Beauty and the Bad

en't a little girl anymore. It's ju

met, and will never meet me.

my first day in witness protection program. My mom and I barely have th

the first day, or else I would be starting a week behi

ay from prying eyes. The school looks rather large, with two floors and stretches the size of at l

ront desk, and see a plump gingerly w

I help you?" she asks

y tongue, silently cursing myself for almost slipping up o

keyboard, humming a small tune. She prints off a few

" she says and points around the paper. "This one is a map of the school, it's a little difficult to read at first so don'

g what I know, having to keep it secret from even my own family. My own friends. The

every blog or online article, every video or tagged photo. Chloe Byrn

replaced by

t going to be anythi

forced into. Though I never hated myself before, there was never anything exciting about who I am. I didn't

atching our favorite shows on Netflix, gossiping about boys and

he came into our lives, it was nothing but terror, screaming and fighting. There were few good

he has to treat the queens in his life the way they deserve. My mother would gush about how perfect

o where I'm going, and run right into a hard body. My papers

paying more attention, " the guy I ran

d over with concern. I have to blink a few times to gather myself before speaking. "I'm sorry, it's my

ong. I was actually rushing back to the office to speak with the secretary,

nowhere, so I stick my

ng my time to make sure I get

new here, haven't seen you around. Been going to this school

how to respond, or if he was hitti

on't worry, I bat for the ot

let out a small breath,

" he asks, peaking dow

t over. "Looks like I'm looking

ou're incredibly smart. Looking to take on any tutoring students?" he asks an

mbers. I like how numbers can go on forever,

lost look. "How i

me degree a language, and it's universal because it's the same in every country. Though t

me, eyes wide. "Wow, yo

"I like the concept of t

eat, " he says and beams at me, giving me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

, so he can then help me find my first class. Coincidentally, his cla

very floor of this building like the back of my hand." I nod and he scurries down the h

en by anyone. The more people notice me, the more they ask questions, realizing like Logan, t

reinvent my image. Though I haven't moved countries, this city is a lot different than my hometown. Everything

whole differe

ve been to the beach many times, but it was also to relax on the beach alone,

ed to one. I had friends back home, but we were never popular. Never disliked,

're gone, and

want Haley

ns out, we have next class together; English. A pretty basic class, but another one I love, besides gym. I have al

lunch bell rings. I chuckle at him as we gather our thing

owards the hallway. They're whispering excitedly, with huge smiles and dreamy

his eyes, as if he already knows

going on over there?" I poi

ym class is offered second period. Ethan loves gym, takes it every year, so he's proba

my eyes. We share a small laugh before we try and squeeze our way through the crow

ing, and I have a weird sense of deja-vu, thinki

'm not making a

moan and look down at

ls like a bat out of hell!" an angry voice shouts above me, their tone h

ok into the most mesmerizing pair of eyes I've ever seen. They

or soul-sucking. Looking into them felt like the life

hard?" he asks, his tone lighter, and a small, teas

hell am I

startled me."

his so often, " he says and bends down to gather my stuff. What does he mean b

of a smile on his face, and hands

ew, I'd remember running into someone like you, " he sa

ne lik

ake it in a bad way

ks awkwardly in my hands, spottin

thanks, " I mumble and shuffle away,

told me y

ering what I promised

to be di

y, and quickly turn to hide my burning cheeks. I have never said a

hall. I turn back and steal one more glance at Ethan, shocked to see him s

isappearing from view. I can still heart my heart drumming in my ears

ng I'm going t

person I'm

ttle at home, or at least a lot more comfortable with my new lif

es me wonder if Ethan is the kind of person who attends those.

that better

the gossip of the school, so I take advant

know, so I'm prepared for who I'm going to meet. Anyone you know?" I

it and styles it all herself, and she can do almost anything with any kind of wig, and rock it like

short bob and curled to perfection at the ends walks up, c

s and pats the seat next to him. Sissy sits down and smiles at me with her blood red lips,

name, my real name is Sierra but it's a nickname Logan made for me in middl

ere gossiping about m

g Haley you're going to be at the beach party this weekend. I invi

the ones who matter. So, of course there is Logan and I, we'll be by your side so you don't get lost or sucke

single girl sitting in the middle. She is your classic barbie-doll, the one

f person she is, " I mutter, ea

name, she changed it this summer. Her name used to be Beatrice, but she hated it becau

her real name. I feel a small amount of comfort k

hena and I, is she isn't hidi

om them. Sissy continues to go on about who is going to the party, but I d

er get to know my secret? Or am I doomed to walk

g bell that lunch is over. Logan has to drag me out of my tho

mind is still in the clouds for the rest of th

t out front. I again fight the urge to roll my eyes, and hide my face as I walk to her car. She

m 12-years-old and it's my first day?" I

s your fi

of high school, where I'm trying to not seem weird." Th

d that go the

ll off the lot. "So far so good, I mad

atches herself, but lets out a groan. "Thi

y a few days after we're given our new identities. I almost said my

es confidently at me. I just grumble and turn to look out the window. I'm debating telli

. Going to school is the first time she has let me

I could of course just tell her, and maybe there's a chance she will let

ally want to go to this party, I almost need to

hole week to figure out where I can get new clothes, and what exactly to get. My mother does give me a small allowance from the money my

rough everything to no effort, I have nothing to even call decent in my wardrobe. Just as I

me. She takes a deep breath before smiling and turning towards me. "I have some good news

ed she has done anything to me in the last week, w

at the area, and applied to some firms for an intern job, " she says s

an, a l

riminology and law? Well I also have a few classes of human rights and business ethics under my belt

have never seen my mother work, she has always been around, packing my lunches in the m

pen? Is she even going t

antage, especially when i

g?" my mother asks, wavi

. What did

k about this?" she repeat

under the radar, aren't we? Isn't jumping right into the

s just the thing, this

sk, not liking the bad

case that might be connected to the one we're under. They're lo

is telling me. I knew that gut feeling was bad, but this is just terrible. "Are you seriously say

always living a lie, " she says and frowns, her eyes determined. I have seen that look many

unk or high, and beat

back down, taking her hands in mine. I have always looked at my m

ing?" she says, h

know how hard it was for you to escape. As hard as it might be to even imagine, maybe this guy coming in and taking Jeremy away, w

ret saying anything. I knew it would be something ha

ut I never asked for it to be ruined in the first place. This is my second chan

t of terrible trauma on you that I am going to hate myself for the rest

to respond, but

m not

ears away and looks a

regardless if we go back to our old life, or not. He will pay

her mind, and even I can't change it. I just nod, and try to