I was sitting outside of the house on the steps. It had been an hour since I had arrived and I already hated it.
"Hello!"
I looked to the side as a little girl with pig tails sat next to me and looked up with big brown eyes.
"Hey," I said.
"I'm Lily," she said and held her hand out.
I chuckled and shook it, she looked no older than 8. "Daisy."
She gasped. "We both have flower names! That so cool!"
"Hmm," I nodded.
"What happened to your face?"
I cursed the bruises on my face. I was a fast healer, but bruises seemed to stay for weeks. "Nothing," I shrugged.
"It had to be something, silly," Lily said.
"I was punched," I said and Lily gasped.
"What!"
"Joking," I said smoothly and chuckled at Lily who let out a big sigh.
"Phew," she said. "So what happened?"
"I walked into a door," I lied.
"Now that was silly," Lily giggled.
"It was, wasn't it?" I nodded and I stiffened when I heard footsteps. It was the guys from across the road.
"Sammy!" Lily grinned and jumped up from the steps and ran over to a guy with dark blond hair.
"Hey, squirt," he said. "I hear you've not been around in a while, I think Zac is missing you."
Lily blushed slightly. "I've been ill, but I'm all better now!"
"I can see that," Sammy nodded and I looked at each of the guys. There was Sammy, an Asian guy with jet black hair, a guy with brown hair and the silver haired guy.
"Who's your friend, Lily?" The silver haired guy asked, watching me carefully.
"This is Daisy, she's new!" Lily said brightly.
"That was quite a scene earlier," the guy said and I shrugged my shoulders.
"Was it?" I said.
"Lily, why don't you go inside, we'd like to talk to your new friend," Sammy said and Lily pouted.
"But I want to stay-"
"Go," the silver haired guy said sternly and Lily huffed, but walked inside.
"That wasn't very polite," I said and crossed my arms over my chest.
"Neither was kicking that guy in the face earlier," the guy said.
"Trust me, he deserved it," I said.
"Daisy!" I looked over my shoulder when Mason poked his head out. He barely spared the guys in front of me a glance. "Come on, sweetcheeks, you're wonderful presence is required."
"Why do I sense sarcasm?" I wondered as I stood.
"I haven't a clue," Mason smirked and I walked into the house without looking back at the guys. "Who were they?"
"They live across the road," I shrugged. "I didn't get around to finding out what they wanted."
Mason led me through the large house and we ended up in a large room where everybody on the mission was seated. My eyes widened when they landed on Beth and she squealed, jumping up and hugging me.
"I didn't know you were on this mission!" I gasped and Beth smirked.
"Surprise!" She laughed and we pulled apart. "How are you?" She asked quietly.
I gave her a look. "Fine."
"Girls, sit down," Blake said and I noticed everyone was seated on couches and chairs that were positioned in a circle. I spotted Max and he smiled at me and Penny, the girl I had held hostage, eyed me warily.
Beth grabbed my hand and pulled me over to a small couch that she had to herself and I squished up beside her.
"Harriet has given this room," Blake said. "It's only for our use. She thinks we're going to have 'group sessions' in here. Talk about everyone's problems and yada yada, help people be less troubled and shit. So if anyone asks that's what we're doing."
"So what are we doing really?" Beth called.
"This is the only room where we will discuss the mission. It used to be a music room so it is soundproof. Here is the only place it is safe. We will meet here everyday to share anything we have learnt. All conversations will be recorded and then sent to Oli, Erik and Joey. Is that okay with everyone?"
No one complained.
"Great, now, I know there is a lot of us on this mission and I know some of us don't get along, but we have to make this work." Blake looked at me. "Am I clear?"
I smiled sweetly at him and Beth chuckled next to me.
"Crystal clear," Mason said enthusiastically. "Now the important question is when is the food?"
"Food is from 6 to 8. Its done in a buffet style so if you leave it late you get the shitty left overs. Breakfast is 6-8 on weekdays and 8-10 on weekends. Lunch on weekends is at 1pm. Harriet has said there will be food in the fridge that we can use if we miss a dinner, but it's only for the older people in the house."
"Can we hurry this up then? Food starts in 10 minutes," Mason said.
Eli rolled his eyes. "Everyone starts school tomorrow. So get up and don't be late."
"Did I or did I not say to not be late, princess?" Eli said as I walked out of the house the next morning. I flipped him off and adjusted my crop top that I had quickly thrown on, along with a pair of ripped jeans.
"How are we getting there?" Beth asked.
Blake walked over to the large garage next to the house and opened the door. "Eli has his car, so does Tom and Mason. You will all have to share with them. If you're late you can get the bus to wherever you need to go."
Blake caught my eye and called me over. "You're not going in a car."
"Then how am I getting to this shitty school?" I asked.
"We know you're going to do fuck all, so we need you to make an entrance, get attention," Blake said. "On paper you're a prime candidate for recruitment."
"Great," I said dryly and Blake pointed to something parked in the back of the garage. "No way."
Blake chuckled. "Yes."
"Shit, I thought Rob was never going to give it back!" I gasped and rushed over to my motorbike that I had not seen in months.
"You're welcome," Blake called and I wheeled the bike out of the garage. "Now everyone get to school!"
Beth stopped as she was climbing into the passenger seat of Tom's car and she looked at me with a grin. "Sorry, Tom!" She said and slammed the door and skipped over to me and I swung my leg over the bike.
"What's going on there?" I asked as Beth jumped on behind me and wrapped her arms round my waist.
"I'll tell you when I know," she said.
"You've fucked," I guessed. "When?"
"How the hell did you know?" Beth gasped.
"I know you," I chuckled.
"The night of the storm, when you and Eli left," Beth muttered.
"He cheated on you."
"Shut up and drive," Beth grumbled and I looked over to Eli who had wound his window down.
"Follow me, I know the way," he said and I nodded, starting the engine and driving behind Eli as he set off down the road.
"I suggest we turn around now," I called to Beth as the school came into sight.
"Shut up and park the damn bike, girl," Beth laughed.
I sighed and slowed down as I pulled into the school and tried to find somewhere to park. We earned many stares and Beth lapped up the attention.
"So vain," I murmured.
"Hey!" Beth gasped and hit my arm.
"Watch it, I could easily kill you."
"We're going like 5mph," Beth scoffed and I rolled my eyes as I parked my motorbike.
"Get off my bike," I said and nudged Beth who jumped off just as a bike pulled up next to mine. I ran my fingers through my hair and climbed off. The person on the bike took his helmet off and shook his hair out. It was the silver haired guy from across the road.
"You walked off before we got the chance to talk before," the guy said, his green eyes locking with mine.
"And I'm going to do the same thing now," I said and linked arms with Beth and walked off.
"Who's that?" Beth asked. "He's cute."
"He's our neighbour. He lives across the road," I said and Beth looked over her shoulder.
"He's really cute."