Chapter 1

It was a hot and sunny day. The hotness was especially reminded by rhythmical sounds that surrounded them. Stella's Mum pushed open the glass door. Stella was glad that it was cooler inside, but the nervous feeling made her sweat again. She clutched on to her mother's hand as they stopped in front of a classroom. She had to change schools since they moved here last week.

A middle-aged woman dressed in a light blue blouse with midi asymmetrical skirt came and greeted them. She was the teacher of this class.

She guided them to an empty seat on the table, crouched down and handed Stella a colouring sheet. She didn't have a particular like for dogs, because she was afraid of them, but kept quiet.

"Swap?" asked a boy sitting next to her, pointing his small finger at her sheet with a puppy drawn on it.

"Girlish," chirped in a girl from across the table.

"It's not," and he glared across the table.

"It is."

"NOT."

"IS."

"NOT."

"IS."

He stuck his tongue out and looked sideways to her direction, seeming to ask for her opinion. Stella quickly lowered her head, not wanting to take a side.

"HA!" The girl from across the table jabbed a finger at him. "She admited it. Two against one." She grabbed her chair and squeezed it in next to Stella who looked at her with surprise.

"Hi," she beamed. "My name is Cielo. What's your name?"

"Stella," Stella replied.

"Stella," Cielo giggled. "You're so kind, you didn't want to hurt his feelings, right?"

"Well I actually -"

"She got it wrong again. Cielo wants to be a cy... it's a doctor for the mind. If you know what I mean," said the boy. "It's her dream."

"It's called a psychologist," said Cielo. "Can you pass me the blue, please?"

"No, I still need it."

"But you've clearly finished colouring the sky blue."

"Well the car is going to be blue, too."

"You're doing this to me on purpose."

Stella looked from left to right, then from right to left. "Um... um you can have mine if you want."

"Oh thanks," she said, as Stella placed a blue colouring pencil on her hand. "I'll remember to bring some pencils tomorrow."

And thats how she met the siblings, Cielo and Ian.