Serena's Pov
The alarm went off at 6:30, and I almost threw my pillow across the room. My hand slammed down on the snooze button before my brain even caught up with the fact that today wasn't just any other Saturday. Today was scholarship day.
I sat up slowly, staring at the pale crack of sunlight sneaking through my curtains. My chest already felt tight, like someone had tied a knot in there. A spelling competition doesn't sound like something that should make a person's heart pound like they're about to jump off a cliff, but here I was clutching my blanket like it could save me.
I muttered to myself, "Just another test, Serena. Just another word."
The words didn't exactly calm me down, but they gave me the push I needed to drag myself out of bed. My room was small, the kind of small that made you bump into your own shoes if you weren't careful. Posters of books I loved were taped onto the walls, their edges curling from the humidity. My dictionary sat on the desk, covered in sticky notes and crumpled practice sheets. I picked it up like it was some kind of holy book, flipping to a random page and whispering the first word I saw: ubiquitous.
"Easy," I said, testing myself. "U-B-I-Q-U-I-T-O-U-S."
I grinned. Okay, maybe I was ready.
Still, I went through a few more, pacing the room with my hair sticking out in messy curls and my voice croaking from sleep. It wasn't glamorous, but it was me.
By the time I got to the kitchen, Mom was already there, humming over the stove. She had on her faded pink robe, and her hair was tied back in a scarf. The smell of fried plantains and eggs filled the air, warm and comforting.
"Morning, superstar," she said without turning around.
"Morning mamá" I mumbled, sliding into a chair. My stomach was already in knots, but Mom wasn't about to let me skip breakfast on a day like this.
"You're eating," she said firmly, like she could read my mind. "You won't win on an empty stomach."
I rolled my eyes playfully but picked up my fork. Each bite felt heavy, like my nerves were sitting right on top of the food, but Mom kept smiling at me like I was already the champion. That helped more than I wanted to admit.
"You know," she said, finally sitting across from me, "this scholarship could open so many doors for you. CPHS isn't just any school. It's a new start."
I swallowed hard. "I know."
I did know. The thought of leaving my old school, my old life, my friends it was both terrifying and thrilling. A fresh start, yes. But also a chance to prove that I was more than just Serena-from-nowhere.
After breakfast, I went back to my room to get dressed. I stood in front of the mirror for way too long, staring at my reflection like the right outfit could magically calm my nerves. In the end, I went with a simple dress, neat and comfortable. Nothing flashy, nothing distracting. Just me.
"Alright," I whispered to my reflection. "Let's do this."
I stepped out of my room, clutching my bag like it was the only thing holding me together. Mom was waiting at the door, keys dangling in her hand.
"You got this," she said, her voice soft but sure.
I nodded, even though my knees didn't believe her. The car ride was quiet, except for the faint hum of the radio. Every song that came on felt wrong for the moment too happy, too loud, too soft. I just stared out the window, watching houses blur past like I was being carried away from my old life and into something entirely new.
When we pulled up to the scholarship center, my stomach officially tied itself into a knot. The building wasn't even that intimidating, just a wide hall with banners stretched across the entrance:
"CPHS Scholarship Spelling Bee
Building Tomorrow's Leaders."
I swallowed hard. Tomorrow's leaders. Was I really one of them?
Inside, the place buzzed with energy. Parents huddled with their kids, whispering last-minute tips. Some kids looked like they were born for this confident, sitting tall in their crisp clothes, flashing bright smiles. I, on the other hand, wanted to melt into the floor.
"Go sign in," Mom nudged me gently.
I walked to the table, my palms damp. A lady in glasses handed me a number tag. "Contestant #14," she said with a smile.
Lucky number? I hoped so.
I pinned it to my dress and found a seat in the front row. My eyes wandered around the hall, catching snippets of other kids muttering words under their breath. One boy was pacing like a caged tiger, spelling photosynthesis on repeat. Another girl was tapping her pen against her notebook, her lips moving soundlessly.
Breathe, Serena. Just breathe.
When the announcer finally stepped onto the stage, the room went quiet. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.
"Welcome to CPHS Scholarship Spelling Bee. The last stage of the scholarship" he said, smiling like this was all just a fun game. "Today, we will see which of our brilliant young contestants earns the chance of a lifetime: a full scholarship to Crescent Pines High School."
Applause filled the room. I clapped too, even though my hands were shaking.
Names were called one by one. I watched kids march up to the microphone, some confident, some trembling, some freezing entirely. The bell dinged for wrong answers, and each time it did, my heart leapt like it was me up there.
And then, it was.
"Contestant number fourteen… Serena Williams."
My breath hitched. My legs felt like lead, but somehow they carried me to the stage. The lights were bright, hotter than I expected. I squinted at the microphone and forced myself to breathe.
The moderator adjusted his glasses, glanced at the card, and said clearly:
"Your first word is Psychopathic"
I repeated it in my head. Okay. I knew this one. I closed my eyes for a second, pictured it written across one of my practice sheets, and started.
P-S-Y-C-H-O-P-A-T-H-I-C
My voice shook a little, but I got every letter out.
The bell chimed. Correct.
A wave of relief crashed through me, but it didn't last long.
The moderator gave a small nod, shuffled the next card.
"Your second word is Phenomenological"
Oh. That was a mouthful. My throat tightened. I broke it into chunks in my head:"Phe-no-meno-logi-cal"Slow and steady
P-H-E-N-O-M-E-N-O-L-O-G-I-C-A-L
The bell rang again. Correct.
Applause rippled. Mom was somewhere in the crowd I didn't dare look, but I felt her there, clapping the loudest.
And then came the final card.
And your last word is "Neuropharmacological"
The room seemed to still. My knees wobbled. Twenty letters. My mind flashed back to late nights at my desk, whispering that monster of a word until my throat went dry. I had drilled it until it was burned into my brain.
I gripped the mic. "N-E-U-R-O-P-H-A-R-M-A-C-O-L-O-G-I-C-A-L"
Each letter came out clearer than the last, my voice rising with confidence I didn't even know I had. By the time I hit the final "L," the hall was so silent, I could hear my own heartbeat.
And then ding.
Correct.
The hall erupted. Applause, cheers, clapping that shook the walls. I blinked hard, my throat tight with tears I refused to let fall on stage.
I'd done it.
The judge's voice boomed through the auditorium.
"It's a tie. Please Step forward… Allison Gray and Serena Williams."
My heart skipped. A tie? Seriously? My palms were already sweaty, and now this.
He glanced at the card in his hand and cleared his throat. "The word is… Electroencephalographicphenomenon"
Gasps rippled through the audience. Even I almost groaned. That wasn't just a word it was a tongue twister nightmare.
"Allison, you're up first."
The girl beside me, Allison, straightened her shoulders and began. "E-l-e-c-t-r-o-e-n-c-e-f-a-l-o…"
She froze. The crowd shifted uncomfortably. She bit her lip and tried again, but the mistake was already there.
"I'm sorry," the judge cut in gently, shaking his head. "That is incorrect."
The air got heavier. My turn. My throat tightened, but I forced myself to breathe slow. Don't panic. You practiced for this. Just one letter at a time.
I repeated the word in my head like a song. Electro… encephalo… graphic… phenomenon. Each piece locked together. I closed my eyes for a second, whispering it inside my mind, tracing every letter as if I was writing it on invisible paper.
Finally, I opened my mouth.
"E-L-E-C-T-R-O-E-N-C-E-P-H-A-L-O-G-R-A-P-H-I-C-P-H-E-N-O-M-E-N-O-N"
The room went dead silent.
The judge leaned forward, eyes darting across his card. Then his voice broke into the hush loud, sure, final.
"Correct!"
My knees almost gave out. The audience erupted into cheers, clapping, shouting. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks, a smile breaking wide even though I tried to keep it cool. Inside, though, I was screaming. I did it. I actually did it.
For a heartbeat, I couldn't believe it. I'd actually spelled it right. Electro… whatever… I had spelled it right.
Then the words I'd been dying to hear came crashing through the air:
"With that, Serena Williams is the champion of this year's Spelling Bee!"
The sound of clapping filled the hall, but all I could hear was the rush in my chest, my own heartbeat echoing like a drum. My lips curled into the widest smile. I did it. I really, truly did it.
"The scholarship includes full tuition, plus coverage for dormitory and boarding costs."
My heart was already tripping over itself when the announcer added
"And along with that, our champion will receive a brand-new laptop, courtesy of our sponsors."
I swear the crowd roared louder, but all I could think was a laptop.
People probably thought it was small compared to the school and dorm. But not for me. At home, we shared one old computer that froze every ten minutes, screen cracked, missing half the keys. And I only touched it when my siblings didn't need it first.
A laptop wasn't just a prize. It was freedom. Privacy. A chance to write late at night, to study without asking, to finally have something of my own that no one could take back.