The early morning sun filtered through the tall trees, scattering warm, dappled light across the bicycle parking lot. Laughter, footsteps, and hurried conversations echoed through the school grounds as students rushed past the dormitory gates, eager to reach their classrooms before the bell rang. The air smelled faintly of old textbooks and excitement—the kind that only comes with the beginning of a new academic year.
A soft clatter broke the morning rhythm. A bicycle had wobbled, tipping slightly against another before being steadied by its owner. A girl, her brows furrowed in concentration, struggled with the lock. She muttered to herself as her fingers fumbled to loop the chain through the wheels.
Nearby, a boy paused just long enough to glance in her direction. He had a quiet confidence in his stride and a focused look in his eyes. The scene in front of him—the clumsy lock, the tilted bike—made him scoff slightly.
"Careful there," he said, his voice low but clear.
The girl looked up sharply, catching a glimpse of his disapproving gaze. But before she could respond, he had already walked off, uninterested in her reaction. She stared at his back for a second, surprised by his rudeness.
"Huh," she muttered, shaking her head as she finally managed to secure her bicycle. "What's his problem?"
She didn't know yet that this wasn't the last time their paths would cross.
The school bell rang loudly. She made her way through the corridors, looking for her classroom. The school building felt unfamiliar but alive, filled with the buzz of students chattering about summer vacations and teachers' names.
When she reached her new classroom, she hesitated at the door. Students had already begun settling in, chatting in small groups or arranging their desks. As she stepped in, eyes turned toward her. The teacher hadn't arrived yet, and the room was thick with curiosity.
She glanced around, scanning for an empty seat—and that's when someone tapped her gently on the shoulder.
"Hi! You must be new," said a cheerful voice. "I'm Grace."
Relieved, she smiled. "Yeah. First day. I'm—"
Before she could finish, Grace added, "Come, sit with me. There's space here."
She followed Grace to the back row near the window, where two desks faced each other in a square formation. Sitting directly in front of them were two boys. One of them turned around briefly, and her eyes widened slightly in recognition.
It was the same boy from the parking lot.
He looked at her with a flicker of surprise, then quickly turned away, not saying a word.
She took a seat beside Grace and leaned closer. "Do you know him?" she asked, tilting her head toward the boy.
"Yeah," Grace said, whispering with a grin. "That's Allen Clark. And the one next to him is Jack Harrison. Jack's the homeroom teacher's son."
"Allen Clark," she repeated under her breath. "Figures."
The classroom door opened and in walked a man with neatly combed hair, a calm but strict expression on his face. The students immediately quieted down.
"Good morning, class," he began. "We have a new student joining us today."
He turned to her and gestured toward the front.
"This is Alina Brooks," he said. "She just transferred here and will be part of our grade 12 batch. She's a bright student and I expect you all to welcome her."
Alina stood up, her heart thudding, but she offered a smile. "Hi. I'm Alina. I'm really glad to be here."
A few scattered claps followed, and Mr. Harrison nodded.
"Good. Now take your seat, and let's begin."
The rest of the day passed slowly. The classes were normal, filled with lectures, introductions, and note-taking. No group activity, no presentations—just a typical first day of school. Still, Alina felt the occasional glance from Allen, who remained mostly silent but observant. She couldn't tell if it was irritation or boredom.
After the final class, Mr. Harrison clapped his hands. "Alright, before you go, remember—everyone's responsible for cleaning their own classroom. Get started."
Alina stood up quickly, eager to help. She reached for the broom, trying to clean under one of the desks when her elbow knocked into a bottle of water on a chair. The bottle tumbled, and the water spilled across the floor—right onto Allen's bag.
His voice was cold, restrained. "Can you watch what you're doing?"
"I'm so sorry!" she said quickly, grabbing tissues to help clean it up. "I didn't see it."
Mr. Harrison turned, noticing the mess. "You two. Alina, Allen—clean it up, and both of you stay five minutes after class."
Allen looked shocked. "Sir, but—"
"No excuses. A little teamwork won't hurt."
Alina bit her lip, guilt filling her chest. But Allen just sighed and muttered under his breath, "This is great. First day and I get punished because of a clumsy troublemaker."
Later that evening, the sky had dimmed into the hues of violet and gold as she stepped out of the cab, suitcase in hand. The quiet neighborhood felt worlds away from the rush of the school morning. She took a deep breath and approached the cozy two-story house, the porch light already on.
Before she could even ring the bell, the front door opened.
"There you are!" came a warm, cheerful voice. Olivia Clark stood at the doorway, arms wide in welcome. "You must be tired, sweetheart. Come on in."
Alina smiled, instantly comforted by the warmth in her voice. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Clark. I really appreciate it."
"Oh, none of that now," Olivia said, gently ushering her inside. "Your mother and I have been friends since our university days. You're family here. Stay as long as you need until the dorms are ready."
The house smelled of vanilla and something freshly baked. It felt cozy—like it held memories in its corners.
But just as Alina stepped further in, a voice called out from the staircase.
"You've got to be kidding me."
She turned—and froze.
There he was. The boy from the bicycle parking lot. From the classroom. From detention.
He was halfway down the stairs, staring at her in disbelief.
"You live here?" she asked, her voice matching his surprise.
Olivia looked between the two, confused. "Wait... you two know each other already?"
Allen stood rigid, arms crossed. "We've... met."
"Well, that saves me the trouble," Olivia said with a light laugh. "Alina is Claire's daughter—my best friend from university. She'll be staying with us for a few months until her dorm is available."
A pause hung in the air.
Allen exhaled slowly, barely muttering under his breath, "The troublemaker is going to live in our home..."
Alina raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips twitching. "Nice to see you too."
Their eyes held each other's for a moment—annoyance, curiosity, and something unspoken settling between them.
Just then, Jack appeared at the top of the stairs with a grin. "Hey, Alina!" he greeted her warmly, his friendly demeanor shining through. "I don't think we've officially met. I'm Jack, Allen's best friend."
Alina smiled, grateful for the kindness. "Hi, Jack. Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, I know," Jack said, giving a playful wink. "We're homeroom buddies, so you'll be seeing a lot of me. And, by the way, Mr. Harrison—our teacher—is my dad."
Alina's eyes brightened a little, and Jack's friendly attitude made her feel more at ease. "Oh, that's cool! Thanks, Jack," she said with a smile. She was happy to have someone as kind as Jack in her corner, especially after the awkwardness with Allen.
Allen just gave a grunt as he walked past them and up the stairs. Jack chuckled. "Don't mind him. He's always like that."
Alina couldn't help but smile a little. It seemed like maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
And just like that, her first day at a new school had taken a turn she never expected.
To be Continued....