My Last Year

High school is supposed to be unforgettable full of laughter, friendship, and excitement. Mine began with a broken locker, a wobbly chair, and the boy who made me hate everything. Even school. I’m Lily Moore. Quiet. Timid. Shy. Forgettable. You could walk past me and not remember a thing. I was lost in thought when a familiar voice called my name. “Lily!” It was Bernice, my one and only friend in Evermore High. “Hey, Bernice,” I said, shutting my locker slowly. “I went to your house so we could walk together, but Mrs. Moore said you’d already left!” she said, catching her breath. “I had some things to do at school. Wanted to beat the crowd.” She nodded, then gave me that look, the one that meant a question was brewing. “So… how was summer?” I grinned. “Summer was good. Guess what, Bernice?” Her eyes lit up. “Lily, what is it? Tell me!” “I got my first kiss,” I said with a smug little smile. Her jaw dropped. “OMG, you rock, Lily! Who is he? Where does he stay? Spill everything!” I laughed. “We met at that boot camp I told you about. I was sitting alone, and he came over. We talked, laughed, had fun… then he asked me out. I said yes. The rest is history.” “Wait what? You can’t leave me hanging like that!” Bernice gasped. “I already told you everything,” I teased. The school bell rang, slicing our conversation short. “You’re not off the hook,” Bernice warned. “Lunch. No excuses. You will spill it all.” “I’m done talking about it,” I said, walking to class. “No, you’re not until I say so,” she replied, flipping her hair dramatically before heading to her own class. Apart from Bernice, I had no one. No other friends. No one wanted to be associated with the bullied girl. Especially when he was around. The classroom door slammed open behind me—loud, careless, commanding. Jake Bennett had arrived. I didn’t have to turn around. His presence filled the room before his voice ever did. Fierce. Untouchable. Dangerous. Jake Bennett. The boy every girl wanted. The boy no one dared to challenge. The hottest guy in school—and Evermore High’s golden boy. Gasps. Whispers. Giggles. Girls practically melted in their seats. And honestly? I understood. He was tall, built, six-pack abs, pink lips, flawless confidence. But I wasn’t fooled. Not anymore. “Focus, Lily. Focus,” I muttered to myself. Once, I’d had the same crush as everyone else. But that ended in Grade 11. Flashback – Grade 11 I was sitting at the lunch table when I heard a voice. “This is my seat.” I turned—and froze. Jake Bennett. My crush. “I got here first,” I said quietly. Jake laughed—loud, cruel. The cafeteria went silent. I knew I was in trouble. That was how powerful he was. “It’s first come, first serve,” I repeated firmly. He leaned closer, his eyes dark. “Get up before I do something you’ll regret.” My legs screamed stand, but something inside me whispered stay. So I stayed. Big mistake. Without warning, he grabbed my plate of burritos and dumped it over my head. Hot, sticky mess soaking into my braids. He shoved me to the floor. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Everyone watched—but no one helped. They laughed, filmed, whispered that I was pathetic. Tears burned my eyes. And then, like an angel, Bernice appeared. She helped me up and led me away. But before I left, I turned to Jake. He smirked, mouthing three words that cut deeper than the food dripping down my face: I don’t care. Present Day I was about to write the date in my notebook when I heard a voice from the back. “Get up, Burritos Girl. That’s my seat.” I froze.