CHAPTER ONE
ELIANA'S POV
I was rushing to get ready this morning, the sound of my dad's horn blowing impatiently outside my window. I quickly threw on the first thing I spotted as when I opened my wardrobe, a bright yellow t-shirt and a pair of faded jeans. My sister Chloe was already waiting in the car, her eyes fixed on my dad's phone as she scrolled, probably looking for her favorite kids' series, Cocomelon. I grabbed a slice of toast from the dining table, hurrying into the car. My dad drove off , the warm bread melting in my mouth as I took a bite.
As we drove to school, the sun was shining brightly overhead, casting a warm glow over the city. The buildings and trees whizzed by in a blur, the sound of the car's engine humming in the background. I felt a bit irritated as I was unprepared today. My hair was in a mess, my outfit wasn't really giving. I hated being rushed.
When we arrived at school, I met up with my dramatic bestie Amanda. She was bouncing with energy, her bright smile illuminating the entire hallway. "Hi, bestie!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. I laughed and hugged her back, feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Amanda's really cheerful and fun to be with. She normally screams and runs over to hug me whenever she sees me, which I love.
We headed to our morning assembly, the auditorium filled with the chatter of students and the rustling of papers. The principal, Mrs. Tony, stood at the podium, her voice booming through the microphone as she made announcements about upcoming events and reminded us to work hard on our studies. She gave us a 20mins long advice on the benefits of working hard and being good. Her words were like a gentle reminder, urging us to stay focused and motivated, although I won't lie, was awfully long and boring
Towards the end of the assembly, Mrs. Tony announced that we would be getting new students, three to be precise. There were murmurs and whispers among the students, speculation and curiosity etched on their faces. "You should be nice to them. They are not from our country but I expect you to make them feel as welcomed as possible", she concluded. Amanda started talking about the new students, her eyes shining with excitement. "What if they're really cute? What if they're Australian?", she whispered, her voice barely audible over the din of the hallway. I just shrugged and smiled, not sharing her enthusiasm.
The morning classes were Mathematics, Chemistry, and Civic Education. I struggled to understand the lessons, my mind wandering to the new students and what they might be like. Amanda's chatter didn't help, her words flowing like a river as she talked about the new students, their potential and how cute they might look.
Finally, the bell rang, signaling the start of our break. We headed to the canteen, the aroma of freshly baked goods and hot meals wafting through the air. The canteen was bustling with students, the sound of laughter and chatter filling the room. As we walked to the canteen, I met Josh, a boy who had been asking me out for what felt like an eternity. I found him annoying, to be honest. He just wouldn't take no for an answer. Today was no different. As we walked past each other, he fell into step beside me, launching into a long and rambling story about how he would treat me like a princess if I agreed to be his girlfriend. I tuned him out, my mind wandering to more interesting things.
But then he did something that really got on my nerves. He started singing a ridiculous love song, his voice warbling off-key as he gazed at me desperately. I rolled my eyes, feeling a surge of annoyance. Couldn't he see that I wasn't interested? I quickened my pace, hoping to escape his annoying serenade. Amanda noticed my frustration and shot Josh a disapproving look, her eyes flashing with amusement.
"Josh, dude, just stop," she said, laughing. "You're not exactly her type or any girl's type in general". My bestie had a really wicked tongue. It is a bad thing but I love it about her.
Josh looked crestfallen, but I just kept walking, relieved to be away from his annoying antics. We reached the canteen and joined the queue.
I was in a slight bad mood, still fuming about what Josh did earlier. The memory of his off-key singing and awkward advances lingered, leaving me really annoyed. I had just finished eating, so I decided to head to the music room to practice singing. Music was my escape, my sanctuary. As I approached the door, my frustration got the better of me, and I yanked it open with more force than necessary. Unfortunately, I almost hit someone on the other side.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed. The person I almost hit looked up at me with a calm expression, and I noticed he was new. I hadn't seen him around before. "Are you one of the new students?" I asked, still feeling a bit flustered.
He smiled, and my eyes widened as I took in his breathtaking features. He was unbelievably handsome, with chiseled features, piercing blue eyes, and long, flowing hair that cascaded down his back like a golden waterfall. His skin was smooth and flawless, with a subtle glow that made him look like a model. He had broad shoulders, a chiseled jawline, and full lips that curved into a captivating smile.
"Yeah, I'm one of the new students," he said, his voice deep and smooth. "I'm Ryder."
I felt a flutter in my chest as I gazed at him, my bad mood momentarily forgotten. Ryder's handsomeness was truly out of this world. I couldn't help but stare, taking in every detail of his striking features. He had a confident air about him, a quiet charm that drew me in. I felt a pang of curiosity, wondering what his story was and what had brought him to our school.
As I stood there, frozen in admiration, Ryder's smile grew wider, and he chuckled softly. "It's nice to meet you," he said, his voice breaking the spell. I smiled back, feeling a sense of embarrassment wash over me. "I'm Eliana," I replied, trying to sound casual despite my racing heart.
In that moment, I knew I was in trouble. Ryder's presence had shaken me, and I couldn't deny the attraction I felt towards him. As we stood there, locked in a moment of mutual awareness, I felt the world around us melt away, leaving only the two of us.
I rushed to find Amanda, in the hallway. As soon as I saw her, I grabbed her arm and pulled her into a quiet corner. "You won't believe what just happened!" I exclaimed, my eyes wide with excitement.
"What is it?" Amanda asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
"I almost slammed the music room door on this new guy," I said, replaying the moment in my head. "And then I apologized, and he smiled… oh my goodness, Amanda, he's so nice and cute!"
Amanda's eyes lit up with interest. "Tell me more," she urged, her voice barely above a whisper.
I took a deep breath and launched into a detailed description of Ryder. "He has piercing blue eyes, chiseled features, and the most gorgeous hair I've ever seen. It's like he's a model or something. And his smile… it's like the sun breaking through the clouds."
Amanda's eyes grew wider as I spoke, and she let out a knowing grin. "You're crushing on him, aren't you?" she asked, her voice teasing.
I shook my head vigorously. "No way, Amanda. Don't be ridiculous. I'm just… appreciating his good looks, that's all."
Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Sure, sure," she said, smiling knowingly. "Anyway, let's get to class. We don't want to be late."
We headed to class, chatting about our schedules and upcoming assignments. As we walked into the classroom, my eyes scanned the room, and I spotted Ryder sitting across from us. I felt a flutter in my chest, but I tried to ignore it.
But Amanda wasn't so subtle. As soon as she saw Ryder, she started giggling and whispering to me. "Girl, he's looking at you!" she whispered, nudging me playfully.
I rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool. But Amanda wasn't having it. She started making silly faces and gestures, trying to get my attention.
Finally, she leaned over and whispered, "Come on, Eliana, admit it. You're totally into him. All the signs are there – you're smiling, he's fine, you're looking at him… it's obvious!"
I blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed. Maybe Amanda was right. Maybe I was more into Ryder than I wanted to admit. I looked over at Ryder, and our eyes met for a brief moment. I felt a spark of electricity, and I quickly looked away, trying to compose myself.
"Okay, fine," I whispered to Amanda. "Maybe I am a little interested. But it's nothing serious, okay?"
Amanda grinned triumphantly. "I knew it!" she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're so into him, Eliana!"
"Maybe", I said.
But Amanda wasn't having it. "Girl, you're not even in his league," she said, shaking her head. "Somebody like him? He's out of our league. He's like a supermodel or something. What would he be doing with someone like us?"
I laughed, feeling a bit deflated. Amanda was right, of course. Ryder seemed like a different species altogether. But still, I couldn't help the way I felt.
"Let's just wipe it off, shall we?" Amanda said, smiling wryly. "We have physics class now. Let's focus on something more important than a crush on a guy who's probably way out of our league."
I nodded, taking a deep breath. Amanda was right. I needed to focus on my studies and not get distracted by a handsome face. But as we listened to our teacher's lectures, I couldn't help but sneak a glance at Ryder, who was sitting across the room, looking effortlessly cool and confident. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a flutter in my chest. Maybe Amanda was right, but I couldn't help the way I felt.