I sat out on the damp cold lawn surrounded by the apple trees in the grove at the end of my garden. Staring up into the sky I grew up under I sniffed dramatically fighting back the tears threatening to fall. Back in the house music blared through the double glazed winters making the party seem far off far away. I shivered and pulled my arms tighter around my legs as the wind blew past catching the gaps in the wool of my jumper.

"I was wandering where you'd got too"

Smiling I invited Jessie to sit down. Sighing as she made a seat for herself on the damp grass with me. She glanced at me her dark eyes reflecting the garden lights in the dark.

"You know it is your party you really should be inside"

I glowered at Jessie's words fidgeting with the necklace around my neck as I continued gazing into the starry sky.

"I don't want it to be my party. I'd rather I wasn't leaving"

Her arms pulled me towards her draping them around my chilled form. Leaning my head against her bare shoulder I let a tear slip down my cheek. I hated my parents for this. I didn't care about the starving children in Africa I was their child and they had decided to send me off to boarding school so they could go off and work in Africa. Apparently my mother felt if they didn't do it now they would never get the chance. I didn't mind them helping in Africa but I was their child and at sixteen they were abandoning me. It wasn't fair.

"I know Baby but we don't have much choice in the matter"

I smiled in the dark at Jessie. We had been friends for so many years now and she was the person who kept me sane, who controlled me when my temper flared, who made me smile when I cried and I did the same for her. It wasn't going to be the same, me miles away at some posh private school Brumnell Academy.

"I'm not sure I can do this. I've never been the new girl before. I've always had you"

Jessie shrugs causing my head to be jolted from her shoulder.

"I suppose it'll be practice for uni. Look Maddie I'll only be a phone call or a text away. If you ever need to talk no matter what time of day I will be there for you. Even if its in a lesson and you phone I'll pretend my Nan is in hospital or something so I can speak to you. OK?"

I nod feeling some of my gloom lift.

"It's a shame about Tom though I think something could have happened there?"

I shake my head resting my chin on my knee's.

"He was probably a bastard. They always are"

Jessie hits my arms lightly gasping indignant.

"Oh ye of little faith. You need to stop being so cynical of men. They're not all out to screw you over"

I give her a crooked smile in the dark fiddling with the dewy grass.

"I'm waiting for one to prove me wrong"

I exclaim thinking of my past with a sigh. Jessie guesses what I'm thinking shoving into my delicately.

"One will Maddie I promise"

"Whatever I don't have much faith in private school boys"

"You never know you could be shocked. Look Maddie think you're going to enter a new place where no one knows you. You can present yourself how you want to. No one knows your past to judge you. Think of the opportunities"

I sigh leaning over and pecking her on the cheek.

"I suppose. I still think I had plenty of opportunities here. Hmm I guess I should re-enter my farewell party"

Jessie let out a throaty laugh.

"I suppose it would be the polite thing to do"

I pushed myself up grumbling when I felt my skirt damp against my legs. Gripping hold of my arm Jessie dragged me in before I had a chance to change my mind. I gazed back at my garden as I was dragged in the trees casting shadows in the dark. I really hated my parents at the moment.

…

"FOR FUCK SAKE"

My voice rose loudly in the corridor as I was thrown off my balance and fell into the heavy metal locker next to me. It was enough to make the tall guy who had knocked me down to turn and give me the once over. His friend next to him smirked and licked his lips appreciatively. Scowling I pushed myself off the wooden polished floor rearranging my foul tartan kilt.

"Look I know I'm short but can't you watch where you're going? Honestly"

The guy looked puzzled at me his tanned forehead screwing up in confusion. He was incredibly hot. So hot I almost could forgive him for knocking me down well that was until a cocky smile lazed across his face.

"Are you talking to me?"

I placed my hands on my hips that felt huge under my thick woollen kilt and glared at him.

"No I was referring to the other tall arrogant jerk who just knocked me over, DUH! Of course I was talking to you"

His friend sniggered next to him causing his friends smile to change to a scowl. His friend stepped forward giving me a sympathetic smirk.

"Look Babe you must be new because you don't speak to Upper sixth guys like that OK. We have a hierarchy at this school and this guy is the top of it"

The guy who had knocked me over rolled his eyes looking pissed off.

"Shut up Jack"

Was there something that meant all arseholes where called Jack I thought thinking back to my rather sad past love life.

"Look Chick you can hardly blame a guy for knocking you down when you're below five foot. You were below my vision field"

I smiled sweetly at him but my green eyes flashed with anger.

"One I'm not Babe or Chick my name is Maddie and two if you didn't walk around with your nose in the air you'd find it easier to see people. Now if you two arses don't mind I've got a classroom to find."

I slipped past them leaving both of them speechless with my bitchiness.

"God damn that girl whipped you"

I had to giggle at that and walked quicker down the corridor. After about five more minutes and about twenty wrong turnings finally found my classroom and sighed in dismay when I realised class had already begun. Summoning up my courage I stepped forward knocking on the oak door before slipping in the full classroom. The class turned and looked at me with interest and I felt my courage fail slightly my legs feeling weak. The teacher was a young blond woman who turned looking at me expectantly.

"Hey my names Madeline Perry I'm a new student"

I somehow managed to get it out without my voice shaking too much. The teacher smiled at me.

"Welcome to my English class my name is Mrs Carling if you could take a seat next to Daniel please fourth row back"

I follow her directions and sit down next to a guy who looks slightly misplaced in this school. Long dark curls hang in his pale freckled face and light grey eyes survey me with interest. His top button is undone showing the edging to a black T shirt and his tie is slightly too lose. It's the type of guy I wrongly go for and then regret it when they try to get into my knickers on the first date. Sighing I slide down next to him pulling my folder from my bag.

"Its Dan"

He says his voice slightly husky, obviously a smoker. I smile at him trying not to swoon at the way his grey eyes were exploring my face.

"Maddie"

I answer smiling over my shoulder at him whilst pushing back the loose auburn curls that have already escaped my ponytail.

"Mrs Carling is tough but you just need to know which way to stroke"

I roll my eyes at his cocky comment.

"Is she sweet with you then?"

Dan smiles charmingly with a mischievous glint in his eye. In his hand he starts playing with a guitar pic, which is when I bite my lip. I love guys who play the guitar.

"All girls are sweet with me"

"Whatever"

I shake my head ignoring the fact I'm beaming from ear to ear. Christ I'm so easy I have been here at this school less than a day and already I'm flirting and scouting possible talent. I sigh at myself in humour and turn my attention to Mrs Carling wandering whether this school is going to be so bad after all.

The bell sounded indicating the end of lesson and I stand up tossing my bag over my shoulder.

"So when did you arrive?"

I turn around to find Dan next to me smiling a charming crooked smile down at me. I let him fall into step beside me.

"Last night about ten thirty"

He makes a bemused face.

"That's quite late to arrive. Do you live quite far away?"

I shake my head feeling my cheeks tinge pink with embarrassment.

"I kinda was putting it off"

I'm not going to tell him that I threw one almighty temper tantrum in a last attempt to change my parents mind and that I was practically dragged screaming and crying into the car. Yes I acted like a spoilt child but after being well behaved most of my life I decided I deserved to be a brat at least once.

"Weren't keen on coming here?"

I shake my head.

"I was quite comfortable back home"

Dan chuckled to himself raising is eyebrows challengingly.

"Well maybe its time for some excitement"

I rolled my eyes at the flirtation in his voice refusing to swoon straight away. I was a man hating feminist well at least I was trying to be.

"Why if it isn't good old rocker Dan already making a move on the new girl"

I turn in the corridor and see the tall guy from earlier leaning against a door frame surrounded by friends. I glance back at Dan whose easy smile has been turned into a scowl.

"What disappointed you've been beaten to it?"

I scowl at this glaring between the two boys. I notice the tension in Dan next to me but after his comment I don't particularly want to soothe him, Bastard!

"You could never beat me and you know it. I'm just worried about Maddie here because she doesn't know your reputation"

Dan let out a bark of laughter tension echoed in every sound.

"My reputation? What about your own fucking reputation Denver Harris. Yours is far worse. If I did get this girl instead of you I'd be saving her"

Denver Harris! He leant against the lockers tall at six foot something, he had dark brown hair that was slightly too long and made him look very public boy like. I could tell even through the uniform that a pretty amazing body lay under the foul synthetic materials. He was hot, he really was but he knew it and this made me scowl at him as he clenched his fists at Dan's words.

"I treat girls with more respect than you do. You think you've got a chance against me? You really think you have? You always get my cast off's the ones I don't want. I could get any girl you wanted"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP"

The two boys turned to me shocked that the little pixie had actually spoken. I glowered at them both knowing that despite my height I could look pretty intimidating when I wanted to. My fists were clenched on my hips and I glared at them both knowing that my red headed temper I'd inherited from my father was flaring within me.

"I know this really has nothing to do with me and this is some past history hating thing but you've kinda dragged me in to this so I'm gonna just have to save this. YOUR BOTH PATHETIC. You both sound like you treat girls like shit. You definitely talk about them like shit. You"

I swing around and point at Dan dramatically who actually looks scared at my outburst.

"haven't beaten him to anything. I'm actually despite whatever impression I gave am not easy and never will be so you're not gonna get me. And you"

I turn to point at Denver who glares lazily back at my fierce glower.

"Obviously think far too much of yourself and in my opinion mistakenly high. And both of you I'm sure have shit reputations so there haha the argument is sorted without any sort of stupid man violence"

I stop there and catch my breath blushing when I realise that I'm surrounded by a circle of people.

"hmm right yeah now that's sorted I might just go"

I notice a girl push forward from Denver's group grinning. Her thick blond curly hair was tied messily back and her brown eyes were mischievously sharp.

"No Babe you're not going anywhere you are coming to sit with us this lunch"

I bite my lip a bit confused.

"Aren't you friends with the guy I just publicly ripped down?"

She shakes her head holding in laughter.

"Nope...I'm his fuck buddy"

She cackles at this and I notice Denver roll his eyes.

"Nice Cammy Nice"

"Awww come on D you know that's how you want me"

I noticed the play in her voice and couldn't help but laugh which caused a glare from Denver. He sighed pushing himself off the wall.

"Right Cammy don't ever call me D and thanks for inviting the new bitch to sit with us"

I bulk at that and stop myself from slapping him. Yes I'm quite a violent person.

"I am not a bitch!"

He turns to look at me raking his eyes across my profile like a master. I don't soften my glare even though he's hot enough to cause most girls to melt.

"I've met you twice chick and both times you've been a bitch to me so I conclude your a bitch"

"Well that doesn't mean I'm a bitch it just means your a bastard and the only way to react to a bastard is be a bitch"

"Chick you don't even know me"

I glare up at him and he must be about a foot taller of my 5 foot 2.

"and CHICK you don't even know me"

He glares at that and I laugh at the anger in his face.

"Don't call me Chick!"

He says it in a low gravelly voice and I can't help but find it slightly sexy.

"Don't call me a chick!"

I reply back coolly and he sighs in exasperation.

"But you are a chick"

"No I'm not and I refuse to be called babe or chick or other such names by guys like you because when you use it it's a derogatory term which you call girls to show your power as men. If you can call guys by their real names then you can call girls by their real names and show that we're individuals rather than sex objects"

"Feminist lecture over with"

I turn to see a entertained Cammy next to me smiling. I swallow a bit embarrassed.

"Yeah for now"

"Well come on then"

She links arms with and starts chattering about the group we're about to sit with and how cool I am for my treatment of Denver.

"I mean he is a mate of mine but you're right he has a head the size of America oh we're here"

I'm still nodding my head and laughing along with her when we finally take our seats at the lunch table. As I take a seat next to her I glance up noticing that Denver is eyeing my evilly.

"Right introductions. This is Tina, Rob, Sarah, Sophie, Jackson, Pete, Aaron, Jack, Chris, Amber and Alice. Everyone this is Maddie"

Various people nod and smile. I notice that one of the girls glares at me I think her name was Alice. I smile back at her glare and pull the sandwich I bought yesterday out my bag.

"So you're the bitch who had a go at Denver in the corridor?"

I turn to the girl Alice who glares between her heavily mascaraed lashes at me. I saw Cammy turn sharply and eye up Alice evilly.

"Watch it Alice"

"What I think I have every right to have a go at the girl who publicly dressed down my boyfriend. I'm the only one who's allowed to do that"

Cammy let out a bark of laughter at that.

"Like you'd ever dress him down publicly. You worship the fucking ground he walks on"

"That's because he's perfect"

"Oh so perfect that's why he cheated on you last week?"

I saw Denver straighten up at this and glare in Cammy's direction.

"Stop making this argument about me"

Cammy turned and smiled at Denver laughing.

"Sorry didn't mean to pull you into it but your girlfriend is such a stupid bitch"

Denver sighed rubbing at is temples as if he was tied.

"Maybe she just loves me"

"Shame you don't love her back"

"Cammy please?"

Sighing she threw up her arms exasperated.

"Fine fine I'll shut it anyway you've got the new girl to be a bitch to you"

"Oh yeah thanks for reminding me"

He retorted back playfully sipping on his coke as the table started loosing interest now the argument had stopped.

"So Maddie why'd you move?"

I quickly swallowed my mouthful of sandwich and leant on the table.

"My parents are both doctors and decided they wanted to go and work helping in Africa. They decided that they needed to do it now they when they weren't to old and decided to shove their sixteen year old daughter into a boarding school to get her out the way"

"So you were just at a local school before?"

I nod at Jacks excited face.

"So this is the first private school and the first boarding school you've ever been to?"

I nod a bit confused at the bright scheming smiles that a popping up round the table. Cammy squealed gripping onto my arm.

"Oh my god we're going to have so much fun with her. We can corrupt her"

I shake my head at that.

"No I don't need corrupting ok. I'm ok"

Cammy pouts tugging on my arm.

"Come on Maddie don't you want to find out how the rich and spoilt live? How we party?"

I shake my head. I've got scenes from the OC running through my mind. Drugs, orgies, gorgeous scantily clad girls.

"Oh fine but promise you'll celebrate you arrival with us this weekend? Go out?"

I sigh at her determination.

"Fine"

"Why would we celebrate her arrival?"

I turned to a scowling Denver. Cammy draped her arm around me.

"Because we've got a hot new sassy girl in our group. Little D isn't still upset that she bruised his ego is he?"

He scowled across me as he took another swig of his coke.

"No she didn't. I don't get bruised by midgets"

"You want to bet"

I chuckle out leaning forward over the table pinching him hard on his arm.

"Shit"

He recoils from my touch and I giggle meanly.

"Tomorrow they'll be a bruise"

Everyones looking at me like I'm crazy. Well I suppose I did just randomly pinch the most popular guy in the school.

"Sorry I just had to prove my point. Sorry I'm a violent person"

I shrug and a few of the girls chuckle.

"I'm going to go to the gym coming Jack"

The idiot from earlier rose winking at me as he did so which I rolled my eyes at. Oops had I already made enemies with the most popular boy at school why did this sound familiar.

I know another story I'm sorry but this ones been in my head for awhile and just needed to get it out. Course is easing up for a bit so I will be updating No Fairy and Forever dreaming soon. No Fairy's next chapter has actually been written but just want to retouch some bits so yeah please review because I love to hear what you think. Chap 2 is already halfway done so prob will be up on thurs. Thanks and hope you enjoyed it.

Opal Fairy