Shy

"You'll be fine," her mother said and waved her hand dismissively at her. "Just be social and make friends!"

"Social," Indianna muttered and grabbed her bag from the back seat. "Sure." She climbed out of the car, ignoring her mother's happy wave goodbye. She slammed the door behind her and looked up at the large building in front of her.

It was a school. Simple enough. Large stone steps led up to large double doors that had students flowing through them, students that noticed her.

Indianna groaned quietly and swung her rucksack over one shoulder. Pulling her black beanie down further on her head, she walked up the steps that led to the school. She kept her eyes down as she wandered the corridors, she thought that if she couldn't see anyone, that maybe they couldn't see her either.

She knew she was being stupid.

The town her and her mother had moved to wasn't small, but it wasn't big either. Not everyone knew each other personally, but they would recognise a new face from a mile away. Indianna clutched her hands tighter around the strap of her rucksack and carried on down the hallway. She had come to the school a few days before and the Principle had roughly shown her around. She could only remember how to get to her locker.

When she opened her locker, she saw there were many textbooks and notebooks stacked neatly. She grabbed them and shoved them all into her bag and shut her locker, walking back down the corridor.

Indianna hated that she could feel everyone's curious stares on her. She hated that she stood out.

She already had her timetable so she headed to her first lesson, History.

She was grateful that the class was relatively empty when she walked so she took a seat right at the back of the classroom and sighed, she only had to survive a year here, then she'd be able to leave and do what she wanted with her life.

"Indianna Hughs, you're 17 years old, 5,4 and you've moved from England to America with your mother."

Indianna jumped in shock when a girl with curly blonde hair appeared in front of her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." The girl smiled apologetically at Indiana and sat down next to her. "It's just you're new and I know everyone at this school."

Indiana nodded slightly and looked at her hands that were resting on the desk. She picked at her chipped black nail varnish and hoped this girl would go away.

She wasn't good with people.

"You gonna say anything?" The girl seemed kind, but Indiana stayed quiet and shrugged her shoulders. "Hmm, shy I see. Well, I'm Brooke, it's only fair you know my name if I know who you are."

Indianna still didn't speak and Brooke sighed.

"Please give me something to work with, hun. It takes two to have a conversation, otherwise, I would just be talking to myself. People already think I'm a bit crazy," she giggled and looked at Indiana. "I understand that you're shy, but I promise I don't bite."

Indianna stiffened at this and Brooke noticed.

"I'm being serious, I don't bite," she said with a laugh and Indiana shook her head.

"Please don't talk about that," she whispered and Brooke frowned.

"What biting?"

Indiana nodded slightly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise it struck a nerve."

Indiana nodded again.

"Can I just say, your accent is adorable!" Brooke squealed and grinned at Indiana. "I've always said that if I had a British accent I would never shut up, but I never shut up anyway so it would give me a reason to talk! You've got a British accent and you're gorgeous in a kinda 'shy, cute, hipster, nerdy' sorta way. Oh my gosh! I'm not saying that you're a nerd! I mean there is nothing wrong with nerds! It's just the glasses! Are they for fashion or do you actually need them?"

Indiana adjusted her glasses and shrugged. She had the big black rimmed hipster glasses, so she could understand why Brooke thought they were for fashion, everyone seemed to love them! "Need them," she muttered and Brooke nodded.

"Well, they suit you," she smiled and a guy walked over to them. He looked similar to Brooke, he had a mop of blonde curly hair that grazed his ears. He was handsome, where Brooke was pretty and they both had the same brown eyes.

"Brooke, you're not terrorising the new girl are you?" The guy said with a laugh and Brooke laughed, slapping him on the arm.

"No, Brandon! I am not. I'm being social and talking to her!" Brooke pouted and Brandon laughed.

"I'm joking, B," he chuckled and looked at Indiana. He knew just from looking at her that she was shy. Brandon was good at reading people. He could tell by the way that Indiana was sitting- her gaze averted to the desk, her legs crossed over each other, and her arms crossed over her chest- that she wasn't very open. "Hi," he said and smiled and Indiana who only glanced up and nodded.

"She doesn't say much," Brooke told him and he nodded. "Oh, and don't mention being bitten around her, she doesn't like that for some reason." Brandon realised what Brooke was talking about when Brooke said 'bitten', he noticed how Indiana tensed and her hand went to her wrist. In panic? He wondered.

"Then don't say it," Brandon said and rolled his eyes. "What's your name?"

"Indianna," Brooke said when she realised that Indianna wasn't going to say anything.

"Cute name," he commented and frowned. It was a unique name and he could've sworn he recognised it from somewhere. And it wasn't a good reason. "Well, I'm Brandon, Brooke's cousin."

Indiana nodded again. "Nice to meet you," she said quietly and Brandon rose his eyebrows at Indiana.

"You're British?" Indianna nodded and Brandon smiled. "Brooke will be obsessed with your accent," he smirked and Brooke grinned.

"Yeah, I've already said."

Indianna nodded again and looked at the clock on the wall, 9:04am. She wanted to kill herself, not literally, but there was plenty of other things that she would like to be doing on a Monday morning other than being at school in a new town- hell, new country!

Her gaze travelled across the room and she jumped slightly when the door opened. Three guys walked in, all wearing dark clothing and blank expressions. The room went silent and all the girls turned to look at them. The guy at the front was obviously the 'leader' out of the three. He was wearing denim skinny jeans, a black tshirt that was literally bulging from where his muscles were and he had a pair of black converses on. Indianna looked at his face and gasped ever so slightly. She didn't get crushes on guys, they never paid attention to her so she never paid attention to them, but even she had to admit- he was hot. He had dark hair that styled back into a quiff and his blue eyes were so dark they almost looked black. He had high cheekbones and his cheeks were grazed with stubble; he had tattoos covering his arms and rings on his fingers and he looked more like a 20 year old than an 18 year old.

"What the fuck is everyone staring at?" The guy called, his voice deep and sinister. Even his hotness didn't hide the vibes that Indianna was getting, he was mean, scary. "I go to this shitty school like everyone else, I know I'm gorgeous, but you don't need to stare."

"Mr Evans, mind your language," the teacher walked in behind them and he scoffed loudly.

"Go fuck yourself," he muttered and one of his friends, the one with the ginger hair, snorted and smirked at the teacher who gasped at them.

"Sit down, Mr Evans," the teacher said he shrugged.

"Was going to anyway," he said and walked through the classroom with his friends flanking him. His eyes landed on Indianna's and he frowned.

"Who's that?" Indianna asked quietly, eyeing the guy as he sat down on the opposite side of the classroom. He kicked his feet back onto the desk and crossed his arms over his chest.

He didn't have a care in the world.

"Greyson Evans," Brandon muttered as the teacher announced that she needed to go somewhere and she left the room, "the school's resident 'Mr Bad Boy'."

"Stay away from him," Brooke said and rolled her eyes. "He's fucked about half the school and I'm pretty sure he has like a billion STD's."

"I can hear you, Brooklyn," he called and slowly turned to look at her. He cocked an eyebrow at her and his lips twitched. "Not gossiping again, are we?"

"I'm just telling the truth," she shrugged and flashed a dazzling smile.

"Oh please, do go on."

"I highly doubt you would enjoy hearing what I had to say," she shrugged and Brandon glared at Greyson.

"Brandon, stop with the glaring, it's making me want to punch you and considering you are Brooklyn's cousin, I know I probably shouldn't," he paused, his eyes glittering with dangerous amusement. "But I will if you carry on."

"Greyson," Brooke sighed and rolled her eyes. "You will not punch Brandon!"

"And you'd be able to stop me, eh? You may be surprisingly high up on the school social ladder, but I know of a guy who can keep you on your leash." Greyson's two friends both laughed and Greyson smirked when Brooke pursed her lips, her cheeks going a light shade of pink.

"Don't try and tell me what I can and can't do, Brooklyn. You will always lose."

"Speaking of Harry, where is he?" The ginger friend wondered and Greyson shrugged, looking questioningly at Brooke.

"I don't know where he is!" She said and crossed her arms over her chest. "Now, please leave us be."

"As you wish," Greyson snorted and Brooke turned back to Indianna.

"Sorry about that," she muttered and sat down next to Indianna. "He's an idiot."

"And he happens to know your boyfriend," Indianna observed, her voice was quiet but Brooke caught it.

"B-boyfriend? W-what?" Brooke spluttered and Indianna smiled ever so slightly.

"Harry, that's what they said his name was?"

"Observant."

Indianna jumped when Greyson appeared behind her and Brooke and he leaned back against a cupboard, crossing his arms casually over his chest.

"Now, who are you? I know everyone, and I do not know you."

"I think it's better if you keep it that way," Brandon muttered. Greyson ignored him.

"Her name is Indianna-"

"I'm pretty sure she can speak for herself, Brooklyn."

"She's shy," Brooke shrugged and looked at Indianna.

"Well, come on, I don't bite," Greyson urged and Indianna stiffened, just like before.

"Don't talk about that," Indianna said, but her voice was still quiet.

"Struck a nerve have I?" Greyson said and smirked. "Somebody likes it kinky."

"For Godsake, Greyson!" Brooke hissed and Greyson looked Indianna up and down. She wasn't one of those girls you look at and think gorgeous immediately, but behind the glasses and beanie, she was actually really pretty, not that she knew that herself. She was more 'cute' than 'hot', especially since she was shy, she didn't have confidence in herself.

His eyes travelled down to her arms, and he frowned when he looked at her wrist. "What is your name?" He asked, his tone firmer.

"Indianna," she said quietly.

"Hughs," he murmured and she frowned.

"Pardon?"

"Oh, nothing." Greyson shook his head and looked over at his friends, Kal, he was the ginger one and Ace was the brown haired one. He nodded his head and they walked over to them. He whispered in their ears. "Her wrist." They both looked at Indianna who squirmed uncomfortably in her seat and their eyes widened slightly.

"I'm Ace, what's your name?" Ace asked, smiling kindly. Indianna screamed shy and he knew not to be so confident and up in her face.

"Indianna."

"Shit," Kal whispered, only so Greyson and Ace could hear.

"You guys are being weird, what is your problem?" Brooke demanded. "You're freaking her out, Jesus!"

Indianna looked at the three guys and her eyes widened when she saw where they were looking. She quickly covered her wrist and looked away from them.

"Nothing," Greyson muttered and caught Brandon's eye, he knew something was up. "It was nice meeting you, Indianna." The three guys walked back to their seats and Brooke smiled at Indianna.

"Sorry about them, they think just because they are scary they can get away with being weirdos." She rolled her eyes and Indianna nodded, looking over her shoulder at them. Greyson looked straight back at her.

"It's fine," Indianna said quietly.

*What happened to your wrist?*

Indianna jumped in shock and both Brooke and Brandon looked at her.

"Are you okay?" Brandon asked.

*Don't panic, you're not going

mental.*

"I, er..." Indianna choked on the few words she was going to say. Someone was talking to her in her mind, or was she just imagining it?

*You're not imagining it.*

"Indianna?" Brooke said.

"I'm fine," Indianna mumbled and Brooke frowned at her.

*What happened to your wrist?*

She was panicking now, yes she was shy, but mental was not a personality trait of hers. She didn't know how to reply to the strange voice in her head, she was worrying now.

*I told you, there is no need to panic. Just speak to me, just speak in your head.*

She furrowed her eyebrows, but listened to the voice. The... Familiar voice?

*Who are you?* It felt weird speaking in her mind. Everyone did it, but to them it's just thoughts, no one else can hear the little voice inside your head, but when you used it to communicate with someone, it was an odd feeling.

*I'm asking the questions, Indianna.*

*What? How do you know my name? How are you even in my head! Oh my gosh, I'm going mental-*

*No, you are not. Now answer my question, what happened to your wrist?*

What harm could it do, talking to a voice in her head. It seemed persistent to remind her of the fact that she wasn't mental, so could this actually be a person? She didn't think she was mental, but having a voice talking to you in your head... It wasn't normal.

*Indianna.*

The voice was growing impatient and seeing as she had no idea how to get rid of it, she decided to answer its questions.

*It happened when I was younger.*

*I'm going to need a bit more information than that.*

*I was... Attacked.* She didn't think that she could whimper in her head, but she did.

*Wolves.* It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Indianna had a feeling that the voice, the guy's voice, already new the answer to his questions.

*Observant.*

Her head snapped to look at Greyson and his friends, but this time he wasn't looking at her. He was looking down at his desk, drawing absentmindedly on the surface. Now that she thought about it, the voice did sound similar to what she had heard of his.

"What are you looking at?" Brooke wondered, snapping Indianna out of her thoughts. She shook her head and looked at the desk.

"N-nothing." Brandon narrowed his eyes at her, then looked over at Greyson who slowly looked up and raised his eyebrows at Brandon.

*Who are you?*

*That doesn't matter.*

*It does if you are in my head.*

*You talk a lot more when you aren't physically speaking.*

*So I've met you."

*I didn't say that.*

*You implied it.* Indianna was getting irritated. She wanted to know who this guy was and how this was possible.

*How old were you, when you were attacked?*

*I have a feeling you know.* She said it quietly and bit her lip. She didn't enjoy remembering the attack. *I was 5.*

*Your father, he died.*

*H-how? How do you know this?*

*Lots of people know the story of the attack, but they don't know that it's your story.*

*What do you mean?*

*Not even you know the whole story.*

*Then tell me.*

*No.*

*Why not?*

*It's not the right time.*

*You are a voice in my head, I don't care! You are scaring me, now tell me how you know so much about me!*

*Just focus on making friends, you're shy, take the chances you get. Brooklyn is a nice girl, don't ignore her by talking to me. You'll hear from me soon.*

*Wait!* The voice was gone. It was almost like there was a presence in her mind, and now it was gone.

"Are you listening, Indianna?"

"Hmm?" Indianna looked at Brooke who giggled and nudged her.

"You're shy and cute and you don't talk much, you also don't seem to listen much, but I like you Indianna."

"Um, thank you?"

"You are very welcome, hun," she smiled and looked at Brandon. "What do you think of our new friend?"

"I think that you're going to take a while to warm up to us."

"Sorry," she shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "I don't trust easily."

"We've got time," Brooke grinned and the bell sounded, signalling the lesson change. "Let's see your schedule?" Indianna handed over her timetable and Brooke quickly scanned it. "Your next lesson is Italian, Brandon and I have French, but our classrooms are next to each other, shall we show you where to go?"

"Um, okay," Indianna nodded and the three of them stood up. Indianna grabbed her bag and followed them out of the class, but not before glancing back at Greyson, he looked up at her and smirked ever so slightly.

The voice in her head sounded so much like his.