The sun was just peeking over the rooftops, spilling soft light across the quiet street. Birds chirped lazily, and somewhere a boy rode past on his bicycle, ringing his bell as he waved at a neighbor. The faint hum of a lawn mower mixed with the background noise of a TV playing cartoons in Addie's house.
Inside, her mom was flipping pancakes, the smell of syrup filling the kitchen. Her dad was sitting at the table, scrolling through his tablet, half-watching the TV. It was a lazy Sunday morning, warm and calm, the kind of morning that made everything feel possible.
Addie could barely hold still. She ran down the stairs, her sneakers squeaking. "Mom! Dad! I got into Harrington High!"
Her mom spun around, eyes wide, dropping the spatula. "Oh my god, sweetheart! That's your dream, right?"
Addie nodded, her excitement spilling out. "Yes! I can't believe it! I actually got in!"
Her dad smiled, putting the tablet aside. "I knew you could do it!"
Addie threw her arms around both of them. "This is going to be amazing! I'm so excited!"
Her mom laughed, hugging her tightly. "It will be, honey. You worked so hard for this."
[Addie's POV]
I sat back in the car, the city slowly disappearing behind us as we drove toward the airport. I could feel the excitement bubbling in my chest, one year of planning, dreaming, and working toward this moment, and it was finally here.
Hi, everyone. I'm Adriana. People call me Addie, my friends, at least. And right now, I'm on my way to Harrington High. The school I've been dreaming about for as long as I can remember. The place I've imagined walking through a thousand times, and now… it's real.
I can't help but smile to myself. One year of staying up late, practicing, preparing, making sure I was ready… and it's finally paying off. Soon, I'll be stepping into that world: the big, modern, elite high school where everyone's someone, where the games are intense, the parties are loud, and the drama… well, I've got a feeling I'm about to meet it head-on.
And honestly? I'm ready.
[End of Addie's POV]
The car pulled up at the airport, and her dad jumped out to grab the luggage while her mom checked the tickets one last time. Addie's eyes scanned the crowd, and then she spotted a familiar face.
Across the fence, holding a bouquet and bouncing on her toes, was Emily, her childhood friend. Addie's heart leapt. She ran toward Emily without thinking, arms wide.
"Addie! You're finally going to the place you've always dreamed of, right?" Emily exclaimed, hugging her tightly. "Remember one thing, don't forget me! And you better message me every single day about everything happening at your new school. And… be a good girl!"
Both of them laughed, their voices a mix of excitement and emotion.
Addie stepped back and turned to her parents. She hugged her mom first, then her dad. Her mom's eyes shimmered with pride. "Sweetie," she said softly, holding Addie's shoulders, "remember one thing: be kind, be nice to everyone. I'm so happy your dreams are finally coming true. I wish you all the best."
Addie smiled, feeling the warmth of family and friendship surround her. Everything she had worked for was finally starting.
[Addie's POV]
I'm boarding the plane. I can't even believe I'm doing this… all by myself. Just a few hours ago, I was hugging my parents goodbye, and now, somehow, I'm here, carrying my own luggage and trying to act calm.
Honestly? I'm overwhelmed. A little scared. Excited. And… completely nervous. Leaving my parents behind feels harder than I thought it would. I keep thinking about my mom's smile, my dad's proud eyes, and Emily waving at me. How am I supposed to focus on anything else?
And then there's the whole school thing. Harrington High… it's everything I've dreamed of, but also, it's full of people I don't know. I'm the kind of person who doesn't click with everyone immediately. So, I hope I find some nice people there. Friends who get me. People who I can actually talk to without panicking or overthinking every word.
I mean, I'm terrified of chatting in real life sometimes. Texting? Easy. Talking? Not so much. And now? I have to step into this huge school, full of confident students, all watching, noticing, sizing me up.
But… I guess that's the point, right? To push myself, to grow. I just hope I can survive the first day. And hopefully… maybe, just maybe, I find people I actually like.
[End of Addie's POV]
Addie boarded onto the plane. She looked around and finally found her seat. Sliding into the window spot, she let out a small, excited sigh.
She lifted the window cover and peeked outside. The airport below was busy with people rushing around, planes moving, and airport buses driving past. A big smile spread across her face. She couldn't believe this was real. She was actually on her way to Harrington High.
Her fingers held the ticket tightly as she settled in. Her heart was beating fast, excited, nervous, and happy all at once. This was the start of something new, something she had been dreaming about for so long.
The plane landed, and Addie stepped out of the airport with her luggage. She looked around and spotted a man standing nearby.
She walked up to him.
"Are you Adriana Carter?" the man asked politely.
"Yes, that's me." Adriana replied.
"I'm Mr. Lansley." he said with a small smile. "Mr. Carter asked me to pick you up and drop you at Harrington High."
Adriana nodded quickly.
Mr. Lansley helped load her luggage into the car. Once everything was ready, Adriana followed him, ready to start her new adventure.
The car pulled up in front of Harrington High. Addie grabbed her luggage and stepped out. Her eyes widened. "Whoa… this place is even bigger than the pictures!" she whispered to herself.
Excitedly, she walked toward the main entrance, her eyes scanning everything. Students were walking around, chatting, some dressed very classy and giving off rich, confident vibes. The campus felt alive and impressive.
A man in a neat suit approached her. "You must be Adriana Carter, right?" he asked.
"Oh yes! I'm Adriana Carter," she replied, a little nervous but smiling.
"I'm Principal Anderson." he said warmly, extending his hand.
Addie shook his hand excitedly.
Principal Anderson smiled. "You are the new scholarship student, right? We're very glad we selected you. And we're even happier we found a new talent in you."
Addie's smile grew wider.
The principal continued, "This is Chloe, my assistant. She will help you and guide you to your dorm."
Chloe waved at Addie. "Hi! Don't worry, I'll show you around and help you settle in."
Principal Anderson smiled and said, "Please excuse me," before walking away to talk to someone else nearby.
Chloe turned to Addie. "Come on, I'll show you around," she said.
Addie followed Chloe as she led her through the school. "This is the library, over there is the cafeteria, and this is the sports hall," Chloe explained. "Everything you need is around here. It's a big campus, but you'll get used to it."
After a short walk, Chloe stopped in front of a door. "You've been assigned a single dorm room, so this is yours," she said.
Addie's eyes sparkled. The room was even bigger than her old room, and it had its own bathroom.
Chloe smiled. "If you need any help, call me anytime. I'm here to help you settle in or answer any questions."
Addie shook her head quickly, smiling. "No, no, no, thank you so much! At least you showed me to my dorm. Otherwise, I would have been completely lost. This place is huge!"
Chloe nodded. "Definitely. Alright, take care now. I'm leaving. Bye-bye!"
Addie waved as Chloe walked away,
[Addie's POV]
I cannot believe this place… it's so huge! Oh my god, thank you, God, for giving me this opportunity. Harrington High is insanely beautiful and mesmerizing. And my dorm… wow, it's even better than I imagined. I feel like I could just burst into tears. It's like a dream come true.
But now… I have to settle everything by myself, without my parents. I remember when we first moved to our new house. Mom and I were so excited, decorating every corner, arranging everything together. Now… it's just me. And somehow, that makes this feel even bigger, even more real.
[End of Addie's POV]
After arranging her room, Addie decided to explore the campus a little. She was feeling hungry too, so she headed toward the food court.
When she entered, her eyes widened. The place looked like a five-star restaurant, not a school cafeteria. There were so many delicious items, colorful displays, and fancy drinks. She couldn't help but smile, mesmerized by everything around her.
But then she remembered she didn't have that much money, and most of the items were very expensive. She thought for a moment and finally chose a simple croissant and a cup of coffee for herself. Still, it felt like a little treat, and it made her feel even more excited about being at Harrington High.
As Addie walked, sipping her coffee, she looked around the campus. Her eyes landed on a huge football field, where many students were playing. She thought it would be fun to just sit there and watch the match, since she didn't have any friends yet and didn't really know anyone.
She found a spot and sat down. A few students were scattered around, some couples chatting, some with friends, but only a few were actually paying attention to the game. Addie pulled out her phone and quickly texted Emily about everything she was seeing, before putting it back into her pocket.
Her eyes went back to the field, and then she saw him, a boy in a bright red football jersey. He was so good-looking that she couldn't take her eyes off him. Every move he made on the field seemed effortless and confident.
As Addie kept watching the match, her phone suddenly started ringing. She picked it up and saw that it was her mom calling. She quickly answered.
"Hello, Mom."
Her mom's warm voice came, "Honey, how is everything? Are you good?"
Addie smiled. "Yes, Mom. I just got some croissant and coffee from the food court. The place is so huge and beautiful. And my dorm, it's even bigger than my old room. It even has an attached bathroom! Everything looks so perfect here… but I miss you guys."
After talking to her mom, Addy put her phone down again. Her eyes kept scanning the football ground, but she couldn't find the boy she was looking for. Slowly, people started leaving, and the sky was turning dark. So, Addy stood up and left too.
She walked back to her dorm. The whole day had been long, she had traveled all the way from home to Harrington High, and then arranged her entire room by herself. Feeling completely exhausted, she lay down on her bed and soon fell into a deep, tight sleep.
The next morning, Addie woke up to the soft glow of sunlight spilling through the curtains. She lazily reached for her phone on the bedside table and blinked at the screen to check the time. With a small sigh, she pushed off the covers and got out of bed.
Heading straight to the washroom, she splashed cool water on her face, brushed her teeth, and ran her fingers through her hair before carefully brushing it smooth. After finishing her skincare routine, she felt fresh and ready. Finally, she slipped into her crisp, brand-new uniform, adjusting the collar neatly in the mirror.
Addie grabbed her bag from the chair, slung it over her shoulder, and stepped out of her dorm room. She locked the door carefully before making her way across the wide campus. The morning air was cool, and her footsteps echoed softly as she passed groups of students heading in every direction.
After a few turns and long hallways, she finally reached the classes section. Her heart thumped a little as she found the room with her class number posted outside.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room went quiet for a moment.
"Are you a new student?" the teacher asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I am." Addie replied politely.
The teacher glanced at the clock, then back at her. "That explains why you're thirty minutes late."
Addie says, "I'm really sorry, I apologize. Since I'm the new student, I'm not aware about the time. Well, this won't happen again."
The teacher replies, "Okay, since you are new, I'm not looking forward to give you a punishment. So, introduce yourself to the class first."
Addie smiles nervously and says, "Hello everyone, I'm Adriana Carter. You all can call me Addie. I've come from New Jersey, and I'm looking forward to get along with you guys and study with you."
The teacher nods. "Okay, good job. Now take a seat beside Maddie."
Addie slowly made her way to an empty seat and slipped into the chair beside a girl with bright eyes and a wide smile.
"Oh my gosh, your name is Addie?" the girl squealed. "My name is Maddie. We're literally twinning, Queen!"
Before Addie could react, a voice from the back cut in.
"Hey, girls. Maybe focus on what the teacher's saying before all three of us get our ass kicked out of class." Julian drawled, sounding more amused than annoyed.
Addie's gaze flickered toward him. Something about him felt… a little different. She couldn't put her finger on it.
Maddie leaned closer with a smirk. "Oh, well. He's gay."
Addie's eyes widened. "No, no, no, I didn't mean that at all!" she blurted, cheeks warming.
"Well," Maddie shrugged dramatically, "we can all see it."
The three of them broke into quiet laughter.
"Alright class focus." the teacher snapped, bringing the room back to order.
When the class finally ends, Maddie turns to Addie with a curious smile.
"So, Addie, what brought you here to Harrington High?"
Addie tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, I'm actually a scholarship student. I've always dreamed of coming here, because honestly, it's like every student's dream, right?"
Maddie grins. "Same here, girl. Us too."
Julian, leaning casually against his desk, chimes in, "Well girls, I think we should hang out around campus for a bit before heading to the football match."
The moment he says it, both Maddie and Julian practically squeal with excitement.
Addie blinks, confused. "Football match? What football match?"
Maddie gasps dramatically. "Um, hello? The big one! We have an intense football game today." She links arms with Addie. "But before that, food court. Snacks and food, obviously. Okay, let's go, guys!"
As the three of them strolled toward the food court, Maddie scrolled through Instagram, showing Addie different students' accounts.
Suddenly, Addie stopped and pointed at a photo. "Whoa… she's so pretty. Who's that?"
Julian leaned in, then scoffed. "Oh, that's Stella. The wannabe queen bee of Harrington High. She's our senior, but trust me, she's nothing more than a bitch."
"Julian!" Maddie nudged him, rolling her eyes. "Language."
Addie chuckled softly.
"Well, Stella's not just a queen bee. She's also the queen of volleyball. She's captain of the team, and trust me, when she's on court, nobody can take their eyes off her." said Maddie.
Addie: [eyes widening] "No way. I also play volleyball. I've gone up to state level."
Maddie & Julian: [both freeze, then lean closer] "What? Seriously?"
Julian: "You should definitely sign up for Sports Day then. Like, no question about it. That's insane, Addie."
Maddie: [looking doubtful] "But… are you sure? Stella is… seriously good. Volleyball is like her whole life. When she plays, she's committed to it."
Addie: [smiling with quiet confidence] "Well, I haven't seen her play yet, so I can't say anything. But honestly? Playing against her would be really exciting. Right, guys?"
All three burst out laughing, the tension fading into easy banter.
The three of them finally reached the food court, trays in hand, before dropping into a table by the corner. They'd barely started eating when the atmosphere around them shifted. A sudden wave of shrieks and giggles rolled through the crowd.
Every girl nearby was practically falling over herself, squealing, "Oh my god! Hi! Hi!" like a celebrity had just walked in.
Addie blinked, confused. She didn't see anyone worth all the drama.
Julian chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Here comes Prince Charming."
"Who?" Addie asked, raising a brow.
Maddie leaned over with a smirk. "Meet Jason. The most handsom guy in Harrington High. He has everything."
Julian slid closer to Addie, "And by everything she means literally everything."
Addie glanced toward the growing crowd. And then, her breath caught. The swarm of girls shifted just enough for her to spot him. The same boy she'd seen that other day, the one on the football field. Back then, she'd been sipping her coffee, secretly watching him.
Maddie snapped her fingers, pulling Addie back. "Oh, and by the way? He's the captain of the red football team. Today's match will be insane."
Julian grinned, finishing the thought with Maddie in perfect sync:
"Because he's up against his biggest enemy."
They both threw their arms up dramatically.
"Sean Lewiston!"