Selena walked through the familiar halls of St. Theresa High School, her eyes scanning the renovated corridors. The once-drab walls were now adorned with vibrant murals, and the floors gleamed with polished marble. The Lowrie family's funding has had a significant impact on the school.
As she navigated the crowded hallways, Selena's classmates cast curious glances her way. She had been gone for a while, and her return was met with a mix of excitement and wariness. Before her departure, Selena had been known as the "Ice Queen" - a super-intelligent and brutal opponent who wouldn't hesitate to take down anyone who crossed her.
But that reputation had been carefully crafted by Gunn, who had led a ruthless bullying campaign against her. Gunn, Liam, Jakob, and Michael worked tirelessly to repair the damage, but the scars still lingered.
Now, as Selena returned to school, she was acutely aware of the whispers and sideways glances. Some students seemed intimidated by her, while others appeared curious, sensing that there was more to her than met the eye.
Selena's perspective on school had shifted dramatically since her departure. She had never been particularly invested in the Catholic faith, and her attendance at St. Theresa had been more of a pragmatic decision to escape her troubled past. Now, with her newfound understanding of her Scottish and Korean heritage, as well as her gifts as a seer, Selena viewed the school with a sense of detachment. She had to basically look at things that way now because it would all change.
Her experiences had changed her, and she was no longer the same carefree and fiery individual she had once been. The weight of her newfound responsibilities and the burden of her visions had quieted her, and she now moved through the halls with a sense of purpose, her eyes fixed on some distant horizon.
As she approached her locker, Selena noticed a group of students watching her, their whispers and giggles carried on the air. She ignored them, her expression neutral, and began to dial her combination. The familiar click of the lock disengaging was a small comfort in an environment that now felt foreign and superficial.
Selena's gaze drifted to the mural on the wall opposite her locker, a depiction of the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels. She felt a pang of disconnection, her mind wandering to the ancient being or goddess that once in a while inhabited her visions.
The Catholic iconography, once a familiar backdrop to her daily life, now seemed distant and unrelated to her true nature. It seemed absurd to worship deities at all. Selena walked through the crowded hallways, her eyes scanning the familiar faces. She spotted Claire Gregory, a girl she'd known from her past life, standing by her locker. Claire's piercing green eyes swept the crowd, her expression a mix of boredom and amusement.
Selena watched as Claire's gaze landed on Tiffany and Rachel, two girls who'd been whispering and giggling as Selena approached. Claire's expression transformed into a scathing glare, and she strode over to the two girls, her long blonde hair swinging behind her.
"Hey, what's going on here?" Claire asked, her tone casual but with an undercurrent of warning.
Tiffany and Rachel exchanged nervous glances, clearly intimidated by Claire's confident demeanor. "Uh, nothing," Tiffany stammered.
Claire raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because it looked like you two were giving Selena a hard time. And I don't take kindly to cunts bothering my friends."
Selena felt a surge of gratitude for Claire's actions; however, it felt odd. Her memories of her past life haunted her. Claire, the bully of her past life who'd defended her, was a devil towards her before, and McKenna's harbinger of pain. It was odd to get used to it and trust her. Claire's eyes met Selena's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.
Then, Claire turned back to Tiffany and Rachel. "Leave her alone, okay? Or you'll have to answer to me. You can't afford it if she even breaks a nail, trash."
Tiffany and Rachel quickly scattered, abandoning their harassment. Claire watched them go, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. Then, she turned to Selena and nodded. "No problem," she said, like it was no big deal.
As Selena navigated the crowded hallways of St. Theresa High School, she was flanked by her two loyal guards, Claire Gregory and Jennifer MacPherson. Claire, with her piercing blue eyes and razor-sharp instincts, was always on high alert, scanning their surroundings for any potential threats. Jennifer, a beauty in her own right, with her calm and gentle demeanor, provided a soothing counterbalance to Claire's intensity, her eyes watchful and protective.
Together, the two girls formed a formidable team, dedicated to keeping Selena safe from harm. As members of the Scottish vassal families, they were trained from a young age in the art of combat and protection, and they took their duties extremely seriously.
As Selena navigated the crowded hallways of St. Theresa High School, she was flanked by her two loyal guards, Claire Gregory and Jennifer MacPherson. Claire, a member of the esteemed Gregory Clan, was part of a warrior family that had protected Selena's ancestors for thousands of years. Jennifer, from the MacPherson Clan, was also part of the elite guard that protected Selena's family.
Together, they were joined by three other girls from esteemed Scottish families. Siobhan Douglas, with her curly brown hair and bright smile, was a charming and charismatic member of the Douglas family. Isabelle MacKenzie, with her long blonde hair and athletic build, was a beautiful and confident member of the MacKenzie family. Heather MacLeod, with her strawberry blonde hair and mischievous grin, was a fiery and creative member of the MacLeod family.
The five girls were all part of a tight-knit circle of friends, but Selena was still getting used to being around them. She had never really had friends before, especially not girls. Her life had always been solitary, focused on her studies and her training as a seer. But now, with Claire and Jennifer by her side and Siobhan, Isabelle, and Heather joining their little group, Selena was starting to feel like she was not as alone as she used to be.
As they walked, the girls chatted and laughed, their conversations flowing easily. Selena listened, feeling a little awkward but also curious. She didn't know these girls very well yet, but she was starting to feel like she wanted to. Claire and Jennifer were easy to be around, but Siobhan, Isabelle, and Heather were still mysteries to her. She wasn't sure what to make of their easy friendship or how to join in.
Selena trudged through the school day, Claire and Jennifer by her side in every class. They were her constant companions, her guards, and her only friends. But despite their presence, Selena couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness.
During breaks, she'd see the other girls from the Scottish families - Siobhan, Isabelle, and Heather- but their conversations felt forced, like they were all just pretending to be friends. Selena longed for something more genuine.
As she watched her brother Jonah and his friends Jakob, Gunn, Michael, and Liam laughing and joking together, Selena felt a pang of nostalgia. She missed the simple, carefree interactions she used to have. Dealing with teenagers was exhausting, and Selena was still struggling to adjust to her new reality.
Being a seer, a person with the ability to see into the spiritual realm and their futures, made her an outsider among humanity. And now, with her newfound "friends" and guards, Selena felt like she was living in a fishbowl, with everyone watching her every move.
She sighed, feeling like she was stuck in a never-ending nightmare. Why couldn't things just be easy for her?
As they walked out of the school building, Claire let out a subtle sigh of relief. She had been assigned to protect Selena, and so far, it had been a relatively smooth ride. Selena was quiet and reserved, but she wasn't difficult to get along with.
Claire thought to herself that Selena was a breeze compared to McKenna, the last "Kinsman Heiress" she had been assigned to protect. McKenna was a handful, always pushing boundaries and testing limits.
But it was more than that - McKenna was bossy, immature, and callous to others. She would often lash out at those around her, saying hurtful things without even realizing the impact of her words.
It had been difficult to protect McKenna, not just because of her reckless behavior but also because of her rudeness to those around her. Claire had lost count of how many times McKenna had snapped at her or Jennifer or how many times she had disobeyed their instructions. It had been a challenging assignment, to say the least.
But Selena was different. She was polite, respectful, and considerate of others. She listened to Claire and Jennifer's advice, and she followed their instructions without complaint. It was a welcome change, and Claire found herself feeling more at ease with each passing day.
Jennifer, walking on the other side of Selena, caught Claire's eye and raised an eyebrow. Claire nodded slightly, a silent communication between the two guards. They had been working together for a while now, and they had developed a system of subtle cues and nods to communicate with each other.
As they walked to the car, Claire couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Selena. She was making their job easy, and Claire appreciated that. But at the same time, Claire couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Selena than met the eye. She seemed... guarded, somehow. Like she was hiding secrets behind those big brown eyes.