Notes

The other characters will start to make appearances later on, rated T for mentions of abuse in later chapters

They all stared as she walked in, that always happened though, wearing a leather jacket covered in buttons, a pair of jeans so torn and faded there was no way to tell if it was intentional or just due to wear and a pair of black boots covered in buckles making it to near her knees tended to draw attention, turning up three days into the school year didn't help too much either. The one good thing she did have going for her though was that people moved to let her past, no one was sure how to react to her but instead got out of her way just incase, between her clothes and hair that she had clearly cut herself with a bright blue streak contrasting the red of the rest of it she could have easily passed as living on the streets or being in a gang.

Claudia hated first days, but she had been through more than most, what was this now 22, no 23 one for each home except one, she hadn't even stayed there long enough to get through the summer holidays. With people parting to get out of her way it only took her a few minutes to find the office.

"Claudia Donovan, I'm here to get my timetable and whatsnot" she said as she walked up to the desk, the woman seemed taken back, though Claudia wasn't sure if it was her forwardness or just her appearance, most adults didn't really approve of it, not that there were any adults in her life who's opinions mattered enough to stop her.

"Here you go, homeroom is down the hall first door on the right," the secretary informed her while handing over a map of the school along with her time table, "are you okay to head down there by yourself?"

"I'll be fine." She replied already heading back the way she came in easily finding the classroom. She walked straight in, seeing the rest of the class already sitting in there. Seeing a seat in a back corner she immediately started to walk towards it.

"Okay we have a new student, Claudia…" Started the teacher seeing her come in but hesitated as she walked straight past him towards the class, "Donovan, is there anything you wish to say to the class Miss Donovan?" he continued half hesitantly half angered by her rudeness. Taking her seat she turned to look at the older man stood at the front of the class now angrily glaring at her, he was taller than her, though not by much and had the sort of look that would work well on a mad scientist.

"Nope, that it Gramps?" She replied earning a snigger from the rest of the class.

"That is all Miss Donovan, and you would do well to refer to me as Mr Nielsen from now on," he answered with a strained voice unused to seeing this kind of attitude from any student let alone a Freshman. He became even more shocked to see she had already lost all interest in him and was puling out a laptop that appeared to have been made from spare parts by her, it would be a miracle if she could even turn on that thing let alone use it, he thought.

She however, booting it up, was well aware that it could not only run but easily out compete any of the other machines in the school. That was the advantage of building your own computer, no limitations beyond what you could code, and she could beat them all. She started by gaining access to the school network, she didn't really need it at the moment but after the last school she would rather have it now than need it later and not have the time needed. It took her what was left of home room to get full access, someone had clearly upgraded the software on the systems far beyond what should have been there. Even with the full access she had given herself though there was still an area she couldn't get into, she couldn't even tell what it was it was so heavily encrypted, that hadn't happened since she had tried to get into the government, she was still working on that one too. But just its presence was enough to intrigue her, perhaps she might have to stick around to find out why any school would need NSA grade encryption. She was so consumed by her thoughts that she didn't notice she had no idea where she was supposed to be going until she had no idea where she was. Okay maybe I should have actually looked at the map and timetable during study hall, she thought to herself as she tried to find a landmark she could use on the map. Eventually getting to biology only five minutes late she tried to slip in quietly and head to the back bench where there was still an empty desk remaining only to stop as she herd the teacher talk directly to her.

"Who might you be and why are you late?" The teacher asked as Claudia turned slowly to face her.

"Claudia Donovan and honestly I was taking advantage of every second I didn't have to spend in a stuffy old classroom with a teacher like you." She answered cockily gaining the attention of the entire class and watching as all their jaws dropped simultaneously with great amusement.

"Well then Claudia I guess you are going to get to enjoy it even more on your way to the principals office. Go. Now." the teacher replied almost shaking with anger at the student she didn't recognise.

"Alright then. Well this was fun, later bitches." She called while walking back out of the door, stopping just before leaving to turn and give the vulcan salute as a wave to the other students. Then she head back to the main office where she had been less than 2 hours earlier.

"It took you less than two hours to be sent here. You have been at this school less than two hours. When I pulled up your file this morning I knew you would be trouble, I still haven't finished it, over 200 pages of reports, detentions, suspensions, even an expulsion which I suspect only happened once since the other times you were moved first. You have reports from every one of the schools you have been to, all 21," the principal ranted.

"22, 23 including this one," She corrected, if she was going to hear this speech again and again could people at least get the facts right.

"Do not interrupt I don't care if it's 21, 22, it could be 40 for all I care, we accepted you for two reasons, the first is that we have a good record with problem students, we can and will turn you around, and two, the bigger reason, is that we are the only high school in Univille, the only high school in over 40 miles and the Sykes are a good family, have done a lot for the school. So since it is your first day I think we will just go with one week of detention, but take into account I am going easy on you, so keep your attitude in check before you are back here with a much worse punishment." Mr Valda continued while opening the door for her to leave, "Detention starts at 3 in the main hall, don't be late for that too young lady." Claudia threw her bag over her shoulder and sauntered out of the office towards the only class she was actually looking forward to, computer science, silently hoping the teacher was proficient enough to at least teach her something.