Hearing my name screamed multiple times at six in the morning was not how I imagined my first day at a new school would go. I had envisioned something cinematically cringey, like waking up to the soft sound of birds, stretching like a Disney princess, and maybe even humming as sunlight poured in.
Just kidding but still this was far from what i had hoped would happen. ughhhhh.
Reality on the other hand..
"KAYLIE!"
That shout came from my mother, whose voice could cut through diamonds or whatever has a very tough outer layer.
I groaned, buried my head deeper into my pillow, and pulled the blanket over my face. "It's too early for all this…"
The hallway floorboards shrieked from the heavy stomps from my mother's feet. I peeked out from under my duvet just in time to see my mother burst into my room with a determination you would only see on someone who means business and not the good kind. Her eyes locked onto my still very much in bed, half-covered in sheets and not even pretending to move self. i should have gotten up when i heard her voice.. laziness truly helps no one.
"Kaylie. Don't tell me you're still asleep."
I sat up slowly, blinking slowly as if I had just woken from a coma. "Technically, I'm awake now…."
"Technically?" she hollered, narrowing her eyes as she stepped fully into my messy room. She looked around taking in the chaos and sighed so deeply I felt it shorten her lifespan. "This place looks like a waste area young lady. When was the last time you cleaned it?"
Behind her stood my father and my two siblings.. who were grinning from ear to ear. happy that they weren't facing the brunt of her heat.
Ignoring their beaming faces I glanced at the pile of clothes on the chair and floor… and bedpost and shrugged. "Define clean mother" i said while throwing my hands wide like a magician revealing his most intriguing act with a silly smile on my face.
She bent down, picked up a shirt, sniffed it, and instantly recoiled, okay now i take it back now she looks like her lifespan has been shortened. "Kaylie!"
"Don't act like you've never had dirtier clothes than this in your life," I shot back, flopping back onto my mattress. "Besides, I have a system. Dirty on the floor, maybe dirty on the chair, and definitely clean somewhere however I haven't figured that out yet."
My dad snorted.. " And to think you praised her for being soo considerate of you"
Mom groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Not now George.. and you she said looking at me You're going to be late."
"Relax," I mumbled into my pillow. "I'll be up in, like… twenty minutes. there's plenty of time you know"
She narrowed her eyes as if she could see into my soul. "Twenty minutes," she warned. "Get up."
Before they all left i couldn't help but notice my sisters faint look of disgust.. well that's her problem my way of life shouldn't be of concern to her.
The door closed, and for one blissful second, I thought I had gotten away with it.
Then I made the mistake that would cost me dearly..
i really did only need five minutes but i guess i over slept…
Fast-forward to me waking up, rolling over, and realizing the sunlight was at an angle that screamed, Congratulations, you've failed at life.
The doorknob twisted, and Mom's presence sliced through the air. looking at her she had a face that could kill a nation.. uh oh
I sat up with a guilty grin. "I just needed twenty minutes, Mom."
"Kaylie…" she said slowly, eyes narrowing as she walked closer. "What first bell are you talking about?"
"…the first one?" I said with a quirked brow
What is this woman about to start again.
Her eyebrow arched as if I had just asked a very dumb question.
"It's one o'clock in the afternoon."
"…p.m.?"
"Yes, p.m.!" she snapped, hands flying up. "Do you realize school started five hours ago? You've slept through more than half the day!"
I flinched, clutching my chest dramatically. "Okay, in my defense, this bed is, like, medically addictive and cozy. And I swear I set my alarm—"
"is there perhaps a chance it's on pm instead.. did you even bother to check if it was on the right time seeing you have a wonderful record of setting the alarm right?"
"…maybe."
Her glare could have stripped paint off walls. "Get dressed, now. You have exactly ten minutes before I personally drag you to school."
I sighed, flopping back onto the mattress. "What's the point? School ends in about two hours. I'll just… start fresh tomorrow you know."
"Get out of that bed right now Kaylie!," she snapped. "You will not waste our money on tuition just because you couldn't open your eyes." "You've forgotten what we had to go through to afford your tuition"
I sat up, hands in defeat. "Fine! I'll go, I'll go. But if I get bullied, I'm blaming you."
She didn't flinch. "Good. Maybe they'll scare you into waking up on time."
Yay just another wonderful way of starting the year off right, a Frantic Rush to School i thought sarcastically
So there I was, standing in front of my closet, feeling betrayed and funny enough a little sleep deprived. Everything was wrong. Too tight, too wrinkled, too "hi, I'm the new kid, please destroy my social life." and too dirty. i really should clean this up.
I groaned. "Why hasn't anyone invented teleportation yet? This is a very cruel punishment."
After five minutes of dramatic sighing and complaining to the mirror about how unfair life was, I settled on a wrinkled shirt and jeans that looked almost acceptable. I wrestled my hair into a ponytail that barely qualified, threw on sneakers, and brushed my teeth while hopping around to shove my arms into my jacket.
By the time I looked in the mirror again, I barely recognized myself.
"Wow," I muttered. "If fashion magazines ever need a section called 'Before,' I'm available."
I stuffed notebooks into my bag, tripped over a sneaker I hadn't put away, and nearly faceplanted into the trash can.Nice work Kaylie.
Finally, I bolted out the door, with Mom watching, arms crossed. "Be careful," she called.
"Too late for that!" I yelled back, sprinting down the street.
On the bus, I slumped into the nearest seat, gasping for air as if I'd survived a war. My reflection in the window was truly not promising.
Great first impression incoming, I thought. Can't wait to be remembered as the girl who looked like she got mauled by a deer.
By the time I arrived, the school was quiet as expected. Most students were buried in classes, their voices muffled behind closed doors. I wandered the halls like a lost dumb ghost, clutching my schedule like it might save me from social death.
Finally, I found it: Room 214. My new homeroom.
I took a deep breath, whispered, "Don't trip, don't fall, don't make a fool of yourself," and pushed the door open.
The room went silent.
Every head turned.
Dozens of eyes bored into me, as if I were some rare species wandering into their habitat. I felt my stomach drop.
The teacher, a man with graying hair and glasses, looked up from his desk. "You must be…?"
"Uh,kaylie." I squeaked.
The whispers started immediately. I caught bits of them:
"well damn?"
"Late on her first day?"
"Looks like she rolled out of bed…"
Fantastic. Just fantastic and here i was hoping my appearance wouldn't mean much to anybody.
I shuffled awkwardly toward the empty seat in the second row, praying the floor would swallow me whole.
Then I felt it. That look.
I glanced sideways and there he was.
A boy leaned back in his chair, one eyebrow raised, a smirk on his lips. Dark hair fell slightly into his eyes, and he didn't look away when I caught him staring.
My pulse quickened "oh good lord".
I quickly dropped into the seat, face burning. Nope. Not today. Not doing this at all.
The teacher cleared his throat. "Welcome, Kaylie. Please try to refrain from coming late from tomorrow."
The class chuckled. I sank lower in my seat, muttering under my breath, "Obviously"
When the bell finally rang, I practically ran out of the room, desperate to escape the stares, the whispers, and the smirk burned into my brain.
The courtyard was its own little world. I pushed through the heavy doors and was instantly greeted by chatter, laughter, and the sound of teenagers having fun.
I paused at the edge of the crowd, clutching my bag strap like it could protect me or comfort me.
As expected this place was filled with cliques. Everywhere I looked, groups carved out their territories like they had signed treaties.
To the left, a squad of perfectly dressed girls sat on a bench, their hair glossy, nails shiny, lip gloss reflecting sunlight right into my eyes. I mentally dubbed them the Lip Gloss Mafia. One caught me looking and gave me a once over that screamed, Honey, you can't sit with us.
I turned away quickly, scanning to the right. That was where the Ken Doll Brigade hung out guys with arms bigger than my future, flexing as they tossed a football back and forth. Each laugh was louder than the last, like a competition to see whose ego could echo the farthest.
By the fountain stood the Artist Collective, doodling in sketchbooks and strumming guitars. I briefly considered joining them until I realized my only artistic skill was drawing stick figures that looked like they'd been in car accidents.
Then there were the gamers, the debate kids, couples glued together like Velcro…
And me.
The girl standing awkwardly at the edge of it all, trying not to look like a lost puppy.
I muttered under my breath, "Fantastic. This is my personal Hunger Games."
And then like in the classroom, I felt it again. That look.
I froze. Slowly, cautiously, I glanced over my shoulder.
And there he was.
Jayden.
Leaning casually against a tree, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his backpack strap. Just like before, his gaze was locked on me.
No smirk this time just a steady, unreadable look that sent chills down my spine.
I whipped my head back around, muttering to myself, "Nope. Not happening. Do not create drama on day one."
But the weight of his eyes lingered, heavy.
When the final bell rang, I sprinted off campus, desperate to shake the feeling.
Walking down the street toward the bus stop, I could swear I heard footsteps behind me.
At first, I ignored it. People walk home from school all the time, right? Totally normal.
But after the fourth corner… yeah, no. Totally suspicious.
I slowed. The footsteps slowed.
I sped up. The footsteps sped up.
My heart raced. Oh my god, I'm being followed. This is it. This is where I get kidnapped and end up on a true crime documentary.
I spun around.
And there he was Jayden. Hands in his pockets, walking at the same pace, his eyes flicking up just as I caught him.
"Seriously?" I blurted, hands on my hips. "Do you mind explaining why you've been following me like some kind of stalker? Because, newsflash, I don't need an escort. Or a shadow. Or whatever this is!"
His brow furrowed slightly. "I wasn't—"
"Oh, don't even start. I may have overslept and bombed my first impression, but I'm not stupid. If you've got some issue with me, keep it to yourself. Stay far away, and—"
The bus screeched to a stop beside us. Perfect timing. I turned, climbed aboard, and collapsed into a seat, muttering to myself the entire time.
Great. Not even a full day in, and I already have an enemy-slash-stalker. Just my luck.
The bus lurched forward. My thoughts spiraled. What if he was dangerous? What if he had a notebook full of potential victims? What if—
The bus slowed again. My stop.
I stepped off, exhaling in relief, ready to escape this nightmare.
Except… footsteps landed right behind mine.
I froze. Slowly turned.
And there was Jayden again stepping off the bus like it was completely normal.
"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered.
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Why are you still here?" I demanded. "Isn't stalking supposed to stop at the bus stop?"
He blinked at me. "I live here."
I scoffed. "Sure you do."
Then I noticed it. He walked right past me… and headed toward a house three doors down from mine. Pulling out keys. Unlocking the door.
My jaw dropped.
He turned slightly, catching my shocked expression, and for the first time, his lips quirked into that same smirk from class.
"See you around, neighbor."
And then the door shut behind him.
I stood frozen on the sidewalk, whispering to myself, "Of course. Of course the universe would make my stalker-boy my neighbor. Why not? Let's just add a little more chaos."
By the time I stumbled inside, my house smelled like garlic bread and tomato sauce comfort food heaven. My mom was plating spaghetti, my dad was uncorking a bottle of soda like it was champagne, and Nathan was already shoveling breadsticks into his mouth like a vacuum.
Kaya sat quietly at the end of the table, scrolling on her phone, barely glancing up.
"Ah, the sleeping beauty returns," Dad teased, sliding into his chair. "How was your half day of education?"
"Half day? Try quarter-day," Nathan snorted through a mouthful of bread.
"Wow," I deadpanned, dropping into my seat. "So supportive. I feel so loved."
Mom gave me a sharp look. "You'd better feel grateful. You embarrassed yourself enough this morning."
"Correction," I said, twirling spaghetti on my fork. "I embarrassed myself this afternoon. Let's be accurate here."
Dad chuckled. Nathan snorted again. Kaya didn't even look up.
I glanced at her. "Hey, Kaya. Anything to add?"
She shrugged, still staring at her phone. "Nope."
The silence that followed was loud. My chest tightened, but I shoved it down with another bite of spaghetti.
Dad raised his glass of soda. "Here's to Kaylie's first day. May tomorrow be less of a disaster."
"Cheers," Nathan said with a smirk.
I clinked my water glass against Dad's and muttered, "Here's to hoping."
Later that night, I lay sprawled on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
Day One: absolute train wreck.
Neighbor reveal? Terrifying.
Classroom entrance? Humiliating.
Mom? Still plotting my wake-up call with military precision.
I grabbed my notebook and flipped it open to a blank page. In big, messy letters, I wrote:
KAYLIE'S SURVIVAL GUIDE TO NOT SUCKING
Wake up on time. (Yes, actually use a.m. not p.m.)
Don't yell at potential neighbors.
Don't trip in the courtyard.
Don't die.
Don't embarrass yourself.
I capped my pen and sighed, rolling onto my side.
"Tomorrow has to be better," I muttered. "Right?"
But deep down, I had a feeling tomorrow would bring more chaos than I was even remotely prepared for.