A/N: Written and uploaded on my HTC Android phone.

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I sat here in science, watching the teacher explaine about organisms and food chains. Then separating everyone into groups.

Once everyone had formed their group, I went up to the teacher telling him I'm groupless. He placed me in group of four and began telling us our assignment of making a charts on food group's with herbivore and carnivores added in as the main consumers.

As the explanation finished my group turned to. " I'm Glory" said a black girl with a French accent " that's Clarissa " whilst pointing to the blonde girl with the long braid, who waved.

"Seabert " said the lanky black haired guy next to me with pale skin as he pulled down his glasses to rub his hazel eye.

"Sup, I'm Edison " said the brunette with the buzz cut and and a leopard print pattern shaved all the way around the back. Slouched in his stool head resting on the table, hands tapping a beat to whatever he was listening to on his Sony Ericsson phone.

"Alpine" I stated, as we began our work. Most of the lesson Edison had his gaze on me, when ever I caught his eye, I expected him to look away embarrassed but he didn't.

As lesson finished, I saw him walk away with a cocky swagger causing me to smile amuse-ly as his school trousers dropped lower.

xx

I headed out the school gates towards the bus stop heaving a large sigh of disappointment as I watched Enlai kissing a blonde girl who had her arms around his neck and his on her waist, man her uniform skirt is short as a few guys stood back looking at her skirt and underwear which was peeking out.

Cute guy like that, obviously he would be taken. "Yo's hold up, ey ey hold it" I heard some guy shout behind not looking back as I don't know anyone.

Edison came walking up beside me. "I've been calling you's, cud ave slowed, you cow." once we turned the corner, he pulled out a cigarette an lit it, offering me one as I declined. He shrugged taking a puff and exhailing the smoke.

"Wanna link sum'time, cos your fit Init" he asked tapping the butt so the ash fell.

"Link?Fit?" I asked confused at what he just said.

"Yeah man, y'know like a date or something's and well you's well pretty like init." He replied as he explained. As realisation dawned on me.

"Oh, erm well, as friend's" I asked awkwardly, trying to make things clear.

"Nah man, I means like you be my bird, if not we cud just bang." he said blowing hoops from the smoke he was releasing as I watched fascinated.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand, can you please speak in full English." I asked with a cough as he blew smoke my way.

"Geez really. I is saying let's date, like boyfriend girlfriend, and if you don't want to then let's just fuck like rabbit's. A'right " he finished in a condescending tone.

Making me uncomfortable " Can we not be friend's." I asked timidly. "Buggar off" he said walking away. I guess that's a know.

Wow, this country is hard. The language is completely different. I better learn the street slang soon as I don't think I'll be able to get out of whatever people ask me do, without me knowing what their words mean, I could be agreeing to anything.

xx

I got home, and went into the bathroom to change out my uniform as the bathroom door got pounded on. Knowing it was peter. Probably going to smoke up.

Stepping out as he passed thru eye's glazed, already high. I scoffed. Peter, is dad's nephew. Staying her for college and has the second bedroom. Doubt he'll get far with his studying as his always taking something or the other.

"Hello" I answered picking up the receiver to the home phone which was hung up by the front door.

"Alpine" my dad said. "Yes" I replied for him to continue. "Theirs money in red mug, take £20.00 buy this week shopping." he finished.

Grabbed the money, doned on my ballet flats and red hoodie over my t-shirt and cargo pants, I walked out.

Being here for two months and living in the estate area that I do, I realised if I wear something similar to the youth around, then they won't stop and stare or shout and leer at you as much as they did when I got out the first week of being here. Let me tell you it wasn't pleasant. A couple of girls had come up to me then cornering me and emptied my pockets. Having nothing on me, they shoved me into the wall and walked off, it had taken me a good half an hour to settle my nerves as I had sat their cowering and had run back in not getting out.

Dad had started giving me money to do the shopping from now on, usually when he forgets to tell me in the morning he'll ring in the evening. First time I went, did spend a bit much and took me ages to look thru the supermarket but came back successful. Second time I went I got mugged coming back, couple of teenager's blacks and whites about 5/6 of them with a few girls in the mix, snatched the bags right out my hand. Sorted thru what they wanted and took the eggs out smashing it at a few cars. I stood their petrified. Once I had run home, told him what happened and asked him not to send me grocery shopping ever again. Dad just replied 'your living here, so you need to get use to the area, you'll be on grocery duty, deal with it.' He also mumbled something which I barely caught 'clothes and standing out'. Then it dawned on me that I was already new to the place but on top of that I dressed a little preppy you could say. And that just stated foreigner.

So now I know to fit in I need to blend in and go as un -noticed as possible, just like high school back home. I was the opposite of my siblings back home, both of them were in the limelight and rising up to be noticed by the older kids but me I was in the background, I was only noticed by association. I guess Sasha brought Oakley into the limelight with her infatuation, otherwise Oak would have had a few good friend's which would have built up eventually and he still would have been noticed just not as fast, Sasha just boosted him out there.

Maple, well she craves attention for some reason. I guess it might have to do with the beauty pagent mum entered us in when we where younger. I was 9th place as May got joint 6th with another girl. The 2nd thru 5th got runner up prizes. And May didn't like the fact she had to share her's. So from their she wanted to be noticed and praised which mum gushed about as she had come in a great position.

Sasha now, she's gorgeous. I did notice it before. I guess Oak noticed to and maybe he felt somewhat intimidated to date her, I know he got a huge ego boost from her chasing him, guess that's were he got the confidence go talk to girls. I think May felt threatened by her beauty, that's why she didn't like her as did the other girls and using Oakley she found away to dislike her ligetamently. Me I didn't not like her nor did I like, but I did talk badly of her at the beginning as I joined in on May's rants. Once I got to know her, I realised how genuine she is, I came clean to her on our way to the airport about me bitching about her with May, it surprised me how easily she accepted and brushed past it saying 'use to it, a lot of girls do it', causing guilt to nag at me. She's a very beautiful girl, said she's planning on modeling after school finishes and people will always be bitching, so just not let it get to you. Sasha would make wonderful model in my opinion and she already has experience from her younger days.

While I breezed thru the cereal isle, I saw a box of shredded wheat. Looking at it reminded me of Oak as he love's it and how Sasha mentioned, when I rung her the second time a week later that Oakley was beside himself with worry and wanted my number so he could speak to me in person to make sure I was fine. I felt my heart strings pull when Sasha mentioned that, I felt glad and relieved to know he still cared and was fretting about me. So I told Sasha to let him know I was with dad.

Mum had phoned the next day, said a few choice words to dad who told me she'll ring again in the evening. She sounded relieved to hear from me which surprised me somewhat as I didn't think she would be, then came her lectures which I tuned out, dad had raised the t.v voice to drown out mums screeching thru the phone as I had stood in the doorway of the living room watching the t.v. and trying to ignore her. Oakley had pulled the receiver of mum halting her lecture.

"Alpine are alright " he asked ignoring mum's ranting from behind.

"Fine " I replied blandly.

"I'm sorr-" he began.

"Bye " I interrupted not wanting to hear his apology and hung up, I'm still angry, once it's out my system I'll go back to talking to him.

Oakley rang a dew time's afterwards, dad got frustrated with him passing on messages that he demand I answer and speak. So then I would give him the silent treatment, til he hung up. Last time he rang he said, 'he'd wait for me to forgive and once I have to please ring.'

Sasha rang twice, I'm guessing Oakley gave her dads number, though I would have given it to her eventually just didn't know how. I'm guessing well I know she gives Oak updates of me. I know she knows that I know of her giving Oak reports on me, and I'm fine with that.

xx

Nearing the estate struggling to handle my bags, I saw the same guy I had passed on the way earlier. Passing back and forth, as he ranted angrily with a aggressive look on his face.

Me being the wary person I am now, decided to cross the road opposite to where he was. Having crossed the road from before reaching him as to not make it obvious I had distanced my self from him.

Nearing him I watched with a careful eye. As he shut his phone angrily, took out a pack of cigarettes from inside his black leather jacket and placed one in his mouth, while searching for a light through his jacket then proceeding to ransack his baggy jean's which had multiple pockets not finding his treasure he looked round until he spotted me.

"Oi, yo you's got a light on's you suga'! " he shouted startling me as I lost grip on my bags. Shaking my head no whilst gathering my fallen bags I watched him continue to search as he walked a way. Stuffing his had down his back pockets and further pulling down the washed out grey jeans which were in danger of dangling round his ankles and giving practically a whole view of his boxer's. Then finally emerged a small blue orange lighter with a few other receipts which scattered to the floor around him and walked of sparking a light seemingly not aware of his fallen item's.

Picking up his fallen item's, I followed after him to return his stuff at a slower pace with my load.

He was leaning against the wall with two other guy's as another had emerged from the door opposite and did their manly man hug. I hesitated going to him as the people around him looked very intimidating.

Taking a deep breath and ignoring the pounding of my loud heart I went up. "Oi, oi's what'cha want chick'a" said the guy he had just greeted causing the attention to be turned to me. As I stood their having lost my nerve and feeling panicky.

"We ain't selling roofie's here"

"How's bout a blowjob, might let use's share some of mine's, you'erz"

"Leave out cuz,what'z it be?" asked the first guy shushing the other two. I stood their trying two speak, my mouth imitating a fish as no words formed. I must have looked quite funny as one of them chuckled.

"Well?" asked the guy I had originally come for as he scratched his studded ear with light chocolate skin tone standing out from the other three, who varied to darker shades, it seems he defiantly has one white parent. Snapping me out of my stupor I took a deep breath.

"Erm, well see, erm you before, you erm." I squeaked out panicked feeling intimidated as they just stared in amusement with smirks.

"Yeah, what?" he said his green eye's on me with lopsided grin that showed his teeth.

I pulled out the big wad of cash and a few lose receipts that he had dropped earlier from my hoodie and held it out. "You, erm well, you dropped this earlier when you were looking for a lighter." His grin dropped as he looked at me with a serious expression.

"Shiite cuz, you dropped all that dough" said the first guy with the Afro.

"Damn cuz, you'd be fuck'd" second whistled.

"Rodell bruv, what the hell, be's more careful with all's that paper." said the guy I saw him greet as he reached and grabbed his belongings from me.

"Oi's, you kotch white-y " Afro guy said as the other beside him placed a hand on my shoulder halting me from leaving which I had proceeded to do. Pondering the meaning of Kotch.

I stood their nervously watching as Rondell who's name I had just learned and hug guy who had on grey sweat pants and a black shirt, dyed blonde hair, his skin slightly darker but not by much compared to the other two, counted the money I had returned.

"Why'd you give it back chick'a, that their be's a lot of dough you's know." asked blonde as I shrugged in reply.

"Ta, I's appreciate jammie dodger " Rodell put in as he placed his money in the inside pocket of his jacket.

"C'mon I'll help you's home wid ya bags" he reached over grabbing most my bags and leaving the lightest two for me, I followed behind him.

"You's know, most peep's round ere wouldn't even fink bouts returning that much paper, how comes you's did ey." whilst slowing his gait down till we we're side by side.

"Not mine" I replied, still feeling a little apprehensive as his gaze went over me.

"Still doh, pretty decent, what you called."

"Alpine" it seems I seem to be getting a some understanding of their phrases when put in sentences.

"American?" Rodell asked. I nodded "You's got an accent, names Rodell, " he finished nodding to a few people who passed by. "Go by Rode most of the time."

"Erm " I started awkwardly as he faced me from the guy he just greeted.

"What does 'Kotching' mean" I asked embarrassed my face heating up to a red colour as he chuckled.

"Not from around here, ey jammie dodger " he said in-between his laugh. I nodded. "Means lounging about or hold up basically." I mumbled a 'oh' in understanding "Yeah oh, you's know, you's gotta learn our lingo round ere to fit in otherwise you's gonna be lost jammie." I lead him up to my door as he placed the bags down.

"Thanks jammie, for returning my cash to me's, get your bile' out well exchange digits " I looked confused not understanding what bile' is as Rodell took out his mobile phone. I did the same and took out mine as understanding dawned upon me, though I ain't used it since I got here and I had switched it off when I had snuck out my room to never come back.

"I don't have a sim card, I have my old one in and don't think it's international " I replied switching on my phone.

"A'ight, I knows a few people who shud ave some spare sim's lying around. I'll get you's one a'ight " He said walking off. I guess he wasn't so bad. Having a few bad experiences had put me off of people in and around here.

Unlocking the door and gathering my bags I entered musing about how young Rodell was probably 20 at most.

xx

Later that evening, I lounged around the living room with a pair of pajamas shorts and singlet top doing my homework, as dad got the door saying it's for me. I didn't feel comfortable with wearing pajamas shorts in front of Peter as the first time I did he wouldn't stop staring at my legs and had held in the shivers I felt, glad he was out getting high somewhere else, knowing he won't be back tonight.

Rodell stood leaning against the door frame and gave low whistle when I appeared "Damn, jammie you's hiding some mighty finee booty behind those garm's you had on earlier."

"Garm's?" I asked aloud. He just sighed with a shake of his head.

"Garm's is short for garment as in clothes, you's really are clueless. Here." He handed me a sim card.

"Goes get your bile, I'll just set it for you." I returned handing my phone to him as I watched him activate the sim card and phone the operater saying he wanted to keep my original number on the new sim. I was really quite surprised I hadn't expected him to return a few hour's later with a sim, maybe in couple of week's or something, ok I doubted it, it was just a nice gesture in the speech but I didn't and wasn't expecting it to be followed thru, but was pleasantly surprised when he did.

"Thank you" I replied as he handed it back.

"I put mine's in their and got your new number, it's O2 pay as you go, so's when you top up you's get O2 to O2 free calls and 500 free text. So text if you don't know a word and if you's in trouble just says you know Rode a'ight '' he finished taking my phone back going thru till he found what he was looking for. With a arm drapped on my shoulder he leaned an took a few pictures with both our phone's.

"Their if fuckers give you trouble, an don't believe your word shows them a pic, A'ight, with the way your so clueless your and easy target jammie." with a pat on my head he headed off.

I sorted thru the picture's he took and then finished the remainder of homework left.

Dad had got up switching the t.v of and was heading to bed not before glancing back at me " What with the smile you've had on all evening since your visitor, boyfriend?" he asked walking out.

"Friend " I replied after him, not realising I had a smile on since Rode had arrived. I guess things a looking up.

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A/N: Another chapter up.

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Bookworm: wants more of Alpine's life, wasn't my intention as I was going to skip a head but as she asked I'll post more of her new life. Hope you like girl/guy.

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