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Natasha takes a breath stuttering almost. "I told them I don't drink...and now.." Her eyes look frightened.

Arianwyn gives her a warm smile. "Ah I see... nothing to get mad at you about though."

Natasha forces a smile. "I don't know what to do.. I can't go back in there... never !"

Arianwyn takes a breath. "Well, I don't think he...(Clears her throat)...I mean they should bother you..for at least a while."

Natasha nods. "But.. what do I do when they do...I'm frightened to death by them... especially Shadow Zibonzi.. He kind of creeps me out."

Arianwyn gives her a small smile showing her pretty white perfect teeth. "Don't worry.. I'm always here for you."

Natasha's face lights up. "Aw.. thanks." She looks as though no one has ever been this nice to her before.

The students file into the cafeteria. Natasha follows close behind Arianwyn. They walk into the room. She glances around giving uneasy smiles to passing students.

“Do you lile peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?” Arianwyn asks motioning to the long line of students gathered.

“Um.. yeah, they are fine.” Natasha nods.

Arianwyn smiles. “Good… because it doesn’t look like there will be much else leftover.”

“Yeah.” Natasha chuckles.

“Hey !” A voice comes from behind them. The two girls spin around to see a girl with lovely brown hair and bright brown eyes.

“Hello Meilin !” Arianwyn greets the girl.

“Um hi.” Natasha says shyly.

“You must be the new student.. um Natasha right?” Meilin smiles.

Natasha nods. “Ye..p.”

“Well, welcome.”

Natasha smiles. “Thanks.. um Meilin..”

The girls nods. Then you can hear a guy calling in the distance. “Oops outta here.. nice meeting you.” Meilin hurries away.

Natasha takes a breath. Arianwyn smiles. “Looks like the line is shorter. Lets go!”

They both get in line and try to get to the lunch counter before it's emptied out. While they walk, Arianwyn talks to Natasha:

"That girl, Meilin, is one of my closest friends. Know what ? I should really introduce you to... a lot of people, in fact ! I have a ton of good friends in Spark Class, and I'm sure they'd love to meet you. What say ?"

"That... is nice, but, um... I'm not sure... I'm pretty shy and..."

"Awww, come on !" Arianwyn says while grabbing Natasha's hand. "You'll see, they're very nice ! Unlike most of these Shadow Class weirdos."

"If you insist, then..."

"What's more, if you have more friends you'll feel better, and you'll get more support *coughs* *protection* if the others bother you."

Natasha smiles.

"That sounds nice. Okay !"

"Fine, then you sit with us !"

The girls get their lunch, which surprisingly isn't peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, before heading to a table in a corner of the lunchroom. There are already a lot of students sitting there, about a half-dozen. Arianwyn shows Natasha a place to sit, and they take place. Then, Arianwyn says:

"So, Nat, this is one of my besties, Belle-Chan."

"Hello !" Says a cute girl with brown hair and cat ears.

"Hi..." Natasha says uneasily.

"You already met Meilin... and here's Libby, a good friend of mine, and also my sister's girlfriend."

"Hello, Natasha !" Says Libby.

"There you have Ash, another friend..."

"Welcome ! Poor you, though, you really should have been sent to Spark instead of Shadow..."

"That, I agree." Natasha nods. "I feel it's not suitable for me there..."

"And last but certainly not least, my boyfriend, Ender !"

Arian cuddles to a tall guy with white hair, green eyes and little horns. She kisses him on the cheek.

"A pleasure to meet you, Natasha." He says, before caressing Arianwyn's hair. The latter giggles.

'Looks like a nice bunch... Yeah, this school's getting to be fun ! Too bad these aren't my classmates...'

Natasha glances at Arianwyn and Ender feeling a small jealous feeling inside. She wishes she could have someone who love her as much as Arianwyn and Ender love each other.

“So.. tell us some things about yourself.” Libby says kindly.

Natasha nods. “Um, well I’m seventeen.. not for long though..”

“Nice, do you have any siblings..?” Ash asks.

“Well, no, but I sure wish I did.” Natasha smiles.

“What brought you here to pmc high?” Belle-chan asks

Natasha sighs. “Multiple reasons..” She feels her stomach suddenly turn. She jumps up.

“I...I got to go..” She dashes out of the room and almost runs into Shadow Zibonzi down the hallway.

“I’m….” She gasps.

He smiles. “Hello.. I wasn’t expecting you so soon.. I guess it worked..”

Natasha’s eyes opened wide. “What...what worked?” She glances towards the Shadow class room door.

‘If I could just get there...’

“So.. ready to do some talking?” Shadow Zibonzi asks.

Natasha nods not really sure.

“Come with me.” He grabs her arm and pulls her over and into the shadow class room.

“First of all.. I want to say.. I won’t hurt you. I just want to have a talk with you.”

Natasha nods not believing.

“I want to see you again tomorrow after school.” He pauses gazing into her eyes.

“um… yeah, sure..” Natasha hesitates wondering why and what he means.

“Alright.” He lets go of her arm and walks away and vanishes down the hallway.

Natasha takes a deep breath then hurries away shivering inside. Arianwyn comes near her and asks:

"Nat, are you okay ? You feeling good ?"

She looks worried and observes closely Natasha, to try and notice a sign of illness or something.

"No, I'm... I'm fine..." Natasha replies.

"Why did you go so fast ?"

"I... I was just... nervous..."

Arianwyn smiles warmly. She looks like an angel and says kindly:

"It's all understandable... Your background doesn't help, I guess. Take your time... It might be a moment before you get used to people."

"Thank you so much..." Natasha says. "You're so understanding."

"Part of my personality !" Arianwyn chuckles. "Are you okay to get back with me at our table ?"

"I suppose so... Yeah, why not. I'm feeling better already."

Natasha follows Arian and is feeling worried inside.

'What does Shadow Zibonzi want to me ? Why me ?'

She sits back with the Spark students and enjoy the rest of her meal. In fact, they all are so nice that she, for a moment at least, forgets about Shadow Zibonzi and all her problems. For once, she feels... loved.