Hellur there! This is my first story here and I hope people enjoy it. I'd love feedback! My biggest worry now is that I won't be able to express Nathan's character too well.

Thanks!

"Is… Kealani Pierce here?" Miss Grant stumbled over the girl's name, clearing her voice afterwards.

"Yes ma'am." Kealani nodded, biting the cheek in slight annoyance. Could her name really be that hard? Seriously, though. How can you get 'kee-lay-nee?'

"May I ask how to pronounce your name, sweetheart?" The woman was genuinely curious, her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Kee-uh-law-nee. You can always call me Lani." Miss Grant smiled and nodded, finishing the list of students on the paper she held in front of her. Kealani was new at Blackwell and today would be her third day. Most of the two days before this one was just daydreaming, signing papers, and taking in insincere greetings from people she did not even know. Man, did that bug her, as she is the kind of person that enjoys engaging in deep conversation. But no one does that these days. Kealani was born and raised in Hawaii where her parents lived in for eight years before having Kealani. Now, she is here in Oregon, studying digital photomanipulation, or for short, photo manips. Such fancy. She was only here for the advanced curriculum. Afterall, it's the most superior art school in the country, so who wouldn't?

Science was usually one of her favorite subjects, but the crowded atmosphere was so different and it made her just want to sleep the days away until the weekend. In Hawaii, schools were small and had only a few students in one classroom and she had gotten used to the heat in the air which cleared her airways. At Blackwell, it was loud and chilly. Wow, don't I sound like such a fun person.

Not before long, the bell rang, causing her to flinch and release a muffled squeal. Laughs erupted from behind her. "Hey don't worry, the bell won't hurt you." A boy wearing a blue shirt atop a red longsleeve approached her, still chuckling about the recent events.

"Hah, y-yeah." She mumbled, smiling faintly, trying so hard to stifle a sincere laugh, but it wouldn't come out. She tucked a small piece of her chocolate-y brown, glossy hair behind her ear which fell back to its place beside her cheek a few moments after because her short hair length.

"Are you normally so frightened?" She still had a hint of amusement in his eyes, but he did show some concern.

"I… I don't really know. I've been here for only three days so everything is so new." There she went. Telling him her life story. That's what she meant by engaging into conversations.

"Gotcha. Welcome to Blackwell, by the way. I'm Warren. I haven't been paying much attention because of this project I'm doing." He turned and slightly nodded towards his desk which was covered in flasks and pitchers full of different kinds of chemicals and mixtures. Meanwhile, she gathered her things from off of of her desk, nodding.

"I'm Lani. And, uh, what are you trying to do?" Her blue eyes lit up with questions, clearly displaying her fascination with chemical mixtures and hands-on activities.

"Eh, just trying to find out how to get a certain reaction. I've been at it for days, maybe weeks."

"Have you asked Miss Grant?"

"I kind of, sort of, maybe told her that I could do it without her help." He scratched the back of his head, chuckling.

"Very well then," Lani smirked slightly, Warren's expression bringing her joy, "have you tried Googling it?"

"No, actually. That's genius, Lani! But, um, I don't have my phone on me."

"Here, use mine." After a few minutes, Lani could have sworn that Warren has a lightbulb above his head. As he thanked her, the warning bell shouted through the school. "No problem, Warren. Tell me how it goes. I have to go!" Warren nodded and waved goodbye. She quickly made her way out of the classroom. The nerves crept through her body slowly. If she was late only three days in, she would swear to marry her homework. Suddenly, a force landed upon her so hard, her supplies dropped out of her hand, she was stumbling backwards before she was against the lockers. "Watch where you're going, bitch! God damn." The rough voice mumbled the last part.

"Excuse me, but could you repeat what you said?" Lani popped one of her wrists, anger laced her insides, her face was burning with embarrassment and rage. Did this guy seriously just call her a bitch?

"No one tells me what to fucking do, whore." He growled, clenching his fists, inching his way towards her. He was just her height, maybe five seven or eight, as he encountered her. Lani's eyes adjusted from the shaking and the kid wore a red varsity jacket. His face was pale and drained of any sense of humility or regret, but damn was his hair nice, all slicked back effortlessly, a small group of hairs dangled on his forehead. She didn't respond, just stared into his eyes, almost fearlessly, but this kid was frightening to be honest.

"What, you're just going to stand there? Thought you were tough or somethin'? That's fucking hilarious." No matter how he got to her, she stood in her place, unmoving. She wondered if her stare was as sharp and painful as his. He was close now. So close that she felt his breath on her face and it oddly didn't disturb her as it usually would.

"Mr. Prescott, that's enough. What is going on here?" A deeper, more mature voice interrupted this kid's attack. It was Principle Wells, thank God. He sauntered over to the two teens which separated just to stare at the principle.

"I don't have to explain shit to you. I own this school, therefore, I own you." He sneered, walking away, his hands in his jacket pockets.

"I apologize for that, Miss Pierce." Wells apologized.

"Is… is he usually that way?"

"Nathan is usually quite hostile. I recommend you steer clear." She nodded, wanting to ask why he didn't do anything about the situation other than interrupt it. If this happened in Hawaii, he'd be written up and even sent home."Hurry and get to class now, Miss Pierce." She nodded, hurrying to her photomanipulation class.

It was her first day in this class. She could have gone yesterday if she remembered to turn in the fee for using the school's computers. She wasn't allowed to use them until she turned it in. Luckily, yesterday after school, she turned it in to Mr. Jefferson. She shook his hand briskly as she entered the room, greeting him. "Where do I sit?" She tilted her head slightly.

"Hmm," Jefferson muttered, looking behind her, pointing, "there, beside Mr. Prescott." Her face flushed slightly as she turned around, seeing a lackadaisical Nathan slumped into his seat while bouncing his knee. Just my luck. He smirked at her as she hesitantly sat down, taking a glance at him. She could feel him tearing holes through her with his powerful, sharpened stare. She awkwardly reached into her bag, retrieving a fake flower. It was pink, the middle striped with red and the tips slightly coated orange. It was her hibiscus that she had since she was very young. She tucked some of her short hair behind her ear, clipping the flower into it. Her cheek was revealed, dotted with little, brown freckles against her fair skin. You would never have guessed her being born in Hawaii from her light complexion. That's why she rarely wore short shorts and tank tops. She simply didn't want to blind people, leading to her wearing skinny jeans and button downs or even a flashy pastel-colored tee from time to time.

Shit. Not even intense thinking can make Nathan stop staring holes through me. Do something. Say something…

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd have a crush on me." She said, sending him a taunting smirk back. His face flushed red and it instantly angered him. Was that embarrassment or anger?

"You'd wish, flowergirl."

Better get used to this.