Shy

"She's shy," Brooke shrugged, glancing at Indianna who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but in the classroom.

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

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

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

*

Indianna Hughs had always been the quiet one; the shy one. She was always the one that stayed in the background. She blended in, never got noticed. She liked it like that. So when she's forced to move schools, she is not happy. Everyone notices a new kid, she didn't want that attention. Especially not from Mr Bad Boy who seemed to be very interested in her.

*

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

"Social," Indiana 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 brick building in front of her. It was simple. Large stone steps led up to large double doors that were flooded with many students, laughing and talking to their friends.

The students noticed Indianna.

She groaned quietly and swung her rucksack over her shoulder. She lowered her gaze as she walked up the steps that led to the school and didn't look up as she walked through the bustling 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 she 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. This made Indianna's anxiety rise. She hated being noticed. She was most definitely an introvert. Indianna clutched her hands tighter around the strap of her rucksack and carried on down the corridor. She had come to the school a few days before and the Principle had shown her around, but she could only remember how to get to her locker. She fumbled with the lock and hurriedly grabbed the textbooks that were stacked neatly inside, stuffing them into her rucksack.

Indianna hated that she could feel everyone's curious stares on her. She hated that she stood out. She swallowed nervously and looked at the crumpled piece of paper in her hands. She scanned the timetable and saw that her first lesson was history. After stuffing her timetable back into her pocket she braced herself and walked down the busy corridors, hoping to find her class.

Indianna let out a sigh of relief when she found the classroom. It was relatively empty so she made a beeline straight to the back of the class. Now there were no eyes on her she let her shoulders relax and she leaned back in her chair. One year, she told herself. She had to survive for one year in this new town and then she was free. She would graduate and be able to go wherever she pleased.

"Hi!" Indianna's heart jumped in her chest when a blonde, curly-haired girl appeared next to her. She was smiling brightly and had kind eyes. "You're Indianna, aren't you? Indiannna Hughs? You've moved to town with your mother, right?"

Indianna stared at the blonde girl with wide eyes. She wanted to go unnoticed, but this girl definitely seemed to know her. Indianna didn't know how to respond.

"Sorry," the girl apologised and sat down next to Indianna. "I didn't mean to scare you, I just thought I'd introduce myself, I know everyone in town. I'm Brooke!"

Indiana nodded 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. She'd rather be left alone.

Brooke blinked and waited for Indianna to speak. She frowned when Indianna said nothing. "Not a people person?" She wondered. "That's okay, people would argue that I can talk enough for two people."

Indianna's eyes flickered to Brooke and back to her hands.

"You can talk to me, I promise I don't bite," Brooke said kindly.

Indianna stiffened and shook her head. "No," she whispered. Her voice was gentle and soft.

Brooke frowned. "No?"

"Don't talk about that, please," Indianna said.

"Talk about what?" Brooke asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Biting," Indianna muttered. Brooke noticed how she grabbed her wrist, her eyes flashing with panic.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to- I'll shut up now," Brooke said quickly and she looked up when a guy walked up to them. He had the same blond curly hair as Brooke and matching brown eyes.

"Brooke, you're not terrorising the new girl, are you?" He teased, smiling at Brooke.

"No!" Brooke gasped and hit his arm. "Well, not purposely. Indianna, this is Brandon, my cousin. Bran, meet Indianna Hughs."

"Hi," Brandon said warmly. "It's nice to meet you, Indianna."

Indianna swallowed and looked up at him, forcing a smile. "Hello."

"She's a little shy," Brooke said.

"After a few minutes with you I'm sure that'll change," Brandon laughed.

Indianna looked up at the clock on the wall and she groaned internally, less than ten minutes of the lesson had passed. If the year was going to pass as slowly as this she didn't know how she was going to survive.

Indianna frowned when Brooke sighed. "Oh, great," she said as the classroom door opened and three guys walked in. Brooke made an effort to slouch down in her seat and avoid eye contact. Brandon glared at them.

The two boys at the front were talking to one another. One was joking around, he had ginger hair and a carefree demeanor. The brown haired boy was smiling, showing off his dimples. He seemed kind. Both of them were very attractive. The last guy made Indianna's heart race. His face was blank, his eyes dark and frightening. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his jeans and she noticed tattoos covering his arms, the rest hidden by his white t-shirt.

Indianna forced herself to look away. He was so incredibly gorgeous but so incredibly frightening. The rest of the class seemed to agree as they were all staring at him with wide eyes. Indianna couldn't tell if the looks he was receiving was lust or fear.

The guy, who now look irritable, ran his fingers through his dark hair, pushing his it away from his chiseled face. "What?" He snapped. His voice was deep, stern, and projected throughout the classroom even though he barely raised it. One word from his mouth made Indianna's stomach fill with butterflies.

"Who are they?" 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, turning to his two friends and joining in their conversation.

"The ginger one is Kal and Ace is the brown haired one," Brooke said.

"The guy at the back is Greyson Evans," Brandon muttered.

"Stay away from him," Brooke said firmly to Indianna. "He's fucked about half the school and I'm pretty sure he has like a billion STD's. He's also a dick."

"I can hear you, Brooklyn." Indianna's eyes widened when Greyson turned in his seat and raised his eyebrows at Brooke. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Not gossiping again, are we?"

"I'm just telling the truth," Brooke shrugged and smiled sweetly.

"I'm very interested to hear what you have to say," Greyson urged, smirking.

"I highly doubt you would enjoy hearing what I had to say," Brooke shrugged.

Greyson sighed and his eyes flickered to Brandon who hadn't stopped glaring at the three guys since they entered the room. "Brandon, stop with the glaring. I will punch you and considering you're Brooklyn's cousin I know I shouldn't," he paused, his eyes glittering with dangerous amusement, "but you very well know I will."

"Greyson," Brooke sighed. Indianna noticed how she seemed to be the only person in the room who wasn't looking at Greyson with fear filled eyes. "You will not punch Brandon."

"Like you'd be able to stop me, Brooklyn. 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 he 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.

"Yes, great question, Kal, where is Harry?" Greyson said.

"I don't know where he is!" Brooke muttered and crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes at Greyson and his friends. "Now, please leave us be."

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

"Sorry about that," she apologised. "He's an ass."

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

"B-boyfriend? W-what?" She 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 he leaned back against the cupboard, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Now," he said, looking Indianna up and down. "Who are you?"

"I think it's better if you don't find out" Brandon muttered. Greyson ignored him.

"Her name is Indianna-"

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

"She's shy," Brooke shrugged, glancing at Indianna who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but in the classroom.

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

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

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

"For Godsake, Greyson!" Brooke hissed and Greyson looked at Indianna.

Indianna was very beautiful, but her beauty was obscured by her lack of confidence. She hid behind her glasses and her long brown hair shielded her face. Pretty was a word she had never used to describe herself.

"What's your name?" Greyson asked firmly.

Indianna forced herself to talk. "Indianna."

Greyson narrowed his eyes. "Hughs," he said under his breath.

"What?" Indianna asked, not hearing him.

"Nothing," Greyson said dismissively. He looked at Indianna once more before walking back to his friends. He spoke to them quietly and immediately they both looked at Indianna, their eyes wide and focused on her wrist. Indianna was holding it, covering the scar.

Brooke noticed the three boys looking at Indianna and she scowled. "You're freaking her out," she scolded. "What's your problem? God." Brooke rolled her eyes when they looked away. "Just because everyone is scared of them they think they can get away with everything. I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Indianna said quietly and she looked at the door of the classroom, praying the teacher would arrive so she wouldn't have to talk to anyone.

A few minutes passed and Indianna rubbed her head. She was stressed and a headache was starting. She wanted to the world to swallow her up. School was the last place she wanted to be.

*What happened to your wrist?*

Indianna jumped in shock and looked around in panic. She could hear a voice, loud and clear, but she was certain the voice wasn't out loud.

"Are you okay?" Brandon asked. He and Brooke both looked at Indianna in concern.

*Don't panic, you're not going crazy*

"I, er..." Indianna choked on her words. Was she imagining this?

*You're not imagining it.*

"Indianna?" Brooke said softly.

"I'm fine," Indianna mumbled. "I just have a bad headache."

*What happened to your wrist?*

Indianna struggled to control her breathing. She was panicking. She was certain she was hearing a voice in her head. And that was not a good sign.

*I told you, there is no need to panic. Just speak to me.*

Indianna furrowed her eyebrows. The voice sounded familiar.

*Who are you?*

It felt weird speaking in her mind. This whole exchange felt so incredibly invasive and she didn't like it.

*I'm asking the questions, Indianna.*

*How do you know my name? How are you even in my head? Am I going insane-*

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

Indianna paused, thinking. This voice was in her head, it clearly wasn't real. She guessed it was like talking to a figment of her imagination.

*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 knew 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?* She asked. *You're not real, are you?"

*I am most definitely real, but who I am 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. So was her headache.

"Are you listening, Indianna?"

"Hmm?" Indianna looked at Brooke smiled.

"You're shy and not very talkactive, but I like you, Indianna."

"Um, thank you?"

"You are very welcome," she grinned 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," Indianna said and smiled sheepishly. "I don't trust easily."

"We've got time," Brooke grinned and the bell sounded, signaling the lesson change. "Let's see your timetable?" 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.

*

edited 29.10.2020