Chapter1, Ego barwl

Sofia p.o.v

"Sofia, I need your help!" I heard Uncle Anton shout from upstairs.

I'm in the basement, covering in shades of yellow, and no where near done with my artwork.

"I'm busy!" I shout back and blow a rebellious golden hair, that fell from my messy bun, out of face.

"This is literally a matter of life and death!" My uncle mewls

I heard a clatter and a God damn it from upstairs before I decide to help the poor man. I quickly stir my paint brush in the jar of water before chucking it into my shoulder bag, grabbing my sketch book and paints, and rushing upstairs.

When I get to the kitchen, I spot Uncle Anton peering at the toaster.

"This bloody bread tanner, isn't working," he complains.

I let out a sigh and push the lever down at the side .

"That's genius, Sofia. Genius!" Uncle Anton says. His face is too sincere for me to tell him how un-genius it really is. You'd never guess he is a doctor. A bloody doctor!

I checked the time and swear under my

breath.

"I'm going to be late,"

"Late for what?" uncle Anton asks.

"School."

"That's today?"

"Yup," I say without popping the 'p'. I do not pop p's over here.

"Aren't you support to be making a living You're what? Fifteen, sixteen?"

"Seventeen."

"Seventeen! Good God, we need to find you a husband!"

I'm about to remember Uncle Anton that it not eighteen hundreds, but Aunt Tesla and my cousin, Jessica, come bouncing into kitchen before I can even try.

Jessica grabs the toast that jumps out of the toaster and Uncle Anton cries out a protest before trying to figure out the toaster again.

"Honey, the lever. You're not a baby," Aunt Tessa says.

Jessica turns to me with scowl," You're covered in paint," she points out, "Did you even sleep?"

I duck my head in guilt," I wasn't tired," I try to explain.

Jessica let's out a sigh before licking her thumb and wiping some paint from my cheeks." We're going to be late. Otherwise I wouldn't told you to change into something that's not covered in pain", she says.

"Yeah-yeah, you're not my-" I shut myself up.

Jessica sees my change in mood and catches my eyes," You sure you're ready?" she asks.

My psychiatrist says I'm ready. She says I'm dealing amazing with the fact that I lost my parents in a robbery. It's my last year of high school and if my psychiatrist says I'm ready for first semester, who am I to oppose?

"I'm ready", I announced.

"Then let's go", Jessica says and grabs my hand.

We leave the kitchen with a goodbye and just when Uncle Anton managed to make himself toast, I grab it. Uncle Anton's cries of protest follow us all the way to drive way.

Jessica and I climb into her silver Ford and make our way to school .

"So, first day at Tygerwell High, you nervous?" Jessica asks.

"Not really", I answered. My previous school wasn't something memorable. It was pretty average and, well, boring I guess. I wasn't one to inform the whole school my parents were rich.

"I wish You'd let us drive your BMW. Everyone would be so jealous of us!"

I don't answer that. The BMW is the last thing my parents bough me. The car, along with the millions my parents left me, will most likely not be used soon. I only made sure to pay in some money into my Aunt and Uncle's bank account. I don't want to be burden to people I love.

My parents were rich. I'm not even going to try to deny it. But to me they were average. And average isn't always bad. Sure, we lived in a mansion and he'd plenty of sports car, but those things never mattered to me. What matters was that they always made me smiley on my eggs and toast and they were always there when I needed someone to talk to and they knew when I had a bad day or when-

"Sofia....you're doing it again....." Jessica interrupts.

I looks back at her, "Doing what?"

"You went blank. I was telling you about the cliques of Tygerwell High...."

"Oh"

And as quickly as the dark though came, I put on my bright smile and will eyes to sparkle. "Let's take a first day selfie together!" I suggest.

It's a good conversation changer.

"Okay!" Jessica says when we finally roll through the school gate. Jessica parks the Fond in parking that's away from cars. She wipe out her phone and we pose together." New beginning!" we both chime when her phone snaps a photo.

Jessica picks a warm filter before we observed. Where Jessica has dark brown hair, like mostly of the family, I have blonde hair. Something I got from my mom. And where Jessica likes wearing converse and crop-top, I prefer over sized sweaters and vintage skirts. I know, I flattering for the body.

"That is going on my instagram!" Jessica beams.

We finally get out of the Ford and made our way to school. My new kind of prison for the few months. The kind where I'll have to smile unit my face hurt and hide the paint spots on my clothes.

We enter the hallway and it's just as I remember high school to be. Kids are launching and catching up all around. A few couples are making out against lockers. Mean girls are gossiping. Jocks are flexing. Nerd are reading. Pervs are perving and....And...

and what the hell are they?

I spot couple of guys at end of the hallway walking like they're Greek gods. Not towards Jessica and me, but if we don't move within the next minutes, we'll probably become roadkill.

Kids are practically diving to get out of the way of the five guys. Some going as far as bow their heads or straight-up run for their lives.

The five guys all seems to be mainly dressed in black. And they're all hot. But in the middle that catch my eye. With his raven black hair and eyes that I know all the way from here are silver-grey, he walked with a bit more confident. There's a permanent sneer carved into stone-cold face.

Jessica grabs my arms. "Well got to move," she says and turns me.

When she has me turned around, we're facing the other side of hallway.

They wall with the exact same level of authority and superiority, but where the other guys have people running away, there guys have people melting. The girls are all basically drooling and guys are getting envious. And where the first group of guys are modeling ripped jeans and leathers, there ones are tailored in coats and expensive pants.

Leather boys and Coat boys I'll call them.

And just like Leather boys, Coat boys also has someone that stand out. The guys in the middle has copper hair and dangerously dark eyes- as if every sin is trapped in his gaze.

"Shit", Jessica breaths pulling me to the side.

We stand glued to the lockers, like we're hoping to blend in.

"what's going on?" I protest.

"Just keep quiet", Jessica hisses.

Leather boys and Coat boys meet at exactly where Jessica and I were standing just seconds ago.

"Watson", the leader from Leather boys snarls.

"Stewart", the leader from Coat boys snarls back.

Then tension can be cut with a knife to be honest. Hell, even a spoon.

"Some of your guys were seen on my territory", Leader leader says.

"Well technically the whole town is my territory", Coat leader shoots right back.

Oh.My.God. This is battle of ego. I have to refrain from Jessica to pass me the popcorn.

"This town belong to us", Leather leader says and oh, there they go again. Measuring levels of testosterone or something.

The bell rings and everyone scurries to class expect for the bunch of guys blocking our way. I can feel Jessica tense up. Not wanting to miss class, but also not wanting to interrupt these guys.

"We're going to be late", I say to Jessica, but she shushes me before I can get entire sentence out.

what the hell?

"It's my first day; I can't be late", I try again.

When Jessica only responds by shushing me again and pressing me even harder to locker, just about have enough.

"Excuse me, Mister Leather Jacket and Mister Fancy Coat, can you guys go have an ego brawl some other time? we need to get to class", interrupt.

I heard Jessica suck in breath and all eyes turn to me. Both silver and dark green send me death glares.

Well, Sh*t.