C7

"Hey." Ace slid into the seat next to Indianna and she briefly looked up at him before looking back down at her notebook. "Don't do the silent thing me with," he said with a laugh. "I know you talk to Greyson, and I am a lot nicer than Greyson."

But you can't talk to me in your head, she thought. She was a shy person, but she wasn't with Greyson and it was confusing her. Was it the whole mind speaking thing? Or did she just feel... Normal around him?

"Indianna?"

Indianna nervously bit the end of her pen and sighed, looking up at Ace. "...Hi."

Ace smiled brightly at her. "Hey, so how you finding it here?"

Indianna paused for a moment, pondering her answer. "Invasive," she finally replied.

Ace laughed and grinned sheepishly at Indianna. "Sorry."

She shrugged and looked back at her notebook.

"Greyson mentioned that you weren't feeling too well the other day, are you okay now?"

"Fine," she muttered, but it wasn't completely true. The sick feeling had come back slightly and was coming and going, there was a constant dull ache in the back of her head.

"You sure?"

"Fine," she repeated and narrowed her eyes at her notebook. Did Ace know about her and Greyson being able to communicate in their minds? Well, Indianna couldn't start the conversation, Greyson had to be in her mind for her to be able to talk to him.

Thinking about how this was possible made Indianna's head ache even more.

"Do you know?" She asked quietly, not looking up from her notebook.

"Know?" Ace furrowed his eyebrows at Indianna and looked at her. "Know what?"

"We can talk," Indianna started, but paused to see Ace's expression, it was blank. "In our... Minds. I'm not crazy-"

"Yes, I know," Ace cut her off and nodded his head. "I know you can do that."

"You do?

"Yes, I do."

"Can you tell me how?"

Ace sighed and shook his head, smiling sadly at Indianna. "I'm afraid I can't, Greyson's orders."

"So you know how?"

"Yes, but I can't say. I know you are probably extremely curious, but you will find out eventually. When Greyson says the time is right."

"I want to know now."

"You can't, Indianna."

"Why?"

"That will be explained along with everything else, soon."

"He said some weird things."

"When?"

"He spoke to my mother."

"What did he say?"

"Ask him yourself. You seem to know more about me than I do."

"It will all be expla-"

"Explained," she snapped, gritting her teeth together. "You've said that."

"But it will, Indianna. At the right-"

"Time," she cut him off again. "You and Greyson have said that as well."

"It's true," he shrugged.

"Whatever," she muttered.

"Don't be angry, Indianna."

"Sorry," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"Seriously, Indianna. We aren't keeping things from you to anger you."

"Really?" She scoffed and sighed. "Just leave me, Ace."

"Indianna-"

"Please, if you can't give me answers-"

"Okay, I'll stay quiet," he said and Indianna nodded.

"Good."

*

It was lunch and Indianna went to the library again. She didn't go to her locker to grab her lunch, she didn't want to risk bumping into Greyson. She kept her head down as he weaved her way through the crowds of students. She didn't know how, but everyone seemed to know who she was. All of the girls were giving her sly looks or 'accidentally' crashing into her. The boys were all looking her up and down, but no one approached her.

Greyson had probably scared everyone off when he punched that guy.

"Indianna!" Brooke appeared out of thin air and grinned brightly at Indianna, stopping her at the entrance of the library. "D'you wanna sit with us in the canteen?"

"Oh, I'm er... No thanks, I need to do some homework," Indianna stuttered and Brooke frowned.

"You said that the other day, most teachers haven't even started giving out homework yet." Brooke's expression saddened slightly. "Are you trying to avoid me?"

"N-no!" Indianna's eyes widened. "I'm not! I just... Don't like lots of people."

"I get that you're shy sweetie, but it's good to get to know people. You should come to the canteen, it's boring and dull in the library."

"It's peaceful," Indianna murmured, shrugging her shoulders. "I like it."

"Fine, but do you promise to let me introduce you to people soon?"

Indianna shifted awkwardly on her feet and crossed her arms over her chest. "Erm..."

"Please!"

"Um... Okay?" Indianna finally gave in and tried to force a smile when Brooke squealed.

"Yay! Right, well I've got to go, Harry is looking for me." She rolled her eyes, but Indianna could tell by the goofy grin on Brooke's face that she was happy about this.

"Bye," Indianna said and Brooke rushed off. Indianna sighed and went into the library, sitting at a table near the back.

"Something is not right with you."

Indianna jumped when Cassie sat down next to her and she rose her eyebrows questioningly. "Why?"

"You're new, you don't know anyone and you turn down an invitation to sit with the most popular group in the whole school!" Cassie grinned sheepishly at Indianna. "I overheard you speaking with Brooke."

"Oh."

"So how comes you don't want to be with that lot? It's all around the school that Greyson is interested in you, yet you seem to be avoiding them."

"He is n-not interested in m-me!" Indianna stuttered and shook her head.

"Oh sure!" Cassie laughed and wiggled her eyebrows. "The only girl he talks too is Brooke, and he see's her like a sister. You never said why you are avoiding them?"

"I'm an introvert," Indianna shrugged and frowned slightly when she felt the pushing feeling in her head. "I'm not good with people, new people."

"So? Just sitting with those guys would be an honour!"

"They're that popular?" Indianna whispered and Cassie nodded.

"Greyson Evans is the envy of every girl in this town! For him to take notice in a new kid is... Unheard of!"

*I'm just loved so much.*

Indianna didn't even want to imagine the smirk on his face and she tried to ignore him. How he knew what she was doing and what was going on around her made her nervous. How he could push his way into her mind and even see what she was seeing confused her so much.

"I wish he'd just leave me alone," Indianna muttered. *Take the hint, Greyson.*

*Nope.*

"Now that's a first," Cassie laughed.

*Why are you talking to this nerd?*

*Go away.*

*She's a freak, sugar. Don't associate with the likes of her.*

*So I should associate with the likes of you?*

*That sounds like a great idea.*

*Piss off.* Indianna looked at Cassie and shrugged.

"I'm not good with people."

*That wasn't very nice, sugar.*

*Neither was you saying that Cassie was a freak.*

*So that's her name...*

*Yes, that's her name.* Indianna gritted her teeth and looked at Cassie who was raising her eyebrows at Indianna. "What?"

"You have a zoned out look on your face, are you alright?" Cassie wondered.

"I've just got a headache," Indianna muttered and Greyson laughed in her head.

*Nice talking to you too, sugar.*

"Oh right, so you don't like Greyson then? Like at all?"

Indianna shrugged, wishing that Cassie would stop talking about Greyson.

*I quite like her talking about me.*

"No." Indianna shook her head and shrugged. "I don't like assholes." Cassie laughed loudly when Indianna said this and grinned sheepishly at the librarian who frowned at her.

"It's just him, Ace is the normal one out of them. Kal is the biggest sarcastic dick ever and Harry is the quiet, mysterious dude."

"He and Brooke..."

"Oh yeah, them two are totally smitten! Brooke hates to admit it, but she is head over heels for him! She gets annoyed easily by Greyson and that group, so she tries to stay away from them, but she can't be away from Harry no matter how much she tries."

"Cute," Indianna muttered.

*Yeah, it's freaking adorable.* His tone was dry and sarcastic and it made Indianna narrow her eyes.

"I don't think Brooke sees it that way," Cassie giggled and pulled some books out of her bag. She opened them up and took out her pen. "Sorry, I need to finish my notes from our last class."

"It's fine." Indianna leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. Her mind wandered from the confusion Greyson was causing her and to her mother.

The car ride in the morning had be horrible. She didn't want to be mean to her mother, but she couldn't help it. Her mother didn't use to care, Indianna thought that she still didn't. Their relationship was ruined, it could never be fixed.

Her mother just had to accept that.

*Sugar, I want you to come to the canteen.*

*I want you to give me some answers, but it seems that we don't always get what we want.*

*Ah, but that's where you're wrong. I get what I want.*

*Prepare to be disappointed.*

*I always get what I want, Indie.*

*If only I could be so lucky.*

*Come.*

*No.*

*Sugar, in case you have forgotten, I have a lovely little trick where I can make you feel extreme pain. Come to the canteen and you won't have to worry about that happening.*

*You're blackmailing me!*

*Hmm, seems like I am.*

*You're evil!* Indianna snapped in her head, but Greyson wasn't bothered.

*No, I just like getting what I want. So are you coming?*

Indianna gritted her teeth, but suddenly the bell rang and relief flooded her.

*Saved by the bell,* he chuckled.

*Goodbye, Greyson.*

*

"Hey, Indianna!" Brooke spotted Indianna as she walked into the girls changing rooms and ran over to her. "Come get changed with us!" Brooke pulled Indianna over to a corner of the changing room where there were three girls talking. "Girls, this is Indianna, she's the new girl."

"Oh, we know," the girl with short light brown hair said with a cheeky smile. She was quite tall and pale, but pretty at the same time. "Greyson seems to of taken an interest in you."

"Er... N-no!" Indianna blurted out and the girl laughed.

"I'm Sasha," the girl said and Indianna smiled shyly.

"Hi."

"I'm Alice." A girl with a mass of curly red hair spoke up and smiled at Indianna, her dimples showing on her freckled cheeks. "Have you met Kal?" Indianna nodded and the girl rolled her eyes. "That idiot is my brother, so if he gives you any hassle, I'll sort him out." She grinned brightly and Indianna nodded again.

"Last but not least, I'm Violet." The last girl had dark blue hair that was as straight as a pin. She reminded Indianna of Violet out of The Incredibles.

"Hi," Indianna said quietly.

"She's shy," Brooke said and smiled at Indianna. "Don't worry, we're all nice." Indianna nodded and Brooke handed her some clothes. "PE kit, I guessed your size so I hope it fits."

"Oh, thanks."

"It's okay, hun," Brooke grinned and put her bag down, pulling her top over her head. She pulled her PE top on and Indianna put her stuff down as well. The PE kit was simple, a white tshirt and purple shorts that seemed a bit too short. Indianna took her top off and Brooke's eyes widened slightly when she looked at Indianna's stomach.

Indianna followed her gaze and saw that she was looking at the scar on the left side of her stomach, about 2 inches above her hip.

"It's the same as your wrist," Brooke said, noticing the bite mark on Indianna's wrist.

"Yeah," Indianna muttered and quickly pulled the t shirt on. "I was in an accident when I was younger."

"It's why you don't like the word 'bite', isn't it?"

Indianna shrugged and got changed into the shorts.

"I'm so sorry, Indianna!"

"It's fine," Indianna mumbled and pulled on the grey plimsolls that went with the PE kit.

"What was it?"

"What?"

"You were obviously attacked, what was it that attacked you?"

"Please," Indianna looked at the floor. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Oh yes, of course! I'll shut up."

Indianna smiled thankfully at Brooke who smiled back.

"Come on, girls, let's go!"

*

Indianna was sitting in between Brooke and Violet on a bench in the gym. Sasha, and Alice were seated on the floor in front of them. Indianna had noticed that the teachers in this school were rarely on time.

"So where d'you move from?" Sasha asked, looking at Indianna curiously.

"England," Indianna replied quietly.

"Really? Oh cool!"

"You are a dimwit, Sash." Alice looked at Sasha's confused expression and laughed loudly. "She has a freaking British accent and you didn't realise that she's from England?"

"You have a British accent?" Sasha gasped and Indianna laughed slightly, nodding her head.

"Yeah," she said shyly.

"Oh my gosh! You do!" Sasha grinned and Violet rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry, she's had too much coffee today," she said with a laugh and Sasha elbowed Violet in the stomach.

"I thought you were friends with Greyson," Indianna said, looking at Brooke.

"Friends?" Brooke said and pulled a disgusted face. "Oh God no, the only reason I deal with those idiots is because of Harry. These girls hate those guys."

"I'm Kal's sister and I think he's a dick," Alice said. "Everyone else loves them, but we don't."

"We can hear you." Alice rolled her eyes and looked up at Kal as he walked over with Ace, Harry and Greyson. "And I love you too, sis."

"Go away, Kal," Alice said and he smirked, crouching down and wrapping his arms round her shoulders.

"But, A, we're bezzies!"

"My fist is going to be bezzies with your dick if you do not let go of me!" She warned and Greyson chuckled, his deep voice making Indianna feel funny. Kal let go of Alice and stood up, but not before kicking her in the back. "Ouch! You asshole!"

"Oh relax, A, it was a nudge," Kal scoffed and she glared at him.

"Brooke, c'mere," Harry said and held his hand out.

"We were having a nice conversation-" Kal snorted and Greyson rolled his eyes. "-Before you's all butted in, please leave."

"Brooklyn," Harry warned and she narrowed her eyes.

"Harry."

"Come here."

"Go away."

"Is the couple arguing?" Greyson said, feigning shock. "It's not like that never happens!" He rolled his eyes and Harry shook his head.

"It only happens when she ignores me," Harry said and grabbed Brooke's hand, linking their fingers together.

"Harry, g-" He cut Brooke off by kissing her and pulled her off to the side.

"One down," Greyson said and Indianna frowned. *Alice is next.*

*What are you going on about?*

When Greyson didn't reply, Indianna narrowed her eyes at him which only made him smirk. "Hey, Alice," Kal said. "You know your shoes? Yeah well, I may of broken into your locker and dropped them in dog shit, you might want to go check them out."

"You what?"

"I dropped your shoes in dog shit," he shrugged and Alice jumped up from the floor. She grabbed Kal by his ear and dragged him out of the gym.

*Sasha's next.*

"I'll make sure A doesn't kill him," Sasha laughed and stood up, following them out of the gym.

*Now Violet.*

"Violet, can you leave?" Greyson asked, but his tone made it sure that it wasn't a question.

"Why?"

"Leave, now," he snapped and Violet looked at Indianna and shrugged. She stood up and walked off and Greyson sat down next to Indianna.

"What do you want?"

"To talk," he said. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

"The truth."

"Shit."

"Care to elaborate?"

"My head hurts, I feel sick and I'm burning up," Indianna muttered and sighed.

"Have you eaten today?"

"No."

"You need to eat, sugar."

"I'm not hungry and I'll just puke it up."

"Indianna, trust me, you need to eat."

"I don't want to Greyson, just leave me alone."

"I can't do that," he said and Indianna crossed her arms over her chest.

"I feel like our conversations are very repetitive," Indianna muttered.

"How comes?"

"You always seem to tell me to do something and you never do anything I say."

"Seems they are," he smirked. "But I'd like you to do as I say."

"Not until you give me answers."

"I will give you some, if you eat something," he said and Indianna narrowed her eyes at Greyson.

"I don't believe you."

"Sugar, I promise," he said and Indianna sighed.

"Fine."

"Follow me then," he said and stood up, he held his hand out, but Indianna ignored him and stood up herself. Greyson chuckled and shook his head, walking towards the exit of the gym. Indianna followed him silently, aware of all the stares on them. "Just ignore them," Greyson said, looking at Indianna. "Everyone's just nosy bastards." They walked out of the gym just as there was a loud bang and the lights flickered on and off.

"What was that?" Indianna wondered, walking over to the window. The sunny skies that were there in the morning were now dark and full of grey clouds. Rain had started to fall in buckets and the wind had picked up very quickly.

"Get back from the window," Greyson ordered, grabbing Indianna by the waist and pulling her back just as there was a bright flash. "It's a freak storm, whenever these happen everyone is instructed to stay away from windows and doors, they've blown open and shattered before."

"Oh," Indianna murmured and looked down at Greyson's hands that were still on her waist. "Um, Greyson?"

"Yes."

"Get off me."

He looked down at his hands and smirked, removing them, but only to gently grab her upper arm. "Let's go."

"Where, Greyson?"

"Away from any doors and windows, you don't want a tree smashing through a window and hitting you in the face, do you?" He rose his eyebrows at Indianna and she rolled her eyes, pulling her arm from his hold.

"I'll go to the library then," she muttered and he chuckled, shaking his head at her.

"No, you're coming with me, sugar," he said and grabbed her arm again, gently tugging her down the school halls. Indianna sighed and silently walked alongside him until they reached a hallway with no windows. "We can stay here," he said and Indianna sat down with her back against some lockers. The lights flickered out again, but came back, duller that before though.

She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to stop herself from shaking. The school had suddenly turned very cold and her high temperature had dropped. Greyson opened a locker above Indianna and pulled something out. "You're cold," he said and held a black hoodie out to her. "Take this."

"I'm fine."

"Sugar, you're cold," he chuckled and sat down next to her, placing the hoodie in her lap. She looked at it and sighed, grabbing it and slipping it on, the soft material making her warmer already.

"Thanks," she muttered and Greyson nodded, leaning back against the lockers and resting his arms on his knees. "So there's no way we can leave?"

"If you want to get killed by a flying tree, then yeah, go ahead."

"When should the storm be over by?"

"Don't know," he shrugged. "Could be an hour, could be 5, we just have to wait."

"Great," she sighed and looked up just as the hallway started to fill with students who all sat down against lockers like Indianna and Greyson. A few gave them curious glances, but they looked away as soon as Greyson glared at them. "While we're here, I think you should give me some answers."

"Do you now?" Greyson laughed and shook his head. "No, I don't think I should."

"You said you were going to!"

"I said I would if you ate."

"There's a storm preventing me from getting food."

"Now that's a shame."

"Greyson, you were going to tell me. Please, just tell me now," she said softly and looked up at him. "Please?"

"I've changed my mind, you're not ready."

"How can you know that!"

"I just do," he snapped.

"You don't know me, you have no right to say that!"

"I know more about you than you know yourself," he muttered and Indianna paused.

"How?"

"I just do," he said and smirked at Indianna.

"Whatever, I'm going," she muttered and went to get up, but Greyson grabbed her wrist.

"Stay."