This chapter's quote:

This chapter's song:

NØ
by Meghan Trainor

"My name is NO
My sound is NO
My number is NO
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the no, no, no"

***

"What do you think of the new house?" the woman asks. However, it seems as her daughter isn't listening at all. She shakes her head and sighs. The girl keeps ignoring her.

"Ehm... Annaleigha... I asked you a question..." the woman points out. However, the girl named Annaleigha keeps not listening to her. Better say, it even seems as she couldn't care less about what her mother is saying.

The woman loses her patience and ends up screaming, "Annaleigha Clarisse McCallister! Are you listening to me or what?"

At first, Annaleigha just rolls her eyes and is about to turn her back at her mother. But, when she glares at her, she gets fed up and yells, "Do you want to know what I think of the new house? It's horrible! This place is horrible! And I don't get why the fuck you have to ruin my life every single moment. I didn't ask to move. You didn't ask for my opinion. And this is why this conversation is over. I'm off."

Without any hesitations, Annaleigha turns her back at her mother and leaves. She suddenly starts crying and running as fast as she can. 'Why does Mom never listen to me? What did I do wrong?' she is thinking.

But, after all, she is glad that she left. There's no need to deal with such an overbearing and strict woman when you can do whatever you feel it's the best situation.

As she keeps running, Annaleigha doesn't notice she is bumping on another girl. She has long, flowy, dark brown hair and is wearing a black cap. The girls mutters something in protest, but Annaleigha doesn't even notice until she stops to sit on a bench, and maybe keep crying. The dark-haired girl is now standing next to her and snaps, "Hey you! Next time mind where you go!" as if she is reprimanding something.

'How rude she is!'

This is now Annaleigha's thought of the girl, but she just says, in tears, "Excuse me, but you didn't introduce yourself."

"First apologize to me." The other girl's tone is so threatening that it could cause Annaleigha to cry even louder. However, the latter stops crying and mutters an unconvincing "I'm sorry," before standing up. She is about to leave, but then the dark-haired girl restarts talking.

"Hey! Didn't you want to know my name?" She gives a hand. "By the way, it's Alyzza."

"Annaleigha."

The two girls shake hands. Suddenly Alyzza asks out of the blue. "Why were you crying?"

"It's a long story..." Annaleigha isn't in the mood to talk.

"I have all the time to hear it. Please. Come on. Tell me," insists Alyzza. The other girl has no other chance than talk. After all, the creepy girl she has known for just a couple of minutes is pretty friendly, besides her tough looks.

At last, Annaleigha takes a deep breath and, retaining her tears, she starts talking. "Well, my parents and I had to move. Naturally I wasn't happy at all. I had friends there. I had a crush on the hottest guy at my school. Obviously, he was always ignoring it, but at least he knew I exist.

"Then, my life started taking a much different path. My father got sacked out last month, and my mother struggled with both her job and handling with the household. I did whatever I could to help her, but it was never enough.

"And, then, the worst news ever. My mother got transferred..." Annaleigha can't even finish her sentence that she starts crying again.

"Is everything ok?" asks Alyzza, again out of the blue.

But Annaleigha doesn't answer. Alyzza, who by now has since started caring about the new girl, says, "I know. Being the new one always sucks. The same also happened to me.

"When I was back in my old town, I got called ugly duckling for no serious reason. Ok, I may not be that beautiful, but..."

Annaleigha cuts her off, "You definitely are and will always be beautiful, Alyzza."

Alyzza hesitates. "Uhm... nobody has ever told me I am beautiful. In my life, I only received insults such as ugly duckling or slut. But I'm not either of those. Though, it seems as people deem me ugly. On the other hand, you..." Envy is getting the best of her and she is returning to her previous rough tone. "You're so fucking beautiful and it looks like you are perfect, like you're shining!" Despisement prevailes in her voice, and, the more she talks, the more Annaleigha is uncomfortable with the situation.

"But, Alyzza, I am nothing special..."

"And what's worse is that you refuse to admit it!" Alyzza is now furious. Though, it also seems as Annaleigha can't put up with these words anymore. After all, Alyzza may not be that friendly.

The latter keeps whining. "And you're not even listening! Look, here's a thing I have to tell you. I'm off."

Annaleigha only mutters a "fuck off". She doesn't need trouble with a girl who spends her life whining. So, she wisely decides to leave, clearly unwilling to go back home. She wants her mom to understand they are over and that there's no chance for them to reconcile after what she did.

***

Alanis is walking as fast as she can. Paying attention to where she is going, the girl isn't thinking about anything else but what her parents said. 'You'll never change. You're just a stuck-up diva. Your only quality is beauty, but believe me, it will take you nowhere.'

"Yeah, like I cared!" she yells. "You behave like being beautiful is a fucking crime. Do you want the truth? I couldn't care a fucking less about any of you. You all suck!"

Annaleigha, who is passing there by chance, notices the blonde girl wearing a pair brown boots and thinks, 'Is she Alyzza's friend? Everyone is moody here!'

However, Alanis keeps walking very swiftly, but, as soon as her look meets Annaleigha's, she is forced to stop. Then, she snaps, "Hey! Why are you staring at me? Go away!"

The answer is, "Hey hey. Calm down. I didn't say anything, nor did I want to stare at you. Anyway, my name is Annaleigha McCallister. I am new here."

Alanis blushes, quite embarrassed. She knows she has made a poor figure in front of the gorgeous fair-haired new girl. She can't help stuttering.

"What's your name?" asks the new one.

"Alanis Beilstein." The blonde is sweating profusely and can't help asking, "So you are new, here?"

Annaleigha nods.

"And do you like this town?"

Annaleigha doesn't know what to answer. Being in a new town means a fresh new start, but the people here are quite moody and she doesn't like it very much. There is too much diffidence for her liking.

At last, she answers, "Well, I..."

Continues on the next chapter

***

Special appearance

Alyssa Milano*
as
Annaleigha's mother (no name yet)

*may change