I sigh as I drive up to Blackwell Academy, the best school in Oregon. I never thought I'd ever get into a school like this. The only reason I'm even coming here is because of some deal my dad made with the principal.

Apparently they used to go to college together back in the day. They grew up in Seattle, like me, and even though I'm only a state away from my parents... I can't help feeling a bit homesick. It was hard leaving them on my birthday... which just happened to land on the same day as orientation, but, as an official adult... I had to accept it... like an adult.

Still, It's hard not knowing anyone around here... well, that's not entirely true. I know Kate Marsh and Warren Graham. They were the first people to talk to me during orientation, they showed me around the school and showed me where all my classes were.

Kate is quiet and reserved, like me, while Warren is geeky and boisterous, also like me. He's kind cute, that Warren boy... although, he seems... how do I put this nicely? A bit persistent, I guess. He liked me instantly, even trying to hold my hand during the tour. Kate seemed a bit weary of me ( I guessed she is one of those people who has to know you well before you gain their trust) but after a while she seemed to think I was alright.

As I pull into my assigned parking spot and park, I take out my schedule, familiarizing myself with the day's' plan.

Okay, Homeroom for first period, algebra for second, Photography third... blah blah blah blah.

The rest of my classes don't really matter to me, photography is what I'm looking forward to the most. God, I'm SOOO lucky because Mark Jefferson, my absolutely favorite photographer, is my teacher. He has some of his work displayed across the school... I have to admit, the first time I saw them... they came off as extremely dark and really sexual but, who am I to judge... everyone has their own unique sense of style.

Anyways, I address the large bold lettering across the top of the paper: 'DON'T FORGET TO MEET DORM PARTNER!'. Shit, I forgot about the duel dorms, I almost forgot that I have to share a dorm with... with. I flip the card over and read the name of my dorm buddy for the next year.

CHLOE E. PRICE.

Hmm... I wonder who she is. I tried asking around, seeing if I could scrounge up some info on her, but everyone I asked gave me almost sympathetic looks, as if they were sorry I ended up with her. Kate even seemed sad and almost worried about me. Warren said that all I needed to know to know was that she's bad news. I won't judge a person I haven't even met yet.

BRININIININING!

"Shit!". I jump at the sound of the warning bell.

Oh, god. It's 7:30 already?! I think, looking down at my watch that flashes 7:25. Fuck, I can't be late on the first day!

I jump from my car (Figuring I'll come back later for my luggage) and dash across the vast parking lot, catching a few students putting out their cigarettes. Except for a blue haired girl and two blond-haired boys... everyone else is leaves.

Pfft, stoners, and delinquents, no high school setting is complete without them.

I run as fast as my tiny feet allow and make it to homeroom with seconds to spare, but, thankfully the teacher is quite lenient in letting some of the students get away with being late.

As usual, the first day back is usually just for filling students in on what will be happening during the year, what behavior should be displayed around fellow peers and faculty. The only interesting thing that happened all period was that one kid got reamed for having some kind of profanity on his sweatshirt.

Most of the teachers are chill with tardiness, except Jefferson... I could never imagine him putting up with truancy. He expects the very best from everyone of us, no more, no less. That's why we're given notes and homework on the first day. The other kids moan and pout in protest, but I couldn't be happier to get lectured by my hero. But, since he's my hero I hardly pay attention to the notes. But, thankfully, I know a lot of this stuff already.

God, cocky much Max?

I keep gawking over the fact that Mark Jefferson is standing right in front of me... this is almost too good to be true. But, like all good things, the period bell rings and ends my admiration.

"Good morning, Maxine," someone to my left says as I leave the classroom.

I turn to see Kate walking up beside me, "O-oh, hi, Kate... Good morning to you, too".

"Did you get the page number for the homework? I didn't catch it,".

I blink, "Wait, you've got Jefferson, too? I didn't see you in there,".

She nods meekly, "Yeah, I usually keep to myself in class... plus I was kinda distracted by Mr. Jefferson,".

I catch a slight blush on her face and I blush right along with her, "He is kinda dreamy, huh?".

She nods in total agreement. We chat for a while, swapping simple stories about ourselves since we're still basically strangers. Turns out, we have a lot in common. We're both into photography, uh, doh, and we both seem to be looking for something more in life. For Kate that's obviously a deeper and closer connection to God.

Huh, doubt she'll find that here.

But for me... I'm not sure, I feel like there's something missing in my life... or rather someone. I used to have a crush on someone back home but they're not for me... too, pretentious... like me... kinda.

"Anyways, I'll catch you later, Max," Kate says as we part ways and head to our dorms.

I don't remember who she said she got paired with... River? No... it was something kinda like that, though. Uh, Creek? Brooke? Brooke! Yeah, that was it. She's the geeky gamer girl that's kinda like Warren's female counterpart. Huh, they'd be cute together. Hmm, maybe next time I see him I'll ask if he knows her. Who knows, maybe I could find a career in Matchmaking.

Oh, Max... wouldn't your mother be proud.

I roll my eyes at myself and continue to make my way to my dorm room, room 219.

217, no.

218, nada.

Ah, here we are 219, all the way at the end of the hall in the very last building... charming.

The smell hits me first, when I open the door and step inside the smell of weed wafts strongly off the walls.

Shit, someone must have forgotten to crack a window.

I close the door behind me and walk over to the window. I almost start tripping over trash and dirty clothes, "Looks like someone forgot to clean up," I mutter to myself, holding down the side of me that can't stand seeing a mess.

I get to the window in one piece and pull the shades and see an astonishing view of... bricks.

Seriously, you built a window... IN FRONT OF A FUCKING WALL? Who built this hell hole? Oh well, get used to it, Max... this is your home now.

I sigh and flop down on the bed that is seemingly free from clutter. The sheets smell fresh and clean like they'd just been washed...

Wait...

Oh, god...Please don't let THAT be the reason these are clean... I'll never be able to sleep here if that's the case.

I shake my head, ridding myself of such weird thoughts and yawn, checking the time on my phone as I do so, "Huh, two hours till my next class," I say to myself. "I can afford to catch up on some Z's".

I'm exhausted, aside from every teenager feeling the same way, I'm the one who drove all the way here overnight and haven't slept since. It's a miracle I'm still standing upright, It's a miracle I haven't passed out from exhaustion.

I'm just about to close my eyes when someone barges into the dorm and slams the door. I scream, so startled by the sudden, and loud, entrance.

It's that girl, the one I saw smoking in the parking lot with those boys this morning, the blue haired one. She signals for me to stay quiet as another person starts banging on the door.

"YOU GET OUT OF THERE, BITCH!," he yells, "I'M GONNA KILL YOU... YOU'RE DEAD, YOU'RE SO FUCKING DEAD!".

The girl looks at me beseechingly, "Tell 'em I'm not here," she whispers.

I roll my eyes, "Uh, sorry... I think you've got the wrong dorm," I say.

"Bullshit... I saw that little whore run in there," he yells again.

I start thinking about what this girl might have done to piss this guy off. Whatever it is, it's not really my problem and I don't want to be caught in the middle of a fight. But, like the helpful girl I am, I gesture for the girl to hide behind the door.

"Would you like to come in and check?" I offer, shooting the girl a half smile. She winks.

"Fine, but if I find out you're lying...oh, ho ho... you don't want to find out". I open the door and the boy pushes himself inside, "Come out, come out wherever you are," He says in the most menacing voice I've ever heard.

I keep my eyes on the boy so I don't draw attention to the girl when she slips out... except, she doesn't slip out, instead she sneaks up behind him, "Surprise Motherfucker!".

The boy screams as she tackles him to the ground and rubs the top of his clean cut, heavily gelled blond hair. "Aww, fuck you Price," he mutters in a much calmer voice.

"Same to you friend," the girl says, looking up at me. "Hiya, You must be Maxine,".

She gets up, leaving the boy dazed on the floor, "I'm Chloe and this her is Fuck-Face Magee, AKA: My best friend,".

"Hi, Max. I'm Nathan," the boy says as he picks himself up off the ground to shake my hand.

Well, I need to stop judging people... these two seem like really good friends.

"Chloe, right?" I ask, pointing to the blue haired, tattooed girl.

"In the flesh,".

The boy regains his breath and gives Chloe a slug on the shoulder, "I'll see ya later bud, m'kay? And you owe me another pack of cigs,".

"Sure," she says dismissively, waiting for her friend to leave.

The door clicks closed.

"Alright, get out,".

"Huh?".

"Are you deaf? I said scram. I've got a date later and you don't want to be here when we get back 'cause things are gonna get Hawt!".

"Eww... you can't just... kick me out of my own dorm,".

"Hate to break it to you kid... it's my dorm, and you ain't welcome in it. So, go spread your hipster vibes somewhere else," Chloe says, grabbing my bag off the bed and shoving it at me.

I look at her in disbelief, " Are you fucking kidding me?! I can report you to Principle Wells for possession of drugs, smoking on school grounds, denying me entrance to 'our ' shared dorms, and for having sex in said dorms! So, I highly suggest that if you want to keep ' your dorm '... you'll let me stay,".

Chloe stares at me blankly, then smile, "Damn, you're a feisty little one ain't ya? Ah, don't worry kid... I'm just messin' with ya. I ain't that much of an asshole,". She grabs me and pulls me to her side, clutching me in a headlock and messing up my hair like she did with Nathan. "Just think of me like your jerky big sister,".

I squirm in her grasp, "Hey, let go of me!". Chloe lets go of me and I fall to the ground with an "Oof!".

"As you wish, kid. So uh," Chloe says as she throws herself on her bed, "You look like a freshman, you're a freshman right? Why'd they stick you with a senior?".

I get to my feet and huff awkwardly, "I'm not a freshmen... I'm just small, okay? I'm a senior just like you. And don't call me kid,".

"Alrighty, Maxine it is. So, 'Maxine', what's a dweeb like you doing in a prestigious academy like this?".

I roll my eyes again and huff again, "I could ask you the same thing Ms. Punkass. I got myself a photography scholarship... and you?".

"My stepdad's the head of security so i kinda got free entrance,".I roll my eyes again and pick my things up off the ground and setting them aside gently. That's when I hear the click of a lighter and the smell of smoke. "Seriously?! A fucking blunt?" I snap, seeing a blunt in her mouth.

Chloe simply shrugs, "We're all got our own ways of relaxing, kid. You should try it sometime".

I groan again and cough, charging out of the room and running right into something. I fall back, seeing the boy Chloe was smoking with (the shaggy-haired one) isn't a boy at all... it's a girl...a pretty one at that.

"Rachael, meet Maxine. Maxine, Rachael," Chloe says dully.

Great, she's already high.

I get to my feet and blush... I'd run face first into her boobs.

Oh, god... don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it!

"Hi, Maxine," Rachael says in the most angelic voice I've ever heard.

"Hi, " I squeak in the most pathetic voice I've ever spoken in.

She dismisses and pushes past me, "How dare you start without me?!" Rachael says, running up and taking the blunt from Chloe.

"*Ahem* you were just about to leave, weren't you, Maxine?" she says, gesturing to the door.

I roll my eyes, "It's Max,".

"Huh," Chloe asks stupidly, "You're a dude? That's cool,".

"What?! No... no... I just like being called 'Max'... never Maxine,".

"Sure... whatever, kid... uh, Max. Okay-see-ya-m'kay-bye,".

I stand my ground, "This is my dorm too, Chloe,".

Rachael gets back up and walks to the door, already glassy-eyed, "Not tonight it ain't,".

She slams the door on my face and it literally hits me in the face.

I fall back and grab my nose, already feeling blood dripping from it.

Fucking... Shit.

Tears threaten to fill my eyes as the pain registers in my brain. I get up and stumble all the way to Kate's room, since I have no where else to go.

I try to clean myself up as best I can before getting there, not wanting to draw attention to myself. All I can do is pray to god my nose isn't broken and as I look at myself in the mirror of the girls bathroom, I can see it beginning to swell up.

"Fucking... god dammit,".

Welp, looks like I just got a taste of my new life...*sigh* Welcome home, Max.