1 A New Beginning

"Had he known that one small mistake would tear the lives of so many people, maybe he wouldn't have done it."

-A mistake that started it all.

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"Okay, take a deep breath. There's no need to be scared," Alyssa Taylor repeated in her head like a mantra as she cut off the ignition of her car. She had finally arrived at Dilbert High School - her new heaven or hell.

Her previous school had been heaven. In fact, she hadn't wanted to leave at all - until she had to. Living in Winchester any longer would've killed her; it had already started doing so.

"Live, please, young Mistress. Live for your parents and for your dreams. Leave Winchester!" Catherine had begged her.

"Yes, I must leave. It's so hard but I must..."

So here she was, in front of the best school in Mel's Town, ready to try and leave behind the past.

But as if the ugly scars and the chunks of flesh missing from her upper thigh, weren't reminders enough of the horror that drove her away from Winchester, Alyssa had found that her new home was almost always bare. Silent homes scared Alyssa. And so, she had booked a hotel. For the first time, she was homeless.

Alyssa had to say, Dilbert really excelled itself. It was one of the most reputed study centers in America. That's why she had chosen it for her new beginning. She dreamt big, and though her parents could never be, she wanted to make them proud. Maybe they would see her from Heaven and smile...

Alyssa walked into the main hallway with heavy steps. Students loitered here and there. Cliché perfect girls pointing and giggling, geeks talking over books, jocks discussing upcoming matches. It was so like her previous school. The only different Alyssa could sense between Dilbert and St. Michaels, was in herself.

In St. Michaels, she had been a perfect figure - a magnet for people and popularity - the one always associated with "fun". She had dated a number of boys, had a hundred friends and had always been the center of everything. It could've been because of her well-loved parents, it could've been because of herself - but Alyssa couldn't complain, because she had been happy.

But now, she felt so changed. Now, she walked alone - inconspicuously - down the hallway towards locker number 108. Now, the ever-present smile on her face was missing.

Alyssa reached her locker, and after arranging it, she took out her books. She turned round, ready for class. But as she rounded the corridor, she was shocked to see a huge crowd blocking the hallway. Damn... how was she supposed to move through them?

Alyssa walked towards the crowd cautiously. They were all murmuring and shouting amongst themselves. In the chaos, it was impossible for Alyssa to see or understand anything.

What the hell was happening? Alyssa, unwillingly but with no choice, tapped a tall guy in front of her and asked, "Can you tell me what's going on here?"

The boy looked down at her with a puzzled expressions. He had a mop of black hair, brushing past his shoulders. His eyes were a clear blue colour. What shocked Alyssa, though, was the rest of his appearance. It was what the modern dictionary would call – the typical bad boy look. He had a loop earring on his left ear, three tiny gold rings pierced on his eyebrows. There was a black skull band on his left hand.

"You a new student here?" the boy asked her. His voice was kind. Apparently, appearances could deceive the most.

"Yeah." She nodded.

"Of course you are. There's a fight going on. Jason and another guy who had spilled water on Jason's shirt."

"What?" Alyssa asked, shocked. "A fight because of a mere mistake?"

"Well," the boy said, looking a tad bit uncomfortable. "Jason's not exactly...placid. I'm sure it didn't occur to him that it could've been a mistake... In any case, the fight shouldn't last for long. Anyway, I'm Jaden Smith. You are -?" He tilted his head, scrutinizing her.

"Alyssa Taylor," she replied. From the description, Jason sounded more of a typical bully than anything else.

But he couldn't really be as bad...could he? Then again, he was fighting just because of some spilled water.

Alyssa squirmed her way to the front of the crowd, dodging hard elbows, pointed stationeries and sweaty hands. Some people glared at her as she accidentally elbowed them. Alyssa wanted to say 'sorry' but she doubted if they would even hear.

As she approached the front, the shouts became louder and louder.

Finally, she reached the front. The view in front of her eyes shocked her to her very core. True, she had seen worse, she had experienced worse. But seeing the scene before her, seeing the blood ... all her worst memories were resurfacing. Again.

And no way could she allow that.