"You little rascal!" My Uncle grabbed my neck choking the little air I had in my body. I gasp and try to pry his hands off but he was way stronger than I thought. I beg him to let go but he laughed, flipped me on my back.

Then something rang jerking me awake. Passing my hand across my face, I turn of the alarm on my phone and look at the time.

"Five-Fifteen." I murmur. "I have two hours and fifteen minutes to get to school."

It was impossible to go to sleep after that nightmare so I do my morning duties in the bathroom and get myself ready for school.

"It is a good thing they allow us to customize our uniforms." I say looking at myself in the mirror. My boobs still stood out and I knew that would be the first thing people will look at with my height. You see, I look like an adult with big boobs but I am okay with it. I mean, I used to be okay until I was bullied by a girl named Julia at my former school. This caused me to transfer to another school entirely with the help of the Guidance Counselor Mrs. Jenkins who was the only person nice to me. Too bad she is retiring this school year.

I look at the time and see it was still too early in the morning to sneak out of my aunt's apartment. It was my first day at my new school and I really want to make a good impression. So I head to the kitchen to see what I can have for breakfast but when I open the fridge, it was empty.

"No surprise there." I mutter hearing the snoring from the living room. I open the cabinets and find it bare. What can I say, there was no food in the house. I huff and pass my Aunt Hellen who was asleep on the couch and walk out of the apartment building. It was cold out and that made me thank Heaven that I remembered to wear my sweater. Since it was still early, I walk to school stopping by the convenience store to buy lunch on my way there. The sun was out by the time I arrived waiting for the gates to open. As I waited, students walked up to the gate and it did not take long for whispers to be heard.

"Who is she?"

"Is she new?"

"Of course she is new dummy!"

"She is hot."

"I hope she is in our home room."

"Yeah we need pretty girls like her in our homeroom."

"Whoa she is so tall!"

"Is she an adult?"

"She sure looks like one."

"Those boobs look fake!"

"Yeah it is clear she did plastic surgery!"

"We'd better keep our guys safe! She might steal them from us!"

Finally the gates were opened and while everyone was walked into the school, I walked slowly looking around. It was a normal school with huge buildings representing the block with enough classes to fit nearly every kid in the city. It also had a garden and a swimming pool too. I wanted to go check out the garden but I had to see the Principal first. I was tempted to ask someone for help. Luckily there was a sign board with a map in front of the main building.

'His office on the ground floor to the right.' I thought walking there. As usual people stared at me. Some in awe others in disgust but I ignore them and got to my destination. Heaving a huge sigh, I knock on the door and wait but no one told me to come in. I knocked again and again but still no reply.

'Maybe he is not present?' I thought.

"Can I help you ma'am?" a crackly voice boomed behind me. I turn and see a short fat woman wearing a black floral dress and thick glasses holding a pile of papers.

"Umm I am the transfer student." I say with formality.

She took one look at me and snorted. "You don't look like a student."

I watch her fiddle with the bunch of keys in her hands and open the door. The room was cramped with two huge drawers and a desk which had a computer, a file holder and other office necessities. It was clear she was not organized because her desk was a mess with files and papers threatening to fall off the desk but she was punctual and did her duties on time because the 'In' basket was empty while the 'Out' basket was full.

"Please sit down and state your name," she said squeezing into her chair and typing away.

"Emma Cross-wood."

"Age?"

"Sixteen."

She stopped typing and looked at me.

'I know, I know. I look like a college student! Please get on with it!'

She finally got one with her work and looked at the information on her computer.

"So you left Peterson's High School to come here." She said as the printer whirred. "You made a bad decision mate. I heard that school is good!"

'It looks good like a cheese on a mouse trap until you set foot in it.' I watched her staple some papers and hand them over to me.

"Well too late to change your mind. Go find you home room. I will tell the Principal about you so don't worry about it."

I thank her and leave the office. '3-2B.That must be the second classroom on the third block.'

It was a long walk and on the way there, I see the garden. I had to admit it was not as pretty as the garden in my old school but it looks nice. Finally, I reach the class but someone opened the door for me.

"Okay, keep my seat warm for me." then she froze upon seeing me. In fact the whole class did.

'This is so awkward!' I gulp and waved. "Hi my name is Emma Cross-wood."

I gosh I sounded like a doll! The girl looked at me and I stared at her, bending my head as I did. She brown eyes with black hair and she was wearing orange sleeves sticking out of her shirt that complimented the multicolored leggings she wore with the Goth make up.

She chewed on her bubble gum and smiled. "Ain't you a pretty thang."

I blushed.

"Brianna!" someone yelled. I look behind her and see a boy wearing the same make up as with piercings on his ears. He walked over to us and apologized.

"Sorry about that. She has a thing for girls." He said politely.

"It is okay," I respond.

Brianna hummed. "She speaks my language."

Cheeks red with embarrassment, I slip pass her and take a seat in the middle of the class. Once I sat in front of the class at my former school and paid the price for it when the teacher said '******' instead of 'organism'

I was about to say something when a boy tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, "That is Valerie's seat."

I was confused. "Who is Valerie?" then a purple haired girl walked into the class. I quickly stand up and sit next to the boy watching her and two other girls; one with brown hair and another with heavily dyed purple hair and goth make up walk towards the seat. She signaled them and like robots, they sat down beside her.

I sigh. "Thanks for the head up."

He smiled and extended his hand. "No problem. I am Andrew leader of the Martial Arts Club."

I shook his hand and smiled at the sandy haired boy. He looked so masculine with his chiseled like feature and his light brown eyes complimented his hair and his smile. Someone scoffed and I turn to see Valerie staring at us. Then one of the girls whispered to her and they giggled. Something tells me they are going to be a problem.

"That is Valerie," Andrew said startling me. "She is the Queen Bee."

"So I noticed." I reply.

"Her father owns a string of successful hotels in the city." He continued. "He is the one sponsoring this school but I heard he is having financial problems."

Then a blond haired guy wearing a rumpled looking uniform walked up to her and kissed her passionately in front of everyone.

"That is Brandon her boyfriend." Andrew explained. "He is the captain of the school's swim team but he feels like they own the place because he is dating her."

I look at the couple and could not help but feel a twinge of jealousy. They were rich with good parents and a good house while I am stuck in an apartment with a crappy aunt and a cheating Uncle. It did not help that my genetic condition made me look older than my age and made my boobs grow to the size of melons. I had been bullied and molested many times at my former school because of it and would have stuck around for senior year if Julia who was the ring leader left me alone but she didn't. Now you know the reason why I signed up to be transferred.

Shaking my head I look to the door and watch other students enter in to the class until the teacher arrived.

"Class, we have a new student today so why don't we give her a warm welcome?" she said gesturing me to stand up.

I stand up, walk up to the front of the class with an uncomfortable look on my face. I was hoping she was not one of those teachers who would tell the new student to introduce themselves. Alas she was.

"Hi my name is Emma Cross-wood and I am sixteen years old. I am a new transfer student so I hope we all get along." I mechanically say.

The whole class was silent except with a few giggle from the Queen Bee and her clique. Then the teacher said something that made me cringe; "Does anyone have any questions to ask the new student?"

"When did your boobs grow?" a boy yelled.

That question generated a bunch of laughs and although I was embarrassed, I answered it. "My boobs started growing when I was in middle school at the age of ten."

"Why?"

"I have a genetic condition that makes me older than my age. So in other words, I saw puberty at a very young age."

"Are you single?" Then the teacher said that was enough questions and if anyone wants to ask more questions, they should do it after class. I took my seat beside Andrew again and the teacher started a lesson on Phonetics. It went on until the bell for the second lesson began and we had to go for our next class.

"What is your next lesson?" Andrew asked.

I look at my schedule. "Chemistry."

"I have Biology until lunch time. Hey maybe you can hang out with us on the school's roof!"

I smile. "That would be great!"

"Okay see you there!" we went our separate ways. Chemistry was okay except someone was tossing papers at me for no good reason. Finally the bell for lunch rang and Andrew led me to the school's roof where a group of students were waiting for us.

"Hey Andrew!" the girl I met at the class entrance called out. "Looks like you snagged the new student before I did! Bummer! Since you got her first, I will be the one to do the introductions."

There was something about her statement that put me on edge. Forcing a smile I sit next to them and began to eat while introducing ourselves.

"This is Ralph my annoying older but adorable brother," Brianna began ignoring his scary look. "This is Andrew, he is in the Martial Arts Club."

"She knows." Andrew replied.

Brianna continued. "This is Aubrey, she in the Cooking Club but she is also a cleanaholic if you know what I mean."

"Hello," the brunette haired girl with the bob hairstyle said shaking my hand firmly then took out hand wipes and cleaned her hand with them.

"This is Brutes the nerd among us so don't take his name seriously." she said addressing the black haired boy with huge glasses who obviously did not like it.

"And this is Caroline." she finally said pointing to the last girl with long black hair covering her left eye. "She is the spooky one of us."

I have to admit that she did spook me out with her eerie appearance but underneath that spooky exterior, was something cute because when she said 'hi' it sounded like Fluttershy from My Little Pony; cute and sensitive.

We were eating when Valerie walked in with her crew. She took one look at us huffed and walked towards the other end of the roof."

"They come here to gossip." Ralph said.

"That girl irritates me," Brianna said out loud.

I look at her and smile. "It looks like you have a personal vendetta against her."

"Yep," said Brutes pushing up his glasses. "She sure does."

"I've had my own share of Queen Bees back in middle school." I say sipping on my drink. "Most of them were not good."

"Don't worry she is not worth the trouble." Andrew said putting rice in his mouth.

Aubrey huffed. "That girl can't even cook well. I bet she has chiefs who cook for her every day."

"Well she's rich so she does have cooks." said Ralph.

"She is also cursed." Caroline said taking us by surprise because she did not say a word when we talked.

"What did you say?" I ask.

"She is cursed," she said again. "It is because..."

"Caroline!"Brianna yelled angrily and turning to me she said it was nothing. She was lyingbut before I could talk, the bell rang and we had to leave to go for our next class and we did not meet again after that. 

Apart from the lunch on the school's roof, the day was uneventful. I was in a convenience store to buy some groceries to make dinner at home. I had to admit that my home is far from decent because I was doing most of the chores and trying to avoid being molested by my so called lazy Uncle. He is not really my Uncle, he is just my Aunt's boyfriend loves to cheat on her and drink beer. My Aunt was a hairdresser with a smoking and drinking addiction so she only yells at him and kicks him out of the house. Then he comes back all sober begging her to forgive him and they makes up.

I sigh thinking about it. It is like a never ending cycle. Sometimes she blames his cheating antics on me because my boobs are bigger than hers. I ignore her. She says that when she has too much to drink.

I walk into the apartment building and hear yelling coming from our room. They were fighting again. Opening the door, I walk inside the room and head straight to the kitchen.

'Maybe she will kick him out this time.' I thought as I unpacked the groceries. Today's dinner was instant noodles with a twist because the ingredients were cheap. I hum a little tune as I put the noodles in a pot of boiling water and chop the few vegetables I could buy while they yelled at each other. Then my Uncle walked into the kitchen.

"Did you buy beer?" he asks.

I shake my head while stirring the pot. He cursed and opened the fridge and slammed it shut in rage. I jolted but refuse to look at him because of the tension he created but felt his hand snake around my waist.

"You know you are way better than her." he murmured into my neck. "You never fight, you never argue heck you are just pliable."

A shudder went up my spine as he inhaled my scent.

"I can't stop thinking about you." he continued letting his hand trial downstairs. I push him off and go grab the bowls.

Then my Aunt walked in. "I knew it! I knew you were cheating on me!"

He groaned. "What I'd do now?"

"You were touching her!" she screeched grabbing her hair. "I knew it! You are sleeping with him behind my back!"

I turn off the stove. "Dinner's ready."

We ate at the kitchen table and the tension seemed to relax until my Aunt stirred the pot.

"Your twist on instant noodles? You are a disgrace to the company making them." she sneered.

"At least it is better than the TV dinners we keep eating." I calmly reply.

Then Uncle said, "And it better than the Cr!p you cook too."

Aunt got mad. "You mean to tell me my cooking is crap?"

"Yep." Was his reply. My Aunt looked around for a while, grabbed her cup and flung it at him. It missed him by inches and shattered on the wall near him. He retaliated by picking up his plate of food and made to toss it at her. She cowered, he smiled and sat back on the table.

Everything was quiet until my Aunt called him a 'Wuss'. He threw the cup at her and missed as she began to insult him. I see this it was not going to end well, so I scoop the last morsel of food in my mouth and run to my room. Tucking my head under the sheets, I hear screaming and yelling followed by the sound of things breaking. What can I say this was normal right?

Morning came and I decided now was the best time to use the window to sneak out of the apartment. Over the years, I had learnt to lock my room and climb down the building. We live two stories up so it was not that hard. Setting my foot on the ground, I go to school, put some my things in my locker and look at my class schedule.

'My class is starting by 9AM.' I tuck the schedule into my bag. 'I can explore the school and see what the clubs are like. According to the map, they should be at the second block by the right.'

With that in mind, I go there and see there were a few clubs; Martial Arts Club, Cooking Club, Sports Club and the Drama Club. There was no Music, Gaming, Science Club and Student Council.

I smiled. 'Thank goodness there is no Student Council Club because I do not want all that drama that happened back in my former school.' Then I think for a moment. 'Why isn't there a Student Council Club?'

I decided to check out the Martial Arts Club first and when I got there I see Andrew sweeping. "Good Morning Andrew"

He looked up at me. "Hi Emma what's up?"

"Nothing much." I responded. "What are you doing?"

"Cleaning up the club room." was his reply.

I see the room was littered with wraps of chocolate bars, soda cans and even school bags. "Can I join you?" I ask politely.

He gave a nod and handed me the trash bag. I picked up the garbage and we were done in no time.

Andrew tied up the last bag. "Thanks you really helped me."

"What happened here?" I ask.

"Some idiot left the window open and some of the Spots Club Members snuck in and littered the place." He said with a frown. "Sometimes they act like jerks!"

I understood how he felt. My Aunt and Uncle left a huge mess yesterday and they will be waiting for me to clean it up. I bet they are still fighting.

Speaking of fighting, "Hey Andrew, can I join the Martial Arts club?"

He smiled. "Yeah. You can and it is about time we had some new faces here. I will tell Sensei so that he can register your name."

"Great! When do you have your club meetings?"

"We have our club meetings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays so you can start tomorrow."

"Then it is a deal!" I say giving him a thumbs up. Then the bell rang and Andrew left to go to class. I still had thirty minutes left of my time so I went off to explore the remaining clubs. The Cooking Club room was close to the Martial Arts Club and I meet Aubrey there.

"I want this place to be cleaned from the top to the bottom do you hear me?" she ordered.

The rest of the club members groaned while I shuddered. I look down and notice they were wearing a different pair of shoes and were scrubbing the place like it was the end of the world while she supervised them.

'Gee Brianna was no joking when she said Aubrey was a cleanaholic.' I thought inching away from the door. 'This is not the right time...'

"Can I help you ma'am?" a male voice boomed behind me. I turned and was smitten by an extremely handsome boy with dark brown shoulder-length hair, blue eyes and a charming smile.

"I...I am sorry. I am a new student. My name is Emma Cross-wood." I say twiddling a strand of my hair.

He was surprised. "I am sorry. I did not know you were a student."

I gave a shy laugh. "I look older than my age don't I?"

"Yeah but you sound younger than your looks." He replied with a wink.

I felt my heart flutter. He looked like all those guys you see in soap operas and he was taller than me with long hair. The two favorite things I like in a guy.

"I'm I missing something here?" Aubrey asked looking directly at us.

"Oh good morning Aubrey. This young lady wants to join the cooking club." He said gesturing to me.

I blush and nod. What? He said I was young!

Aubrey glared at me. "Sure you can join but we want someone who is interested in cooking not fashion, music or boys."

My heart sank because I knew what she was talking about. "It is a good thing I don't have any interest in that. When are you guys open?"

"Only on Tuesdays and Thursdays." She replied turning her back to me. "And please do not crush on our Club founder. We have so many girls wanting to join the club because of him."

'Wait club founder?' I look at the guy and he looked back giving me a cheeky smile.

Yep," he said with pride. My name is Alex. I am the founder of the cooking club and a teacher teaching Home Economics. I can teach you how to cook food that taste like it was straight out of you mother's kitchen."

My fantasies immediately shattered when he said. He was a teacher! This means I was crushing on a teacher! I am so ashamed! How can I be crushing on my teacher?

The bell rang and looking at the time, I see it is 9AM. 'Shoot I am going to be late for class and on the second day too!'

I bid them goodbye and run back to the main building. I was just coming down the stairs when I bumped into someone.

"Ouch!" a male voice said while I was trying to recover. It was a tall boy with long black hair but I did had no time to pay attention to him.

"I am so sorry." I say picking myself up. "I was rushing to class so I did not see where I was going!"

I help him up to his feet, apologize again rush to the main building. I get to class just in time for the lesson. The teacher scolded me but did not give me detention.

'Phew! I was just lucky' I say sitting on the chair. 'I promise not to make that mistake ever again.

During lunch Aubrey told them about the incident that happened in the morning. We all laughed at me crushing on a teacher but I could not stop thinking about him.

'He looked so young that I could not believe that he was a man and he is a teacher yet he greeted us with formalities.' I thought blushing. 'He is so nice! No one has never called me 'young lady' before. Was he complimenting me?'

They say a crush is nothing but a fleeting love but I could not stop thinking about him. The next day I found myself thinking about him again and looking forward to joining the Cooking Club just to see him again. It was official, I was in love.

"So what are we doing this weekend?" Ralph asked once classes were over.

"How about karaoke?" Brianna said beaming with delight.

Brutes groaned. "We have been doing karaoke almost every weekend. Sorry to say this but you are a lousy singer."

She glared at him while Caroline and I giggled. He was right about her being a terrible singer with her mixing up the lyrics of a song and forgetting the words. Ralph defended his sister who was at Brute's throat for calling her a lousy singer while Andrew and Aubrey rolled their eyes. I kind of notice that their distinct personalities is what defined our group; Aubrey was the fiery and organized type of girl while Brianna was carefree and disorganized. Brutes and Caroline were the quiet ones with the distention that one was creepy while the other wasn't. Ralph may look like the outgoing type but he is actually a guy who likes to keep to himself and Andrew was the one who pulled no punches in his words and actions.

I was lost in thought when someone walked passed us in anger. It was Valarie and her friends were nowhere to be seen.

"Whoa what is up with her?" Brianna asked.

Then some group of girls walked passed us whispering and giggling to each other. Andrew stopped one of them and asked what was going on,

"Oh haven't you heard?" she began. "Valarie and Brandon broke up!"

We were shocked. "Why did they breakup?" asked Ralph.

"Something about him falling for another girl." The girl replied. Then she leaned over and winked at me. "I heard it was you."

I cringed. "I don't like him."

She shrugged and walked away. "Who knows? It could be anybody."

We watch them walk away.

"Humph that girl really has the nerve to tell you that." Aubrey said with a huff. "I bet she is secretly campaigning to be his next girlfriend."

"I highly doubt it. Valarie will have her expelled if she tried that." Ralph pointed out.

"Really?" I asked in curiosity.

"Yeah! She is daddy's little girl! All she needs to do is to call up her father and boom! You are gone!" Brianna said and balling up her fist she added, "That is why I hate her."

"The fact we all have to walk on eggshells because of her really makes me wonder about the school system." Brutes said pushing up his glasses.

I nod and decide to change the subject. "So, what are we do this weekend?"

"We could go to the fair," Andrew suggested. "I participated in an online competition and won the tickets."

Aubrey snapped at Andrew. "Why didn't you tell us that sooner idiot?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise?" he replied shrugging. "Maybe my dad can pick all of us up and take us there."

"That would be a good idea if one of us knew where someone lived." Brutes said looking at me. Soon as I saw all eyes on me waiting for me to speak.

"What?" I asked.

Brianna sighed. "So are you going to tell us where you live?"

I laugh and give them my address and phone number hoping when they come, they would not see me doing something weird like sneaking out of the building through the window or my Aunt and Uncle yelling at each other. We said our goodbyes and on the way home, I brainstorm on how I was going to meet them without anyone seeing the monstrosity of a family I had inside the apartment.

Then I had an idea, 'I will wake up earlier and wait for them in front of my apartment building to pick me up.'

When I got home I was met with a pleasant surprise; my Uncle was gone.

"He is in the hospital." My Aunt announced taking a smoke.

I was shocked and at the same time relived. "What happened to him?"

"Someone attacked him on his way home." came the response. "I called the police and they are on the case so you don't have to worry. They are waiting for him to wake up so that he can identify or give a clue to who the culprit is."

I shiver upon hearing the word 'police' because it brought back some terrible memories. "How long is he going to be there?"

She took a drag on her cigarette before responding. "The doctor said two months."

I smile inwardly and go to my room. He was going to be gone for two months or more! I admit I am happy about this because I no longer have to worry about him sneaking into my bedroom to molest me. Yeah he does that sometimes. Luckily for me, my closet has a secrete room where I can hide. I also hide my money and valuables there too!

To celebrate, I take a long shower then do my homework and go to sleep. Early the next day, I wake up, do my morning activities and wait for my friends outside the building. Sitting on the curb and ignoring the looks passerby's gave me and began to think of my crush Alex.

'I have to admit the Cooking Club has really taught me a lot about food and how to prepare them. If I am unable to go to college, I can go to culinary school and become a chef. Maybe I can own my own restaurant! The Martial Arts Club helps me learn how to defend myself. I wanted to go for karate but Sensei told me to do Judo instead. It was easy for me to do all the activities but I am getting the hang of it.'

My train of thoughts were interrupted when a car pulled up in front of me.

"C'mon in girl," Brianna said and I do so. The ride to the fair was uneventful until we got there. We tried the food, the games and the rides. It was my first time there and I wanted to make some good memories while I was at it. So I brought some money and spent it on taking pictures.

We went on the Farris Wheel which was last activity we had to do before the Fair closed. Andrew sat with Aubrey, Brianna sat with Ralph, and I ended up with Caroline while Brutes sat on his own with a total stranger.

"Wow, this looks beautiful," Caroline said as the wheel rotated around in a slow motion.

"Yeah," I replied. "The city looks pretty in the night. With all the city lights and..."

"Do you believe in curses?" she asked interrupting me.

"Huh?"

"Do you believe in curses?" she asked again.

"Uh, no I don't." I reply.

She looked away before responding, "I believe in them."

I suddenly felt concerned because she looked sad. "Why, did something happen to you?"

"Not to me but to others," came the reply.

"To others?"

"Yes," then she paused. "Our school looks beautiful doesn't it?"

I nod.

"Do you know why it was so cheap to get into?"

I thought for a while and nodded again. When I signed up for the student exchange program, I picked the school because of how cheap it was despite the attractive appearance. Know that got me wondering, why was it was cheap?

As if reading my thoughts she said, "It was because of the murders."

I felt goosebumps on my skin. "W...what murders?"

"One minute a student goes missing for a day and the next day they show up and stab a fellow student." She began. "Some even go as far as to throw themselves and a fellow student off the roof or push them down a fleet of stairs!"

I gulped. "Didn't the police investigate why it happened?"

She nodded. "They did but couldn't find the reason behind the killings. Many say our school is cursed although I don't know why."

The ferries wheel came to a halt and we got down to meet with our friends.

"Hey guys, how was the ride on ferries wheel?" Brianna asked.

I put up a straight face. "It was awesome."

"Yes it was," Caroline said with happiness. "Emma and I saw the stars."

"Umm, they were no stars Caroline," Brutes said "Only satellites." Then he looked at his phone. "We should go, it is getting late."

Brianna huffed muttering the word 'kill joy' underneath her breath as we walked away to the car park. There Andrew said he needed to go to the bathroom giving Brianna the opportunity to pick a fight with Brutes. Ralph on the other hand was trying to break them up while Aubrey fell asleep leaning on the car. I stayed with Caroline who nudged me and whispered into my ear.

"I think it was caused by someone, thirsty for revenge!"

I had goosebumps all over me that night.