　　"Good morning sir"! I said bowing my head slightly to greet him. I pulled the cap of my hoodie to cover my forehead and used few strands of my hair to cover my face.

　　"Hello there. Have a sit". The principal replied with a formal smile and I sat down on the chair facing him.

　　"How can I help you"? He asked and I gave a small smile.

　　"I'm a new student here sir. My auntie registered me here yesterday so I'm ready to resume fully". I replied politely and he smiled.

　　"Oooooh! That's nice! I'm Mr Adam and I'm your principal. Welcome to Hillstone high school". He said and I gave a faux smile.

　　Whatever!!!

　　He picked up a telephone from his desk and placed a call to somebody.

　　"Miss Neila, we have a new student here. Please come to my office and attend to her"! Mr Adam said and placed the telephone back on his desk.

　　"The school secretary will attend to you shortly"! He said with a smile and I nodded.

　　"What is your name"? He asked and I shifted uncomfortably on my seat.

　　"Kyra Milson sir"! I replied and lowered my gaze to my hands on my laps.

　　"You called for me sir".

　　I looked up to see a young woman dressed formally in suit. She packed her hair in a bun accentuating her big bright Hazel eyes.

　　"Give her the schedule for her classes and the school map". Mr Adam said and she nodded.

　　She smiled at me and I stood up to follow her to her office.

　　We got there few minutes later and she ransacked her desk and finally brought out my schedule for my classes and the school map.

　　I stared at them and turned to the woman and gave a small smile as I walked out of her office in search for my class with the aid of the school map.

　　After several turns, I finally stood in front of the door of my class. To say I was agitated was an understatement. Different bad memories flashed through my mind and I closed my eyes in despair. Online classes would have been better, but my therapist advised that I should mixed with people outside instead.

　　I slowly raised my hands and turned the door knob. The door opened slowly and I was met with a pair of eyes. Many eyes!!

　　"You are late for class young lady"! I turned and saw a middle aged woman frowning at me.